Official statistics show there was a anoticeable increasea in robberies involving a knife or sharp instrument

Campaigners said the delay was a aslap in the facea and was anothing short of disastrousa for the environment

Three injured in incident have now been released from hospital

Europe amust show it is never a vassal of the United Statesa says French president in keynote Sorbonne speech

Home secretary James Cleverly hit out at adistastefula and alazya criticism of policy, but insisted he was not talking about French leaderas remarks

The leaderas future could be decided by former party colleague who defected to Alex Salmondas Alba party

Starmer pledges end to aboom and busta for British train manufacturers where jobs are at risk

First minister Humza Yousafas political future hangs by a thread after the Scottish Greens said they would vote against him in a motion of no confidence.

Criminals filmed their assault on a shop worker at a garage in Stockport on Snapchat in July 2021, newly released footage shows.

Angela van den Bogerd held various roles throughout her 35-year career at the Post Office

Domestic Abuse Commissioner warns 17,600 domestic abuse crimes are missing from data due to government overhauling rules

In a 14-page ruling on Thursday, Mrs Justice Collins Rice slammed Laurence Foxas adisgusting slura as adistinctly homophobica

More than 100,000 more shoplifting offences were recorded in 2023 than the previous year, figures reveal

Exclusive: Three months after being suspended over a Holocaust Memorial Day post suggesting the Israeli action in Gaza is genocide, Kate Osamor will be welcomed back into the Labour fold

Exclusive: The charity is already home to many retired military horses

A woman from Scotland was driving along a remote road in Romania when she spotted two bears, one of which later pounced on her arm

The actor-turned-politician was successfully sued by former Stonewall trustee Simon Blake and drag artist Crystal over a row on Twitter

Humza Yousaf and Douglas Ross were embroiled in a heated clash in the Scottish Parliament after the first minister ended the so-called Bute House Agreement underpinning the Scottish government coalition with immediate effect on Thursday, 25 April.

Rishi Sunak took a morning jog around Westminster with the aHardest Geezera Russ Cook on Thursday morning (25 April).

Humza Yousaf joked about a "breakup" with the Greens after he ended the so-called Bute House Agreement underpinning the Scottish government coalition on Thursday, 25 April.

The supermarket giant reported a better-than-expected 1.6% rise in underlying pre-tax profits to APS701 million for the year to 2 March

Henry Roffe-Silvester was struck six times by a 16-year-old student at Blundellas School in Tiverton, Devon

A dog walker made the horrific discovery on Tuesday morning

Exclusive: Jamaica is still lobbying the UK to remove visa restrictions for its citizens, since it is the only country with Charles III as king which is subject to the demands

Humza Yousaf has denied that his decision to end the so-called Bute House Agreement underpinning the Scottish government coalition was about saving seats for the Scottish National Party at the next general election.

The moment a Household Cavalry horse threw its rider to the ground in a separate incident on the same day horses ran loose through central London was seen in footage captured by the London City Walks YouTube channel.

Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband have placed a large bust of the war veteran in the hallway

Polster suggests timescale of a potential vote depends on auncertaina politics and how a potential incoming Labour government approaches relations with the EU

Two Household Cavalry horses are injured but still alive after a bloody rampage through central London

Labour acanat guaranteea their pledge to renationalise the railways if elected would bring in lower train fares, the shadow transport secretary has said.

Callum Baldwin, 23, was hurled 30 yards into a parked car after he was cut off and knocked over by a van while riding

Scottish Greens co-leaders arrived at and left Bute House before SNP leader Humza Yousaf held an emergency cabinet meeting and the so-called Bute House Agreement underpinning the government"s coalition ended on Thursday, 25 April.

There is "no way back" for the UK and Vladimir Putin"s relationship, David Cameron has said.

The chief executive of a horse charity has insisted there is "nothing cruel" about the way Household Cavalry horses are trained after several of the animals threw their riders and wreaked havoc across six miles of central London on Wednesday, 23 April.

