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The Lead: Neymar's Substitution Fury Brazilian forward Neymar has stirred up a storm with his recent on-field behaviour and comments as he looks to make a comeback to the national squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 34-year-old has not represented his country since October 2023 and is in a race against time to prove his fitness before the tournament squad submission deadline. The Substitution Incident: A Technical Error That Sparked Controversy Neymar was mistakenly substituted during Santos's Serie A match against Coritiba after match officials signalled the wrong player number. The striker was left fuming after the fourth official held up the substitution board with Neymar's number 10 on display, forcing the player to come off the pitch in the 65th minute. Robinho Jr came on to replace Neymar, who refused to leave the field and ended up receiving a yellow card for his behaviour. The Santos captain then gesticulated at the official, snatched the substitution slip from him, and showed it to television cameras to prove that teammate Gonzalo Escobar was to be substituted instead. Santos lost the match 3-0 and are close to the relegation zone with 18 points from 16 games. The club later confirmed the match official made an erroneous substitution. "The fourth official got the substitution wrong," Santos said in a post on X. "This was confirmed by the television coverage and by the note used by the officials during the substitution. An inexplicable error that was not corrected." The World Cup Dilemma: Fitness, Form, and Selection Pressure The famous number 10's place in the World Cup squad has been the biggest talking point in local media and among his fans in recent weeks. Neymar has spent the past few months trying to prove his fitness for the June 11 to July 19 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He has scored six goals in 15 appearances for Santos since returning from knee surgery in February. However, despite making a comeback for his boyhood club, Neymar has spent time on the sidelines due to muscle injuries and niggles. Brazil's leading goal scorer with 79 goals, two more than all-time icon Pele, has publicly expressed his desire to make a return for the Selecao. The decision is now down to head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will lead Brazil at the World Cup and remain in charge of the team until 2030. Ancelotti's Calculated Decision: Balancing Talent and Fitness Ancelotti has repeatedly said Neymar will need to prove his fitness to be considered for national team selection. "When you have to choose, you have to consider many things," Ancelotti told the Reuters news agency. "Neymar is an important player for this country because of the talent he has always shown. But he has had problems and is working hard to recover. He has improved a lot recently and is playing regularly. It is obviously not such an easy decision for me. We have to weigh up the pros and cons carefully." Teammates have lobbied for Neymar's inclusion, while supporters remain split between affection and anxiety over whether his body can still keep pace with his imagination. "I know full well that Neymar is much loved, not only by the public but also by the players," Ancelotti said. "This is also a factor, because we have to consider the atmosphere that will surround Neymar's call-up." Neymar's Response: Defying Critics and Proving His Worth Neymar said on Sunday he had to endure "nonsense" criticism as he worked his way back from serious injuries and is satisfied he has done all he can to prove he is fully fit and deserves a place in the squad. "Physically, I feel great. I've been improving with every game," Neymar said after the controversy-hit game for Santos. "I've done my absolute best – it wasn't easy. I'll admit it wasn't easy. It's been years of hard work, and also of a lot of nonsense being said about my condition and what I was doing. It's really sad the way people talk about it. I worked hard, quietly, at home, suffering because of what people were saying, and it all worked out. I've made it to where I wanted to be in one piece. I'm happy with my performance, with everything I've done so far … Whatever happens, Ancelotti will certainly call up the 26 best players for this battle." Tactical Considerations: Where Neymar Fits in Brazil's Plans Even if he is fully fit, Neymar will also need to fit into Ancelotti's plans for his World Cup squad. Ancelotti says he wants four forwards who can run, press, and track back, a demanding template for a player who has struggled to string together a sustained run of matches. The Italian, however, said Neymar had shown signs of progress. "He has improved his fitness a lot in recent matches," Ancelotti said. "He has played some very good matches lately. His fitness has improved. He can maintain a high intensity in a match. But there are matches and matches." Ancelotti said the decision to select Neymar would be his alone. "I haven't been pressured by anyone to call up Neymar. I have complete autonomy," he said. "The decision will be 100% professional. I will only take into account how he is performing as a footballer. Nothing else." The Road to World Cup 2026: Final Selection Looms Ancelotti is expected to name his preliminary squad on Monday. He can list up to 55 players, but the final squad, to be confirmed by June 1, will be trimmed down to 26. The selection process comes at a critical time for Brazil, who will be one of the favorites to win the tournament across three North American nations. For Neymar, the coming weeks represent perhaps the most important period of his career as he balances the desire to represent his country with the physical limitations that have plagued his recent seasons. The football world watches with anticipation to see if the talented number 10 can overcome these obstacles and add one more chapter to his already storied career.

