As Labour flounders and dabbles in the politics of hatred to gain a point or two, it is those far from power who will suffer most
In the days since the largest far-right rally in British history, I keep hearing the same phrase. Friends will talk about those scenes, how London was packed with more than 100,000 day-trippers chanting “send them back”. Then they’ll say: “It’s the 1970s all over again.” I can almost see their minds playing the old reels of Enoch Powell and the National Front.
Being of similar vintage, I too know about abuse in playgrounds and getting chased by skinheads and the house-warming gift of a brick through the window (which the police didn’t deem racist because the motive wasn’t sufficiently explicit – guys, next time wrap it in a memo!). We’re still some way from those days, thankfully, but one important aspect is much worse. Back then, racism was a furtive, guilty pleasure: deep down, even bigots knew their bigotry was ugly. No more.
A meat-free version of the classic layered pasta dish made with good strong cheese and a few essential details you may not have thought of
When I was writing a book about pasta, an acquaintance from Naples who lives in Chișinău, Moldova, with his Welsh wife suggested that the first step with lasagne is to approach it like a town planner. That is, first work out the size of the dish in relation to the size of the pasta sheets (this applies to both fresh and dried), then decide how many layers you want, not only to establish how many sheets you need, but also to proportion the various fillings accordingly. We also decided that the construction of a lasagne should be like that of a bricklayer combined with a Jackson Pollock approach to the sauces.
My ceramic lasagne dish is 30cm x 20cm, and three 10cm x 25cm dried lasagne sheets make a single layer in it, so a five-layer lasagne requires 15 sheets. Most dried lasagne sold today doesn’t require pre-cooking or soaking, but those sheets depend on the sauce being liquid enough to provide enough moisture to hydrate and cook them. Dry sheets also require a relatively long cooking time, so, in the case of today’s lasagne, which involves a dense and creamy, rather than a liquid sauce, I dip the sheets into boiling water for 30 seconds, then in cold water and then lay them on a tea towel to dry, which gives them a head start. It also reduces the total cooking time, which suits the delicate texture of the courgette and ricotta in the sauce.
Lawyers say pro-Palestinian activist remains protected from immigration enforcement while separate federal court case proceeds
An immigration judge in the US state of Louisiana has ordered the deportation of pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil to Algeria or Syria, ruling that he failed to disclose information on his green card application, according to court documents filed on Wednesday.
Khalil’s lawyers said they intended to appeal against the deportation order, and that a federal district court’s separate orders remain in effect prohibiting the government from immediately deporting or detaining him as his federal court case proceeds. The lawyers submitted a letter to the federal court in New Jersey overseeing his civil rights case and said he will challenge the decision.
About 800,000 people to demonstrate against budget plans, putting pressure on new prime minister
France is braced for one of its biggest strike days in recent years, as trade unions make a rare show of unity to put pressure on the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.
About 800,000 people are expected to take to the streets in marches across the country on Thursday, according to police, while schools, rail and air transport will all be affected. A total of 80,000 police will be deployed.
In the 1970s, the radical leftwing German terrorist organisation may have spread fear through public acts of violence – but its inner workings were characterised by vanity and incompetence
In the summer of 1970, a group of aspirant revolutionaries arrived in Jordan from West Germany. They sought military training though they had barely handled weapons before. They sought a guerrilla war in the streets of Europe, but had never done anything more than light a fire in a deserted department store. They sought the spurious glamour that spending time with a Palestinian armed group could confer. Above all, they sought a safe place where they could hide and plan.
Some of the group had flown to Beirut on a direct flight from communist-run East Berlin. The better known members – Ulrike Meinhof, a prominent leftwing journalist, and two convicted arsonists called Gudrun Ensslin and Andreas Baader – had faced a more complicated journey. First, they’d had to cross into East Germany, then they took a train to Prague, where they boarded a plane to Lebanon. From Beirut, a taxi took them east across the mountains into Syria. Finally, they drove south from Damascus into Jordan.
For 25 years, Justin and Nichola were an essential part of each other’s lives. Then, one random Wednesday, came a terrible, wrenching phone call
Many lifelong alliances begin with a period of mild intimidation, and so it was with my friendship with Nichola. We were 18, in the first year at university, and shared a few French classes. I didn’t know her name, had never heard her speak in English but, with her voluminous curls and friendly, curious stare, she stood out. I assumed she would be too cool to hang around with someone like me.
