Life is pretty good at Valley Parade right now. A little over two years ago they were 86th in the Football League ladder, having lost 3-0 at Harrogate Town in League Two. Then Bradford City were drifting. Now they are three games away from the Championship.
It is the ground itself that speaks best to the recovery and redemption. This season, the average home league attendance was 20,444. That is the highest figure for more than a century. It is an unthinkable change over such a short period to have the ground packed for every match.
Life is pretty good for Bobby Pointon too, albeit he will feel better when a niggling injury fully heals and he is back in the team for the play-offs. This 22-year-old academy graduate, capable in attacking midfield or out wide, has a journey to match Bradford’s own.
On 29 March 2024, one match after that Harrogate defeat, Pointon started his second league game for four months and only his third under Graham Alexander. He scored, stayed in the team and never looked back. Last season he was picked as Young Player of the Year. Last week he was named jointly as the Players’ Player of the Year.
“The club is moving forward now,” Pointon tells The i Paper.
“I’ve been here before on a Tuesday night when there were about 10,000 people in and now it’s 20,000 every single game.
“Bradford means a lot to me. I’ve been coming here since I was five. So it’s just brilliant to see.”
Bradford boss Graham Alexander has overseen a remarkable turnaround (Photo: Getty)
Winning matches and rising through divisions is the principal driver of bums on seats. But the connection between supporters and club, which was hardly always healthy here, is maintained away from matchday when a community leans upon Bradford City and is supported.
Pointon knows that more than most; last week he was named as the club’s PFA Community Champion. We meet at the side of a pitch in the shadow of the stadium, where a £100,000 award from the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund has been used by Bradford City FC Community Foundation to create The Way Forward programme, using sport to aid men aged 18 to 24 to take steps towards improved mental and physical wellbeing and greater employability.
Pointon started his work by visiting children in local hospitals. He has helped out on a food truck supplying hot meals to the community and with Action for Sport, who offer sports kits and trainers to youngsters who would otherwise go without. Those inside the foundation point out just how much Pointon is prepared to give. Even at 22, he carries himself like a senior player.
But Pointon is also from here. He grew up in Low Moor. He trained as a boxer in Rourkey’s Gym in West Bowling.
When he scored his first Bradford goal in 2023, he had 18 tickets for family and friends and there were more in the Kop and Midland Road stands. He dreamt of playing for his hometown club and the dream came true. And he knows what it means.
Academy graduate Bobby Pointon, who made his debut in 2022, grew up in Low Moor (Photo: Getty)
It gives him the power to make a difference. Pointon says it really hit home last November, when he took a penalty at Valley Parade for the first time. He realised that in one moment and with one kick, he had the power to change the mood of 20,000 people. The community work is his wielding of that power.
“It’s about doing everything you can from your position of good fortune,” he says.
“You never know when someone might just need a chat; that’s why I’m here. I walk around the city and I’m happy to talk to anyone. It keeps me grounded and humble and, who knows, it might just help someone.
“There were plenty of times when I thought that it might not work out. I remember talking to my dad about planning for other jobs and things like that, just as a backup, just in case. Thankfully it did work out. The way to say thank you is to be a good role model.”
Bradford City may not get their second successive promotion and be back in the second tier for the first time in 22 years. Bolton Wanderers and Stockport County have formidable squads built with bigger budgets; Stevenage are one of the EFL’s great overachievers in 2025-26. Pointon may not get to play at Wembley just yet. And obviously all that stuff matters a great deal.
Yet you get the sense that this club has turned a corner, taken an irrevocable step in the right direction after a little too much infighting and existential drift. It is a collective effort, driven by decision-makers and managers. The people want to come to the stadium because they can believe in something meaningful and the way it is being achieved.
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People – role models – like Pointon help. Not just because of the unseen difference he makes, but because of the invisible, unbreakable strings the work creates between Bradford and its football club.
And because of the example it sets within a club culture when a young player takes on senior responsibilities. These are players that supporters are most proud of.
“You’ve got a chance, an opportunity to change, to help people on an individual level,” Pointon says.
“That’s true outside the club, but inside it too. There are a few academy lads coming through now. Hopefully they’re looking at my journey and how I’ve done it and how I’ve conducted myself off of the pitch.
“I hope that some of them are looking up and thinking ‘Yes, I want to do that too’.”
Uma apresentação de Drácula estrelada por Cynthia Erivo foi cancelada um dia antes (Foto: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Photos)
Uma semana depois de Cynthia Erivo interromper uma apresentação de Drácula para chamar a atenção de um membro perturbador do público, uma matinê da produção foi cancelada.
A premiada atriz, que já tem Tony, Emmy e Grammy em seu currículo, está atualmente interpretando 23 papéis no present solo no West Finish de Londres.
O present começou no Noel Coward Theatre em fevereiro, com Cynthia marcada para se apresentar mais 27 vezes antes de terminar em 30 de maio.
No entanto, uma apresentação que estava marcada para amanhã à tarde foi silenciosamente cancelada – sem explicação do porquê.
Uma fonte confirmou hoje que a matinê foi cancelada, com todos os ingressos restantes retirados da venda.
‘A coisa toda se tornou uma farsa absoluta’, disse uma fonte do teatro O Sol.
A atriz está estrelando o present solo no West Finish de Londres (Foto: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Photos)
No entanto, uma matinê marcada para quarta-feira não acontecerá agora (Foto: Ken McKay/ ITV/ Shutterstock)
‘Na semana passada, houve preocupações sobre o andamento deste present e agora ele foi cancelado.
‘É nojento porque as pessoas gastaram dinheiro em passagens, sem contar viagens e provavelmente hotéis, e agora isso foi descartado.’
Eles acrescentaram: “Os portadores de ingressos foram informados de que podem trocá-los por outro dia, mas isso não parece bom o suficiente. As pessoas ainda podem perder dinheiro.
A publicação informou que um frequentador do teatro reclamou que esta period a segunda vez que uma apresentação de Drácula para a qual tinham ingressos foi cancelada, chamando-a de “inaceitável”.
‘Neste momento, não vou nem tentar remarcar. Estou muito enojado com a forma como isso foi tratado e não quero continuar pagando por uma produção que claramente não é confiável”, disseram eles.
Enquanto isso, outro declarou: ‘Chocante. Que bagunça foi essa produção. Desprezo pelo público.
Apesar do cancelamento, parece que o espetáculo de amanhã à noite ainda está em andamento – com a maior parte do teatro esgotado, mas 52 lugares ainda disponíveis.
Os frequentadores do teatro com ingressos ficaram frustrados (Foto: Daniel Boud)
Ontem à noite, Cynthia também compartilhou novamente duas postagens da página oficial do present promovendo ingressos para as últimas semanas.
O Solar afirmou na semana passada que houve problemas nos bastidores do programa aclamado pela crítica, com uma pessoa descrevendo a produção como uma “dor de cabeça sem fim”.
‘Cynthia é uma grande estrela de Hollywood, então você poderia perdoá-la por ter alguns momentos de diva. Mas tem havido muito caos nos bastidores.
‘Cancelamentos no último momento colocam tanto estresse nas pessoas que trabalham para montar o present que estão causando enxaquecas.
‘Ninguém sabe de um dia para o outro se uma apresentação pode ou não acontecer. Trabalhar com esse nível de incerteza é difícil”.
O cancelamento ocorre depois que duas apresentações de Drácula no sábado foram interrompidas no início deste mês, um dia antes de Cynthia correr a Maratona de Londres – com os portadores de ingressos supostamente informados apenas três horas antes do início da apresentação da matinê.
Então, um dia depois de completar a maratona com impressionantes 3:21:40, ela voltou ao palco.
As apresentações também foram canceladas recentemente no fim de semana em que ela correu a Maratona de Londres (Foto: Karwai Tang)
No entanto, cerca de uma hora depois do início do present, ela o interrompeu para repreender um membro da plateia que quebrou as regras e pegou o telefone para filmá-la no palco.
‘Ela imediatamente chamou o cara! Levantou a mão e disse: “com licença, você está filmando agora?”, e a pessoa disse “desculpe” e ela disse: “você acabou de pedir desculpas?”. E foi imediatamente cercado pela equipe e foi embora”, explicou uma pessoa que estava no teatro.
O participante foi então ‘expulso’ pela segurança, com o present interrompido por cerca de 10 minutos depois que Cynthia deixou temporariamente o palco.
