Politics
Arsenal overcome Burnley to gain edge in title race
Arsenal scraped a nervy 1-0 victory over relegated Burnley at the Emirates, a result that leaves Mikel Arteta’s side one result away from the Premier League title depending on Manchester City’s outcome on Tuesday. The game was tight, tense, and ultimately decided by a set-piece header from Kai Havertz midway through the first half.
The match’s only goal arrived in the 37th minute. Bukayo Saka’s corner found Kai Havertz, who nodded home from close range to break the deadlock. It was another example of Arsenal’s season-long strength from dead balls. The club have scored heavily from set plays this campaign, and this goal underlined how those routines have been a consistent source of returns.
Arsenal pushed after the opener. Leandro Trossard rattled the post and Eberechi Eze struck the bar as the hosts hunted a second to ease nerves. Burnley, already relegated, offered little sustained threat but defended doggedly and forced Arsenal to work for every yard.
Arsenal discipline
The game was not without incident. Late in the match Havertz was involved in a high challenge on Lesley Ugochukwu that looked dangerous in real time. Referee Paul Tierney issued a yellow card on the pitch; VAR reviewed the incident for potential serious foul play and ultimately upheld the on-field decision, meaning Havertz avoided a red card. The decision drew criticism from some quarters but stood as the official ruling.
That moment could have changed the complexion of the match. Playing a man down would have invited pressure and uncertainty; instead Arsenal kept their full complement and saw out the win. The booking will still be a talking point, but it did not alter the result.What the result means
With the three points, Arsenal sit on the brink of the title. They will be crowned champions if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday. If City win, the title race will go to the final day. The narrow margin of victory means Arsenal still have work to do, but the position they occupy is unmistakable: one positive result away from lifting the trophy.
The atmosphere at the Emirates was electric before kick-off and remained charged throughout, but nerves crept in as the game wore on. For a squad that has carried expectation all season, this was a reminder that even routine fixtures can become tests of temperament when the prize is so close.
Performances and patterns
Standouts players: Declan Rice was named player of the match for his midfield control and defensive cover, while Havertz’s contribution was a goal and presence which was decisive. Gabriel and William Saliba marshalled the backline effectively, and David Raya did not face sustained danger. Burnley’s goalkeeper and defenders kept the scoreline respectable, but they rarely threatened to equalise.
Arsenal deliver set-piece’s with a cutting edge. Arsenal’s goal continued a season-long trend: they have been unusually productive from set plays. The team’s organisation and delivery from corners have supplied a steady stream of goals, and that efficiency has been a quietly influential factor in their title push.Arteta set up an attacking line-up and expected control through midfield. Arsenal dominated possession and territory for long spells but lacked the clinical edge to put the game beyond doubt. Burnley sat deep and looked to frustrate, offering occasional counters but little sustained pressure. The match became a test of patience for the home side. They had to keep probing, avoid mistakes, and take the chance when it comes. That approach paid off.
The immediate outlook
Arsenal now wait on Manchester City’s result. If City slip up, Arsenal will be champions without kicking another ball. If City win, the title race will be decided on the final day, and Arsenal will need to deliver again under pressure. Either way, this victory keeps Arteta’s team firmly in control of their destiny.
For Burnley, the season ends in relegation, but the visitors showed moments of resilience and will look to regroup for the Championship. For Arsenal, the focus is simple: maintain composure, manage expectations, and finish the job. The margin for error is small; the reward is huge.
One hand on the title
A single header, a VAR check, and a yellow card summed up a night of fine margins. Arsenal did what they needed to do: win. Now they stand one result away from the Premier League title, with the final chapter still to be written depending on Manchester City’s next outing.
Featured image via Getty Images/Julian Finney
Politics
Mourinho headed to coach volatile Real Madrid
Real Madrid have agreed a two‑year deal to bring Jose Mourinho back as head coach. An announcement is expected after the club’s final game and his contract reportedly includes an option for a further year.
Mourinho returns to a volatile dressing room
Madrid have moved to reappoint Mourinho, 13 years after his first spell at the Bernabéu, in a bid to restore stability after a trophyless season and a string of off‑field incidents. The deal is for two years with an option for a third, and the club plans a formal unveiling once the season finishes.
