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Turkey is in mourning after a deadly school shooting in the southern province of Kahramanmaras left nine people dead, including eight students and a teacher. The attacker, identified as 14-year-old Isa Aras Mersinli, opened fire on two classrooms at the Ayser Calik School on Wednesday before being found dead.Funerals were held on Thursday for the victims, including maths teacher Ayla Kara, 55. A 10th victim died while being treated in hospital on Thursday, and six of those wounded in the attack were in critical condition.The interior minister, Mustafa Ciftci, said the attacker is believed to have used guns that belonged to his father, a former police officer. The attack was the country's second school shooting in two days, following an attack on Tuesday at a high school in Sanliurfa province that wounded 16 people.At a funeral for four of the victims held near Kahramanmaras city's main mosque on Thursday, one father sat motionless beside the coffin of his daughter, 10-year-old Zeynep. "Our grief is endless. These children were like our own. They were all innocent," said Vezir Yucel, father of a student named Yusuf, who lost his close friend, 10-year-old Bayram, in the shooting.The interior and education ministries held a joint school security meeting in the capital, Ankara, on Thursday, which was attended by both ministers and all 81 of Turkey's provincial governors, as well as police chiefs and provincial education directors. Dozens of students were arrested on Thursday over alleged social media posts implying they might stage similar attacks.Justice Minister Akin Gurlek announced that 67 social media users were detained over posts targeting 54 different schools. The incident has raised concerns about school safety and the rise of gun violence in Turkey.

The newly opened V&A East Museum in Stratford marks the latest milestone in the East Bank cultural quarter on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The £135 million, architect‑designed outpost sits beside the V&A Storehouse—recently listed among Time’s “World’s Greatest Places to Visit 2026”—and joins Sadler’s Wells East, the London College of Fashion and the forthcoming BBC Music Studios.Once described by V&A East director Gus Casely‑Hayford as “a place where fridges went to die”, the area has been transformed into a vibrant creative hub. Yet outside London, many venues face falling visitor numbers, job cuts and closures, highlighting a stark contrast with the newly polished facilities.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is betting on the Arts Everywhere Fund—a £1.5 billion package over five years announced in 2025—to shore up the sector’s creaking infrastructure. This week, £130 million was distributed to more than 130 museums, theatres, venues and libraries, representing the largest cash injection into the arts for a decade.The funding reaches a diverse range of institutions, from Newcastle’s iconic Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art to the modest Armitt Museum in Ambleside, and from the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford to Gloucestershire’s trailblazing TwoCan Theatre Company, which offers workshops for deaf, neurodivergent and disabled participants.Despite these initiatives, the UK remains among the lowest spenders on culture in Europe, with per‑capita public funding down nearly a third since 2010. Nevertheless, the cultural sector contributed an estimated £40 billion to the economy in 2024, underscoring its role as a significant wealth generator and a soft‑power asset.Financial support must also reach the people who run these institutions. Over the past year, staff at several leading museums have staged protests and faced redundancies, and even before its doors opened, V&A East workers sent an open letter demanding a living wage for all employees.In its inaugural year, the V&A Storehouse attracted 500,000 visitors, many of whom were younger, more diverse and locally based than the museum’s traditional audiences. The new V&A East hopes to replicate this success, emphasizing the need for parallel investment in arts education to nurture future audiences.Decades of neglect cannot be reversed overnight, and costs continue to rise. While the Arts Everywhere Fund is a cause for celebration, it also signals Labour’s broader commitment to making art accessible to everyone, reinforcing the message that, even in tough times, culture matters.

Manchester City's Pep Guardiola appears set to capitalize on Arsenal's recent stumble in the Premier League title race. The Citizens are on a roll, having won 21 of their last 22 home league games, while Arsenal has lost three consecutive domestic matches.Guardiola's tactics, shaped by Johan Cruyff's legacy of possession-dominant football, have been key to City's success. He encourages his players to take risks and play creatively, as evident in his instructions to Oleksandr Zinchenko before a crucial match against Liverpool in 2021: 'Play football! Demand the ball!'In contrast, Mikel Arteta's Arsenal seems to be playing it safe, with a more functional forward line and a reliance on set pieces. This approach has led to a slump in form, with the Gunners struggling to create scoring opportunities from open play.The two managers have a shared history, having worked together at Manchester City and developed in Barcelona's youth academy under Cruyff's guidance. However, their current approaches differ significantly, with Guardiola's City thriving on confidence and creativity, while Arsenal appears burdened by the pressure to perform.Prospect Theory offers insight into the psychological factors at play. As Arsenal chases the title, they may be experiencing 'loss aversion,' becoming more cautious and risk-averse. Meanwhile, City's players, with less to lose, are more open to taking risks and pushing for victory.The stage is set for a thrilling title showdown at the Etihad Stadium, with Guardiola's City looking to exploit Arsenal's vulnerabilities and secure the Premier League crown.

