Jesse Armstrong, one of the UK’s most successful screenwriters, is not one to rest on his laurels.
Hot off the back of his hit show Succession, which followed the twists and turns in the lives of media mogul Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, and his four children, Armstrong is back with his first feature-length film, Mountainhead.
It’s a satire film about a group of four tech billionaire friends who go away to a mountain resort for the weekend but find themselves and their social media companies under scrutiny as social unrest spreads across the globe.
Speaking at the Hay Festival, Armstrong says: “People start by saying, ‘Why are you doing these rich people again? And it’s a fair question. They’re tech billionaires. Succession was about a big media family. And I think it’s because I’m interested in power, I don’t think it’s about just wealth.
“Succession was very clearly about why is the world like it is, who has power?”
HBO’s Mountainhead, starring Steve Carrell and Ramy Youssef, was made very quickly.
“We did it at great speed. I pitched it in December and wrote it in January… carried on re-writing it through pre-production and then shot it in 22 days, then edited it.
“We only finished (editing) about a week ago and it’s on TV this weekend!”
Armstrong, 54, wanted to do a quick turnaround on the film to try to capture the feeling and pace of technological developments and society’s fear about keeping up.
“The anxieties that we have about technology, especially AI, feel very present and move quite fast. And I wanted to try and write it in the same mood as you might be when you’re watching it, so I was keen to do it quickly,” he says.
“Another attraction for me was that I’ve never directed anything before and it made me feel less anxious to run at it and do it really, really quickly.”
HBO
Steve Carrell and Ramy Youssef star in Mountainhead
Armstrong, who cut his teeth in children’s TV before writing for shows such as The Thick of It and going on to co-create series like Peep Show and Fresh Meat, said the inspiration for Mountainhead came from listening to podcasts.
“I wrote a book review about Sam-Bankman-Fried, the crypto fraudster, and then I read more and more about tech, and I started listening to podcasts of senior tech figures, from Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman, but also the mid-level people and even lower level – it’s an ecosphere.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about the voice of these people. I do love getting the vocabulary right. For me, that opens the door, once I can hear them talking. And since it seems like the AI companies are scraping so much of our hard work to train their models, I thought I would scrape them back [using their podcasts]!”
Armstrong told the Hay audience that while he knew his job was to engage viewers, writing the film “was a way of expressing a load of feelings about that world and about those men – they’re almost all men in that world – and it’s cathartic”.
His shows are known for their dark humour and Armstrong says if he had to write his job description in his passport application, he would put down “comedy writer”, adding that he doesn’t think of himself as a storyteller.
“I’m trying to make a story engaging that will probably involve people laughing. And the bit that I find most challenging is finding a story because people remember jokes, but you just won’t make it through that half hour or hour unless that story is is compelling enough to make an audience follow along.”
‘More fearful’
Many writers and showrunners end up directing episodes of the series that they have created but Armstrong says he couldn’t do that on Succession, which won multiple awards including 14 primetime Emmys.
“I always felt like the people who did it were so good at it that it was rather rude of me to suggest I could just come in and do it just as well.”
Armstrong doesn’t appear to be your stereotypical confident showrunner, coming across as quite shy and humble, despite his success.
“Sometimes very creative people have a real ‘screw you’ attitude to authority, and I don’t have that. Maybe I’m a bit more fearful, a bit more amenable. I like everyone to be happy. I want to to give people what they want in quite a decent and humane way.
“I don’t have a confrontational attitude to people I work with, unless someone’s a jerk – I hope I can stand up for myself and the work.”
Emmerdale has aired the full return for Robert Sugden after Ryan Hawley reprised his role as one half of ‘Robron’ after six years away from the soap – and it was everything we dreamed of
A stunning beach in the UK has been going viral after people noticed that it looks just like the beaches that line the shores of the Caribbean, with crystal-clear waters and golden sand
Pedn Vounder beach in Cornwall(Image: Wiki Commons)
Discover a slice of the Caribbean on UK shores with Cornwall’s stunning beach that’s making waves on TikTok. Whisking yourself away to a sun-kissed sandy beach and gazing at crystal-clear waters while bronzing your skin is often reserved for holidays abroad. But what if you could soak in all that holiday bliss without jetting away from the UK?
A hidden gem along the UK coastline has started creating a buzz on social media for looking remarkably similar to a Caribbean paradise. With its pristine blue waters and golden sands, it’s easy to mistake this Cornish hotspot for a tropical haven a world away.
The place shaping up to be the country’s answer to Caribbean escapes is none other than Pedn Vounder beach. This idyllic spot grabbed attention on TikTok, thanks to a share by @carbisbayhotelandestate – representing the luxe Carbis Bay estate in St Ives, which boasts its own exclusive strand.
Lucky for beachgoers, the appealing stretch featured in the viral post welcomes the public. Perched on the Penwith peninsula’s southern tip, Pedn Vounder ticks all the boxes for an exotic beach experience without leaving UK territory.
For those tempted to check out Pedn Vounder, it’s worth noting a few key insights. The secluded beauty spot experiences the ebb and flow of tidal shifts – ensuring the beach area disappears under the waves at high tide.
Moreover, reaching this hidden coastal treasure requires traversing by boat or executing a “challenging climb” down some steep rocks due to its remote setting.
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Pedn Vounder, a picturesque beach in Cornwall, is gaining popularity among naturists despite not being officially designated for nude sunbathing.
Visitors are warned with signs stating “naturists may be seen beyond this point” as they make their way down to the cove, which has become an unofficial spot for those who prefer to soak up the sun in the nude.
Explore Cornwall advises that the beach can get “very busy” during the summer and school holidays, suggesting an early visit before the children break up for summer.
Pedn Vounder has been compared to the Caribbean(Image: Wiki Commons)
The website also notes: “The beach is south-facing with high cliffs on either side so it gets the best sunshine in the middle of the day and is in the shade from late afternoon.”