Florentino Pérez and the board appear to have prioritised experience and authority over a long‑term rebuild. Mourinho’s previous Real Madrid tenure (2010–13) included a La Liga title in 2012, and his relationship with the club’s president is well documented.
Mourinho is currently Benfica manager; his contract there reportedly contains a buy‑out clause of around £2.6m, which allows him to leave after an unbeaten league campaign that finished with Benfica third in Portugal. Sky Sports understands Mourinho will bring four coaches from Benfica to Madrid, signalling he intends to transplant much of his existing backroom structure.
Immediate challenges waiting at the Bernabéu
Squad cohesion is the headline problem. Real Madrid’s season was undermined by internal tensions and a high‑profile altercation that required medical attention for a first‑team player. Mourinho’s mandate will be to reimpose discipline and clear lines of authority.
Tactically, Mourinho inherits a squad that has underperformed in LaLiga and exited the Champions League earlier than expected. He will need to balance short‑term fixes with the club’s long‑term transfer and development plans.
What to expect next
• Official announcement: expected after Real Madrid’s final league fixture.
• Backroom changes: four Benfica coaches likely to join, suggesting a rapid overhaul of training and match‑day routines.
• Contract length: two years, with a possibility for a third; Mourinho’s Benfica clause makes the move financially straightforward.
This is a pragmatic, short‑term appointment aimed at restoring order and delivering immediate results rather than signalling a full strategic reset. Mourinho brings experience and a proven ability to impose structure, but he also brings a style and intensity that will test a squad already under strain.
Featured image via Getty Images/Angel Martinez
Politics
Gillette’s New Body Razors Won’t Cause Nicks *Down There*
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
You know how it goes: maybe you have a special appointment booked in (if you catch my drift) or you just want to go swimming and enjoy the sun.
The bush has gotten a little out of control, so you pull out a weed whacker, only to leave yourself looking like you’ve been mauled by a million mosquitos. Ingrown hair central. God forbid you want to wear a speedo!
Finding a body razor that doesn’t inflict an intense itch upon you is tricky, to say the least. But (deep breath) there’s finally a solution.
Gillette has just launched a new body and intimate razor range, made up:
All products in the collection are designed for an ultra-close shave, which means they’re suitable for the areas on your with the most sensitive skin, and (here’s the kicker) to leave zero nicks and cuts.
It might sound almost too good to be true, but the consistent five-star reviews for each product speak for themselves.
“Amazing, best shaver I’ve ever had,” said someone who bought the GilletteLabs Body + Intimate i7 Hair Trimmer for Men. “No pulling, no cuts, and a great finish.”
Another said: “Tbh I do not have words to express this but all I can say is that this product has literally made my life so easier as this is one of the smoothest and most effective product I’ve ever tried in terms of functionality.”
Convinced to let it in your pants?
Here’s what the range has to offer.
Thanks to the brand’s new SkinFirst technology, this hair trimmer won’t leave any unwanted indentations on your skin. And you won’t need to worry about making an unfortunate bush pattern, as the razor head has its own LED light that makes it easy to see all the more shadowy areas.
But it doesn’t end there: this clever device is also loaded with Autosense technology that automatically adjust the intensity to match your hair density, leaving you with an even trim. Bonus points for the fact it’s completely waterproof, and has added grip in case you do want to use it in the shower.
The kit comes with three heads, a storage pouch, charging stand, cleaning brush, and shower hanger for easy access ;).
Not bothered by all the bells and whistles? This trimmer has the same close shave as the i7, except it doesn’t come with the same LED light for visibility.
But considering it’s a whole £30 cheaper, there’s not much difference, except it comes with one comb instead of two.
It even has a whopping 80 minutes of charge, which is, what? Like, eight uses before you need to power it up with the included charger.
If you’re more of an analogue kind of guy, these razor heads promise as smooth a shave.
To prevent clogging from all those long, thick hairs, the blades are widely spaced. Plus, they come with a Lubrastrip to make that glide smoother than anything you’ve ever accomplished in someone’s DMs.
Want the best of everything? In this set, you’ll get the i5 trimmer (with an LED light), a GilletteLabs razor with three spare razor heads, and the brand’s 2-in-1 Shave Cream & Cleanser.
