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The Unlikely Inspiration A family comedy starring Kristen Stewart and Corbin Bleu sparked a thirst for adventure in a young girl, leading her to pursue a life she never thought possible. A Life-Changing Film The 2004 film 'Catch That Kid' tells the story of three kids who rob a bank to pay for Stewart's father's expensive surgery. The film's successful heist and the trio's escape on go-karts left a lasting impression on the young girl. A Journey of Self-Discovery The girl's fascination with the film led her to declare that she would become the first black, female, Muslim Formula One driver. Although she couldn't afford to pursue this dream, she studied mechanical engineering and eventually landed a job on a remote oil rig. The Allure of Oil Rigs The woman was drawn to the adventure and technical challenges of working on oil rigs. She worked as a measurement while drilling (MWD) specialist and drilling engineer, often in demanding conditions. A New Chapter Although she eventually left the oil rigs to become a writer, she remains grateful to Kristen Stewart and her co-stars for inspiring her to take a path she never would have considered otherwise.

The World Cup AbsencesThe world's best football players will travel to North America this summer for the most anticipated sporting event of the year: the FIFA World Cup 2026. While the 48-team tournament will feature young prodigies and veterans alike, some stars will not be at the tournament, having missed out due to injuries or because their nations failed to qualify.Stars Who Missed QualificationSeveral high-profile players will not be at the World Cup because their countries failed to secure qualification. Among them are:Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia) - The Paris Saint-Germain winger, one of the most feared in European football, will not be on the plane to North America as Georgia failed to qualify.Robert Lewandowski (Poland) - The 37-year-old Barcelona striker left the pitch in tears after Poland narrowly missed out on qualification. With 89 goals in 165 appearances for Poland, he has never advanced beyond the round of 16 at a World Cup.Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sandro Tonali (Italy) - Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time means the tournament will be devoid of some of the finest Azzurri talents, including the star goalkeeper and midfielder.Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) - Nigeria's shock penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the African playoffs means fans will miss out on watching these two bright attackers.Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon) - Cameroon's failure to qualify came as a surprise as the Indomitable Lions hold the African record for the most World Cup appearances with eight overall.Injury-Related AbsencesSeveral players who would have likely been selected for their national teams have been ruled out due to injuries:Hugo Ekitike (France) - The France forward ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing for Liverpool against PSG in April, an injury that could sideline him until January 2027.Estevao (Brazil) - The 19-year-old suffered a grade four hamstring injury while playing for Chelsea in April, crushing his dream of making his World Cup debut.Rodrygo (Brazil) - The Real Madrid winger suffered a torn meniscus and ACL in his right knee while playing for Madrid in March and is expected to be out until the end of 2026.Xavi Simons (Netherlands) - The attacking midfielder suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while playing for Tottenham Hotspur against Wolverhampton Wanderers.Other Notable AbsencesSeveral other high-profile players will also miss the tournament:Fermin Lopez (Spain) - Misses out after requiring surgery on a fracture in his right foot.Serge Gnabry (Germany) - Ruled out with a torn adductor muscle in his right thigh.Cole Palmer and Phil Foden (England) - Omitted from England's squad after both had disappointing seasons.Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma (Japan) - Minamino was left out after suffering an ACL tear while Mitoma also misses out after suffering a hamstring injury.Eder Militao, Joao Pedro, and Richarlison (Brazil) - All dropped from Brazil's squad due to injuries.Jan Oblak (Slovenia) - The goalkeeper and captain will be absent after Slovenia failed to qualify.Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary) - Faces a similar fate after Hungary missed out on qualification.

