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The Rise of a Dynasty: Houston's Unexpected WNBA Reign Fran Harris remembers a late-night dinner in Sacramento. Her Houston Comets squad had just dispatched the lowly Monarchs by 10 points. To celebrate, she and a few teammates, including Cynthia Cooper, Tammy Jackson and Kim Perrot, decided to grab a bite. Cooper had scored 44 in the 25 July 1997 contest, and her talents dazzled even her dinner companions. "I said to Cynthia, 'I just cannot believe how great you're playing – and I know how great you are!'" Harris tells the Guardian. "And she goes, 'I know!' She was just, like, Yeah, I'm the motherfucker! I was like, 'You absolutely are!'" From Underdogs to Champions: The Comets' Unexpected Journey Cooper, an eventual two-time WNBA MVP and four-time champion, was not supposed to be the league's top player. She'd played in Europe for a number of seasons after winning college championships at USC in the mid-1980s. But when the WNBA began in the summer of 1997, she was already 34. In fact, her entire Houston Comets team, who would win the league's first championship – as well as the next three – were predicted to finish last by many ahead of the inaugural campaign. (They could get a chance to add to their tally: on Wednesday the WNBA confirmed a franchise will return to Houston in 2027, 19 years after the original Comets folded.) "They were very unimpressed with our roster for some reason," says Harris, now a television analyst for the WNBA's Dallas Wings. "When we read that, we were like, 'This shit is funny! That is hilarious.'" The League's Precarious Foundation: Women's Basketball Before the WNBA When the WNBA began, professional women's basketball was in a precarious state. The WBL, the first pro women's league in the US, started nearly 20 years prior. But it folded within three years. After that, several more leagues popped up, including the ABL, which launched in 1996. That year, the US boasted an all-time Olympic team, and the league wanted to capitalize on the enthusiasm around their gold medal. But things didn't go to plan for the ABL. Harris, who had won a NCAA championship in 1986 with Texas, had heard about the ABL and was interested, but a former teammate working as a college coach warned her against joining, with the NBA getting ready to launch the WNBA. Harris took note. The ABL, without big-money backing, folded after two seasons. Building a Team: Tryouts and Team Chemistry Tryouts for the Comets' inaugural season kicked off on Mother's Day weekend. "It was just survival of the fittest," says Yolanda Moore. "It was a free-for-all. We did your basic three-man-wave – that kind of stuff. But really we were just put into teams and played basketball. And at the end of every session, they would make cuts." The Comets' first coach was Van Chancellor. A veteran of the college ranks, he'd been Moore's coach at Mississippi. Still, he told her that she had a "snowball's chance in hell" to make the Comets, she says. Moore, who graduated with a degree in journalism, initially wanted to be "Robin Roberts Jr". When she heard about the WNBA, though, she had to jump for it. She also didn't listen to her coach's negative attitude. Moore's perseverance landed her a spot on the Comets' practice team, and later one on the main roster. The Legacy of the Comets: Paving the Way for Future Generations Thinking back on the year, Harris vividly remembers the Comets' first regular-season game. It was on the road in Cleveland with an official attendance of 11,455. "It was sold out," she says. "I was like: 'Woah!' The crowd for that moment was a big deal." In a way, Harris says, that entire first year was like a dream. The WNBA marked the first time longtime women's basketball stars could play against one another professionally in the US. "We had all played against each other in college," Harris says. "Now, here we were playing against each other in a pro league. It was incredibly surreal." "Not only were we trying to prove ourselves in the league," says Moore, a bench player in her first season before blossoming into a top backup center, "but we were women trying to prove ourselves to this sport, that we deserved to have this space. We were proving that this was our time." The Return of the Comets: Houston's WNBA Future The announcement that a WNBA franchise will return to Houston in 2027 marks a significant moment for the league and the city. The original Comets folded in 2008 after winning four championships in the league's first four years. The return of professional women's basketball to Houston comes nearly two decades later, reflecting both the growth of the WNBA and the enduring legacy of the original team. As the league approaches its 30th season, the return to Houston symbolizes how far women's professional basketball has come since the Comets' early dominance. The team's legacy continues to inspire new generations of players and fans, proving that the electric atmosphere the Comets created in Houston can be reignited in the coming years.