One weekend, at a student social in the grotty union bar, booze acted as an icebreaker and the guardrails dropped. Nods of recognition in the corridor became cheery hellos, then toasties in the cafe, followed by nights out and nursing hangovers in front of the TV in our dilapidated student houses.
The two actors play brothers dragged into danger by gangsters, but are too stupid or poorly sketched for you to sympathise with them. It’s a relentlessly cheerless watch
Hard on the heels of the airless misery of Mark Ruffalo’s new venture, Task, comes Jude Law and Jason Bateman’s Black Rabbit, which has a bit more action but the same relentless, cheerless tone and even less forgiving lighting. One more entry and it’s officially a trend! We’ll all have to schedule recovery viewings of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, like winter vitamin D shots, to make it through unbowed.
Law and Bateman are working-class brothers Jake (Law) and Vince (Bateman) Friedkin from Coney Island. They grew up in what we assume from relatively early on was a violent home, dominated by an alcoholic father. They became a Nirvana-lite rock group – Jake the handsome lead, Vince the drummer and creative force – until the latter’s taste for drugs and mayhem put paid to their success. Jake pivoted into management, primarily of multihyphenate talent Wes (Sope Dirisu), and when Vince regained his sobriety and vision and found a building that seized his imagination they all went into business together as restaurateurs, creating the Black Rabbit – a three-storey clubhouse that soon became the toast of bohemian New York.
Weakened domestically, Emmanuel Macron wants an international legacy. Yet still, he does nothing to sanction Israel
When Emmanuel Macron announced that France intended to recognise Palestinian statehood, he drew a furious rebuke from Israel – and caused a diplomatic storm with the US. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, wrote a letter accusing the French government of failing to “confront the alarming rise of antisemitism” in France, adding the harsh and unequivocal assessment: “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on this antisemitic fire.”
In the same letter, he praised Donald Trump’s action to “protect the civil rights of American Jews”.
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Let’s not be too cynical about the US-UK agreement to build new power plants – but costs must fall if nuclear is to make headway
Presidential visits, like investment summits, involve a blizzard of claims about companies set to spend squillions in the UK. Some “commitments” are merely extrapolations of current trends. Some can be filed under “believe it when you see it”. Some involve throwing everything into the mix and producing an implausibly precise number for the “economic value” to the UK. A few pledges are genuinely new, but scepticism should be the default setting.
How to view this week’s “landmark commitments” by UK and US firms to build new nuclear power plants in the UK? Actually, this may be one of those rare occasions when one shouldn’t be too cynical.
Mariam, Nasser and Ahmed were evacuated from the warzone but are now stranded in an Egyptian hospital that cannot treat their life-threatening injuries after Trump’s sudden ban on Palestinians entering the US
Mariam Sabbah had been fast asleep, huddled under a blanket with her siblings, when an Israeli missile tore through her home in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in the early hours of 1 March.
The missile narrowly missed the sleeping children but as the terrified nine-year-old ran to her parents, a second one hit. “I saw her coming towards me but suddenly there was another explosion and she vanished into the smoke,” says her mother, Fatma Salman.
Alan Jones faces 25 charges of indecent assault and two of sexual touching relating to nine complainants after prosecutors revealed two alleged victims would no longer be part of the case against the veteran broadcaster.
Jones was on Thursday expected to make his first appearance in court this year to be committed to stand trial on 44 charges of indecent assault against 11 victims aged 17 and older.
Powerful Buddhist monks who have previously escaped punishment are the latest target of the government’s crackdown on excess wealth and alleged corruption
For a religious leader, the allegations were scandalous. Mistresses, illegitimate children, embezzlement. But in 2015, the head abbott of Shaolin monastery, the cradle of Zen Buddhism and kung-fu in China, was untouchable. Shi Yongxin, the so-called “CEO monk” who turned the 1,500-year-old monastery into a commercial empire worth hundreds of millions of yuan, held firm. Soon he was cleared of all charges.
But 10 years later, the 60-year-old monk was not so lucky. In July, not long after Shi returned from a trip to the Vatican to meet the late Pope Francis, the Shaolin Temple released a statement saying that he was being investigated for allegedly misappropriating funds and for fathering illegitimate children with multiple mistresses. Less than a fortnight later he was dismissed and stripped of his monkhood. He has not been heard from since.
