The Kings were playing for history Thursday and the Calgary Flames were playing for pride. Pride won, with Nazem Kadri scoring twice and and Sam Morton, Zayne Parekh and Mikael Backlund also scoring to give the Flames a 5-1 win in the final game of the NHL regular season.
Taylor Ward, making his NHL debut, got the only Kings goal late in the third period, long after the outcome had been decided. The goals by Morton and Parekh also came in their first NHL games.
The loss, the Kings’ first in five games, left them with 48 wins and 105 points for the season, matching the team record in both categories.
Still, the Kings will enter their first-round playoff series with the Edmonton Oilers on Monday as the hottest team in the Western Conference, having won eight of their last 10. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be played in Los Angeles on Wednesday before the series moves to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4.
The Flames, meanwhile, will miss the playoffs for the third season in a row after being eliminated earlier in the week in a shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. But they didn’t go quietly against the Kings, taking the lead to stay on Kadri’s first goal two minutes and 15 seconds into the second period.
Morton doubled the lead 6:05 into the third period, opening the floodgates with Kadri scoring his team-leading 35th goal less than a minute later, followed by goals from Parekh and Backlund three minutes apart.
Ward got his goal with just more than six minutes to play. It marked the first time in five games the Kings failed to score at least five goals.
The Kings rested leading scorer Adrian Kempe and regular goaltender Darcy Kuemper as well as center Phillip Danault and winger Trevor Moore, which allowed Ward to become the first son of an NHL player to play for the team. Ward’s father Dixon, also a winger, appeared in 537 NHL games for six teams, including the Kings, between 1992-2003.
Thursday’s game was supposed to be played Jan. 8 but was postponed because of wildfires in Southern California. The Kings used the rescheduled date to honor first responders.
April 18 (UPI) — A federal grand jury has indicted an Iranian national for his role in an illegal dark web drug operation, the Justice Department said in a statement Thursday.
The defendant, Behrouz Parsarad, 36, is accused of being the founder and operator of Nemesis Market, which trafficked in stolen financial information, fraudulent identification documents, counterfeit currencies and computer malware, the Justice Department said in a release. According to federal prosecutors, the site processed at least 400,000 orders between 2021 and 2024.
“Of these, more than 55,000 orders were categorized as orders for stimulants, including methamphetamine, cocaine, case (crack) cocaine and other controlled substances,” the Justice Department said. An additional 17,000 orders were categorized as orders for opioids, including fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone.
The department said it had covertly purchased several items from the site and confirmed that they contained controlled substances.
Parasard is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distributing them in Ohio and elsewhere, the department said. The defendant is also charged with money laundering conspiracy for using proceeds to promote illegal drug dealing and offering money laundering services through the website by using a mix of cryptocurrencies and and other means that allowed Nemesis Market to pay for goods and services while obscure the origin of the shipments.
If convicted, Parasard faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
A fire tore through a Darfur displacement camp, destroying over 50 homes. As Sudan’s civil war nears passes the two-year mark, the UN says the country faces the world’s worst displacement crisis and looming famine.
SHOPPERS are currently snapping up a outdoor garden essential that’s £110 cheaper in a superb Easter deal.
Retailer Gtech has knocked a ‘quality’ patio heater down from £149.99 to just £39.99.
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The Gtech patio heater is easy to set up, weatherproof and robustCredit: gtech
Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater, £149.99 £39.99
This Easter deal is a great chance for garden owners to fight off the chill in the months to come.
The days might be growing longer, but the Great British weather means that a bit of essential heat is often required, even in the summer.
Perfect for the last of the chilly nights outdoors, and the inevitable April showers to come, this weatherproof, lightweight Gtech patio heater has been slashed from £149.99 to just £39.99.
The patio warmer promises a six-metre radius of heat in a matter of seconds, and is weatherproof, so it can be used all year round from winter to summer, either covered or exposed to the elements.
This bargain patio heater uses infrared technology to keep you warm, mimicking the feeling of actual sunlight and adding a soft, cosy glow to those alfresco evenings.
Infrared heaters are also incredibly cheap to run as they use a lower wattage than other traditional patio heaters.
This means they lose less heat in the process, converting 100% of electricity into “usable heat”.
Happy customers are already raving about the highly-rated, in-demand garden gadget with over 350 5-star reviews.
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Shoppers are praising the patio heater for its many standout qualitiesCredit: CREDIT: GTECH
Gtech HeatWave Patio Heater, £149.99 £39.99
One shopper described it as “stylish and cosy,” going on to explain how it helped them to enjoy their garden after the sun went down.
Another wrote: “Perfect for chilly evenings. Heats up quickly, looks great, and is really lightweight – easy to move around.”
A third shared, “I can’t believe how affordable it is for the quality. It’s been a game-changer for our garden get-togethers!”
Better yet, Gtech offers free next-day delivery as well as payment plan options so that you can spread the cost as you wish.
The deal has already been running on Gtech’s site for a little while, so make sure to snap up the simulated suntrap whilst stocks last.
There are plenty of gardening offers running at the moment, from plants to furniture to gardening tools including this £1.99 peony deal and this firepit slashed to just £25.
Now streaming on Netflix, the home of “Virgin River” (six seasons, seven on the way), is “Ransom Canyon.” Like “Virgin River,” it adapts the work of a best-selling romance novelist — Jodi Thomas, who sets her books in her home state of Texas — putting pretty people against a magnificent landscape and complicating their lives with love, hate, calamity and a little sex. Feels like a sure bet, in other words.
As in most every such show, there is at its center a couple — quantum entangled, their spooky action expressed sometimes at a distance, sometimes clinch-close. But wherever the story leads them, wherever else their attention turns, however long it takes them to get together in the first place, it’s a given they’ll find their way to or back to each other, at least until one of them leaves the show. I’m not delivering a spoiler here; it’s in the manual.
In my mind “Ransom Canyon,” developed by April Blair (“Jane by Design”), keeps coming out “Handsome Canyon,” and no one here is handsomer than Staten Kirkland (Josh Duhamel), a big-time rancher with moody hair and a peppery beard. His cosmically intended partner, if he would only admit it, is Quinn O’Grady (Minka Kelly), once a classical pianist of great note — “Leonard’s adamant about doing Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and, you, my dear are the only pianist I’ve heard to do it justice,” says her manager (Kate Hudson), trying to coax her back to Manhattan — though we’ll hear nothing more from her than a few pensive arpeggios.