Analysis by Refugee Council reveals that even if government is successful in flying 2,000 people to Rwanda by end of year, a further 115,575 asylum seekers will be left stranded in UK

Three soldiers were injured after the mounted regiment horses getting exercise were spooked by falling concrete - covered in blood they then tore through the capital

April saw increases to benefits and the state pension

aShe sorts of fascinates me,a the aItas a Sina musician said

Kimmel joked that Westas new business idea is athe next logical step after opening a Pre-K through 12th grade Christian private schoola

Ranada Shepard says she understands if the animated revival of the classic sitcom is ajoltinga

Classic films will screen over a three-day period at participating cinema chains

Matty Healy has responded to a adiss tracka by Taylor Swift that seems to reference the pairas brief relationship on her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Annie Clarkas self-produced seventh album is smart, cohesive and refreshingly tight

The aShake It Offa hitmaker also broke the platformas record for most streamed album in a day

Neil Tennant spins intoxicating tales of dancefloor liberation and queer trailblazers

Some curious viewers of the hit Netflix miniseries have tried to track down its real-life figures

Performance artist went viral earlier this week for confronting Baldwin over aRusta shooting

This Netflix series, which has echoes of aRiverdalea and aLockwood & Coa, is likely to give viewers a sense of deja vu

Damian Hurley is the director of his motheras latest picture, aStrictly Confidentiala

Leading figures from politics, science, the arts and comedy will speak to aThe Independenta at annual cultural event

Content creator is a satirical performance artist known for confronting political and public figures

Philipps appeared as a guest in the hit HBO sitcom in 2007

Travis Kelce is ain awea of Taylor Swift, according to a source close to the couple.

ITV head says the show isnat seeing enough international appeal

Actors worked together on the 2016 film aGrimsbya

aUnholya singer and Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine have been selected as Proms headliners

Barker insists decision to ask her to leave was for audience, not himself

aI was so angry,a the ITV presenter said

Character made his debut in the season one premiere aSimpsons Roasting on an Open Firea

Comedian gave a frank take on his finances

Singer shared mortifying backstage blunder while appearing on aThe One Showa

Travis Kelceas mother says she is avery impresseda with singeras new album

Painting abelieved lost for approximately 100 yearsa

Including a long-standing hit sitcom and two original titles

Coughlan says advocacy for social justice has always been part of her life

Like Mark Hamill and Hayden Christensen before her, the aForce Awakensa actor has struggled to find her footing outside of the sci-fi franchise. But her new film offers compelling evidence that there are big things to come, writes Louis Chilton

Swift dissected her brief fling with The 1975 frontman on her new album aThe Tortured Poets Departmenta

David Leitchas celebration of Hollywoodas most undervalued performers a also starring Emily Blunt and Aaron Taylor-Johnson a proves that old-fashioned, practical moviemaking is very much back in style

The actor talks to Tom Murray about the politicisation of the hit western, Kevin Costneras exit, working with Bradley Cooper and Ari Aster, and BeyoncA(c)as controversial arrival on the country scene

Controversial rapper reportedly in talks to launch adult entertainment division of his Yeezy brand with Stormy Danielsas ex-husband Mike Moz

But it can"t, so you"ll just have to be grateful and amazed on your own.

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Because nothing says "I love you, Mom" like a Golden Girls magnet set.

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Featuring a mattifying dry shampoo, a reusable pet hair remover, and a 100% natural oven scrub that deserves 6/5 stars.

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From fancy foot peels to springy toe stretchers a there"s a whole world of products that"d love to, ahem, meet your feet.

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From sporty mini dresses to Wimbledon-white ensembles, Zendaya and her stylist, Law Roach, are a match made in tennis heaven.

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Not everyone is meant to meet their heroes.

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"I finally feel like I can breathe. I don"t think I can explain how profound that is."

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"I did really get into Cats, there was more plot than the stage show."

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Doctors, lawyers, and salesmen aren"t the only people breaking six figures.

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When Gwyneth Paltrow stepped into the wellness space, Martha Stewart said, "She just needs to be quiet a she"s a movie star. If she were confident in her acting, she wouldn"t be trying to be Martha Stewart."

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Buddy, I don"t even know what I"m having for dinner tonight.

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Honestly, if Usher was my daddy, I"d do the same, LOL.

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One thing is for sure, many people don"t see AI as a good thing.

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Songs like "Fortnight" and "The Tortured Poets Department" are widely rumoured to be inspired by The 1975"s frontman.

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"I was blinded by rage and hurt, and Iam not a confrontational person at all, so all I did was stand up, take my rings off, and throw them into the ocean."

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"A successful marriage will have ups and downs. Anyone who says they never have ups and downs is not being truthful."

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These are the styles reviewers say will give you happy feet.

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Turns out I"d have the ability to time travel.

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Dating experts and daters reveal the things your date is likely a and unlikely a to notice right off the bat.

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Hydrated and sun-protected skin, here you come.

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The way these subtle noise-dampening earplugs will finally bring you *peace* in your open office d<< .

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You can"t host the best backyard party of the year in a dirty space... just saying.

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Once you try out this flossing toothbrush, de-shedding pet brush, and no-scrub shower cleaner, there"s no going back.