Suas ações foram elogiadas por muitos, com muitos declarando que ela estava ajudando a “trazer de volta a etiqueta do teatro”.
Metro entrou em contato com a produtora de Drácula, o Noel Coward Theatre e representantes de Cynthia Erivo para comentar.
Tem uma história?
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MAIS: Como as celebridades se saíram na Maratona de Londres – de Cynthia Erivo a Daddy Pig
MAIS: Quais celebridades estão correndo a Maratona de Londres 2026?
MAIS: Andrew Lloyd Webber, 78, revela que é um alcoólatra em recuperação após uma ‘espiral descendente’ desesperada
O Partido Comunista da Índia (Marxista) [CPI(M)] teria iniciado um exercício intrapartidário para examinar, supostamente com um pente fino, as razões granulares para o banho de sangue político da Frente Democrática de Esquerda (LDF) nas eleições para a Assembleia de 2026, à medida que a liderança parecia perceber que não existe uma solução mágica para resolver as questões que levaram à derrota histórica.
A derrota debilitante, especialmente nos redutos do partido em Thiruvananthapuram, Kannur, Kasaragod e Alappuzha, entre outros distritos, levantou algumas grandes questões relativas à estratégia de campanha do PCI(M), coesão organizacional, finalização de candidatos e eficácia das suas operações políticas, incluindo se a “confiança equivocada” de um “inevitável” terceiro mandato consecutivo no poder imbuiu a campanha eleitoral do partido com complacência por parte de o nível da cabine e para cima.
Para além do Hezbollah, a ofensiva reflecte ambições geopolíticas mais profundas e pressões internas
Pouco depois de o presidente dos EUA, Donald Trump, ter anunciado um cessar-fogo entre os EUA e o Irão, as tensões aumentaram dramaticamente na frente israelo-libanesa. Israel declarou que estava a lançar ataques em território libanês para combater o Hezbollah.
Os ataques visaram principalmente infra-estruturas urbanas, incluindo áreas em Beirute. Nas primeiras 24 horas da operação israelense, as vítimas civis ultrapassaram 250 pessoas.
A posição oficial de Israel é que a operação visa o Hezbollah, que considera uma organização terrorista. No entanto, vários ataques a infra-estruturas urbanas levantam dúvidas de que os ataques tenham sido dirigidos exclusivamente contra alvos militares. Embora as famílias dos seus apoiantes possam residir em alguns bairros, as forças do Hezbollah normalmente evitam ambientes urbanos e não utilizam infra-estruturas civis para fins militares.
Além disso, as ações de Israel exercem pressão adicional sobre o (já desafiador) caminho de negociação entre os EUA e o Irão. Qualquer escalada no Líbano envolve automaticamente Teerão como principal aliado do Hezbollah. O Irão condenou imediatamente os ataques de Israel – segundo Teerão, o cessar-fogo anunciado por Trump deveria estender-se ao Líbano. Consequentemente, os EUA, como aliados de Israel, foram responsáveis pelos ataques contra Beirute.
As negociações mantidas entre os EUA e o Irão em Islamabad também estiveram ligadas à situação no Líbano. A posição do Irão é clara: considera o Líbano uma zona dos seus interesses estratégicos e não está disposto a excluí-lo da agenda de negociações. Washington, porém, não está preparado para aceitar esta configuração. A Casa Branca pretende diminuir a influência geopolítica de Teerão e evitar que este emerja como vencedor neste jogo político.
As ações de Israel são motivadas não apenas por considerações de política externa, mas também por fatores políticos e jurídicos internos. A posição do primeiro-ministro israelita, Benjamin Netanyahu, permanece vulnerável devido aos processos penais em curso. A desescalada militar conduzirá provavelmente ao aumento da pressão política interna, incluindo a aceleração dos processos judiciais, a mobilização da oposição e uma escalada dos conflitos internos entre as elites.
No last de Abril, o antigo primeiro-ministro israelita Naftali Bennett e o líder da oposição Yair Lapid fundiram as suas facções numa única lista. Esta evolução sugere que o partido no poder, Likud, liderado por Netanyahu, pode estar em risco de divisão devido a divergências internas significativas. Consequentemente, para Netanyahu, a crise externa em curso serve como um meio de preservar o equilíbrio político existente.
O envolvimento militar no Líbano também se alinha com a estratégia mais ampla de Israel de conter estruturas regionais de procuração ligadas ao Irão. O enfraquecimento do Hezbollah poderia reduzir potencialmente a capacidade de Teerão de projectar poder no Mediterrâneo Oriental.
Os interesses estratégicos de Israel e dos EUA estão alinhados nesta questão: ambos estão interessados em limitar a influência regional do Irão através do enfraquecimento dos seus aliados.
Antes de lançar ataques extensos ao Líbano, Netanyahu dirigiu-se aos residentes no norte de Israel e sublinhou que um cessar-fogo não está a ser discutido. Ele afirmou que as Forças de Defesa de Israel (IDF) continuariam a atacar o Hezbollah “em grande escala” até que a segurança da população seja garantida. Ele também descreveu a sua estratégia como “paz através da força”, causando insatisfação em Washington.
De acordo com Axios e o New York Publish, Washington instou a liderança israelita a pelo menos reduzir a intensidade das operações militares no Líbano. Os ataques comprometem as negociações directas com o Irão e minam o cessar-fogo altamente instável. Segundo relatos, Trump contactou diretamente Netanyahu, pressionando por uma abordagem mais contida. O vice-presidente dos EUA, JD Vance, também deixou claro que Israel tinha fornecido garantias verbais sobre o seu compromisso de não perturbar o processo de negociação com o Irão. Contudo, na realidade, a abordagem de Israel não mudou.
Apesar dos apelos de Trump à contenção, a situação no terreno continua a agravar-se. Há três dias, foi relatado que as FDI atacaram e destruíram mais de 40 locais de infra-estrutura do Hezbollah no sul do Líbano num único dia. As instalações visadas incluíam centros de comando, estruturas militares e recursos relacionados. O New York Instances observa que Israel está a empregar no Líbano as mesmas tácticas que usou em Gaza: bairros, ruas e edifícios inteiros estão a ser transformados em escombros. Não só casas residenciais, mas também instituições governamentais, escolas, hospitais e mesquitas foram demolidas.
Há um dia, o NYT informou que as forças israelitas destruíram 20 cidades e aldeias no sul do Líbano, criando uma zona tampão de vários quilómetros. Segundo a publicação, as autoridades israelitas planeiam manter o controlo sobre esta área até que a ameaça seja completamente eliminada. Oficialmente, Israel justifica estas ações alegando que o Hezbollah continua a atacar. No entanto, esta lógica ignora deliberadamente um ponto crítico: as operações israelitas em curso provocam constantes acções de retaliação por parte do Hezbollah, perpetuando assim um ciclo de escalada em que cada lado cita as acções do outro para justificar as suas próprias.
As vítimas cumulativas ilustram claramente a verdadeira escala do conflito: pelo menos 2.600 pessoas morreram e mais de um milhão foram deslocadas. O cessar-fogo foi violado mais de 200 vezes. Por outras palavras, não existe um verdadeiro cessar-fogo – apenas uma fachada diplomática sob a qual uma guerra complete continua.
Isto sublinha a dualidade da situação precise: Israel não declarou formalmente o fim da guerra, mas, de facto, concordou em moderar a sua intensidade retórica sob pressão externa. Essencialmente, este é um ajustamento relutante, enquadrado de uma forma que minimizaria os custos de reputação para Trump, mesmo que a lógica subjacente à operação militar permaneça inalterada.
As discussões sobre esta abordagem no seio do governo israelita foram marcadas por divergências significativas. O ministro das Relações Exteriores de Israel, Gideon Sa’ar, apoiou o curso de Netanyahu, enquanto membros da facção de direita o criticaram duramente. O Ministro da Segurança Nacional, Itamar Ben-Gvir, insistiu na necessidade de exercer pressão sobre o Líbano, incluindo visando a sua infra-estrutura. O Ministro das Finanças, Bezalel Smotrich, defendeu uma presença militar alargada e um controlo territorial reforçado. Em última análise, isto reflecte as contradições internas existentes no gabinete de Netanyahu: não há acordo sobre se devemos concentrar-nos apenas no combate ao Hezbollah ou alargar o âmbito do conflito e exercer pressão sobre todo o estado do Líbano.