The Lead: Liverpool's Strategic Coaching Move Liverpool are closing in on the appointment of Etienne Reijnen to their coaching staff, a move that would underline the club's continued support for Arne Slot despite recent pressure on the manager. Slot's position remains under scrutiny with Liverpool yet to secure Champions League qualification, but the club is backing his request to strengthen his backroom team. The Coaching Partnership: Reijnen's Background with Slot Reijnen played with Slot at PEC Zwolle and became the Liverpool head coach's assistant at Feyenoord in 2023. Slot wanted to bring the 39-year-old with him when first appointed at Anfield but work permit issues scuppered the move. A deal to reunite Slot with his former assistant has not been completed but is progressing, with Feyenoord's technical director seemingly confirming Reijnen's exit this week. The Salah Situation: Manager-Star Relations Under Pressure Slot refused to confirm the move but acknowledged his high regard for Reijnen. He also addressed the ongoing situation with Mohamed Salah, who has posted critical social media comments about the team's performance. Slot agreed with Salah on the importance of Champions League qualification, insisting Liverpool's focus must be on securing a top-five finish. Everton's Ambition: Moyes Calls for Summer Investment David Moyes says Everton need "a big summer" when the club's owners must show the ambition to push the team forward. The Everton manager admitted he is despondent over a poor end to the season that has squandered the opportunity to qualify for Europe. Having competed at the right end of the table for the first time in several years, Moyes believes the Friedkin Group's next moves will determine how far the team can progress. Resource Constraints: Everton's Financial Strategy Moyes clarified that "a big summer" might mean making just one top-quality signing rather than multiple transfers. "We are not a club to go and spend, as some other clubs do, £200m-£300m. We don't have that. We will need to dodge and weave a bit and hopefully make the right choices," he said. Everton visit Tottenham on the final day needing a result to secure a top-half finish. Merino's Recovery: From Mobility Scooter to Potential Title Glory Arsenal's Mikel Merino feared he might never play again after sustaining a stress fracture in "a very strange part of the foot where not even the specialists had seen before" that left him needing a mobility scooter for two months. The Spain midfielder is expected to be named in Luis de la Fuente's World Cup squad next week after returning to training. Mental Fortitude: Coping with Injury During Title Race Merino admitted it has been difficult to watch from the sidelines as his team closed on their first title for 22 years. "At the beginning I was a little scared," he said. "We didn't know what to expect, what path to take during the recovery and if I was going to be able to play again." The midfielder maintained a positive attitude, using the mobility scooter as "a fun way to see the light of day and enjoy time with the dog." Burnley's Challenge: Rebuilding After Third Relegation Mike Jackson has warned there are no guarantees Burnley will immediately return to the Premier League following the club's third relegation in five seasons. Since a five-year stay in the top flight, the Clarets have experienced multiple promotions and relegations, highlighting the competitive challenges of maintaining stability in England's top division.

The Familiar FinalYou could be forgiven for having a sense of deja vu before a fourth Champions League final between the Spanish champions, Barcelona, and French champions, Lyonnes, on Saturday evening.The three-time champions and eight-time champions played each other in the final of Europe's premier competition three times in six years between 2019 and 2024, with Lyonnes earning a 4-1 win over the Catalan giants in 2019 and a 3-1 win in 2022 before Barcelona delivered a 2-0 defeat of the French side in 2024.However, predicting the outcome could not be harder and Barcelona's talismanic No 11, Alexia Putellas, said there is little that can be discerned from those previous meetings. "We can't compare seasons and we can't compare finals," said the two-time Ballon d'Or winner. "Our squad has evolved a lot, so previous finals don't have an influence on the final we are playing tomorrow."The Tactical Chess MatchA lot has changed. Most notably, Lyonnes are now managed by Jonatan Giráldez, who was a coach at Barcelona as they claimed their maiden UWCL title and at the helm for their second and third. Few managers are better equipped to return Lyonnes to the top of European football after a three-year hiatus than the man who understands the way Barça work and exactly how they ended the domination of the French side.As a result, the tactical approach of those on the sidelines is perhaps the most interesting piece of the puzzle in Oslo's Ullevaal Stadion.Giráldez said of Barça's development since he left: "They have some different players but their identity remains the same; this will to dominate and apply pressure. Not thinking about the result as much as about the show and the performance, that's their identity. I feel privileged to face Barcelona as I'm grateful for the experience I had there and I wish them the best – except when we have to win!"Master and ApprenticeOne of Giráldez's two assistants, Pere