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The latest Supergirl trailer has generated significant buzz, hinting at a fresh take on the iconic DC character. Director Craig Gillespie has revealed that the film will feature a nine-world structure and a considerable amount of planet-hopping, setting it apart from previous superhero films.Building on the success of James Gunn's Superman, which offered a unique twist on the Man of Steel, Milly Alcock's Kara Zor-El is poised to bring a new level of excitement to the DC Universe. The trailer showcases Alcock's character navigating alien landscapes and battling foes with a swagger reminiscent of a cosmic gunslinger.What sets this film apart is its exploration of Kara's vulnerabilities when she's away from Earth's yellow sun. In the comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, Kara encounters a world under a green sun that drains her powers, making her physically ill. This element could add a layer of complexity to the story, as Kara searches for an antidote across multiple planets.The film's setup has a video-game-like quality, with Kara's power levels potentially fluctuating as she navigates different environments. This mechanic could sharpen the drama and create a sense of tension, as Kara faces challenges that test her abilities.While there are risks involved in this bold new direction, the prospect of seeing a more vulnerable and dynamic Supergirl on the big screen is an intriguing one. As the DC Universe continues to evolve, fans are eager to see how this new take on a classic character will unfold.

The Guardian’s investigation has revealed that the company responsible for the unauthorised partial felling of a 500‑year‑old oak in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, was Ground Control, a maintenance business that reports a turnover of £190 million. The tree was cut down in September 2025 on behalf of Mitchells & Butler Retail (MBR), the owner of the Toby Carvery restaurant chain. MBR initially defended the action, claiming its contractor warned that the oak was diseased and posed a safety risk. However, a coalition of experts – including a Forest Commission investigator and ancient‑tree specialist Russell Miller – found the tree to be healthy with no imminent danger. Miller described the alleged “hazard” as an old, semi‑occluded wound that did not justify felling the entire tree. According to Dr. Ed Pyne of the Woodland Trust, the delay in identifying the contractor highlights a broader lack of transparency: "What evidence exists that the tree was dangerous? What qualifications did the operatives have?" He added that the justification for the removal remains unsubstantiated. Ground Control’s own documentation shows the work was assigned to its grounds‑maintenance team rather than its specialist arborists, a detail that fuels further criticism of MBR’s decision‑making process. Sources close to the firm say an internal review was conducted by a contracts manager, not a tree expert. Enfield Council, which owns the park, has launched legal action to evict Toby Carvery after MBR refused to apologise or offer compensation. The council also referred the incident to the police, but officers declined to investigate, deeming it a civil matter. Complicating the dispute, MBR is majority‑owned by investment group Enic, which holds strong financial ties to Tottenham Hotspur. The football club plans to develop a women’s training academy on 17 hectares adjacent to the park, a proposal opposed by the local campaign group Guardians of Whitewebbs. The group has secured a judicial review of the planning permission, set for June. In a statement last April, MBR asserted that its “specialist arboriculture contractors” deemed the split and dead wood a serious health‑and‑safety risk. A Toby Carvery spokesperson declined further comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The revelation of Ground Control’s involvement adds a new layer to the controversy, raising questions about corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship, and the adequacy of legal protections for historic trees in urban green spaces.

Tiger Woods, the renowned golf superstar, has made a significant decision to step down as the US captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup. This move allows him to focus on his health and well-being, following a recent court ruling that granted him permission to travel abroad for comprehensive inpatient treatment.A Florida judge approved Woods's request, citing his need for an “intensive, highly individualized and medically integrated program” away from media scrutiny. Woods's lawyer argued that his client's complex clinical presentation required a level of care that couldn't be safely provided in the United States.The decision comes on the heels of Woods's recent misdemeanor driving under the influence (DUI) charges following a rollover crash in Jupiter, Florida. Woods had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included property damage and refusal to submit to a urinalysis. The incident revealed that Woods had been swearing profusely, showed signs of lethargy, and had extremely dilated pupils.Woods has been open about his need for treatment, stating that he aims to achieve lasting recovery. In a public statement, he expressed his commitment to prioritizing his health and seeking the necessary support. The PGA of America, PGA Tour, and Augusta National Golf Club have all offered their support for Woods during this challenging time.The PGA of America has announced that they will provide further updates on the Ryder Cup Captaincy when appropriate. For now, Woods's focus remains on his health and well-being, and the golf community rallies around him in support of his journey toward recovery.