You’ll also get a storage pouch and cleaning brush, so you can keep your new bush bestie clean while you switch between trimming and shaving.
Politics
Ryan Garcia has named Conor Benn as his next opponent at Las Vegas showdown
Ryan Garcia has named Conor Benn as his next opponent and is targeting a Las Vegas date on 12 September for his first WBC welterweight title defence. Negotiations are ongoing and the fight is not yet contractually confirmed.
Garcia-Benn blockbuster on the horizon
Ryan Garcia signalled the matchup during recent media appearances and livestreams, pointing to Las Vegas on 12 September as the target for his next fight.
Garcia won the WBC welterweight title earlier this year and is preparing to make his first defence; Conor Benn has publicly pushed for the shot and sits at the top of the WBC 147lb rankings.
• Star power: Both fighters bring commercial pull. Garcia with a large U.S. following and social-media reach, Benn with a high-profile UK fanbase and recent main-event experience.
• Mandate and timing: Benn is the WBC’s mandatory contender and has been vocal about getting the title shot; the September window answers that demand if the camps can finalise terms.
The practical hurdles
Promotional and broadcast alignments remain the main obstacles. Garcia is aligned with Golden Boy Promotions while Benn recently signed with Zuffa Boxing, creating a promotional friction that must be resolved before a contract is signed.
There are also scheduling complications: the proposed date coincides with another major event in Riyadh, which could affect broadcast windows and promotional logistics if both are staged on 12 September.
Form and recent runs
• Garcia captured the WBC belt by defeating Mario Barrios earlier this year and has been positioning himself for high-profile defences.
• Benn returned to action with a win over Regis Prograis and has rebuilt momentum since joining Zuffa Boxing.
Both fighters have had past issues with drug-testing processes that were publicly resolved; those histories are part of the backdrop but are not current impediments to the matchup.
What to watch next
1. Contract confirmation: A joint announcement from Golden Boy and Zuffa (or the fighters’ camps) will be the clearest sign the fight is locked in.
2. Broadcast partner: Whether Netflix, DAZN, or another platform picks up the card will shape the global reach and timing.
3. Venue and undercard: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas has been mentioned; undercard choices will indicate how the promoters plan to sell the event.
This is a high-stakes, commercially attractive fight that makes sense on paper: a WBC title defence against the mandatory contender, staged in a major market. The matchup is targeted for 12 September in Las Vegas, but it remains subject to negotiation and formal confirmation from the promoters and broadcasters.
Featured image via Getty Images/Steve Marcus
By Faz Ali
Politics
Stranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo Confirmed For West End Rent Revival
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo is poised to make his West End debut in a new revival of Rent.
On Monday morning, it was announced that Gaten will play Mark Cohen in the new production, a role previously portrayed on stage by the likes of Anthony Rapp, Oliver Thornton and Neil Patrick Harris.
The new production coincides with Rent’s 30th anniversary, and will run at the Duke of York’s Theatre from 26 September.
Director Luke Sheppard enthused: “This is Rent in the hands of a new generation of performers who love and adore this piece, and with Gaten Matarazzo playing Mark, it promises to be a thrilling experience.”
Rent centres around a group of struggling artists in New York’s East Village, and is loosely based on the Puccini opera La Bohème.
Telling the story of a year in the group’s lives, the show explores themes including sexuality, addiction and HIV, and has become renowned for its soundtrack, including musical theatre staples Seasons Of Love, La Vie Bohème and Take Me Or Leave Me.

Phil Bray/Sony/Kobal/Shutterstock
Producers Chris Harper and Sonia Friedman said they were “absolutely delighted to be bringing Rent back to the West End”, noting: “Jonathan Larson’s musical remains as powerful and resonant as ever, and Luke has found a way to honour its legacy while making it feel thrillingly fresh for today’s audiences.
“We cannot wait to share this production and all that we have planned for it. It promises to be a truly special theatrical event.”
More casting announcements will be announced in due course, with tickets for the production now on sale.
Gaten is best known for his performance as Dustin Henderson in the hit Netflix sci-fi drama, a role he began playing when he was still in his early teens.
However, he actually began his career as a child actor on Broadway, in the casts of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Les Misérables.
Since his rise to fame in Stranger Things, the 23-year-old has also continued to act on stage in Broadway productions of shows including Dear Evan Hansen and Sweeney Todd.
