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The LeadGame of Thrones actress Hannah Murray shares her experience of being sectioned in a psychiatric hospital in her new memoir "The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness." The actress describes her mental health journey and the experience of being involuntarily admitted under the Mental Health Act.The Hospital ExperienceThe door to the room opens. A man enters the room. He is a Black man, bald and overweight. He is dressed in uniform. Blue uniform, a blue lanyard that reads "NHS". But I know Steve, the leader of the organisation that introduced me to magic, is a magician. I know he can appear in disguise.I approach the man and try to kiss him.He does not let me kiss him. Then no. It is not Steve.The man has brought me a plate of toast. He has brought me a cup of tea. I add sugar to the tea, which I would never have done in my former life, but a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!I am a Ritual Master. And this, drinking my own urine, is a powerful ritual. This is all I need now to survive … I will never need to eat again. I survive on liquids and air and lightI do not eat the toast. I drink the tea. I am alone in the room again and I urinate into the cup and drink that too.I am a Ritual Master. And this, drinking my own urine, is a powerful ritual. This is all I need now to survive. It is the most potent of potions I can drink. I am a self-contained, utterly self-sufficient being. I will never need to eat again. I survive on liquids and air and light.I decide to explore outside the room. Outside my sanctuary. He has not come. So maybe I need to go searching for him …The Phone CallTime jumps. I am in a corridor lit by overhead strip lights. The electric light is pale yellow in tone. I am sat on one of three chairs in a row against the wall. The chairs are purple, curved plastic. I am still waiting for him to appear.There are two doors in front of me. One is the door to the blue room with the blue sofa and chair. Behind the other door is an office of some kind, and there is a woman in there, shuffling papers and talking on the phone.The woman comes out of the office. She is holding out my phone. My only possession now – the one artefact from my previous life. There is someone she wants me to speak to.Him.When I hold the phone to my ear, I hear a voice I recognise.But the voice belongs to my mother."Hannah?" she says. "Where are you? What's going on?"There is distress in her voice. Her voice is trembling with pain and anxiety.I do not want to hear it.This is a test. A horrible test, certainly, but one that I can pass. They are trying to tempt me back into the human. They are trying to lure me back into the past.I hang up the phone.But, after a moment, it starts to ring. The word Mum lights up the screen."Talk to her," says the woman.I answer the call.My mother sounds different now. Calmer. She asks again what's going on but gently, even cheerfully. I tell her everything's OK. That I'm fine. I tell her not to worry. I'm in a good place.This is the last time I will ever hear her voice, I think. This is the way I say goodbye.The DiagnosisThey tell me I am being sectioned.The words jar with my beliefs."Section 2 … the Mental Health Act … 28 days … right to appeal … "I cock my head.This does not fit at all. It does not fit in the world of Steve, of Ritual Master, of Shambhala and the invention of magic.I am not concerned. I am concerned only with the energy I can feel spiralling up through my body and the voices I can hear in my head.I pace the hospital corridors, delivering a tearful monologue, delivering the greatest performance of my life. A phrase comes to me. The Girl With All the Gifts. The title of a post-apocalyptic horror film released in 2016, starring Gemma Arterton.I am a magician. I am an actress. I am a writer. I have superhuman strength. I can fly. Anything that can be imagined, I can perform it. Every skill and every ability is mine.The film came out as a warning, and a prophecy.And because of me, the apocalypse has been averted.I am the saviour of the planet. I am the girl with all the gifts.The Journey to RecoveryIt was very hard, the journey to get here. It took 27 years. The path was twisting and full of setbacks, there were challenges and so much pain. There were times I wanted to give up. It was very hard. Everyone will have to make their own journey, and their journeys will be their own, unique as snowflakes or fingerprints. That is the beauty of it, the joy of it. Everyone has to figure it out for themselves.But I have laid the groundwork. I have walked the path. It starts with the energy healing, and it goes on and on through the seven dimensions, through increasingly magical planes. It goes on and on until you meet your soulmate, like I met mine.I was in a TV show called Game of Thrones, hidden in plain sight in the midst of a cultural phenomenon. I, the key to the world's salvation, wore the face of a character called Gilly, but really I played every role. Then I worked on a film called Detroit in Boston. David Benioff and Dan Weiss and Kathryn Bigelow were the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Numbers are irrelevant. Three counts as four. David and Dan and Kathryn cast me in the roles that brought about my destiny. The end and beginning of the world.I am the Ur-actress. I am every actress. Every performance ever given has been animated by my energy, my talent, by the gestures and facial expressions I am performing here and now.The Memoir and BeyondThis is an edited extract from The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness by Hannah Murray, published by Cornerstone (£18.99). To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.Hannah Murray will be in conversation with Jessie Cave at Kings Place in London on 5 June.