Romeu, replaced him when he departed for Washington Spirit in June 2024. "We are the two teams that have done the most in this competition to reach the final in recent years," said Romeu. "Tomorrow is going to be a very demanding match. Tomorrow is going to be a match with a lot of quality from both teams. Tomorrow is going to be a match that, as in all finals, is going to be decided by small details. We are going to try to take care of and control it to the maximum."The 32-year-old Barcelona manager won a domestic treble in his first season in charge, but fell short in the Champions League final last season as Arsenal delivered a shock defeat."I see a team that is more mature than last season," said Romeu. "I see a team with greater capacity to change things during the game than last season and I think we have reached a good point."Putellas described Romeu as a "complete coach", before the showdown on Saturday. "We've been working together for several seasons now and he has always tried to help me evolve as a player, which I'm very grateful for," she said. "He's the most complete coach. This season I've tried to do the best I possibly can without forgetting my own qualities in order to help the team."Romeu is relishing the master-apprentice battle in such a significant game. "I, as a coach, am super-excited to be able to face this match against a former coach of the club in Jonatan," he said. "I'm sure we'll both do everything we can to keep our teams' identities and keep doing the best we can to win."Dominate DomesticallyBarcelona secured another domestic treble on Saturday with a 3-1 Copa de la Reina final win over Atlético Madrid in their final game before travelling to Norway. Meanwhile, Lyonnes are one game away from their own domestic treble, having dispatched Nantes with an emphatic 8-0 win in the semi-final of the Premiere Ligue play-offs, with the final between the holders and Paris FC, taking place next Friday.The Lyonnes midfielder Lily Yohannes told Uefa that the club "just have so much hunger in us," after their three-year European dry spell. "We have so much fight. No matter what happens, we stick together, we rise above the challenges, and we just have such a winning mentality in the group."The 35-year-old centre-back Wendie Renard, who has been involved in each of the club's record eight Champions League wins, similarly spoke about a togetherness and desire in the team after a disappointing European run last season."If I had to sum up our journey this season: dedication," she told Uefa. "A Champions League campaign never comes easy, from one game to another. We've also had doubts and fears at times, but the squad has remained strong, and we've kept focusing on work and humility and performed well together."The Midfield BattleThe midfield battle will be key, with the impact of Melchie Dumornay, who was the difference maker in their semi-final fightback against Arsenal, critical for Lyonnes and Barcelona unsure of the readiness of the three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, who is "feeling better every day", according to Romeu, but has not played 90 minutes for the team since November and only played 18 minutes of the Copa de la Reina final.Contrasting StylesThe Champions League final will ultimately be a contest between two different ways of playing, Barcelona's slick tiki-taka football and the more aggressive way Lyonnes play. Both cannot dominate possession in this game, one will have to cede it and find a different way to win. That is what makes it an enthralling fixture.

The Ongoing Battle Between Apple and Epic Games Apple is once again fighting a court's ruling in its lawsuit with Epic Games over App Store commissions. The iPhone maker has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling, arguing that Epic Games' beef with Apple over its fee structure shouldn't lead to an injunction that applies to all developers on the U.S. App Store. The Dispute Over App Store Rules Epic Games never brought a class action and never attempted to show that enjoining Apple's conduct against all other developers — like Microsoft or Spotify, who have nothing to do with Epic — was necessary to provide relief to Epic. Apple argues that the injunction should be specific to Epic Games and not apply to other developers. The Data Analysis: Financial Implications Apple charges fees of 27% on external payments, which led to a civil contempt order. The company has seemingly infinite money to fund its legal battles, having been fighting Epic's original 2020 lawsuit for over five years. The Impact Analysis: Industry Ramifications The dispute has significant implications for the tech industry, particularly for companies like Microsoft and Spotify, which could be affected by the injunction. Epic Games criticized Apple's latest move as 'one last Hail Mary to delay a conclusion to this case and avoid opening up the gates to payment competition for the benefit of consumers.' The Prediction: Future Outlook The Supreme Court's decision on Apple's petition will have a significant impact on the future of the App Store and its rules. If the court rules in favor of Apple, it could limit the scope of the injunction and allow the company to maintain its current fee structure. However, if the court rules against Apple, it could lead to significant changes in the way the App Store operates and potentially open up the gates to payment competition.