Minka Kelly as Quinn in “Ransom Canyon” on Netflix.
(Anna Kooris / Netflix)
Walking away from her keyboard career like Jack Nicholson in “Five Easy Pieces,” Quinn hied home from New York when Staten’s wife, her best friend, took ill; she stuck around after she died, then stuck around after Staten’s son died in a car crash. Waiting for Staten to lift his head from mourning and see her for the catch she is, she farms lavender and runs a bar — excuse me, a “dance hall” — with bartender Ellie (Marianly Tejada). As can happen in fiction and in life, Staten’s brother-in-law, Davis (Eoin Macken), has been carrying his own torch for Quinn; though a man of ulterior motives, he does seem sincere in this, which makes trouble all the more likely, and sad.
Davis’ bellicose football hero son, Reid (Andrew Liner), has just been dumped by sad-eyed cheerleader Lauren (Lizzy Greene), daughter of the sheriff Dan Brigman (Philip Winchester) and occasionally recovering alcoholic mother Margaret (Sarah Minnich). Her new squeeze is Lucas (Garrett Wareing), sensitive and blonde and essentially an orphan — dad has gone off — and tied to his troublesome brother, Kit (Casey W. Johnson).
This is all just setting the stage. You have guessed by now that this is a show full of confrontation and secrets and characters generally out of sorts; any happy interlude is liable to lead to an argument, any gathering to a fistfight or someone who should know better shooting their mouth off. I had to keep writing down names and connections to keep everyone straight — who was whose son or grandson, etc. It seemed at times they all were one family. For a while I thought that one character and her sister were the same person.
Eoin Macken as Davis, left, James Brolin as Cap and Jack Schumacher as Yancy in “Ransom Canyon” on Netflix.
(Anna Kooris / Netflix)
Meanwhile, a company called Austin Water & Power wants to run a pipeline into Ransom Canyon’s ginormous aquifer. It has been tossing money around like confetti but has come upon a pair of immovable objects in the persons of cantankerous old rancher Cap Fuller (James Brolin), to whom the thing just smells bad (he has a dead son too), and Staten, who wants nothing to come between him and his “60,000 acres of unspoiled Texas grassland” and the 30,000 head of cattle that graze upon it. (We are shown a representative few.)
“The world’s drying up,” Staten says. “That aquifer feeds wells, our crops and our cattle, and I’m not going to let them run it dry.”
Into this cozy community comes darkly handsome Yancy Grey (Jack Schumacher), possibly dangerous Yancy Grey — it’s a dangerous name, anyway — who reads poetry and slides into a job with Cap and a flirtation with Ellie. Eventually, after she sows up his cut hand — she was a nurse before she worked a bar, and aren’t they kind of the same thing? — he will explain his scars, like Indy to Marion at the end of “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” There is a certain type of character in such stories whom love will improve, and you can see in his eyes he might be one.
There is no reason on Earth not to enjoy this well-made, nicely acted, soapy, soap-bubble show, whose 10 episodes have been laid out whole for you to binge. Come for the messy lives, the promise of love, the old-fashioned values. Come for the hats, the boots, the horses, the ruggedness once used to sell cigarettes. Stay for the country music cameo. It’s not everywhere you’ll hear a line like “Tell the boys to saddle up.” But you’ll hear it here.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was similarly gobsmacked on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“The scenes inside Old Trafford are something else,” he said.
“I have seen nothing like it. Bedlam. The stewards are on the pitch, fans are on the pitch and staff are on the pitch. Andre Onana is doing laps of celebrations. Old Trafford has not seen scenes like this for many a year.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a game like that. They looked dead and buried. I have not seen that character from them all season.
“Superlatives, you run out of them.”
Never before have five goals been scored during a period of extra time in a European knockout fixture.
United’s comeback was as ludicrous as it was improbable, but when the Theatre of Dreams is concerned, strange things have been known to happen.
“You’ve seen special things happen at this club. I think back to the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer against Liverpool [in 1999]. It reminded me slightly, I know that’s only 2-1 and this was 5-4,” said former United midfielder Paul Scholes on TNT Sports.
“I always feel like when you get one here you’ve got a chance.”
Perhaps United defender Leny Yoro summed it up best.
“Honestly, I don’t understand what’s happened. It was crazy! The fans helped us to do it. When you hear the fans, even at 4-2 you know we can do it,” he told TNT Sports.
“We needed to believe and if you don’t believe you cannot win. This is what the fans deserve – they give everything at every game.”
United are 14th in the Premier League and will finish the season with their lowest-ever Premier League points tally.
But now they have something to play for. Get past Athletic Bilbao in the semi-finals next month, and they will contest the final at Bilbao’s San Mames.
Win that and they will play in the Champions League next season.
Fans won’t be thinking about that though – they’ll be reliving the scenes at Old Trafford on Thursday for years to come.
Amid continued Israeli assault on Gaza, Palestinians mark Prisoners’ Day with thousands still in jail.
As Israel continues its assault on Gaza and military raids in the occupied West Bank, thousands of Palestinians – including children – remain in Israeli prisons, many without charge. It’s not a new phenomenon, with more than 800,000 Palestinians detained by Israel since the occupation began in 1967. On the 51st Palestinian Prisoners’ Day, we speak to a former prisoner about his experience.
Watch: Key moments from Canada’s general election debate
The leaders of Canada’s four major federal parties have squared off in their second and final debate ahead of this month’s general election, but someone off stage stole much of the spotlight: US President Donald Trump.
A big question heading into the debate was whether Liberal leader Mark Carney, who has been leading in the polls, would stumble.
Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, managed to survive Wednesday’s French debate despite being less proficient in the country’s second language.
On Thursday, he found himself placed on the spot repeatedly by his three opponents: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet.
How to respond to Canada’s ongoing trade war with the US was a theme, but the debate also featured spirited discussions on other issues facing Canada, such as affordability, crime and the environment.
Here are five big takeaways from Thursday’s face-off:
Justin Trudeau’s ghost haunts Carney
Carney’s opponents were quick to hone in on the mistakes of his unpopular predecessor, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Conservative leader Poilievre made references to the “lost Liberal decade”, referencing the last 10 years in which the Liberal party has been in power. He cited issues like housing affordability and the high cost of living to drive his point home.