Reviews from previous visitors to Pedn Vounder are overwhelmingly positive, with one Google review exclaiming: “Totally mind-blowing. What a fabulous colour of water, totally loved it.”
Another visitor was equally impressed, remarking: “The best and most amazing beach you can find in the UK. This place made us think we were in the Caribbean.”
A third satisfied tourist wrote: “Beautiful beach with azure blue water, nice sand, cliffs either side and plenty of space. Water was amazing to swim in.”
Now Chelsee, who recently took time away from her role as Goldie McQueen to give birth to her second daughter, has now made a cryptic move on X.
The Manchester lass, 36, re-posted a picture of her character crying to her page.
It came after Stephanie Waring, famed for her 28-year-long role as Cindy Cunningham, confirmed that soap bosses had axed her as part of the 20-person strong cast cull.
The soap’s resident hunk and TV favourite Owen Warner has also left the show amid the cuts with fans left devastated to say goodbye to his character Romeo Nightingale.
Jamie Lomas has also quit the show and will depart his Warren Fox role soon.
Haiesha Mistry famed for her role as Yasmine Maalik has also left after seven years.
Federal Communications Commissioner Anna M. Gomez traveled to Los Angeles this week to sound an alarm that attacks on the media by President Trump and his lieutenants could fray the fabric of the 1st Amendment.
Gomez’s appearance Wednesday at Cal State L.A. was designed to take feedback from community members about the changed media atmosphere since Trump returned to office. The president initially expelled Associated Press journalists from the White House, for example. He signed an executive order demanding government funding be cut to PBS and NPR stations.
Should that order take effect, Pasadena-based radio station LAist would lose nearly $1.7 million — or about 4% of its annual budget, according to Alejandra Santamaria, chief executive of parent organization Southern California Public Radio.
“The point of all these actions is to chill speech,” Gomez told the small crowd. “We all need to understand what is happening and we need people to speak up and push back.”
Congress in the 1930s designed the FCC as an independent body, she said, rather than one beholden to the president.
But those lines have blurred. In the closing days of last fall’s presidential campaign, Trump sued CBS and “60 Minutes” over edits to an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris, alleging producers doctored the broadcast to enhance her election chances. CBS has denied the allegations and the raw footage showed Harris was accurately quoted.
Trump-appointed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, upon taking office in January, revived three complaints of bias against ABC, NBC and CBS, including one alleging the “60 Minutes” edits had violated rules against news distortion. He demanded that CBS release the unedited footage.
Gomez, in an interview, declined to discuss the FCC’s review of the Skydance-Paramount deal beyond saying: “It would be entirely inappropriate to consider the complaint against the ’60 Minutes’ segment as part of a transaction review.” Scrutinizing edits to a national newscast “are not part of the public interest analysis that the commission does when it considers mergers and acquisitions,” she said.
For months, Gomez has been the lone voice of dissent at the FCC. Next month, she will become the sole Democrat on the panel.
The longtime communications attorney, who was appointed to the commission in 2023 by former President Biden, has openly challenged her colleague Carr and his policies that align with Trump’s directives. She maintains that some of Carr’s proposals, including opening investigations into diversity and inclusion policies at Walt Disney Co. and Comcast, go beyond the scope of the FCC, which is designed to regulate radio and TV stations and others that use the public airwaves.
The pressure campaign is working, Gomez said.
“When you see corporate parents of news providers … telling their broadcasters to tone down their criticisms of this administration, or to push out the executive producer of ’60 Minutes’ or the head of [CBS] News because of concerns about retribution from this administration because of corporate transactions — that is a chilling effect,” Gomez said.
Wednesday’s forum, organized by the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press, was punctuated with pleas from professors, journalists and community advocates for help in fending off Trump’s attacks. One journalist said she lost her job this spring at Voice of America after Trump took aim at the organization, which was founded more than 80 years ago to counter Nazi propaganda during World War II.
The Voice of America’s remaining staffers could receive reduction-in-force notices later this week, according to Politico.
Latino journalists spoke about the difficulty of covering some stories because people have been frightened into silence due to the administration’s immigration crackdown.
For now, journalists are able to carry out their missions “for the most part,” said Gabriel Lerner, editor emeritus of the Spanish-language La Opinión.
But he added a warning.
“Many think that America is so exceptional that you don’t have to do anything because fascism will never happen here,” Lerner said. “I compare that with those who dance on the Titanic thinking it will never sink.”
The White House pushed back on such narratives:
“President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history. He regularly takes questions from the media, communicates directly to the public, and signed an Executive Order to protect free speech on his first day back in office,” spokesperson Anna Kelly said. “He will continue to fight against censorship while evaluating all federal spending to identify waste, fraud, and abuse.”
FCC Commission Chairman Brendan Carr on Capitol Hill.
(Alex Wroblewski / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Traditionally, the five-member FCC has maintained an ideological balance with three commissioners from the party in power and two from the minority. But the senior Democrat — Geoffrey Starks — plans to step down next month, which will leave just three commissioners: Gomez, Carr and another Republican, Nathan Simington.
Trump has nominated a third Republican, Olivia Trusty, but the Senate has not confirmed her appointment.
Trump has not named a Democrat to replace Starks.
Some on Wednesday expressed concern that Gomez’s five-year tenure on the commission could be cut short. Trump has fired Democrats from other independent bodies, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Gomez said if she is pushed out, it would only be because she was doing her job, which she said was defending the Constitution.
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Indio) applauded Gomez’s efforts and noted that he’s long appreciated coordinating with her on more routine FCC matters, such as ensuring wider broadband internet access.
“But now the fight is the survival of the free press,” Ruiz said.
He noted that millions of people now get news from non-journalist sources, leading to a rise of misinformation and confusion.
“What is the truth?” Ruiz said. “How can we begin to have a debate? How can we begin to create policy on problems when we can’t even agree on what reality is?”
