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The Hollywood Backlash Against #MeTooCate Blanchett has lamented that the #MeToo movement "got killed very quickly" in Hollywood, while speaking at the Cannes film festival. In a wide-ranging conversation on Sunday, the acclaimed actress expressed concern that the tide of #MeToo has been turned in an industry where she has been outspoken about gender equality.Blanchett's Observations on Gender Disparity"It got killed very quickly, which I think is interesting," said Blanchett. "There are a lot of people with platforms who are able to speak up with relative safety and say this has happened to me. And the so-called average woman on the street, person on the street, is saying me too. Why does that get shut down?"Blanchett detailed her daily experiences on film sets, stating: "I'm still on film sets and I do the headcount every day. There's 10 women and there's 75 men every morning."The Evolution of Gender Representation in FilmIn 2018, when Blanchett was president of the jury at Cannes, she participated in a red-carpet protest with 81 other women, representing the total number of female directors who had been selected for the Cannes competition lineup, compared with the 1,866 male directors who had been selected over the same period."I love men, but what happens is the jokes become the same," she said. "You just have to brace yourself slightly, and I'm used to that, but it just gets boring for everybody when you walk into a homogeneous workplace. I think it has an effect on the work."Industry Perspectives on ChangeJulianne Moore also spoke at Cannes on the weekend about gender disparity on film sets, saying she believed numbers had improved in the last decade. Speaking at a Kering Women in Motion talk on Saturday, Moore recalled being one of two women on a set around 2016. "I can remember being on a set not too long ago where the only women were me and the third AC [assistant camera]," she said.Blanchett's comments come as she prepares to star in The Brutalist director Brady Corbet's next film, an "X-rated" feature set in the 1970s, alongside Selena Gomez and Michael Fassbender.

Smallie by Eden McKenzie‑Goddard is a debut novel that intertwines a 1960s Caribbean migration story with a present‑day Home Office removal notice, exposing the personal toll of the Windrush scandal.Dual Timeline Reveals the Machinery of ExclusionThe narrative alternates between 1961, when 19‑year‑old Lucinda Brown sails from Barbados to England in search of the father of her child, and 2026, when she receives a terse Home Office letter declaring her an illegal immigrant after 50 years in the country. This structure lets McKenzie‑Goddard juxtapose the intimate details of Lucinda’s daily life—her cramped Hackney flat, long cleaning shifts, and fraught relationships—with the cold, bureaucratic logic that can erase a lifetime of belonging in an instant.Financial and Publishing ContextPublisher: VikingRetail price: £16.99Length: just under 300 pagesRelease date: 2026While modest in size, the book’s production values and pricing place it squarely in the mainstream literary market, ensuring wide accessibility for readers interested in contemporary British fiction.Why the Novel Reshapes the Windrush NarrativeSmallie moves beyond reportage by giving voice to the “invisible” lives reduced to paperwork. Through Lucinda’s son Mark’s description of a removal van as “a cage,” the novel illustrates how state decisions become personal trauma. The inclusion of a Conservative MP son mirrors real‑world political debates, forcing readers to confront the paradox of families caught in the very policies they help shape.Literary Merits and Stylistic ChoicesProse described as lyrical yet restrained, avoiding overwriting.Use of Caribbean dialect adds authenticity and warmth.Cliffhanger‑driven pacing gives the novel a propulsive energy.Some secondary relationships feel under‑developed, a minor drawback in an otherwise dense work.These elements collectively position Smallie alongside classics like Andrea Levy’s Small Island, but with a sharper focus on the fragility of belonging.Future of British Immigrant LiteratureAs one of the first novels to tackle the Windrush scandal head‑on, Smallie is likely to become a reference point for future writers exploring post‑colonial British identity. Its success may encourage publishers to invest in more stories that blend personal narrative with systemic critique, expanding the literary canon around migration and state power.

