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The Museum of Youth Culture, located in Camden, London, is set to open on May 15. The museum's founders, led by Jon Swinstead, have amassed a 100,000-item archive that chronicles British youth subcultures from the mods and rockers to ravers and emo. The collection includes iconic items such as a Raleigh Chopper, an original Sony Walkman, and a punk mask with 'HATE' stenciled across it.The museum's concept was born out of Swinstead's passion for capturing British subcultures through photography, which began in his garden shed. The collection has since grown to include personalized school leavers' shirts, handbags, and customized shirts dedicated to two-tone bands. The museum aims to fill a void in the UK's cultural landscape, providing a space dedicated to the teen years and the subcultures that defined them.The museum will not only serve as a showcase for the collection but also as an event space, featuring a Rough Trade shop and a youth club. With a 20-year lease and support from the City Bridge Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the museum hopes to become a significant part of the UK's cultural landscape.

Iran has reportedly claimed to have downed a US F-35 fighter jet during a combat mission, a development that could challenge the aircraft's reputation as 'unkillable'. According to sources familiar with the matter, the incident occurred last week when the F-35 made an emergency landing at an airbase in the Middle East. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying it had targeted a US aircraft, and Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news agency released military footage purporting to show Tehran's air defence systems hitting a US F-35 stealth fighter. The F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is considered the cornerstone of Washington's aerial firepower, boasting advanced stealth technology, sensors, and high-speed computing. Its ability to gather and share data from a 360-degree camera suite and other sensors makes it a formidable asset in modern warfare. If confirmed, this would be the first time an F-35 has been struck by Iran during the ongoing conflict. Defence experts emphasize that even if the claims are true, it does not necessarily mean stealth technology is becoming obsolete, but rather that even advanced aircraft like the F-35 are not invulnerable in a dense, adaptive air-defence environment. The incident is under investigation, with the US military's Central Command stating that the pilot was in stable condition after the emergency landing. The US has not yet confirmed that the F-35 was hit by Iranian fire, with President Donald Trump stating, “We’re flying wherever we want. Nobody is even shooting at us.” This development comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, with at least 13 US service members killed and roughly 200 wounded during combat operations against Iran. In Iran, at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured since the start of the conflict.

Scotland has taken a significant step in the early detection and treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle wastage, by becoming the first part of the UK to screen newborn babies for the condition.The screening, which is part of the existing heel prick test offered to all parents in Scotland about four days after birth, is funded by the Scottish government and pharmaceutical company Novartis. The goal is to assess how well screening can detect SMA earlier, allowing babies to receive treatment as soon as possible.SMA affects an estimated 1 in 14,000 births worldwide and impacts movement, breathing, and swallowing. Without treatment, it can limit life expectancy to two years. The condition was brought to wider attention after former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson revealed in January that her twin daughters had been diagnosed with SMA.Campaigners, who have long advocated for newborn testing, hope the Scottish pilot will result in approval for the heel prick test across the UK. Giles Lomax, chief executive of SMA UK, said the screening pilot in Scotland would be “a huge impetus for other parts of the UK to speed up their own testing plans”. He hopes the Scotland trial will provide data that would convince the UK National Screening Committee to approve UK-wide testing.There is no cure for SMA, but there are now three NHS-funded drug treatments available. Lomax emphasized that with these treatments and newborn screening, “the future for anyone diagnosed with SMA is very different compared to their peers who were diagnosed symptomatically. It basically gives children the life they deserve.”

