Harold Pinter theatre, London Crudup and Denise Gough lead a tense adaptation that turns the film into a debate play whose McCarthy-era roots resonate powerfully today How do you turn a classic Hollywood western into West End musical fare? Add songs, many of Bruce Springsteen’s in this case, along with a few rounds of line dancing and a sizzling star in Billy Crudup. Still, it’s an odd experience initially as Thea Sharrock’s production switches from one brief filmic scene to the next, and the endeavour seems as wooden as the clapboard saloon-bar slats that comprise the handsome set. As a piece of theatre, it finds its flow. As a debate play, though, it gathers a locomotive energy as it travels towards the showdown between Frank Miller (James Doherty), who is returning to this “dirty little village in the middle of nowhere”, and the marshal Will Kane (Crudup) who put him behind bars. That is mostly because of the uncanny and urgent relevance of this 1952 film about a community working out (or rather, squirming out of) its civic responsibilities around institutional wrongdoing. Continue reading...

Eight-time champion withdraws two days before event O’Sullivan also pulled out 12 months ago Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Masters two days before the tournament starts on medical grounds. O’Sullivan claimed a record-extending eighth win at the tournament in 2024 but opted against defending his crown 12 months ago, giving the same reason as he has for his latest withdrawal. Continue reading...

Dulce Consuelo Díaz Morales was held for 25 days even after attorneys said they presented ICE with US birth certificate A Maryland woman has been released and reunited with her family after spending 25 days in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody – despite her attorneys saying documentation showed she was born in the US and therefore is a citizen. Dulce Consuelo Díaz Morales and her legal team maintain she was born in the US and possess records supporting that claim. ICE, however, had disputed this, asserting she is a Mexican citizen who entered the US unlawfully. Continue reading...

Artistic director of US’s national opera also cites ‘shattered’ donor confidence and box office revenue The Washington National Opera (WNO) announced on Friday it is moving its performances out of the John F Kennedy Center, where it has been performing since 1971, according to a New York Times report. Francesca Zambello, WNO’s artistic director, had said in November that the move was a possibility as a result of the “takeover” of the center by Donald Trump. Trump declared himself the chair of the institution in February and quickly thereafter fired and replaced its board and leadership. Continue reading...

US president doubled down on threats to acquire territory at a White House meeting with oil and gas executives Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats to acquire Greenland, saying that the US is “going to do something [there] whether they like it or not.” Speaking at a meeting Friday with oil and gas executives in the White House, the US president justified his comments by saying: “If we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland. And we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor.” Continue reading...

It should have been easier for Wrexham to dump Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup but triumphing on penalties after suffering a late fightback will have made knocking out the Premier League side sweeter. After Callum Hudson-Odoi came off the bench to score a late double to bring parity after 90 minutes, Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo brought back the euphoria with two saves in the shootout to secure something akin to a shock. Liberato Cacace, Ollie Rathbone and Dom Hyam thought they had done enough to send Wrexham through at 3-1 but Forest threatened to ruin the party. They need not have worried as Okonkwo made sure there was glory at the end. Continue reading...

Manager takes charge of first game on Saturday in FA Cup ‘It’s not possible to be in this job and not be your own man’ Liam Rosenior is confident he will make the decisions at Chelsea, insisting he would not have agreed to take over as head coach if he doubted his ability to work within the club’s structure. Rosenior, who takes charge of his first game when Chelsea visit Charlton in the FA Cup third round on Saturday night, was appointed after Enzo Maresca left in acrimonious circumstances. Maresca’s position became untenable after a power battle with the Chelsea hierarchy went beyond the point of no return. Continue reading...

The 550lb black bear was drawn out with paintball guns after it had resided under the home for more than a month Getting rid of an unwanted houseguest can be difficult, but seldom does it involve a paintball gun and an electrified mat. A 550lb black bear that took residence under a southern California home for more than a month has been removed, KTLA has reported. Altadena resident Ken Johnson first noticed the bear was living in the crawl space below his home in late November. Continue reading...

At last, Morocco have arrived at the tournament they are hosting. For four games they had played scratchy, crabbed football. Finally, in a spiky, ill-tempered quarter-final, there was something more like the Morocco that reached the semi-final of the World Cup just over three years ago. If the game wasn’t fluent, that was largely Cameroon’s doing as they spoiled and sought treatment. But the hosts, for the most part, retained their cool, protecting a lead earned with verve in the first half with maturity in the second. In previous games, Morocco had looked tense, limbs leadened by the expectation of a country that last won the Cup of Nations 50 years ago and has spent a vast amount on football-related infrastructure as it prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup. The coach, Walid Regragui, was even booed in the 1-0 last-16 victory over Tanzania, his football deemed overly cautious despite a record of only four defeats in his 46 games in charge before this quarter-final. Images broadcast from the respective dressing rooms on the screens inside the stadium before kick-off showed Morocco pensive and focused while Cameroon sang and danced. Continue reading...