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aI shouldave trusted myself, and I shouldave stepped in.a

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Flowers, vegetables, and greenery await.

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If your step count on vacation is "too many," you need to invest in these tingling masks for achy feet, stat.

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Why put on real pants when your favorite T-shirt dress is right there...

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aItas funny because there was a moment when a lot of young kids didnat really know who I wasa|and then Netflix got the show and they started playing the old seasons.a

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aI was probably keeping everybody over at Sony marketing and distribution awake at night because I couldnat stop with ideas.a

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Former coalition partnersa decision brings Scottish first minister to brink of losing vote, which could make his position untenable

• Explainer: what was the SNP and Greensa deal?

Humza Yousaf could be forced to quit as Scotlandas first minister after the Scottish Greens announced they would back a motion of no confidence against him at Holyrood.

The Scottish National partyas former coalition partners declared they would vote next week against the man who had abetrayeda them, hours after he unilaterally ended their power-sharing deal.

Concern grows over legality of governmentas approach as new figures show more than 150,000 carers facing huge penalties

• A hero a then sacked. The careras allowance whistleblower

New figures show more than 150,000 unpaid carers are now facing huge fines for minor rule breaches, as MPs, charities and campaigners demanded an immediate amnesty.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, joined calls to write off the vast debts incurred by tens of thousands of people who care for sick, disabled and elderly relatives after experts raised concerns about the legality of the governmentas approach.

Ex-National Enquirer publisher emphasizing in testimony that he refused to pay off any more people for Trump when Stormy Daniels looked to sell her affair

• A guide to Trumpas hush-money trial
• Who is David Pecker, key witness in Trumpas criminal trial?

aHe said she was a 12 out of 10,a David Pecker says the former editor in chief of the National Enquirer, Dylan Howard, told him about Karen McDougal after meeting with her.

Pecker says McDougal told Howard she didnat want her story about Trump to be published. He says:

She said she didnat want to be the next Monica Lewinsky a| She wanted to restart her career.

Dylan came to me in early June of 2016 and said that he received a call from one of his major sources, in California, that thereas a Playboy model who is trying to sell a story about a relationship that she had with Donald Trump for a year.

• Premier League live updates from the 8pm BST kick-off
• Live scoreboard | Read Football Daily | And email Scott

5 min: Joao Pedro steals the ball in midfield and races into the City half. Heas got options on either side but takes the wrong one, passing to Veltman on his right. Veltman runs into trouble immediately and the counter peters out. aGreetings from Virginia,a begins Eagle Brosi. aThe quality of the American league is so poor that Iam usually happy to catch any EPL match but I find Pep without Jack Grealish to be so so boring. Thereas something so horribly funny about watching Jack, with his tiny shinpads, run into his opponent, fall down and see the ref just get totally conned. I guess spending the preseason drunk isnat wise? But I miss the only likeable/watchable thing about this City team. Hereas hoping he gets at least a 15-minute cameo.a

3 min: Gross makes a nuisance of himself down the inside-left channel. The ball breaks to Welbeck, arriving on the overlap. Welbeck lashes a low first-time effort towards the bottom right, but Ederson fields it at full stretch. A bright start by both teams.

Suspects, aged 42 and 68, held on suspicion of murder following discovery of plastic-wrapped lower back, buttocks and thigh

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a torso was found wrapped in plastic at a nature reserve in Greater Manchester.

Part of a dismembered body, consisting of the bottom of the back, buttocks and thigh, were found in clear plastic by a passerby at Kersal Dale Wetlands in Salford on 4 April.

Teenager charged with trying to kill two teachers and fellow pupil after incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman

A 13-year-old girl has been charged with attempting to murder two teachers and a fellow pupil in a school playground stabbing in Wales.

The two adults and child all received knife wounds in the incident at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. Dyfed-Powys police said they were also investigating threats allegedly made by a 15-year-old boy that alluded to the incident.

Court rules judge who oversaw landmark trial was mistaken in allowing women whose accusations were not part of case to testify

The disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinsteinas 2020 conviction on sex crimes was overturned by a New York appeals court on Thursday, as prosecutors say they will retry the firestorm case.

In a 4-3 decision, the state of New York court of appeals ruled that the judge who oversaw Weinsteinas 2020 conviction prejudiced the ex-movie mogul with aegregiousa improper rulings and was mistaken in allowing other women whose accusations were not a part of the 2020 case to testify.

Angela van den Bogerd questioned over 2018 testimony about remote access to Horizon IT system

A former senior Post Office executive gave afalsea evidence to the high court about the ability of the Horizon IT system to be accessed remotely, a public inquiry has heard.