“How can we possibly believe that you are any different?” Poilievre asked Carney.
Blanchet also threw down the gauntlet to Carney. “You claim you are different – you need to prove you are better.”
Carney was forced to defend himself multiple times, noting that he has only been in the prime minister’s chair for one month despite sharing the same party banner as Trudeau.
“I am a very different person than Justin Trudeau,” Carney said.
A softer approach to Donald Trump’s tariffs
The leaders were asked about how they would negotiate with Trump and respond to his tariffs on Canada.
Trump has implemented blanket 25% tariffs on goods from Canada, with an exemption on products covered by the USMCA – a North American free trade deal. Canada is also hit with global US tariffs on steel and aluminium and cars.
The president has also publicly spoken about Canada becoming the 51st US state.
Canada’s government has previously said its position is to implement “dollar-for-dollar” tariffs with the aim of inflicting maximum pain on the US economy.
But during the debate, the leaders appeared to contend that it is ultimately not an equal fight.
“We’ve moved on from dollar-for-dollar tariffs,” Carney said, acknowledging that the US economy is more than 10 times the size of Canada’s.
The Liberal leader said the focus would shift to targeted tariffs designed to maximise pain on the US and hurt Canada as little as possible.
Trump appears to have softened his language on Canada in recent weeks. After a phone call with the US president in late March, Carney said Trump “respected Canada’s sovereignty” and that their conversation was “constructive”.
Canada and the US are expected to start talks on trade and security after the 28 April election.
Watch: The BBC’s Lyse Doucet unpacks how debate will impact Canadian election
Devil in the (policy) details
For Canadians tuned in to issues facing the country beyond Trump and his tariffs, the debate offered substantive policy discussions on topics from housing to crime to immigration.
It was clear that Canadians have starkly different choices before them.
Poilievre frequently championed his vision of a small government that would keep taxes low to drive up economic growth and affordability for Canadians, and that would be tough on crime.
Singh, meanwhile, pushed for stronger social programmes in Canada, including expanding the country’s national dental care and pharmacare programmes and bolstering healthcare spending.
Carney stuck close to the centrist point of view of his party.
“Government can play a role, but its role has to be catalytic,” he said during a debate segment on strong leadership in a crisis.
Blanchet, leader of the Bloc, used his airtime to advocate for Quebec’s distinct place in Canada and for the protection of its unique identity.
“I don’t want to be the leader of Canada,” he noted. The party supports the eventual separation of Quebec from Canada, and carries no seats outside the province. But if it wins a number of seats, it can become a powerful voting bloc in parliament.
Smaller parties fight for air time – and survival
Canada’s political system, similar to that of the UK, features multiple political parties: the centrist Liberals, the right-leaning Conservatives, the left-leaning New Democrats, and the Bloc, which only runs candidates in Quebec. There is also the Green Party, which was disqualified at the last minute from the debate for not running enough candidates.
This means that Canadians have distinct choices as they head to the voting booth.
But polls show this election the bulk of Canadians are opting to support either the Conservatives or the Liberals.
This has left the third-place parties fighting for survival. National polls have Singh’s New Democrats polling at 8.5% – which could roughly translate to just five seats out of 343, a major loss from their current 24 seats.
Singh visibly pushed to make his voice heard and interrupted both Poilievre and Carney multiple times in an attempt to set his party apart as the choice for left-wing voters.
“You can’t entrust all the power to Mr Carney,” Singh remarked.
Meanwhile, Bloc leader Blanchet inserted issues relevant to the French-speaking province at every opportunity.
His party, too, stands to lose at least a dozen seats in Quebec, according to current polling, with many opting to vote for the Liberals instead as they believe the party is better equipped to deal with Trump and his threats.
Canadian civility on display
There were interruptions, spirited discussions and even the occasional lines of attack. But overall, the tone from the four federal leaders was rather cordial.
That effort to keep the conversation measured was apparent at one point as the leaders were discussing the housing crisis. In a rebuttal to Poilievre, Carney appeared to stop himself before laying into his opponent.
“A misunderstanding. . . ,” Carney said as he paused mid-sentence, adding: “I’ll be polite.”
Even after some heated exchanges, Carney and Poilievre were filmed shaking hands and exchanging a couple of laughs afterwards.
Overall, it was a strikingly different tone to those who have watched recent presidential debate cycles in the US.
It was friendlier than some past Canadian federal debates, which featured different Liberal and Conservative candidates.
Celebrity Big Brother fans couldn’t believe their eyes as they saw Chris Hughes engage in the X rated act.
23:32, 17 Apr 2025Updated 23:42, 17 Apr 2025
Celebrity Big Brother viewers have been left repulsed after a move from Chris Hughes. The reality star left host AJ Odudu and viewers completely gobsmacked after he decided to wee in a cat litter tray while dressed as a cat. Appearing on spin-off show Late and Live, AJ shared the clip as she was heard saying: “Disgusting!”
In the video, celebs could be seen dressed up in cat costumes as part of an upcoming challenge. It started off cute, but things took a quick turn when Chris Hughes asked JoJo Siwa to block the door to the changing room for him. He warned her: “I need a wee.”
The former Love Island star went on to ask his best friend, “Can you block the door?” He then pleaded: “Don’t tell anyone I’ve weed though.”
Chris Hughes horrified viewers with his behaviour on Celebrity Big Brother tonight(Image: ITV/Celebrity Big Brother)
After JoJo got up and went to stand in front of the door in her fur suit, Chris leaned over a box filled with cat litter. He told the American girl: “Wait a minute, because you’re giving me stage fright.” She advised him to close his eyes, and the reality star giggled before following her instructions.
Until this moment it was unclear whether he was joking or not, but he then did appear to let a stream of liquid splash into the litter box. Viewers watching the segment during Late and Live could be heard letting out a collective groan of disgust.
The former Love Island star appeared to urinate in a cat litter box(Image: ITV/Celebrity Big Brother)
The audience then screamed as Chris went on to smooth down the litter tray, brushing away the evidence – but presumably touching his own urine in the process.
Horrified viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the controversial moment, with one saying: “Chris needs to get a backdoor eviction for that piddling. Did he even wash his hands after?”