He is also due to appear in the new Lin-Manuel Miranda movie adaptation of the musical Octet, alongside the likes of Rachel Zegler, Jonathan Groff, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Amanda Seyfried and Tramell Tillman.
Politics
Our Place Has Launched A Mini Of Its Bestselling Pan, And It’s Adorable
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
Is this a safe space? My immediate thought was ‘awww’ when I saw these pans.
That’s not something I ever thought I’d say about a cooking implement, FYI, but here we are. Our Place always gets to me.
The fact the brand is making mini versions of anything is a (not to be oxymoronic) huge win in my book, but it’s about more than what’s on the outside!
As well as being made from non-toxic, non-stick ceramic, all of its pans can be popped in the oven, just as safely as they can be used on the hob.
They also come with a matching lid, and a wooden spatula that nests perfectly on the handle.
As for what you can cook in these teenies, the Mini Always Pan has a 1.1 litre capacity, which makes it ideal for frying an egg, blooming spices, making pancakes, or even whipping up a tiny cookie in your Wonder Oven.
Meanwhile, the Perfect Pot is a little bigger, holding 2.4 litres, which if you ask me is a truly wondrous size for rice for two or simmering a stew.
And, if matching your pan to the rest of your kitchen is important to you (no judgement here) the minis come in the brand’s signature black, pink, green, grey, and blue.
For a limited time only, they also come in two new colours: forget-me-not blue and butter yellow (which is on sale now!). It’s safe to say I’m obsessed.
Politics
Feminist organisation blasts Labour’s VAWG plans for excluding Black and brown women
On 15 May, Hibiscus – a feminist, anti-racist, and intersectional women’s organisation – gave a searing critique of Labour’s plans to:
champion the rights of women and girls to live in a world free from violence.
Of course, the feminist group welcomed the sentiment of the statement itself. However, it pointed out the glaring hypocrisy of Labour’s agenda to end violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Namely, a great many of the policies laid out in the King’s speech on 13 May would be actively harmful to Black and minoritised migrant women.
Hibiscus stated that:
At a time when meaningful action is urgently needed, the government has once again failed to address the structural inequalities that make women vulnerable to violence in the first place. There are no concrete commitments to invest in specialist support services, no long-term funding guarantees for by and for organisations, and no serious recognition of the socio-economic and political realities facing Black and minoritised migrant women. Instead, several of the proposed bills appear either dangerously indifferent to these realities or intentionally punitive in nature.
Labour not doing enough
Hibiscus voiced particular alarm at the proposed Immigration and Asylum Bill. It includes powers to revoke refugee status in greater numbers, and places greater restrictions on support for asylum-seeking survivors.
In particular, the Hibiscus stated that proposed measures to limit Article 8 applications:
will have devastating consequences for women already living in precarity.
‘Article 8 applications’ refers to Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It guarantees the right to family and private life.
The feminist group also explained that tightening immigration rules leaves migrant women open to abuse:
For migrant women experiencing abuse, immigration status is often weaponised by perpetrators as a tool of control. Policies that deepen insecurity and threaten deportation create enormous barriers to reporting violence, seeking support, or leaving abusive situations safely. These proposals are harmful and dehumanising. They reinforce a hostile environment that leaves migrant and refugee women trapped between abuse and the fear of state violence.
The justice system
On top of this, Hibiscus stated that the proposed Police Reform Bill would only serve to entrench violence against racialised communities:
Expanding policing powers, increasing surveillance, and embedding greater use of AI and intelligence gathering cannot be separated from the realities of institutional racism, misogyny and discrimination within policing and state systems. These measures will deepen mistrust and disproportionately impact racialised communities, including migrant women whose vulnerabilities are already heightened by insecure immigration status.
A police chief in charge of AI use has already acknowledged that a new national police AI data centre will produce biased and racist results. However, this hasn’t stopped police forces forging ahead with adopting the technology.
Hibiscus also highlighted Labour’s current plans to scale back jury trials in England and Wales. As the Canary has previously reported, Black and brown people will likely be disproportionately affected by this change. On that point, Hibiscus highlighted that:
Weakening access to justice risks further undermining confidence in a system that many survivors already struggle to trust. Any government serious about tackling VAWG should be strengthening legal protections and improving access to justice, not eroding them.