The Mini Wonders ProgramThe National Museum Cardiff (NMC) is one of seven national museums that make up Museum Wales, the largest provider of learning outside the classroom in the country. The NMC has a permanent collection that features everything from fossils to impressionist canvases and a large learning centre with a play area and casual classroom set-up.Learning Through Art and CultureThe Mini Wonders program is an eight-week course that invites families from disadvantaged backgrounds with children aged between two and four to take part in a free program that seeks to make parents and kids feel more comfortable in the museum. The program aims to support child development and increase readiness for school through accessing art and culture.The Impact on Child DevelopmentCatrin Rowlands, head of learning at NMC, says that introducing art for under-fives is as much about capturing their imagination as it is about learning. The program provides a space where wonder, surroundings, and play spark curiosity before the formal structure of a traditional school setting. Each child in Mini Wonders is given a digital camera, and by the end of the program, has a scrapbook of photos.Examples of Successful Museum ProgramsYoung V&A;, LondonHepworth WakefieldAshmolean Museum, Oxford

The Hollywood Backlash Against #MeTooCate Blanchett has lamented that the #MeToo movement "got killed very quickly" in Hollywood, while speaking at the Cannes film festival. In a wide-ranging conversation on Sunday, the acclaimed actress expressed concern that the tide of #MeToo has been turned in an industry where she has been outspoken about gender equality.Blanchett's Observations on Gender Disparity"It got killed very quickly, which I think is interesting," said Blanchett. "There are a lot of people with platforms who are able to speak up with relative safety and say this has happened to me. And the so-called average woman on the street, person on the street, is saying me too. Why does that get shut down?"Blanchett detailed her daily experiences on film sets, stating: "I'm still on film sets and I do the headcount every day. There's 10 women and there's 75 men every morning."The Evolution of Gender Representation in FilmIn 2018, when Blanchett was president of the jury at Cannes, she participated in a red-carpet protest with 81 other women, representing the total number of female directors who had been selected for the Cannes competition lineup, compared with the 1,866 male directors who had been selected over the same period."I love men, but what happens is the jokes become the same," she said. "You just have to brace yourself slightly, and I'm used to that, but it just gets boring for everybody when you walk into a homogeneous workplace. I think it has an effect on the work."Industry Perspectives on ChangeJulianne Moore also spoke at Cannes on the weekend about gender disparity on film sets, saying she believed numbers had improved in the last decade. Speaking at a Kering Women in Motion talk on Saturday, Moore recalled being one of two women on a set around 2016. "I can remember being on a set not too long ago where the only women were me and the third AC [assistant camera]," she said.Blanchett's comments come as she prepares to star in The Brutalist director Brady Corbet's next film, an "X-rated" feature set in the 1970s, alongside Selena Gomez and Michael Fassbender.