Another firmly stated: “Chris’ only excuse is that he was drunk. That’s not sober behaviour.” A third asked: “Didn’t Chris grow up on a farm or something?! I swear I remember that from when he was in Love Island.” While a third fumed: “Ewww he is disgusting.” “I feel so nauseated. They’re so so weird,” said another.
It comes as Big Brother dropped a massive announcement that left the stars in tears. Ella Rae Wise was shown sobbing and being comforted by her housemates, as others were also upset.
Something about it also left many of them shocked, not expecting what was revealed. It was the announcement of who had been nominated by the stars for the next live eviction that led to plenty of tears.
Big Brother confirmed that retired athlete Daley Thompson and EastEnders star Patsy Palmer were the next two stars to face the public vote. One of them will be eliminated on Friday night with viewers now voting to save who they want to keep in.
As Big Brother named the nominated housemates, he shocked the housemates with the confirmation that only two people faced the chop this time. This left the stars gasping, with some confessing they didn’t expect just two names to be up.
Amid the shock of who was up, Daley said he was okay with it but he seemed unimpressed. Patsy agreed that she was fine either way, but soon there were tears.
Reported death toll marks one of the deadliest attacks by the US military on Yemen.
Air strikes by the United States on Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port have killed at least 38 people in what would be one of the deadliest attacks on the country by US forces, Houthi-affiliated media report.
Al Masirah TV said the strikes on Thursday also wounded 102 people, citing the country’s Hodeidah Health Office.
The US military said strikes are being carried out to cut off a source of fuel for Houthi fighters.
“The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen,” the US Central Command said in a post on social media.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the death toll given by the Houthis.
The attack is one of the deadliest since the US launched air strikes against the Houthis in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since US President Donald Trump took office in January.
In March, two days of US attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said
Ras Isa hosts an oil pipeline and port that are “critical and irreplaceable infrastructure” in Yemen, according to the United Nations Development Programme, and around 70 percent of Yemen’s imports and 80 percent of its humanitarian assistance passes through the ports of Ras Issa, Hodeidah and Salif.
Washington has warned the Houthis that attacks will continue until the armed movement ceases attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have reportedly launched more than 100 attacks on vessels they say are linked to Israel, a campaign they say is in response to Israel’s war on Gaza.
Suddenly, No. 1-ranked Corona High’s baseball team isn’t looking so invincible.
The Panthers have been struggling to score runs, and Corona Santiago took advantage with a 1-0 win on Thursday in a Big VIII League game.
Cooper Berger threw six scoreless innings. Santiago (14-7, 5-4) scored the game’s only run in the top of seventh on an error. In the bottom of the seventh, Corona (19-2, 9-1), which was limited to one hit in the game, loaded the bases with one out against freshman pitcher Striker Pence, but then stranded the runners after consecutive pop flies.
Seth Hernandez struck out eight in three innings for Corona and Ethin Bingaman struck out nine in four innings but took the loss.
Norco 10, King 0: Daniel Luther hit a grand slam for Norco.
Corona Centennial 5, Eastvale Roosevelt 1: Bobby Anderson had a home run for Centennial.
Oaks Christian 5, Westlake 4: Quentin Young finished with two doubles to help the Lions win two of three games from Westlake in the Marmonte League this week.
Vista Murrieta 5, Great Oak 2: Dylan Berentis threw a complete game for Vista Murrieta. RJ Holmes had three hits.
Granada Hills 3, West Ranch 2: Max Szczech hit a walk-off sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to win it.
Valencia 7, Canyon 4: Justin Gaisford led Valencia with three hits.
Hart 9, Castaic 8: The Hawks came back from an 8-2 deficit to win. In the top of the seventh, Anthony Cavarretta tied the score with an RBI single and Ryder Frithsmith put Hart ahead with an RBI double. In the bottom of the seventh, Castaic loaded the bases but Hart escaped by making a game-ending double play.
El Dorado 3, Crean Lutheran 0: Logan Steenburgen threw a complete game with seven strikeouts.
Viewpoint 2, Milken 1: Brendan Donnelly threw five scoreless innings for Viewpoint.
Softball
Norco 15, Corona Santiago 0: Leighton Gray had four hits and Tamryn Shorter finished with four RBIs.
“He brings with him a wealth of experience and a solid track record of accomplishments from his many years in the airline industry,” Milton said. “Dave’s background at both Northwest Airlines and, more recently, at Sun Country Airlines, positions him well to lead Spirit’s continued transformation.”
Davis will earn an annual salary of $950,000 and receive a $4 million signing bonus, according to a regulatory finding.
Spirit is emerging from bankruptcy protection after a series of layoffs, aircraft sales and route restructuring that resulted in a downsized airline.
Spirit officials said Davis’ guidance will revamp its flight rewards program and make other passenger-focused changes to attract customers in an industry that is seeing a drop in travelers.
The leaders of Canada’s four major political parties have faced off in a French-language debate, a night before taking the stage for the English-language counterpart.
Wednesday’s event featured Liberal Party leader and current Prime Minister Mark Carney and his top rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, as well as the leaders of Bloc Quebecois, Yves-Francois Blanchet, and the New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh.
The English language debate on Thursday will round out the only two debates before the April 28 vote, which comes after Carney called for a snap election in March, in advance of the officially scheduled October 20 vote.
In a last-minute move, the Leaders’ Debates Commission dropped the Green Party, and its co-leader Jonathan Pedneault, from both debates, saying the party was not running enough candidates to meet the qualifying criteria.
The debate was also moved up two hours to avoid conflicting with a Montreal Canadiens playoff-qualifying match. The majority of Canada’s about 10 million French speakers live in the province of Quebec, where the team is based.
Here were the top takeaways from Wednesday’s debate:
Trump looms large
In just under three months in office, US President Donald Trump has undertaken one of the most significant shifts in US relations with Canada in history.
His actions have included imposing wide-ranging tariffs on the northern neighbour and, in an unprecedented threat of annexation, repeatedly suggesting making Canada the “51st” state.
On Wednesday, Carney, whose Liberal party has seen surging support in the face of Trump’s threats, sought to centre the US president, saying the election is about “who will face up to Trump”.
