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Adele Bertei's memoir, 'No New York', provides an essential slice of New York's bohemian history, particularly its no wave music scene in the late 1970s. Bertei, a relative unknown, brings a fresh perspective to the era, unencumbered by cultural baggage.Bertei's journey begins with her arrival in Manhattan in 1977, a city struggling with a municipal debt crisis and frequent fires. However, this period also saw a creative explosion, with the avant-garde art scene thriving post-Warhol. Bertei immerses herself in the alternative scene, crossing paths with future counter-culture icons like Joey Ramone and Alan Vega.Her writing vividly captures the era's spirit, describing the no wave music scene as "Dada brutalism" and a "negation of every way that had come before". As a member of the Contortions, Bertei experiences firsthand the challenging nature of the music, which was an expression of a darker collective reality. She also highlights the barriers faced by women and queers in the music industry, where sexism and homophobia were prevalent.Bertei's memoir is not without its challenges, as the focus shifts post-no wave, and she becomes a witness to subsequent cultural moments rather than a central figure. Despite this, her vivid and visceral account remains essential reading for anyone interested in alternative music.No New York: A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene by Adele Bertei is published by Faber (£20).

New York City's public hospital system has announced that it will not be renewing its contract with Palantir, a data analytics and AI firm, amid growing controversy over its government contracts in the UK. The decision comes as health officials in the UK express concerns over data privacy issues related to Palantir's £330m agreement with the National Health Service (NHS).The contract between NYC Health + Hospitals and Palantir, which focused on recovering money for insurance claims, was set to expire in October. According to documents shared with the Guardian, Palantir has paid nearly $4m to the hospital system since November 2023. The contract allowed Palantir to review patient health notes and help the hospital claim more money in public benefits through programs like Medicaid.Despite assurances from NYC Health + Hospitals that there was an 'absolute firewall' preventing Palantir from sharing information with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), activists and data privacy experts have raised concerns over the potential risks of Palantir accessing de-identified patient data for purposes other than research.As New York City prepares to part ways with Palantir, the company is expanding its influence in the UK, despite backlash from activists and lawmakers. Palantir has contracts with the British government's Ministry of Defence and is seeking access to sensitive national financial regulation data through a contract with the Financial Conduct Authority.Medact, a health justice charity, has raised concerns that Palantir's software could enable 'data-driven state abuses of power', including US-style ICE raids. In response, Palantir has denied that its data could be used in this way, citing that it would be illegal and a breach of contract.The decision by NYC Health + Hospitals to drop Palantir has been hailed as a victory by activists, who are now calling on the NHS to follow suit and terminate its £330m contract with the company. The 'Purge Palantir' campaign, which involves nurses, pro-Palestinian activists, and social and climate justice groups, aims to stop Palantir from contracting with government agencies, universities, and corporations.

Castleford Tigers produced a stunning performance to defeat Bradford Bulls in a highly entertaining Super League match. The Tigers' attack clicked into gear, with Jason Qareqare scoring a hat-trick and leading his team's charge to a convincing victory.The match was a West Yorkshire derby that lived up to expectations, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. However, it was Castleford who ultimately dominated the game, scoring 28 unanswered points in a 10-minute period either side of half-time to transform a nervy contest into a decisive win.Ryan Carr's Castleford side had been under pressure after a heavy defeat last week, but they responded with a confident display. Carr praised his team's performance, saying, “How we played tonight is how we want to play our rugby.”In contrast, Bradford Bulls' coach Kurt Haggerty was left to ponder what might have been, saying, “You shouldn’t score 28 points in a game and lose.” The Bulls' defensive frailties were exposed, and they will need to address these issues if they are to exceed expectations in 2026.The win for Castleford was a significant one, as it moved them up the table and gave them a much-needed boost in confidence. For Bradford, the loss was a disappointing one, but they will look to bounce back in their next match.