The inverse of the over-scrutinisation of Black and brown women when they are suspected of a crime is the corresponding lack of urgency from both police and the media when Black and brown women are potential victims.
Campaign group ‘For Black Women UK’ highlighted the cases of five Black women who were found dead in bodies of water around the UK. Edna Mmbali Ombakho, for example, was missing for 35 days before she was found. However, due to a lack of widespread coverage or awareness-raising:
Many people only learned about her disappearance after she was found.
Blessing Olusegun These are just some of the Black women whose lives tragically ended after they were later found in bodies of water.
Each woman had a life, a family, and people who loved them. pic.twitter.com/mhoPtNk4W8 — For Black Women UK (@forblackwomenuk) March 16, 2026
Kayon Williams
Taiwo Balogun
Samaria Ayanle
Edna Mmbali Ombakho
Housing
We then move on to the field of housing, and its impacts on Black and minoritised migrant women. The Social Housing Renewal Bill ostensibly aims to help victim-survivors of domestic abuse to stay in their houses. However, as Hibiscus highlighted:
For many Black and minoritised women living within close-knit communities, remaining in the family home after leaving an abusive relationship can actually increase risk and isolation. Specialist by and for organisations have long challenged one-size-fits-all approaches to safety.
Likewise, migrant women are often excluded from vital social housing due to their immigration status. As such, Hibiscus highlighted that:
countless women remain at risk of homelessness, housing insecurity and ongoing abuse. Despite this, there is still no meaningful funding commitment to safely house migrant women experiencing violence.
Likewise, the organisation was also clear on how best to structure safe-housing initiatives:
Victim-survivors themselves are best placed to determine what safety looks like for them. Sustainable refuge funding, genuinely accessible housing options, and specialist support services remain essential.
Five key demands
For far too long, mainstream initiatives to combat VAWG have excluded Black and minoritised migrant women. That issue is compounded by policies that fail to acknowledge the ways in which:
racism, misogyny, poverty, immigration status and housing insecurity intersect to shape and exacerbate experiences of violence.
As such, the organisation made five key demands for any government that takes VAWG seriously:
- Long-term investment in specialist by-and-for services
- Safe and accessible housing for all survivors
- Equitable access to justice
- Protection of migrant women’s rights
- Policies developed through an intersectional lens
Hibiscus’ warning was stark:
Without this, promises made to address VAWG will remain empty.
Featured image via Getty Images/Chris J. Ratcliffe
By The Canary
Politics
Why is the UK losing so many Prime Ministers?
Ben Worthy relfects on the high turnover of UK Prime Ministers since Brexit. He argues that this is caused by a combination of a faioure of leadership, fraying relations with backbench MPs and political fragmentation.
If Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street soon, the average time in office of a UK prime minster since Brexit will be just 2 years. To put this in perspective, the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, in a system that is supposedly a merry-go-round for leaders, would meet her fourth UK Prime Minister. Sadiq Khan would be on his seventh.
Why has turnover become so rapid? May, Johnson, Truss and Sunak were all ‘takeover PMs’ who, by definition, inherited deep crises, unhappy parties and whole battalions of difficult problems. But Starmer stands out. He was an election winner, in fact a landslide leader, coming to office via a huge majority in 2024. The last two PMs to win by similar margins did a decade in power.
A number of writers such as Sam Freedman and Anthony Seldon have rightly looked to the problems around the office itself, and whether recent leaders could really do it. To quote the words from my A-level politics exam, ‘the office of Prime Minister is what its holder chooses and is able to make of it’. It is true we seem to have had a succession of leaders who have been unwilling or unable to make much of it except a mess. Barbara Kellerman famously argued that bad leadership can be about incompetence or immorality: May and Truss gave us spectacular policy failures, whereas Johnson’s morals found him out.
I’m not convinced, though, that Britain is ungovernable, any more than it was in the 1970s or 1930s. While poor leadership is part of it, I’d argue it’s a broader problem around three Fs: (perceived) failure, fraying relations and fragmentation. The explanation lies in a tangled spiral of leadership failure, voter fragmentation and, above all what I tell my students is one of the big secrets of British politics, the fraying relationship between governments and their own backbench MPs. Sam Freedman argues PMs are more powerful but more vulnerable. This is because the pillars of prime ministerial stability and longevity are washing away.