“In a crisis, you have to have a plan,” said Carney, who spent the night pushing his economic bonafides, which included leading the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England
Poilievre, who in the past has been likened to a Canadian “mini Trump”, pledged to negotiate a deal that would bring down tariffs, while saying he would protect Canadian sovereignty.
“We will never be an American state,” he said.
Bloc Quebecois leader Blanchet, meanwhile, accused Carney of failing to protect Quebec in his early response to Trump.
“So far, all we have seen is efforts being deployed to protect the Ontario economy, which is the way Canada defines itself,” he said.
A time for change?
For Poilievre, who for months had a commanding polling lead over the Liberals, sought to drive home one unifying theme: That Canadians want change after nine and a half years of a Liberal government, led mostly by Justin Trudeau.
Poilievre said Carney was repeating the same promises Trudeau had made during his time in power and accused his party of driving up housing prices and weakening the economy by blocking natural resource development.
Carney shot back that he was leading the Bank of England from 2013 to 2019, as he sought to distance himself from the Liberals’ policies during that period.
“You are just like Justin Trudeau … we need change and you, Mr Carney, are not change,” Poilievre told Carney.
“Mr Poilievre is not Mr Trudeau and neither am I,” Carney shot back.
What did candidates say about immigration?
Poilievre also took particular aim at the Liberals’ immigration policies.
Trudeau had boosted visas to work in Canada to address labour shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic, but cut those caps dramatically last year as critics seized on the country’s rapid population growth.
The Conservative candidate said liberals allowed immigration to “spiral out of control”.
Carney also sought to differentiate himself from the Liberals’ past policies, saying the “system isn’t working, especially after the pandemic”. He said he supported keeping the lowered caps in place for the time being.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are seen at the debate in Montreal, Quebec, Canada [Sean Kilpatrick/AFP]
Poilievre added he would block those seeking safety from violence-wracked Haiti, while Carney said he supported temporary caps on asylum seekers.
“We have to be human, but we have to be realistic. Canada can’t accept everyone,” he said.
Meanwhile, the New Democratic Party’s Singh said that in light of Trump’s crackdown on refugees and asylum seekers, Canada should end its “Safe Third Party” agreement with the US. The agreement allows Canada to turn back asylum seekers who enter from the US.
“We’re talking about a dangerous situation, and we should respond with compassion,” Singh said.
A surge in oil production and pipelines?
The economic uncertainty spurred by Trump’s tariffs has also brought renewed focus on Canada’s energy policy.
Hailing from the country’s oil capital, Alberta, Poilievre has long pushed for deregulation and boosting oil production. On Wednesday, he promised to surge oil production through more oil pipelines.
Carney also signalled a willingness to boost oil production through pipelines, but said approval would be needed from both Quebec and Indigenous groups, as is required under law.
“This is Canada. That’s how Canada works,” Carney said. Still, upon being pressed, he said the environment remained a Liberal priority.
Bloc Quebecois leader Blanchet accused both the Liberal and Conservative leaders of ignoring the ravages of climate change.
“The denial of the reality of climate change since the beginning of this campaign and the change of heart of Mr Carney, who decided to be more conservative than Mr Poilievre, is very harmful for our environment,” Blanchet said.
How did language rights come into play?
Carney, the only candidate on stage lacking a strong grasp of the French language, generally managed to hold his own throughout the debate and avoid any major faux pas.
Still, the issue of language rights and preservation featured prominently, including discussion of Bill 96, a sweeping 2022 reform to Quebec’s law that limited the use of English in some government services and courts.
The law has been challenged by non-French-speaking groups in the province, and remains a delicate subject for candidates seeking to win support in Quebec.
Canada’s New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh looks at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre during the French-language debate in Montreal, Quebec, Canada [Sean Kilpatrick/AFP]
Poilievre said he “will continue to support laws and policies that allow Quebec and the federal government to protect the French language all across Canada”.
Carney was more circumspect, saying, “The question is, do we have rights and freedoms here in Canada? Are we equal?”
“We need to consider the right balance.”
Carney also pledged that the Liberal government would seek to bolster the declining French-speaking population in Canada by increasing the rate of francophone immigrants to provinces outside of Quebec from 10 to 12 percent.
DRIVERS are preparing for a cluster of road closures this weekend as Easter traffic is set to reach its highest level in three years.
Road-goers are being urged by National Highways to plan any travel in advance to avoid being caught out by diversions.
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19 million motorists are expected on the roads this weekendCredit: Getty
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Most road closures will be accompanied by diversions to get drivers back en routeCredit: Getty
Most of the works will occur overnight, between 8pm and 6am, when roads are at their quietest.
The agency uses these timings to help to minimise disruption to all drivers – especially commuters.
The closure which will likely have the widest impact, on the A1 (M) Northbound in Cambridgeshire, will take place from 8pm Thursday until 6am Friday morning.
Between J16 and J14, near Sawtry, there will be lane closures, and the J15 entry and exit slip roads will be shut.
These disruptions come as the AA and RAC predict the busiest Easter weekend on the roads since 2022.
Both companies say that Thursday will probably have the most traffic, with 19.8 million motorists expected to get behind the wheel.
Roughly 2.7 million trips per day are expected, with another 6.2 million due to travel over the course of the entire weekend.
Here’s a full list of the weekend’s closures:
Thursday (overnight into Good Friday):
A1 (M) Northbound – J14 – J16 (Sawtry, Cambridgeshire) lane closures and J15 entry and exit slip road closed 8pm – 6am.
A5 Both Directions – Roundabot partially closed, carriageway closures from Wolfshead to Felton Butler, and from Wolfshead Roundabout to Lower Hopton Junction 10pm – 6am.
A46 Northbound and Southbound – Overnight carriage closures running from Festival to Leamington (Southbound), and from Leamington to Stoneleigh (Northbound) 8pm – 6am.
M45 Both Directions – Partial closure to Thurlaston Roundabout, (Leicester) all day. This will include some 24/7 carriageway, layby and lane closures for junction improvements, with diversions set up for traffic.
M62 Eastbound and Westbound – Both directions from J37 to the A36 Western Interchange (East Yorkshire), there will be 24/7 layby closures and a 40 mph speed limit. Further North, the westbound J6 exit slip road, on Merseyside, will be closed between 5am and 6am.
A35 Eastbound – Charmouth slip road closure for overhead services on Westover Hill 8am – 6pm.