Newcastle 0-1 Manchester United (1995‑96) – With a 12‑point cushion, Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle seemed destined for the crown, but Alex Ferguson’s United halted their march at St James’ Park. Peter Schmeichel’s saves kept the Magpies at bay, and Eric Cantona’s late volley secured the win, narrowing the gap to a single point and setting the stage for United’s eventual triumph.Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal (1997‑98) – Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal turned the tables at Old Trafford when Marc Overmars scored the first Arsenal goal at the venue in the Premier League era. The victory sparked a ten‑game winning streak that propelled Arsenal from sixth place to clinch the title by a solitary point, underscoring the match’s seismic impact.Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea (2009‑10) – In Carlo Ancelotti’s debut season, Chelsea needed a win to stay in the title hunt. A brilliant Joe Cole back‑heel opened the scoring, but a late switch to Didier Drogba produced a second goal that put Chelsea ahead. United’s missed chances, including a late miss by Dimitar Berbatov, meant Chelsea finished the season champions by just one point.Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United (2011‑12) – After an early‑season 6‑1 defeat, City found themselves eight points adrift. Vincent Kompany’s decisive header against United in April gave City the momentum they needed, though the title would ultimately be decided on the final day when City’s dramatic comeback against QPR secured the trophy.Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool (2018‑19) – A January showdown that proved pivotal: Liverpool entered unbeaten and seven points ahead. A narrow save by John Stones kept City in the game, Sergio Agüero opened the scoring, and Leroy Sané’s late strike clinched a 2‑1 win. City went on to win the league by a point; a draw for Liverpool would have handed them an unbeaten championship.

The Premier League is heating up with a series of high-stakes matches this weekend. Manchester City's clash with Arsenal on Sunday could prove decisive in the title race, with City looking to close the gap and potentially take the lead. In other key matches, Tottenham Hotspur host Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, with Spurs desperate to avoid relegation. Chelsea welcomes Manchester United to Stamford Bridge in the evening kick-off, with both teams eager to secure a win and boost their European qualification hopes. On Sunday, the Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool takes center stage, with Liverpool seeking to maintain their Champions League qualification bid. Leeds United host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, with Leeds aiming to take a significant step towards Premier League safety. The weekend's action also features Women's Six Nations and County Championship cricket, with several teams vying for promotion and top honors in their respective competitions.

Olivia Rodrigo returns with “Drop Dead,” a single that instantly grabs listeners with a razor‑sharp lyric about online stalking and instant infatuation. The opening couplet—“One night I was bored in bed / And stalked you on the internet”—sets a tone of modern romance that feels both playful and unnervingly catchy.The 23‑year‑old, who burst onto the global stage in 2021 after a Disney Channel stint, has built a reputation for “acute, obsessive” love songs that balance self‑awareness with raw emotion. Her debut “Drivers License” cemented her as a heartbreak anthem, while the pop‑punk edge of her first album Sour and the riot‑grrrl‑infused follow‑up Guts displayed her versatility.“Drop Dead” marks a decisive pivot from the punk‑kiss‑off expectations that surrounded her recent breakup. Instead of a straightforward revenge track, the song delivers a “gorgeous rush of romantic intensity,” aiming to freeze a fleeting moment before plunging back into it with relentless momentum.The track’s production, helmed by longtime collaborator Dan Nigro, layers lush strings and bright power‑pop guitars, creating a sound that feels “one bauble short of festive.” Critics note a vocal delivery that stays in Rodrigo’s highest register throughout the chorus, with melodic bends that echo both Chappell Roan’s maximalism and Taylor Swift’s signature style.Visually, the music video—directed by Petra Collins and filmed at the Palace of Versailles—portrays Rodrigo as a runaway figure reminiscent of Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” and Emma Corrin’s Diana in “The Crown.” The lavish setting amplifies the song’s theatricality.Adding a rock pedigree, the single includes a subtle nod to Rodrigo’s friendship with The Cure’s Robert Smith, referencing his classic “Just Like Heaven.” Their rapport, highlighted in a recent Vogue cover story, underscores Rodrigo’s expanding artistic circle.Overall, “Drop Dead” blends maximalist pop production, romantic lyricism, and rock‑infused credibility, delivering a track that feels both instantly addictive and deliberately chaotic—mirroring the messy emotions it portrays.