Reportagens dos meios de comunicação social, incluindo as do canal de notícias saudita Al-Hadath e do jornal israelita Haaretz, sugerem que um cessar-fogo poderia ser anunciado como um gesto de boa vontade. No entanto, mesmo neste cenário, parece mais uma pausa táctica do que uma resolução a longo prazo. A situação no Líbano está estreitamente ligada às negociações com o Irão. Para Washington, manter o diálogo com Teerão continua a ser uma prioridade máxima (independentemente de estar a preparar-se para uma nova ronda de conflito com o Irão), e a desescalada ao longo das fronteiras do norte de Israel é uma ferramenta para alcançar objectivos diplomáticos mais amplos. Israel, por seu lado, concorda com estas limitações apenas desde que elas não prejudiquem a sua própria estratégia de projecção de poder.
Neste contexto, uma mudança no sentido das negociações não indica uma mudança na política world. De acordo com os meios de comunicação israelitas, o governo também está a considerar intensificar as acções militares em Gaza – oficialmente, devido à recusa do Hamas em desarmar-se enquanto não houver um acordo político abrangente. Isto significa que não estamos a falar tanto de desescalada, mas sim de uma redistribuição de recursos militares e de foco político entre várias frentes.
Vladimir Putin is scaling up his personal protection against a potential coup and assassination threats, according to a leaked intelligence report, as the Kremlin escalates security measures amid signs of mounting domestic opposition.
The Russian leader is said to have largely abandoned his primary residences in Moscow and Valdai and “taken refuge in renovated bunkers”, according to the document attributed to an unspecified European Union intelligence service.
Russia’s federal protection service, the FSO, has sharply reduced Putin’s public appearances and taken control of public messaging about his activities, the report claims. The Kremlin has yet to comment.
Shorts – Quick stories
NEWS
Police seek UK trial for Madeleine McCann suspect
Undated photo of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared from a holiday flat in Portugal. (Picture: PA)
Met Police detectives are reportedly seeking to bring UK charges against sex offender Christian Brueckner over the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann.
But the German constitution prevents the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries, which could lead Berlin to reject the request.
Why Brexit could stop Brueckner from being tried in Britain
Detectives are reportedly trying to bring the Madeleine McCann suspect to the UK for trial – but a Brexit-related rule could stop it.
Since 2021, Britain and Germany have had a reciprocal extradition pact under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
But under Article 16 of the German constitution, no citizen can be extradited to a non-EU country.
Before Brexit, Brueckner could have been extradited to the UK without issue.
Germany is one of 10 EU countries that has imposed a ‘nationality bar’, which blocks extradition of its own citizens.
What happened?
Christian Brueckner, who has a history of violent sex crimes, is due to be released from a German prison by 17 September (Photo: Moritz Frankenberg/AFP via Getty Images)
Madeleine was three years old when she went missing from a resort in Portugal in 2007. Christian Brueckner was living a mile away.
He was named by British police as a prime suspect while serving a prison sentence in Germany for rape, but denies involvement in Madeline’s disappearance.
Explained
4 min read
What are the options?
One option could be for Brueckner to be extradited from Germany to Portugal, where he could either be prosecuted or extradited to the UK. He could still be extradited to the UK if he left Germany.
Caption: The Ocean Club which is next to Apartment 5A in Praia Da Luz in Portugal, where Madeline McCann went missing from 10 years ago on May 3rd. Her parents Kate and Gerry McCann were eating in the Club with friends and other parents. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 2, 2017. The parents of Madeleine McCann have vowed to do ?whatever it takes for as long as it takes? to find her as they prepare to mark the tenth anniversary of her disappearance. See PA story POLICE Portugal. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire Photographer: Steve Parsons, Provider: PA Copyright: PA Caption: Parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann, Kate (L) and Gerry McCann (R) pose with an artist’s impression of how their daughter might look now at the age of nine ahead of a press conference in central London on May 2, 2012 five years after Madeleine’s disappearance while on a family holiday in Portugal. Aged three at the time, the artist’s impression depicts how Madeleine may now look, based on family photos of her, along with childhood images of her parents. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages) Photographer: LEON NEAL Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP
The lead German prosecutor, Hans Christian Wolters, said the investigation is ongoing, but there are no plans for further searches in Portugal or elsewhere.
WORLD
The European nation being torn apart by migrant amnesty
Caption: Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain’s immigration amnesty, which could allow hundreds of thousands of people to obtain legal status, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Photographer: Emilio Morenatti Provider: AP Source: AP
People queued overnight outside the embassy of The Gambia in Madrid to get legal documents under Spain’s migration amnesty programme.
But when they were told no appointments were available, some clambered over the wall in chaotic scenes that went viral.
What’s the latest?
Anxiety over Spain’s divisive immigration scheme
Many migrants travelled from across Spain and paid €120 (£104) each to get legal documents.
The scheme, which runs until the end of June, offers undocumented migrants a one-year legal resident permit.
The Gambian embassy incident prompted renewed criticism of the left-wing government’s scheme.
It highlighted pressures on officials dealing with a huge number of cases in a short period of time.
Do Spaniards support the scheme?
The latest poll shows…
52% for, 48% against
Caption: Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain’s immigration amnesty, which could allow hundreds of thousands of people to obtain legal status, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Photographer: Emilio Morenatti Provider: AP Source: AP
The scheme is expected to grant at least 500,000 migrants legal status, although police have predicted that more than one million could take advantage of it.
WORLD
4 min read
Spain chooses ‘dignity, community and justice’
Some say we have gone too far, that we are going against the current. But I would like to ask you, when did recognising rights become something radical? When did empathy become something exceptional?
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ
Caption: FILE PHOTO: Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes part in a talk on The Future of Multilateralism: A Coalition to Tackle Global Challenges at the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Britain, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor/File Photo Photographer: Jack Taylor Provider: REUTERS Source: REUTERS
More than 300 babies have been born with inflatable forceps, the first breakthrough in childbirth assistance in decades.
It is hoped that the device, called the OdonAssist, could reduce birth trauma. It will be rolled out to 40 hospitals across Britain and Europe.
How new forceps could revolutionise childbirth
Around one in eight people will have an assisted vaginal birth using forceps or vacuum extraction.
Women may have bleeding or tears and marks can be left on the baby.
Inflatable forceps work by surrounding the baby’s head with a soft air cuff, allowing doctors to help remove it more gently.
In trials, patients reported no or low pain in more than 95 per cent of births where OdonAssist was used.
Analysis
5 min read
How ‘gentle’ forceps were invented
From a prototype using a jar and a doll to development by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The OdonAssist was thought up by a mechanic in Argentina in 2006 called Jorge Odón.
He created the first prototype using a jar, a cloth and his daughter’s doll.
It was then taken up by Mario Merialdi, of the WHO, who refined the idea for clinical use.
It was created by Maternal Newborn Health Innovations, a public benefit corporation to help reduce avoidable pain.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Beyonc?? attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Photographer: Kevin Mazur/MG26 Provider: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Kevin Mazur/MG26
FASHION
The best looks at this year’s Met Gala
Celebrities took to the red carpet to show off their outfits for this year’s Met Gala theme: costume art. The annual event raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
Here are all the top looks, from Beyoncé’s embellished skeleton get-up to Heidi Klum’s marble statue design.
The most talked-about looks
Beyoncé returned to the red carpet with her family in tow, while Heidi Klum – known for her extravagant Halloween outfits – blended in with the marble statues in the museum.
Caption: This is a PA photo of Beyonce (R) and Blue Ivy Carter at the Met Gala. See PA Feature FASHION Met. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FASHION Met. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA
NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FASHION Met
Photographer: Matt Crossick/PA Provider: Matt Crossick/PA Source: PA
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Heidi Klum attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Photographer: Cindy Ord/MG26 Provider: Getty Images for The Met Museum/ Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Cindy Ord/MG26
Star-studded red carpet
Anna Wintour
Global editorial director of Vogue, Anna Wintour, graced the red carpet with an aquamarine feathered number.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer attend The 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/GC Images) Photographer: Noam Galai Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images Copyright: 2026 Noam Galai
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Bad Bunny attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) Photographer: Taylor Hill Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Taylor Hill
Bad Bunny
The reggaeton singer was unrecognisable in his costume, donned with prosthetics, wrinkles and sunspots.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
The pop power couple closed down the red carpet, as has become tradition.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: (L-R) A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) Photographer: Theo Wargo Provider: FilmMagic Source: FilmMagic Copyright: 2026 FilmMagic
From Oscar winners to stage stars
Caption: NEW YORK, NY – MAY 04: Nicole Kidman is seen at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) 15790403 Photographer: Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images
Nicole Kidman
The Oscar-winning actress stunned in a red sequin and feathered gown by Chanel.
