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The creation of the soundtrack for the film 'Mother Mary' was a collaborative effort between director David Lowery, actress Anne Hathaway, musician FKA twigs, and producers Charli xcx and Jack Antonoff. The film, which explores the story of a fictional pop star, required a soundtrack that captured the essence of 21st-century pop music.Lowery spent time studying the music of the last 25 years, including artists like Taylor Swift, Lorde, and FKA twigs, who appears in the film as a medium named Imogene. As the film's story emerged, Lowery's musical influences shifted towards artists like James Blake and Aldous Harding, who better captured the emotional tone of the film.Anne Hathaway, who plays Mother Mary, had a background in theater and had won an Oscar for her performance in the musical Les Misérables. However, the recording process for 'Mother Mary: Greatest Hits' was a new experience for her. She spent time with Jack Antonoff to record the soundtrack, exploring her vocal range and learning about production. She even changed minor lyrics to better fit her character.FKA twigs contributed to the soundtrack with her song 'My Mouth Is Lonely for You', which was not included in the final film but showcased her ability to create shimmeringly erotic and captivating music. Her other contribution, an ethereal song, was used in a scene featuring the dress Mother Mary requires from her former friend and designer, Sam.The soundtrack, 'Mother Mary: Greatest Hits', paints a uniform portrait of a 21st-century pop star with a cult-like following and avant-garde fashion sense. The music and performance footage have been acclaimed, with Hathaway and twigs delivering standout performances.Hathaway describes Mother Mary as a pop star who embodies a type of stardom that is neat, perfect, and huge, with a mass appeal that is slightly glossier than what twigs and xcx have experienced. The film implies that Mother Mary's fandom is attracted to her ecstasy and vulnerability, with fans feeling safe around her and seeking a motherly figure.

Average private rents across Great Britain have halted their near‑decade‑long climb, with the typical advertised rent outside London remaining at £1,370 per month during the first quarter of 2026, according to Rightmove data.That flat reading marks the first time since 2017 that rents have not risen in the opening three months of a year compared with the end of the previous year, signalling a potential easing of the chronic affordability squeeze that has plagued tenants.Rightmove warned that many renters are now hitting the “ceiling” of what they can afford, a trend compounded by broader cost‑of‑living pressures. Estate agent Jeremy Leaf noted that the Iran war that began on 28 February has heightened tenants’ financial anxieties.Conversely, the conflict has spurred a modest influx of migrants from the Middle East, bolstering demand in the “prime” rental segment, according to Chestertons.Rightmove’s property expert Colleen Babcock cautioned that the war’s immediate impact is an increase in borrowing costs for landlords, which could later translate into higher rents.In response to the softening market, landlords are “positioning rents correctly for the current market.” About 26 % of rental listings have been reduced in price while advertised – the highest proportion recorded since Rightmove began tracking this metric in 2012.After years of demand outstripping supply, the market now shows signs of balance: the number of homes available for rent is 3 % higher than a year ago, and supply is at its strongest level for this time of year since 2021.London’s average advertised rent rose modestly by 0.7 % to £2,736 per month, still below the record peak reached in the summer of 2025.The sector is also bracing for regulatory change. The Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, will abolish Section 21 of the Housing Act, ending “no‑fault” evictions. Charities have warned of a potential surge in last‑minute evictions ahead of the deadline, but Rightmove reported no noticeable increase in newly listed rentals before the law takes effect.Analysts view the pause in rent growth as a temporary relief for tenants, yet warn that higher financing costs for landlords and the upcoming tenancy reforms could reignite upward pressure later in the year.

Japan has taken a significant step in its foreign policy by easing its arms export rules, marking a departure from its eight-decade-long pacifist stance. This move comes as trust in US President Donald Trump declines, with him wavering on security commitments to allies and involvement in conflicts in Iran and Ukraine.The Japanese government has approved a record defense budget of $58 billion for 2026, reflecting a push to strengthen military and coastal defenses amid rising global tensions. The new budget forms part of a broader $784 billion national budget for the fiscal year beginning in April 2026.Under the new budget, over $6.2 billion is earmarked to enhance Japan's 'standoff' missile capabilities, including the purchase of domestically produced and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles. This move is seen as a response to China's growing military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.Japan's key defense contractors, Toshiba and Mitsubishi Electric, are hiring staff and adding capacity to capitalize on demand for arms. Countries such as the Philippines and Poland are expected to become customers of Japanese arms.The easing of arms export rules is part of Japan's efforts to shape its own security policy and reduce its military dependence on the US. This shift is driven by the need to build defense supply chains in Asia that do not rely on the US, particularly in light of Washington's preoccupation with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.Japanese companies are eager to boost sales by selling their products abroad, with Toshiba planning to hire 500 people over the next three years and constructing new testing and manufacturing facilities. The company's vice president, Kenji Kobayashi, noted that 'reputational risk is not what it used to be.'The US has welcomed Japan's initiatives to boost defense spending and take regional security into its own hands, with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth praising Japan's investment in its defense capabilities.

