Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis admits club has funds to sign world-class players June 3, 2016 Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has said the club is in a position to chase "world-class" players in the transfer market — but has warned that "spending big is not the solution to all problems". Gazidis, who will receive a grilling from fans at a meeting with the Arsenal Supporters' Trust today, also gave his backing to [...]
England 1, Portugal 0: I’m not prepared to criticise, says Hodgson after Three Lions sign off for Euro 2016 with abject showing June 2, 2016 England boss Roy Hodgson refused to allow any negativity cloud his Euro 2016 preparations despite the Three Lions stuttering to an uninspiring win over 10-man Portugal in their final warm-up clash at Wembley. A largely abject performance was enlivened in the latter stages as defender Chris Smalling notched his first senior international goal. England will [...]
Race review: A moving and uplifting biopic that sadly fails to fully address America’s own historic hurdles June 2, 2016 Dir. Stephen Hopkins | ★★★☆☆ It’s disappointing but not surprising, given Hollywood's unfortunate record with diversity, that it's taken 80 years for the fascinating story of Jesse Owens to get a biopic. After all, it's only a couple of years since both Martin Luther King (Selma) and Jackie Robinson (42) were given the big screen treatment. [...]
Threepenny Opera at the National Theatre review: An explosively raucous show June 2, 2016 Olivier Theatre | ★★★★★ The National Theatre’s production of The Threepenny Opera is stagy, artificial, vulgar, nihilistic, hilarious, and brilliant. This is opera for people who don’t like opera. Bertolt Brecht, Elisabeth Hauptmann and Kurt Weill’s Weimar Republic-era adaptation of John Gay’s 18th century ballad opera The Beggar’s Opera, is returned to its London roots in [...]
Obsidian Tear/An Invitation/Within the Golden Hour at the Royal Ballet review: A joyous, moving and brilliantly danced production June 2, 2016 Royal Opera House | ★★★★☆ It’s a brave man who opens an eagerly anticipated night at the Royal Ballet in silence, and an even braver one who picks a fight with a ballet dancer. In Wayne McGregor’s latest contemporary piece, Obsidian Tear, the stage is practically bare save for two men, eyeing each other up menacingly, [...]
Cuttin’ It at the Young Vic review: A powerful 21st century take on an age-old tragedy June 2, 2016 Young Vic | ★★★☆☆ At just over an hour long, Cuttin’ It is a compact yet ambitious play that takes on the complex issue of female genital mutilation. Our guides through this painful subject are two 15-year-old girls, Muna (Adelayo Adedayo) and Iqra (played by newcomer Tsion Habte), Somali-British schoolgirls who seem to hail from different [...]
Novak Djokovic admits he’s a lucky boy after French Open tantrum almost lands him in hot water June 2, 2016 WORLD No1 Novak Djokovic admitted he was fortunate to still be in the hunt for a maiden French Open crown despite easing past seventh seed Tomas Berdych to reach a sixth successive Roland Garros semi-final. Djokovic comfortably dispatched Berdych in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, but could have landed himself in hot water after angrily [...]
Euro 2016: Travel chaos looms as French pilots call a strike for 11-14 June June 2, 2016 French pilots could be set to throw thousands of football fans' travel plans into chaos, after calling a strike for 11-14 June – coinciding with the start of the 2016 UEFA European Championship. Pilots working for Air France are planning to take industrial action over a pay dispute, according to union Spaf – which represents around [...]
On trial Barcelona star Lionel Messi denies knowledge of tax issues that could land him in jail June 2, 2016 Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi claimed he was unaware of how his financial affairs were handled after taking the stand for the first time in his trial for tax fraud. The world's highest paid footballer and his father Jorge Messi have been accused of defrauding Spain of more than £3m between 2007 and 2009 by using tax havens in [...]
Roland Garros 2016: Watching Andy Murray at French Open as a TV executive provides conflicting emotions, says Eurosport boss Peter Hutton June 2, 2016 Andy Murray's torturous run to the semi-finals of this year's French Open has put fans through the ringer but provided conflicted emotions for TV executives. The world No2's passage to a third successive semi-final has not been completly smooth sailing, with the Scot playing 20 sets in his last five games and twice coming within a set of [...]