The LeadIt's being billed as the biggest Premier League game ever hosted at the Emirates Stadium. Tickets for Monday's meeting with Burnley were being sold for upwards of £650 as Arsenal attempt to edge closer to being crowned champions for the first time since they said goodbye to Highbury.The Atmosphere TransformationIn an attempt to recreate the red-hot atmosphere that inspired the victory over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League semi-final, Arsenal supporters have been encouraged to arrive two hours before kick-off on Monday night to greet the team when they arrive at the stadium. "The players were in the other bus, but I could see straight away all the staff and everybody was there just looking at each other and saying: 'Wow, we've taken this to a different level,'" Mikel Arteta said this week of the Atlético experience. "The engagement, the passion, the enthusiasm of our fans in their eyes, I think that was something special."Arteta's Vision for the EmiratesTransforming the atmosphere at the ground they moved into five years before the former midfielder signed from Everton in 2011 is one of Arteta's proudest achievements. He was there during the tail end of the Arsène Wenger era, when frustrations at no longer being able to compete for the biggest prizes frequently boiled over in the stands. Arteta realised things would have to change five days before he was unveiled as Unai Emery's successor in December 2019. In his final match as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arteta was in the visitors' dugout when Arsenal found themselves trailing 3-0 to City at half-time thanks to a Kevin De Bruyne masterclass.The Empty Stadium That Inspired Change"It was the first thing because a few days before I was appointed here, I was on the other bench with Man City and that image, that feeling of the stadium, the crowd … 50% of the stadium was empty," he remembered. "It really got into me. I said: 'With this, there is no project. This is not going to work.' Unfortunately it got worse very quickly when Covid hit. After that we had to rebuild everything. But when it's harder at the beginning, then it's better. So to see that transformation and that joy in the people, it's something that is beautiful to watch."Strategic Initiatives to Ignite the CrowdFrom an initiative to no longer show the second half of matches on screens on the concourse, to the stadium announcer leaving a pause after a goalscorer's first name is read out so the crowd can respond, Arteta has left no stone unturned. It was also his idea to remove the cover from the players' tunnel at the start of this season to allow both sets of players to hear the noise of the crowd before kick-off and promote more interaction with fans. "We need to ignite the atmosphere so they can play every single ball with us because it makes such a difference," Arteta said. "We want to play and win things. That's a non-negotiable. You need to have a stadium that is able to create those moments, for sure."The Impact on Team PerformanceWhile his battle cry for supporters to "bring your lunch" for the early kick-off against Bournemouth last month did not pay off as Arsenal slumped to a defeat that opened the door for City in the title race, there has been a noticeable difference since then. Despite showing a few nerves during the narrow win over Newcastle, the fans more than played their part against Fulham and Atlético and will be expected to stay patient should things not immediately go their way against a Burnley side who only lost 1-0 to City last month, albeit that was at Turf Moor.The Value of Fan Engagement"It's supposed to be like this and especially when you haven't won for that long, it's going to be edgy," said Arteta. "And I'm very glad that now we've turned that point and we are very optimistic, but being very, very present as well. When the stadium provides that level of energy, passion and optimism, they play every single action with the team. When we have the ball, when the opponent has the ball, in every element, they live the game like that. The value of that is just infinite. I think you cannot measure it and the team becomes different."Future Plans for the EmiratesArsenal are understood to be exploring ambitious plans that could include expanding the existing 60,704-capacity of the Emirates to beyond 70,000 in the near future, with reports this week that they are in talks with Populous, the architecture firm that designed the venue in the first place. Any significant redevelopment may require a temporary move away to Wembley or elsewhere, which is a scenario that Arteta will be desperate to avoid after the progress they have made.The Two-Way Street of Fan-Club Connection"Everybody at the club is trying to give his vision, his input, his support, to try to encourage that," he said of the new atmosphere. "But especially the fans or the supporters need to provide that. I think it has to come from them, naturally. And we have to provide that as well, it goes both ways. We are constantly connected with them to try to be the best stadium in the world."

The Bread Crisis in Gaza Standing in a long queue under the beating sun, 14-year-old Muhammed al-Roubi was waiting to buy bread. But there was a strong chance that, despite his patience, he would not get any. A flour and fuel shortage in recent weeks, brought on by Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza, means that bakeries cannot produce as much bread as Palestinians in Gaza need. Shortages and Struggles Palestinians, the vast majority of them living displaced as a result of Israel's genocidal war on the territory, are instead forced to wait for hours in queues outside of the few remaining bakeries to get subsidised bread packages. "My uncle's family and ours live in the same house, and we share food, so we need a large amount of bread every day," said al-Roubi, who had come to the bakery with his cousin before separating and joining different queues. "That is why my cousin and I each stand in a separate line," he explained. "Some days, we return empty-handed because the bread runs out and there are too many people." The Impact of Israeli Restrictions The growing queues at the few remaining distribution points reflect the current decline in production levels, while demand continues to rise, driving increased prices and the growth of a black market. Ismail al-Thawabta, the head of Gaza's Government Media Office, said last month that the territory needs about 450 tonnes of flour per day, but that only 200 tonnes were coming in. Recent shortages stem from Israel's decision to close the crossings into Gaza on February 28, when Israel launched a joint war with the United States on Iran. The crossings partially reopened after a few days, but traffic through them has been limited. Multiple Crises in Gaza Gaza is facing multiple crises alongside the bread shortage, including a sharp decrease in cooking gas supplies, which were already limited. The provision of cooking gas, overseen by Gaza's Ministry of Economy through gas distributors and stations, has slowed from once every six weeks to once every three months due to the limited quantities Israel allows into the enclave. The price of firewood, an alternative fuel for cooking and baking, has also risen. The Future Outlook Having hardly recovered from the famine last year, Palestinians in Gaza fear that the expansion of the humanitarian crisis could mean a return to the hunger, which only ended with the October "ceasefire". "During the last famine, people were dying from hunger and for a piece of bread," said Maysar. "Did the world not see that? This crisis must be solved before it becomes worse."