Part of the story is indeed one of leadership failure, or at least perceived failure. Starmer took over in the midst of deep ongoing crisis, or crises, in British Politics. As Colm Murphy pointed out, a ‘combination of a difficult inheritance, [and] nasty external shocks’ greeted Labour in July 2024.
What made this worse is that Starmer’s majority, and election promises, gave a sense that these things could be solved. He spoke of a ‘relentless focus on delivery’. The public had very high expectations and are now quite severely disappointed. His inability to deliver, and his indecisiveness, are now very clear in the public mind. According to Full Fact, Keir Starmer is either the least popular PM since records began, or joint lowest with Liz Truss.
Starmer’s failure then flows into the second factor, that of fraying relations with Labour MPs. This is partly a long term problem. Since the 1970s, MPs of both parties have become more rebellious and less loyal: the rejected, the ejected, and the dejected have a greater influence. Scholars suggest this could be about generational attitudes of MPs or the ending of the rule that lost votes trigger a general election.
Whatever the reason, we can read recent Britain politics through backbench unhappiness: from the ‘mother of all rebellions’ over Iraq in 2003, to the disquiet in 2011 that persuaded Cameron to promise a referendum, and the undoing of Johnson’s Covid 19 policy. There should be a post-it-note somewhere on Starmer’s desk reminding him that of his four immediate predecessors, only one lost an election and three of them were effectively removed by their own MPs.
But this is a Labour issue too. Labour MPs came to office expecting delivery and radical change. The intake of 2024 were new, inexperienced and vitally, as Phil Cowley pointed out, lacking the loyalty to a leader: Starmer, unlike Tony Blair, didn’t have any ‘election winning magic’ and ‘quite a lot of Labour MPs, think they’re mostly there because of Rishi Sunak rather than because of Keir Starmer’. There’s been a downward spiral since. Not only has Starmer failed to deliver what is needed to win Labour the next election, but MPs have been hit by policies and controversies almost purposely designed to cut across their principles, from Winter Fuel to PIP changes. Policy U-turns have been worsened by the unending Mandelson scandal, which went to the heart of questions about Starmer’s judgement.
There’s then the final part of the jigsaw: fragmentation. Rob Ford and others have long seen the deep fragmentation happening across British politics, meaning elections are no longer a two horse race. This has been a long term phenomenon since the 1990s as greater choice and loss of faith eroded Labour and Conservative support, and the voting system no longer worked in their favour. Britain ‘has now entered an unprecedented era of multi-party politics’ as voters now choose between four rather than two parties. This means, for MPs, that their seats are more vulnerable and marginal. In 2024, one in every five seats (115 overall) in the UK was marginal, more than double the 48 marginals in 2019. Wes Streeting, just to pluck an example, has a majority of 528.
There is now a vicious cycle. Leaders failing to deliver, unhappy MPs rebelling, and seats becoming increasingly vulnerable. This is then worsened by the media focus on disloyalty and unhappiness. The paradox of power is that PMs need time to get things done, as those towards the top of the league tables of PMs show. Yet the dynamics are tending dangerously downwards, towards brief stints before removal and replacement.
This then begs several questions for whoever comes next. Can the next Prime Minister break the negative spiral? Can they deliver enough policy, or at least be seen to deliver it, in the time left? Can they inspire the loyalty of their MPs, over the long term? Can they reverse, or at least slow, the fragmentation of British politics?
By Ben Worthy, author of Ending in failure? The performance of ‘takeover’ prime ministers 1916–2016. The Political Quarterly, 87(4), 509-517 and an updated (2024) From May to Sunak: The Failure of the Brexit Takeovers 2016-2024.
Politics
Microplastics Could Be Making Global Warming Worse
Microplastics, or tiny fragments of plastics that haven’t completely broken down, are basically everywhere.
They can be found in rubbish, dust, fabrics, cosmetics, cleaning products, rain, seafood, produce, table salt, and more, according to Harvard Magazine. They’re in our bodies, too: microplastics have been discovered in our blood, saliva, liver, kidneys, and even the placenta in pregnant individuals.
