Montmorency Bakehouse decided to tackle online abuse head-on, asking viewers to ‘please stop with the thirsty comments’ Lawrence Du knew instinctively that his parents’ bakery had the potential to pop off on social media. Shaun Du and Cindy Vuong opened Montmorency Bakehouse on the fringe of Melbourne’s east in 2003, after migrating to Australia from Vietnam. They started selling pillowy, coconut-dusted lamingtons, vanilla slices, chunky steak pies and crusty loaves of bread alongside crispy banh mi and rice paper rolls, creating a traditional country-style Australian bakery with a Vietnamese twist. Continue reading...

From his home town of Los Angeles, the architect designed a career around defying what was predictable In Frank Gehry’s world, no building was left untilted, unexposed or untouched by unconventional material. The Canadian-American architect, who died in his Los Angeles home at 96, designed a career around defying what was predictable and pulling in materials that were uncommon and, as such, relatively inexpensive. Gehry collaborated with artists to turn giant binoculars into an entryway of a commercial campus, and paid homage to a writer’s past as a lifeguard by creating a livable lifeguard tower. And while dreaming this up, he transformed American architecture along the way. Continue reading...

After meeting Miranda at a footy screening, Darcy Green found her a little terrifying. Months later, their feelings came pouring out Find more stories from the moment I knew series In 2018 I moved from Sydney to Oxford to complete my masters. My mum was born in London, and I was raised on my gran’s stories about England, so moving to Oxford felt oddly like going home. I was excited to get my degree, visit as many beautiful libraries as possible and play all the sports I could cram into my calendar. Falling in love wasn’t on my wishlist, but then I met Miranda. Continue reading...

Inter Miami host Vancouver for MLS championship Drop Beau at line on Bluesky or email Messi. Müller. It’s a World Cup rematch in which someone will be the first World Cup champion to add an MLS Cup to that virtual-yet-very-real trophy case. But look past the big names. These are two exceptional teams. As MLS has expanded, the talent pool has been stretched thin, but these two teams would easily hang with the old-school DC United dynasty or the strong LA Galaxy teams. Continue reading...

It’s Musicals Week, so prepare for tunes from The Greatest Showman and West Side Story – plus the all-new Dance Relay. But whose quarter-final performance will get bad reviews – and who will bring the house down? As well as the Dance Relay, this week’s five “proper” routines from our couples are heavy on the Latin and speciality dances, with a Charleston, an Argentine tango, a salsa and a samba. Om;y Balvinder Sopal is flying the flag for ye olde trad ballroom with her Viennese waltz. Extra dancers are also back for the first time since Blackpool, lending that big production feel to the musicals-themed numbers. Fifteen minutes until that ba-ba-da theme tune… Training VT sees couple visit the West End cast of the musical they’re channelling for “tips” Celebrity gushes unconvincingly about how much they love musical theatre Overuse of the words “iconic” and “legendary” Anton refers to his Musicals Week routines of yore, even though he only made it this far twice Fickle Claudia transfers her affections from Dave Arch to Paddington Craig modestly mentions his West End choreography credits Anton ropes in a secretly delighted Shirley to demonstrate waltz frame or tango hold Motsi says someone “brought their A-game” or “shut this ballroom down” Someone gets compared to Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers/Gene Kelly/Bob Fosse Shirley picks up a female celebrity on her footwork fundamentals but male celebs get away with it Continue reading...

Tuchel’s team will play at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium Other Group L games in Boston and New York/New Jersey England will kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas at 9pm UK time on Wednesday 17 June, it has been announced. Thomas Tuchel’s team will play at the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning, which will mitigate the effects of a 4pm ET kick-off or 3pm local time. Continue reading...

Andrew Wolfe was shot in the head on 26 November, while Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries The West Virginia national guard soldier who was wounded in the 26 November shooting that killed a colleague of his in Washington DC is “slowly healing”, according to West Virginia’s governor. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was shot alongside fellow West Virginia national guard soldier Sarah Beckstrom, 20, while they patrolled the US capital as part of the Trump administration’s push to deploy military members on to the city’s streets. Beckstrom died of her injuries the day after she was shot while Wolfe was hospitalized in critical condition. Continue reading...

For second time this season, rain ends Rovers match early Hosts were again leading match when referee halted play Blackburn’s match against Sheffield Wednesday was abandoned with the hosts leading 1-0 due to a waterlogged pitch – the second time that has happened this season. Valérien Ismaël’s men came into the game four days after fulfilling the rearranged fixture against Ipswich, a game they were also originally on course to win 1-0. This time, Yuki Ohashi’s fifth goal of the campaign had given them the lead in the 33rd minute and Blackburn had only faced one moment of real danger when Bailey Cadamarteri’s strike was saved by Aynsley Pears early in the second half. Continue reading...

Long before the end Burnley were down to 10 men, well en route towards a sixth straight Premier League defeat and concerned, largely, with damage limitation. Yet to their considerable credit, Scott Parker’s side never surrendered and somehow even dragged themselves back into things thanks to Zian Flemming’s late penalty. Continue reading...