The Call to Action Sousan Samadani was watching videos on YouTube one day when she came across a post about how the world’s soil was degrading so rapidly that it was in danger of extinction. The video – posted by the Save Soil movement – “was like a shock for me”, Samadani says. “I thought: ‘How is it possible that the soil that gives us food is dying?’” Embarking on a Journey Samadani made a decision in that moment: she was “going to be with this movement, fully, 100%”. According to Unesco, 90% of global soil could be degraded by 2050. Save Soil was launched by the spiritual leader “Sadhguru” Jaggi Vasudev, who announced a trip in 2022 to raise awareness: a 19,000-mile motorbike ride through Europe, the Middle East and India. A team of volunteers had already been booked to accompany Vasudev – so Samadani, 65, who lives in Utrecht in the Netherlands, decided to make her own shadow journey. While Sadhguru travelled to 27 countries, Samadani made it to all those and more, continuing on to Nepal, Suriname, Guyana and French Guiana, helping out at campaign events. A Life of Adventure Samadani had never even been involved with activism before. So why soil, and why now? Ever since she was a child growing up in Iran, Samadani says, she has felt huge empathy for others – her stomach would churn at the idea of others suffering whenever she heard an ambulance, and she would pick up banana skins from the ground so people wouldn’t slip on them. Her newfound love of campaigning has been transformative. “It’s where my life of adventure started,” she says. To raise awareness, she has skydived and cycled almost 400 miles from Chennai to Coimbatore in southern India. Biking around her home city of Utrecht, she wears her Save Soil T-shirt, and enjoys every interaction with curious passersby. A Dream to Return Home But there is one country she wants to take the campaign to. “My wish is to bring safe soil to Iran, because it needs it very, very badly,” Samadani says. She has not been back to her home country in 31 years. As a child, she used to pray for “a world without war … I will go back when this regime is not there any more,” she says. “I am just waiting.” And when she gets there? “My dream is to have a garden like my parents’. I believe that I will make it.”

The Lead The Guardian's Football Style Awards celebrate process over results, analyzing data from a new football app called futi to identify each Premier League team's strongest trait this season. Arsenal's Defensive Prowess Arsenal have allowed the fewest goals in the English top-flight and have been one of the most impenetrable defenses in almost every phase of the game, making them a tough team to beat. Manchester City's Dribbling Skills Manchester City lead the league in take-ons and progressive carries, with players like Jérémy Doku and Matheus Nunes showcasing exceptional dribbling skills. Manchester United's Versatility Manchester United have made significant progress this season, with a versatile team that can play in different styles, including Press and Possess. Aston Villa's Grounded Style Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, have focused on keeping the game on the ground, spending less time in high ball phases and going up for fewer headers. Liverpool's Progress Liverpool have shown positives this season, including leading the league in progressive passes and passes into the penalty area. Bournemouth's Chaos Bournemouth, under Andoni Iraola, have adopted a chaotic style, spending a lot of time in loose ball or high ball situations. Brighton's Buildup Play Brighton have consistently found ways to play through pressure, with a 67% buildup success rate, the highest in the league. Brentford's Set-Piece Expertise Brentford have excelled at set-pieces, with the most expected goals from set pieces in the league, thanks to their aggressive dead-ball tactics. The Impact Analysis The analysis highlights the unique strengths of each Premier League team, showcasing their adaptability and strategies in different areas of the game. The Prediction As teams continue to evolve and adapt, these strengths will likely play a crucial role in their future performances, influencing the outcome of matches and the league standings.