Angela van den Bogerd, who was business improvement director at the postal company, was asked about testimony she gave in 2018 in a lawsuit brought by the former branch operator Alan Bates and 554 others suing the Post Office over their persecution and prosecution because of the Horizon system.

Researchers also find zebra finches 20% less likely to hatch from eggs if exposed to noise pollution

Noise pollution from traffic stunts growth in baby birds, even while inside the egg, research has found.

Unhatched birds and hatchlings that are exposed to noise from city traffic experience long-term negative effects on their health, growth and reproduction, the study found.

Councillors unanimously refuse permission for 42-storey block of flats on top of former residence and hospital

Councillors in Birmingham have unanimously refused to grant planning permission for a controversial 42-storey skyscraper on top of a Grade-II listed former hospital.

The proposal for the city centre site included a large glass tower block, including more than 300 flats and a cafe and roof terrace, erected on top of a Georgian building that has stood there since the early 19th century.

Broadcaster Richie Brave, whose ancestors were enslaved, says organisers should be aasking themselves some questionsa

The Radio 1Xtra host Richie Brave has said the Booker prize should consider changing its name because of its links to enslavement.

Braveas legal surname is Booker and his ancestors were enslaved by the founders of the company that originally sponsored the prize.

Enrico La Rocca helped expose profound failures but less than a year later was dismissed by the DWP a and then later rehired

• Sunak under pressure to grant carers amnesty

Almost exactly five years ago, Enrico La Rocca was hailed by MPs as a hero, a whistleblower whose tenacity had helped expose profound failures at the heart of the governmentas vast benefits agency, resulting in tens of thousands of vulnerable unpaid carers being unfairly fined and prosecuted.

Without La Rocca a who was not named at the time a serious problems with careras allowance overpayments may never have come to light, the Commons work and pensions select committee concluded: without him the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) would never have been persuaded of the aurgent need to acta.

US supreme court hears three hours of oral arguments on whether ex-president has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution

The US supreme court on Thursday heard roughly three hours of oral arguments about whether Donald Trump enjoyed absolute immunity from criminal prosecution because the acts included in the indictment alleging he plotted to subvert the 2020 election involved his duties as president.

The court did not seem inclined to grant total immunity to Trump. But a majority of the justices suggested there should be some level of protection, and expressed an interest in having a lower court decide whether the indictment included aofficiala acts that could be expunged.

Study found Great Britain had worst rate of child alcohol consumption in world, but youth drinking is said still to have adeclined sharplya

In 2000, about 19% of children under 16 in England smoked, according to Action on Smoking and Health. By 2018, this had declined to 5%.

But, according to a major report by the World Health Organization released on Thursday, a third of 11-year-olds and over half of 13-year-olds had drunk alcohol, the highest rate of any country worldwide. Girls were found to be more likely than boys to have drunk at the age of 15.

A anon-hierarchicala university space that can be continually altered or even moved has won the EUas biennial prize for contemporary architecture

A lightweight university study centre designed to be easily disassembled has won the prize for the best building in Europe. Longevity, permanence and a sense of immutability might be the ambition of most architects, but Gustav DA1/4sing and Max Hacke would be delighted to see their building adapted and reconfigured, or ultimately dismantled and moved somewhere else altogether.

aWe imagined the project as a changeable system,a says DA1/4sing, co-designer of the new study pavilion for the Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany, which has been named this yearas winner of the EU Mies award (formerly the Mies van der Rohe award), the biennial European Union prize for contemporary architecture. aWe wanted it to be a counter model to the universityas high-rise building and its conventional one-sided lecture halls. Itas more like an extension of the landscape that can be forever modified, a non-hierarchical space that the students can make their own.a

In Human Resources, Time Out and The Class, the Palme daOr-winning film-maker a who has died aged 63 a addressed French and European society at all levels

Laurent Cantet was a classic product of the French cinema industry: a deeply intelligent, high-minded progressive film-maker of the same generation as Robin Campillo and Dominik Moll whose supremely literate, emotionally committed, stylish and well-acted movies aspired to address French and European society at all levels.

Cantet made films that you could imagine being discussed around a gregarious dinner table of fashionable Parisians, with glasses being avidly drained and refilled all round a in fact, you could imagine Cantet himself talking about his work at just this kind of gathering.

Only this week the first minister said he was delighted with his coalition with the Greens. But then a|

Be careful what you wish for. Itas hard not to feel a scintilla of sympathy for Humza Yousaf. On a human level, if not a political one. For well over a decade the SNP had ruled more or less unchallenged in Scotland. Free to do whatever it liked, though not, ironically, the one thing on which its existence was predicated: making Scotland independent.