England's women's football team is on a roll, maintaining a 100% record in their World Cup qualifying group after a win against Spain. While their target is to win a first world title, the journey is long, and several players have enhanced their prospects of selection. Eight players from the recent match against Spain look set to be in the first-choice XI for the World Cup, including Hannah Hampton, Lucy Bronze, and Lauren Hemp. Senior players like Leah Williamson and Ella Toone will also be key when they return from injuries. Three players who started against Spain have significantly boosted their chances. Centre-backs Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy were exemplary, helping England keep a clean sheet against the world champions. Morgan, 25, and Wubben-Moy, 27, have had to be patient during Sarina Wiegman's tenure but did not look out of place. Morgan said she was proud of the team's concentration and organisation, while Wiegman praised them, saying, 'They showed up today. It says a lot about them. They should be proud of themselves.' Another player who impressed was Lucia Kendall, the 21-year-old Aston Villa midfielder tasked with taking on Barcelona's Patricia Guijarro. Despite a quiet evening, Kendall worked hard and nearly scored from close range. Wiegman also displayed trust in Laura Blindkilde Brown, who came on as a 72nd-minute substitute to help close out the victory. Her contributions to Manchester City's likely title success will enhance her chances for 2027. The upcoming match against Iceland will provide further opportunities for players like Jess Park, who has been in inspired form for Manchester United. New faces Erica Meg Parkinson and Keira Barry have received their first senior call-ups and will look to make an impression.

Wall Street climbed to a fresh all‑time high on Wednesday as investor confidence rose on the prospect that the US‑Israel war with Iran could soon end.The benchmark S&P 500 closed at 7,022.95, breaking the 7,000‑point barrier for the first time and posting a 0.8% gain. The tech‑heavy Nasdaq surged 1.6% to 24,016.02, also a record, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average remained broadly flat.This rally has erased the steep losses recorded during the early weeks of the conflict, buoyed by the two‑week cease‑fire deal announced last week between the United States and Iran.In a Wednesday interview, former President Donald Trump told Fox Business the war was “very close to over,” a statement that lifted trader sentiment.The White House later clarified it had not requested an extension to the cease‑fire, which is set to expire on 22 April, but said negotiations were “productive and ongoing.”Quarterly earnings from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley beat market estimates, reinforcing confidence in the economy. Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan highlighted strong consumer spending, improving credit quality, and increased corporate line usage.Despite reports that the United States is preparing a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments—the markets stayed upbeat. The Pentagon has deployed 15 warships and thousands of service members to enforce the restriction.Oil markets reacted positively to the cease‑fire news, with Brent crude falling about 10% to around $95 a barrel, though this price remains roughly 35% above pre‑conflict levels.

Madonna has confirmed the arrival of her 15th studio album, "Confessions II," positioned as a direct follow‑up to the 2005 disco‑infused masterpiece Confessions on a Dance Floor. The new record is scheduled to drop on 3 July 2026 and reunites the pop icon with British producer Stuart Price, who helmed the original. In a candid statement, Madonna framed the project as a manifesto for dance: "We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies… the dance floor is a ritualistic space where we connect with our wounds and fragility." She emphasized that rave culture is an art form that reshapes perception through sound, light, and vibration. The artist also quoted lyrics from a forthcoming track, One Step Away, underscoring the theme: "People think that dance music is superficial, but they’ve got it all wrong. The dancefloor is not just a place, it’s a threshold—a ritualistic space where movement replaces language." Accompanying the announcement, Madonna posted a YouTube teaser featuring a deep‑house groove layered with a spoken soliloquy: “Thanks for coming… on the dancefloor I feel so free.” The video, embedded below, offers the first audible glimpse of the album’s direction. Critics anticipate that Confessions II will revive the nightclub‑centric sound that powered hits such as Vogue, Music and the Abba‑sampled lead single Hung Up. Those tracks cemented Madonna’s return to global mega‑pop status after the lukewarm reception of 2003’s American Life. Since the original Confessions, Madonna has explored a variety of styles—pop, R&B, hip‑hop on Hard Candy, MDNA, and Rebel Heart, then the eclectic, Portuguese‑fado‑infused Madame X. She has also revisited her back catalogue with releases like Veronica Electronica (remixes from the Ray of Light era) and the EP Bedtime Stories: The Untold Chapter, which unearthed demos from 1994. Stuart Price, known for projects such as Les Rythmes Digitales, Zoot Woman and Thin White Duke, previously helped shape Confessions on a Dance Floor into a chart‑topping phenomenon—"Hung Up" reached No. 1 in 41 countries, and its follow‑up single "Sorry" topped the UK charts. Madonna’s recent collaborations include the track Popular with The Weeknd and Playboi Carti for the TV series The Idol, as well as a partnership with Christine and the Queens, signaling her continued relevance across genres. After surviving a severe bacterial infection in 2023 that required a medically induced coma, she launched the expansive Celebration tour, culminating in a historic concert for 1.6 million fans in Rio de Janeiro. The upcoming album therefore arrives at a moment when Madonna’s live presence and cultural influence are at a peak.

