Prime minister says in principle anyone with knowledge of child sexual offence cases should disclose what they know Keir Starmer has increased the pressure on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to cooperate with a congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, saying those who are caught up in child sexual offence cases should disclose any information they have. Asked whether Mountbatten-Windsor, who was stripped of his royal titles last month, should respond to the US House oversight committee, the prime minister said those with “relevant information” should share it. The former prince had a long friendship with Epstein and is alleged to have sexually assaulted one of his victims, Virginia Giuffre – allegations he denies. Continue reading...

Ireland 13-24 South Africa Home side have five players sent to sin bin The IRFU may be disconnected from a chunk of their audience on the price of Test rugby at Lansdowne Road but at least those who ponied up large can claim to have witnessed a truly crazy match. In the 2013 Six Nations in Rome Ireland had their backline sundered by a freakish run of injuries, leaving holes being filled by men who didn’t know how to hold a shovel. But here, on a perfect night for rugby and with a game promising to develop into a gripping contest, we saw four players banished for crimes and misdemeanours in the first half alone. Mad stuff, at the end of which the world champions stumbled to a win that should have been managed with half the effort. The passage to the overflowing sin bin was halted only by the half-time whistle, at which point the referee, Matt Carley, was booed off the field with a venom you don’t often get at these events. Their sense of injustice kicked off with the decision not to card Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for a dangerous tackle on Tommy O’Brien. Continue reading...

Whatever doubts there are for Arsenal, at Tottenham they are far greater – and the similarity between these old rivals is stark Two goals for Harry Kane, another for Son Heung-min and, to compound Arsenal’s misery, Rob Holding sent off. Tottenham had won the derby and would go on to win their last two games of the season to take fourth place and the final Champions League qualification spot from Arsenal. It was the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and the sixth season in a row in which Tottenham had finished above Arsenal and, for the first time since the 60s, it seemed that they had a definitive superiority in north London. Since when – although Spurs will point out they have won a trophy and Arsenal have not – the pendulum has swung decisively back the other way. Mikel Arteta has remade Arsenal, but the question is whether, after three straight second-place finishes, they can go one better and win the league for the first time since 2004, a drought that itself makes success more difficult. Continue reading...

Newcastle’s recent slide left them 15th in the Premier League at kick-off but, by the end of an always absorbing, sometimes almost anarchic, eveningthey had ascended to Cloud Nine. It is very hard to argue that Eddie Howe is not an elite coach but, until this watershed win, his record against Pep Guardiola was pretty dismal. In 18 Premier League matches against Manchester City, with Bournemouth and Newcastle, Howe had lost 16 and drawn two. Continue reading...

The actor, writer and musician on growing up on a sheep farm in New Zealand, being in Spice World and a lovely afternoon with Aretha Franklin Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror is out to celebrate 50 years of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. What’s the strangest journey Rocky Horror has taken you on? I was at the 30th anniversary at Queen’s Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue. After the show, I was in the downstairs bar, chatting to a couple of people. I turned around and going up the stairs was a man in such high heels – these fetish shoes – that he couldn’t walk in them. He had a leather thong up his arse, and I thought to myself: “I suppose I’m responsible for that, aren’t I?” Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

An online personality quiz made me feel understood, but it also created a mental cage Sometimes, taking an internet quiz on a random Tuesday night can change your life – first for the better, then for the worse. Are you bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises, strong smells or caffeine? Are you deeply moved by the arts or nature? Do you become overwhelmed when a lot is going on around you? Do you have difficulty with big changes? Continue reading...

When Lynda Leigh and David started dating, his small, silent gesture spoke volumes about how much he cared Find more stories from the moment I knew series In 2013 I was a divorcee in my early 40s in need of some financial advice. I was living in Canberra and a friend recommended a polite, plain-speaking accountant who came to town from time to time. That’s how I met David. He was a handsome, jovial fellow with sparkling blue eyes, not quite a silver fox then, but a few years my senior. At 6 foot 3 and dressed in a smart suit and tie (a weakness of mine), he certainly made an impression. At some point between sorting out my taxes and asking where I wanted to be financially in 10 years, he noticed I was wearing hearing aids and went on to tell me what a hard time his ex-wife and stepson gave him about his hearing, and anyway, wasn’t I far too young to need them? I explained, perhaps a little curtly, that I’d worn them since I was eight so he shouldn’t be so silly as to think they’d make him look old. I had an appointment coming up with my specialist and somehow it was arranged that he’d join me. Continue reading...