As Israeli settlers intensify violent attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, often while Israeli forces stand by, a notable shift is occurring in US political circles. Even staunch supporters of Israel within the Democratic party are now publicly denouncing the escalating violence.In recent days, dozens of settlers have engaged in apparently coordinated attacks, torching homes and vehicles while targeting Palestinian civilians. Since the beginning of the month, Israeli settlers and police have killed at least 10 Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, including two young brothers and their parents who were returning from a Ramadan shopping trip.Among the voices breaking ranks is Ritchie Torres, a New York Democratic representative and one of Israel's most ardent supporters in Congress. In a statement this week, he declared that "the crisis of extremist settler violence in the West Bank must be confronted, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He called for "zero tolerance for violent extremism, no matter what form it takes."Another pro-Israel Democrat, Daniel Goldman of New York, condemned the violence as an "outrage" and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring to vote proposed legislation seeking to impose sanctions against those "undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts." He also criticized the Trump administration for rescinding sanctions against violent settlers that had been issued under the Biden administration.Several other Aipac-backed politicians have joined the condemnation, including Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, who called on the Israeli government to "stop being complicit," and Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, who labeled the attacks "acts of terrorism." Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown accused Trump of "green-lighting settler violence," while Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen stated that "violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank is a national security threat to Israel and must be treated as such."The political shift comes as US public support for Israel has plummeted. An NBC News poll found that two-thirds of Democrats now say their sympathies lie with Palestinians over Israelis—a dramatic reversal with significant implications for upcoming elections. Meanwhile, 68% of Republicans continue to express stronger support for Israel.A Guardian analysis revealed that Israel has not prosecuted any of its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of the decade. The UN has warned that the Israeli government has accelerated illegal settlement expansion, forcibly displacing approximately 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past year.Political analysts suggest these pro-Israel Democrats are "trapped between the money they've relied on to make their campaigns work and the voters they actually need to win," with condemnation of settler violence offering a way to express discontent without challenging the Israeli state itself.

The UK government has pledged to invest a record £8.4bn in road maintenance in England, as part of a broader £27bn five-year investment plan for major roads and motorways. The plan, known as RIS3, aims to 'fix the foundations' of England's road network, with a focus on resurfacing a quarter of the country's strategic road network.The investment includes £1.65bn of initial public funding for the Lower Thames Crossing, a major road building project aimed at easing congestion in the south-east. The government also confirmed funding for the dualling of the A66 between Cumbria and North Yorkshire, a long-debated project championed by former prime minister Rishi Sunak.Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the investment would 'secure the future of our road network for years to come' and deliver 'smoother and faster journeys for drivers'. However, campaigners from the Transport Action Network criticized the plan, arguing that it prioritizes new road construction over sustainable transport solutions and fails to address outdated traffic forecasts.The Department for Transport said the £8.4bn investment in A-roads and motorways was on top of the £7.3bn pledged in the spending review for local authorities to fix potholes and maintain local roads. The government claims that the 16 funded schemes have been chosen for their value for money and deliverability, and are expected to 'deliver growth for left-behind communities'. However, campaigners argue that the plan's focus on new road construction will only serve to increase congestion and harm the environment.

The film 'They Will Kill You' is a satirical take on the beat-em-up genre, offering a mix of gore, bad jokes, and deja vu. The story revolves around Asia, a new maid at the Virgil, a satanic co-op residence in New York, where she must navigate a world of satanic rituals and eternal life.The film's tone is pitched between a bloodbath and bath time, with a boyish strain of immaturity dominating the creative force. This is evident in the giddy, inventive approach to violence, where the narrative device of immortality unshackles the filmmaker from the laws of physics. The film's antic gore peaks with an extended interlude following a disembodied eyeball as it rolls down corridors and slingshots itself up an elevator shaft.The adolescent quality runs deeper than that, manifesting more overtly in the potty-mouthedness of the script and the ostentatious stylistic flourishes that are hand-me-downs from other filmmakers. The film's supporting cast is haphazardly assembled and half-assedly differentiated from one another, with Heather Graham and Tom Felton getting the most to do.Despite its sprightly fight choreography and retro synth arpeggios, the film's invoked inspirations and story components err on the side of the popular and well-trod. The received shtick grows worn before long, and the film's attempts at humor often fall flat. A good rule of (severed) thumb: if you're going to make a character quote Monty Python's immortal 'just a flesh wound' bit, you must yourself be capable of originally generating something at least as funny.