Javokhir Sindarov sealed the men’s Candidates in Pegeia, Cyprus, with a historic 10 out of 14 points, finishing 1.5 points clear of Anish Giri. The 20‑year‑old Uzbek also posted the highest tally of six wins and eight draws since the current Candidates format began in 2013. In the women’s section, India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu claimed the title by a narrow ½‑point margin over Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva. Sindarov’s play evoked the classic Soviet master Mikhail Botvinnik, with meticulous opening preparation that often anticipated his opponents’ ideas deep into the endgame. When pressure mounted – notably in his second round against world No. 3 and US champion Fabiano Caruana – his defensive technique remained precise and confident. Final standings (14 rounds): Sindarov 10, Giri 8.5, Caruana 7.5, Wei Yi 7, Hikaru Nakamura 6.5, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu 6, Matthias Blübaum 6, Andrey Esipenko 4.5. The upcoming world championship match will be a best‑of‑14 showdown, pitting Sindarov against reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju. Both will be 20 years old when the contest takes place in the second half of 2026, though the venue remains undecided. Gukesh’s recent dip to 15th in the ratings has added intrigue to the encounter. Analysts rate Sindarov as at least a 60 % favourite, while India’s grandmaster cohort – led by former champion Viswanathan Anand – is expected to rally behind Gukesh. Speculation also surrounds Magnus Carlsen, the current world No. 1, who stepped away from the classical crown in 2023. He indicated a willingness to defend only against Alireza Firouzja, but Firouzja’s recent focus on blitz and fashion has left the door open for a possible Carlsen‑Sindarov clash, should the Norwegian be persuaded. Sindarov’s rise is remarkable: he earned the grandmaster title at 12 years 10 months, later fell into a teenage obsession with the video game Counter‑Strike, and refocused on chess after defeating Firouzja at the 2021 World Cup. His resurgence helped Uzbekistan win gold at the 2022 Olympiad. Financial projections suggest a potential $10 million revenue stream for a Carlsen‑vs‑Sindarov title match, a figure that could also bolster Carlsen’s claim as the all‑time No. 1 ahead of Garry Kasparov. Nonetheless, Carlsen’s aversion to the intensive computer‑prep demanded by modern classical play remains a major hurdle. Carlsen may instead target the forthcoming 2027 FIDE World Total Championship Tour, which blends classical, rapid, and blitz formats, offering a more varied competitive landscape. In the Women’s Candidates, Vaishali Rameshbabu staged a stunning turnaround. After a 0‑5 start, she surged to the top after round 11, maintained a one‑point lead despite a round‑12 loss to China’s Zhu Jiner, and clinched the final round with a decisive victory over Kateryna Lagno in a sharp Sicilian Dragon, delivering the winning combination 39 Rd8+! 40 c4! Women’s final scores (14 rounds): Vaishali 8.5, Assaubayeva 8, Aleksandra Goryachkina 7.5, Zhu 7.5, Anna Muzychuk 7, Kateryna Lagno 6.5, Divya Deshmukh 5.5, Tan Zhongyi 5.5. Five‑time women’s world champion Ju Wenjun enters the upcoming title defence as a clear favourite, holding a peak rating above 2600 and currently rated 2559 against Vaishali’s 2470. Elsewhere, English GM Dan Fernandez posted an unbeaten 7/9 at the Menorca Open, achieving a 2601 performance rating and boosting his chances for selection to the England Olympiad squad. Young talents also featured: Argentina’s Faustino Oro and England’s Supratit Banerjee – both 12‑year‑olds – failed to secure their final GM norms, while India’s 10‑year‑old prodigy Aarit Kapil became only the fifth player ever to earn an IM norm before turning 11, later flirting with a historic GM norm. The English Chess Federation will host a 24‑hour chess marathon on Chess.com in memory of coaches GM Jonathan Hawkins and IM Adam Hunt, with proceeds supporting Macmillan Cancer Support. 4020: 1…Bxd4! 2 cxd4 Nf4! 3 Qb3 Qxf1+! 4 Kxf1 Rc1+ 5 Qd1 Rxd1 #

