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Virgil van Dijk openly criticised Liverpool’s performance after a crushing 4‑0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter‑final, saying the side effectively "gave up" and offering a direct apology to the club’s supporters. The Dutch defender described the loss as the most severe under manager Arne Slot, noting that the timing of the defeat makes it especially hard to rebound for the Champions League first‑leg against Paris Saint‑Germain on Wednesday. Van Dijk pointed out that Liverpool allowed four goals in an 18‑minute spell around the break, a collapse that has contributed to the club’s tally of 15 defeats across all competitions this season (excluding the Community Shield). "It’s on us," he said, expressing remorse for the second‑half display and acknowledging the mental strain of a difficult campaign. He also took personal responsibility for the penalty that gave City the lead, marking his fourth spot‑kick conceded this season after 319 appearances for Liverpool. Regarding the manager, Van Dijk stated, "Slot is responsible as the manager, but we are the ones on the pitch." He added that the team let both the fans and themselves down, especially after the penalty incident. Looking ahead, the captain warned that the upcoming match in Paris will be "very difficult", but stressed that Liverpool must fight in the remaining three games to salvage the season. Van Dijk also reflected on a perceived loss of the "togetherness" that defined his years at the club, attributing it to a major squad overhaul and a transitional period that hampers consistency.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer seized the launch of a new package of workers’ rights, due to take effect on Monday, to launch a direct attack on the Green Party and Reform UK. He warned that supporting any rival would place recent gains in sick pay, parental leave and the curbing of zero‑hours contracts in jeopardy. Speaking ahead of the May 7 local elections, Starmer framed Labour’s agenda as the only one offering a "serious, credible economic strategy" capable of delivering the reforms. He dismissed business critics as "vested interests" who had warned against the measures. The reforms include several headline‑making changes: the two‑child benefit cap is lifted – a demand long championed by child‑poverty advocates – and the government touts this as one of its proudest achievements. A 4.8% rise in the state pension will raise weekly payments to £241.30, while the standard allowance for Universal Credit climbs by 2.3%. Under the Employment Rights Act 2025, statutory sick pay becomes a right from the first day of illness, and workers will be entitled to paternity and unpaid parental leave immediately upon starting a job. These "day‑one rights" are presented as the most significant strengthening of workers’ protections in a generation. Labour is positioning these policies as a bulwark against potential losses in English council and mayoral contests, where it faces challenges from Reform on the right and the Greens on the left. Recent YouGov data placed the Greens and Reform each at 21%** of voting intention, with Labour trailing at **17%**. Starmer’s rhetoric signals a leftward shift within Labour, amid pressure from potential leadership rivals such as Angela Rayner and Andy Burnham. He acknowledged past opposition from business leaders who warned of costs and disruption, but asserted that Labour chose to stand with "working people". Not all left‑wing allies are satisfied. Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham criticised the Employment Rights Act as "a shell of its former self," while the union recently slashed its membership fees to Labour over disputes like the Birmingham bin strike. The Conservative Party, represented by Kemi Badenoch, condemned the removal of the two‑child benefit cap, claiming it would cost billions and "reward worklessness". Government analysis estimates the change will channel at least £1 billion annually to 186,000 work‑less households, with a typical family of two unemployed adults and three children seeing a **£6,400** income boost. The bulk of the benefit is projected to flow to a handful of cities – Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Bradford and Glasgow – each set to receive over **£200 million** per year. Starmer likened the current reforms to the Blair government’s introduction of the minimum wage 27 years ago, positioning them as a historic step forward for the UK labour market.

The world is facing an energy crisis reminiscent of the 1970s, with rising energy prices and fears of stagflation. In response, countries may turn to coal, a dirtiest of fuels, to meet their energy demands.Historically, energy crises have led to increased investment in coal production. During Jimmy Carter's presidency, the US aggressively developed domestic coal sources, which became America's 'black hope'. Similarly, Donald Trump's America is doubling down on fossil fuels, pushing to develop US coal and oil reserves.The energy crisis sparked by the US-Iran war highlights the need for renewable energy sources. However, the conflict has raised hurdles to investing in renewable power generation capacity, including inflation and interest rates. As a result, countries around the world, including Japan, India, and Europe, are considering or have already ramped up their use of coal.Despite the progress made in decarbonization and the switch to cleaner gas in power generation, the current crisis could unravel these efforts. Coal consumption worldwide has increased by about 1.3bn tons since 2020, to 8.8bn tons, driven by demand in India and China. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that coal supplied 23% of the world's energy in 2000, increasing to 28% in 2023.The global energy landscape is shifting, with renewable energy sources becoming increasingly important. However, the ongoing conflict in Iran and rising energy prices pose significant challenges to the transition to a low-carbon economy.