Eubank Jr makes allegations against Matchroom at press conference
Hearn rejects claims and threatens legal action unless boxer apologises
Eddie Hearn has threatened to sue Chris Eubank Jr, after the boxer fired the first shots during a press conference ahead of his rematch with Conor Benn by accusing his opponent’s team of dirty tricks and “sabotage”.
Eubank Jr, who won their first bout by unanimous decision in April, claimed an ambulance taking him to hospital afterwards was stopped – and appeared to point the finger at Benn’s promoters, Matchroom Boxing.
Meta Ray-Ban Display have screen on inside of lens that can translate conversations, display information on landmarks and give directions
Meta has announced three new pairs of AI smart glasses, including the first Ray-Bans with a built-in screen for augmented reality.
The Meta Ray-Ban Display will be the first smart glasses with a heads-up display from a mainstream brand since the ill-fated Google Glass. They use a classic Wayfarer-like styling to avoid looking too obviously like wearable technology, while still having a camera, speakers and microphone.
Zelenskyy says Patriot and Himars included in Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List; drones threaten Volgograd oil refineries. What we know on day 1,303
The first weapons supplied to Ukraine under a programme funded by its European allies will include missiles for Patriot air defence systems and Himars rocket launchers, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday. The two initial batches are worth US$500m each. Ukraine has secured over $2bn in financing via what is called the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or Purl. Ukraine’s president said he expected the total committed funds to reach $3.5bn in October. Patrick Turner, Nato’s senior representative in Ukraine, said: “Four packages [under Purl] have already been funded and equipment is already flowing.”
Russia closed its Volgograd airport and put oil refineries on alert for a Ukrainian drone attack early on Thursday morning. Between 10 and 15 explosions were heard and flashes were seen in the sky as air defence systems opened fire, said the Russian Telegram channel Shot.
It was likely a missile fired at Russian drones from a Polish plane that hit a house, a government minister said on Wednesday, when UAVs swarmed into Poland in an unprecedented violation of Nato airspace. Authorities initially said one of the 21 Russian drones hit the house on the night of 9-10 September. The minister, Tomasz Siemoniak, said on Wednesday: “Everything indicates that it was a missile fired by our plane, defending Poland, defending the fatherland, defending our citizens.” Poland’s PM, Donald Tusk, promised an investigation of how it happened but all responsibility for the damage still lay with Russia, which he said was responsible for orchestrating a provocation using drones.
Denmark said on Wednesday that it would for the first time acquire “long-range precision weapons” for its defence, citing the need to deter Russia. The prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, called it “a paradigm shift in Danish defence policy” adding that Russia would constitute a threat to Denmark and Europe “for years to come”, requiring “credible deterrence”. “With these weapons, the defence forces will be able to hit targets at long range and, for example, neutralise enemy missile threats.”
The announcement sparked a back-and-forth with Russia’s ambassador to Denmark who called it “pure madness” and equated it to “threatening a nuclear power publicly”. Frederiksen said the ambassador’s comments should be interpreted as a threat. “Russia is trying to threaten Europe and Nato into not defending our people and borders. Of course, we will not be intimidated.” Denmark’s defence ministry said it was looking into which long-range weapons to buy.
Russia attacked Ukraine with 172 drones as well as missiles on Tuesday night into Wednesday, Ukraine’s air force said. Air defences shot down or jammed 136 drones in the north, south and east of Ukraine. Missile hits and 36 strikes by UAVs were recorded at 13 locations, the air force said.
Lithuania has charged 15 people with terrorism offences over an alleged Russia-backed plot to detonate parcels last year in Germany, Poland and Britain. Prosecutors said that the suspects used delivery companies DHL and DPD to send four packages of explosives hidden in cosmetics containers from the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, to various European countries. The devices caused three explosions: at Leipzig airport, in a truck in Poland and a warehouse in Britain. The fourth malfunctioned, the Lithuania prosecutor’s office said, adding that it was an international inquiry. Those charged are Russian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and Ukrainian citizens.
Ukraine and the US International Development Finance Corporation announced they would each commit $75 million to a joint investment fund that is part of Kyiv’s minerals deal with Washington, the Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, said on Wednesday. The US corporation said the investment would support Ukraine’s reconstruction and long-term economic recovery and strengthen US natural resources supply chains.