The Lead: Royal Appointment Unveils Governance GapsThe Guardian editorial highlights that the most startling finding in the Mountbatten‑Windsor papers is not the prince’s personal hobbies but the complete lack of formal vetting for a high‑profile diplomatic role. The files suggest that royal pedigree trumped professional competence, raising questions about the integrity of Britain’s commercial diplomacy.Unveiling the Mountbatten‑Windsor Papers: A Glimpse into Unvetted Trade DiplomacyEleven documents released on Thursday, 21 May 2026 show that the late Queen Elizabeth II pushed for her son to inherit the trade envoy post, bypassing any competitive selection. The role was unpaid, designed to give the prince “privileged access to Britain’s trade and diplomatic networks” while shielding him from routine board‑room responsibilities.What the Files Reveal: Absence of Vetting, Royal Preference Over ExpertiseNo formal security or competence vetting was conducted for the appointment.The papers indicate that no alternative candidates were considered.Emails suggest the then‑trade envoy may have forwarded sensitive information to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, prompting a 2026 arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office.The Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey forced the government to release the documents, exposing a “lightly supervised” diplomatic role.Implications for Britain’s Soft Power and Institutional TrustThe editorial argues that the episode undermines the “good chap” theory of government, which relied on unwritten ethical norms and aristocratic deference. In a modern bureaucratic state, transparency, reporting lines, and conflict‑of‑interest checks are essential. The lack of these safeguards in the Prince’s appointment suggests a systemic weakness that could erode both domestic confidence and international credibility.Future Outlook: Calls for Reform and the Likelihood of Structural ChangeWith public scrutiny intensifying, the Guardian predicts pressure on Westminster to introduce stricter vetting procedures for diplomatic posts, especially those involving members of the royal family. However, entrenched cultural assumptions about monarchy and soft power may slow reform, leaving Britain at a crossroads between tradition and accountable governance.

The Early Days of Trump's Soccer Career Drive north from New York City and into the Hudson valley. Take Exit 17 and follow Route 7 as it heads south along the river, past the abandoned shipyard and the aptly named Cadet Motel. Hang a left after a few miles, wind up a long driveway and you’ll arrive at New York Military Academy. The Culture of Hazing and Discipline at NYMA The NYMA of the 1960s was entirely unlike the sleepy, near-abandoned campus that exists today, with a well-documented culture of hazing and abuse akin to Full Metal Jacket. Most instructors were hardened veterans, many of whom had served overseas during the second world war. Individual discipline aside, they also pitted students against one another, as Dobias did during twice-weekly “cage matches”, where one student would beat another into submission. Trump's Time on the Soccer Team Trump became part of the Dutchess County Scholastic League, a collection of small schools scattered throughout tiny hamlets in the Hudson Valley and just beyond. Trump joined NYMA’s soccer team after suffering an injury playing gridiron football. A photo of the New York Military Academy soccer team, featuring Donald Trump, has surfaced, providing a glimpse into his early days as a soccer player. The Truth About Trump's Playing Career Yearbooks exist, as do newspapers. Combing through them in search of clues about Trump’s playing career paints an interesting picture of Trump’s brief moment as a soccer player at NYMA, and helps add even more depth to arguably the most polarizing leader in US history. Some accounts describe Trump as an incredible athlete, while others are starkly different. Many describe him as a bully, a character trait that was only hardened amid NYMA’s culture of hazing and rigid discipline. The Legacy of Trump's Soccer Career It’s debatable whether Trump truly cares about the sport itself or simply likes the attention it brings him. But it’s a fact that in 2018, he welcomed international and domestic club teams to the White House and presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi have all visited with Trump; the latter was made into wallpaper while Trump went on a rant about the war in Iran. Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino at times seems glued to the US president.

