The FA Cup triumph has had little impact on a club caught in the mid-table loop, their best assets always slipping away Ask a Crystal Palace fan what price they would have paid at this time last year to win the FA Cup. Would they have taken a run of 11 games without a win, Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi sold, Oliver Glasner disillusioned and on his way out of the club, and a probable relegation battle ahead? Almost certainly, yes. But equally that Palace fan would be within their rights to ask why there should be a pay-off at all. This isn’t like Portsmouth winning the FA Cup in 2008 while living beyond their means under Alexandre Gaydamak, going into administration in 2009-10. It’s not like Wigan winning the FA Cup as they were relegated in 2013 having been sustained in the Premier League by Dave Whelan. Continue reading...

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last year, features heavily in the latest tranche of the Epstein files Keir Starmer has said Andrew Mounbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress about his links to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The prime minister, who is in Japan for a meeting with its premier, Sanae Takaichi, was asked by journalists if the former prince should apologise to the disgraced financier’s victims and give evidence about what he knew about his crimes. Continue reading...

Stamford Bridge was mutinous at half-time and in disbelief at the end. A pattern is developing under Liam Rosenior. Chelsea’s new head coach messed up his starting lineup against Napoli on Wednesday but turned it around. He did it again when his side were 2-0 down and in danger of unravelling against West Ham. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were on course for a major win in their fight against relegation after goals from Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville. Chelsea were all over the place before a triple substitution from Rosenior. Wesley Fofana and João Pedro came on to combine for the goal that made it 2-1. Marc Cucurella, another substitute, equalised and there was an explosion of noise when João Pedro cut the ball back for Enzo Fernández to sweep home the winner in added time. Continue reading...

Former prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Triesman as a ‘vital part of the New Labour movement’ Lord Triesman, a former Labour minister and chair of the Football Association, has died at the age of 82. The Labour party said the peer died on Friday night “peacefully and at home”. The former prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute to Triesman as a “vital part of the New Labour movement”. Labour’s leader in the House of Lords, Angela Smith, described him as “respected and loved by his colleagues for his courtesy, kindness, wisdom, loyalty and generosity of spirit”. Continue reading...

An estimated 80% of the population will suffer from lower back pain at some point. The good news is that preventing it is a lot easier than treating it Read more in The way you move series Getting out of bed. Picking up a coffee mug. Waving at a friend. Bending down to pat a dog. Turning to flush the toilet. Many who have experienced “doing their back in” have been baffled by the discrepancy between the mildness of the precipitating action and the severity of the resulting pain. How could such a small, innocent movement trigger such paralysing pain that lasts for weeks, months, years or, in some cases, decades? Continue reading...

When Dion Padan met Ben Graetz and his drag queen persona, there was an undeniable energy. A weekend away deepened their connection Find more stories from the moment I knew series In 2015, I moved to Sydney from north Wales in the UK. Sydney had always been my dream destination, but then the Australian immigration rules changed, meaning that to get permanent residency with my skillset as a barber, I’d have to move to Tasmania or the Northern Territory. I decided on Darwin because I feared the weather in Tasmania was too much like British weather. So in 2018, I packed my bags and moved to Darwin without knowing anything about the city. Ben and I first chatted on Grindr and he was very welcoming, offering to show me around town. He was also very interested in my story – how did this Welsh boy end up living here? He asked if I was going to Darwin Pride. Continue reading...

Federal immigration operation has resulted in government agents killing two people, sparking weeks of protests A federal judge has denied a request by Minnesota’s state government to end the federal immigration operation in Minneapolis that has resulted in government agents killing two people, sparking weeks of protests. The state, along with the cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, had lodged a lawsuit after the death of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent this month, demanding an end to the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge in the city. Continue reading...

⚽️ Premier League updates from the 8pm (GMT) kick-off ⚽️ Live scores | Full table | Top scorers | Follow on Bluesky Hello and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool v Newcastle at Anfield. It’s a Premier League game whose context is provided almost exclusively by the Champions League. It’s the most moreish competition in world football, so you can understand why these teams are desperate for more – both this season and next. Liverpool and Newcastle finished third and twelfth in the league stage of Europe’s big competition – yet they are currently only the sixth and tenth best teams in England, which means a dogfight to qualify for another crack in 2026-27. Perhaps Snakes and Ladders is a better metaphor: Newcastle will jump four places and go above Liverpool if they win tonight. Continue reading...