Moya Brennan's voice was a remarkable instrument that captivated audiences worldwide, particularly with Clannad's hit song Theme from Harry's Game, which reached No 5 in the charts in 1982, sung in Irish Gaelic.Her distinctive voice, described as light as a leaf, provided a sacred counterpoint to the band's layered harmonies and Prophet 5 synthesiser sounds, guiding them to new musical territories.Brennan's impact extended beyond music, influencing the transportive possibilities of traditional music in film and TV soundtracks, including Robin of Sherwood, Titanic, and the King Arthur film adaptation.Her singing and harp-playing, nurtured in her parents' remote tavern in County Donegal, formed the foundation of Clannad's unique sound, characterised by 'blood harmony' with her siblings and uncles.Brennan's legacy paved the way for global success of artists like Enya and influenced Kate Bush's The Ninth Wave and The Beloved's The Sun Rising.Throughout her career, Brennan collaborated with various artists, including Bono, Bruce Hornsby, and the Blue Nile, and continued to perform and record music until her terminal diagnosis with pulmonary fibrosis.Her final performance, an a cappella rendition of Clannad's Gaoth Barra Na dTonn on a RTÉ show, was profoundly moving, showcasing her enduring spirit and vocal talent.

As millions of Americans rush to file their taxes on Tax Day, a new report reveals that the average US household spent $4,049 on military-related spending in 2025, up from $3,707 in 2024. This increase comes as Donald Trump pushes for a 40% increase in federal defense spending, despite growing concerns over rising living costs and government expenditure.The report by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) thinktank found that military-related spending in 2025 includes about $1,870 going to Pentagon contractors, $770 to military personnel, $130 for nuclear weapons, and $57 for aid to foreign militaries. The spending does not account for the cost of the US-Israeli war with Iran, which began in February 2026 and has already exceeded $11.3bn in the first six days alone.The IPS report highlights that these enormous sums for the Pentagon and militarism come with enormous costs to ordinary people – both in terms of the opportunity cost for other programs and the drain on their wallets. The analysis is based on an average 'tax filing unit' with a total taxable income of $104,000.Americans have filed their taxes this year amid growing public concern over cost of living, taxes, and government spending. A recent Fox News poll found that 70% of registered voters surveyed believe their taxes are too high, up 11 points from last year. The same poll also found that 29% of registered voters said they were concerned with 'how the government spends their tax dollars.'Beyond military spending, the report estimates that $2,492 of the average taxpayer's federal income tax went to Medicaid, $2,207 to Medicare, and $31 to substance abuse and mental health programs. The report also found that the average taxpayer paid about $396 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) and $607 for the Department of Education.The data has significant implications for the economy, as US inflation surged in March with prices up 0.9% compared with last month and 3.3% over the year, amid the US-Israel war with Iran. The University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey recorded a 10.7% drop to its lowest level on record.

The biggest public backer of World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture co‑founded by the Trump family, has publicly accused the firm of embedding a covert "backdoor blacklisting" feature that allows it to freeze token holdings at will. On Sunday, blockchain entrepreneur Justin Sun posted on X, alleging that World Liberty’s smart contracts for the WLFI token contain a tool that can unilaterally freeze, restrict, or confiscate any user’s assets without cause or recourse. Sun did not provide evidence, but said his own wallet was locked in September, making him the "first and single largest victim" of the alleged mechanism. World Liberty responded on X, stating, "We have the contracts. We have the evidence. We have the truth. See you in court, pal," and directed observers to its own posts for clarification. The company’s official risk disclosures do note that it may block or freeze addresses deemed linked to illegal activity or terms violations – a practice also employed by other crypto issuers such as Tether. Sun, who invested tens of millions of dollars in WLFI and later increased his stake to at least $75 million according to his 2025 posts, has not shared the purported blockchain records that supposedly show his wallet being blacklisted by a single administrative account. World Liberty, launched in 2024, claimed it would empower small investors through a decentralized‑finance app that has yet to launch. Reuters analysis indicated the venture generated **more than $460 million** for the Trump family in the first half of 2025. In March, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled a 2023 lawsuit against Sun for $10 million, alleging fraud and the sale of unregistered crypto securities. Sun made no admission of wrongdoing. The dispute highlights the murky regulatory environment for crypto in the United States, where the SEC has limited jurisdiction and has declined to comment on the legality of token‑freezing practices.