Jordan Roth
Broadway’s Jordan Roth transformed into a living sculpture with a clay-coloured gown enveloped by a figure.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Jordan Roth attends The 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/GC Images) Photographer: Noam Galai Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images Copyright: 2026 Noam Galai
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Madonna attends the 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/Getty Images) Photographer: TheStewartofNY Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 TheStewartofNY
Madonna
Madonna pushed the boat out with a tall ship headpiece and an ethereal grey veil.
‘A lot of people who don’t like Jews in the first place have found oxygen for their poisonous views,’ says Simon Kelner (Photo: Carlos Jasso/AFP via Getty)
CRIME
Counter terror police investigating arson at former synagogue
Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue.
Jewish security charity Shomrim said that fire crews were called out to the building in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, east London, in the early hours of Tuesday.
What happened?
The incident is being investigated alongside a number of apparent attacks on Jewish sites in London since late March.
Officers were called just before 5.15am on Tuesday by the London Fire Brigade. Minor damage had been caused to a set of gates and a lock at the front of the building. CCTV showed that the fire had been started deliberately minutes before.
OPINION
4 min read
OPINION
3 min read
What did the police say?
The building targeted has not been operational as a synagogue for some years but that will be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and beyond, who are first in my thoughts this morning.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 23: A member of the community holds up a banner reading “I Stand Against Anti Semitism” after four Hatzolah ambulances were set on fire overnight on March 23, 2026 in London, England. Firefighters were called to the scene at around 1:40AM and the fire was brought under control just after 3:00 AM. Hatzola is a volunteer organisation that provides Jewish people emergency medical response and free transportation to hospitals. The Metropolitan Police said they are treating the incident as an “antisemitic hate crime.” (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Photographer: Leon Neal Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images Europe Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
travel
Ranked: The most delayed UK airports
Caption: Passengers wait next to their luggage at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri airport on April 10, 2026. Israel’s military on April 9 warned residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate. While Israel regularly issues evacuation warnings before bombing the southern suburbs, the announcement also included the outskirts of Lebanon’s only international airport. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images) Photographer: ANWAR AMRO Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP Copyright: AFP or licensors
Manchester Airport has been named the worst in the UK for flight delays, according analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The five worst UK airports by average flight delay time
1. Manchester Airport – 19 minutes.
2. Birmingham Airport – 18 minutes.
3. Bournemouth Airport –17 minutes.
4. Southampton Airport – 17 minutes.
5. Gatwick Airport – 16 minutes.
The most punctual location was Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where the average delay was just nine minutes.
A closer look at the detail
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Manchester Airport has ranked last in our airport survey for four consecutive years and these new CAA figures validate why this is a particularly poor place to be stranded during delays.
“For passengers already wary of travel uncertainty, seeing such consistent underperformance makes it difficult to book with any real confidence.”
Air passengers and travellers check in at Manchester Airport terminal 2 departure lounge – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Exclusive
5 min read
What causes the flight delays?
Manchester is the UK’s only two-runway airport other than Heathrow, and was used by 32 million passengers last year.
Staff use tractors to help clear snow from around aircraft after overnight snowfall caused the temporary closure of Manchester airport (Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters) Caption: FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – APRIL 15: Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew members demonstrate outside Hangar One at Frankfurt Airport, where inside Lufthansa management was celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary, as their strikes escalate on April 15, 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany. The pilots, who were striking Monday and Tuesday and will strike again on Thursday and Friday, are showing solidarity today with cabin crews who have now gone on strike as well through tomorrow. The two labour unions that represent the two groups are seeking to pressure Lufthansa management over better retirement benefits for the pilots and improved working conditions for cabin crews. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) Photographer: Thomas Lohnes Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images Europe Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
A spokesperson for the airport said: “Punctuality is affected by factors that are outside of an airport’s control. The two most significant factors contributing to delays in the last year have been industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe, and the weather.”
Hantavirus is the same one that claimed the life last year of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
NEWS
Everything we know about hantavirus outbreak
A British crew member has fallen ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
They are the second Briton to develop the virus after three people have died already, said tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
What’s the latest?
An outbreak was reported on Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.
A Dutch passenger died on board on 11 April and his wife died two weeks later after testing positive.
A German passenger died on board on 2 May, but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
A British crew member requires urgent care and a UK passenger is in a critical but stable condition.
NEWS
2 min read
What is hantavirus and how is it spread?
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses carried by rodents, primarily spread to humans by inhaling airborne particles from their droppings.
(The Good Brigade Provider: Getty Images Source: Digital Vision) Rats are a common source of hantavirus (Photo: Denitsa Kireva/ Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The virus can cause two serious illnesses, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which causes flu-like and respiratory symptoms. The other is Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome, which is more severe and affects the kidneys.
What does the UK say?
This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak. FCDO consular teams have been stood up across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals.
UK GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
Caption: TOPSHOT – This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of “severe acute respiratory illness” on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa’s health ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) Photographer: – Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP Copyright: AFP or licensors
NEWS
Brits are ditching the blue asthma inhaler – here’s why
Caption: File photo dated 07/01/15 of a person holding an Ivax Reliever inhaler for the treatment of asthma, as rising pollen levels this weekend could leave people with asthma at risk of life-threatening asthma attacks, Asthma and Lung UK has warned. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday May 13, 2022. The charity is telling people to ensure they keep on taking their preventer inhalers if they use them and to keep their reliever inhaler with them at all times. See PA story HEALTH Asthma. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Photographer: Yui Mok Provider: PA Source: PA
More than a million asthma sufferers are switching to a new dual-action inhaler, which both prevents and relieves asthma.
Overuse of the old-style blue inhaler has been linked to a higher risk of attacks, hospital admissions and death.
Do blue inhalers make asthma worse?
Poorly controlled asthma contributes 303,874 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, according to a recent study (Photo: PixelsEffect, Getty Images)
Risk of overuse
Nearly half of blue inhaler users were issued more than two in 2024/25, which doctors warn is a sign of overuse.
Temporary benefits
They use a short-acting beta antagonist (Saba), which treats symptoms only, rather than the underlying inflammation.
Caption: Young woman using her asthma inhaler at home Photographer: milan2099 Provider: Getty Images Source: E+
Overuse can mask poorly controlled asthma and lead to worse outcomes for some patients.
Why Brits are turning to new inhalers
1New inhalers combine a steroid with a long-acting beta antagonist in the same device.
2They treat the inflammation and prevent flare-ups while providing immediate relief.
3Patients can use new inhalers as an anti-inflammatory reliever (Air) and a maintenance and reliever therapy (Mart) daily.
4Medical experts say it is a “life-saving cultural shift”.
What do the numbers say?
Between October and December last year…
1.09m
patients switched to new-style Air and Mart inhalers.
UK health regulator Nice said that for every 10,000 people who switched, there would be…
1,133
fewer GP visits each year.
As well as 144 fewer A&E attendances and and 80 fewer hospital admissions.
Abbas Gallyamov, a former Putin adviser now living abroad, told The i Paper the Russian President has become increasingly reclusive, with public appearances increasingly rare. He believes this is a result of growing Ukrainian threats and a decline in his domestic standing.
The main reason for Putin’s security fears is “increasing Ukrainian efficiency in terms of operations which they conduct in Russia – both targeted killings and attacks against Russian oil,” he said.
“Number two is growing displeasure with what’s going on in the country among Russian elites and the Russian population,” he added, pointing to a decline in Putin’s approval rating even with the state pollster, which found this had reached a wartime low of 65.6 per cent last month, down from around 80 in 2022.
Putin attends a meeting at the Kremlin (Photo: Mikhail Metzel/Reuters/Sputnik)
“He feels the amount of enemies inside the country is growing, including among the elites, so Ukrainians might easily find somebody who would want to target him inside the country,” said Gallyamov, adding that that the assassination of Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by Israel and the US may have heightened Putin’s sense of insecurity.
