The departure of pandas will leave legions of Japanese admirers bereft, but it is also symptomatic of a dramatic deterioration in China-Japan relations The panda house at Ueno Zoo in Tokyo is not due to open for several hours, but visitors are already milling around its entrance, pausing to pose for photographs in front of murals of the facility’s most beloved residents. A short walk away the gift shop is doing a roaring trade in themed souvenirs – from cuddly toys and stationery to T-shirts and biscuits. The visitors are here to say goodbye to Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. Early next week, the twin pandas, born at the zoo in 2021 but technically on loan from China, will be flown out of Tokyo’s Narita airport to China, where they will undergo quarantine and be reunited with their sister, Xiang Xiang, at a conservation and research centre in Sichuan province. Continue reading...

Updates from day seven at Melbourne Park Pliskova v Keys, then Spizzirri v Sinner on Rod Laver Arena Any thoughts? Get in touch with an email What all that means for today’s competitors is one hell of a slog, with the threshold for intervention extremely high. One straw for them to clutch is that conditions are expected to be worse on Tuesday, when the opposite half of the draw will be in action. The AO-EHP takes into account the 4 environmental parameters that contribute to heat stress (air temperature, radiant heat, humidity & wind speed). It also takes into account the extent to which a person can control the rise in their body temperature and the physiological cost of doing so. These complex equations are expressed as a Heat Stress Scale (HSS) with stratified thresholds for cooling interventions. In the event of extreme heat, the Referee has the right to suspend play or order a cooling break in accordance with this Australian Open Extreme Heat Protocol (EHP). The EHP applies to both the outdoor courts and the Arena Courts (Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena). At the time the AO-HSS reaches the thresholds noted above as relevant, the Referee may suspend the calling of any upcoming matches on outdoor courts. If matches on the outdoor courts have been suspended, the Referee may make the decision to close the roof or to keep the roof closed (as applicable) for any upcoming matches on the Arena Courts. Continue reading...

Lake Cargelligo is no longer in lockdown as police search properties at Euabalong, about 30km north A gunman suspected of killing his pregnant former partner and two others in remote NSW remains on the run, as police revealed he reported to local officers as part of his bail conditions only hours before the shootings. Julian Ingram, 37, was last seen driving out of Lake Cargelligo, in the NSW central west, on Thursday. Police suspect he is armed with at least one firearm, but confirmed he has never held a firearms licence. Continue reading...

Since September, military has carried out more than 30 strikes against boats that it alleges smuggle drugs The US military said on Friday that it carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people. “Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations,” the military said in a statement. Continue reading...

Journalist’s wife had contacted authorities with concerns and ‘potential information’ regarding inquiry into his death A review of the 2005 shooting death of journalist Hunter S Thompson has confirmed authorities’ original finding that his death was a suicide, Colorado investigators said Friday. The review by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was announced in September after Thompson’s wife, Anita Thompson, contacted authorities with “new concerns and potential information regarding the investigation” into Thompson’s death, the agency said in a news release. Continue reading...

Though the cracks are starting to show, the endgame was undeniably nail-biting. And honestly, thank God for Rachel – the terrifyingly ruthless saviour of this series Bit of a damp squib, this year’s Traitors. At its best, it was still able to skim the preposterously giddy heights of previous series, but I spent a lot of the run living with the growing realisation that the cracks in the format are starting to show. One major culprit, as always, has been the mid-episode challenge; a slab of filler designed to kill all trace of intrigue, like a version of 12 Angry Men where the jurors get up halfway through to spend 20 minutes swanning around in a park. Nor did the new raft of tweaks amount to much, with the reveal of the Secret Traitor coming far too early, and the secret connections (Judy and Roxy, Ellie and Ross) fizzling out without resolution. Continue reading...

Home Office to set targets for response times and victim satisfaction as home secretary takes powers to intervene directly Police forces will face new targets for crime fighting and those performing poorly will be named and shamed under government plans to take sweeping powers over law enforcement. The new plans come as part of changes to policing in England and Wales to be announced on Monday by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood. The Home Office claims the reforms are the biggest in two centuries. Continue reading...

Inter recover from 2-0 down to go six clear in Serie A In Ligue 1, PSG go above Lens, who play on Saturday Inter were shocked to go two goals down at home to relegation-battling Pisa but fought back to earn a 6-2 win at San Siro on Friday, as they continue to set the pace at the top of Serie A. Stefano Moreo scored twice to put Pisa 2-0 up, the first thanks to a howler from the goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but Inter were ahead by the break. Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty and Lautaro Martínez and Francesco Pio Esposito both scored with headers in six minutes just before half-time. Continue reading...