The Final Episode of The Late Show Celebrities, politicians, and New Yorkers paid their respects to Stephen Colbert as the Late Show aired its final episode on Thursday. The long-running chat show, which started back in 2015, was cancelled last year by CBS, purportedly because of a financial decision. But many believed it was a result of the network's increasing closeness with Donald Trump, who Colbert regularly criticised. A Bittersweet Goodbye Last night's episode saw the host bid an emotional farewell with the help of celebrity guests including Paul McCartney, Paul Rudd, Ryan Reynolds, and Bryan Cranston. "We love doing the show for you but what we really love is doing the show with you," he said to the audience at home. Colbert hosted more than 1,800 episodes of the Late Show, taking over the mantle from David Letterman. Tributes from Around the World Former president Joe Biden, who had previously guested on the show, also joined the chorus this week with a tribute on Instagram. "There aren't many who can make people think and laugh at the same time," he wrote. "For years, Stephen brought wit, heart, and honesty to late night television. America could always count on a laugh – and sometimes a needed reality check. Congrats on an incredible run, my friend." The Impact of Colbert's Comedy Jane Fonda was among celebrities featured in a video put together by her newly relaunched Committee for the First Amendment. "He made us laugh and he never flinched," the Oscar-winning actor said. "We've watched this administration suppress dissent repeatedly." Colbert already has his next gig lined up with the long-term JRR Tolkien fan set to co-write a new Peter Jackson-produced film tentatively titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The Future of Late-Night Television The Late Show is being replaced by Comics Unleashed, an unscripted comedy series from comedian and media mogul Byron Allen. The entire set from the show is being donated to the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

The Sudden Loss of a Racing Legend Longtime teammates, former rivals and others around the sports world have joined the wave of condolences over the sudden death of Nascar driver Kyle Busch on Thursday. Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who was the winningest driver across the sport's three series in history, died at 41 after being hospitalized earlier Thursday with a severe illness. No cause of death has been announced. Tributes from the Racing Community "Absolutely cannot comprehend this news," Denny Hamlin, a 22-year Nascar veteran and Busch's former teammate, said on social media. "We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB." "There aren't really words for today. I've raced against Kyle for a long time, and anyone who's lined up next to him knows exactly what made him special, he gave you everything he had, every single lap, and he made all of us better for it," driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr said in a post. "But more than the wins and the records, I keep thinking about Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix, and the entire Busch family right now. That's where my heart is. Rest easy, Rowdy. The sport won't be the same without you." A Legendary Career Busch was in his fourth season at Richard Childress Racing. He ranked 24th in the Cup Series standings, with two top-10 finishes in 12 races this season, and had been the Cup Series champion in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing. He won a Nascar Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway last week and was slated to compete in this weekend's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina, before his family announced on Thursday he had been hospitalized. The Impact on the Racing World Dale Earnhardt Jr, an on-track rival after he took over Busch's car after he departed Hendrick Motorsports in 2007 who later became a friend, called Busch one of the "greatest drivers in Nascar history". "Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible," Earnhardt said. "I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends."

The Disco Legend Returns to the SpotlightLost in Music, He's the Greatest Dancer, Thinking of You and We Are Family – many artists would long for just one of these songs at any time in their career, but for Sister Sledge they all appeared on a single side of one of their albums. As she brings these and the rest of the disco group's still-sensational catalogue to the Electric Paradise festival this summer, Kathy Sledge will be joining us to answer your questions.The Rise of Sister SledgeKathy is one of four Sledge sisters along with Debbie, Joni and Kim, who formed the group as children in the mid-1960s, picking up gigs at churches and local events in their home city of Philadelphia as the Sledge Sisters. After flipping the name around, they got a record deal and their first chart success came in the UK in 1973, with the Top 20 hit Mama Never Told Me.The Chic Collaboration That Defined an EraFurther commercial success eluded them for a few years – though that's no reflection on the quality of early disco material such as Pain Reliever – until their label paired them with Chic's Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. Sister Sledge's poise and charisma shone from the aforementioned hits the pair wrote for them, collected on the album We Are Family. The title track reached No 2 in the US and it, along with the others, endure as pinnacles of the disco era.Chart Success Through the DecadesRemixed versions of those songs came back around in 1984 and 1993, each to great success particularly in the UK, though the group's only UK No 1 single was in a very different style in 1985, with the swaying neo-60s pop of Frankie.A Solo Career and Continued PerformancesKathy took the lead vocal on some of their biggest hits, and after Sister Sledge went on hiatus in 1987, she had a solo career interspersed with occasional Sister Sledge reunions, and later – amid some legal wrangles with her sisters – solo tours of Sister Sledge material. Next up she'll perform at Electric Paradise in Milton Keynes, on 8 August, alongside other legends of the era such as Grace Jones, Candi Staton, Kool and the Gang and more.Your Questions for the Disco IconNow 67, Kathy has been in countless nightclubs and recording studios around the world across her multi-decade career, so there's plenty to ask her. Post your questions in the comments below before 6pm GMT on Wednesday, and we'll publish her answers later in the week.