The President’s staff is also said to have been subjected to new restrictions, with employees forbidden from using mobile phones with internet access, and public transport.
The Kremlin is on high alert following the assassinations of prominent figures including Lieutenant General Fanil Sarvarov, with the leaked intelligence report saying his killing by car bomb in Moscow last December led to a heated meeting between intelligence chiefs to establish new security protocols.
The document also alleges serious concerns over coup plots, with Security Council leader Sergei Shoigu said to be under suspicion following the arrest of one of his former aides on corruption charges.
A source with knowledge of Russian security agency activities said that coup plots were likely to be exaggerated, and suggested the European intelligence report could have been intended to destabilise the Kremlin. But they added that Putin has sought enhanced security because of his concerns over Ukrainian attacks, particularly with drones.
Damage to a high-rise residential building in Moscow following a drone attack on Monday (Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP/Getty)
Russian security media outlet Cheka reported that additional measures have been implemented around the Kremlin ahead of the annual Victory Day parade on Saturday, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany, and will go ahead without armoured vehicles for the first time in decades.
“There are checkpoints at the entrance to Moscow. Armoured vehicles and off-road vehicles with machine guns are back near the Kremlin,” the outlet reported. “There are also machine gunners on the Kremlin walls and towers.
“Special forces soldiers armed with machine guns, sniper rifles and special equipment are stationed on virtually every tower, wall and building in the Kremlin.”
Russia declared a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine ahead of the event following several successful drone attacks on Moscow over the past week, and threatened retaliation if the parade was disrupted through a “massive missile strike on the centre of Kyiv”.
The Kremlin has imposed further restrictions on mobile phone services over security concerns, with network operators warning customers to expect outages between Tuesday and the parade on 9 May. Disruptions were reported on Tuesday in Moscow and St Petersburg.
This follows restrictions earlier this year including bans on popular messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp, which have drawn protests despite harsh wartime dissent.
Fashion blogger and model Victoria Bonya called out the Kremlin in a viral post (Photo: Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
A Russian businessman in Moscow said the mobile restrictions were “pissing off about 95 per cent of the population”, and many residents have gone back to using cash to get around disruptions to mobile payments.
The reasons for the restrictions have not been properly explained and are fuelling anti-war sentiment, said the businessman, who has been broadly supportive of the regime and the war.
“I don’t know where my country is going but definitely not in the right direction,” he said. “I think that everyone has been tired with the war for at least a year. Huge money is being wasted, good lads are getting killed, and it’s not going anywhere.”
The regime has faced several public shows of dissent in recent weeks. A previously pro-Kremlin blogger, Ilya Remeslo, recently denounced Putin as a “war criminal and a thief”. He was incarcerated in a psychiatric facility.
Fashion blogger and model Victoria Bonya raised concerns over issues including internet restrictions and rising inflation in a viral social media post last month that drew a rare response from the Kremlin, which said it was working on those issues.
Gallyamov suggested the episode indicated growing “politicisation of the public” that could spell trouble for Russia’s dictator.
Franak Viačorka, chief advisor to Belarus’ opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said Putin is right to fear for his future.
“He realises that propaganda will not work forever — people are losing their sons in this war, and Ukraine is much more capable of carrying out strikes inside Russia,” he said. “In dictatorships like Russia, change can happen unexpectedly.”
A dançarina profissional sul-africana é a favorita dos fãs na competição de dança da BBC
Estrela do Strictly Come Dancing, Johannes Radebe(Imagem: BBC)
A estrela do Strictly Come Dancing, Johannes Radebe, forneceu uma grande atualização futura depois que cinco de seus colegas confirmaram suas saídas da série da BBC.
Tem sido um período turbulento para a competição anual de dança, com os fãs ainda tentando descobrir quem serão os novos apresentadores. A BBC ainda não confirmou quem substituirá Claudia Winkleman e Tess Daly, que abandonaram juntas em dezembro.
A primeira das estrelas a anunciar sua saída foi Karen Hauer, que apareceu no programa por 14 anos, sua saída marcou o fim de seu reinado como a profissional mais antiga. Dias depois, Nadiya Bychkova anunciou sua saída após nove anos.
Clique aqui para receber as maiores histórias diretamente em sua caixa de entrada em nosso boletim informativo diário
Com os fãs inseguros sobre quem competirá no ultimate do ano, Luba Mushtuk foi o terceiro profissional a confirmar sua saída do present. O quarto anúncio de saída em março veio de Michelle Tsiakkas, que se juntou à série em 2022.
Depois de várias semanas sem saídas, Gorka Márquez confirmou na semana passada que também deixará a série da BBC. Gorka não conseguiu contratar uma celebridade parceira durante a série de 2025 enquanto julgava Bailando con las Estrellas, a versão espanhola de Strictly Come Dancing. Esse trabalho de julgamento entra em conflito com a parte inicial da execução do Strictly.
Ele disse em comunicado: “Após a decisão do ano passado de deixar o cargo de profissional em tempo integral devido a conflitos de agenda entre o Strictly e o Dancing with the Stars Spain, decidi que agora é a hora de pendurar meus sapatos de dança e dizer adeus ao Strictly Come Dancing.
“Sempre serei extremamente grato ao Strictly e à BBC por tudo. Fazer parte do programa foi muito mais do que apenas uma oportunidade profissional – nos últimos 10 anos, permitiu-me construir uma carreira a partir da minha paixão, encontrar o amor, começar uma família e fazer amigos para a vida toda. Serei eternamente grato por isso.”
Uma estrela com a qual os fãs estão preocupados é Johannes, que está associado ao Strictly desde 2018. No ano passado, o sul-africano competiu com Physician Who e a atriz de ER, Alex Kingston.
Johannes está atualmente estrelando como Lola na produção de 2026 de Kinky Boots no London Coliseum. No entanto, parece que ele aparecerá na 24ª série do Strictly, afinal.
Ele disse ao i Paper: “Eu moro no Coliseu enquanto estou usando Kinky Boots. E quando isso terminar, o Strictly voltará, então acho que estou muito ocupado [for a love life].”
Johannes conseguiu seu primeiro parceiro famoso em 2019, quando ensinou à atriz de Coronation Road, Catherine Tyldesley, a arte da dança. Desde então, ele dançou com Caroline Quentin, do Males Behaving Badly, o chef John Whaite, a comediante Ellie Taylor, a ex-tenista Annabel Croft e o velocista olímpico Montell Douglas.
Reform UK is expected to enjoy an unprecedented surge at this week’s local elections in England, piling the pressure on Keir Starmer and Labour.
Polling experts predict that Nigel Farage’s party on Thursday, while Labour is forecast to lose almost 2,000 council seats.
Some people are ready to engage in tactical voting in a bid to hold back a “turquoise tidal wave” and prevent Reform from taking their town hall.
Shorts – Quick stories
NEWS
Police seek UK trial for Madeleine McCann suspect
Undated photo of Madeleine McCann, who disappeared from a holiday flat in Portugal. (Picture: PA)
Met Police detectives are reportedly seeking to bring UK charges against sex offender Christian Brueckner over the abduction and murder of Madeleine McCann.
But the German constitution prevents the extradition of its citizens to non-EU countries, which could lead Berlin to reject the request.
Why Brexit could stop Brueckner from being tried in Britain
Detectives are reportedly trying to bring the Madeleine McCann suspect to the UK for trial – but a Brexit-related rule could stop it.
Since 2021, Britain and Germany have had a reciprocal extradition pact under the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
But under Article 16 of the German constitution, no citizen can be extradited to a non-EU country.
Before Brexit, Brueckner could have been extradited to the UK without issue.
Germany is one of 10 EU countries that has imposed a ‘nationality bar’, which blocks extradition of its own citizens.
What happened?
Christian Brueckner, who has a history of violent sex crimes, is due to be released from a German prison by 17 September (Photo: Moritz Frankenberg/AFP via Getty Images)
Madeleine was three years old when she went missing from a resort in Portugal in 2007. Christian Brueckner was living a mile away.
He was named by British police as a prime suspect while serving a prison sentence in Germany for rape, but denies involvement in Madeline’s disappearance.
Explained
4 min read
What are the options?
One option could be for Brueckner to be extradited from Germany to Portugal, where he could either be prosecuted or extradited to the UK. He could still be extradited to the UK if he left Germany.