Information watchdog says party’s data controller should refer unauthorised launch to police Zarah Sultana’s unauthorised launch of a Your Party membership portal may have been a “serious criminal act” and should be referred to the police, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has advised. Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice Project (PJP), which referred Your Party to the information watchdog last September over a potential data breach, has been advised by the ICO that it should consider “taking further action” regarding the matter, after deciding it was not a matter for them. Continue reading...

Clip first posted by partisan outlet Alpha News shows perspective of ICE agent as Good was fatally shot Renee Nicole Good calmly said everything was “fine” and “I’m not mad at you” seconds before an on-duty Immigration Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot her in Minneapolis as she drove away, according to a cellphone video shared Friday by Donald Trump’s White House. The partisan media outlet Alpha News first posted the video on X, a 47-second clip that showed the perspective of the ICE agent – and captured a man’s voice calling Good a “fucking bitch” after she was mortally wounded. It was then shared by the White House’s official Rapid Response X account as well as JD Vance, with the vice-president writing in part that he agreed with the notion that Good’s death was “a tragedy” but accused the media of dishonestly covering the circumstances of her killing. Continue reading...

Coach is vying with Michael Carrick to be interim manager Solskjær due at Carrington training base on Saturday Ole Gunnar Solskjær will have face-to-face talks with Manchester United on Saturday over becoming the interim manager until the end of the season. The Norwegian is vying with Michael Carrick for the position and is expected to meet Omar Berrada, United’s chief executive, and Jason Wilcox, the director of football, at the club’s Carrington training base for discussions. Continue reading...

If there is one takeaway for England from this Ashes tour it should be how cricket thrives in a nation where it is readily and freely available as the dominant summer pastime The drive to Bowral in New South Wales takes you through some of Australia’s most English countryside. Pastoral hills roll right up to the roadside and finish in grassy verges, flecked with yellow and white wildflowers. Alliums stand sentinel around vibrant lawns. Even the eucalypts are cosplaying as beech and oaks. You might be in Hampshire, if it weren’t for the dazzling sun. Just a few roads from the high street – storefronts full of fancy cookware and country casuals – is the Bradman Oval. This small ground, with its pre-loved outfield, has become a pilgrimage stop for the Australian cricketing faithful. Head out to the middle and you’re walking across the sacred turf where Sir Don honed his skills. Stand at the crease, look past the white picket fence, and you can see the family homes where he grew from boy to man, on Shepherd Street and Glebe Street respectively. Continue reading...

Platform has restricted image creation on the Grok AI tool to paying subscribers, but victims and experts say this does not go far enough Elon Musk’s X has been ordered by the UK government to tackle a wave of indecent AI images or face a de facto ban, as an expert said the platform was no longer a “safe space” for women. Media watchdog Ofcom confirmed it would accelerate a probe into X amid an increasing backlash against the site, which has hosted a deluge of images depicting partially stripped women and children. Continue reading...

Some wet years and recent winter storms have helped bring the state out of drought after years of insufficient rainfall California is completely drought-free for the first time in a quarter of a century, a significant development in a state that endured grueling years with insufficient rainfall. Over the last 25 years, drought conditions in California have intensified the state’s wildfire crisis and created challenges in its massive agricultural sector. But a few wet years, and a recent spate of winter storms, helped bring the state out of drought. Continue reading...

Iran has vowed it will ‘not back down’ in the face of growing nationwide protests over economic conditions. Thousands of people marched through the streets of Tehran, calling for political reform and torching government buildings. The protest movement, active in all provinces of Iran, is the most significant challenge to authorities in years. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayotollah Ali Khamenei has signalled that a greater crackdown was coming after the country plunged into an internet blackout. The regime has blamed the US for instigating demonstrations and accused protesters of working on behalf of foreign agendas. Continue reading...

Nicolás Maduro seized, Russian drone strikes rock Kyiv, anti-ICE protests erupt in Minneapolis and Storm Goretti lashes Britain – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Continue reading...

⚽ FA Cup third-round latest from the 7.30pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Follow us over on Bluesky | And email John Not everyone has bought into the Wrexham fairytale, of course. Here’s a preview of the weekend, in the usual way. Continue reading...

Jacob Frey criticizes Trump administration’s response to shooting death of Renee Nicole Good Officials in Minneapolis on Friday accused federal authorities of “hiding the facts” over the killing of a US citizen by an officer with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, and demanded the inclusion of state investigators in the FBI inquiry. Jacob Frey, the Minnesota city’s Democratic mayor, criticized the Trump administration’s response to the shooting, speaking at a press conference two days after the death of Renee Nicole Good in her car in a confrontation with federal officers amid protests and community scrutiny during an immigration crackdown. Continue reading...