The UK parliament was in no hurry to grant a second referendum, much to the SNPas displeasure. The first had been labelled a once-in-a-generation event. The SNP saw it differently. Generations pass more quickly in Scotland apparently.

From Miriam being arevealeda as a transgender woman to the contestants trashing the set, it was the cruellest reality show ever. Ahead of a new series about its tragic fallout, Miriamas brother and friend open up for the first time about her death

It was the very definition of adifferent timesa. In summer 2003, a TV dating series saw men compete for the affections of a 21-year-old Mexican model named Miriam Rivera. What her suitors didnat realise was that the glamorous star of the show had a secret. In the climactic episode, Rivera announced that she was a transgender woman. All hell broke loose. Contestants sued the show in an attempt to ensure it never aired.

Thereas Something About Miriam would go down in the showbiz hall of shame as one of the most controversial reality shows ever. Now, a Channel 4 docuseries revisits the making of the show 20 years since it aired a and five years since Rivera died at the age of 38. Itas a story of belief-beggaring insensitivity and its tragic aftermath.

Party wants to fully nationalise train network within five years of coming to power, in abiggest rail reform for a generationa

Labour has made one of its most radical proposals yet in the run-up to an election campaign: to fully nationalise the train network within five years of coming to power.

The party has pledged to guarantee the cheapest fares as part of athe biggest reform of our railways for a generationa, bringing all passenger rail into national ownership under the Great British Railways (GBR) body.

Muscular bodies dripping with sweat are all over cinema screens a and each other. But these films are very different from the sports romances of old

This spring is shaping up to be the season of the artful athletic romance in cinema. Rose Glassas Love Lies Bleeding and Luca Guadagninoas Challengers both offer up their own twisted queer romances set within the world of sport. Both film-makers share a preoccupation with their athletes, lingering over their bodies in ultra-closeup. Muscles ripple and swell like the powerful pulse of the tide. Perfect, glistening orbs of sweat form then drift off the body in slow motion. In these films, ripped, toned bodies become tantalising, treacherous landscapes, and itas on this physical terrain that we can see exactly how and why the charactersa internal desires play out.

Love Lies Bleeding opens with a pulsating montage in a grimy gym as Glass confronts us with running, cycling, lifting, pressing bodies in all of their sweating, straining vulgarity. Meanwhile, Lou (Kristen Stewart), the uninspired gym manager, is sticking her hand down the venueas perpetually clogged toilet. However, when Jackie (Katy OaBrian), a wannabe bodybuilder, rolls through town, all this grotesquery becomes a thing of beauty. They begin a romance. Lou pumps her lover full of steroids and constantly ogles her dense muscles.

Paola Cortellesias directing debut, in which she also stars, depicts gruelling domestic abuse before finding its way to startling redemption

Italian actor and singer Paola Cortellesi has been breaking hearts and box office records on her home turf with this directing debut. Itas a richly and even outrageously sentimental working-class drama of postwar Rome, a story of domestic abuse whose heroine finally escapes from misogyny and cruelty through a piece of narrative sleight-of-hand that borders on magic-neorealism, performed with shameless theatrical flair and marvellously composed in luminous monochrome. The film pays homage to early pictures by De Sica and Fellini, and Cortellesias own performance is consciously in the spirit of movie divas such as Anna Magnani, Sophia Loren and Giulietta Masina.

The scene is Rome just after the end of the second world war, when American GIs were a presence on the streets and Italian women had just been given the right to vote a though exercising it while under the baleful eye of the filmas misogynist menfolk is another matter. Cortellesi plays Delia, a woman who is being regularly beaten by her brutish husband Ivano (Valerio Mastandrea). He makes her slave around the house, skivvy to his cantankerous bedridden father (great stuff from veteran comic turn Giorgio Colangeli), and do odd jobs around the city, the cash payment for which she has to hand over at the end of every day. Their teenage daughter Marcella (Romana Maggiora Vergano), who sees how her mother is being brutalised and humiliated, is made to sleep in the same bedroom as her two brattish kid brothers, and when she receives a proposal of marriage from a well-off local boy, she, like her parents, is thrilled a at first.

As Taylor Swift tops $1bn in tour revenue, musicians playing smaller venues are facing pitiful fees and frequent losses. Should the state step in to save our live music scene?