Tracy Kidder, an award-winning narrative nonfiction writer, has passed away at the age of 80. Kidder was known for his ability to transform unlikely subjects into bestsellers, captivating readers with his in-depth research and storytelling skills. Throughout his career, Kidder immersed himself in various worlds, producing richly researched books on topics that may not have seemed like light reading. His work included The Soul of a New Machine, which explored the inner workings of a fledgling computer company in Silicon Valley and earned him the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award in 1981. Kidder's other notable works include Among Schoolchildren, which highlighted the dedication of an inner-city teacher in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Old Friends, which chronicled the lives of two friends in a nursing home. His book Mountains Beyond Mountains, about a doctor's efforts to bring healthcare to Haiti, introduced his work to a new generation of readers and inspired numerous universities to add it to their reading lists. Kidder's approach to storytelling was rooted in his belief that small things can have a significant impact. He avoided focusing on his personal interests, such as fishing or baseball, to maintain his objectivity and enthusiasm for his subjects. Kidder saw himself as a storyteller, not a 'literary journalist' or 'creative nonfiction' writer, and believed that nonfiction should not be limited by traditional techniques. Born in New York City in 1945, Kidder attended Harvard University and served in Vietnam, where he documented his experiences in My Detachment, a memoir that offered insights into the lives of support troops.

Rapper Jay-Z recently spoke out about a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him and Sean 'Diddy' Combs' in 2024. The lawsuit alleged that both men raped a 13-year-old girl at a party in 2000, which both Jay-Z and Combs vehemently denied.In a recent interview with GQ, Jay-Z explained why he chose to fight the lawsuit rather than settle. He stated, 'I can’t take a settlement – it ain’t in my DNA.' He further emphasized that settling would have been difficult for him and his family, particularly his wife Beyoncé.Jay-Z expressed that he was 'heartbroken' and 'angry' when the allegations first emerged. He described the experience as 'really hard' and mentioned that he hadn't felt 'uncontrollable anger' in a long time. The rapper emphasized the importance of being certain before making such serious accusations against someone.The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed in February 2025. Jay-Z's attorney, Alex Spiro, previously described the claims as 'provably, demonstrably false' and highlighted an 'impossible timeline.'In addition to discussing the lawsuit, Jay-Z touched on other topics, including the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake and what he described as a 'right-wing agenda to silence voices in the hip-hop community.' He expressed concern about the negative impact of such conflicts on social media and the involvement of people's families.Jay-Z also reflected on 30 years since the release of his debut album Reasonable Doubt, which he will celebrate with two shows at New York's Yankee Stadium in July.

The UK defence industry is in a state of crisis as a long-delayed military spending plan has left firms 'bleeding cash' and in 'paralysis'. The six-month delay to the defence investment plan (DIP) has resulted in some companies going bust, while others are struggling to stay afloat.Industry groups have warned that the delay has left the UK behind Germany and the US in attracting investment from global investors. The DIP, originally expected last autumn, has been repeatedly postponed amid warnings that the military faces a £28bn funding gap over the next four years.Samira Braund, the defence director of the ADS Group trade body, described the situation as 'paralysis', stating that the government has not put effective mitigation plans in place. The boss of BAE Systems, Europe's biggest defence contractor, has urged ministers to publish the plan, while some smaller firms have been forced out of business.One such company was MTE Heat Treatment, a Yorkshire-based manufacturer with just over 30 employees that helped make turbine blades for jet engines. It fell into administration in February. Andrew Kinniburgh, the head of the trade body Make UK's defence arm, warned that the delay risks deterring investment in the UK at a time when the US and Europe are also raising military spending.The DIP will show how the government plans to fund its strategic defence review, the blueprint for transforming the military amid growing threats from Russia, rising commitments to Nato and against the backdrop of the US-Israel war on Iran. Ministers accepted all the review's recommendations when it was published last June, but the head of the military, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, told MPs in January that defence cuts would be needed without more funding.