29 m. ago Superman is super woke? How politics play into the new man of steel

The right has already branded the new DC tentpole too woke after its director called the character an immigrant, but just what role do real-world issues play in the film?Superman Woke! Variations on that headline splashed across all manner of non-Daily Planet websites this week in advance of a new Superman movie reboot, specifically the comments of writer-director James Gunn, who casually characterized the character as an immigrant and, as such, telling the “story of America” in an interview. This rankled rightwingers including the former TV Superman Dean Cain, who acknowledged Superman as an immigrant but blanched at the idea of actively associating that as an American value, noting that “there have to be limits”.Meanwhile, the former Trump lackey Kellyanne Conway, now a Fox News host, characterized the movie she hasn’t seen as an ideological lecture, and added her supposed anger that the movie’s star, David Corenswet, elided the old “truth, justice and the American way” Superman s...

Politics

40 m. ago There’s an art to staging a comeback. But the best artists know when it’s time to take a pause | Larry Ryan

An LCD Soundsystem reunion, the Sex and the City reboot, Oasis back on stage: is this welcome revival culture, or a cynical money grab?When the comedian Marc Maron announced he would soon end his pioneering interview podcast WTF – famed over nearly 16 years for hosting fellow comedians, wider celebrities and even Barack Obama (when he was more president than content creator) in his garage – he said something you don’t often hear: “It’s OK for things to end.”In the time of the relentless scroll, culture often feels like it is drowning in cynical money grabs, nostalgia, franchises and “IP rentierism”. Bands, TV shows and film concepts are either never-ending or ever-repeating. It was refreshing, then, to see something stop in such a poised manner rather than descend into irrelevance and indifference. Maron gave no major reason for quitting beyond that he and his producer were a bit burnt out and it was the right moment. “I don’t think we live in a time where people of my generation an...

Politics

40 m. ago Ratatouille and le grand aïoli: Matthew Ryle’s classic French dishes for Bastille Day

The summery fireworks of a proper Provençal ratatouille, plus a seasonal veg-centric centrepiece based around a superbly garlicky mayoWhen writing recipes, it’s good to get into the right headspace. The sky’s clear, it’s warm out (maybe not quite hot enough for my liking) and I’m sitting in the sun, possibly with a glass of rosé in hand. I’m transported to the French Riviera, and that glamorous, sun-drenched coastline, and it’s the perfect setting for two of the most summery French classics: ratatouille and grand aïoli, especially in the run-up to Bastille Day on 14 July. Ratatouille is a glorious riot of stewed vegetables, and I like to serve it with a vibrant French take on pesto. Le grand aïoli, meanwhile, is a feast of seasonal veg, boiled eggs, anchovies and plenty of garlicky mayo for dipping. Both make brilliant centrepieces, or to serve alongside your next barbecue. Continue reading...

Politics

43 m. ago Common bathroom 'habit' that could be destroying your medicines

For many householders, storing medication in the bathroom is commonplace

Politics

68 m. ago Mum put bodies of two newborn babies in bin bags and hid them around her house

A mother hid the bodies of two full-term babies inside her home in Maes-Y-Felin, Wildmill, Bridgend, after she delivered them "alone and without medical support" a court was told

Events

2 h. ago Transfer news LIVE: Gyokeres to Arsenal on, Madueke medical, Eze bid; double Man Utd deal; Gibbs

Major deals in the works as second summer window ticks on

Economics

2 h. ago Transfer news LIVE: Gyokeres to Arsenal on, Madueke medical, Eze bid; Chelsea, Man Utd, Gibbs

Major deals in the works as second summer window ticks on

Sport

4 h. ago Cristiano Ronaldo showed his true character with one gesture as ex

Cristiano Ronaldo will go down as one of the greatest footballers of all time when he finally decides to call it quits, but he clearly hasn't let fame and fortune get to his head over the years

Politics

4 h. ago Ferries Scotland: Island committee to stage protest against state of Oban to Mull ferry service

The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee criticised a Scottish Government decision as “bizarre” and “unfair”.

Events

7 h. ago 7/7 'White Widow' Samantha Lewthwaite 'still alive' according to bombshell intel

Samantha Lewthawaite left the UK in 2008 and married a man who had ties to terrorist organisations al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab and is believed to be associated with attacks in Africa

Events

8 h. ago Junior doctors planning to strike AGAIN over pay 'are now earning as much as £100,000 a year'

Earlier this week, the British Medical Association (BMA) announced that up to 50,000 resident doctors in England would walk out for five consecutive days from 7am on July 25, in a dispute over pay.

Economics

10 h. ago Fuel switches cut off before Air India crash, preliminary report says

Some 241 of the 242 people on board the plane were killed when it crashed and struck a medical college in Ahmedabad on June 12.

Events

10 h. ago Chaos at the FBI as Kash Patel and deputy Dan Bongino consider quitting over Epstein files after furious clash with Pam Bondi

President Trump's FBI head Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino are both ready to call it quits if Attorney General Pam Bondi keeps her job after the debacle of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Events

10 h. ago Leading doctors urge BMA to reconsider strikes amid concerns over public trust

Lord Ara Dazi and Professor Sir Stephen Powis are urging resident doctors to reconsider strikes planned for later this month.

Events

12 h. ago How a handful of Republicans learned to stop worrying and love the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ after switching their votes

Republicans who thought the spending cuts were insufficient or that the bill cut too much into Medicaid suddenly seem at ease with their vote, Eric Garcia writes

Politics

12 h. ago Trump defends response to deadly Texas flooding after touring disaster area – live updates

President and Texas governor praise handling of flooding that has killed at least 120 people; Trump calls reporter ‘evil’ for asking about lack of warningsThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior state department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non...

Events

13 h. ago Air India crash pilots may have made 'fatal error' seconds after take off

The aircraft, which had only just set off for Gatwick, suddenly crashed into a medical college after taking off from the city of Ahmedabad on June 12.

Events

13 h. ago Palestine Action activists told to 'go floppy' when arrested by police ahead of planned protest in London

Supporters of the proscribed organisation have also been advised to use burner phones in case they are seized during protests

Events

14 h. ago My age makes it very difficult to win grand slams, admits beaten Djokovic

38-year-old felt ‘half empty’ physically in Sinner defeatBut he insists he will return to play Wimbledon againNovak Djokovic said he must accept the reality that his ageing body continues to make it extremely difficult for him to win another grand slam title after struggling physically in his emphatic defeat by the world No 1, Jannik Sinner, in the semi-finals of Wimbledon on Friday.A month after suffering a straight sets defeat by Sinner in the semi-finals of the French Open, Djokovic was subjected to an even more one-sided 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 defeat by an imperious Sinner. The 38-year-old moved sluggishly throughout and he took a medical timeout after losing the second set. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Wimbledon finalist questions why tournament won’t close roof in heat

A semi-final was stopped twice in less than five minutes because of medical emergencies in the crowd.

Society