Newly released files reveal how the paedophile tried to leverage his relationship with the former Duchess of York When Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, was confronted in 2011 about her closeness to the paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein she could not have been more fulsome in her regret. “I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me,” she said. “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.” Continue reading...

US president reportedly eyes plot near Memorial Bridge for a large-scale structure named the Independence Arch Donald Trump reportedly wants the arch he is planning to build in Washington DC to dwarf the Lincoln Memorial. The US president envision the planned arch to be a height of 250ft, or significantly taller than the 100ft-tall Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. It would also be significantly taller than Paris’s 164ft-tall Arc de Triomphe – but less than half the height than the Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, the world’s tallest arch. Continue reading...

David Moyes could not contain himself. As the ball hit the back of the net after substitute Beto had bundled in the equaliser in the seventh minute of injury time, the Everton manager set off. Moyes may be 63 in a couple of months but he sprinted towards the away supporters in sheer delight as his players celebrated on the pitch. Somehow Everton’s unbeaten record here that stretches back to 2019 is still intact. It had seemed that a goal from Pascal Gross would be enough for Brighton to claim victory after they had spurned a number of chances in the first half. But while it is one thing to plan how you are going to overcome a team managed by Moyes, it’s not quite so easy in practice. Continue reading...

It would be a touch too hyperbolic to suggest this was a season-defining afternoon for Arsenal’s title ambitions, but given the opposition and the pre-match drama surrounding this game, there was no doubting that come full time this felt like a significant afternoon in the Premier League title picture. Two points from three games is hardly compelling enough evidence to prompt full-blown crisis talks, but given the lofty standards Arsenal have set in the first half of this season, it felt as though we would learn plenty about them here . This against a team who have lost once since the start of December and with a ferocious home crowd behind them. Continue reading...

Two clubs in the process of a reset. If Wolves’ fate is all but sealed, they seek to carry good vibes into the Championship. Bournemouth’s objective was to make last week’s defeat of Liverpool the staging post for one of those streaks of good results that have made Andoni Iraola’s reputation. Mission accomplished for the Cherries, who could celebrate only their second away win of a hitherto troubled season, a first since August. In the performance of second-half sub Rayan, who supplied Alex Scott’s late clincher, there is much to look forward to. Without Antoine Semenyo, a scorer against Wolves last week, Iraola is finding solutions. A callow asset-stripped squad is still full of promise. The manager paired Eli Junior Kroupi playing behind the centre-forward wiles of Evanilson. Kroupi duly delivered a brilliant first-half strike. Continue reading...

NBA issues 25-game ban for anti-drug policy violation Suspension to cost 76ers star about $11.7m in lost salary Eligible to return in March with 10 games left in season Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers has been suspended 25 games for violating the terms of the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program, the league announced Saturday. The NBA did not disclose the nature of the violation or the substance that was involved. The 25-game suspension, by terms of the agreement between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association, indicates that this was a first violation by George. Continue reading...

The killings of Minneapolis residents Renee Good and Alex Pretti have inspired people across the US to document federal agents’ activities in their communities On Monday night, nearly 80,000 people hopped on a video call to learn how to “observe ICE”, a non-violent and constitutionally protected practice of documenting federal immigration agents’ activities in public. Some wrote in the chat where they were from: Arkansas, Texas, Michigan, Florida and many other corners of the country. Others typed why this was important to them: calling for “ICE out” of their communities and demanding the abolition of the agency itself. “The fact we’re all here gives me hope we’ll come out the other side,” wrote one participant. Within 24 hours, another 200,000 people had watched the recording on YouTube. The rising interest in ICE observing came two days after Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent and less than three weeks after an agent killed Renee Good. Continue reading...

Former team principal was dismissed last September ‘I feel like I have unfinished business in Formula One’ Christian Horner admitted he misses Formula One and has unfinished business in the sport as he spoke publicly for the first time since he was ousted by Red Bull but is prepared to bide his time and wait for the opportunity to “win something”, adding: “I am not in a rush.” The 52-year-old was dismissed as Red Bull team principal following July’s British Grand Prix before his official exit was agreed in September. He oversaw a period of extraordinary success during his 20-year career with Red Bull, winning eight drivers’ and six constructors’ titles. Continue reading...

Federal prosecutors had identified 6 million files that were ‘potentially responsive’ to the law, but only released 3.5. Why? The justice department released a trove of 3.5m files related to the dead financier and pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche declaring that the release would likely be the last major declassification of files relating to Epstein. Federal prosecutors had identified 6 million files that were “potentially responsive” to the law, meaning that there are millions of files that have still not been released. The release marked a belated and partial compliance with a bill passed by Congress late last year, which had mandated that all government documents pertaining to Epstein and the various law enforcement investigations into his sexual abuse of girls be made public by 19 December 2025. Continue reading...