The cyberpunk genre is renowned for its arresting imagery, with petroleum flares illuminating the perpetually rainy landscapes of movies like Blade Runner. Replaced, a new 2D action-platformer from Belarus-based Sad Cat Studios, adopts a similar visual style but with a unique twist: it incorporates softly diffusing sepia and warm primary colours, creating a comforting rather than ominous atmosphere.The game's story follows Warren, a scientist who merges with a powerful AI, becoming a man-machine entity. The gameplay involves platforming and combat, but the article notes that Replaced relies heavily on familiar action-platformer tropes in its early stages. However, as the game progresses, it introduces a refugee encampment with a more relaxed pace, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment.Despite its beautiful visuals, Replaced's generic irradiated wilds often detract from the experience. The game's most memorable section involves sneaking back into a heavily guarded facility, where the atmosphere and tension are palpable. This section stands out for its powerful evocation of real-world issues, such as the Mexico-US border wall and the West Bank barrier.Replaced is now available for £16.99/$19.99, offering a unique blend of cyberpunk nostalgia and action-platforming gameplay, albeit with some familiar flaws.

War, energy crises and supply‑chain disruptions are eroding confidence across Europe, driving up energy costs and exposing dependence on fossil fuels and critical minerals. These challenges highlight the continent’s structural vulnerabilities.At the same time, coordinated European action—such as the joint effort to protect Greenland’s sovereignty—demonstrates how a united front can expand political and security options. Despite turbulence, Europe remains a highly attractive place to live and work.Germany’s next step, according to Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, is to secure a sovereign future that is not rooted in nationalism but in collective European strength. He stresses that Europe’s resilience depends on its ability to act independently of external pressures from the United States, China or Russia.The government is launching a €500 bn investment fund aimed at modernising infrastructure and delivering high‑quality public goods. Coupled with a recent amendment to the “debt brake,” this financing will enable upgrades to the armed forces and deeper NATO engagement.Klingbeil also points to Europe’s talent drain, noting that many start‑ups relocate to the United States due to limited capital. To counter this, he advocates accelerating the single European capital‑markets union, giving firms easier access to financing.Germany’s traditional system of collective bargaining—linking unions, employers and the state—offers a strategic advantage during crises. Building on this, the proposed tax overhaul aims to raise disposable incomes for roughly 95 % of households while asking the wealthiest to contribute more.With a part‑time employment rate close to 40 %, one of the highest in the EU, and half of women working part‑time, the reform agenda targets structural labour‑market barriers. Current measures, such as income‑splitting for married couples, can discourage higher earnings because of benefit withdrawal thresholds.Investments in childcare facilities and the expansion of all‑day schools are also on the agenda, intended to ease family life and support higher labour‑force participation.Affordability measures will focus on reducing energy, transport and housing costs while improving education and childcare provision.The ongoing conflict in Iran reinforces the need for a decisive energy transition. Klingbeil calls for expanded wind and solar capacity, larger electricity‑storage solutions, and modernised grids, warning that any push to revive nuclear power threatens Germany’s sovereignty.Europe must continue to champion open trade, as illustrated by recent EU agreements with Australia, Mercosur nations and India. Yet, to guard against unfair competition, the bloc should consider local‑content rules and “Buy European” policies in strategic sectors, and tighten investment‑protection standards to ensure foreign takeovers deliver tangible economic and technological benefits.Public officials must lead the charge, but businesses are also urged to prioritize community and employee welfare over short‑term profit motives.These domestic reforms and external alliances are presented as two sides of the same coin: a confident, democratic Europe that acknowledges its weaknesses, embraces bold change, and sets its own terms on the global stage.Upcoming progressive leaders’ meetings in Barcelona (April 17‑18) will serve as a platform to cement this vision, positioning a reformed Germany as a cornerstone of a stronger Europe.In Klingbeil’s words, “strength is freedom; sovereignty is not about walls, but about having the power to keep them down.”