For the first time, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) is creating a dedicated reparations role, appointing Prof. Keon West—a Rhodes Scholar and author of The Science of Racism—to lead the effort. West, who also serves as a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and heads research at the Runnymede Trust, will begin his tenure later this month. The appointment arrives amid intensifying global calls for former colonial powers to confront historic injustices. West’s mandate is to map how enslavement, indentured labour and European imperialism fed the supply chains of Rowntree’s iconic brands such as KitKat, Fruit Pastilles and Smarties. Founded in 1904 when philanthropist Joseph Rowntree endowed the trust with profits from his chocolate and cocoa ventures, JRCT operates on Quaker principles aimed at tackling the roots of inequality. Recent research, spurred by the Black Lives Matter movement, uncovered that African and Asian workers were exploited in Rowntree’s production lines throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Historical investigations by the Rowntree Society revealed that, while the family never directly owned enslaved people, their businesses sold commodities produced by enslaved or unfree labour as far back as 1822. The company also benefitted from the indenture system, acquiring plantations in Dominica, Jamaica and Trinidad in the 1890s to grow cocoa, bananas and other crops. Further links to colonial exploitation include purchases of cocoa from Portuguese‑controlled São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as commercial interests in Nigeria, Ghana and apartheid‑era South Africa. In the early 1980s, Black workers at the South African subsidiary Wilson Rowntree faced harsh labour suppression. In 2021, JRCT issued a public apology, stating it was “deeply sorry” for its historical connections to “abhorrent practices” and acknowledging the lasting impact of these actions on systemic racism today. West will design a comprehensive reparations programme that engages directly with affected communities—“Black people, brown people and people of colour”—to develop long‑term restorative justice strategies. He said, "I am honoured to accept this role. It offers the power and the responsibility to make real, meaningful changes in the lives of those who have been exploited." JRCT chief executive Nicola Purdy expressed enthusiasm, noting that the reparations initiative aligns with the trust’s charitable purpose of promoting peace, equality, human rights and climate action. Financially, JRCT allocated £13.5 million in grants in 2025, supporting organisations that advance its core missions. In 2023, it contributed £10,000 to an all‑party parliamentary group advocating for a formal UK apology for slavery and colonisation. The Rowntree family, alongside fellow Quaker dynasties Fry and Cadbury, were central to the British confectionery trade during the colonial era. Their brand was later acquired by Nestlé in 1988, but the trust’s new reparations focus underscores a broader reckoning with the historical foundations of the industry.