When screenwriter Daisy Goodwin examined Prince Albert’s habit of selecting Victoria’s bonnets, she wondered whether the gesture signified tender devotion or a more unsettling dominance. The question becomes the backbone of her new stage drama, which recasts the iconic Victorian marriage as a case of coercive control rather than a model partnership. Set in the waning days of Victoria’s reign at Windsor, the production opens with Amanda Boxer portraying an aging monarch—a weary, self‑pitying figure cloaked in black bombazine. Her character, a compulsive diarist, fears that her candid journals might be released after her death, a concern that fuels the play’s tension. Designer Alex Berry creates a slanted, reflective ceiling that acts like a distorted mirror of memory, underscoring Victoria’s claim that her diaries are “the only place where I could be completely honest”. Yet the presence of Albert, played by Rowan Polonski, suggests that even these private pages were never truly safe. Jessica Rhodes brings youthful Victoria to life, initially buoyant as she waltzes with Albert. The romance quickly darkens as Albert’s behavior shifts to manipulating her ambitions and curbing her joy. He pressures her into motherhood—she dismisses the children as “invincibly tedious”—and intrudes on her official duties, from speeches to industrial tours. In a biting line, she accuses him of making “the monarchy so boring that no one was awake enough to start a revolution”. The play’s narrative moves from teasing banter to overt control, with intimate moments on the sofa devolving into fierce arguments over gifts (“You gave me a brooch made of teeth, Albert!”). A poignant scene where Victoria reads from Jane Eyre hints at a gothic destiny that Goodwin imagines Albert may have plotted. While Goodwin’s empathy clearly leans toward Victoria, the production also raises contemporary expectations of royalty, suggesting that public service—not romantic idealisation—should define modern monarchs. Director Sophie Drake’s brisk pacing navigates the play’s contradictions, ultimately unsettling the long‑held myth of a contented, untroubled royal household. The production runs at the Watermill Theatre in Newbury until 9 May, offering audiences a fresh, critical lens on a celebrated historical partnership.

Mexico’s art world is in uproar after an agreement with Banco Santander to export a landmark segment of the Gelman collection to Spain. The collection, hailed as one of the most significant assemblages of 20th‑century Mexican art, features masterpieces by Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, José Clemente Orozco, María Izquierdo and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Approximately 400 cultural professionals have signed an open letter demanding clarity from the Mexican government about the fate of the works, especially those by Kahlo that the state has designated as an "artistic monument". Historian Francisco Berzunza warned that Kahlo is "the most important artist in the history of our country" and that her works should remain accessible in Mexico. The disputed batch comprises 160 paintings, sketches and photographs originally owned by collectors Jacques and Natasha Gelman and purchased by the Zambrano family in 2023. Under the Santander deal, the pieces—currently on public display in Mexico for the first time in two decades—are slated to travel to Spain this summer to become a centerpiece of the new Faro Santander cultural centre. Santander’s announcement promised to handle "conservation, research and exhibition" of the collection, yet it omitted the duration of the Spanish stay. The bank’s director, Daniel Vega Pérez de Arlucea, later told El País that the legislation governing the works is "flexible" and that the collection would enjoy a "permanent presence" at the centre, intensifying concerns. Mexican officials have attempted to reassure the public. President Claudia Sheinbaum stated, "Our desire is for the collection to remain in Mexico," while Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza emphasized that the export is only temporary and that the artworks are expected to return by 2028. Santander also issued a statement insisting the deal does not constitute a sale or permanent removal. Nevertheless, critics argue the contract is ambiguous. The agreement, viewed by the Guardian, allows Faro Santander to retain control of the collection at any point between June 2026 and 30 September 2030, with the possibility of extensions by mutual consent. Such language fuels fears that the pieces could become effectively permanent fixtures abroad. Legal experts note that Mexican law protects works declared national artistic monuments, mandating that they may leave the country only temporarily and that the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (Inbal) is responsible for their repatriation. With Inbal owning just four of Kahlo’s roughly 150 pieces, many fear the deal undermines the protective framework. Berzunza summed up the stakes: "If the works were not to return, a fundamental part of this artist’s body of work – and her history – would be lost. These pieces are essential to telling her story and to understanding our identity as Mexicans."

The conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel has reached a critical juncture on day 36 of the war. Iran has claimed responsibility for shooting down two US warplanes, a F-15E Strike Eagle and an A-10 Warthog, in a significant escalation of the conflict. Two American crewmembers were rescued, while one airman remains missing after the incidents over the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces and the Gulf. Iranian officials have celebrated the downing of the aircraft as a major military success, demonstrating Tehran's capability to confront US and Israeli forces. The incidents have sparked a major crisis, with search and rescue operations underway for the missing US crewmember. A US Black Hawk helicopter involved in the search was also hit by Iranian fire but managed to remain airborne. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has questioned the US's sincerity about diplomacy, accusing Washington of hypocrisy. The conflict has also had a significant impact on the region, with simultaneous conflicts in Iran, Gaza, and Lebanon costing Israel an estimated $112bn. The war has resulted in at least 2,076 people killed and 26,500 wounded in Iran since the start of the conflict on February 28. The international community remains on high alert, with Iran launching missile attacks on southern Israel and Israel destroying two critical bridges in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

On a sun‑lit picnic beside Canberra’s Molonglo River, a tartan blanket, a bottle of wine, crusty baguette, cheese and a daring chicken‑and‑grape salad from a gourmet magazine marked the beginning of a romance that would be defined by food.Their shared appetite for culinary experimentation quickly turned into a series of kitchen showdowns—debates over meat doneness, oven temperatures, seasoning ratios and the eternal butter‑vs‑oil dilemma. While the clashes were frequent, the meals they produced together often became celebrated triumphs.Over the years, their lives were chronicled in the spines of recipe books and the aromas of countless dinners. From the quest for the perfect loaf to the fiery sting of chilies that left a lasting impression, each dish mapped the highs and lows of their partnership.He gravitated toward savoury mains; she honed a talent for desserts. Their culinary quirks—her habit of returning leftovers to the fridge, his ritual of swaddling roasted meat in tea towels—added both friction and flavor to their shared table.Even after their separation, the couple’s kitchen remains a shared space. A well‑worn ceramic baking tray, scarred by years of roasting turkeys, chickens and lamb, still serves as the foundation for gravy‑making and other culinary rituals during holiday gatherings.One of his most enduring contributions is a dish they call Pasta Dimanche. Born from a pantry raid on a Sunday night, the pasta blends diced capsicum, carrot, purple onion, garlic, celery, parsley and tomato with a tin of tuna, cracked pepper, salt and a splash of Tabasco and green chilli sauce. The result is a vibrant, summery plate that celebrates colour, texture and the surprise harmony of warm and crisp.Recipe: Pasta Dimanche (Serves 4)Ingredients:1 red onion, finely chopped1 carrot, finely diced3 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 yellow capsicum, finely chopped1 green capsicum, finely chopped1 red capsicum, finely chopped1 cup finely chopped parsley370 g tin tuna, drained1 tsp Tabasco1 tsp green TabascoDried pasta of choice (to serve)Method:1. Toss the vegetables, garlic, parsley and tuna in a large bowl; season with Tabasco, salt and pepper.2. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente; drain.3. Divide pasta among four bowls, top with the tuna‑vegetable mix, and serve.Despite their split, they continue to exchange food news, recipe links from the New York Times, and tips on premium ingredients—proving that a shared love of cooking can outlast even the most intimate of relationships.

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen described the new space‑thriller Project Hail Mary as “a real treat” after watching it with his family and fellow Artemis II crew members ahead of their upcoming lunar fly‑around.During a live broadcast organized by the Canadian Space Agency, Hansen highlighted how the film exemplifies the synergy between art and science, noting that it “inspires people to imagine the sacrifices required to save humanity.”Co‑star Ryan Gosling, who shares Hansen’s Canadian roots in London, Ontario, sent his best wishes to the four astronauts before the mission’s scheduled launch on Wednesday.Hansen’s participation marks a milestone: he is the first non‑U.S. citizen to travel to the Moon. If the mission proceeds as planned, Artemis II will travel more than 250,000 miles from Earth, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.The crew’s ambition echoes past cinematic portrayals of space, recalling the acclaimed 1995 film about Apollo 13, and underscores the growing cultural interplay between Hollywood storytelling and real‑world exploration.

TGI Fridays, a global bar-restaurant chain, is set for a UK revival under the leadership of Ray Blanchette, who has acquired the brand's UK arm. Blanchette, a former TGI Fridays kitchen manager, believes the chain can regain its momentum in the UK and expand globally to 1,000 outlets. The UK restaurant industry has faced significant challenges, including higher staffing, energy, and food costs, as well as decreased diner numbers due to financial constraints. However, Blanchette is optimistic about TGI Fridays' prospects, citing its rich history and legacy as a foundation for growth. Blanchette's investment firm, Sugarloaf, has taken control of the global master franchise for TGI Fridays and directly operates 11 US outlets and the UK restaurants. He plans to invest over £2.5m in revamping restaurants, updating kitchen equipment, and enhancing staff training. Blanchette acknowledges that the UK tax regime for high street businesses is 'problematic' and stifles growth. He hopes for government change, given hospitality's significant role as one of the UK's largest employers. The revamped TGI Fridays UK will focus on providing an 'over the top and fun' experience, with a new menu, affordable options, and improved service. Blanchette is confident that a turnaround is possible, having read hundreds of thousands of online reviews of the UK business.