Hull KR 30-24 Brisbane Broncos Rovers add World Club Challenge to last year’s treble Hull KR are champions of the rugby league world for the first time in their history, after holding off a late rally from the NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos to win a first World Club Challenge. Bottom of Super League as recently as 2020 and on the brink of financial ruin at the turn of the century, Rovers have emerged as one of the sport’s leading sides in recent years, culminating in an historic treble last year, their first major trophies for 40 years. Continue reading...

Apple’s feature, which connects phone to satellite, helped first responders find survivors as they waited under tarp California’s deadliest avalanche killed at least eight people in a ski group near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday. The six survivors used the iPhone’s emergency SOS feature to help first responders find them as they waited under a tarp and discovered some of the bodies, according to the Nevada county sheriff. Apple’s feature, introduced in 2022, allows users to text law enforcement, even if there’s no cell service or wifi by connecting the phone to a satellite. First responders reached the skiers’ location and learned of the six survivors based on conversations held through the feature, Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a press conference on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Kathy Hochul backed away from allowing robotaxi services in smaller cities, though Waymo still plans to move ahead in New York City New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, has pulled her proposal to allow commercial robotaxi services in smaller cities outside New York City, a spokesperson for the governor said on Thursday. “Based on conversations with stakeholders, including in the legislature, it was clear that the support was not there to advance this proposal,” the spokesperson said. Continue reading...

Canadians led 1-0 in regulation before late US goal Megan Keller clinches title with overtime winner Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results Rescued from the brink of defeat by a deft touch from their captain in her final Olympics, the US beat Canada in Milan on Thursday to claim the women’s ice hockey gold medal. Hilary Knight got engaged this week to the American speed skater, Brittany Bowe, and the 36-year-old now has another reason to celebrate. Out-fought and out-thought by their great rivals for much of this contest, the Americans were poised to lose to a team they had thumped 5-0 in the preliminary round only nine days earlier. Continue reading...

Crystal Palace’s Conference League hopes hang in the balance after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Zrinjski Mostar in the first leg of their knockout phase playoff. Oliver Glasner had reinforced his attacking ranks since their last European outing in December, but it was Ismaïla Sarr, assisted by the January signing Jørgen Strand Larsen, who broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. Continue reading...

For Nottingham Forest, and particularly Vítor Pereira and the 1,200 supporters who signed up to this trip to Istanbul, an evening they will not forget in a hurry. Pereira’s first match in charge could scarcely have been more impressive than the statement victory Forest recorded at Fenerbahce to put themselves in a commanding position to reach the Europa League last 16. By the end the yellow and navy stronghold had emptied and the Forest fans present savoured every moment. First they sang: “Can we play you every week?” Then a chorus of: “Where’s your famous atmosphere?” Evangelos Marinakis’s grand aim at the outset of this season, before moving on to his fourth manager since August, was to win this competition across the Bosphorus in Besiktas in May and, for all of the chaos and valid criticism, on this evidence it is very much an achievable aim. Forest are in a position of power before Fenerbahce visit for the second leg next Thursday. Continue reading...

Freedom.gov appears to be administered by a branch of the Department of Homeland Security The US has built a portal that will allow Europeans to view blocked content including alleged hate speech and terrorism, according to Reuters. The portal, “freedom.gov”, will allow worldwide users to circumvent government controls on their content. The site features a graphic of a ghostly horse galloping above the Earth, and the motto: “Information is power. Reclaim your human right to free expression. Get ready.” Continue reading...

The police investigation into the king’s brother forces Britain to confront whether privilege can coexist with democratic scrutiny and the rule of law The arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor the king’s brother, should be the moment deference ends and accountability begins – a correction long overdue. For more than 15 years, allegations surrounding Mr Mountbatten-Windsor were managed away by silence, an out-of-court settlement and his withdrawal from royal duties. In short, his behaviour was viewed as an image problem to be handled privately. That era now looks to be over. That the eighth in line to the throne was sitting in a police cell on his 66th birthday shows how far he has fallen. The formal investigation means that the question is no longer about protecting the monarchy but one of what happened, and who might be responsible for unlawful acts. Mr Mountbatten-Windsor’s descent into ignominy has unfolded slowly but inexorably. His stupidity and arrogance led him to believe that he could talk his way out of his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Instead, he faces a legal and constitutional reckoning. Continue reading...