A moment of sheer brilliance in the 65th minute from Rayan Cherki had all at the Etihad Stadium sucking air in awe. The Frenchman burst along the right and cut back, then delivered a scintillating rabona plum on to the head of Phil Foden, who nodded home off the bar. Manchester City had cruised to a 3-0 lead and were heading for second, two points off the top, after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa. The manager will adore Cherki’s man-of-the-match display as much as there being no second-half defensive horror show to follow the one at Fulham, and you have to wonder if City will again break the hearts of the Gunners come May, when the title is handed out. If Cherki continues to star as he did here then he will join Foden and Erling Haaland as City’s gun attackers who will give them the best chance of yet another crown. Continue reading...

⚽ Premier League updates from the 5.30pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Table | Follow us on Bluesky | Email Scott Readers react to the updated Premier League table. “I’ve been fairly relaxed about Liverpool’s form so far. The title memory is still fresh and, being only the second in 35 years, still worth celebrating. And 450m quid is a lot, but it wasn’t my money. But seven places behind Everton? If that doesn’t qualify as a crisis, then I’m not sure what does: – Tim Woods “Following Villa’s victory earlier, it’s On! The league is back On!*” – Matt Dony Continue reading...

Sean Dyche would not have recognised Everton on his return to the club he saved from relegation and possible administration not so long ago. The former Everton manager was greeted by plush new surroundings, a contented fanbase and a vibrant, confident opponent as the home team rose to fifth in the Premier League with a comfortable defeat of Nottingham Forest. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall produced another immaculate performance in the heart of Everton’s midfield as a fourth win in five games reinforced the advances made since David Moyes replaced Dyche in January. Dewsbury-Hall forced the first goal and scored the third, with Thierno Barry finally getting off the mark to wild acclaim in-between. Forest were subdued and second-best throughout. Continue reading...

Any momentum Chelsea had picked up in the final week of November, through outclassing Barcelona and matching Arsenal with 10 men, appears to have been stunted in December. After Wednesday’s defeat at Leeds, a point against Bournemouth is no disaster but, with Arsenal’s earlier loss to Aston Villa, it is a chance missed. Eight points separate Enzo Maresca’s side and the top of the Premier League. Bournemouth took a leaf out of Leeds’ book and hounded Chelsea from the start. The visitors, behind within six minutes at Elland Road, were let off the hook twice early on. Antoine Semenyo thought he had given Bournemouth the lead when he pounced on a loose ball inside the area, only for the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to intervene because Evanilson was marginally offside from Alex Scott’s incisive pass into the box. Continue reading...

England captain comes on in 60th minute of 5-0 win Bayern struggling at 1-0 up until his arrival Harry Kane scored a hat-trick after coming on as second-half substitute to guide Bayern Munich to a 5-0 victory at Stuttgart. The Bavarian club, who have opened up an 11-point lead at the top, were a goal up but struggling against the aggressive hosts until the introduction of Kane on the hour mark. Stuttgart were also left with 10 men for the last 10 minutes after the dismissal of Lorenz Assignon. This story will be updated Continue reading...

Neil Couling said failings by individual claimants ‘at the heart’ of crisis, despite a report finding DWP shortcomings ‘unacceptable’ One of the most senior civil servants in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has placed the blame for the carer’s allowance benefits crisis on victims, many of who have been left with life-changing debts. In an internal blogpost written for Whitehall colleagues, Neil Couling, the director general of DWP services, said individual failings by carers were “at the heart” of the issue that has been likened to the Post Office Horizon scandal. Continue reading...

Ahmed al-Sharaa’s comments came amid airstrikes and incursions by Israeli military into southern Syria Syria’s interim president has accused Israel of fighting “ghosts” and exporting its crises to other countries after the war in Gaza. President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s comments come amid persistent airstrikes and incursions by the Israeli military into southern Syria. Continue reading...

Odds-on favourite victorious by nine lengths at Sandown Jonbon, winner for past two years, comes home second Il Etait Temps, odds-on at 8-11, made it plain his trainer, Willie Mullins, will not relinquish his UK trainers’ championship without a struggle. He ran out a convincing winner of the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase here on Saturday, with Jonbon next across the line and L’Eau Du Sud, trained by the title-race leader, Dan Skelton, third. The race was a three-cornered contest on paper and so it proved for much of the way. Jonbon, winner for the past two seasons, led the way with L’Eau Du Sud and Il Etait Temps in close attendance. All three were jumping superbly in a contest where a single mistake can be decisive, but as they rounded the final turn and headed towards the Pond fence, it was clear Paul Townend, on Il Etait Temps, was travelling significantly better than his rivals. Continue reading...

World championship rivals side by side at front of grid McLaren driver still well placed for the season finale Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a vital first step in attempting to clinch the world championship in the decisive season-finale at Yas Marina. His title rivals – McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri – took second and third in a competitive and tense qualifying session, with the protagonists in three-way title fight duking it out for the top spots on the grid. Continue reading...