Jacob Fearnley moved into an all-British meeting with Cameron Norrie in the French Open third round after his opponent Ugo Humbert retired following a nasty fall.
Fearnley, who replaced Norrie as the British number two earlier this year, was leading 6-3 4-4 when French 22nd seed Humbert quit.
Humbert tumbled as he stretched for a return at 40-40 in the eighth game and instantly clutched his right leg.
After receiving treatment and wearing heavy strapping, Humbert gamely tried to continue and finished the game before deciding it would not be sensible to carry on.
As a result, 23-year-old Fearnley – who is 55th in the world after a rapid rise over the past 12 months – moved into the last 32 on his French Open debut.
Norrie booked his place earlier on Thursday with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-1 win over Argentine qualifier Federico Gomez.
The 29-year-old has slipped to 81st in the rankings, but has rediscovered his form on the clay and earned one of the most satisfying wins of his career when he beat former world number one Daniil Medvedev at Roland Garros earlier this week.
A rare visit to the Afghan village hit by the ‘mother of all bombs’ reveals lasting damage and unanswered questions.
In 2017, the US dropped the “mother of all bombs” in a remote village in Afghanistan’s Achin district. Al Jazeera made the journey to see what’s left: homes destroyed, health problems mounting, and no accountability in sight.
A new Telegram trading bot has arrived and it’s going viral on day one. Snorter ($SNORT) is the cheapest and most-advanced way to trade on Solana, helping users maximize their bull market wins.
The project launched a presale one day ago and has already raised over $150K, illustrating strong market appeal from the get-go.
Snorter won’t be the first Telegram trading bot – the market is already worth $41 billion; but it will be the cheapest. And that’s one of the many benefits positioning Snorter for huge success in the coming months.
Currently, investors can buy $SNORT at its lowest presale price of $0.0935. However, this price will rise throughout the campaign, with the next uptick in just one day. For those seeking the most value for money, now is the time to act.
Cut trading fees from 1.5% to 0.85% with $SNORT
One of Snorter’s many competitive advantages is its fee structure, with token holders receiving a discount that slashes trading fees from 1.5% to 0.85%. This makes Snorter cheaper than Bonk Bot, Maestro, Trojan, Banana Gun, SOL Trading Bot, and the rest.
The crypto industry is moving faster than ever. There are countless launchpads for developers to create new projects on. There are endless informational streams for investors to discover new projects. And there are thousands of cryptocurrencies emerging daily.
It’s an information overload. Manual research and trading is no longer viable to catch high-growth opportunities. Automated trading tools can’t be an afterthought; they’re a must-have. That’s why the crypto trading bot market is projected to reach a $154 billion valuation by 2033.
But as the newest market emergent with better fees than its competitors, Snorter is uniquely positioned to benefit from the sector’s growing demand. But that’s far from its only advantage.
Snorter’s premium trading features unlock explosive opportunities
Move over, web-based browser bots. Snorter’s Telegram app is easy to use, featuring an integrated UI for swaps, snipes, copy-trading, limit orders, and portfolio commands.
The app features an institutional-grade dashboard that displays real-time updates on PnL, portfolio size, and cost basis. It all happens inside the Telegram app, making on-chain trading as easy as sending a text message.
However, it’s not just about catching trading opportunities easily; the Snorter bot also features stop-loss integration, allowing users to dynamically manage risk.
So far, it appears that instant sniping will be the main feature; after all, getting in early is where most of the money will be made.
And here’s where Snorter’s sniping bot stands out: the project has built-in scam and honeypot detection features, meaning that users are less likely to buy duds and more likely to catch real runners.
Beta tests for the rugpull protection feature reportedly catch 85% of scam tokens, significantly bolstering the platform’s safety and security.
Something else that helps differentiate Snorter is that the bot will operate on multiple blockchains. While its journey begins on Solana, it will also be available on Ethereum, BNB, Polygon, and Base. It means that users can capitalize on the hottest trading opportunities regardless of where they occur.
Let’s face it, investors buy meme coins to make profits, not friends. If we strip everything back, 99% of investors care far more about money than community. Yet, there’s no doubt that memetic branding helps projects go viral and attracts attention. That’s the reason meme coin prices can be so explosive.
Snorter is a project that fulfils investors’ appetite for gains, while retaining the virality of a meme coin. By design, the real utility and a meme coin allure – it’s the best of both worlds.
As mentioned, the crypto trading bot market is expected to reach a $154 billion valuation by 2033, growing at a 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
However, the AI-driven crypto trading bot sector (which Snorter falls into) is forecasted to hit $985 billion by 2034 with a 37.2% CAGR, reflecting even bigger potential.
With a meme coin allure and a position at the forefront of a rapidly expanding technology domain, Snorter appears firmly set for strong growth in the years ahead, both as an application and an investment opportunity.
With apps like Pump.fun, Believe, and LaunchLab making it easy for anyone to create meme coins; the bar has been raised, and simple joke tokens no longer cut it. Now, investors are shifting to meme coins with real utility.
Eye-catching artwork, cultural resonance, and a profitable business model underneath; that’s the holy grail trifecta for new meme coins – and that’s precisely what Snorter offers.
In terms of utility, holding $SNORT unlocks access to the trading bot and also broadens investors’ opportunities to earn. Notably, holders can lock up their tokens in the project’s staking contract and currently earn a 1,901% APY.
However, the staking yield is variable and will decrease as the staking pool grows. This means that investors seeking to maximize their gains should not wait around.
How to buy $SNORT at presale
Investing in the $SNORT presale is easy. Simply visit the project’s website, connect your wallet, choose the crypto you want to pay with, and the amount of tokens you want to buy.
The presale accepts payments on the Ethereum and Solana networks, and investors can even use bank card. This means there’s seamless accessibility for everyone.
