[~OMAR~]

Mage sprinted to victory Saturday at the scratch-filled 149th Kentucky Derby, bringing trainer Gustavo Delgado and jockey Javier Castellano their first garland of roses. Capping a sad and tumultuous week at famed Churchill Downs, the speedster — a grandson of 2007 Preakness champ Curlin and 2008 Derby winner Big Brown — stayed close to the lead throughout before finding a second wind down the stretch at Churchill Downs. Mage had raised eyebrows with an impressive place finish at the Florida Derby five weeks ago, in race won by Forte, the favorite that day, but Forte was scratched ahead of Saturday's running. “He’s (Mage) got a lot of heart," Castellano said moments after crossing the finish line. "He’s a little horse but (has) a big heart.” Delgado, who like Castellano is a native of Venezuela, could barely speak after his horse won. “When I come to the United States, my first dream (was) go to the Kentucky Derby!” Delgado said as a member of his entourage joyously waved a Venezuelan flag behind him. Mage went off at 15-1, the eighth most po[CENSORED]r pick of bettors in the field of 18. A $2 win bet returned $32.42 payoff. Mage's path to Triple Crown glory will now run through Baltimore, where the 148th running of the Preakness is set for May 20 at Pimlico Race Course. The Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of horse racing's holy trinity, is set for June 10, just outside of New York City. Recommended Mage sprinted to victory Saturday at the scratch-filled 149th Kentucky Derby, bringing trainer Gustavo Delgado and jockey Javier Castellano their first garland of roses. Capping a sad and tumultuous week at famed Churchill Downs, the speedster — a grandson of 2007 Preakness champ Curlin and 2008 Derby winner Big Brown — stayed close to the lead throughout before finding a second wind down the stretch at Churchill Downs. Mage had raised eyebrows with an impressive place finish at the Florida Derby five weeks ago, in race won by Forte, the favorite that day, but Forte was scratched ahead of Saturday's running. “He’s (Mage) got a lot of heart," Castellano said moments after crossing the finish line. "He’s a little horse but (has) a big heart.” Delgado, who like Castellano is a native of Venezuela, could barely speak after his horse won. “When I come to the United States, my first dream (was) go to the Kentucky Derby!” Delgado said as a member of his entourage joyously waved a Venezuelan flag behind him. Mage went off at 15-1, the eighth most po[CENSORED]r pick of bettors in the field of 18. A $2 win bet returned $32.42 payoff. Mage's path to Triple Crown glory will now run through Baltimore, where the 148th running of the Preakness is set for May 20 at Pimlico Race Course. The Belmont Stakes, the final jewel of horse racing's holy trinity, is set for June 10, just outside of New York City. Recommended [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mage-wins-149th-kentucky-derby-rcna81443]