Caption: The Ocean Club which is next to Apartment 5A in Praia Da Luz in Portugal, where Madeline McCann went missing from 10 years ago on May 3rd. Her parents Kate and Gerry McCann were eating in the Club with friends and other parents. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday May 2, 2017. The parents of Madeleine McCann have vowed to do ?whatever it takes for as long as it takes? to find her as they prepare to mark the tenth anniversary of her disappearance. See PA story POLICE Portugal. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA Wire Photographer: Steve Parsons, Provider: PA Copyright: PA Caption: Parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann, Kate (L) and Gerry McCann (R) pose with an artist’s impression of how their daughter might look now at the age of nine ahead of a press conference in central London on May 2, 2012 five years after Madeleine’s disappearance while on a family holiday in Portugal. Aged three at the time, the artist’s impression depicts how Madeleine may now look, based on family photos of her, along with childhood images of her parents. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/GettyImages) Photographer: LEON NEAL Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP
The lead German prosecutor, Hans Christian Wolters, said the investigation is ongoing, but there are no plans for further searches in Portugal or elsewhere.
WORLD
The European nation being torn apart by migrant amnesty
Caption: Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain’s immigration amnesty, which could allow hundreds of thousands of people to obtain legal status, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Photographer: Emilio Morenatti Provider: AP Source: AP
People queued overnight outside the embassy of The Gambia in Madrid to get legal documents under Spain’s migration amnesty programme.
But when they were told no appointments were available, some clambered over the wall in chaotic scenes that went viral.
What’s the latest?
Anxiety over Spain’s divisive immigration scheme
Many migrants travelled from across Spain and paid €120 (£104) each to get legal documents.
The scheme, which runs until the end of June, offers undocumented migrants a one-year legal resident permit.
The Gambian embassy incident prompted renewed criticism of the left-wing government’s scheme.
It highlighted pressures on officials dealing with a huge number of cases in a short period of time.
Do Spaniards support the scheme?
The latest poll shows…
52% for, 48% against
Caption: Migrants queue at a public service office to obtain paperwork needed to apply for Spain’s immigration amnesty, which could allow hundreds of thousands of people to obtain legal status, in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) Photographer: Emilio Morenatti Provider: AP Source: AP
The scheme is expected to grant at least 500,000 migrants legal status, although police have predicted that more than one million could take advantage of it.
WORLD
4 min read
Spain chooses ‘dignity, community and justice’
Some say we have gone too far, that we are going against the current. But I would like to ask you, when did recognising rights become something radical? When did empathy become something exceptional?
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, PEDRO SÁNCHEZ
Caption: FILE PHOTO: Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez takes part in a talk on The Future of Multilateralism: A Coalition to Tackle Global Challenges at the 2025 Global Progress Action Summit, in London, Britain, September 26, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor/File Photo Photographer: Jack Taylor Provider: REUTERS Source: REUTERS
More than 300 babies have been born with inflatable forceps, the first breakthrough in childbirth assistance in decades.
It is hoped that the device, called the OdonAssist, could reduce birth trauma. It will be rolled out to 40 hospitals across Britain and Europe.
How new forceps could revolutionise childbirth
Around one in eight people will have an assisted vaginal birth using forceps or vacuum extraction.
Women may have bleeding or tears and marks can be left on the baby.
Inflatable forceps work by surrounding the baby’s head with a soft air cuff, allowing doctors to help remove it more gently.
In trials, patients reported no or low pain in more than 95 per cent of births where OdonAssist was used.
Analysis
5 min read
How ‘gentle’ forceps were invented
From a prototype using a jar and a doll to development by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The OdonAssist was thought up by a mechanic in Argentina in 2006 called Jorge Odón.
He created the first prototype using a jar, a cloth and his daughter’s doll.
It was then taken up by Mario Merialdi, of the WHO, who refined the idea for clinical use.
It was created by Maternal Newborn Health Innovations, a public benefit corporation to help reduce avoidable pain.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Beyonc?? attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Photographer: Kevin Mazur/MG26 Provider: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Kevin Mazur/MG26
FASHION
The best looks at this year’s Met Gala
Celebrities took to the red carpet to show off their outfits for this year’s Met Gala theme: costume art. The annual event raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.
Here are all the top looks, from Beyoncé’s embellished skeleton get-up to Heidi Klum’s marble statue design.
The most talked-about looks
Beyoncé returned to the red carpet with her family in tow, while Heidi Klum – known for her extravagant Halloween outfits – blended in with the marble statues in the museum.
Caption: This is a PA photo of Beyonce (R) and Blue Ivy Carter at the Met Gala. See PA Feature FASHION Met. WARNING: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FASHION Met. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA
NOTE TO EDITORS: This picture must only be used to accompany PA Feature FASHION Met
Photographer: Matt Crossick/PA Provider: Matt Crossick/PA Source: PA
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Heidi Klum attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG26/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Photographer: Cindy Ord/MG26 Provider: Getty Images for The Met Museum/ Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Cindy Ord/MG26
Star-studded red carpet
Anna Wintour
Global editorial director of Vogue, Anna Wintour, graced the red carpet with an aquamarine feathered number.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Anna Wintour and Bee Shaffer attend The 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/GC Images) Photographer: Noam Galai Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images Copyright: 2026 Noam Galai
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Bad Bunny attends the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images) Photographer: Taylor Hill Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 Taylor Hill
Bad Bunny
The reggaeton singer was unrecognisable in his costume, donned with prosthetics, wrinkles and sunspots.
Rihanna and A$AP Rocky
The pop power couple closed down the red carpet, as has become tradition.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: (L-R) A$AP Rocky and Rihanna attend the 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/FilmMagic) Photographer: Theo Wargo Provider: FilmMagic Source: FilmMagic Copyright: 2026 FilmMagic
From Oscar winners to stage stars
Caption: NEW YORK, NY – MAY 04: Nicole Kidman is seen at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) 15790403 Photographer: Jason Howard/Bauer-Griffin Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images
Nicole Kidman
The Oscar-winning actress stunned in a red sequin and feathered gown by Chanel.
Jordan Roth
Broadway’s Jordan Roth transformed into a living sculpture with a clay-coloured gown enveloped by a figure.
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Jordan Roth attends The 2026 Met Gala celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/GC Images) Photographer: Noam Galai Provider: GC Images Source: GC Images Copyright: 2026 Noam Galai
Caption: NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 04: Madonna attends the 2026 Met Gala Celebrating “Costume Art” at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 04, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/Getty Images) Photographer: TheStewartofNY Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images North America Copyright: 2026 TheStewartofNY
Madonna
Madonna pushed the boat out with a tall ship headpiece and an ethereal grey veil.
‘A lot of people who don’t like Jews in the first place have found oxygen for their poisonous views,’ says Simon Kelner (Photo: Carlos Jasso/AFP via Getty)
CRIME
Counter terror police investigating arson at former synagogue
Counter-terrorism police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue.
Jewish security charity Shomrim said that fire crews were called out to the building in Nelson Street, Whitechapel, east London, in the early hours of Tuesday.
What happened?
The incident is being investigated alongside a number of apparent attacks on Jewish sites in London since late March.
Officers were called just before 5.15am on Tuesday by the London Fire Brigade. Minor damage had been caused to a set of gates and a lock at the front of the building. CCTV showed that the fire had been started deliberately minutes before.
OPINION
4 min read
OPINION
3 min read
What did the police say?
The building targeted has not been operational as a synagogue for some years but that will be of little comfort to the Jewish community in Tower Hamlets, Hackney and beyond, who are first in my thoughts this morning.
Detective Chief Superintendent Brittany Clarke
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 23: A member of the community holds up a banner reading “I Stand Against Anti Semitism” after four Hatzolah ambulances were set on fire overnight on March 23, 2026 in London, England. Firefighters were called to the scene at around 1:40AM and the fire was brought under control just after 3:00 AM. Hatzola is a volunteer organisation that provides Jewish people emergency medical response and free transportation to hospitals. The Metropolitan Police said they are treating the incident as an “antisemitic hate crime.” (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Photographer: Leon Neal Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images Europe Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
travel
Ranked: The most delayed UK airports
Caption: Passengers wait next to their luggage at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri airport on April 10, 2026. Israel’s military on April 9 warned residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, long a stronghold of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, of imminent strikes and called for them to evacuate. While Israel regularly issues evacuation warnings before bombing the southern suburbs, the announcement also included the outskirts of Lebanon’s only international airport. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images) Photographer: ANWAR AMRO Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP Copyright: AFP or licensors
Manchester Airport has been named the worst in the UK for flight delays, according analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.