A46 Northbound and Southbound – Overnight carriage closures running from Festival to Leamington (Southbound), and from Leamington to Stoneleigh (Northbound) 8pm – 6am.
M45 Both Directions – Partial closure to Thurlaston Roundabout, (Leicester) all day. This will include some 24/7 carriageway, layby and lane closures for junction improvements, with diversions set up for traffic.
M62 Eastbound and Westbound – Both directions from J37 to the A36 Western Interchange (East Yorkshire), there will be 24/7 layby closures and a 40 mph speed limit. Further North, the westbound J6 exit slip road, on Merseyside, will be closed between 5am and 6am.
A46 Northbound and Southbound – Overnight carriage closures running from Festival to Leamington (Southbound), and from Leamington to Stoneleigh (Northbound) 8pm – 6am.
M45 Both Directions – Partial closure to Thurlaston Roundabout, (Leicester) all day. This will include some 24/7 carriageway, layby and lane closures for junction improvements, with diversions set up for traffic.
M62 Eastbound and Westbound – Both directions from J37 to the A36 Western Interchange (East Yorkshire), there will be 24/7 layby closures and a 40 mph speed limit. Further North, the westbound J6 exit slip road, on Merseyside, will be closed between 5am and 6am.
A46 Northbound and Southbound – Overnight carriage closures running from Festival to Leamington (Southbound), and from Leamington to Stoneleigh (Northbound) 8pm – 6am.
M45 Both Directions – Partial closure to Thurlaston Roundabout, (Leicester) all day. This will include some 24/7 carriageway, layby and lane closures for junction improvements, with diversions set up for traffic.
M62 Eastbound and Westbound – Both directions from J37 to the A36 Western Interchange (East Yorkshire), there will be 24/7 layby closures and a 40 mph speed limit. Further North, the westbound J6 exit slip road, on Merseyside, will be closed between 5am and 6am.
A46 Northbound and Southbound – Overnight carriage closures running from Festival to Leamington (Southbound), and from Leamington to Stoneleigh (Northbound) 8pm – 6am.
M45 Both Directions – Partial closure to Thurlaston Roundabout, (Leicester) all day. This will include some 24/7 carriageway, layby and lane closures for junction improvements, with diversions set up for traffic.
M62 Eastbound and Westbound – Both directions from J37 to the A36 Western Interchange (East Yorkshire), there will be 24/7 layby closures and a 40 mph speed limit. Further North, the westbound J6 exit slip road, on Merseyside, will be closed between 5am and 6am.
TOPSHOP has given its clearest hint yet of a massive high street comeback and fans are going wild.
The legendary fashion brand, once a giant of UK shopping, posted a fresh teaser on Instagram this week, hinting it could be back in stores by August.
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With the latest cryptic teaser, fans are convinced a return is finally happening and they couldn’t be happierCredit: Getty
In the post, Topshop simply said: “We’ll see you IRL in August”, sending a wave of excitement through shoppers across the country.
Topshop has not had a physical presence in the UK since 2021, after ASOS snapped it up following the collapse of Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia empire.
Since then, Topshop has only been available online, with ASOS focusing on digital sales.
But last year, a major shift came when Bestseller, the Danish retail giant behind Jack & Jones, bought a 75% stake in the Topshop and Topman brands.
According to Retail Gazette, the aim is to help Topshop benefit from Bestseller’s experience in wholesale and physical stores, a clear signal the brand was eyeing a future beyond just online.
Now, with the latest cryptic teaser, fans are convinced a return is finally happening and they couldn’t be happier.
One thrilled shopper wrote: “Mother of GOD. This is actually going to make my year.”
Another said: “This has to happen,” while a third added: “Absolutely buzzing.”
Topshop has been hinting at a comeback for months.
In March, the brand posted a message saying: “We missed you too,” along with screenshots of media speculation about its possible return to stores.
Topshop teases high street return
The buzz only grew when Michelle Wilson was appointed Managing Director of Topshop and Topman earlier this year.
Wilson’s arrival has been seen as a major step towards bringing Topshop back to the high street.
Industry insiders believe the brand has already started scoping out locations for new stores, with London’s famous Carnaby Street said to be high on the list.
A summer launch would mark the first time shoppers could walk into a Topshop store in more than four years.
What makes the brand so unique?
THE return of Topshop to the high street has left fans in a frenzy.
Sun Savers EditorLana Clementsexplains what makes the brand quite so special…
Topshop was so much more than a clothing brand for millennials. It is woven into the tapestry of our coming of age.
For me, the love affair started pre-teens coveting Freedom jewellery mood rings and yin yang symbols on black cord necklaces that were synonymous with the 90s.
But as I grew up, Topshop was with me every step of the way. From the signature everyday Jamie skinny jeans to almost all my Friday night outfits.
Until Topshop, high street fashion simply imitated trends led by top designers.
But the brand became the forefront of cutting edge fashion, setting trends rather than following.
This was underlined by Topshop Unique becoming part of the London Fashion week schedule in 2005, featuring the likes of Cara Delevingne and Jourdan Dunn on the runway.
But nothing secured its status as a fashion leader more than its iconic collaboration with Kate Moss.
A range would sell out in a matter of hours as shoppers scrambled to own THE item of the season from the vests and tassel waistcoats to pretty tea dresses and tiny denim shorts.
The Oxford Circus store was a long-time mecca for fashionistas. I still remember the buzz of heading down the escalators, completely overwhelmed by the choice of clothes and not knowing quite which way to turn first, as you were plunged into retail heaven.
Yes, the brand has carried on online after being bought by Asos. But it just wasn’t the same.
Let us millennials relive our youth and bring back those physical stores.
Topshop’s fall from the high street was dramatic.
The rise of online shopping, followed by lockdowns during the Covid pandemic, hammered traditional retailers like Arcadia.
While ASOS thrived by focusing online, Sir Philip Green’s retail empire, built around stores, collapsed.
When ASOS bought Topshop in 2021, it made no move to relaunch physical stores, until now.
Shifting shopping habits could be a big reason behind the rethink.
Since Covid restrictions eased, around 60% of fashion sales have swung back to high street shopping.
Topshop’s return could tap into that trend, and give shoppers a new reason to head back into town.
At the moment, no official store locations have been confirmed.