When you see a band playing to thousands of fans in a sun-drenched festival field, signing a record deal with a major label or playing endlessly from the airwaves, itas easy to conjure an image of success that comes with some serious cash to boot a particularly when Taylor Swift has broken $1bn in revenue for her current Eras tour. But looks can be deceiving. aI donat blame the public for seeing a band playing to 2,000 people and thinking theyare minted,a says artist manager Dan Potts. aBut the reality is quite different.a

Post-Covid there has been significant focus on grassroots music venues as they struggle to stay open. Thereas been less focus on the actual ability of artists to tour these venues. David Martin, chief executive officer of the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), says weare in a acost-of-touring crisisa. Pretty much every cost attached to touring a van hire, crew, travel, accommodation, food and drink a has gone up, while fees and audiences often have not. a[Playing] live is becoming financially unsustainable for many artists,a he says. aArtists are seeing [playing] live as a loss leader now. Thatas if they can even afford to make it work in the first place.a

The overcrowded city is leading the way with a tax on day trippers. Surely other great European destinations should follow suit

Venice has had enough. It is sinking beneath the twin assaults of tourism and the sea and believes the answer lies in fending off visitors by charging them to enter. It is not alone. Tourism is under attack. Seville is charging for entry to the central Plaza de EspaA+-a. In Paris, the Mona Lisa is so besieged by flashing phones she is about to be banished to a basement. Barcelona graffiti shout, aTourists go home, refugees welcome.a Amsterdam wants no more coach parties, nor does Rome.

The Venice payment will be complicated. It will apply at specific entry points only to day trippers to the city centre, not hotel guests. It will be a mere five euros and confined to peak times of day over the summer. This will hardly cover the cost of running it. It is a political gesture that is unlikely to stem the tourist flow round the Rialto and St Markas Square, let alone leave more room for Venetians to enjoy their city undisturbed by mobs.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Sewage pollutes our waterways, species face extinction. We must act fast to halt the decline a and we will

• Steve Reed is shadow environment secretary

We must not be the last generation to have the opportunity to marvel at nature.

When I was growing up, I took for granted the excitement of climbing trees in the local woods at the end of our road, sleeping under the stars at Scout camp, and exploring the micro-worlds of seaside rockpools on holiday in Cornwall. Our children and grandchildren deserve to be astounded by the magnificence of our landscapes and coastlines, mesmerised by the beauty of a robinas song, and to splash about in the local river.

Steve Reed is the MP for Croydon North, and shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs

Our former PM has a dire warning and a book to sell, but it isnat really cutting through. A bit more Brit-style bumbling might help

aI know the name,a texts a friend when I ask if she knows who Liz Truss is, but like most Americans canat quite put her finger on why. aLike 8%,a guesses another when I ask her to put a number on how many of her countrymen she imagines know of Truss. The standard response, in my extremely unscientific poll of Americans as to whether or not they know of Truss, however, was: aNo, should I?a a the answer to which, of course, depends entirely on whether you want to understand why the Tory party is polling around 20% or whether you happen to be Liz Truss.

Truss, the only one of us to suffer that particular misfortune, was in Washington DC this week trying, like so many minor British celebrities before her, to catch the eye of the Americans. At the Heritage Foundation, a rightwing thinktank that hosted the launch of Trussas book Ten Years to Save the West, she came bearing a awarninga. Not an ideal ice-breaker, perhaps, but one clearly tailored to an audience receptive to the frisson of the term aforces of the global lefta.

Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist

A military horse that bolted through central London on Wednesday is in a aserious conditiona in an equine hospital

Ali died of cancer last year. He was 21, and had to live in the choking smoke of the Rumaila oilfield

A year has passed since my beautiful boy Ali Julood died. Not a day goes by when I do not think of him smiling and playing football with his friends outside. Those days are gone. As a father, that gives me great pain.

Ali was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 15. The cancer caused him to drop out of school, leave his football team and spend years undergoing painful medical treatment. He died at the age of 21 on 21 April 2023.

Shareholders in the mining firm are unimpressed by the offer as it stands but what happens next could be interesting

• BHP move to buy Anglo American threatens to hasten City exodus

In theory, Anglo American has been a sitting duck for a takeover bid for about a decade. Its share price has lagged behind that of other big miners and successive efforts to sharpen a sprawling portfolio have underwhelmed. The last news, at the end of 2023, was production delays that sent the shares down 20% in a day.

In practice, the same complexities, plus deep entanglement in South African politics, have served as a deterrent to a bid. Anglo was seen as too fiddly. But here comes BHP, the Australian giant of the sector, with a proposal to cut through the noise and get to the assets it would like to own, primarily Angloas copper mines in Peru and Chile and, to a lesser extent, its iron ore projects in Brazil and metallurgical coal in Queensland.