⚽️ Premier League updates from the 5.30pm (GMT) kick-off ⚽️ Live scores | Full table | Follow on Bluesky | Email Billy Hello and welcome. East meets west in London today as West Ham travel across town for a visit to Stamford Bridge. Both teams, rather unusually, are in good spirits ahead of this one – Chelsea have a 100% record in the league under Liam Rosenior and beat Napoli to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. Meanwhile, West Ham have won their last two, including last weekend’s fairly stress-free outing against Sunderland. Nuno Espírito Santo will be wanting to avoid a repeat of August’s 5-1 drubbing at the London Stadium, although he was still in charge of Nottingham Forest then. Graham Potter and Enzo Maresca were in the dugouts – a fair bit has changed. Continue reading...

The veteran activist called his arrest at Palestine solidarity rally in London an ‘attack on free speech’ Peter Tatchell, the activist and campaigner, has been arrested for holding a placard which displayed the phrase “globalise the intifada” at a pro-Palestine march in London. Tatchell, who attended a Palestine solidarity march in London on Saturday afternoon, held a sign that read: “Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel’s occupation of Gaza & West Bank.” Continue reading...

Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries for environmentalists – and the release of Juan Orlando Hernández has reinforced its ‘crisis of impunity’, say critics When Donald Trump announced that he would pardon the former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, only the second world leader to be convicted of drug trafficking, Anna*, an environmental defender, was shocked. In 2022, Hernández, also known as JOH, was extradited to the US and later convicted, along with his brother, on drug trafficking and weapons charges. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison for conspiring to smuggle more than 400 tonnes of cocaine into the US, becoming the first Honduran head of state to be tried and sentenced abroad for running a narco state. He was also accused of grave human rights violations. Continue reading...

About 190,000 are still without power in the south-east as states scramble to prepare for more winter weather Dozens of people have died in the teeth of a severe winter storm across the US south, with further freezing temperatures, snow and blizzards set to assail the east coast on Saturday. At least 85 people have died across multiple states, according to an Associated Press tally, with frigid conditions and icy roads causing car crashes, hypothermia and other fatal incidents. Continue reading...

Apollonio-Socrepes lift unfinished a week from Games State-backed infrastructure agency says work on course A cable car intended to carry spectators to the women’s Olympic Alpine skiing events in Cortina is in serious doubt of not being ready in time, prompting Games organisers to request school closures to ease the pressure on the Dolomite resort’s transport system. The Apollonio-Socrepes lift is one of the most contentious pieces of Olympic infrastructure for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Work on the system, designed to take spectators from the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo directly to the slopes, began behind schedule, and some residents raised safety concerns about its location in an area prone to landslides. Continue reading...

Fate of the Lily Jean, out of Gloucester with crew of seven, remains unknown after empty life boat and debris field discovered There wasn’t a mayday call from the commercial fishing vessel Lily Jean on Friday morning as it navigated the frigid Atlantic Ocean on its way home to Gloucester, Massachusetts, the US’s oldest fishing port. The coast guard was notified by the boat’s beacon that alerts when it hits the water. When rescuers arrived they found one person dead, floating in the water, along with a debris field and an empty life boat. Six people remain missing. Continue reading...

Caleb Okoli sent off as Leicester lose at home 2-0 Southampton ease to 2-0 victory at Stoke Sonny Carey and Lyndon Dykes scored first-half goals for Charlton as they made it a 2-0 losing start for the Leicester interim manager, Andy King, at the King Power Stadium. The Leicester owner, Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, was in attendance for King’s first match at the helm after the sacking of Martí Cifuentes on Sunday, but his side faced an uphill task from the moment the centre-back Caleb Okoli was dismissed in the 15th minute. Miles Leaburn looked set to race through on goal from Carey’s flick but Okoli pulled him back and the referee, Andrew Kitchen, showed him a red card. This story will be updated Continue reading...

Champion plays down significance of trophy for coach Aryna Sabalenka frustrated after latest major final loss Elena Rybakina never stopped believing she would collect a second grand slam title after holding her nerve to defeat Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1 and two-time champion, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and win the Australian Open. Rybakina, the fifth seed, arrived here as the in-form player after her triumph at the WTA Finals last November. It is her second major title after her win at Wimbledon in 2022. Continue reading...