The Star Wars Big Screen ConundrumWhen Disney acquired Lucasfilm for $4 billion in 2012, it seemed like a guaranteed success. The initial trilogy of films under Disney's leadership—The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi—all earned over $1 billion worldwide. However, despite this commercial success, the franchise has faced increasing criticism and fan dissatisfaction. The latest film, The Mandalorian and Grogu, currently holds a 61% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, barely scraping into the "fresh" category. This raises questions about whether Star Wars has become an impossible franchise to successfully translate to the big screen in the modern era.The Disney+ Success FormulaDisney+ has proven to be a successful platform for Star Wars content, with shows like The Mandalorian, Andor, The Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka finding dedicated audiences. These series have allowed Disney to explore corners of the Star Wars universe that films couldn't address, filling plot holes and expanding the mythology. The Mandalorian, in particular, introduced Grogu (Baby Yoda), a character specifically designed for maximum appeal. However, this streaming success has created a challenge: when the same characters and format are brought to the big screen, they may feel more like extended episodes rather than cinematic events.Financial Performance vs. Critical ReceptionDespite the critical challenges, Star Wars films have remained financially successful. The Force Awakens earned over $2 billion worldwide, Rogue One surpassed $1 billion, and even The Rise of Skywalker, which was widely disliked by fans, still earned Disney more than $1 billion. This financial success has allowed Disney to continue producing Star Wars content, but the declining critical reception suggests a growing disconnect between audience expectations and what the franchise delivers. The Mandalorian and Grogu, while profitable, appears to be following this pattern of commercial success mixed with middling critical reviews.The Franchise Identity CrisisThe article suggests that Star Wars is suffering from an identity crisis on the big screen. Disney has tried multiple approaches: soft-rebooting the original trilogy with The Force Awakens, challenging the mythology with The Last Jedi, and attempting to please all fans with The Rise of Skywalker. Each approach has faced backlash from different segments of the fanbase. The Mandalorian and Grogu takes a safer route, focusing on beloved characters without major revelations about the Force or character lineages. This approach may satisfy existing fans but fails to deliver the grand cinematic experience that audiences expect from a Star Wars film on the big screen.The Mythic Structure ProblemA key insight from the article is that the original Star Wars trilogy worked because it had a clear beginning, middle, and end. The story felt complete with the Empire's fall and Luke's redemption. However, subsequent continuations have undone these victories, reopening narrative wounds and diminishing the impact of the original story. The article suggests that this endless continuation without true resolution has made the Star Wars myth less meaningful over time. Characters are never allowed to complete their emotional arcs, victories are temporary, and the galaxy exists in a state of perpetual conflict without resolution.The Future of Star Wars CinemaLooking ahead, the article implies that Star Wars may need to reconsider its approach to big-screen storytelling. The success of Disney+ shows demonstrates that there's an appetite for Star Wars content, but perhaps the franchise needs to differentiate between cinematic and television experiences more clearly. Alternatively, the franchise might benefit from taking bigger creative risks or allowing stories to reach definitive conclusions rather than maintaining an endless status quo. As The Mandalorian and Grogu shows, simply delivering what fans already know and love in shinier packaging may no longer be sufficient to satisfy both critics and audiences on the big screen.