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the star wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, has secured a monumental contract extension. The deal, valued at $168.6m over four years, includes $120m guaranteed, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.The annual salary of $42.15m surpasses that of Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase, who averages $40.25m per season on his four-year, $161m deal. This significant increase reflects Smith-Njigba's value to the Seahawks and his impressive performance on the field.In February, Smith-Njigba expressed his expectation of becoming the highest-paid at his position, stating, “I think I deserve to be the highest-paid at my position, just what I give to the game and the community, I give it my all. And I think that’s worth a lot, lot more.” He emphasized his passion for the game, noting, “I would play this game for free, I love this game so much, but you don’t have to. I’m learning to be a good businessman, and we need that check at the end of the day.”Smith-Njigba's achievements include being the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2025, setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards, and catching 10 scoring passes. His playoff performance was stellar, with 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns, including a strong showing in Super Bowl LX.At 24 years old, Smith-Njigba has accumulated 282 receptions for 3,551 yards and 20 touchdown catches in 51 NFL games. As the 20th overall pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, he is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, solidifying his status as a top player in the league.

The Orange Tree theatre in London is currently hosting a captivating production of Nicholas Wright's 2002 play, Vincent in Brixton. This poignant piece imagines a lesser-known chapter in the life of Vincent van Gogh, who spent a year in south London pursuing a career as an art dealer and possibly had a romantic relationship with his landlady or her daughter.In Georgia Green's tender production, the play blossoms into more than just a footnote in art history. The story revolves around Vincent, portrayed by Jeroen Frank Kales, and his landlady Ursula, played by Niamh Cusack. Their characters share a deep mental perturbation, uncovering a kinship in misery that eventually blossoms into romance.The setting, designed by Charlotte Henery, is a cozy kitchen on the Orange Tree stage, perfect for quiet confidences. The sound design by Donato Wharton adds a sensory layer with birdsong, the sound of pans on the stove, and the rush of Vincent's blood during his first kiss. The chemistry between the leads is palpable, with Cusack's rich-layered voice conveying Ursula's distraught emotions.The play is remarkable for its non-judgmental writing, allowing the characters to express their feelings in personal and poetic ways. The cast delivers full-hearted performances, including Rawaed Asde as the other lodger and Ayesha Ostler as Ursula's vigilant daughter. The relationship between Vincent and Ursula is portrayed as a brief, radiant interlude, offering a glimpse into Van Gogh's life before he found his vocation as an artist.This production of Vincent in Brixton runs at the Orange Tree theatre, London, until 18 April, offering audiences a chance to experience a unique and emotional exploration of restless souls.

The Last Blossom, directed by Baku Kinoshita and written by Kazuya Konomoto, is a quiet, contemplative anime feature that rarely gets a theatrical release. The film opens in a lonely prison cell, where the elderly former yakuza Akutsu finds an unexpected confidant in a talking balsam flower.Over the course of one sleepless night, Akutsu's life story unfolds in bursts. Thirty years prior, another balsam flower grows in the back yard of Akutsu's humble house, which he shares with Nana and her baby son, Kensuke. The relationship between the taciturn man and the bubbly young woman is seemingly platonic; Kensuke is not his son. Yet there are hints of romantic attraction; they share bowls of piping hot ramen noodles, play endless rounds of Reversi, and join in harmonising the Ben E King classic Stand By Me.In contrast to this alternative nuclear family, the yakuza world is still strictly traditional, revolving around machismo and codes of brotherhood. When Kensuke is diagnosed with a heart condition, Akutsu is lured into a criminal plot, which leads to his incarceration. Though encompassing much bloodshed and even a hidden treasure subplot, The Last Blossom is most moving as an exploration of human conscience, where a capacity for violence and kindness coexist.The paradox is reminiscent of Shōhei Imamura’s Palme d’Or winner The Eel, starring Koji Yakusho as a wife-murderer who shelters a pregnant woman after his prison release. With his unassuming buzzcut, in stark contrast to his flamboyant yakuza peers, Akutsu bears a striking resemblance to Yakusho’s protagonist. Though a minor work compared to Imamura’s, The Last Blossom similarly questions conventional notions of justice, and the impossibility of weighing one’s good and bad deeds.The Last Blossom is in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 March, and in Australian cinemas from 23 April.

