4 d. ago Shroud of Turin revelation suggests scientists have known truth about relic for centuries

The Shroud of Turin is believed to be the cloth that Jesus Christ was wrapped in after being crucified and is one of the most controversial relics in Church history

Politics

9 d. ago What connects six disappearances in a picturesque New Zealand town? ‘Everyone has a theory’

Six people have gone missing in the small town of Piha. A true-crime documentary is asking questions – and ruffling some feathersGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOn a squally winter night 21 years ago, 25-year-old Iraena Asher vanished from an isolated beach community, one hour west of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland.“It was a terrible night like this,” Julia Woodhouse – one of the last to see Asher – tells the Guardian one afternoon in early July, as the rain lashes the windows of her Piha home. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Strictly Come Dancing 'set to ruffle feathers with huge change'

Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly set to undergo a huge format change this year.

Politics

1 week ago South African minister under investigation for historic racial slurs on social media

Gayton McKenzie given deadline to apologise, undergo sensitivity training and delete posts on X from 2011 to 2017South Africa’s sport, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, is under investigation by the country’s human rights commission for historical social media posts containing a highly offensive racial slur, reigniting a debate about racism, identity and the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid.McKenzie, an anti-immigrant populist from the Coloured community with a history of stirring up controversies, was given a Wednesday evening deadline by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to issue an approved apology, undergo sensitivity training, donate to an agreed charity and delete the X posts, which were still online at the time of publication. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago South African minister investigated for historical racial slurs on social media

Gayton McKenzie given deadline to apologise, undergo sensitivity training and delete posts South Africa’s sport, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, is under investigation by the country’s human rights commission for historical social media posts containing a highly offensive racial slur, reigniting a debate about racism, identity and the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid.McKenzie, an anti-immigrant populist from the Coloured community with a history of stirring up controversies, was given a Wednesday evening deadline by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to issue an approved apology, undergo sensitivity training, donate to an agreed charity and delete the X posts, which were still online at the time of publication. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Mo Salah makes history at PFA Awards as Alexander Isak makes controversial choice

Mohamed Salah has completed a clean sweep of Premier League awards with the Liverpool forward named by his top-flight peers as the Player of the Season for 2024/25

Events

2 w. ago Ending Isolation review – a takedown of solitary confinement by incarcerated co

New book looks back at the history of the controversial prison practice while pushing for its dismantlingTerry Kupers can’t sleep. The veteran psychiatrist, author and solitary confinement expert, 81 and still working on multiple projects, is particularly troubled by the brutal spate of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) raids rocking communities around the US.“My father came from Russia, so I’m an immigrant’s son,” he said. “I can’t live with these raids. I need to do something about it.” Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Robert Jenrick blasts Radio 4 radical over social media slur claiming actress Sydney Sweeney was 'backing the eugenics movement' by mentioning her 'great jeans' in advert

The Radio 4 guest who branded a senior Tory 'xenophobic' for comments about asylum-seekers has also accused actress Sydney Sweeney of 'flirting' with the Nazis' theories of eugenics.

Politics

2 w. ago Coach takes issue with Henry Pollock's conduct on Lions tour

Pollock was a popular Lions tourist with his team-mates despite ruffling a few feathers

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Historical amnesia’: Indonesia’s fight over plan to amend history books

Anger the controversial plan coincides with anime flag movement, seen as a critique on the decline of democratic freedoms under President PrabowoIndonesia has delayed plans to publish a set of controversial history books amid backlash from historians and activists who have accused the project of being an attempt to downplay past atrocities, and represents “historical amnesia”.In May Indonesia’s culture minister Fadli Zon announced the planned release of a 10-volume “official history” project. The set of new books would remove colonial bias, feature updated research, promote national pride and have a “positive” tone, he said. Continue reading...

Culture

3 w. ago Bacon, beans and a side of scandal: The secret history of the full English

Bacon, eggs and endless debate – the full English is a dish that’s as iconic as it is controversial. Mark Riddaway unpacks its tangled history, from aristocratic feasts to builders’ caffs, and explores how it came to define the nation’s morning plate

Politics

3 w. ago ‘You have to ruffle feathers’: a history of controversial jeans adverts

American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney ad is the latest in a long line of provocative campaigns striving to ‘cut through’There aren’t many advertising campaigns that elicit responses from the US president and vice-president, the senator Ted Cruz and the rappers Doja Cat and Lizzo. But the Euphoria actor Sydney Sweeney’s recent ad for American Eagle denim has done just that.Critics have interpreted the campaign as promoting eugenics, defenders have taken the backlash as evidence of so-called “woke” culture in the extreme and scrutinising it has taken on the trappings of a cottage industry. “Clocking in for my shift at the Sydney Sweeney American Eagle opinion factory,” the journalist Hunter Harris wrote on her Substack. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Piers Morgan receives backlash after accusing Beyoncé of ‘cultural appropriation’ over denim campaign

His post came amid ongoing controversy surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle advert, in which a play on the words ‘genes’ and ‘jeans’ prompted criticism for allegedly invoking eugenics-era ideology

Politics

3 w. ago Piers Morgan told to 'have a day off' after accusing Beyoncé of 'cultural appropriation'

Former GMB presenter Piers Morgan was accused of 'attention-seeking' after sharing a post about Beyoncé's new jeans advert

Politics

3 w. ago Chris Cuomo mocked for response after falling for deepfake AOC video

Cuomo also used the moment to attack Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over Hamas and defend himself in a NewsNation segmentThe US television host Chris Cuomo has been pilloried for falling for a clearly marked parody AI video of the congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.On Wednesday Cuomo, a host on NewsNation and formerly of CNN, took to Instagram to share a video that was prominently watermarked as a “deepfake” video, made using AI technology. It depicted a fake Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arguing on the floor of Congress that a recent Sydney Sweeney ad, which advertised her “great jeans”, was racist. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Ghislaine Maxwell's cushy new prison life just got cushier as she gets special treatment inside 'Club Fed' lock

Ghislaine Maxwell has already ruffled feathers at her cushy new lockup as many inmates are peeved they'll have to share with a convicted sexual predator.

Events

4 w. ago Donald Trump's six weird words after learning Sydney Sweeney is a Republican

President Donald Trump was told that Sydney Sweeney, who sparked controversy with an advert for jeans, is a registered Republican which took him by surprise and led him to make an odd statement

Politics

4 w. ago Trump says he 'loves Sydney Sweeney' as president responds to the actress's 'great jeans' advert controversy

President Donald Trump could barely contain his excitement as he told Daily Mail that he 'loves' Sydney Sweeney amid the actresses controversy over her American Eagle jeans advert.

Politics

4 w. ago Trump weighs in on American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney ad controversy

Donald Trump has given his take on actress Sydney Sweeney’s controversial jeans advert for American Eagle.

Politics

last month Voices: Does Sydney Sweeney want to be the actor Gen Z loves to hate?

With her provocative advert for American Eagle jeans under fire for being ‘pro-eugenics’, the blonde, blue-eyed ‘Euphoria’ star seems unfazed about making controversy part of her personal brand, writes Emma Clarke

Politics