With a use case that blurs the lines between light-hearted meme coin and industry-leading trading bot, Snorter is uniquely positioned for growth. The $SNORT token is the centerpiece of the ecosystem, meaning its price will rise alongside the platform’s adoption.
There are over one billion users on Telegram, who now all have instant, low-cost access to identify explosive crypto trading opportunities using Snorter.
The project’s presale offers a rare chance for investors to capitalize, and that could lead to substantial gains. However, with price hikes occurring throughout the presale, prospective investors should not wait to get involved.
Follow Snorter on X or Instagram for updates. Alternatively, visit its website to buy and stake tokens.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice. Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, and the market can be unpredictable. Always perform thorough research before making any cryptocurrency-related decisions.
A Littler hold of throw as the break came at the right time for Littler – he’s won four of the five legs since!
That one sees him miss D12 for an 84 checkout but Price isn’t on a finish to punish, leaving Littler the chance to come back for D6 and takes it.
Luke Littler 7-7 Gerwyn Price*
Another BREAK of throw as Littler brings the match back level again!
He could’ve wrapped it up early, missing a dart at D16 for a superb 143 checkout. Price can’t take out 160, leaving Littler to come back for D16 and he takes it with his second dart.
Reminder, it’s first to 10. No margin for error from here.
*Luke Littler 6-7 Gerwyn Price
Ohh what a dart from Gerwyn Price to BREAK the Littler throw once more!
Price had a dart on the floor in his set-up too and Littler leaves 40 to put the pressure on the 86 Price did eventually leave.
Single 18, T18 leaves D7 and he finds it superbly!
Luke Littler 6-6 Gerwyn Price*
It looked a monumental leg and Littler BREAKS Price for it!
Back all-square as Price misses a dart at D10 for a 100 checkout, instead busting his score going into D15.
Price gets another go at it but can’t leave a finish this time as Littler misses a dart at tops this time. But he comes back for 20 and hits 10, D5 to bring us back level.
*Luke Littler 5-6 Gerwyn Price
Bloomin’ heck, he’s coming out swinging, Littler!
He misses a dart at D20 for a 10-dart hold of throw before pinning it next time for a good 11-dart leg.
That included a 180 and 147 set-up to leave 40. Maybe a sign of this second half….
Price leads at the break
Given Littler had the darts in leg one, Price will be absolutely thrilled to take a 6-4 lead into the break.
But in truth, it could and probably SHOULD be more comfortable.
Littler hasn’t got going yet and the frustration is etched across his face, even before storming off stage when Price took out the 40 in leg 10.
Price is leading the 180 count 3-1, more 140s, better checkout success and highest checkout!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru demolishes Punjab Kings with eight-wicket win to reach first IPL final since 2016.
Virat Kohli inched closer to a maiden Indian Premier League title after Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Punjab Kings by eight wickets in a lopsided qualifier to reach the final of the 10-team tournament.
A superlative performance by their bowlers in Thursday’s game left Bengaluru needing only 102 to make Sunday’s final and they reached the target in just 10 overs with opener Phil Salt, who made 56 not out, leading the charge.
Punjab can still make the final if they can win the second qualifier against the winner of Friday’s eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.
Kohli made 12, but has been Bengaluru’s leading scorer this season.
The former India captain has been with the franchise since the inaugural 2008 edition of the league. Bengaluru reached the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but were beaten on all three occasions.
“It’s a great feeling right now,” Salt said. “Obviously, we had a second bite at the cherry, but it’s such a good feeling to get that out of the way first-time.
“It just gives us that momentum. It’s such a cliche, but it’s so true at the back end of the tournament.”
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Phil Salt on his way to fifty [Arun Sankar/AFP]
Bengaluru have looked formidable this season and,
electing to field, their fiery pace attack, led by a returning Josh Hazlewood, bundled out Punjab in 14.1 overs.
Having recovered from a shoulder niggle, Hazlewood led Bengaluru’s superb pace display as they reduced Punjab to 71-7 at the halfway stage of their innings.
Hazlewood’s (3-21) victims included rival skipper Shreyas Iyer, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed the important wicket of Prabhsimran Singh, Punjab’s leading scorer this season.
Marcus Stoinis made 26 before losing his stumps to leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, who claimed 3-17 in his three overs.
Kyle Jamieson removed Kohli in the fourth over, but Bengaluru raced to 61-1 in their six powerplay overs, compared with Punjab’s 48-4, with Salt hitting boundaries almost at will.
Salt took 23 balls to bring up his fifty and skipper Rajat Patidar hit a six to seal Bengaluru’s victory in a match that lasted only 24.1 overs.
California on Wednesday joined 15 other states filing suit against the National Science Foundation and its acting director, alleging the agency has illegally terminated millions of dollars in grants and imposed new fees that have ended or crippled research vital to health, the economy and the advancement of knowledge.
The Trump administration has defended its actions as both legal and necessary to align the NSF with the president’s priorities.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, specifically targets the science foundation for “terminating grants for scientific research that seeks to promote and understand diversity in higher education and the workforce,” according to a statement from California Atty. General Rob Bonta.
The suit alleges that the NSF’s actions are illegally arbitrary and capricious and violate federal law on the management and use of federal funding.
Bonta’s office asserted that between 1995 and 2017, the number of women in science and engineering occupations, or with science or engineering degrees, doubled with help from federal support; minorities, meanwhile, went from representing about 15% in the occupations to about 35%.
The suit also seeks to overturn the Trump administration’s 15% cap on indirect costs related to research, which universities say are critical to carrying out their work. Such indirect costs include maintaining lab space, keeping the temperature controlled and the proper handling and disposal of biological, chemical and biochemical materials.
Like other key federal agencies, the National Science Foundation has been in turmoil since Trump took office in January — undergoing across-the-board funding cuts, layoffs and reorganization as well as apparent ideological litmus tests for research, sweeping grant terminations and a funding freeze on grant applications.