Our capital has many problems, but it is time to push back against attacks from those who neither know nor understand it

I have been reading about the most abysmal place. It is a land where children, red-faced with their own radicalism, march alongside bearded Islamists to make the streets a no-go zone, while nodding-dog liberals curse the Brexiter masses for inflating the cost of their arugula. It boasts an infinite array of pronouns; multimillion-pound townhouses whose residents demand you check your privilege; a thousand rainbow flags, but not a single St Georgeas cross. It is rife with criminal behaviour, which extends far beyond the prices charged by pub landlords. Hieronymus Bosch, put down your paintbrush: this place truly is Hell.

It also happens to be my home.

Aditya Chakrabortty is a Guardian columnist

Large-language models such as ChatGPT are still liable to distort the meaning of what they are summarising

• Seth Lazar is a professor of philosophy at the Australian National University and a distinguished research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI

What is the role of AI in democracy? Is it just a volcano of deepfakes and disinformation? Or can it a as many activists and even AI labs are betting a help fix an ailing and ageing political system? The UK government, which loves to appear aligned with the bleeding edge of AI, seems to think the technology can enhance British democracy. It envisages a world where large-language models (LLMs) are condensing and analysing submissions to public consultations, preparing ministerial briefs, and perhaps even drafting legislation. Is this a valid initiative by a tech-forward administration? Or is it just a way of dressing up civil service cuts, to the detriment of democracy?

LLMs, the AI paradigm that that has taken the world by storm since ChatGPTas 2022 launch, have been explicitly trained to summarise and distil information. And they can now process hundreds, even thousands, of pages of text at a time. The UK government, meanwhile, runs about 700 public consultations a year. So one obvious use for LLMs is to help analyse and summarise the thousands of pages of submissions they receive in response to each. Unfortunately, while they do a great job of summarising emails or individual newspaper articles, LLMs have a way to go before they are an appropriate replacement for civil servants analysing public consultations.

Humza Yousafas position as first minister is in danger, but the problems predate his leadership

A year ago, Scotlandas newly elected first minister, Humza Yousaf, said that the Scottish National partyas 2021 pact with the Scottish Greens a giving him a majority in the Holyrood parliament a was aworth its weight in golda. As recently as Tuesday, Mr Yousaf was publicly buffing his treasure, insisting that he hoped the deal would continue. Less than 48 hours later, however, he decided it was time to sell, scrapping the pact and pledging instead to lead a minority SNP government for the remaining two years of this Scottish parliament. Shortly afterwards, the furious Greens vowed to back next weekas Conservative motion of no confidence against the man who had abetrayeda them.

The split is no surprise. Last week, the Scottish government scrapped its pledge of a 75% cut in carbon emissions by 2030, and its legally binding annual reduction targets. It did so after the UK Climate Change Committee declared the target ano longer crediblea because not enough groundwork had been done. The Scottish Greens reacted with anger; an emergency meeting was planned for May to decide whether to continue in government. Meanwhile, some SNP backbenchers made clear that they had had enough too. On Thursday, anxious to show decisive leadership, Mr�Yousaf got in first, dumping the deal.

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Train services are essential to the health of the economy, society and environment. These proposals are pragmatic and welcome

Failing train services in Britain have often been the butt of jokes, but the chaos is not funny to those who rely on them. For many in the north of England in particular, frustration has given way to despair. Railways are a public good that the public are turning away from.

The pandemicas long-term impact on working patterns may be the chief culprit for slashed traveller numbers. But it is unsurprising that former passengers are declining to come back. Many are concluding that late and cancelled trains, dirty and overcrowded carriages, and broken toilets make journeys too unpredictable or unpleasant, and are driving, flying or staying put instead. In the last quarter of 2024, a record 4.87% of trains were cancelled. Fares have risen almost twice as fast as wages since 2010.

Readers respond to the prime ministeras claim that the UK is suffering from a asicknote culturea

As a retired GP who spent 35 years looking after people with anxiety and depression in primary care, I find Rishi Sunakas recent comments about GPs aover-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of lifea offensive (Sunak to cite Britainas asicknote culturea in bid to overhaul fit note system, 19 April). These disabling problems constitute around 40% of all those attending a GP practice.

He clearly has no idea what is going on in his country. People are suffering from multiple stresses, including huge financial pressures largely brought about by his own partyas total incompetence over the past 14 years. People are pretty resilient when dealing with stressful adverse events such as bereavement or job loss or debt in their lives, but when they encounter one more bad thing, they ahit a walla and become unable to continue. It seems like a hard-wired mechanism that renders them incapable of carrying on.