The Lead: Inevitable Fare Increases Due to Fuel CrisisIncreases in air fares for travellers in Europe are "inevitable" over the peak summer period because of the high cost of jet fuel, according to the head of the international aviation body. While some airlines have recently reduced European fares due to weak demand, Willie Walsh, the former British Airways boss who leads the International Air Transport Association, said there was no way carriers could absorb the extra costs in the long run.The Event Details: Middle East Tensions Disrupt Fuel SupplyWalsh told the BBC there was no need to panic over potential jet fuel shortages this summer, and believes that widespread cancellations of flights can be avoided. However, he warned rising fuel prices would inevitably push up ticket prices. Even if the strait of Hormuz were to reopen tomorrow, the impact of disruption caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran could still be felt into next year. Iran's effective closure of the strait, a key shipping route, has sent the cost of jet fuel soaring.The Data Analysis: Fuel Shortages and Flight Reductions"Over time it's inevitable that the high price of oil will be reflected in higher ticket prices," Walsh said. He noted that the UK typically sees a 25% increase in flights and fuel requirements in July and August compared to March. Some long-haul flights have already risen in price. The UK and the rest of Europe are highly reliant on imports of jet fuel from the Middle East, and have been scrambling to find alternative supplies. Airlines have axed 296 departures from UK airports this month, equivalent to 0.75% of the total, according to Aviation analytics company Cirium.The Impact Analysis: Industry and Government ResponsesLast week, the EU said there was no regulatory reason why US-grade jet fuel should not be used by European airlines, as long as its introduction was managed carefully. This week the EU's energy commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, said while there was no immediate threat to jet fuel supplies, there could be shortages in the longer term. The chief executive of the travel operator Tui, Sebastian Ebel, said he did not expect shortages over the coming months. The UK's transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said summer holiday plans would not face major disruption because of shortages, noting more fuel had been imported from America and UK refineries had increased production. The government has also introduced a temporary rule change, allowing airlines to group passengers from different flights together on fewer planes to save fuel.The Prediction: Extended Fuel Crisis Through 2027Walsh warned fuel shortages could continue into 2027. "Whichever way you look at it, I think this issue will continue for a number of months to come, and may indeed continue into next year," he said. Separately, the Home Office announced that children aged eight and nine returning to the UK from abroad would be able to use e-gates at airports and other re-entry points, from 8 July. By lowering the minimum age from 10, the government believes up to 1.5 million more children will be able to use e-gates.

British artist Matthew Collings is fighting back after his “Drawings Against Genocide” exhibition was pulled from a London gallery following a complaint by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which claimed the works were anti‑Semitic. While Kent Police concluded the show did not breach hate‑crime laws, the incident underscores a broader pattern of legal pressure on pro‑Palestine cultural expression. The Show’s Abrupt Cancellation Amid Legal Pressure Collings, in his 70s, has produced over 3,000 drawings in six years, with 130 pieces slated for a May show at Delta House in London. UKLFI sent a letter warning the venue that the images could breach public disorder laws, prompting the gallery to cancel the exhibition. The group argued that the drawings relied on “anti‑Semitic tropes, dehumanising imagery, and conspiracy narratives about Jews.” Numbers Behind the Controversy: Drawings, Emails, and Police Findings 130 drawings in the “Drawings Against Genocide” series. 30 of the works feature recognisable public figures who are Jewish; half of those are portrayed positively. More than 1,000 near‑identical emails were sent to Kent Police after their initial decision, raising concerns of a DDoS‑style attack. Hundreds of thousands of emails have been received by Collings and his partner since the controversy erupted. UKLFI appears 128 times in the ELSC’s Britain’s Index of Repression, with 20 cases targeting artistic institutions. Implications for Artistic Freedom and Pro‑Palestine Expression in the UK The police statement noted that while the artwork criticises the Israeli state, it does not contain “directly abusive or insulting” content toward Jews as a group, nor intent to stir racial or religious hatred. Legal experts, such as Anna Ost of the European Legal Support Center, see the case as part of a pattern of “legally baseless threats” aimed at silencing pro‑Palestine voices in cultural spaces. Recent interventions by UKLFI have also affected the British Museum’s displays, suggesting a coordinated effort to limit discussion of the Gaza conflict within the arts sector. What’s Next for Collings and the Wider Cultural Landscape Collings remains undeterred, planning shows across the UK and in Australia, and warns that venues may face intimidation unless they align with activist pressures. He calls for clearer context for his work, likening the drawings to Goya’s war imagery, and urges the art world to publicly support artists facing censorship. Observers predict that continued legal challenges could force galleries to adopt stricter vetting processes, potentially chilling artistic commentary on the Israel‑Palestine conflict.