New research by Cleanview and a subsequent confirmation from Google reveal that the tech giant is collaborating with Crusade Energy to develop a 933‑megawatt natural‑gas power plant in the sparsely populated Armstrong County of the Texas panhandle. The facility will serve the Goodnight AI‑focused datacenter campus, signaling a notable departure from Google’s long‑standing clean‑energy narrative.The plant, slated for off‑grid operation, is intended to power at least two buildings on the Goodnight site. Satellite imagery commissioned by Cleanview shows construction already under way, following a permit application filed in January.According to the 465‑page permit filing, the plant could emit as much as 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year—roughly the same amount released annually by the entire city of San Francisco. This emission level underscores the environmental stakes of the project.Cleanview founder Michael Thomas described the venture as “one of the first direct investments in fossil‑fuel infrastructure” he has seen from Google, suggesting a strategic pivot away from the company’s historic climate leadership.When queried, Google spokesperson Chrissy Moy did not deny the partnership but clarified that “we don’t have a contract in place for the plant in Texas.” She noted that negotiations are ongoing and pointed to a separate wind‑farm partnership with Serena Energy in the region. Crusoe Energy declined to comment.The Texas project is Google’s third known involvement with gas‑fuel facilities in recent months. Earlier in October, the company announced an agreement to purchase power from a gas plant in Illinois, and documents obtained in May revealed exploratory talks on a large‑scale gas project in Nebraska.Despite the shift, Google maintains that natural gas does not conflict with its climate objectives. The firm argues it is moving from a strategy of buying carbon credits to one of “building the grid” to secure carbon‑free energy for its operations.At a recent energy conference in Houston, Google’s head of advanced energy, Michael Terrell, declined to elaborate on how natural gas aligns with the company’s sustainability roadmap.From carbon‑free promises to “climate moonshots”Google has long positioned itself as a climate leader, setting a 2020 goal to achieve net‑zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2030 and investing heavily in wind, solar, geothermal and nuclear projects. However, the rapid expansion of AI workloads has strained those commitments.The 2023 sustainability report noted that Google was no longer “maintaining operational carbon neutrality,” and a 2024 update reported a 48 % rise in greenhouse‑gas emissions since 2019, driven largely by datacenter energy demand.By 2025, the company reframed its emissions targets as “climate moonshots,” acknowledging the growing complexity of meeting its 2030 ambitions amid AI‑driven uncertainties.Google is not alone in this trend. Competitors such as Meta, Amazon and Microsoft have also turned to natural‑gas‑powered facilities to meet the soaring energy needs of their AI infrastructures, highlighting a broader industry tension between rapid AI deployment and climate pledges.Thomas of Cleanview summed up the situation: “The race to build AI is creating a new tension with climate goals that these hyperscalers have long championed.”

Blue Owl Capital, a leading private credit investment firm, has imposed a cap on withdrawals after investors attempted to redeem $5.4bn from two of its key funds. This move comes as a sign of dwindling confidence in the unregulated lending market.The New York-based firm revealed in filings that investors sought to withdraw 21.9% of the $20bn Credit Income Corp fund and 40.7% of its $3bn tech lending fund between January and March.The surge in redemption requests is attributed to growing concerns over potentially risky loans arranged by private credit firms, which operate outside the traditional regulated banking system. These firms are seen as particularly exposed to the AI spending boom.To manage the outflow, Blue Owl will limit withdrawals to 5% of the value of each fund per quarter. The firm stated that this decision was made to balance the interests of both withdrawing and remaining shareholders.Despite the increase in withdrawal requests, Blue Owl emphasized that underlying credit fundamentals across its portfolio have remained resilient. The firm attributed the surge in withdrawals to a period of heightened negative sentiment toward the asset class.The private credit industry has faced growing scrutiny over potentially weak lending standards, following a series of company failures, including Tricolor and First Brands. Regulators and industry experts have warned of potential ripple effects that could impact high street banks.The Bank of England's governor, Andrew Bailey, has cautioned against dismissing recent private credit failures as isolated incidents, citing concerns over transparency and potential risks across the sector.

Colin the Caterpillar, a British party favorite for 35 years, has been outperformed by eight supermarket rivals in a recent cake taste test conducted by consumer champion Which?.The 'original' chocolate caterpillar cake, produced by Marks & Spencer (M&S;), scored a mere 64%, ranking it at the bottom of the list. The main criticism was that its sponge was 'too dry', with almost half of the 75-strong panel of cake-testers expressing this concern.In contrast, Waitrose's Cecil caterpillar cake emerged as the winner with a score of 78% and was awarded a coveted 'best buy' gong. Cecil was praised for its remarkably moist texture, flavorful shell, and 'perfect' sponge-to-buttercream ratio.The taste test also revealed that Colin the Caterpillar contained the highest levels of sugar (46.3g) and fat (21.3g) per 100g among the caterpillar lineup, making it one of the most expensive options at £9.50. M&S; responded by highlighting a recent poll of 2,100 adults that named Colin the nation's best caterpillar cake.Key rankings:1st - Cecil (Waitrose): 78%, £9.50, 744g, 38.6g, 17g.2nd = Charlie (Co-op): 73%, £9.85, 702g, 46g, 14g;2nd = Wiggles (Sainsbury’s): 73%, £8.50, 613g, 41.9g, 18.7g.4th - Cuthbert (Aldi): 72%, £6.99, 624g, 43.5g, 17.7g9th – Colin (M&S;): 64%, £9.50, 625g, 46.3g, 21.3g.