Ryanair's Jet Fuel Assurance Ryanair is “confident” it will not face a jet fuel shortage this summer amid fears over widespread cancellations linked to the Iran war, but warned holidaymakers booking their flights later this year could face higher fares. Impact of Middle East Conflict on Fares Neil Sorahan, the chief financial officer at the budget airline, said he was “increasingly confident that we will not see any supply shocks this summer”. The airline said fares had fallen in recent weeks due to uncertainty around conflict in the Middle East, with prices expected to fall by a “mid-single digit percentage” in the three months ended in June. Future Fare Projections The company also cut its outlook for fares this summer, with prices now expected to be “broadly flat” on last summer, after a previous forecast of a modest increase in the peak travel season. “Demand is still strong, but people are leaving it longer to book so we do not have the visibility that we normally have for July to September,” Sorahan said. Jet Fuel Supply and Costs The travel industry has been hit by worries around jet fuel supply this summer, as shipping through the strait of Hormuz remains restricted. Ryanair said Europe is well stocked with fuel thanks to shipments from west Africa, Norway and the Americas. The airline reported a record profit after tax of €2.26bn (£2bn) in its financial year ended in March. Future Outlook and Guidance However, it suspended guidance for its 2027 financial year, saying it was “far too early” to provide forecasts owing to potential increases in fuel, environmental taxes and wage bills. While Ryanair has hedged 80% of its jet fuel requirements to April 2027 at about $67 a barrel, unit costs on fuel could still rise if prices remained higher, it said.

The LeadIt's being billed as the biggest Premier League game ever hosted at the Emirates Stadium. Tickets for Monday's meeting with Burnley were being sold for upwards of £650 as Arsenal attempt to edge closer to being crowned champions for the first time since they said goodbye to Highbury.The Atmosphere TransformationIn an attempt to recreate the red-hot atmosphere that inspired the victory over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, Arsenal supporters have been encouraged to arrive two hours before kick-off on Monday night to greet the team when they arrive at the stadium. "The players were in the other bus, but I could see straight away all the staff and everybody was there just looking at each other and saying: 'Wow, we've taken this to a different level,'" Mikel Arteta said this week of the Atlético experience. "The engagement, the passion, the enthusiasm of our fans in their eyes, I think that was something special."Arteta's Vision for the EmiratesTransforming the atmosphere at the ground they moved into five years before the former midfielder signed from Everton in 2011 is one of Arteta's proudest achievements. He was there during the tail end of the Arsène Wenger era, when frustrations at no longer being able to compete for the biggest prizes frequently boiled over in the stands. Arteta realised things would have to change five days before he was unveiled as Unai Emery's successor in December 2019. In his final match as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arteta was in the visitors' dugout when Arsenal found themselves trailing 3-0 to City at half-time thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass.The Empty Stadium That Inspired Change"It was the first thing because a few days before I was appointed here, I was on the other bench with Man City and that image, that feeling of the stadium, the crowd … 50% of the stadium was empty," he remembered. "It really got into me. I said: 'With this, there is no project. This is not going to work.' Unfortunately it got worse very quickly when Covid hit. After that we had to rebuild everything. But when it's harder at the beginning, then it's better. So to see that transformation and that joy in the people, it's something that is beautiful to watch."Strategic Initiatives to Ignite the CrowdFrom an initiative to no longer show the second half of matches on screens on the concourse, to the stadium announcer leaving a pause after a goalscorer's first name is read out so the crowd can respond, Arteta has left no stone unturned. It was also his idea to remove the cover from the players' tunnel at the start of this season to allow both sets of players to hear the noise of the crowd before kick-off and promote more interaction with fans. "We need to ignite the atmosphere so they can play every single ball with us because it makes such a difference," Arteta said. "We want to play and win things. That's a non-negotiable. You need to have a stadium that is able to create those moments, for sure."The Impact on Team PerformanceWhile his battle cry for supporters to "bring your lunch" for the early kick-off against Bournemouth last month did not pay off as Arsenal slumped to a defeat that opened the door for City in the title race, there has been a noticeable difference since then. Despite showing a few nerves during the narrow win over Newcastle, the fans more than played their part against Fulham and Atlético and will be expected to stay patient should things not immediately go their way against a Burnley side who only lost 1-0 to City last month, albeit that was at Turf Moor.The Value of Fan Engagement"It's supposed to be like this and especially when you haven't won for that long, it's going to be edgy," said Arteta. "And I'm very glad that now we've turned that point and we are very optimistic, but being very, very present as well. When the stadium provides that level of energy, passion and optimism, they play every single action with the team. When we have the ball, when the opponent has the ball, in every element, they live the game like that. The value of that is just infinite. I think you cannot measure it and the team becomes different."Future Plans for the EmiratesArsenal are understood to be exploring ambitious plans that could include expanding the existing 60,704-capacity of the Emirates to beyond 70,000 in the near future, with reports this week that they are in talks with Populous, the architecture firm that designed the venue in the first place. Any significant redevelopment may require a temporary move away to Wembley or elsewhere, which is a scenario that Arteta will be desperate to avoid after the progress they have made.The Two-Way Street of Fan-Club Connection"Everybody at the club is trying to give his vision, his input, his support, to try to encourage that," he said of the new atmosphere. "But especially the fans or the supporters need to provide that. I think it has to come from them, naturally. And we have to provide that as well, it goes both ways. We are constantly connected with them to try to be the best stadium in the world."