Lead: A Celebrated Return of the Letter‑Based StoryThe Guardian praises *The Correspondent* as an "immensely enjoyable" revival of the epistolary novel, noting its bestseller status on both sides of the Atlantic and its shortlisting for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.Reviving the Epistolary Form: Evans’s Narrative TechniqueEvans structures the novel around three‑weekly letters written by 73‑year‑old Sybil Van Antwerp from her Maryland home. The correspondence includes friends, family, and even imagined replies from real‑life figures such as Ann Patchett, George Lucas and Joan Didion, creating a layered texture that keeps the story dynamic despite its hermetic format.Sales and Accolades: Bestseller Status and Prize ShortlistPublished by Michael Joseph at £16.99Bestseller in the UK and US marketsShortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (2026)Cultural Resonance: Why Letter Writing Finds New ReadersSybil’s voice—direct, irascible, yet generous—offers a relatable portrait of aging, loss, and the search for connection.The novel explores themes of memory, legal career, DNA testing, and impending blindness, grounding the epistolary form in contemporary concerns.Readers report a renewed urge to compose letters after finishing the book, indicating a broader cultural appetite for analog communication.Future of the Genre: Anticipating More Letter‑Based StoriesGiven the critical acclaim and commercial success, publishers are likely to seek additional epistolary projects, positioning the form as a viable avenue for literary innovation in the coming years.

California AG Bonta Sends FIFA Ticket‑Category InquiryAttorney General Rob Bonta wrote to FIFA requesting documentation on seat‑map changes after fans reported that the categories displayed during purchase did not correspond to the seats they received.Alleged Mismatch Between Ticket Categories and Seat AssignmentsThe Athletic reported that buyers of Category 1 tickets were sometimes placed in sections previously labeled Category 2 on the online stadium maps. Fans claim the seats assigned were of a lower tier than advertised.Tickets were sold in four colour‑coded categories based on interactive maps.Category changes allegedly occurred after purchase but before seat allocation.Bonta asked for dates of map revisions and the number of fans affected.Ticket Pricing Scale and Potential Revenue ImplicationsMore than 3 million tickets have been sold for the 2026 World Cup, which FIFA expects to generate roughly $13 bn in revenue. However, pricing has drawn fire:Most expensive 2022 final ticket: $1,600 (face value).2026 most expensive face‑value ticket: $32,970.Fan group Football Supporters Europe calls the structure “extortionate” and a “monumental betrayal.”Repercussions for FIFA’s Reputation and Fan Trust Ahead of 2026 World CupThe probe adds to a growing backlash over ticket costs and perceived lack of transparency. FIFA’s response that category maps were “indicative” rather than exact seat layouts has done little to quell criticism, potentially affecting ticket sales and public perception as the tournament approaches its June 11 kickoff in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.Possible Outcomes and Next Steps for the InvestigationIf the investigation finds violations, FIFA could face:Mandated refunds or re‑allocation of seats for affected fans.Regulatory penalties from California or other jurisdictions.Increased pressure to revise pricing and disclosure practices for future events.FIFA President Gianni Infantino maintains that current prices reflect the U.S. market, but the legal scrutiny may force a reassessment of the ticket‑selling model before the tournament’s opening matches.