Some worry these might hurt our health, though not all experts agree. Either way, though, new research has suggested that sub-5mm pieces could be heating our planet further.
How can microplastics impact global warming?
The study, published in Nature Climate Change, suggested that, on average, microplastics have a warming effect on the environment.
Study author Professor Drew Shindell said we hadn’t known for sure whether microplastics cooled or heated the atmosphere overall. Paler-coloured fragments might scatter and reduce the heating power of the sun, while darker ones could hold onto heat.
So, the researchers used an electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) to see how plastic debris reacted to sunlight and radiation. They found that the size and colour of the plastic mattered, with yellow, black, red, and blue microplastics absorbing light more strongly than lighter colours.
And Shindell said that lighter hues darken into yellows over time, too.
“The key finding is really that the warming strongly outweighs the cooling,” the researcher told Science Direct.
“I think we have a lot of confidence in that because we did all of these measurements in the laboratory of how [microplastics and nanoplastics] interact with sunlight. What we don’t have so much confidence in and what’s still a big uncertainty is exactly how many of these are in the atmosphere.”
How much of a difference was there?
It seemed that the warming effect was about five times greater than the cooling effect in this study.
This impact would still pale in comparison to something like the burning of fossil fuels, Shindell added.
And the researchers said that one of the problems with this study is that we don’t know for sure how many microplastics and nonplastics there are in the Earth’s atmosphere.
But, he said, “it just adds another compelling reason why we should pay more attention to keeping plastic waste out of the environment”.
Politics
“Messed up, haven’t you?” Peter Kyle challenged again for not declaring LFI membership
Odious right-wing Labour front-bencher Peter Kyle has again been ambushed and challenged over his links to Labour Friends of Israel (LFI). Declassified UK‘s Phil Miller caught Peter Kyle, who has signed off on UK arms shipments to genocidal Israel, ‘failed’ to declare he was LFI vice-chair until he quit to become a minister. He recently told a right-wing audience that he is still a member of the Zionist pressure group.
But he didn’t declare it, though other ministers did – and he couldn’t get away fast enough when Miller asked him about it:
”You’ve messed up haven’t you”
We asked the minister responsible for arms exports to Israel about his undeclared membership of Labour Friends of Israel earlier this year
pic.twitter.com/ZnnGs7ccpP
— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) May 16, 2026
Peter Kyle and pals elbow-deep
At least half of Keir Starmer’s front bench accepted Israeli or pro-Israel cash. Starmer’s government is elbow-deep in the innocent Palestinian blood Israel spills every day. But Starmer and his acolytes don’t have the spine to own up to it.
In spite – really because – of this massive Israeli influence, Starmer’s government excluded Israel entirely from a recent official investigation into foreign government interference in UK politics.
Featured image via Getty Images/Jaimi Joy
By Skwawkbox
Politics
Harry Potter TV Show Recasts Ginny Weasley Ahead Of Season 2
The producers of the new Harry Potter TV series have announced that a major character is being recast ahead of its second season.
Child actor Gracie Cochrane is set to play Ginny Weasley in the latest adaptation of JK Rowling’s children’s stories, which will premiere at the end of this year.
However, when production on season two – in which the youngest Weasley sibling is featured more prominently – gets underway, the character will be recast for undisclosed reasons.
In a statement to Deadline, the young performer and her family said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances Gracie has made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after season one.
“Her time as part of the Harry Potter world has been truly wonderful, and she is deeply grateful to [casting director] Lucy Bevan and the entire production team for creating such an unforgettable experience.”
They added: “Gracie is very excited about the opportunities her future holds.”
US broadcaster HBO also said: “We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season of HBO’s Harry Potter series, and we are grateful for her work on season one of the show. We wish Gracie and her family the best.”
A new adaptation of Harry Potter was first confirmed to be in the works by HBO in 2023, with one season being dedicated to each of the seven books.
The project has faced some backlash due to the presence of Harry Potter author JK Rowling as an executive producer.
Rowling has become a divisive figure in recent years due to her stance on issues relating to transgender people, which has included deliberately and repeatedly misgendering trans public figures, and donating tens of thousands of pounds to the campaign group which raised the initial legal challenge that led to the UK Supreme Court’s ruling last year that the legal definition of a woman should include only those who were assigned female at birth.
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