Lead: A Flash of Red on an Old Lime TreeDuring a routine stroll on a farm that welcomes walkers, horse‑riders and picnickers, observer Laura spotted an unexpected spectacle: a bright‑red congregation of firebugs clinging to the trunk of an ancient lime tree.Firebugs Assemble: The Unexpected Summer SpectacleApproximately 50 firebugs, each about a centimetre long with ember‑bright backs and stark black patterns, clustered together like tiny flames. The insects use these aggregations on lime (and occasionally mallow) trees for mating and feeding, probing seeds, aphids and even dead conspecifics with their proboscis.Numbers on the Branch: 50 Bugs, One Generation, Expanding Range~50 firebugs observed on a single lime tree.Historically, the UK hosted only one known population in Devon.Now present in most of southern England, with the range moving northward each year.Reproductive rate: a single generation per year; nymphs often remain near the hatching site.Why It Matters: Climate‑Driven Range Shifts in UK InsectsThe rapid spread mirrors broader climate trends: warmer springs and longer summers create suitable habitats farther north. While firebugs are harmless to people, trees and gardens, their expanding presence signals ecological adjustments that could affect predator‑prey dynamics, such as birds and amphibians that occasionally consume them.Looking Ahead: Will Firebugs Continue Their Northward March?If summer temperatures continue to climb, firebugs are likely to colonise even more northerly counties, potentially establishing stable populations beyond their current southern stronghold. Monitoring their distribution will offer a visible, low‑cost indicator of how climate change reshapes the UK’s insect fauna.

The Bread Crisis in Gaza Standing in a long queue under the beating sun, 14-year-old Muhammed al-Roubi was waiting to buy bread. But there was a strong chance that, despite his patience, he would not get any. A flour and fuel shortage in recent weeks, brought on by Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza, means that bakeries cannot produce as much bread as Palestinians in Gaza need. Shortages and Struggles Palestinians, the vast majority of them living displaced as a result of Israel's genocidal war on the territory, are instead forced to wait for hours in queues outside of the few remaining bakeries to get subsidised bread packages. "My uncle's family and ours live in the same house, and we share food, so we need a large amount of bread every day," said al-Roubi, who had come to the bakery with his cousin before separating and joining different queues. "That is why my cousin and I each stand in a separate line," he explained. "Some days, we return empty-handed because the bread runs out and there are too many people." The Impact of Israeli Restrictions The growing queues at the few remaining distribution points reflect the current decline in production levels, while demand continues to rise, driving increased prices and the growth of a black market. Ismail al-Thawabta, the head of Gaza's Government Media Office, said last month that the territory needs about 450 tonnes of flour per day, but that only 200 tonnes were coming in. Recent shortages stem from Israel's decision to close the crossings into Gaza on February 28, when Israel launched a joint war with the United States on Iran. The crossings partially reopened after a few days, but traffic through them has been limited. Multiple Crises in Gaza Gaza is facing multiple crises alongside the bread shortage, including a sharp decrease in cooking gas supplies, which were already limited. The provision of cooking gas, overseen by Gaza's Ministry of Economy through gas distributors and stations, has slowed from once every six weeks to once every three months due to the limited quantities Israel allows into the enclave. The price of firewood, an alternative fuel for cooking and baking, has also risen. The Future Outlook Having hardly recovered from the famine last year, Palestinians in Gaza fear that the expansion of the humanitarian crisis could mean a return to the hunger, which only ended with the October "ceasefire". "During the last famine, people were dying from hunger and for a piece of bread," said Maysar. "Did the world not see that? This crisis must be solved before it becomes worse."

