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Brandy's highly anticipated memoir, Phases, co-written with Gerrick Kennedy, provides an intimate look at the singer's life, detailing her formative years, meteoric rise to fame, and struggles with addiction, bullying, and trauma.Brandy, known as the 'Vocal Bible,' has been in the music industry for over 30 years, with a discography that includes undeniable classics like 'Sittin’ Up in My Room', 'The Boy Is Mine', and 'What About Us?'. Despite her success, she has often been underrated, and her memoir aims to set the record straight.The book delves into Brandy's early life in Mississippi and California, where she developed her singing skills in church choirs and youth groups. It also explores her experiences as a teenage superstar, including her role on the hit sitcom Moesha and her struggles with addiction.Brandy shares stories of bullying, including being targeted by a bully named Shanice, and her complicated relationships with musical idols like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson. She also opens up about a toxic relationship with Wanya Morris of Boyz II Men and her side of the story about her highly publicized feud with Monica.The memoir also touches on Brandy's involvement in a fatal car accident in 2006, which left her with survivor's guilt and a deep sense of responsibility. Through it all, Brandy's love for music remained a constant, and she reflects on her journey to becoming one of the most respected vocalists in the industry.Phases is now available on HarperCollins in the US and will be released in Australia on April 1 and in the UK on April 23.

Desmond Williams, a pioneering architect renowned for his contributions to modern Catholic church design, has passed away at the age of 93. His architectural style was characterized by a unique blend of liturgical function, architectural ambition, and artistic collaboration, setting him apart as a leading figure in post-war British architecture. Williams's work was significantly influenced by the Second Vatican Council in the early 1960s, which led to a shift towards more inclusive and dynamic church designs. His buildings, such as St Mary's church in Dunstable, completed in 1964, showcased his innovative approach. The church's circular form and tetrahedral ceiling, composed of 600 aluminum pyramids, created a modern and immersive worship space. Throughout his career, Williams collaborated with various artists, including Robert Brumby and Pierre Fourmaintraux, to create unified and powerful liturgical spaces. His work was recognized with the listing of four of his churches, a testament to his impact on British architecture. Beyond his architectural achievements, Williams played an influential role in the profession, serving as chair of RIBA's north-west region and president of the Manchester Society of Architects. He was also a generous mentor to young architects and was appointed OBE in 1988.

On Palm Sunday, Christians in Lebanon gathered in churches to commemorate Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, but the celebrations were overshadowed by the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The Maronite Catholic church near Dahiyeh in Beirut's southern suburbs was filled to capacity, despite being close to a largely deserted district due to Israeli evacuation orders and ongoing air strikes.In the coastal city of Tyre, church bells tolled and choral music filled the air as residents sought solace in preserving their sacred traditions amid the devastation. Worshippers prayed earnestly for peace, aware of Lebanon's history of sectarian tensions rooted in the 1975-1990 civil war between Christians and Muslims.Mahia Jamus, a 20-year-old university student in Beirut, expressed concern that no one is safe from the conflict's effects. "There's no bombing here right now, but no one is safe from this—not the Christians, not anyone," she said. "No one is spared from its effects."In Tyre, Roseth Katra, 41, emphasized the importance of preserving traditions despite the surrounding devastation. "Amid the wars, the tragedies, and the destruction happening around us, we remain on our land," she said. "Today is Palm Sunday, and we are celebrating."The conflict has resulted in at least 1,238 people killed and over 3,500 wounded in Israeli attacks since March 2, according to Lebanon's Ministry of Health. Israeli troops have launched a ground invasion advancing towards the Litani River, while Hezbollah has claimed dozens of operations against Israeli forces.