Sebastian Korda produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the third round of the Miami Open, marking one of the biggest upsets of the ATP season. The American, seeded 32nd, dominated the match for over an hour before Alcaraz mounted a fierce comeback, ultimately prevailing 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.Korda's resilience and determination were on full display as he overcame a difficult spell to secure the win. His serve was dominant for much of the match, and his ground strokes were clean and destructive. Alcaraz, known for his exceptional return skills, was effectively shut out of many service games.The match took a dramatic turn when Korda, leading 6-3, 5-3, lost seven consecutive points, allowing Alcaraz to stay in the match. However, Korda regained his composure to close out the third set and secure the victory.Alcaraz praised Korda's performance, saying, 'Sebi was incredible today. Played such a great game. A lot of tight, tight moments that I just didn’t make the most of it.' The loss marks a setback for Alcaraz as he prepares for the clay-court season.Korda's victory is significant for his career, as he looks to capitalize on the momentum and make a deeper run in the tournament. The win also boosts his confidence as he faces tougher opponents in the future.

In the end, a comedy show leaves you with a feeling that tells you whether it worked or not. The general consensus about the inaugural episode of Saturday Night Live UK is that it did work, though some may feel the cast of 11 actors and 20-strong writing team only just got away with it.The show began with an impression of Keir Starmer by George Fouracres, followed by the guest host monologue by Tina Fey, former head writer at the original SNL. Like many sketches to come, it started stiltly but warmed up to end in relative triumph.One of the stronger sketches featured a skincare range called Undérage by Pedolay, with the tagline "everyone will think your husband is a nonce!" While some sketches went on too long—a tradition almost as longstanding as the cold open—others hit their mark better.A sketch about David Attenborough's Last Supper with reanimated icons offered a disturbingly good Diana impression by Jack Shep, followed by two successful bits featuring Hammed Animashaun as an honest film critic and as part of a team dedicated to making the internet "as bad as it can possibly be."The team recovered with a solid Weekend Update presented by Ania Magliano and Paddy Young, which contained proper jokes for grownups, including references to "Boris Pistorius/Saddam Walliams" and a joke about "It's a Sin becoming a musical as if a TV show about the Aids crisis could get any gayer."While a Shakespeare sketch and a bra-fitting sketch had mixed results, and performances by Wet Leg were described as "god-awful," the reviewer concluded that the show did not fail and could become more successful as the team and audience settle in over coming weeks.The review acknowledges that while the show could have been a lot worse, it also could have been better. However, the attempt to retool a legacy American brand for British audiences was refreshing and ambitious, with potential for growth and improvement.

The Gondoliers, Gilbert and Sullivan's last big hit, has been brought to life by the English Touring Opera in a production that is both a feast for the eyes and ears. The opera, which came hot on the heels of the famous quarrel over a carpet at the Savoy theatre, showcases Sullivan's sunniest and most sophisticated score paired with some of Gilbert's most brilliantly barbed lyrics.A sharply pointed satire on the pitfalls of egalitarianism, the plot features babies swapped at birth and a pair of gondoliers, one of whom may or may not be the son of the recently deceased King of Barataria. The production locates the action in the late 17th century, but contemporary resonances abound, including the cash-for-endorsements antics of the money-grubbing Duke and Duchess of Plaza-Toro.Visually stunning, Liam Steel's staging channels the chocolate box style of the D'Oyly Carte company, with set designer Michael Pavelka's revolving Venetian bridges and Laura Jane Stanfield's rococo costumes creating a feast for the eye. The ensemble cast, including Robin Bailey as Marco and Samuel Pantcheff as Giuseppe, deliver exceptional performances with boundless enthusiasm.The production's success can be attributed to the mischievous wit of Steel, who places dance at the heart of everything while never missing a trick with copious running gags and deft comic timing. A standout moment is the putting of the true king's elderly nursemaid to the rack, which is pure laugh-out-loud entertainment.