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‘We demand the truth’: Olga Tokarczuk and JM Coetzee lead calls for proof of life of disappeared Eritrean writers
More than 180 writers, including Nobel laureates Olga Tokarczuk and JM Coetzee, have renewed calls for proof of life from 12 Eritrean writers detained without trial since a 2001 crackdown on independent media. Organised by PEN International, the letter urges President Isaias Afwerki to provide verified information about their whereabouts, health and survival, highlighting the…
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Royal Society slams UK.gov science shake-up
The UK government has restructured its science policy apparatus by abolishing the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and moving science responsibilities to the new Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), a move that Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, has condemned as “quite a big mistake”. Nurse argues that…
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Brit who has seizures since violent mugging now fights for life after having a fit during family holiday to overcome the trauma and smashing his head
Paul Grant, a 43-year-old British man, is fighting for his life in a Spanish hospital after suffering a severe seizure during a family holiday in Lanzarote. The seizure caused him to hit his head against a wall in his hotel room, resulting in catastrophic head injuries requiring emergency surgery. This incident is particularly tragic because…
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Two men throw punches at each other during flight from Bangladesh to London, with one man losing his T-shirt during the brawl
Two passengers fought aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Sylhet to London after an argument reportedly escalated over seating. Video showed the men exchanging punches and grappling, while fellow passengers tried to separate them; cabin crew eventually restored order. The incident alarmed other travellers, including children and elderly passengers. One passenger’s T-shirt was ripped…
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Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore? review – Jarvis Cocker’s wit and warmth upstage the hits
The film documents Pulp’s return to touring after a decade-long hiatus, featuring concert footage from two sold-out O2 shows in London. The documentary interweaves these performances with autobiographical reflections from Jarvis Cocker, archive footage, and interviews, chronicling the Sheffield outsiders’ unlikely journey from Cocker’s teenage ambitions in 1978 to their status as national treasures. Their…
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Baka Beyond: Sing the World Awake review – powerful Cameroonian vocals burst through fussy arrangements
British folk musicians Su Hart and Martin Cradick have released “Sing the World Awake,” their first album in 12 years continuing a 30-year collaboration with Cameroon’s Baka people. The project features field recordings from a new generation of Baka singers and is rooted in an ethical partnership that splits royalties equally and supports the community…
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Burnham scrambles to revive stalling EU ‘reset’ bid in talks with Irish PM – as Brussels plays hardball on trade and youth free movement
Prime Minister Andy Burnham met with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Manchester to advance negotiations on deeper UK-EU relations, a bid that has been struggling amid rigid demands from Brussels. The meeting aims to revive momentum for a planned EU-UK summit, currently targeted for later this year after being delayed from July, with the goal…
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Empress Of: Dream House review – a tender and openhearted rebirth after wildfires razed her house
Lorely Rodriguez, recording as Empress Of, has released her fifth album Dream House, written in the aftermath of her family home burning down during the 2025 California wildfires. The album explores both the literal rebuilding of her physical home and the more metaphorical question of what it means to feel at home emotionally. Despite the…
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Revealed: The popular children’s yoghurts that contain dangerous amounts of sugar – with Nestle’s Smarties Vanilla Split Pot at the top of the list
Action on Salt & Sugar has analysed 104 popular yoghurts sold in UK supermarkets and found that most contain dangerous levels of sugar. Of the yoghurts examined, only two were low in total sugars, raising concerns for parents who purchase these products assuming they are nutritious options for their children. The research highlights a discrepancy…
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Todd Boehly exits Chelsea diminished after having his fingers burned
Todd Boehly has left Chelsea after Clearlake Capital bought out his and Mark Walter’s shares, but the change is unlikely to affect the club’s daily running because Clearlake was already the dominant force. His departure nevertheless highlights the breakdown of the ownership partnership and could have implications for major decisions such as Stamford Bridge’s future.…