The five worst UK airports by average flight delay time
1. Manchester Airport – 19 minutes.
2. Birmingham Airport – 18 minutes.
3. Bournemouth Airport –17 minutes.
4. Southampton Airport – 17 minutes.
5. Gatwick Airport – 16 minutes.
The most punctual location was Liverpool John Lennon Airport, where the average delay was just nine minutes.
A closer look at the detail
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “Manchester Airport has ranked last in our airport survey for four consecutive years and these new CAA figures validate why this is a particularly poor place to be stranded during delays.
“For passengers already wary of travel uncertainty, seeing such consistent underperformance makes it difficult to book with any real confidence.”
Air passengers and travellers check in at Manchester Airport terminal 2 departure lounge – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Exclusive
5 min read
What causes the flight delays?
Manchester is the UK’s only two-runway airport other than Heathrow, and was used by 32 million passengers last year.
Staff use tractors to help clear snow from around aircraft after overnight snowfall caused the temporary closure of Manchester airport (Photo: Phil Noble/Reuters) Caption: FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY – APRIL 15: Lufthansa pilots and cabin crew members demonstrate outside Hangar One at Frankfurt Airport, where inside Lufthansa management was celebrating the company’s 100th anniversary, as their strikes escalate on April 15, 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany. The pilots, who were striking Monday and Tuesday and will strike again on Thursday and Friday, are showing solidarity today with cabin crews who have now gone on strike as well through tomorrow. The two labour unions that represent the two groups are seeking to pressure Lufthansa management over better retirement benefits for the pilots and improved working conditions for cabin crews. (Photo by Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images) Photographer: Thomas Lohnes Provider: Getty Images Source: Getty Images Europe Copyright: 2026 Getty Images
A spokesperson for the airport said: “Punctuality is affected by factors that are outside of an airport’s control. The two most significant factors contributing to delays in the last year have been industrial action affecting air traffic control in Europe, and the weather.”
Hantavirus is the same one that claimed the life last year of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
NEWS
Everything we know about hantavirus outbreak
A British crew member has fallen ill following a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
They are the second Briton to develop the virus after three people have died already, said tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions.
What’s the latest?
An outbreak was reported on Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, sailing from Argentina to Cape Verde.
A Dutch passenger died on board on 11 April and his wife died two weeks later after testing positive.
A German passenger died on board on 2 May, but the cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
A British crew member requires urgent care and a UK passenger is in a critical but stable condition.
NEWS
2 min read
What is hantavirus and how is it spread?
Hantavirus refers to a strain of viruses carried by rodents, primarily spread to humans by inhaling airborne particles from their droppings.
(The Good Brigade Provider: Getty Images Source: Digital Vision) Rats are a common source of hantavirus (Photo: Denitsa Kireva/ Getty Images/iStockphoto)
The virus can cause two serious illnesses, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, which causes flu-like and respiratory symptoms. The other is Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal syndrome, which is more severe and affects the kidneys.
What does the UK say?
This is a deeply worrying time for all those on board the MV Hondius and the families of those affected by the hantavirus outbreak. FCDO consular teams have been stood up across the UK, South Africa, Spain and Portugal to support British nationals.
UK GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
Caption: TOPSHOT – This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 3, 2026. An outbreak of “severe acute respiratory illness” on board a cruise ship in the Atlantic has left two people dead and a third in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa’s health ministry told AFP on May 3, 2026. The outbreak occurred on the MV Hondius, travelling from Ushuaia in Argentina to Cape Verde. The patient being treated in Johannesburg tested positive for a hantavirus, a family of viruses that can cause hemorrhagic fever, South African spokesperson Foster Mohale said. (Photo by AFP via Getty Images) Photographer: – Provider: AFP via Getty Images Source: AFP Copyright: AFP or licensors
NEWS
Brits are ditching the blue asthma inhaler – here’s why
Caption: File photo dated 07/01/15 of a person holding an Ivax Reliever inhaler for the treatment of asthma, as rising pollen levels this weekend could leave people with asthma at risk of life-threatening asthma attacks, Asthma and Lung UK has warned. PA Photo. Issue date: Friday May 13, 2022. The charity is telling people to ensure they keep on taking their preventer inhalers if they use them and to keep their reliever inhaler with them at all times. See PA story HEALTH Asthma. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire Photographer: Yui Mok Provider: PA Source: PA
More than a million asthma sufferers are switching to a new dual-action inhaler, which both prevents and relieves asthma.
Overuse of the old-style blue inhaler has been linked to a higher risk of attacks, hospital admissions and death.
Do blue inhalers make asthma worse?
Poorly controlled asthma contributes 303,874 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year, according to a recent study (Photo: PixelsEffect, Getty Images)
Risk of overuse
Nearly half of blue inhaler users were issued more than two in 2024/25, which doctors warn is a sign of overuse.
Temporary benefits
They use a short-acting beta antagonist (Saba), which treats symptoms only, rather than the underlying inflammation.
Caption: Young woman using her asthma inhaler at home Photographer: milan2099 Provider: Getty Images Source: E+
Overuse can mask poorly controlled asthma and lead to worse outcomes for some patients.
Why Brits are turning to new inhalers
1New inhalers combine a steroid with a long-acting beta antagonist in the same device.
2They treat the inflammation and prevent flare-ups while providing immediate relief.
3Patients can use new inhalers as an anti-inflammatory reliever (Air) and a maintenance and reliever therapy (Mart) daily.
4Medical experts say it is a “life-saving cultural shift”.
What do the numbers say?
Between October and December last year…
1.09m
patients switched to new-style Air and Mart inhalers.
UK health regulator Nice said that for every 10,000 people who switched, there would be…
1,133
fewer GP visits each year.
As well as 144 fewer A&E attendances and and 80 fewer hospital admissions.
‘Greens reflect my politics – but I’ll vote Labour’
Mat Hobbins, a 47-year-old lecturer from Sunderland, said he wanted to help stop Farage’s party winning control of the North East city’s council. Labour appears in danger of losing several regional “Red Wall” strongholds to Reform – including Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside.
Hobbins has become a fan of the revitalised Green Party under Zack Polanski, impressed by its left-wing economics and environmentalism. “They’re pushing for wealth taxes, which I’m a big fan of. And of course they want to do a lot more to address the climate crisis,” he said.
“The idealism really appeals to me. They’re the party that seem to reflect my politics now.”
However, he says he will be voting Labour in his Roker ward on Thursday – even as he describes being “disillusioned” with the party. He thinks it is the best bet to stop Reform winning in the area.
Greens have enjoyed polling surge under Zack Polanski (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)
“I’ve been disillusioned with Labour since Keir Starmer took over,” he said. “I’m disappointed, because I thought they would be a bit more radical. They’re not doing enough to address inequality. They’ve become stuck telling a very dour story.
“My tactical vote, purely to keep Reform out, will be to go for Labour,” he added. “I’m really worried by Reform. I think if the Lib Dems or even the Conservatives had the best chance of keeping Reform out, I’d even go Conservative.”
‘Anyone but Reform’
A recent JL Partners poll, based on national polling and local demographics, put Reform on 36 per cent in Sunderland. The same survey had Labour on 26 per cent and the Greens on 12.
“Based on looking at past elections, and what I’m hearing about the areas where Greens are strongest, which is elsewhere in Sunderland, I’m going to vote Labour,” said Hobbins.
Starmer is facing widespread Labour losses at the local elections (Photo: Peter Nicholls/Getty)
The lecturer said he was worried about possible cuts to local services if Reform were to take charge in the city, and concerned about giving Farage political momentum in his push to reach No 10.
“I would worry about their competence, locally. They could spend money putting flags up everywhere,” he added. “More than anything else, it’s the message – the message of division and anti-immigration – that Reform sends that I think is so damaging. For me, it’s anyone but Reform. I hate the idea of a Reform government.”
‘Vote for the party you want to win’
Green Party candidate Richard Bradley, who is standing in Sunderland’s Tunstall and Humbledon ward, rejected the idea that his party is splitting the left-wing vote.
The Greens’ shock victory at the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, pushing Labour into third in the sea in Greater Manchester, suggested left-wing voters take the party more seriously than ever before.
