Sing 2 reivew: Illumination animation has no problem playing the hits February 7, 2022 It’s a tough time for animated movies, as families have tended to stay away from the cinema. This has resulted in the last three Pixar movies going straight to streaming, much to the chagrin of the animators if reports are to be believed. Rivals Illumination don’t seem to have had as much trouble. The wildly [...]
A Number at the Old Vic review: Cloning drama never seems to age February 7, 2022 What is the value of a human life? What makes us who we are? How can we weigh our good deeds against our bad? Does any of this really matter? A Number asks these heavy questions with a remarkable lightness of touch. Among the most commonly-performed of Caryl Churchill’s plays, it’s a blistering hour and [...]
UK and Ireland ditch 2030 World Cup bid in favour of cheaper Euro 2028 February 7, 2022 The UK and Ireland have abandoned plans to bid to host football’s 2030 World Cup but instead hope to stage the 2028 European Championship. It comes 11 months after Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged £2.8m towards exploring the possibility of a World Cup bid. A feasibility study found that it would be better value for [...]
Six Nations: England cannot dip favourites tag two weeks running February 7, 2022 England’s first round Six Nations defeat at the hands of Scotland on Saturday was one which initially played into Eddie Jones’s well-worn line of the Calcutta Cup rivals being “red hot favourites”. But in a 20-17 loss which sent England back south of the border with their tails between their legs, Jones’s side looked a [...]
What a night: Senegal coach Aliou Cisse savours long road to Africa Cup of Nations glory February 7, 2022 Aliou Cisse dedicated Senegal’s first Africa Cup of Nations triumph to the country’s people after a nail-biting final victory over seven-times winners Egypt. Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, who had earlier missed a seventh-minute spot-kick, converted the decisive penalty in the shoot-out after the game had finished 0-0 following extra time to spark ecstatic celebrations both [...]
‘Inappropriate text messages’ to female colleagues force Marc Overmars to resign at Ajax with immediate effect February 7, 2022 Marc Overmars has left his role at Ajax after sending a series of “inappropriate messages” to female colleagues, the Dutch giants have announced. Director of football affairs Overmars has stood down after discussions with chief executive Edwin van der Sar and the supervisory board following reports of alleged misconduct. A statement on Ajax’s official website [...]
Six Nations: France start with win but there’s room for growth February 7, 2022 France’s opening round victory over Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday wasn’t dripping with a special je ne sais quoi, but it was a hard earned result to get their promising quest for a Grand Slam underway. Flying wing Gabin Villiere had three career tries prior to kick-off in Paris but doubled that tally [...]
Five talking points from FA Cup weekend as Nottingham Forest stun Leicester February 6, 2022 If anyone thought their elimination of Arsenal was a fluke, Nottingham Forest underlined that it was nothing of the sort with a barnstorming 4-1win over another top-flight opponent in Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. Forest were irresistible as they raced into a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes, albeit helped by [...]
Watch: Reporter violently removed and dragged away by Chinese officers during live broadcast at Beijing Olympics February 6, 2022 A Dutch reporter was in the middle of a live broadcast when Chinese security officials showed up, surrounded him and dragged the journalist away. During a live report on broadcaster NOS, on Friday night, the reporter, Sjoerd den Daas, was mid-air when security officials interrupted and dragged him away. Another officer held his hand in [...]
The Long Weekend: Schnitzels and schmetterlings in Vienna February 6, 2022 The weekend: The schmetterlinghaus in Vienna is almost unbearably hot in August, the high summer sun transforming the humid confines of this tropical greenhouse into a veritable sauna. The schmetterlings seem to love it, flitting between the wet vines in a kaleidoscopic display which, combined with the sweltering heat, can make you feel delirious, as [...]