The former president gave a speech expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights at an LGBTQ+ leaders conference on Friday Joe Biden has criticized Republicans for turning transgender rights into a “political football” in a speech that the former US president delivered at an LGBTQ+ event. Speaking at the International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference in Washington on Friday, Biden urged LGBTQ+ people to “get up and fight back” against Donald Trump’s second presidential administration. Continue reading...

Saracens 47-10 Clermont Auvergne Sarries run in seven tries in Champions Cup opener This was never in doubt. On a grey, sodden day in north London, Clermont Auvergne initially defended with spirit before reverting to a more stereotypically French model for playing away from home and fell to a heavy 47-10 defeat. A depleted, callow squad always looked likely to struggle against a Saracens side crammed with international quality, even despite the absence of England’s Maro Itoje, Ben Earl and Jamie George. The visitors were ultimately overwhelmed with Noah Caluori, the 19-year-old wing, proving a constant menace in a remarkably assured individual display. Saracens scored seven tries: the Argentina international wing Lucio Cinti got two, with Max Malins, James Hadfield, Caluori, Hugh Tizard and Theo Dan all chipping in. Mark McCall’s side are up and running in the Champions Cup: next Saturday’s meeting with the Sharks in Durban will be different, and more difficult, in every conceivable way. Continue reading...

AI research in question as author claims to have written over 100 papers on AI that one expert calls a ‘disaster’ A single person claims to have authored 113 academic papers on artificial intelligence this year, 89 of which will be presented this week at one of the world’s leading conference on AI and machine learning, which has raised questions among computer scientists about the state of AI research. The author, Kevin Zhu, recently finished a bachelor’s degree in computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, and now runs Algoverse, an AI research and mentoring company for high schoolers – many of whom are his co-authors on the papers. Zhu himself graduated from high school in 2018. Continue reading...

Obama, Trump, and Biden stood by their man in Tegucigalpa for the eight vicious, destructive years he was in power Since President Trump first announced the pardon of former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández last Friday, the media has been wading through the long list of criminal acts that led to Hernández’s 2024 conviction for drug trafficking, money laundering and arms dealing. Trump’s outrageous pardon is being contrasted with his unlawful, aggressive attacks on boats allegedly trafficking drugs for the government of Venezuela. Missing from the narrative, though, are the other illegal acts committed by Hernández that weren’t about drug trafficking, and thus didn’t fall under the justice department’s anti-drug mandate when it charged and convicted him in the southern district of New York. Many are the crimes of Juan Orlando Hernández, and ruinous. And long is the history of US support for him in full knowledge of those crimes. Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden all stood by their man in Honduras for the eight vicious, destructive years he was in power. They ignored his drug connections, supported the military and police that kept him in power through state terror, and countenanced his illegal re-elections. Hernández was only able to rise to power, and stay there, because of the United States government. Dana Frank is research professor and professor emerita of history at the University of California, Santa Cruz and author of The Long Honduran Night: Resistance, Terror, and the United States in the Aftermath of the Coup Continue reading...

Mikel Arteta had acknowledged the hazards that awaited Arsenal, the Premier League’s pacesetters, at Villa Park. Aston Villa inflicted irrecoverable damage on his side in January, Unai Emery’s team rallying from two goals down to earn a point at the Emirates Stadium, a result that left Arsenal lagging behind Liverpool and with too much ground to make up in the title race. Two seasons ago Villa did the double over Arsenal, two late goals earning an away victory in the final weeks of the season that paved the way for Manchester City to pip Arteta’s side to the crown. So Arteta and Arsenal knew the challenge of unpicking a Villa side that had won 12 of their previous 14 matches in all competitions, including eight of their previous nine league matches. Emery equally knew the difficulty of overcoming an Arsenal side who had won 17 of their 21 matches this season and seemingly addressed perceived weaknesses in the summer. Even with Cristhian Mosquera absent with an ankle injury, meaning Jurriën Timber partnered Piero Hincapié at centre-back, they did not look short of quality. It was, of course, Emery whom Arteta succeeded six years ago, tasked with the ultimate aim of reclaiming a title that has eluded them since 2003-04. Continue reading...

Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz will also be present for talks on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Downing Street on Monday for an in-person meeting with Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in a show of support for Ukraine. Starmer will use the meeting with the leaders from Ukraine, France and Germany to discuss the ongoing talks between US and Ukrainian officials aimed at finding an agreement on guaranteeing Ukraine’s postwar security. Continue reading...

Arsenal exorcised the ghost of two back-to-back draws and a week of speculation about their squad harmony as Stina Blackstenius’s late strike gave them all three points against Liverpool. They had taken an early lead through Olivia Smith, but they shrank into themselves after Beata Olsson’s equaliser until Blackstenius delivered in the 87th minute. The home team had got off to a blistering start after a full-voiced rendition of North London Forever. The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, when the former Liverpool forward Smith shrugged off three challenges as she drifted towards the edge of the area and lashed in. Continue reading...