The problem is that the public eye is ruinous, especially for women, says Dr Catherine Merrick

The headline on Gaby Hinsliffas article (19 April) reads aMeghanas gone from royal upsetter to tradwife in three short years. Given whatas out there, youad do the samea.

Well, no, I wouldnat. Iad just erase�myself from the public eye: the one thing she cannot or will not�do. For the problem reflected in this article is not jam a Meghan Markleas or anyone elseas. Jam is not the problem. (Which may or may not be a line from Taylor Swiftas new album...)

Captain reflects on her mum being a arocka and the Red Rosesa new coach as they chase another Six Nations grand slam

aWeare in France and the crowd is going to be hostile,a Marlie Packer says as she looks ahead to Saturdayas Six Nations grand slam�decider in Bordeaux with relish. aBut we know that can flip on its head because of the French crowd. If theyare not happy with the way their team are playing, they�turn on�them and give them a bit of a�hard time.a

Packer will win her 104th cap and, as captain, she also knows England have not lost a Six Nations match in six years. She played in that last defeat, away to France in Grenoble in March 2018, and so she has an acute awareness of the light and shade in rugby and life. Packer has lost two agonising World Cup finals, to New Zealand, but she helped England win the tournament in 2014.

• aItas no secret that I want to go to Liverpoola
• Feyenoord coach confident the clubs will agree a deal

Arne Slot has revealed he is keen on a move to Liverpool and has Aaconfidencea that a switch to Anfield will materialise.

The Feyenoord manager, who has become Liverpoolas preferred candidate to succeed JA1/4rgen Klopp, was speaking to ESPN before the clubas Eredivisie game against Go Ahead Eagles.

• Spaniard eases to 6-1, 6-0 victory over 16-year-old wildcard
• Veteran to face Alex de Minaur in second round of Madrid Open

As Rafael Nadal prepared to enter the Estadio Manolo Santana for what could have been his final match on home soil, like every one of his matches this week could be, much of the 12,400 capacity crowd filled out the walkway around the stadium. He emerged to a prolonged standing Aovation, necks craning to catch a fleeting glimpse of his entrance.

It was a moment. The start of a final homecoming for the greatest athlete from these lands, but it remains to be seen if he has more to give. Against an extremely young opponent out of his depth, Nadal moved into the second round of the Madrid Open with Aefficiency and ease, dismantling Darwin Blanch a 21 years his junior a 6-1, 6-0 in an hour. aAt least two more days,a said Nadal afterwards. aIn the end, Iam happy.a

Ethan Wheatley became the latest homegrown talent to make their first-team debut in the win over Sheffield United

The quarter of a millennia has been 93 years in the making at Old Trafford and it was poignant that a local lad, Ethan Wheatley, became the 250th academy graduate to make their debut for Manchester Unitedas senior menas team on Wednesday�night.

The 18-year-old had spent the previous evening scoring two goals to help defeat Manchester City to win the Premier League Cup. Wheatley, who like his teammate Kobbie Mainoo was born in Stockport, became the 101st player from Greater Manchester to make the leap from academy to elite when he replaced Rasmus HA,jlund late on against Sheffield United.

• Newey believed to be unhappy with events this season
• News deals blow to Red Bull hopes of keeping Verstappen

Red Bullas chief technical officer, Adrian Newey, is set to leave the team, it has been reported. Newey is the most successful designer of the modern Formula One era and has been an instrumental part of Red Bullas success but is said to have become uncomfortable with his Aposition at the team since the team principal, Christian Horner, was cleared after an investigation into accusations of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee.

The 65-year-old Newey has been with Red Bull since 2006, only one year after the team was formed. He has since designed cars that have won seven driversa titles and six constructorsa championships for Red Bull and his talents have long been sought after by rivals across the paddock. Losing him would be an enormous blow for the team.

• World No 1 ups the ante amid rumours of a rival tour
• OaSullivan cruises into second round with 10-1 win over Page

Ronnie OaSullivan declared Ahimself open to offers amid rumours of a rival snooker tour and warned he would walk away from the sport if he believed his talent was being undervalued.

Leading players, including OaSullivan, are understood to have been approached by Far East backers about the prospect of establishing a breakaway circuit from as early as next season.

• Independent prosecutor Eric Cottier appointed to review case
• In 2021 23 swimmers were cleared of doping after positive tests

The World Anti-Doping Agency has dismissed allegations that it is biased in favour of China as adamaging and baselessa and asked an independent prosecutor to review its handling of the case of 23 Chinese swimmers who were cleared of doping.

Wada said that the Swiss prosecutor, Eric Cottier, would be granted afull and unfettered accessa to all its files and documents related to the case before reporting back in the next two months before the Paris Olympics.