Armed forces say ‘special naval militia’ involved in Caribbean deployment as defence minister cites ‘threatening, vulgar voice’ of Washington
Venezuela says it has begun three days of military exercises on its Caribbean island of La Orchila as tensions soar amid US military activity in the region.
Forces deployed for what Washington called an anti-drug operation have blown up at least two Venezuelan boats and a combined 14 people allegedly transporting drugs across the Caribbean this month – a move slammed by UN experts as “extrajudicial execution”.
Scores of artists, speakers and activists appear at four-hour fundraiser curated by Brian Eno – but it’s Palestinian voices who make the biggest impression
The sheer scale of it was boggling. A total of 69 artists, speakers and activists were to appear at Ovo Arena Wembley.
There were stars of music: Damon Albarn, Bastille, PinkPantheress, Hot Chip and a festival’s worth of others. There were stars of stage and screen: Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Guy Pearce, Ramy Youssef and a huge supporting cast. There were the firebrands, the podcasters, the people you’re sure are important but you have no idea why. And there were the people who, well, you don’t really know what they’re bringing: the former footballer Eric Cantona, the Love Island host Laura Whitmore, the Chicken Shop Dates YouTuber Amelia Dimoldenberg.
ABC says late-night show will not air for foreseeable future after Kimmel accused Republicans of ‘doing everything they can to score political points’ from Kirk’s killing
Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be suspended “indefinitely” after comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, ABC has announced, hours after the Trump-appointed chair of the US broadcast regulator threatened broadcasters’ licenses if action was not taken against the late night host.
The network, which Disney owns, announced on Wednesday night that it would remove Kimmel’s show from its schedule for the foreseeable future.
Governor says ‘we grieve the loss of life of three precious souls’ as two injured in critical condition in hospital
Three police officers were killed and two were injured in a shooting on Wednesday in the southern part of Pennsylvania, state police said.
“We grieve for the loss of life of three precious souls who served this county, served this commonwealth, served this country,” governor Josh Shapiro said.
Police have charged a man with murder, hours after bones were found during a search for the remains of a woman who vanished more than 20 years ago.
The breakthrough in the cold case was made late on Wednesday after the discovery of human remains, believed to be those of Susan Goodwin, 39, buried in the back yard of a house in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
Swedish researchers find low daily dose can halve risk in post-surgery patients with specific gene mutations
A daily dose of aspirin can substantially reduce the risk of some colorectal cancers returning after surgery, according to a major trial into the protective effects of the everyday painkiller.
Swedish researchers found that people who took a low daily dose of aspirin after having their tumour removed were half as likely to have their cancer return over the next three years than patients who took a placebo.
Vermont senator had taken flak for avoiding term as UN panel says Israel’s conduct meets criteria for genocide
Senator Bernie Sanders said on Wednesday that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, calling the conclusion “inescapable” and becoming the first US senator to use the term.
“Over the last two years, Israel has not simply defended itself against Hamas,” Sanders wrote. “Instead, it has waged an all-out war against the entire Palestinian people.”
Prime minister seeks to make best of difficult state visit by US president with package of commitments by US firms
Keir Starmer has sought to navigate a politically treacherous state visit by Donald Trump with an announcement of £150bn of US investment in the UK, as the president was kept safely within the confines of Windsor Castle.
As thousands of protesters voiced their anger in London at a Stop Trump Coalition protest, the US president was escorted by the king and queen through a first day that ended in a state banquet but kept him out of reach of his critics.
It should have been a lot easier than this for Liverpool but the 92nd‑minute roar to celebrate Virgil van Dijk’s winner against Atlético Madrid made the hardship worthwhile. This is what everyone expects of Liverpool this season; the captain’s header was only their third latest decisive goal in five straight victories.
Arne Slot’s side have won every Premier League game so far with goals scored after the 80th minute. Liverpool looked as if they wanted to do things differently in the Champions League and were two goals ahead within six minutes thanks to Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah. If they thought they had done the business before anyone had broken a sweat, they were very much mistaken. Atlético’s goals came from an unlikely source in the full-back-cum-midfielder Marcos Llorente, who now has four Champions League goals at Anfield to his name.
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