Lead: Why Uncertainty Matters More Than EverIn a world where answers are a click away, Simone Stolzoff finds that intolerance for uncertainty fuels anxiety, indecision, and even political polarisation. His new book How to Not Know argues that learning to sit with the unknown is a skill we can cultivate, not a flaw to fix. Stolzoff’s Personal Cross‑Roads and the Birth of a BookWhile working as a journalist in New York, Stolzoff was offered a design role in San Francisco, forcing him to choose between two attractive career paths.The decision triggered an "existential loop" that highlighted his own intolerance for uncertainty.Choosing the design job sparked a multi‑year exploration of uncertainty, culminating in the book How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World That Demands Answers. Rising Global Uncertainty Metrics and Their Psychological TollStanford economist Nicholas Bloom notes that the five highest global‑uncertainty readings have occurred in the past five years, a trend coinciding with the proliferation of smartphones and instant information. Research cited in the interview links this decline in tolerance to:Constant exposure to real‑time news feeds.An expectation that answers should be immediately available.Increased anxiety and a tendency to catastrophise. Impact: From Personal Angst to Societal PolarisationThe interview connects personal uncertainty intolerance to larger social issues:Political polarisation: Quick judgments based on incomplete information reinforce echo chambers.Mental‑health burden: Chronic worry about unknown outcomes drives anxiety and depressive symptoms.Decision paralysis: Over‑analysis of everyday choices (e.g., streaming content) reduces satisfaction. Future Outlook: Building a More Resilient Relationship with the UnknownStolzoff proposes three practical pathways:Exposure: Deliberately engage with ambiguous situations to desensitise the fight‑or‑flight response.Embodied regulation: Use breathing, movement, or mindfulness to shift from a reactive brain to an analytical one.Values‑aligned action: Make decisions that reflect personal values rather than seeking perfect certainty. By treating uncertainty as a source of possibility rather than threat, individuals can improve mental health, enhance creativity, and contribute to a more nuanced public discourse.

Assassination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad: Immediate FalloutThe Israeli dual‑strike on a Gaza City apartment and a fleeing vehicle on Friday, 16 May 2026 eliminated Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the head of the Qassam Brigades, and killed seven other Palestinians, including women and children, while wounding 50 more.How the Strike Unfolded and What It TargetedThe operation combined heavy munitions in a densely populated district of the Remal neighbourhood, aiming to neutralise al‑Haddad’s command centre. Despite the high civilian toll, Israeli officials claim the hit will cripple Hamas’ military capacity.Location: Remal neighbourhood, Gaza CityTargets: Residential apartment and a vehicleCivilian casualties: 7 dead, 50 injuredNumbers Behind the Conflict: Fighter Strength and CasualtiesBefore the war, the Qassam Brigades boasted roughly 50,000 fighters. Since the cease‑fire announced on 10 October 2025, Israeli actions have resulted in 871 Palestinian deaths, the majority civilians.Pre‑war Qassam strength: ~50,000 fightersCease‑fire period Palestinian deaths: 871Al‑Haddad’s command: Oversaw six battalions (~1,000 fighters each) plus 4,000 support personnelWhy Hamas May Absorb the ShockAnalysts such as Saeed Ziad argue that the Qassam Brigades are built on a parallel, decentralized model. Each unit operates autonomously with its own logistics and combat doctrine, meaning the loss of a single commander does not halt missions.Leadership succession protocols—first, second, and third deputies for every commander—allow rapid replacement, often within days rather than months.Implications for the Fragile Cease‑fire and Future OperationsThe Israeli leadership, represented by Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, frames the killing as a step toward “disarming Hamas,” hoping to pressure Washington and justify further strikes. Critics warn the tactic may provoke retaliation, risking the collapse of the cease‑fire and paving the way for a larger Israeli offensive dubbed “Gideon 2.”For Hamas, the assassination could become a rallying point, strengthening resolve among fighters who view the loss of leaders as a “blood covenant” rather than a defeat.Looking Ahead: Scenarios for Gaza’s Military LandscapeShort‑term, the Qassam Brigades are expected to reorganise command within days, maintaining operational tempo. Long‑term, the durability of Hamas will hinge on:Continued decentralisation and local autonomy of brigadesEffectiveness of Israeli assassination strategy versus civilian backlashInternational diplomatic pressure on the cease‑fire’s viabilityIf Israel escalates toward a full‑scale invasion, Hamas’ deep‑bench leadership may sustain resistance, but civilian casualties could further inflame regional tensions.