It’s the annual Tower Ballroom extravaganza, with songs including Arctic Monkeys and S Club 7. But who will look good on the dancefloor – and whose attempt to wow viewers will be a reach? Cross off the coastal occurrences as they happen! Take a drink for each! End up in a dodgy seafront disco wearing a feather boa! Here’s your 10-point seaside spotter’s checklist: Audience says “Aww!” when Tess and Claud announce La Voix’s absence with injury Audience says “Aww!” when Tess and Claud refer to this being their last trip to the Tower Ballroom When musical guest Steps perform, there are two members you don’t recognise and can’t name Hosts/judges make knowing in-joke about the cast and crew hitting the town post-show Judges join in group dance, including a run of spins from Shirley/Craig, dad-dancing from Anton and Latin wiggles from Motsi VT includes a couple screaming on a rollercoaster/scoffing chips/playing in amusement arcades Cute/creepy snap of a Strictly pro in Blackpool as a child dance prodigy with bad hair and rictus grin A bouncy routine is said to “take full advantage of the sprung floor” Visual gag involving a seagull or donkey Anton makes misty-eyed reference to Blackpool dances of yore with two left-footed partners Continue reading...

Many fear competition and diversity will be diminished as Daily Mail owner wins race to buy newspaper As the dust settles from the battle for the ownership of the Daily Telegraph, one man has been left standing: Lord Rothermere, whose family have been a mainstay of British newspapers for more than a century. “This is a very British stitch-up,” said Lionel Barber, the former editor of the Financial Times. “Lord Rothermere has played a very astute poker hand, he’s shown patience and he’s the big winner.” Continue reading...

German champions win in style; Undaz stuns Dortmund Torres strikes twice on return to revamped Camp Nou Bayern Munich raced from two goals down to crush visitors Freiburg 6-2 in the Bundesliga, with Michael Olise scoring twice and setting up three more goals, to maintain the champions’ unbeaten run and lead the title race. Bayern, who saw their 16-match winning run in all competitions end with a 2-2 draw at Union Berlin before the international break, found themselves two goals down after 17 minutes. Continue reading...

Striker’s first goal of season secures three points Bowie scores and adds assist in Hibs’ win over Dundee Mohamed Diomandé’s late goal gave Rangers a hard-fought 2-1 win over Livingston as the home side struggled badly on their return from a costly international break. John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore and Youssef Chermiti were all ruled out through injuries sustained with their countries. That allowed Emmanuel Fernandez to make his third start since signing from Peterborough in the summer and the 24-year-old centre-back headed his side in front after nine minutes. Continue reading...

Wales 26-52 New Zealand Wing becomes first to score three tries against All Blacks Another week, another Welsh defeat. This latest one was 52-26, and if you missed it, it will look like just another in their long list of losses to New Zealand, which now stretches back 34 matches to 1953. But it’s just possible, too, that, for the men who coached it and played in it, for the tens of thousands in the ground, and the hundreds of thousands watching on TV, it may yet come to stand for something more significant than that. Wales did not turn a corner, but they took a little look around one and got a glimpse of what the future might look like with Steve Tandy in charge. Continue reading...

Bart Verbruggen was the hero for Brighton after his stoppage-time penalty save from Igor Thiago earned a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Brentford. The Seagulls had been set to taste defeat in Fabian Hürzeler’s 50th match in charge after Thiago’s ice-cool first-half spot-kick had the visitors in front. Danny Welbeck’s 71st-minute leveller sparked a grandstand finish for Brighton with substitute Jack Hinshelwood able to complete the turnaround with six minutes left. Continue reading...

Uncertain times at Fulham. The word is out that the club’s ownership would like to extend Marco Silva’s stay. The manager himself has been non-committal, having previously been explicit about a lack of summer transfer business. Raúl Jiménez’s winner, coming when it seemed Fulham were incapable of scoring, should at least still choppy waters for now, and lifted Silva’s team away from the increasing threat of a relegation battle. The sheen has been fading from Silva’s regime, this season, following last season’s record points tally and enterprising football go stale, though their manager could successfully argue little of that is of his making. The Khan family gambled on stasis, rarely a recipe for success when others spend money like it is going out of fashion. Jiménez’s goal was a measure of his determination to keep trying when other heads would have dropped but that Fulham are relying on him remains an indictment of the lack of funding Silva and supporters complain of. Continue reading...

Enes Unal scored moments after climbing off the bench to snatch a point for Bournemouth. The Turkish forward, making his second substitute appearance after recovering from a second ACL injury, struck nine minutes from time to deny West Ham a first away win under Nuno Espirito Santo. Callum Wilson had marked his return to his former club with two first-half goals, but when he went off West Ham’s momentum went with him. Marcus Tavernier pulled one back from the penalty spot before Unal struck, with the 28-year-old visibly emotional as he celebrated. Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest’s victory here last season was a blip in an otherwise commanding Premier League home campaign for Liverpool. Their repeat this season, a far more convincing triumph under Sean Dyche, was symptomatic of the problems engulfing the faltering champions. Arne Slot cannot pin set-piece failings on this one. Forest were exemplary as they recorded their biggest victory at Anfield. Goals from Murillo, outstanding at both ends of the pitch, Nicolò Savona and the superb Morgan Gibbs-White inspired a deserved victory for a Forest side that also kept a first clean sheet in 20 Premier League matches. Continue reading...