A brutal regime has failed to safeguard either sovereignty or basic living standards. But Donald Trump’s threats to intervene won’t help civilians The internet blackout across Iran is meant to prevent protests from spreading, and observers from witnessing the crackdown on them. But it’s also emblematic of the deep uncertainty surrounding this unrest and the response of a regime under growing pressure. Rocketing inflation and a tanking currency sparked the protests in late December. They have since broadened and spread. Videos showed thousands marching in Tehran on Thursday night and people setting fire to vehicles and state-owned buildings. Continue reading...

It can make us healthier, happier and live longer. Engaging in culture should be encouraged like good diet and exercise The second Friday in January has been dubbed “Quitter’s Day”, when we are most likely to give up our new year resolutions. Instead of denying ourselves pleasures, suggests a new batch of books, a more successful route may be adding to them – nourishing our minds and souls by making creativity as much a daily habit as eating vegetables and exercising. Rather than the familiar exhortations to stop drinking, diet, take up yoga or running, there is an overwhelming body of evidence to suggest that joining a choir, going to an art gallery or learning to dance should be added to the new year list. Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt, professor of psychobiology and epidemiology at University College London, brings together numerous research projects confirming what we have always suspected – art is good for us. It helps us enjoy happier, healthier and longer lives. One study found that people who engaged regularly with the arts had a 31% lower risk of dying at any point during the follow-up period, even when confounding socioeconomic, demographic and health factors were taken into account. Studies also show that visiting museums and attending live music events can make people physiologically younger, and a monthly cultural activity almost halves our chances of depression. As Fancourt argues, if a drug boasted such benefits governments would be pouring billions into it. Instead, funding has been slashed across the culture sector and arts education has been devalued and eroded in the UK. Continue reading...

Officials found human skulls, headless torsos and other corpse parts in car and home of Jonathan Gerlach, 34 A Pennsylvania man suspected of desecrating a historic cemetery in his state is facing hundreds of charges pertaining to grave robbery after authorities recently found more than 100 pieces of human remains in his possession, prompting one official to call the case “the most horrific thing”. Jonathan Gerlach, 34, had human skulls, bones, mummified feet, headless torsos and other corpse parts – including in his car, home and storage locker – after his arrest on Tuesday, according to a sworn police statement reported by NBC News. Continue reading...

Despite significant support for the shah, Iranian society may be looking for any ‘escape from a dead end’ Supporters of Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s deposed shah, were claiming the crowds out in the streets of Iran were a direct response to his call to action. They described it as a referendum on his leadership and that the response showed he had won. Yet the issue of an alternative leadership for Iran remains unresolved. Many Iranians, eager to end the 47-year-long rule of the clerics, still view a return to monarchical rule with suspicion. Continue reading...

⚽ Afcon updates from the game in Rabat, kick-off 7pm GMT ⚽ Live scores | Read Football Daily | And you can mail Niall It’s crunch time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the continent’s biggest teams assembling in a historically heavyweight line-up. With Senegal closing on victory over Mali in the first quarter-final, the seven sides left will all be former champions, with 22 continental titles between them. That leaves Morocco, the hosts and highest-ranked team, under severe pressure to deliver a first title since 1976. The Atlas Lions cannot shake off their status as favourites, but the path to glory could scarcely be more perilous. Get through today’s battle, and either in-form Nigeria or neighbours Algeria are up next. Continue reading...

Trump’s admission that he recognises no constraint outside his own morality was a horrifying moment of truth. It should galvanise all those who oppose him For a serial liar, Donald Trump can be bracingly honest. We’ve known about the mendacity for years – consider the 30,573 documented falsehoods from the president’s first term, culminating in the big lie, his claim to have won the 2020 election – but the examples of bracing candour are fresher. This week both began and ended with the US president speaking the shocking truth. At a press conference to celebrate his capture of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Trump announced that from now on the US would “run” that country, before moving in the very next breath to Venezuela’s oil. There was no pious talk of democracy, scant mention even of the drug trafficking that earlier served as a pretext for military action. Instead, Trump said out loud what had once been a slogan on leftist placards in protest at past US interventions, admitting that it really was all about the oil. It was as transparent a revelation of Trump’s true motive as you could have asked for. Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Guardian newsroom: Year One of Trumpism: Is Britain Emulating the US? On Wednesday 21 January 2026, join Jonathan Freedland, Tania Branigan and Nick Lowles as they reflect on the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency. Book tickets here or at guardian.live Continue reading...