Bradley also pointed to national polling momentum behind the Greens, and said he was not a fan of tactical voting. “I encourage people to vote for the party they want to win,” he added. An election is a positive act, trying to use the ballot against something or someone will never really give you the outcome you want.”
Tactical voting more common on left
Recent YouGov polling found that Labour voters were some of “the most enthusiastic tactical voters”. Around three quarters of them said they were willing to switch to either the Liberal Democrats or Green Party to try to stop Reform UK, the poll found. And a majority of Lib Dem and Green voters were willing to loan their ballot to Labour to prevent Reform winning.
The survey also found that tactical voting was less common among supporters of right-wing parties.
Polling expert and Tory peer Lord Robert Hayward previously told The i Paper that efforts to thwart Reform would be the “largest single factor” when it comes to tactical voting at the local elections.
‘Tough job’ for voters in new five-party system
However, Tom Lubbock, pollster at JL Partners, said the shift to a five-party system leaves voters with “a tough job calculating a tactical vote”.
Lord Hayward has forecast that Labour will lose around 1,850 councillors this week, describing it as “bad news” for the beleaguered PM. The polling expert has also predicted 1,550 gains for Reform and 500 more seats for the Greens.
Farage’s party has talked up the “turquoise tidal wave” since its rapid polling rise following the general election. Reform UK was contacted for comment. Asked previously about tactical voting, a Reform spokesperson called it “dishonest voting tactics” and said other parties were struggling to make a “positive case for themselves”.
Os bancos centrais arriscam uma recessão international ao aumentarem as taxas de juro numa tentativa de conter o aumento dos custos da energia, afirmou um analista.
Julian Howard, estrategista-chefe de investimentos multiativos da GAM Investments, alertou que os responsáveis pela definição das taxas estão agora “à beira do território do erro político”, à medida que crescem as expectativas de aumentos nas taxas.
Howard disse que a resposta tradicional ao aumento dos custos da energia – aumentar os custos dos empréstimos – é um erro, dada a natureza do choque nos preços da energia do lado da oferta.
“O tipo de taxas de juros necessárias para impedir que as pessoas abasteçam seus carros, para impedir que as pessoas voem, seria seriamente alta, muito, muito alta – e indutora de recessão”, disse Howard.
O Banco Central Europeu manteve as taxas de juro estáveis na semana passada, apesar da inflação na zona euro ter atingido os 3% em Abril. O Banco de Inglaterra também manteve as taxas inalteradas, à medida que o Reino Unido se debate com o aumento dos preços do petróleo.
Mas os investidores estão agora a precificar um aumento das taxas do BCE em Junho, enquanto o governador do BoE, Andrew Bailey, disse à CNBC que um choque prolongado nos preços da energia poderia forçar o banco a controlar os custos dos empréstimos.
O Reserve Financial institution of Australia já tomou medidas, aumentando as taxas em 25 pontos base, para 4,35%, na terça-feira, depois de os preços mais elevados dos combustíveis terem empurrado a inflação international no país para 4,6% em Março, de 3,7% no mês anterior. Outras autoridades monetárias globais também poderiam seguir o exemplo.
Mas falando ao “Squawk Field Europe” da CNBC na terça-feira, Howard lembrou a expressão “Os bancos centrais não podem imprimir moléculas de petróleo”.
“A emergência imediata aos olhos dos bancos centrais é o custo actual da energia”, disse Howard.
Brent bruto.
Embora os aumentos das taxas possam ajudar a combater os efeitos secundários da inflação, como as exigências salariais, seria um erro os decisores políticos tentarem enfrentar os custos da energia aumentando os custos dos empréstimos em primeira instância, acrescentou.
“O que tende a acontecer é que, na verdade, a inflação não sobe tanto quanto as pessoas pensam, porque os gastos com produtos não energéticos na verdade diminuem”, disse ele.
Ele apontou para as consequências da guerra na Ucrânia, que viu a inflação dos serviços nos EUA relativamente moderada, à medida que os consumidores reduziam certos itens para criar espaço nos seus orçamentos para os custos de energia. “Portanto, o efeito nunca é tão pronunciado quanto pensamos”, acrescentou.
Para o Federal Reserve, “tudo é possível nos próximos seis meses”, disse Viktor Shvets, chefe de estratégia international da Macquarie Capital.
A inflação nos EUA provavelmente atingirá 4%, potencialmente subindo, à medida que o país enfrenta uma “versão moderada” de estagflação, disse Shvets.
Ele disse ao “Squawk Field Asia” da CNBC na terça-feira que a probabilidade de um aperto monetário no closing deste ano e em 2027 é “na verdade bastante actual”.
Escolha CNBC como sua fonte preferida no Google e nunca perca um momento do nome mais confiável em notícias de negócios.
Sede da Intel em Santa Clara, Califórnia, em 22 de janeiro de 2026.
Justin Sullivan | Imagens Getty
Informações as ações subiram 14% na terça-feira, atingindo um novo recorde histórico, à medida que a fabricante de chips continuava sua trajetória histórica a partir de abril.
O salto vem em uma Bloomberg relatório que Maçã está em negociações com a Intel e Samsung para produzir os principais processadores para seus dispositivos nos EUA. A fabricante do iPhone depende há muito tempo de chips de Co de fabricação de semicondutores de Taiwan.
Intel e Samsung não quiseram comentar o relatório. A Apple não respondeu a um pedido de comentário.
O aumento segue o melhor mês da Intel em seus 55 anos na Nasdaq. As ações saltaram 114% em abril e elevaram o valor de mercado para mais de US$ 470 bilhões.
Várias parcerias importantes ajudaram a alimentar a recuperação. A empresa norte-americana de semicondutores anunciou uma expansão de sua parceria com Googlebem como planos de ingressar no grupo de Elon Musk Projeto Terafab em abril.
A Intel também anunciou que recompraria sua fábrica de chips Fab 34 na Irlanda no mês passado por US$ 14,2 bilhões.
A ascensão da inteligência synthetic estimulou uma procura renovada pelas unidades centrais de processamento da Intel. Na teleconferência de resultados do primeiro trimestre da empresa, o CEO Lip-Bu Tan chamou as CPUs de “base indispensável da period da IA”.
O aumento marca uma reviravolta acentuada para a fabricante de chips, que estava lutando para acompanhar a corrida da IA em meio a grandes atrasos na fabricação. A empresa já subiu mais de 330% desde que o governo dos EUA adquiriu uma participação de 10% na empresa em agosto passado, investindo US$ 8,9 bilhões.
Nvidia também ajudou a alimentar a reversão das ações depois de anunciar um investimento de US$ 5 bilhões em setembro.
O presidente Donald Trump elogiou a subida das ações na semana passada.
“As ações da Intel continuam subindo. Estou muito orgulhoso dessa empresa, pois sou responsável por fazer com que os Estados Unidos da América superassem os 30 bilhões de dólares nos últimos 90 dias apenas com essas ações”, escreveu Trump em um comunicado. Postagem social da verdade.
“Parabéns à Intel por realizar um trabalho tão excelente e, mais importante, parabéns ao povo dos Estados Unidos por fazer um investimento tão bom!”
Leia a história completa da Bloomberg aqui.
Sawdah Bhaimiya da CNBC contribuiu para este relatório.
Gráfico de ações de 3 meses da Intel.
Escolha CNBC como sua fonte preferida no Google e nunca perca um momento do nome mais confiável em notícias de negócios.
Descobrir novas músicas que você adora pode parecer como desenterrar um tesouro. Então, quando os fãs se aglomeraram em Geese no ano passado e fizeram de seu vocalista, Cameron Winter, a estrela indie mais comentada do momento, foi como uma verdadeira onda de emoção e conexão. Eles governaram as listas de fim de ano. Suas turnês esgotaram. Um grande negócio para um grupo cujos membros mal haviam nascido na última vez que as bandas de Nova York eram legais.
Mas quando os fãs ouviram uma entrevista em podcast com dois executivos de advertising falando sobre como eles criaram um burburinho em torno das bandas com as quais trabalharam, houve uma reação negativa. O jornalista cultural Shaad D’Souza explica por que os amantes da música ficaram tão irritados, e o repórter de negócios e tecnologia da música Eamonn Forde diz Nosheen Iqbal por que as máquinas de publicidade das bandas sentem que precisam adotar táticas tão extremas para avançar.
Fotografia: Scott Dudelson / Getty Photographs para Coachella