It was in the 69th minute of this match when Yeremy Pino wheeled away in celebration after doubling Crystal Palace’s lead, his delicious shot from the edge of the box crashing in off the underside of the crossbar. Down in the away technical area, Oliver Glasner was also on the move, the Palace manager briefly dancing on ice as he almost lost his footing amid the delight. By the end, the delirious away supporters were asking their goalkeeper Dean Henderson for song suggestions. For Wolves and Rob Edwards, this his first game in permanent charge, there was only more pain. Pino scored six minutes after Daniel Muñoz opened the scoring to earn a win that propels Palace into fourth. Wolves remain on two points and rooted to the bottom of the Premier League after a dozen matches; they are the only winless team in the top seven tiers of English football and hurtling towards the Championship. Continue reading...

Files show then PM was walking dog, riding motorbike and hosting guests as pandemic planning stalled in ‘lost month’ Boris Johnson took four days off from official government business during a key period in the UK’s Covid preparation when the NHS was bracing to be “overwhelmed” by the virus. Official disclosure for the period in February 2020 – described by the Covid inquiry as a “lost month” in the country’s crisis response – reveal Johnson enjoyed an extended break during the half-term holidays at Chevening, a governmental estate in Kent, where he spent time walking his dog and taking motorcycle rides. Continue reading...

Wealthy countries agree to triple funds for countries to tackle climate impacts, but deforestation and critical minerals blocked from final deal The world edged a small step closer to the end of the fossil fuel era on Saturday, but not by nearly enough to stave off the ravages of climate breakdown. Countries meeting in Brazil for two weeks could manage only a voluntary agreement to begin discussions on a roadmap to an eventual phase out of fossil fuels, and they achieved this incremental progress only in the teeth of implacable opposition from oil-producing countries. Continue reading...

Rugby union updates from the 5.40pm GMT kick-off Follow us on Bluesky | Get The Breakdown | Mail Daniel Settle in! Teams and further updates to come. Continue reading...

⚽️ Premier League updates from the 5.30pm GMT kick-off ⚽️ Live scoreboard | Latest tables | And do send Scott a mail Newcastle United make three changes to their starting XI after the 3-1 defeat at Brentford. Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär and Lewis Hall replace the injured Kieran Trippier, the suspended Dan Burn, and the benched Sven Botman. Manchester City are very much in If It Ain’t Broke mode following their 3-0 dispatch of Liverpool. They name an unchanged side. Continue reading...

Celebrations to McLean’s jaw-dropping goal picked up by seismic activity monitors at Glasgow Geothermal Observatory When Scotland qualified for the men’s football World Cup for the first time in 28 years, supporters were propelled into wild celebration – and even made the earth move in the process. According to the British Geological Survey (BGS), when Kenny McLean scored from the halfway line to seal a breathtaking 4-2 win over Denmark, who are ranked 18 places higher in the world than Scotland, the reaction at the historic Hampden Park were equivalent to a very small earthquake. Continue reading...

Police detained teenager after responding to reports of disorder in Baydon Close, Moredon, Friday evening A 13-year-old schoolgirl has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman died inside a house in Swindon. Police detained the teenager after responding to reports of a disorder in Baydon Close, Moredon, at about 7pm on Friday. They arrived to find a woman in her 50s not breathing, but with no other reported injuries. Continue reading...

Star turns are boosting ticket sales this season, including Islington show featuring MP’s Wizard of Oz and Olivier winner’s Toto We’re a third of the way through the fabulously camp production of Wicked Witches, a mashup of Wicked and The Wizard of Oz, at the Pleasance theatre in Islington, north London. Dor (formerly known as Dorothy) and Tin 2.0 need guidance on how to take down the Wicked Witch and save the borough of Oz-lington from a great blizzard. But wait! Who’s that Facetiming? It’s only Jeremy Corbyn, the wise Wizard of Oz-lington! The 200-person audience cheers and applauds the Islington North MP, who looks as if he’s beaming in from the allotment. Continue reading...

Reform UK’s leader refuses to answer questions about his abusive behaviour, claiming there’s ‘no evidence’. We talk to victims and witnesses Nigel Farage has denied – albeit through a spokesperson – that he ever said anything racist or antisemitic when he was a teenager. The Guardian has spoken to 20 of his contemporaries while at Dulwich College in south London who say otherwise – more than half of them on the record. Continue reading...