UK businesses are planning to raise their prices more rapidly in the coming months due to the escalating costs triggered by the Iran conflict. A recent survey conducted by the Bank of England among over 2,000 chief financial officers revealed that companies now anticipate increasing their prices by 3.7% over the next year. This marks an increase from 3.4% in February, while the expectation of inflation across the economy has also risen from 3% to 3.5%. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly driven up oil and gas prices, leading to predictions of wider price rises as these higher costs impact industries. The UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has met with retail bosses to discuss the risks of supply shortages and price increases. There is also pressure on her to mitigate the impact of likely rises in household gas and electricity bills before next winter and to reconsider plans for a 5p per liter increase in fuel duty set to take effect by next March. Bank of England policymakers are closely monitoring UK companies' pricing intentions as they consider whether to raise interest rates in the coming months from their current level of 3.75%. Financial markets are currently pricing in two interest rate rises by the end of the year, reflecting a sharp turnaround from expectations of rate cuts before the conflict began. However, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has cautioned that markets may be getting ahead of themselves, and weak consumer demand may prevent companies from passing on cost increases to their customers. He noted that businesses often report an absence of pricing power. Inflation on the consumer price index was steady at 3% in February but is now expected to rise.

Donald Trump announced over the weekend that he wants to "take the oil in Iran" by seizing control of Kharg Island, the strategic outpost through which roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports flow. Experts say the remark underscores a blatant disregard for international law and exemplifies what they term “fossil‑fuel imperialism.” Patrick Bigger, co‑director of the Transition Security Project, described the approach as a "might‑makes‑right" logic that is both "abhorrent and spectacularly miscalculated." Trump is slated to give an update on the Iran‑U.S. conflict on Wednesday. He previously claimed the war could end within weeks, a statement that sent the stock market soaring on expectations of de‑escalation. Iran, however, has insisted it needs guarantees against future attacks before halting its counter‑offensive. The fighting continues, highlighted by an Iranian strike on a fully loaded crude tanker in Dubai and threats to "blow up and completely obliterate" Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened promptly. Kharg Island, a five‑mile strip that handles the bulk of Iran’s oil shipments, along with its power plants and oil wells, has been singled out by Trump. He told the Financial Times that U.S. forces should take over the island and the oil stored there. "My favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran," Trump said, adding that critics in the United States are "stupid people." Amir Handjani, an energy lawyer at the Quincy Institute, warned that the statement "completely discredited" the war’s stated objectives and revealed a classic play for natural resources. Handjani noted that Trump’s desire to seize Iranian oil is not new; he voiced similar ambitions in a 1988 interview while promoting The Art of the Deal, saying he would "do a number on Kharg Island" if elected. The former president has also floated comparable ideas for Iraq, Syria and Venezuela, suggesting the United States could appropriate their oil to offset war costs or bolster strategic reserves. Handjani emphasized that international law provides no framework for waging war to capture sovereign nations' natural resources. From a military perspective, taking Kharg Island would be extremely challenging. Iranian missile defenses have rendered regional U.S. bases inoperable, meaning any assault would likely require a parachute insertion of Marines into heavy fire, with the risk of massive Iranian retaliation. Handjani warned that such retaliation could target oil export terminals across the Persian Gulf, potentially driving crude prices to $200‑$300 per barrel and destabilising the global economy. The conflict has already caused the largest-ever disruption to global energy supplies, killing thousands and sparking sharp fuel‑price shocks. While consumers bear the brunt, major fossil‑fuel companies are enjoying windfall profits. Bigger noted that higher oil prices benefit oil majors and are being used as a pretext to expand U.S. drilling, further entrenching reliance on carbon‑intensive fuels. According to Bigger, Trump’s rhetoric reveals a belief that "fossil fuels are a linchpin of his domestic industrial strategy," and that controlling oil equates to controlling global power. He argues that this mindset threatens the international order and hampers the transition to cleaner energy.