74 m. ago More rice, bigger chairs and reinforced toilets: sumo wrestling comes to London | Andy Bull

Royal Albert Hall to host Grand Sumo Tournament marking only the second time a full competition is held overseasThey play Major League Baseball at the Olympic Stadium, Tottenham’s ground is a second home for the National Football League, the National Basketball Association is staging a game at the 02 Arena next year, and South Africa just beat New Zealand in a rugby Test at Twickenham, but it’s been a long time since London has hosted anything on the scale of the Grand Sumo Tournament taking place at the Royal Albert Hall this week. Forty wrestlers have flown over from Japan to compete in it. That’s around six tons of elite athlete to be fed, watered, transported and supported.“We’ve actually had to source and buy new chairs which can take up to 200kg in weight,” says Matthew Todd, the Royal Albert Hall’s harassed director of programming. “Our usual standard is only 100kg.” They’ve also had to reinforce the toilets. “It’s the ones that are screwed into the wall which are the most ch...

Politics

74 m. ago Remembering Mama Africa: struggle of fearless singer Miriam Makeba told in daring dance drama

Mimi’s Shebeen, choreographed by Alesandra Seutin, charts South African legend’s exile and ascendancy with ‘beautiful songs, strong messages and moments that hit’“You speak about Miriam Makeba in South Africa and it’s like speaking about a queen,” says Alesandra Seutin. The legendary singer Makeba was known as Mama Africa, and the Empress of African Song; but she also hung out in Greenwich Village with Miles Davis and Duke Ellington. She was a teenager sent out to work to support her family in Johannesburg who later became a diplomat for Ghana, then Guinea’s official delegate to the UN. An outspoken anti-apartheid activist, she was the wife of a Black Panther. And her rich life and legacy are the inspiration for choreographer Seutin’s latest work, Mimi’s Shebeen, about to get its UK premiere.Mimi’s Shebeen blends dance, live music and spoken word in a piece of theatre that’s no straightforward biodrama but draws on Makeba’s history, particularly her story of exile: after moving to N...

Events

2 h. ago Haji Wright scores twice as USA come back from a goal down to see off Australia

World Cup 2026 cohosts defeat Socceroos 2-1 in ColoradoUSA captain Christian Pulisic injured; Jordan Bos opens scoringUSA captain Christian Pulisic was forced off early with a lower leg complaint as the World Cup cohosts scrapped to a 2-1 win over Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Stadium in Colorado on Wednesday.A double from striker Haji Wright cancelled out a shock opening goal from Socceroos left-back Jordy Bos, handing Tony Popovic his first loss and denying Australia the chance to climb the Fifa rankings and potentially face an easier group at next year’s tournament. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago When is the World Cup 2026 draw? Date, start time, how to watch and who has qualified

England become first European team to seal qualification for next summer’s finals in United States, Canada and Mexico

Politics

8 h. ago England have qualified for the World Cup but need to fix these issues to win it

Latvia 0-5 England: A superb performance in Riga booked the Three Lions their spot in next summer’s tournament but questions remain, not least how they will perform against stronger opposition

Politics

8 h. ago England have qualified for the World Cup but unanswered questions raise doubts over their development

Latvia 0-5 England: A superb performance in Riga booked the Three Lions their spot in next summer’s tournament but questions remain, not least how they will perform against stronger opposition

Politics

8 h. ago Harry Kane breaks silence on England fan chants after Thomas Tuchel controversy

Harry Kane has had his say on England's qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals and controversy surrounding Thomas Tuchel's comments around the Three Lions' fans.

Politics

9 h. ago Trump threatens removal of World Cup games from Boston, Olympics from LA

US President says games could be moved due to safetyBoston street takeovers, LA wildfires are blamedDonald Trump has again said he’d pressure Fifa to remove 2026 World Cup games from a host city on the basis of that city’s politics, with Boston becoming the third such city to come in for threats from the US president. Trump also said he would consider similar action against Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics on account of potential safety issues.Trump has no legal authority to directly take either action, but he can apply pressure to each competition’s governing body to move host cities. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago England player ratings vs Latvia: Gordon and Kane scintillating as Three Lions seal World Cup qualification

Latvia 0-5 England: Thomas Tuchel’s side booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with an emphatic win in Riga

Sport

9 h. ago Latvia vs England live: Eze goal caps off superb victory as Three Lions qualify for World Cup

Thomas Tuchel’s side will confirm their place at the top of Group K with victory tonight

Politics

9 h. ago England qualify for 2026 World Cup as fans send Thomas Tuchel message in Latvia thumping

England hammered Latvia to become the first European nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup but Three Lions fans sent a message loud and clear to German manager Thomas Tuchel

Politics

9 h. ago England secure 2026 World Cup qualification with dominant win over Latvia

LATVIA 0-5 ENGLAND: The Three Lions knew a win in Riga would be enough to book their place in next summer's showpiece, becoming the first European nation to secure a spot

Politics

10 h. ago Trump threatens FIFA boss could pull 2026 World Cup games from ‘unsafe’ cities ahead of Charlie Kirk honor: Live updates

Trump will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom later Tuesday

Politics

10 h. ago Latvia vs England live: Gordon and Kane goals give Three Lions control in key World Cup qualifier

Thomas Tuchel’s side will confirm their place at the top of Group K with victory tonight

Politics

10 h. ago Latvia vs England live: Anthony Gordon goal breaks deadlock in key World Cup qualifier

Thomas Tuchel’s side will confirm their place at the top of Group K with victory tonight

Events

11 h. ago South Africa qualify for first World Cup in 16 years while Nigeria handed play

South Africa 3-0 Rwanda: Bafana Bafana will compete in their first World Cup in 16 years, while Nigeria guaranteed themselves a play-off lifeline with a 4-0 win over Benin in Group C

Politics

11 h. ago Latvia vs England live: Harry Kane returns as Three Lions seek win to secure World Cup 2026 qualification

Thomas Tuchel’s side will confirm their place at the top of Group K with victory tonight

Politics

11 h. ago South Africa debates renaming national park dedicated to controversial former president

Kruger National Park attracts nearly one million visitors each year

Politics

11 h. ago What TV channel is Latvia vs England World Cup qualifier on: Team line

England can qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday night if they beat Latvia in their final Group K qualifier and the Three Lions will take to the field in Riga as huge favourites

Politics

12 h. ago World Cup 2026: South Africa qualify as group winners as Victor Osimhen hat

Super Eagles handed lifeline as Bafana Bafana punch their ticket to the 2026 World Cup

Politics