The deregulation agenda being pushed by Germany’s chancellor and Italy’s prime minister is economically and ethically flawed When the European Union launched its green deal in 2019, putting into law the goal of climate neutrality by the middle of the century, it showed strategic foresight as well as global leadership. Russia’s war in Ukraine has starkly underlined the extent to which the continent’s energy security – and its future prosperity – is dependent on the transition away from fossil fuels. Lately, however, EU leaders’ environmental approach appears to be echoing the youthful St Augustine’s plea on chastity: make us greener, but not yet. The recent European Industry Summit in Antwerp made unusually big headlines thanks to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s xenophobic outburst over immigration. But it was also notable for fierce attacks on one of the most important pillars of EU environmental policy. The bloc’s emissions trading system (ETS) – which makes polluters pay for the C02 they emit – has achieved dramatic results in driving down overall emissions since 2005 and encouraging green innovation. Worryingly, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, appeared to sympathise with demands from Sir Jim and other CEOs for a radical relaxation of the rules. Continue reading...

Recently disclosed documents show name of former prince came up during 2011 inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested – live updates While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest by British police on Thursday came after years of uproar over his association to Jeffrey Epstein, documents show that he had been on the radar of US law enforcement for nearly 15 years. Mountbatten-Windsor’s name came up during a 2011 FBI inquiry into Epstein, investigative documents recently disclosed by the justice department reveal. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all allegations of misconduct related to Epstein. Continue reading...

Sydney’s Qing Fong dance troupe undergoes intensive training for their busiest period of the year when they will perform more than 100 times and earn ‘lots of pats’ from the crowd • Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Drums and cymbals echo across Mingyue Lay temple’s sun-baked concrete car park. Lion heads made out of papier-mache are dotted around the lot and pairs of kids are jumping on to poles, tables or each other’s shoulders – all while connected at the hip. It’s a sticky night in Sydney’s west, but the 33C heat doesn’t faze these lion dancers, who are gearing up for their busiest period: lunar new year. The festivities continue well past the day itself, with more than 100 performances across three weeks. On the eve of lunar new year, the studio will start their performance at the temple in Bonnyrigg at 9pm and finish well past midnight. Above: Team instructor Jenny Cao and Long Huynh outside the hall Below: Costumes wait to be put on for dance rehearsals Continue reading...

Research adds weight to theory Arrokoth’s two lobes produced by gravitational collapse – and reveals process It is the most distant and primitive object ever visited by a spacecraft from Earth: now researchers say they have fresh insights into how the ultra-red, 4bn-year-old body known as Arrokoth came to have its distinctive snowman-like shape. Arrokoth sits in the Kuiper belt, a vast, thick ring of icy objects that lies beyond the orbit of Neptune. This region of space is home to most of the known dwarf planets as well as comets and small, solid rubble heaps called planetesimals – the building blocks of planets. Continue reading...

Simplify your ironing routine with our pick of the best steam irons, from powerful cordless options to compact travel models • The best heated clothes airers Hands up if your favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon is tackling a mountain of ironing? No takers? Shocking. Faced with crumpled cottons and crinkled collars, there won’t be many who approach the ironing board with anything resembling excitement – and if you do, honestly, what’s wrong with you? I am certainly no fan of ironing. In fact, I’d be happy with a wardrobe full of everything “stretch”. But when my children were in school uniforms, I faced a daunting pile of creased clothing every week – and found the only way through it was to arm myself with the right tools. Best iron overall: Breville DiamondXpress VIN401 Best cordless iron: Tefal Freemove Power Continue reading...

Graham Readfearn enters a simulation to investigate how heatwaves affect the human body Continue reading...

‘We will see huge amount of damage from social media’ England captain’s 100th cap in crunch clash with Ireland The England captain, Maro Itoje, has warned of the corrosive effect of social media on professional athletes and wider society before the crucial Six Nations encounter with Ireland on Saturday. Itoje will win his 100th England cap at Twickenham in what has become a must-win game for the hosts after last weekend’s deflating defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield. The buildup has been marred by racist abuse on social media of the Ireland second row Edwin Edogbo, after the 23-year-old made his debut from the replacements’ bench in their win against Italy in round two. Continue reading...