The Historic VictoryJannik Sinner has completed the coveted Golden Masters in tennis to become only the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 events – the biggest tournaments outside the Grand Slams.Top-ranked Sinner’s 6-4, 6-4 victory over Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final of the Italian Open also made him the first Italian man to win the tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976.The Career Achievement“There’s no better place to complete this set,” Sinner said after winning the title and accomplishing the feat on the red clay of the Foro Italico in front of jubilant home fans, who finally saw the half-century-long wait come to an end.“For an Italian, it’s one of the most special places we play tennis in. To win at least once in my career means a lot to me.”The Data Behind Sinner's SuccessDjokovic completed the career set in 2018 in Cincinnati at age 31 – and then went on to win each event at least twice. Sinner is 24, and with his only real rival, Carlos Alcaraz, currently sidelined due to a right wrist injury, seemingly nobody can beat him.Sinner extended his winning streak to 29 matches. He hasn’t lost since being beaten by Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals on February 19 . And he’s now 17-0 on clay this year entering the French Open, which starts on Sunday.The Impact on Italian Tennis“Welcome to the exclusive club, Jannik,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram.Sinner celebrated calmly as usual, revealing a wide smile when he landed an inside-out forehand on the line on his first championship point, then held his hands over his head in apparent relief. Then he waved to the crowd, which included Panatta sitting in the front row.The Future OutlookRoland Garros is the only Grand Slam that Sinner hasn’t won: he has two Australian Open titles and has won Wimbledon and the US Open once each.

Bond market rout deepens as inflation fears linked to the Iran war push sovereign yields to multi‑year highs, raising borrowing costs from Tokyo to Washington.Escalating Bond Sell‑Off Fueled by Iran‑Related Inflation RisksThe market continues to punish governments after last week’s sell‑off. With the Strait of Hormuz largely closed, analysts warn of prolonged oil‑and‑gas shortages that could keep energy prices elevated, feeding inflation expectations.Sovereign Yield Spikes Reach Multi‑Year HighsBenchmark 10‑year U.S. Treasury yield: 4.6310% – highest since Feb 2025.30‑year Japanese government bond yield: 4.200% – record high.10‑year Japanese yield: 2.800% – highest since Oct 1996.UK 30‑year gilt yield hit its highest level since 1998.Rising Borrowing Costs Pressure Central Banks and Fiscal PoliciesING analysts note that even a swift end to the conflict would not immediately lower energy prices, leaving central banks with little room to cut rates. The outlook points to possible rate hikes from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank in June and delays any Federal Reserve cut until at least December.In the UK, the bond market stress adds to political uncertainty, with the Labour leadership battle potentially prompting higher spending and further debt issuance.Future Outlook: Further Rate Hikes and Market VolatilityInvestors should expect continued volatility as the G7 finance ministers convene in Paris and the IMF prepares its Article IV report on the UK. Persistent energy supply concerns could keep inflation expectations elevated, prompting more aggressive monetary tightening worldwide.Key Calendar ItemsToday: G7 finance ministers meet in Paris.10 am BST: IMF presents Article IV report on the United Kingdom.