Sundance film festival: there’s a dearth of both laughs and scares in this one-joke comedy horror that feels like it would have made for a better short film Before we get Ayo Edebiri and Daniel Kaluuya’s take on an A24 Barney movie, a project that’s been in some various level of development hell for seven years, here comes Buddy. Like an off-brand ripoff from the 90s (anyone remember Ricky’s Room?), he’s another friendly, furry friend to wide-eyed young children, the main star of a TV show we’re thrown straight into, neatly styled to feel like we’re suddenly transported back to that era (similar to 2024’s far darker and far superior Sundance throwback I Saw the TV Glow). The formula is familiar – lessons, singing, syllables overpronounced – but there’s something off. The persistence of Buddy, an orange unicorn with undying enthusiasm, is bordering on aggressive as his playful suggestion to dance suddenly devolves into something far more sinister. What if Buddy isn’t really our friend after all? Buddy is screening at the Sundance film festival and is seeking distribution Continue reading...

Alleged attacks took place in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire against two prominent supporters of jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan Three men have been charged after a series of “highly targeted” attacks against two Pakistani dissidents living in Britain. Police carried out a series of seven raids and arrests this week in London, Essex and the Midlands after four attacks, which began on Christmas Eve. Continue reading...

Sundance film festival: the documentarian’s feature debut, essentially an extended episode of his HBO series, turns an exploration of concrete into a meditation on change For those in the know, the release of the Sundance film festival lineup last December contained one perfect, tantalizing log line, for a documentary plainly called The History of Concrete: “After attending a workshop on how to write and sell a Hallmark movie, filmmaker John Wilson tries to use the same formula to sell a documentary about concrete.” Wilson, a film-maker from the Nathan Fielder school of meandering, bone-dry observational comedy, is a master of the modern documentary-essay-memoir, with an uncanny eye for the idiosyncratic, unintentionally hilarious and disturbing vignettes hiding in plain sight. Over three near-perfect seasons, his peerless HBO series How To With John Wilson, executive produced by Fielder, spun spoofs of practical guides (“How To Cook the Perfect Risotto”) into profound meditations on the loudness, loneliness and ridiculousness of modern urban life, each half-hour episode a magic trick of elaborate, bizarre tangents reined in at the last second. For fans of the show – in my opinion, the single best TV series about New York this decade – Wilson’s feature documentary debut, supposedly about the most iconic element of urban life, was a must-see. The History of Concrete is screening at the Sundance film festival and is seeking distribution Continue reading...

Display at President’s House site, residence to George Washington, had information on people enslaved by him Philadelphia is taking legal action against the Trump administration following the National Park Service’s decision to dismantle a long-established slavery-related exhibit at Independence National Historical park, which holds the former residence of George Washington. The city filed its lawsuit in federal court on Thursday, naming the US Department of Interior and its secretary, Doug Burgum, the National Park Service, and its acting director, Jessica Bowron as defendants. The lawsuit seeks a court order requiring the exhibits to be restored while the case proceeds. Continue reading...

Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day is a welcome initiative but meaningful change will only come with a structural approach The riverside walk to the Australian Open courts is a scenic joy for the sporting pilgrim. Rowing crews train up and down the water, framed by the city’s sun-flecked skyline. The Melbourne Cricket Ground floodlights signal distantly ahead. Beneath the feet of the crowds hurrying to ticket barriers, the concrete path transforms into an artwork: a twisting confluence of eels honouring their Yarra River migration, which once provided abundant food for the Wurundjeri people. On Wednesday the celebration of country continued inside the precinct. This was Evonne Goolagong Cawley Day, when the tournament celebrates First Nations people and culture. A packed schedule of entertainment included a smoking ceremony on the steps of Margaret Court Arena, a Q&A with Cathy Freeman, and a performance from the Coodjinburra pop star Budjerah. There were taster sessions and weaving workshops, and all the ball kids were from tennis programmes for Indigenous peoples. Continue reading...

Mikel Arteta’s side have scored 19 goals from corners this season. Why are their set pieces so effective and can they be stopped? Set pieces are dominating the Premier League this season, with almost 30% of goals coming from corners, free-kicks, penalties or long throws. The leaders, Arsenal, are kings of the dead ball, scoring 17 of their 40 league goals from set pieces (including penalties). But what makes Mikel Arteta’s side so effective in these areas, and what can opponents do to stop them? The data provides some answers. Continue reading...

In an exclusive interview at his base, athletics’ ‘iron man’ reveals why his career feels like ‘99% losses’ but he plans to retire as the greatest distance runner in history On a bone-cold new year’s morning, the world’s most compelling athlete is sweating so much that tiny puddles are starting to ooze across his treadmill. For 40 minutes Jakob Ingebrigtsen makes 6min 40sec mile pace look like a Sunday stroll, breezily chatting away even as the heatbox in his home gym pushes the temperature inside to more than 32.4C (90F). Only when I ask the double Olympic champion what his super-strength is does he pause to take a proper breath. “In Norwegian we have a word for it,” he eventually replies. “Ingen kompromiss. No compromise.” Continue reading...