But with August now being teased, fans are already clearing space in their diaries, and their wardrobes.
A HISTORY OF TOPSHOP
TOPSHOP was founded in 1964 as a youth-oriented fashion brand under the umbrella of the Arcadia Group.
The brand started as a section within Peter Robinson, a department store in Sheffield.
But, it quickly gained popularity for its trendy and affordable fashion, appealing primarily to young women.
By the late 1970s, Topshop had established itself as a standalone brand, opening its flagship store on London’s Oxford Street in 1994, which became a fashion landmark.
Topshop’s golden years spanned the late 1990s and early 2000s, during which it became synonymous with fast fashion.
The brand was known for its ability to translate high fashion trends into affordable, ready-to-wear clothing quickly.
The launch of the Topshop Unique line in 2001 further solidified its status, offering runway-inspired collections that debuted at London Fashion Week.
Under the leadership of Sir Philip Green, who acquired the Arcadia Group (Burton Group until 1998) in 2002, Topshop expanded internationally, opening stores in major cities like New York and Los Angeles.
Collaborations with high-profile designers, including Kate Moss in 2007, brought further acclaim and visibility to the brand.
At its peak, Topshop had around 510 shops, including over 300 shops located in the UK.
Despite its success, Topshop faced several challenges that led to its decline.
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Topshop has been hinting at a comeback for monthsCredit: Alamy
There can’t be another Danilo – £6m spent on a fee, millions more in wages and three more years left on his contract.
There can’t be another Oscar Cortes, a lesser-spotted winger of questionable ability, who is at Rangers on loan with what is understood to be a must-buy clause said to be in the region of £3-4m.
There can’t be another Nedim Bajrami; another Sam Lammers; another Ben Davies. Around £11m was splurged on those three alone.
For £11m, or less, Celtic brought in Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, Matt O’Riley, Reo Hatate and Alistair Johnston. All major successes and all trophy-laden, with two of them subsequently sold for a combined £35m.
Rangers are only playing around at the foothills of the mountain they must climb.
The financial waste at the club spreads far and wide. Ferguson was powerless to do anything about that. Philippe Clement did as decent a job as anybody could have done in the circumstances, but he fell short, too.
Their European adventures have been extraordinary and freakish, but they only served to paper over the cracks. Revolution is required now.
The optimistic note is that they have, all going well, a new and impressive outfit about to take hold of the place.
From what we know, they are not the kind of soft touches that have roamed around the Ibrox corridors of power for long enough, which is just as well, for setting Rangers on the right course is going to be a herculean pursuit.
French President Emmanuel Macron has hosted senior United States officials in Paris for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, as Kyiv’s allies in Europe seek to play a larger role in stalled efforts to end the conflict amid tensions with Washington.
Speaking after he hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday, Macron said the talks represented “a very important occasion for convergence”.
“Everyone wants to get peace – a robust and sustainable peace. The question is about phasing,” the French leader said.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has been pushing to end the Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump himself holding bilateral discussions with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
But so far, Trump’s efforts have not borne fruit, and the US president has expressed frustration with both Moscow and Kyiv.
Ukraine agreed to a Trump proposal last month for a ceasefire, but Russia rejected the idea. The sides have agreed only to curbs on attacks against energy targets and at sea, which both accuse each other of violating.
Meanwhile, the US’s overtures towards Russia over the past several weeks have raised concern among some European leaders, who urged Trump to ensure that Ukraine has a seat at the negotiating table in any negotiations.
Reporting from Paris on Thursday, Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra noted that the Macron-hosted talks marked a “strong indication that the Americans are trying to team up with the Europeans” to try to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Ahelbarra said there has been “a great deal of frustration and scepticism” among European leaders after the Trump administration indicated it planned to disengage from Europe and did not expect European countries to play a critical role in efforts to end the war.
“[Europe] would like to have a key role in the ceasefire talks because they say that they are the ones who can guarantee that the Ukrainians’ voice can be heard,” he added.
Zelenskyy urges pressure on Russia
Macron spoke to Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, by phone on Thursday in advance of the talks with Rubio and Witkoff, the French president’s office said.
Before that, Macron’s foreign policy adviser, Emmanuel Bonne, and his British and German counterparts met Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, who said they discussed the potential ceasefire and security guarantees.
“We exchanged views on the next steps toward achieving a just and lasting peace, including the implementation of a full ceasefire, the involvement of a multinational military contingent, and the development of an effective security architecture for Ukraine,” Yermak said on social media.
The flurry of diplomacy comes as Russia has continued to attack Ukraine, with Ukrainian authorities saying drone strikes and shelling killed at least 12 people on Thursday.
A Russian attack that killed at least 35 people in the northeastern city of Sumy on Sunday also drew widespread condemnation this week and renewed calls to end the war.
Zelenskyy had earlier on Thursday urged the leaders meeting in Paris to lean on Russia to agree to a ceasefire. “Russia uses every day and every night to kill. We must put pressure on the killers,” he said on Telegram.
Zelenskyy also accused Witkoff, the US envoy, of “spreading Russian narratives” after he suggested a peace deal with Russia hinged on the status of Ukraine’s occupied territories.
“I believe that Mr Witkoff has taken on the strategy of the Russian side,” Zelenskyy told reporters. “I think it is very dangerous, because he is consciously or unconsciously, I don’t know, spreading Russian narratives.”
Witkoff said this week that Putin was open to “permanent peace” after he held talks with the Russian president in Saint Petersburg, their third meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January.
In a statement following Thursday’s talks, the US State Department said Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“The Secretary conveyed to his Russian counterpart the same message the US team communicated to the Ukrainian delegation and our European allies in Paris: President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace,” it said.
Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed the officials spoke by phone and said that Lavrov stressed Moscow’s willingness to continue dialogue with Washington “to reliably eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.”
Ukraine offiical Yulia Svyrydenko did not publish details of the memorandum, says work continues towards securing final deal.
Ukraine and the United States have signed a memorandum as an initial step towards the clinching of an agreement on developing minerals in the country, Kyiv’s first deputy prime minister and economy minister said.
“We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” Yulia Svyrydenko wrote on the social media platform X.
Kyiv and Washington had discussed signing a deal on extracting Ukraine’s strategic minerals in February, but a clash between US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy temporarily derailed work on the agreement.