Executive Summary of Apple’s AI‑Driven Accessibility Rollout In a pre‑I/O announcement, Apple revealed a comprehensive set of accessibility updates powered by its new Apple Intelligence platform. The features, slated for the iOS 27 launch later this year, span VoiceOver, Live Recognition, AI‑generated video subtitles, and a groundbreaking eye‑controlled wheelchair interface for Vision Pro users. AI‑Enhanced VoiceOver and Live Recognition Features VoiceOver image‑recognition: Uses AI to identify and describe complex visuals such as bills, photographs, and personal documents with granular detail. Live Recognition activation via iPhone: Allows users to point the camera at a scene, receive an instant description, and ask follow‑up questions. Magnifier integration: Assignable to the action button, offering high‑contrast views and voice commands like “zoom in” or “turn on flashlight”. Natural‑language screen actions: Users can say, for example, “Tap the guide about best restaurants” in Maps or “Tap the purple folder” in Files. Reader upgrade: Handles multi‑column scientific papers, tables, and images, delivering AI‑summaries while preserving custom fonts and colors for dyslexia and low‑vision users. Financial and Market Implications of the Accessibility Push While Apple did not disclose specific revenue figures, the accessibility suite is expected to strengthen its ecosystem lock‑in by: Increasing the appeal of iOS 27 to users with disabilities, a segment that represents a growing share of global smartphone users. Differentiating Apple’s hardware—especially Vision Pro—through unique assistive capabilities that competitors lack. Potentially boosting sales of compatible accessories, such as the Tolt and LUCI wheelchair drive systems, via new Bluetooth and wired integration. Broader Impact on Users with Disabilities and the Tech Ecosystem The updates signal a strategic shift toward inclusive AI, positioning Apple as a leader in accessible technology. Key outcomes include: Enhanced independence for users with vision or hearing impairments through richer, context‑aware descriptions and real‑time subtitles in 50 languages. Cross‑device consistency, with AI subtitles available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro. New standards for eye‑controlled assistive hardware, encouraging third‑party developers to build compatible solutions. Outlook: Integration into iOS 27 and Future Accessibility Innovations Apple plans to roll out the announced features later in 2026 as part of the iOS 27 release. Subsequent updates are likely to expand AI‑driven assistance to additional apps and services, further refining: Real‑time language translation within accessibility tools. Deeper integration with Made‑for‑iPhone hearing aids for seamless device handoff. Scalable AI models that adapt to individual user preferences and environmental conditions. Analysts anticipate that Apple’s focus on AI‑powered accessibility will become a cornerstone of its product roadmap, influencing industry standards and driving broader adoption of inclusive design practices.

Revolutionizing Podcast Creation with Alexa+ Amazon has announced the latest update to Alexa+, introducing the ability to generate podcast episodes on demand. This new feature, dubbed 'Alexa Podcasts,' is now available to customers in the U.S. The Alexa Podcasts Feature: How It Works To utilize this feature, users simply need to ask Alexa+ to create a podcast about a topic they're interested in. There's no requirement to upload documents, write scripts, or plan ahead. Alexa+ takes care of researching the request, gathering information, and generating a quick overview of the episode's content. Users can then adjust the length, tone, and focus of the episode. AI-Generated Voices and Content Accuracy Once the episode is finalized, Alexa+ uses AI-generated host voices to narrate the podcast. Upon completion, users receive a notification through their Echo Show device and within the Alexa app. Episodes are saved in the app's 'Music' and 'More' sections for later playback. The Future of AI-Generated Content This feature marks another step in Amazon's efforts to evolve Alexa+ beyond a simple voice assistant, transforming it into a personalized AI content creator. However, the launch may spark debates regarding the ethics, accuracy, and impact on traditional creators of AI-generated voices and automated content. Ensuring Content Reliability Amazon has emphasized its partnerships with major news organizations to enhance content accuracy and reliability. Alexa+ can access real-time information through agreements with outlets such as the Associated Press, Reuters, The Washington Post, and over 200 local newspapers across the U.S. Beyond Podcasts: Future AI Audio Innovations Looking ahead, Amazon is exploring additional forms of personalized AI audio, including custom news briefings and content generated from users' own documents and shared information.