The Weekend's Football Action: Key Talking PointsThe latest round of Premier League matches and the FA Cup final provided plenty of talking points for football fans, from Manchester City's cup triumph to Liverpool's injury concerns and the ongoing VAR controversies that continue to divide opinion.Shaw's World Cup Hopes After Impressive SeasonLuke Shaw's first goal in over three years for Manchester United was a further reminder of the left-back's capabilities. This has been his best season at Old Trafford having featured in all 37 league games thus far, leaving his injury-prone past forgotten. Considering Shaw's experience and quality, he should be considered for a spot at the World Cup. Thomas Tuchel does not have a vast array of riches in the position and Shaw's consistency has been key to Michael Carrick's turnaround at Old Trafford. "He deserves to go," said Carrick after the win against Nottingham Forest. "His consistency, his performances, his experience, his qualities. He's an excellent full-back." Nico O'Reilly is the current first choice for England and he has a very different profile from Shaw, having converted from playing as a central midfielder under Pep Guardiola. Tuchel may want to take Shaw to provide variety and reliability, which would be a sensible approach.VAR Controversy Continues to Plague the GameAnother weekend of football brought another VAR controversy, this time at Old Trafford. Let's get this out of the way, it was handball. In a game with more on the line this latest VAR aberration would be hoisted up by abolitionists as another egregious example of why football is no better for the involvement of Stockley Park. "I think we need to have a meeting together to understand when it is a handball," said a measured Vítor Pereira post-match. We need a meeting to understand what good process is. Accidental handball was the final ruling; not sure that matters when it leads to a goal, but whatever. From the original incorrect decision to award the goal, it took the VAR three minutes to look at the ball clearly striking Bryan Mbeumo's hand, then another 60 seconds for the referee, Michael Salisbury, to go over to the screen and look at it again, only to ignore the referral and decide he was right the first time. That is far too long to make the wrong call. Pereira neatly summed it up with another damning understatement: "A lot of the time we don't understand the decisions."West Ham's Fight Against RelegationWhile it was hard to argue with Nuno Espírito Santo's assessment that West Ham had "a bad performance and a bad day" at St James' Park, his team are not Championship-bound just yet. Tottenham only need a point against Chelsea on Tuesday to effectively ensure their survival owing to their far superior goal difference, but they last took a point at Stamford Bridge four years ago. Their record against Chelsea is not reassuring: they have lost their past five meetings on the bounce by an aggregate scoreline of 12-4, with eight defeats from their last 10. Chelsea's players will have the added motivation of auditioning for the newly appointed Xabi Alonso, not that they need another reason to make their opponents' lives miserable. It could still easily come down to the final day, when Spurs face another difficult fixture against Everton. Nuno can only grit his teeth, hope Chelsea do his side a favour and, assuming Spurs's horrible run in west London continues, rally his troops for a desperate last stand against Leeds.Liverpool's Injury Woes ContinueAston Villa's season high represented another sobering low for Liverpool. Arne Slot's side failed to hurt Villa and were weak in defence, leaking two more goals at set pieces. Liverpool were without nine first-team players, including Alexander Isak, their £125m marquee signing who was not risked with a minor problem but could return against Brentford on the last day. Isak's season has been symptomatic of Liverpool's struggles. Is it just bad fortune or have Slot and his side simply underperformed? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. "I don't think it could come to anyone as a surprise that if you miss your pre-season and then break your leg that minor injuries can occur if you then start into Premier League games in that intensity," Slot said. "Just a bit of bad luck for him that in a moment of time he comes back, then Hugo [Ekitiké] gets injured and we need him more."Guardiola's Warning Against ComplacencyAfter Saturday's FA Cup triumph over Chelsea, the 17th major trophy of Pep Guardiola's decade leading Manchester City, he reminded his players to never be complacent. "The most important thing is that [winning] trophies is good. Know what it takes to compete and win but don't take it for granted," the City manager said. "You start to believe that you are special, you will not win the FA Cup. Special we are not. The moment that we think [that], we will not be in these places. That is one of the things that through the years, we were OK with: knowing how difficult it is to win."Chelsea's Wembley Woes ContinueChelsea's dressing room and boardroom have been in a constant state of flux since Todd Boehly's BlueCo bought the club in 2022, but one thing has remained the same: they have a dire recent record in cup finals at Wembley. In the first decade after the stadium reopened in 2007, Chelsea won five of their six cup finals under the arch. Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City was their eighth loss in nine finals since 2017. Scoring goals at Wembley has also proven hard going, particularly since the departure of Didier Drogba (five goals in his five Wembley cup final starts). Christian Pulisic was the last Chelsea player to score in a domestic cup final, against Arsenal in front of empty stands in 2020. That's five finals in a row without a goal. It is a dry spell that can be tied to a young squad's relative lack of experience, but that argument does not stand up if you take into account the seven goals fired in against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Betis in the Club World Cup and Conference League finals just last year. Xabi Alonso is unlikely to have European football to play with next season, putting even more emphasis on Chelsea ending their Wembley drought and filling their silverware quota in domestic competitions.What's Next in the Premier League RaceWith the season drawing to a close, several key fixtures remain that could determine the final standings. Tottenham's survival hopes hinge on their match against Chelsea, while Liverpool will be hoping to end their injury-hit season on a positive note against Brentford. Manchester City, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their cup success as they continue their pursuit of more silverware in the final weeks of the season.