The Trump administration has fired back at critics.
Earlier this month Michael Kratsios, the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, criticized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in federally funded research, calling them “close-minded” in a speech before the National Academy of Sciences in Washington.
Kratsios also called for a reduction of “red tape” in scientific research, the online news site FedScoop reported. He said there is a “crisis of confidence in scientists” that comes from fears that political biases are impacting research.
Trump officials also have repeatedly maintained that the federal government is rife with waste and fraud.
The federal actions have come at extreme cost, according to Bonta.
“President Trump wants to make America’s universities second tier with his backwards efforts to slash research funding that has kept us on the cutting edge of science and innovation,” Bonta said. “For more than 50 years, Congress has expressly authorized the National Science Foundation to train up the next generation of talent and invest in the infrastructure necessary to keep our position as a global leader” in science, technology, engineering and math.
“With President Trump’s latest round of indiscriminate funding cuts, America is poised to fall behind its competitors at a critical moment in the global technology race. We’re suing to stop him,” Bonta said.
In California, billions of dollars are at risk across the California State University, University of California and public community college systems.
“Many innovations — like the internet, GPS, and MRI technology — trace their origins to research initially funded by NSF. Without NSF funding, many California colleges and universities will be forced to substantially reduce or stop altogether potentially groundbreaking programs and research projects,” according to Bonta’s office.
Terminated NSF grants, for instance, include a five-year, $3-million project, “Computational Research for Equity in the Legal System.” This study examined crime data for patterns of racial bias while also looking at police misconduct and eviction policies, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Canceled UC Berkeley grants included projects on electoral systems and two on environmental science education.
The NSF has also told staff to screen grant proposals for “topics or activities that may not be in alignment with agency priorities” that had shifted under the Trump administration, the journal Nature reported.
The lawsuit lays out a wide range of benefits and goals of the federal funding.
“From developing AI technology that predicts weather patterns to protect communities, to developing sustainable solutions for environmental and economic challenges, to making power grids more sustainable, NSF-funded research at American universities ensures this nation’s status as a global leader in scientific innovation,” according to the lawsuit.
The other states involved in the litigation are Hawaii, New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Wisconsin and Washington.
The pattern of federal cuts and turmoil related to research also is playing out with the National Institutes of Health. And California also is party to a lawsuit over cuts to these grants.
Tara Kerin, a project scientist who works in pediatric infectious disease research at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, said that the funding cuts at the National Science Foundation echoed similar ones made at the National Institutes of Health.
That, she said, makes her “very nervous about the future of science and research.”
Kerin, whose work has partly focused on HIV prevention and detection in young adults, was funded by NIH grants — until they were cut this spring.
BUENOS AIRES — An Argentine court on Thursday declared a mistrial in the case of seven health professionals accused of negligence in the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona, the latest dramatic twist in a trial that has captivated the nation and the soccer world for more than two months.
The whiplash decision comes after one of the three judges overseeing the trial stepped down over criticism surrounding her participation in a forthcoming documentary about the case.
Her controversial withdrawal compelled the court to either appoint a new judge in her place or to retry the entire case from scratch.
On Thursday, the judges decided the latter, effectively turning the clock back on all proceedings in the case that accuses Maradona’s medical team of failing to provide adequate care for the soccer star in his final days.
The judges ruled there would be a new trial, without specifying when.
Julieta Makintach said that she had “no choice” but to resign from the case Tuesday after the prosecutor showed a teaser-trailer for a documentary, “Divine Justice,” which traces the aftermath of Maradona’s death at the age of 60 to the start of the trailer, clearly featuring Makintach as a main protagonist.
Maradona, who led Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986, died on Nov. 25, 2020, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, days after undergoing surgery for a hematoma that formed between his skull and brain.
The Harvard University crest adorns a gate on the school’s campus in Allston, Mass., in April. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Thursday from its attempt to deny Harvard University’s ability to admit international students. File Photo by CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE
May 29 (UPI) — A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Thursday from its attempt to deny Harvard University’s ability to admit international students.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs said in a hearing she plans to issue a preliminary injunction requested by Harvard and then extended a temporary restraining order that stops the administration from any attempt to follow through on its threat.
Twenty-seven percent of Harvard’s student body consists of foreign students, and it filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration last week after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the termination of the school’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program, or SEVP certification.
Noem said in a press release last week, “This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.”
The Harvard International Office’s Director of Immigration Services Maureen Martin filed a supplemental declaration in addition to the lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday, and among the concerns listed in the suit, she wrote: “As a result of the revocation notice, students and faculty alike have expressed profound fear, concern, and confusion. Faculty members and administrators have been inundated with questions from current international students and scholars about their status and options.”
CNN reported that Burroughs told the lawyers for both Harvard and the Trump administration to agree upon how to keep the student visa program in place, to which she added, “It doesn’t need to be draconian, but I want to make sure it’s worded in such a way that nothing changes.”
The Trump administration has also focused on Harvard’s finances in addition to the effort to block the enrollment of foreign students, as it announced Tuesday it plans to cancel all its contracts with Harvard University.
Joseph Kabila is visiting the eastern city of Goma, which has been seized by rebels, after he was stripped of immunity.
Former President Joseph Kabila has returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, just days after he lost his immunity amid accusations he has helped armed rebels fighting in the eastern DRC, according to the Reuters and AFP news agencies.
Kabila, on Thursday, was visiting the eastern city of Goma, which had been seized by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia along with several other areas in the resource-rich east of the country earlier this year.
A team of AFP journalists saw Kabila meet local religious figures in the presence of M23’s spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka, without giving a statement.
Citing three unidentified sources close to Kabila, Reuters also said the ex-president held talks with locals in Goma.
The visit comes despite the former president facing the possibility of a treason trial over his alleged support for M23.
Earlier this month, the DRC Senate voted to lift Kabila’s immunity, paving the way for him to be prosecuted.