Israeli police have taken unprecedented action by blocking Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday. This move marks a significant escalation in tensions, as it is the first time in centuries that the Heads of the Church have been prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at this sacred site.The Catholic Church strongly condemned the decision, describing it as a 'manifestly unreasonable and grossly disproportionate measure' that disregards the sensibilities of billions of people worldwide. The Church emphasized that this incident represents an extreme departure from basic principles of reasonableness, freedom of worship, and respect for the status quo.Israeli police cited safety concerns due to the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran as the reason for closing all holy sites in Jerusalem. However, this explanation has been met with criticism from various countries, including Italy and France. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the incident as 'an offence not only to the faithful, but to any community that respects religious freedom.'The incident has sparked international condemnation, with French President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing that worship 'for all religions' must be guaranteed in Jerusalem. The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also summoned Israel's ambassador over the incident, highlighting the growing diplomatic fallout.

Recent headlines suggesting a Christian revival in Britain, based on a YouGov survey claiming increasing church attendance, have been dramatically undermined by the revelation that the data was fraudulent and subsequently withdrawn. This incident has sparked serious concerns about the integrity of polling data in an era of advancing artificial intelligence.The Bible Society's 2024 report, which claimed church attendance was rising particularly among young people, has become a case study in how AI-generated bogus responses are infesting online surveys. Researchers warn that this vulnerability extends beyond religious statistics to potentially distort our understanding of broader social trends.David Voas, a quantitative social scientist at University College London, emphasized the difficulty of correcting such misinformation once it spreads. "The amount of effort required to correct it is an order of magnitude higher than the effort needed to disseminate it in the first place," he stated, noting that this problem affects polling companies beyond just YouGov.The growth of AI has exacerbated this issue, according to Sean Westwood, an associate professor at Dartmouth College. "The assumption with survey research – that someone gives coherent, logical answers, they're a real person – that assumption is now broken," he explained. Westwood warned that AI models pose an existential threat to our understanding of society.Westwood detailed how AI can be weaponized: "A single sentence of instruction is enough to systematically bias its answers on political polls or geopolitical questions, while keeping its demographic profile intact so the manipulation is invisible to standard screening." Even without explicit instructions to cheat, AI can identify what a researcher is testing and produce data that confirms the hypothesis.The problem is particularly acute with surveys targeting younger demographics. Courtney Kennedy, vice-president of methods and innovation at Pew Research Center, noted that "bogus respondents tend to respond in the affirmative, no matter what is asked" – a positivity bias that inflates estimates. Younger respondents are also more likely to be misrepresented by fraudulent participants.As AI technology rapidly evolves, researchers face a constant challenge. "A researcher might design a clever new trap that catches today's models, but model development moves so fast that the fix is likely obsolete within months," Westwood cautioned.In response, YouGov has implemented detection methods including identity checks, device fingerprinting, and real-time threat scoring. However, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in modern polling systems as AI continues to advance.

Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the UK's military capabilities, describing its aircraft carriers as 'toys' compared to those of the US. Speaking at the White House, Trump claimed that the UK had offered to send two aircraft carriers to support US military actions against Iran, but he had rejected the offer, saying 'Don't bother, we don't need it.'The comments have sparked a fresh row between Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has refused to engage directly with the US president's repeated insults. Starmer has emphasized his focus on addressing the UK's domestic priorities, including the cost of living crisis, and has reiterated his commitment to defending British interests while avoiding escalation.Tensions between the US and UK have been rising over Nato's role in the conflict with Iran. Trump has expressed disappointment with Nato allies, accusing them of not doing enough to support the US. He also criticized Starmer for not providing sufficient support, saying 'He's not exactly Winston Churchill.'In response, Starmer has reaffirmed the UK's commitment to its Nato allies while emphasizing the need to address the threat posed by Russia. During a visit to Finland, Starmer warned of a 'war on two fronts' – Ukraine and Iran – and highlighted the importance of cooperation between Nato allies to counter these threats.The UK has deployed a warship, HMS Dragon, to the eastern Mediterranean in response to an Iranian-made missile launch from Lebanon at a UK RAF base in Cyprus. Officials are also considering deploying a Royal Navy vessel to support efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.