Executive Summary: Stakes of the 8th Fatah CongressThe Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) held its eighth general congress on May 14, a routine‑sounding event that arrives at a volatile moment in Palestinian politics. With the Gaza Strip under intense Israeli assault and the West Bank facing annexation moves, the congress is being framed as a "quiet battle" over the movement’s future direction and leadership succession. Congress Structure and Delayed TimelineAccording to Fatah’s bylaws, the congress meets every four years to elect the 18‑member Central Committee and the 80‑member Revolutionary Council. The 8th congress was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed for five years, making the previous meeting the 7th congress of 2016. Delegates gathered in four locations—Ramallah, Gaza, Cairo and Beirut—to mitigate the movement’s geographic fragmentation. Numbers Behind the Delegates and Decision‑Making BodiesApproximately 2,580 members participated, a figure inflated by the inclusion of senior Palestinian Authority (PA) security and civil officials.The expanded delegate list is viewed by critics as a method to ensure pre‑determined outcomes.The congress will elect an 18‑member Central Committee and an 80‑member Revolutionary Council, bodies that historically shape Fatah’s policy agenda. Political Ramifications for Abbas Succession and Gaza ConflictWhile succession for the 90‑year‑old President Mahmoud Abbas is not on the formal agenda, the congress is widely interpreted as a maneuver to install loyalists who can steer the transition. Veteran leader Nabil Amr warned that the era of Fatah unilaterally selecting a presidential candidate is ending; future leaders will need legitimacy from a national election, not a closed‑room vote.The ongoing war in Gaza adds urgency. Experts note that the newly elected leadership will inherit a “severely difficult political situation” with Gaza besieged, PA funds dwindling, and the two‑state solution eroding on the ground. What the New Leadership May Face in the Coming YearAnalysts predict that the congress‑elected bodies will struggle to regain public trust unless they pivot from bureaucratic loyalty to grassroots engagement. The movement’s survival, especially for its younger members, hinges on delivering tangible political outcomes—most notably, winning a general election that reflects popular will.In short, the 8th Fatah Congress is less a routine administrative gathering and more a litmus test for the movement’s ability to adapt to external pressures and internal demands for democratic renewal.

The Rise of AI Chatbots in UK Healthcare A UK study has found that one in seven people are using AI chatbots for health advice instead of seeing their GP. The poll of more than 2,000 people revealed that 15% of respondents are turning to chatbots, with one in four having done so because of long NHS waiting lists. The Risks of AI in Healthcare The study, analysed by researchers at King's College London, highlighted the potential risks of using AI for health advice. A fifth of respondents who used chatbots said the technology did not encourage them to seek a professional opinion, and a similar proportion said they decided against seeking a consultation because of something an AI chatbot had told them. The Concerns of Medical Professionals Prof Graham Lord, the lead author of the study, said the growing individual use of chatbots was creating “an unregulated AI healthcare system alongside the NHS”. He added that there is a need for greater transparency about what works, what is safe, and how issues are handled. The Debate on AI in Clinical Decision-Making Respondents were split on whether AI should be used in clinical decision-making, with 37% in favour and 38% against. Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, the president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said it would be “highly concerning” if people were using AI instead of seeing a GP. The Future of AI in Healthcare The research signals how the technology is changing the way people are dealing with health problems. Medical professionals stress that AI can provide quick answers, but it cannot examine a patient, fully understand their medical history, or make safe clinical judgments based on evidence.

The Lead: Political Uncertainty Triggers Bond Market JittersAs Keir Starmer faces a potential leadership challenge, the spectre of the bond market looms large over Westminster. The prospect of Britain switching prime ministers for a sixth time in seven years has fuelled a sharp sell-off in the market for UK government debt, with investors warning of a potential repeat of the 2022 "Liz Truss moment" that sent shockwaves through the UK's financial system.The Bond Market Reaction: Yields at 28-Year HighsAs Starmer's grip on power appeared to be slipping away, the yield on 30-year government bonds, or gilts, briefly reached 5.8% on Tuesday, the highest level since 1998, before slipping back after a challenge failed to immediately materialise. However, selling pressure has been maintained on the UK government's bonds relative to its G7 peers, with investors fearing a return to political instability in Britain and a leftwing shift by Labour involving higher levels of borrowing."The markets hate uncertainty, but they hate a political vacuum even more," said Nigel Green, the chief executive of deVere Group. "A cabinet resignation followed by a leadership fight would signal that the government is losing control of itself while investors are already questioning the country's fiscal direction."The Economic Backdrop: Mounting Debt PressuresBritain has elevated levels of borrowing and debt. After a succession of economic shocks, years of lacklustre growth, and rising pressure to repair battered public services and to support an ageing population, the UK's national debt stands at almost 100% of GDP – the highest level since the 1960s.Meanwhile, with the rise in interest rates worldwide amid the inflation pressures unleashed after the Covid pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and now the Iran war, the cost of servicing the country's debts has also risen. If someone were to replace Starmer, they would face the same challenges, analysts at Goldman Sachs wrote in a note to clients. "Policy choices will remain constrained by the challenging backdrop of rising spending pressures and an already elevated tax burden irrespective of any changes in leadership."The Political Calculations: Labour's Internal DilemmaWithin Labour ranks many MPs are sanguine, reflecting frustration at a tight approach to tax and spending under Starmer, despite the party's plunging poll ratings and dire showing in elections across Britain last week. The prime minister's allies have sought to argue that avoiding bond market provocation should be reason enough to save him. Others appear willing to put the City's warnings to the test.The Merseyside MP Paula Barker, an ally of Andy Burnham, has suggested financial markets would "have to fall into line" should the Greater Manchester mayor find a route to Downing Street. Meanwhile, the leftwing grandee Diane Abbott suggested that MPs "might as well go home" if bond market considerations trumped other priorities.The Market Warning: Risk of Another Truss MomentInvestors warn that a contest ignoring the fragile state of the public finances and realpolitik of the markets could prove fatal for any candidate to be prime minister – highlighting Liz Truss's short-lived premiership."If the political leadership [were to] change or if the current leaders [were to] opt to call for substantially more fiscal loosening, the risk is high that we would see another Liz Truss moment," said Reto Cueni, chief economist at Syz Group. "Markets can cope with ideology of any stripe if it is disciplined and coherent. They recoil from programmes that imply materially higher borrowing without a credible growth engine."Still, investors say further borrowing – on top of planned bond sales worth £252bn to fund the government's activities this year – would risk driving gilt yields higher. This would add to Britain's already £100bn-a-year debt interest bill – a sum representing about £1 out of every £10 spent by the Treasury.The Future Outlook: Balancing Act for LabourMark Dowding, the chief investment officer at the hedge fund RBC BlueBay, said: "It starts to become a very material element of your overall tax revenues. It becomes a bigger element of government spending; and as that moves higher it starts looking unsustainable. As it starts looking unsustainable, you enter a vicious spiral where the fear of it going higher drives borrowing costs even higher. There is almost a tipping point you fear might exist."Ahead of any leadership race, most City investors expect those vying to replace Starmer will attempt to strike a balance between shifting direction and keeping the bond market onside. This week, Louise Haigh, the powerful co-chair of the soft-left Tribune group of Labour MPs, set out a plan for the economy that would involve allowing higher levels of borrowing by overhauling the chancellor Rachel Reeves's current fiscal rules. However, the former cabinet minister warned any changes would have to wait until after Labour has met Reeves's main target of balancing day-to-day spending with tax receipts.

The Historic World Cup Half-Time DebutMadonna, Shakira and K-pop megastars BTS will headline a Super Bowl-style half-time show at the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, FIFA has confirmed. Coldplay's Chris Martin will curate the show, which is a first for a football World Cup final, but the programme details released on Thursday have raised concerns about how long half-time will be."This will be a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Instagram.Breaking New Ground in Football EntertainmentThe move mirrors the show held during the final of the 2024 Copa America in Miami, when Colombian star Shakira performed at half-time at the Hard Rock Stadium. There was also a half-time show at last year's FIFA Club World Cup final, also at MetLife Stadium, which stretched the break in excess of the regulation 15 minutes.Infantino announced in March last year that there would be "the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA World Cup final." He did not say at the time who would be performing or how long the show would last.Financial Impact and Global InitiativeThe half-time extravaganza will support FIFA's Global Citizen Education Fund, an initiative working to raise $100 million for children worldwide during the World Cup. The biggest-ever World Cup, with 48 teams, kicks off on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Infantino added that FIFA also planned to "take over" New York's Times Square on the final weekend of the World Cup, further expanding the commercial and cultural impact of the tournament.Transforming Football's Cultural LandscapeThe inclusion of major musical acts at the World Cup final represents a significant shift in how football's premier event is presented to global audiences. By blending sports entertainment with music, FIFA aims to attract new demographics and expand the tournament's cultural reach beyond traditional football fans.This entertainment strategy builds on the success of previous World Cup anthems and performances, particularly Shakira's "Waka Waka" for the 2010 tournament, which became a global hit and remains closely associated with the World Cup brand.Future of Tournament EntertainmentWith the success of recent half-time shows at Copa America and the Club World Cup, FIFA is signaling that entertainment elements will become a permanent feature of major tournaments. The collaboration between football's governing body and top-tier artists sets a precedent for future World Cups and other international competitions.As Shakira prepares to release the official World Cup song "Dai Dai" featuring Nigerian artist Burna Boy, the tournament's musical dimension continues to expand, potentially creating new opportunities for cross-cultural collaborations in future events.