The ex-president, who has been in self-imposed exile since 2023, denies the allegations and has slammed the charges against him as “arbitrary decisions with disconcerting levity”.
On Thursday, a member of Kabila’s entourage told AFP that though no formal alliance existed between his party and M23, both shared the “same goal” of ending the rule of President Felix Tshisekedi.
The United Nations and the DRC’s government say Rwanda has supported the M23 with arms and troops – an accusation the neighbouring country denies.
The renewed violence has raised fears of igniting a full-blown conflict, akin to the wars that the DRC endured in the late 1990s, involving several African countries, which killed millions of people.
The current fighting has already displaced about 700,000 people this year, according to the UN.
On Tuesday, Amnesty International accused M23 of committing abuses against civilians in areas under its control, “including torture, killings and enforced disappearances”.
“These acts violate international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes,” the group said in a statement.
M23 says its goal is to protect ethnic minorities against the government in Kinshasa.
Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence’s children just built on the friends’ relationship without even casting them in a new movie together: Their two oldest are now married — to each other.
Yup, the two comedy legends are also in-laws.
“Saturday Night Live” veteran Murphy, 64, broke the news in an interview airing Thursday on “The Jennifer Hudson Show.” He explained to his “Dreamgirls” co-star that everyone in both families expected a big wedding after the two got last fall, but his son Eric and Lawrence’s daughter Jasmin wound up tying the knot without a lot of hoopla.
“Yeah, we’re in-laws,” he said, noting that now “Bad Boys” star Lawrence, 60, “doesn’t have to pay for the big wedding.”
“They got married about two weeks ago,” Murphy told Hudson. “They went off. Everybody was making the big wedding plans and then they decided they wanted to do something quiet with just the two of them and then they got married.
“They didn’t have a wedding. They went off and they got married at the church. … They just had the two of them and the preacher.”
Murphy said he expects the newly blended clan to have “a big party” to celebrate the occasion soon.
Eric Murphy, 35, proposed to Jasmin Lawrence, 29, last November in a small event with high production values: myriad candles, romantic lighting, flower petals covering the floor and a glowing orange heart as a backdrop. The two had gone Instagram-official with their relationship back in June 2021.
“We’re engaged!! God truly blessed us with a love that feels like destiny. We couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter,” she wrote on Instagram. “Special thank you to everyone who made this moment so beautiful!!”
Jasmin Lawrence is Martin Lawrence’s eldest daughter. She’s from his first marriage, to Patricia Southall. She has two younger sisters, Iyana and Amara, from her dad’s marriage to Shamicka Gibbs, which ended in 2012.
Eric Murphy is the oldest of Eddie Murphy’s 10 children. His mom is Paulette McNeely. The comedian has three more sons and six daughters with four other women, including his current wife and mother of two, model Paige Butcher.
Eddie Murphy’s crack about Lawrence not paying for the big wedding goes back to when the latter joked to Jimmy Kimmel in 2022 that their children might have a “comedy super-baby” together and said, “I’m gonna try to get Eddie to pay for it.”
Murphy snarked back a year later on Canadian TV, saying, “If it goes down, Martin is paying. And the wedding better be wonderful.”
We bet it was.
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario contributed to this report.
Eaton Canyon and adjacent federal land that burned in the January wildfires in L.A. County will remain closed through 2026 and maybe longer given the extensive damage caused by the Eaton fire and subsequent flooding, county officials said during a recent news conference.
One of the most popular hiking areas in L.A. County, Eaton Canyon previously saw a million visitors per year. Officials said they’ve seen a spate of trespassers in the park since the fire, including one hiker who tried to reach Echo Mountain only to get lost and require rescue. Officials are pleading with the public to stay out of the area and let the land heal.
Karen Mateer, vice president of the Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates, speaks during a news conference last week in which officials asked the public to stay out of the Eaton fire burn scar to let the land heal.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
“With apologies to James Taylor, we’ve seen fire and we’ve seen rain, and I’ll tell you what, we’ve also seen a fair amount of air in the form of wind coming through the canyon,” said Karen Mateer, vice president of the Eaton Canyon Nature Center Associates. “Those are three of the basic elements of nature, and now we really need to focus on the fourth, the earth.”
Although it will take time for the land most damaged by the L.A. fires to heal, there are some areas of the burn scars that have recently reopened or will reopen soon.
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Here is the latest information on trails in three recent burn zones.
Eaton fire
The Eaton fire killed much of the plant life in Eaton Canyon, leaving the soil unstable. As such, boulders and burned trees can fall at any moment.
Norma Edith García-Gonzalez, director of L.A. County Parks and Recreation, said on one of her first visits to the canyon after the fire, a tree fell five feet in front of her. All hikers should heed the warnings to stay out, she said. Additionally, those who trespass could face substantial fines if caught.
For those wanting to see a waterfall like the gorgeous cascade that plummets down the mountain at Eaton Canyon, I’d recommend checking out the popular Switzer Falls. It was closed immediately following the Eaton fire, and there was some confusion about whether the trail had reopened. At last week’s news conference, Justin Seastrand, forest recreation manager at Angeles National Forest, confirmed it is open! However, the nearby Bear Canyon Trail Camp and the trail leading to it remain closed.
The burned hillsides around Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
A similar and beautiful trail, Millard Canyon, which also features a waterfall, will likely remain closed through 2026, as its restroom burned in the fire, Seastrand said.
Henninger Flats, a popular hiking destination north of Eaton Canyon, suffered even more serious damage, said Kim Bosell with L.A. County Parks. The old museum, propagation areas and restrooms are gone, and workers will need to remove that debris before the area is safe for hikers to access, Bosell said.
Before the fire, officials had planned to add Henninger Flats to the Eaton Canyon natural area, she said. “Unfortunately the fire took it before we could follow through with those plans, but what the future holds for it, we don’t know right now,” Bosell said.