Sir Paul Marshall, the co-owner of GB News and a self-described 'committed' Christian, has been criticized by a group of 100 church leaders over the TV channel's attacks on climate science and action. The leaders, including former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, argue that Marshall's statements on climate change are misleading and that his hedge fund's £1.8bn investments in fossil fuels present a conflict of interest.Marshall has stated that the UK has been infected by 'climate derangement syndrome' and that efforts to cut planet-heating emissions are 'impoverishing people.' In response, the church leaders emphasized that 100% of global heating since 1950 has been caused by human emissions and activities, according to the world's climate scientists. They also noted that decarbonization is a huge growth opportunity that will save trillions of dollars in the long term.The leaders, in an open letter, urged Marshall to be transparent about any personal conflicts of interest and to declare his financial interests in fossil fuels. They cited research that found GB News broadcast 953 attacks on climate science and climate action in the period immediately before and after the 2024 general election.Marshall responded that 'the Gospel entreats us to look after the vulnerable' but argued that pursuing an 'ideological' net zero policy was 'a path of unilateral economic disarmament and self-harm.' He also stated that he was not involved in the editorial decisions of GB News, which has lost £131m since its launch in 2021.The Christian leaders' criticism of Marshall and GB News highlights the ongoing debate over climate change and the role of media outlets in shaping public discourse on the issue. As more than 100 countries have net zero policies and the UK's net zero economy grew by 10% in 2024, the pressure on media outlets to provide accurate and responsible reporting on climate issues continues to grow.

Russia has carried out one of its largest aerial attacks on Ukraine, launching 948 drones in a 24-hour period as it moves troops and equipment to the front line in what appears to be the start of its new offensive.The attacks have resulted in civilian casualties, with two people killed in the western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk and one person killed in the region of Vinnytsia. The city of Lviv has also been targeted, with footage showing a drone crashing into an old building next to a church in the historic centre.Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a new appeal for allies to supply Kyiv with air defence munitions, warning that Kyiv will face a deficit of missiles while Washington is focused on the US-Israeli war on Iran.The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has reported that Russia has moved heavy equipment and more troops to the front line, with General Oleksandr Syrskii, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces, saying Russian troops have made simultaneous attempts to break through defensive lines in several strategic areas.Russia's new offensive is seen as an escalation of its war of attrition, which has been unable to capture cities but has made incremental gains across rural areas.

Dario Fo, born 100 years ago, was a multifaceted genius who seamlessly blended politics and comedy in his works. As a dramatist, actor, director, and designer, he brought satire to the masses, achieving a global reach with plays like Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Can't Pay? Won't Pay!, which justly earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997.Fo's background was marked by his involvement in wartime resistance against the Nazis in northern Italy, where he helped smuggle Allied soldiers across the border to Switzerland. His career in entertainment began with a weekly TV variety show that attracted huge audiences, but was abruptly ended due to his refusal to accept censorship.Fo's theatre company, Nuova Scena, gave the first performance of Mistero Buffo, his one-man show that satirized the Catholic Church. The show was condemned by the Vatican as 'the most blasphemous show in the history of television.'Fo's plays injected new life into political theatre, with Accidental Death of an Anarchist being a notable example. The play derived from a real-life case of a railway worker falsely accused of planting bombs and who 'fell' out of a police HQ window. The play's 2023 revival at the Sheffield Crucible, which transferred to the West End, showcased its timeless relevance, with Daniel Rigby's performance being 'breathlessly funny.'Fo's works provided actors with memorable roles, such as Griff Rhys Jones' virtuoso performance in Trumpets and Raspberries. His approach to comedy was rooted in tragedy, using laughter as a means to make audiences confront problems like cruelty, injustice, and oppression.Throughout his career, Fo faced significant harassment, including 45 prosecutions from the Italian police, and physical intimidation from both the Catholic Church and the Communist Party. Despite this, his legacy as a master of merging politics and comedy endures.