Trump says he wants the deal, designed to give the US royalty payments on profits from Ukrainian mining of resources and rare minerals, as compensation for aid given to Ukraine by his predecessor, Joe Biden.
Svyrydenko did not publish details of the memorandum, but said work continued towards securing a final agreement.
“We hope that the Fund will become an effective tool for attracting investments in the reconstruction of our country, modernisation of infrastructure, support for business, and the creation of new economic opportunities,” she said.
“There is a lot to do, but the current pace and significant progress give reason to expect that the document will be very beneficial for both countries.”
The Ukrainian delegation travelled to Washington at the end of last week for negotiations after the Trump administration offered a new, more expansive deal. The initial framework agreement that was agreed to has never been signed.
“We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier.
Zelenskyy had also said earlier that the two countries could sign a memorandum of intent online.
“This is a memorandum of intent. And we have positive, constructive intentions,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv.
He added that the offer to sign the memorandum before the comprehensive deal, which would require ratification in the Ukrainian parliament, had come from the US side.
US officials say boosting American business interests in Ukraine will help deter Russia from future aggression in the event of a ceasefire.
Kyiv is pushing for concrete military and security guarantees as part of any deal to halt the three-year war.
This tranquil bay offers an unexpected pocket of natural beauty only 30-minutes from the busy town of Liverpool. Full of salt marshes and mud banks, it has also become a hub for endangered wildlife.
This beautiful hamlet is a protected area for its impressive wealth of wildlife(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Travellers interested in exploring the River Mersey often make a beeline for Liverpool. But situated on the north bank sits a picturesque bay defined by salt marshes and home to a range of incredible wildlife.
Oglet Bay sits at the southernmost edge of Liverpool, offering a tranquil escape from the bustle of the nearby city. In fact, Oglet Bay is often referred to as “Liverpool’s last piece of countryside” for its secluded shores and farmland abundant with diverse wildlife and birdlife.
Getting to Oglet is no great strain, only a 30-minute drive from Liverpool city centre that leads you through the suburb of Speke. Oglet is also incredibly close to the Liverpool John Lennon Airport and only an eight-minute drive from the transport hub.
But it is Oglet Bay’s close proximity to the airport that has put it in danger of being taken over by airport expansion plans. But locals have banded together to create the Save Oglet Shore & Greenbelt campaign to emphasise just how important the natural environment is to the community.
Oglet has been classed as a hamlet in the township of Speke. (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Oglet Bay is characterised by its mud banks and salt marshes, with nearby clay cliffs lining the River Mersey. The area’s unique ecosystem and surrounding greenbelt have made it a major feeding and roosting area of endangered birds. Large flocks of dunlin, black tailed godwits and many other species can be found feeding in the mud. In the bay itself, waders and wildfowl are visible year-round, with large influxes occurring in the winter.
Keep in mind, there are no formal visitor facilities at Oglet Bay so travellers should come prepared with equipment and food. There are also local guidelines in place to preserve the area’s ecological integrity that visitors should also be mindful of.
According to the Save Oglet Shore & Greenbelt campaign, the area’s woods, ponds and streams are also home to bats and many endangered farmland birds. The future of the area is still tenuous as a solar farm is already being built nearby, so there is no time like the present for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers to visit the area and show their support.
Oglet Shore is walking-distance from the village of Hale(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Oglet Bay is adjacent to the village of Hale and has a quaint offering of cafes and pubs for travellers to explore. Hale is known for its tranquil setting, as well as its most famous son, the Childe of Hale. According to folklore, the Childe was one of the tallest men in history and has a commemorative statue in the village centre.
That said, Oglet Bay makes for a better day-trip destination than an extended staycation due to the sparsity of tourist resources. Still there is an undeniable serenity and natural significance in this part of Merseyside that is worth exploring and certainly protecting.
If you are planning a trip to the area, it is best planned in conjunction with a larger trip to Speke or during the warmer month when visibility across the water is better. One key date to keep in mind is the Speke Tudor Festival.
This annual event takes place annually in the Speke Tudor Hall and will be held on May 4, 2025. The family-friendly festival celebrates English history with folk dancing and historical costumes.
Another Liverpool hidden gem to keep on the radar is Bootle. This seaside town is less than three miles north of Liverpool and offers a unique blend of maritime heritage and attractions.
Demi Moore expected Mikey Madison to win the Academy Award for lead actress, she recently told Time magazine.
“I don’t know why I knew, but I did,” Moore said in the interview. “I was so centered and calm. I didn’t feel gutted. I didn’t feel any of those kinds of things. I just trusted, and am in trust of, whatever is going to unfold.”
An industry veteran, Moore had an impressive awards season run, winning the acting prize at the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards for her performance as Elisabeth Sparkle in “The Substance,” a film about an actor filled with so much self-loathing that she takes a drug called “the substance” to create a younger version of herself.
She revealed in her emotional Golden Globe acceptance speech that a producer once called her a “popcorn actress,” which “corroded me over time to the point where I thought a few years ago that maybe this was it.”
Despite being the favorite to win (and despite the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ love for a redemption arc), Moore lost to newcomer Madison.
Moore acknowledged she was disappointed, but not hurt, by the loss. In fact, she said that during the commercial break before the award was announced, she whispered to her manager, “I think it’s going to Mikey.”
After the awards show, Moore wrote on Instagram, “As this awards season comes to a close, I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude for this journey. It’s been the ride of a lifetime and we’re just getting started! So grateful for my team, my fellow nominees, and everyone who has made this experience so full of joy and light. … And a huge congratulations to #MikeyMadison — can’t wait to see what you do next ♥️”
For her part, Madison told the Hollywood Reporter that after the awards show, “I texted with Demi, who I adore. She’s one of the sweetest, kindest women I’ve ever met, and I’m so grateful that I was able to meet her and witness her brilliance and talent in person.”
Despite the Oscars snub, Moore told Time that the success of “The Substance” ultimately increased her profile.
“To go from the beginning of this last year feeling like I was never part of the conversation to being acknowledged in a critical way for my work has just allowed me to open up my belief in greater possibilities,” she said.
At the moment, Moore is filming Season 2 of the Paramount+ drama series “Landman.” Her next feature will be Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters,” also starring Keke Palmer and LaKeith Stanfield.