The Leadership Limbo Amid all the backstabbing and plotting in Britain’s beleaguered Labour Party, one crucial fact can easily become lost in the twists and turns of the saga – embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not even faced a formal challenge to his leadership yet. Instead, he is facing a slow-motion coup that could drag on for weeks, with no guarantee that the many Labour MPs who want him to be replaced as PM will succeed. In the meantime, Britain will be adrift in leadership limbo. The Pressure on Starmer Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch taunted Starmer last week, declaring: “The PM has shown he is in office but not in power.” This was a deliberate echo of what former chancellor Norman Lamont told Conservative Prime Minister John Major in 1993 in one of many bouts of infighting in the Tory party over the decades. The Conservatives have traditionally been far more efficient at challenging their prime ministers than Labour. Margaret Thatcher, who won three successive elections and dominated British politics in the 1980s, was forced out in 1990, and was photographed weeping as she was driven away from Downing Street. The Data Analysis Labour lost 1,498 local council seats in England on May 7, mainly to Reform and the Greens. Labour lost control of the Welsh Senedd. A YouGov poll earlier this month found Andy Burnham remains the most popular figure among Labour voters and the wider public, with a net favourability rating of +4 compared with -46 for Starmer and -28 for Wes Streeting. The Impact Analysis The differences in institutional culture and rules for a leadership challenge between the Conservatives and Labour provide part of the explanation. Labour requires 20 percent of MPs to endorse a challenger to the PM, which then triggers a leadership election decided by the party membership across the country. This means that Labour leaders can sometimes survive, despite not having the support of most of their MPs, while conversely, Conservative leaders can sometimes be toppled despite still being popular with party members and voters. The Prediction If Andy Burnham does get back into parliament, it is a virtual certainty that he will become Britain’s new prime minister. Several British newspapers have reported that, despite his public statements pledging to fight on, Starmer has privately told allies that he is listening to the voices in the party and considering setting out a timetable for leaving office. “If Andy wins Makerfield he will be carried aloft into the Westminster tearooms on the shoulders of Labour MPs,” a Labour cabinet minister was quoted as saying.

The Rise of AI-Generated Research Papers ArXiv, a widely used open repository for preprint research, is taking steps to crack down on the careless use of large language models in scientific papers. Although papers are posted to the site before they are peer-reviewed, ArXiv has become one of the main ways that research circulates in fields like computer science and math. ArXiv's New Policy The organization has already taken steps to combat a growing number of low-quality, AI-generated papers, such as requiring first-time posters to get an endorsement from an established author. In its latest move, ArXiv will ban authors for a year if they submit papers that contain "incontrovertible evidence" that the authors did not check the results of LLM generation. The Data Analysis Authors who submit AI-generated papers without proper oversight will face a 1-year ban from ArXiv. After the ban, authors will be required to have subsequent ArXiv submissions accepted by a reputable peer-reviewed venue. The Impact Analysis Recent peer-reviewed research has found that fabricated citations are on the rise in biomedical research, likely due to LLMs. ArXiv's new policy aims to ensure that authors take "full responsibility" for the content, "irrespective of how the contents are generated." The Prediction The move is expected to have a significant impact on the scientific community, as researchers will need to be more transparent about their use of AI-generated content. ArXiv's new policy is a "one-strike" rule, but moderators must flag the issue and section chairs must confirm the evidence before imposing the penalty. Authors will also be able to appeal the decision.