Children to get individual support directly from school instead of via council in attempt to curb spiralling costs Children in England with special needs will receive individual support and therapy directly from their schools as part of the government’s overhaul of England’s special education provision. Under the plans, mainstream schools will be given commissioning budgets to spend on therapists or additional support, instead of the money being controlled by highly-indebted local authorities. Continue reading...

⚽ Champions League updates from the 8pm GMT kick-off ⚽ Live scores | Follow us on Bluesky | You can email Sarah An exclusive below from our very own Tom Garry: Hello and welcome to the second leg of the Women’s Champions League playoff between Manchester United and Atlético Madrid. The English club have the upper hand in this tie as they won the first leg 3-0 and now host the second to seal their spot in the quarter-finals. Continue reading...

President suggests US could use Diego Garcia airfield for potential strikes against Iran Donald Trump changed his mind on supporting the Chagos Islands deal because the UK will not permit its airbases to be used for a pre-emptive US strike on Iran, the Guardian has been told. In his latest change of heart on the deal, the US president said on social media that Keir Starmer was “making a big mistake” by handing sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in exchange for continued use by the UK and US of their airbase on one of the islands, Diego Garcia. Continue reading...

Political tensions rise after fatal attack at protest in Lyon as Emmanuel Macron hits out over remarks by Italian PM A French prosecutor is seeking murder charges against seven suspects in the fatal beating of a far-right activist that has fuelled political anger beyond France’s borders, prompting Emmanuel Macron to tell Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to keep out of French affairs. Quentin Deranque, 23, died from head injuries after being attacked by at least six people on the sidelines of a far-right protest in Lyon on 12 February. Most of the 11 suspects who have been detained are from far-left movements. Continue reading...

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Nikita Filippov won silver as neutral in sport’s debut Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton wins women’s sprint We can partly thank Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for popularising the Winter Olympics’ newest sport, which made its debut amid an unrelenting snowstorm, a touch of mayhem, and no little controversy in Bormio. In 1894, the year after he had killed off Sherlock Holmes at the Reichenbach Falls, Conan Doyle wrote about his own perilous 15-mile journey across the 8,000-feet high Maienfelder Furka Pass – one that involved skiing and mountaineering. Continue reading...

Report details harrowing 18-month occupation of North Darfur capital, showing destruction aimed at ethnic communities The siege and capture of the Sudanese city of El Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group last October bore “the hallmarks of genocide”, a UN-mandated fact-finding mission has said. In a report detailing the harrowing 18-month occupation of the capital of North Darfur, investigators concluded that the RSF and allied militias deliberately inflicted conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic communities. Continue reading...

First female cabinet secretary faced allegations of bullying behaviour in 2017, while working in New York consulate Keir Starmer’s decision to appoint Antonia Romeo as the country’s most senior civil servant has prompted dismay among former colleagues who complained about what they considered bullying behaviour when she was a diplomat in New York. Several people who worked with Romeo at the New York consulate nearly 10 years ago have told the Guardian they are upset by the prime minister’s decision to make her cabinet secretary despite knowing about their complaints. Continue reading...

Email beau.dure@theguardian.com or hit him on BlueSky Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing Imagine Manchester City v Manchester United, Celtic v Rangers, Duke v North Carolina or Yankees v Red Sox – if those two teams were the only one who ever won the league or national championship. That’s the USA-Canada women’s hockey rivalry, and if you think that’s an exaggeration, consider this list of every women’s hockey world championship and Olympic final. Continue reading...

No change next season and consultation extended ‘We have listened to the feedback,’ FA says Proposals to make radical changes to the Women’s FA Cup, including seeding the top four teams from the WSL, have been put on hold, the Guardian can reveal, after the Football Association received negative feedback about the controversial ideas. The FA had also intended to dispense with draw ceremonies after the last 32, introducing a “road to Wembley” bracket akin to a World Cup knockout phase pathway, and review the entry tiers for lower-league sides. But it has put the brakes on its plans after concerns were raised by a significant number of clubs, fan groups and players. Continue reading...