ICE in Minneapolis, Russian airstrikes in Kyiv, protests in Greenland and the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat – the past seven days as captured by the world’s leading photojournalists Warning: this gallery contains images some readers may find distressing Continue reading...

Angela Rayner plans to urge PM to let Manchester mayor stand in Gorton and Denton byelection Keir Starmer is facing mounting pressure not to block Andy Burnham from making a comeback to parliament, with Angela Rayner planning to urge No 10 to let him stand in a coming byelection. The prime minister’s allies have been trying to prevent Burnham’s return as a candidate in the Greater Manchester seat of Gorton and Denton, amid fears he could challenge the leadership. Continue reading...

Labor unions and progressive organizations have called on workers across the state to stay home to protest against immigration surge Full report: Economic blackout in Minnesota to protest against ICE: ‘No work, no school, no shopping Talks between Russia, Ukraine and the United States have begun in Abu Dhabi, according to the United Arab Emirates’ ministry of foreign affairs. The UAE is hosting a rare set of trilateral talks, bringing together negotiators from Russia, Ukraine, and the US. The talks have started today, and are scheduled to continue over the next two days. Continue reading...

Much-anticipated trial scheduled in New York over killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson Luigi Mangione’s federal murder trial in the killing of the United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson is scheduled to start with jury selection on 8 September, triggering one of the most eagerly anticipated criminal trials in recent US history, a judge said on Friday. Judge Margaret Garnett of announced the trial date to a packed Manhattan federal courtroom shortly before an evidence-related hearing in his case. Continue reading...

Snow, sleet and freezing temperatures are forecast for the south, midwest and east coast over the weekend Trump says the big US winter storm is proof of climate hoax – here’s why he’s wrong The dangerous monster storm threatening half of the US was bearing down on Friday with 16 states and Washington DC already declaring emergencies and areas typically unused to prolonged Arctic temperatures bracing for power failures and supply shortages. At least 230 million people are likely to be affected by the huge winter weather system as it forms in parts of the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains and surges across southern and midwestern areas from Friday, blowing up the east coast on Saturday and as far north as Maine by Sunday. Continue reading...

Sentencing Nick Gratwick, judge described his offences, which included plotting to rape children as young as six, as ‘the stuff of nightmares’ A “dangerous” paedophile who had previously worked as a police informer spying on environmental and animal rights activists has been jailed for life. Nick Gratwick had been found guilty of 38 paedophile offences, including arranging to rape children as young as six in the UK and abroad. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Blueprints describe a ‘case study’ community where residents submit biometric data to gain entry The United Arab Emirates plans to fund “Gaza’s first planned community” on the ruined outskirts of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. Palestinian residents there will have access to basic services like education, healthcare and running water, as long as they submit to biometric data collection and security vetting, according to planning documents and people familiar with the latest round of talks at the US-led Civil Military Coordination Center in Israel. The planned city would mark the UAE’s first investment in a post-war reconstruction project located in the part of Gaza currently held by Israel. The wealthy Gulf state has contributed more than $1.8bn of humanitarian assistance to Gaza since 7 October 2023, according to UAE state media, making it Gaza’s largest humanitarian donor. Continue reading...

Trust says Reform UK leader was invited to World Economic Forum by London-based venture capitalist as an honorary adviser Nigel Farage’s trip to Davos this week was hosted and paid for by the $10bn family trust of an Iranian-born billionaire, the Guardian has learned. The leader of Reform UK has been touring Davos this week, giving speeches in which he pledged to tax banks and “fight the globalists”. Continue reading...

Court says alleged abuse and trafficking offences occurred outside Spain, leaving it without jurisdiction Spanish prosecutors have shelved a complaint brought by two women who have accused the singer Julio Iglesias of sexual assault and human trafficking, arguing the country’s courts have no jurisdiction as the alleged offences took place outside Spain. Two female former employees who worked at Iglesias’s Caribbean mansions 10 days ago accused the veteran entertainer of sexual assault, saying they had been subjected “to inappropriate touching, insults and humiliation … in an atmosphere of control and constant harassment”. Continue reading...

Nord and Pas-de-Calais prefecture aims to stop anti-migrant groups travelling for ‘Operation Overlord’ protest French authorities have announced a sweeping ban on British far-right activists planning to take part in a “stop the boats” protest against asylum seekers hoping to cross the Channel to the UK. Friday’s announcement by the prefecture in northern France goes further than a previous ban by the French interior ministry on 10 unnamed far-right activists associated with the organisation Raise the Colours for “having carried out actions on French soil”. Continue reading...