Bridge fire
Last September, the Bridge fire burned almost 55,000 acres, including 25 trails on federal land.
The popular Bridge to Nowhere hike was near where the fire started and will remain closed for the foreseeable future, Seastrand told me, because the rivers and creeks in the area were seriously damaged during the fire and subsequent flooding. It’ll take tremendous manpower (and money) to bring it back online.
But, the good news is, the U.S. Forest Service revised the Bridge fire closure order last week to reopen two popular routes to Mt. Baldy, the Baldy Bowl Trail (Ski Hut) and Devil’s Backbone Trail. Bear Canyon, sometimes referred to as Old Mt. Baldy Trail, remains closed.
This reopening is more than a little bit exciting, considering the closure of these two trails was probably one of the least popular decisions that Angeles National Forest officials have made in a hot minute.
That said, you might notice these trails and others in the Mt. Baldy area, like Icehouse Canyon, are listed as closed on the forest service’s website when they’re actually open.
That’s, in part, because the U.S. Forest Service recently updated several forest websites and in doing so broke the links for several trails and campgrounds. The update rolled out about the same time that the federal government fired thousands of forest service workers. So, needless to say, it might be a minute before the website reflects reality. In the meantime, check the closure order if you have a question about what’s open. (You’re also welcome to email your local outdoors reporter!)
Palisades fire
In the coming weeks, hikers will be able to return to a handful of popular trails in and around the Palisades burn scar.
I spoke to Richard Fink, district superintendent for the Angeles District of California State Parks, who told me that some parkland and trails are closed not because of fire damage, but because they’re being used by state and federal officials in the recovery effort in the aftermath of the Palisades fire.
That list includes Will Rogers State Park, where Fink told me that the park was severely burned, but the trails are in great shape.
“We could open the trails at Will Rogers tomorrow if the rest of the park would be open,” Fink said. “There are actually a lot of trails that [the fire] really didn’t have any impact [on], and also due to our parks being closed, we’ve been able to perform a lot of the work already.”
An area of Topanga State Park near Eagle Springs Fire Road that did not burn in the recent Palisades fire.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
Parts of Topanga State Park were used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for hazardous debris removal, and L.A. County Department of Water and Power is using part of the park to rebuild the power grid in the Palisades. Once those efforts are finished later this year, that region of the park should be able to reopen, officials said.
“The state park priority for parts of Topanga and parts of Will Rogers State Historic Park are first and foremost to help the recovery and then to eventually get them open to the public,” Fink told me.
The southern part of Topanga State Park suffered the worst damage in the Palisades fire and will remain closed for “a while,” in particular the area around the Topanga Ranch Motel, which was “completely destroyed,” Fink said.
There are trails that may take years to recover or may no longer be accessible to the public moving forward, he said.
The Palisades fire burned several acres through Topanga State Park, especially in the southern end of the park where structures were destroyed, as well as popular hiking trails.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
The popular Los Leones Trail will remain closed, although it suffered minimal damage and was one of the first trails the state parks crew worked on in early March. Crews cleared burned vegetation, removed landslides and widened the trail. It’s in good structural shape, officials said, but will remain closed because the neighborhood near the trailhead remains closed to the public. Once the neighborhood reopens, a crew will need to remove plants that have grown in the path thanks to a lack of foot traffic.
But, dear Wilder, I do have some good news for you.
On Saturday, I hiked with Rachel Glegg, volunteer coordinator with the Santa Monica Mountains Task Force, who took me around Topanga State Park to see the trail work that the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter’s trail crew, state park workers and other volunteers have completed.
Thanks to those efforts, Glegg said, officials aim to open the following trails in the next few weeks:
East Topanga Fire Road from Trippet Ranch to Parker Mesa, although anything beyond the Parker Mesa junction will likely remain closed to keep the public away from neighborhoods burned in the fire
Eagle Rock Fire Road, Eagle Springs Fire Road and Fire Road #30 to the Hub Junction in Topanga State Park
The Garapito Trail in Topanga State Park, which Glegg’s crew is still working on, but is close to repairing fully
Several phacelia grandiflora plants are growing along a burned section of the Garapito Trail.
(Jaclyn Cosgrove / Los Angeles Times)
On my trip with Glegg, I just kept saying, “This is so beautiful,” as I took in the views of the surrounding city and ocean. We spotted loads of wildflowers, including phacelia grandiflora and a small patch of California poppies. Like you, I am eager to return and make more memories in this beautiful, resilient landscape.
3 things to do
A child plays at a previous migration celebration hosted by the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.
(Friends of Ballona Wetlands)
1. Get up close with birds in Playa Vista Friends of Ballona Wetlands will host its annual migration celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Ballona Discovery Park. Raptors will be present for visitors to see and learn about up close. Guests can also enjoy music, purchase native plants and partake in a scavenger hunt, along with tours of the freshwater marsh. Learn more at ballonafriends.org.
2. Celebrate National Bike Month in L.A. People for Mobility Justice will host a community bike ride from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, starting at Ted Watkins Memorial Park. As part of this celebration of National Bike Month, riders will travel through the Florence-Firestone area, learning about bike safety and local resources. Participants should bring water, along with their bike and helmet. Register at eventbrite.com.
3. Prance down open streets in Glendale The city of Glendale will close 1.3 miles of Glendale Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday for its first car-free open streets event. Let’s Go Glendale will feature live music (including a strolling mariachi) and other arts and culture programming. Visitors can walk, run, bike or take the route in any other preferred people-powered way. Learn more at glendaleca.gov.
The must-read
A female black bear and her cub scour a South Lake Tahoe neighborhood in search of food.