The Rise of Wordle on TV Anyone who has watched television knows that late-night talkshow hosts have a habit of pulling entertainment formats from the barest of inspirations. James Corden got Carpool Karaoke from the act of singing songs in the car. Jimmy Fallon got Lip Sync Battle from the act of mouthing along to songs in the mirror. And now Fallon has struck again. He’s making a Wordle gameshow. The Event Details Fallon’s production company, Electric Hot Dog, has acquired the rights to Wordle and will turn it into a show where teams compete to solve puzzles for cash. The show will film in Manchester, England, this summer and debut on NBC next year. The Data Analysis Wordle is a brand with global recognition. The game has been a huge success, with millions of players worldwide. The TV adaptation will feature teams competing to solve puzzles for cash. The Impact Analysis However, you’d be right to feel suspicious about this new avenue. The description of the show describes teams of players taking part, but Wordle is by nature a solitary pursuit. It’s a game that relies upon the connection of one person and their phone, plus the bespoke tactics that person has honed. The Prediction Perhaps that is why the game has made it to TV. Forbes has framed the move as a necessary diversification tactic by a medium caught in a permanent death spiral. It is now a New York Times property, and newspapers need to keep money coming in. If the only way to keep funding investigative journalism is to take a diverting game and sell it to Fallon, then so be it.

The Lead: Personal Artworks Reveal Hidden Keith HaringThe story of how Keith Haring came to paint a crib began on a quiet, ordinary afternoon in 1986. His best friend's wife was pregnant, and the couple didn't have the money to buy a new crib for their home in New York City's Greenpoint neighborhood. "I called my parents to ask if my old crib was still in the attic," says artist Kermit Oswald, Haring's friend since childhood. "I got it and I painted it yellow, then Keith came over, we had a few beers and he painted the rest of it."The Exhibition: Haring's House at Sotheby'sOswald's collection of Haring's work is now on display in Haring's House: Works From the Collection of Kermit Oswald, a public exhibition at Sotheby's New York this month, with the works going to auction in two sales on 14 and 15 May. The most surprising item is the crib. It's taxi-cab yellow with paintings of dachshunds (the Oswald family dog) and two figures representing Oswald and his wife, Lisa.The Auction Valuation: Market Value of Personal ConnectionsIt's one of 20 Haring works going to auction. The marquee lot is a 1985 self-portrait, one of only six the artist ever painted on canvas. The auction estimates are $3m-$5m, with the crib alone estimated at $250,000 to $350,000. With many items never seen publicly, it shows a personal side to one of the most iconic gay artists in history.The Friendship: Childhood Bond to New York Art SceneOswald knew Haring since they were five years old. They met by passing notes at church in their home town of Kutztown, Pennsylvania. As boys, they shared a passion for "creating things" and started drawing together. "We rode bicycles and played baseball, though on different teams, and were always in each other's homes," he says. They delivered their paper routes together; the loser of the morning race had to buy ice-cream.The Artistic Process: Influences and TechniquesHaring's early untitled works on paper from the late 1970s and early 1980s often used cut-up newspapers and Xeroxed clippings, a practice influenced by William Burroughs' cut-up technique. The two met in 1983 and collaborated on Apocalypse, a series of silkscreen prints with text by Burroughs, in 1988, the year Haring tested positive for HIV.The Legacy: Beyond Public PersonaWhen asked what Haring would be like now, Oswald says: "It was a more analog world then. If you wanted to comment on the news, you had to put ink on paper. In today's lexicon, Keith would be a blogger and definitely a news junkie." They both moved to New York in 1978 to study at the School of Visual Arts. Oswald built the workshop in Haring's studio, every frame Haring used and installed Haring's exhibitions.The Future: Auction and Art Market ImpactBy 1985, Haring was famous and painted his self-portrait from a Polaroid, his face on the body of a sphinx. He invited Oswald to the studio and told him to take any work he wanted. Oswald chose that one. The pair called Haring's mounting fame "the tiger." "You work and work and work thinking you can finally climb on the tiger and ride it," Oswald says. "But once it actually happens, you just have to hold on for dear life, and the best you can do is hope to steer it a bit."