(Corey Arnold / For The Times)
It’s rare to see a black bear in the wild, and it’s even rarer for someone to be hurt by one, much less killed. That’s why it was so startling when news broke of the death of Patrice Miller, 71, who, a coroner’s report found, was killed by a black bear in her home. Times reporters Jessica Garrison and Lila Seidman wrote in their recent story that questions — and even disbelief — still exists around how Miller died. “We don’t believe the bear did it,” said Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League in the Tahoe Basin. “And I will go on record as saying that.” The bear in question has been killed. What remains is an intense debate over how California should manage its population of an estimated 65,405 black bears, especially those found lumbering around mountain towns.
Happy adventuring,
P.S.
The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comment through Monday on its proposal to log trees and clear chaparral across 90,700 acres in Los Padres National Forest, which sits north of L.A. County and features gorgeous landscapes. “But this plan falls short and threatens habitat in many areas,” according to advocacy nonprofit ForestWatch. “The project emphasizes vegetation removal in remote areas — places that pose little threat to public safety but are rich in biodiversity, cultural value and recreational importance. The plan also allows for commercial logging, and it overlaps with roadless areas and endangered species critical habitat.” You can learn more at the organization’s website, where you can submit your comment as well. You can also submit your comment on this federal website.
For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild. And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here.
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers this week condemned the Trump administration’s termination of humanitarian protections that have left a 4-year-old girl who is receiving critical medical treatment in Los Angeles vulnerable to deportation and death.
On Tuesday, The Times published the story of S.G.V., who has short bowel syndrome — a rare condition that prevents her body from completely absorbing nutrients. She and her parents received temporary permission to enter the U.S. legally through Tijuana in 2023.
In a letter Thursday to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, 38 congressional Democrats, including California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, urged her to reconsider the termination of the family’s legal status.
“We believe this family’s situation clearly meets the need for humanitarian aid and urge you and this Administration to reconsider its decision,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is our duty to protect the sick, vulnerable, and defenseless.”
Last month, S.G.V.’s family, who now live in Bakersfield, received notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that their status had been terminated and that they had to leave the country immediately. Earlier this month, they applied again for humanitarian protections.
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary in the Department of Homeland Security, said in a statement that the family is not actively in the deportation process and that their application is still being considered.
The girl’s physician, Dr. John Arsenault of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, wrote in a letter requested by her family that any interruption in her daily nutrition system “could be fatal within a matter of days.”
The story about S.G.V. drew swift public outcry. An online fundraiser for the girl’s care had amassed nearly $26,000 as of Thursday morning.
The letter to Noem was led by Reps. Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles). Rivas said state legislators and constituents messaged her about the family, asking what she could do to help.
While the family lives outside of Rivas’ district, which encompasses the north-central San Fernando Valley, she said it is her role as a California Democrat and a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to speak up for immigrant constituents in districts where Republican representatives may not do so.
“That’s why we’re organizing as members of Congress,” Rivas said. “Without action from Secretary Noem and this administration, this little girl will die within days.”
In a post on X, Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) called the situation “heartbreaking.” Seeking to deport the girl despite her medical condition is “cruel and inexcusable,” Chu added.
In another X post, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) wrote: “Trump wants to deport a four-year-old who could die from a life-threatening medical condition if her treatment is interrupted. How does this cruelty make us a stronger nation?”
The family and their attorneys held a news conference Wednesday at the Koreatown office of the pro bono firm, Public Counsel. The lawyers explained that the equipment administered by the hospital to S.G.V. for home use is not available outside the U.S.
“If they deport us and they take away my daughter’s access to specialized medical care, she will die,” said Deysi Vargas.
Attorneys for the family noted that S.G.V. is not the only child affected in recent months by the Trump administration’s immigration policies. In an attempt to speed up arrests and deportations, they said, children are needlessly being swept up in the process.
Gina Amato Lough, directing attorney at Public Counsel, said the girl’s case “is a symbol of the recklessness of this administration’s deportation policies.”
“We’re seeing a pattern of cruelty and a violation of our most treasured rights and values,” said Amato Lough. “These are people coming to us for protection, and instead we’re sending them to die. That’s not justice, and it doesn’t make us any safer.”
An 82 run knock from Jacob Bethell, including five sixes, helps England to a total of 400 runs in the first One Day International against West Indies at Edgbaston.
By contrast, about six out of 10 LGBTQ adults said gay and lesbian people are generally accepted in the US.
A new poll by the Pew Research Centre has found that transgender people experience less social acceptance in the United States than those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual, according to LGBTQ adults.
About six out of 10 LGBTQ adult participants in the poll said there is “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of social acceptance in the US for gay and lesbian people, according to “The Experiences of LGBTQ Americans Today” report released on Thursday.
Only about one in 10 said the same for non-binary and transgender people — and about half said there was “not much” or no acceptance at all for transgender people.
The survey of 3,959 LGBTQ adults was conducted in January, after US President Donald Trump’s election, but just before his return to office when he set into motion a series of policies that question transgender people’s existence and their place in society.
On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order calling on the government to recognise people as male or female based on the “biological truth” of their future cells at conception, rejecting evidence and scientific arguments that gender is a spectrum.
A poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in May found that about half of US adults approve of the way Trump is handling transgender issues.
Transgender people are less likely than gay or lesbian adults to say they are accepted by all their family members, according to the Pew poll. The majority of LGBTQ people said their siblings and friends accepted them, though the rates were slightly higher among gay or lesbian people.
About half of gay and lesbian people said their parents did, compared with about one-third of transgender people. Only about one in 10 transgender people reported feeling accepted by their extended family, compared with about three in 10 for gay or lesbian people.
According to the Pew poll, about two-thirds of LGBTQ adults said the landmark US Supreme Court ruling that legalised same-sex marriage nationally on June 26, 2015, increased acceptance of same-sex couples “a lot more” or “somewhat more”.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule in the coming weeks on whether Tennessee can enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in what is seen as a major case for the transgender community.
A South African mother has been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who vanished over a year ago. A witness testified the child was sold to a traditional healer for $1,100.