Chris Sale, the best 21st-century pitcher to never win a Cy Young, a former ace in the midst of an uninspiring 2023, seemed, once again, on the precipice of capitulation. After a masterful first three innings against the Phillies on Friday night, during which he tossed his fastest pitch in over four years, the Red Sox hurler nearly imploded in the fourth. "The train was starting to get off the tracks a little bit." Sale told reporters post-game. "Emotions got high. Pot started to spill over." The first four Phillies reached on base hits, the last of which, a game-tying Alec Bohm single, sent the lanky left-hander into a momentary frenzy. After the baseball found its way back to Sale's glove, it soon meandered to the side of Sale's noggin. Light work compared to his thorough dismantling of a minor league clubhouse TV last year. But instead of unraveling further, Sale buckled down, retiring the next three hitters to limit the damage. He returned for scoreless frames in the fifth and then the sixth, allowing only one additional baserunner. Sale finished the evening with 10 punch-outs in six innings of work, by far his best start of the young season. The bullpen held the lead and the Red Sox won their seventh straight game, dampening Bryce Harper's highly anticipated return to the stadium he set alight last autumn. But more important than the win was the encouraging return of Sale's trademark fastball velocity. Before his outing on Friday, the seven-time All-Star was averaging 94 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball. But against the Phillies, Sale's heater sat a full two ticks higher. He even threw one 99 mph, something he hadn't done since August 12th, 2018. "It's part of the process, right?" Sale explained, regarding his gradual climb in velocity. "[I'm] not gonna be finished product right out of the gate, especially with all the stuff that's happened." It was a tantalizing glimpse of The Old Chris Sale, an alluring reminder of the pitcher he used to be: the soul-snatcher who spent most of the 2010s turning big league hitters into helpless puddles. Between 2012 and 2018, Sale used his devastating heater-slider combo to punch out a whopping 10.9 hitters per nine alongside a 2.91 ERA. He was, at the time, one of the few pitchers on the planet who looked as if he were a cut above everybody else, like there was somehow a league beyond MLB in which he truly belonged. At his best, Sale looks like he's going to slap you, really hard, but instead, a baseball comes flying out of his hand, past your bat and into the catcher's mitt. It's a neat trick, one that Sale turned into a magnificent career and a five-year, $145 million extension with the Red Sox before the 2019 season. Since then, the injury bug has wreaked its havoc on Sale, limiting him to just 36 underwhelming starts over the last four seasons. But this spring, he entered the season healthy, or at least healthy enough, to warrant a rash of optimism in Red Sox country. That optimism soon turned to disappointment as Sale got rocked in his first five starts (8.22 ERA) while looking more cooked than burnt beef. An effective sixth outing against the wet-noodled Cleveland Guardians lineup was nice, but far from definitive. Friday evening was a different story. The 35-year-old looked reinvigorated, comfortable, dominant. His slider was sharp, his fastball had buzz and his opponents had little chance. Sale's one blemish, that three-run fourth inning, was the result of a mishandled dribbler, some well-placed hits and the only hard-hit ball he allowed all evening. For Sox manager Alex Cora and Co. it was a positive sign, a leap in the right direction. Because the surging Red Sox, considering the rest of their bare-bones rotation, desperately need Chris Sale to be something, anything other than a pitching machine. And the Red Sox might be a solid ballclub, at least offensively. Rafael Devers remains one of the game's most fearsome at-bats. Masataka Yoshida looks like the real deal. Alex Verdugo got in better shape and is crushing the ball. Former top prospect Jarren Duran is off to a volcanic start. It's a deep, experienced lineup that can single-handedly win games. And so far this year they've had to because the starting pitching... well... yikes. The only club with a worse rotation ERA than Boston right now is the Oakland Athletics, who look so eager to bolt for Las Vegas that they've put together a pitching staff of Triple-A quality hurlers. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a 5.99 ERA isn't going to cut it, especially in the loaded American League East. For Boston to truly contend, they'll need improvements from Nick Pivetta, Corey Kluber and the rest of the rotation. But a rejuvenated Sale is an absolute must. And unlike that retro White Sox jersey he snipped up in 2016, the man is not washed. At least not quite yet. [https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/chris-sale-might-have-his-velocity-back-which-could-be-huge-for-surging-red-sox]

Swap the velvet cloaks, jewels, implausibly well-behaved choirboys and animals for ballot boxes, soggy rosettes, clipboards and leisure centres. We are watching one transfer of power on Saturday. Election results around England this week suggest one of a different kind is well under way. The Conservatives got a kicking, Labour made good progress and Ed Davey's tractor got the Lib Dems' wheels turning again (sorry). So what's next? When the gap in the opinion polls between the Tories and Labour had been tightening in recent weeks, some Conservatives had been wondering aloud whether the prospects for them were not as disastrous as they'd feared. Real votes have put a dampener on that. It does not seem likely, though, that MPs are going to start howling in pain publicly, or suggesting a change at the top, despite a few noises from predictable quarters. One former minister says they are all "tired and fed up, but if you put your head above the parapet and moan, you just make it worse". The atmosphere in the party may then seem - outwardly, at least - quite calm. After the last few years, an unhappy peace is a political achievement of sorts, but don't mistake it for satisfaction with the leadership. The former minister, not a regular critic of Mr Sunak, says it's one of "resigned depression". So what might the PM do to cheer it all up? Expect relentless focus on - you guessed it - the five promises he made. Perhaps, one source suggests, there may be a reshuffle before the summer to line up the team for a future general election before the party conference in the autumn. But it's worth a bet that, before too long, Tory HQ will start using the c-word a lot - coalition. The way the results break down suggest that Labour is well ahead - more of that in a moment - but they can't be certain that they would have enough MPs to control the Commons on their own. Don't be surprised, then, if the Tories start asking questions about who Labour might work with, to recreate previous campaign conversations about "coalitions of chaos". The situation is already being used to campaign by the SNP, using the message on social media that "election experts predict the next general election is likely to see a hung parliament - this means the SNP holding the balance of power, so ensure we kick the Tories out". Right now there is no way, repeat, no way that we can be sure what the situation will be at the next general election. But the tussle for Labour over whether they could win on their own is already under way and a Conservative source reckons they'll "hammer it at every opportunity". Tory losses a clear rejection of Sunak, says Labour Opponents gain from shrivelling Tory po[CENSORED]rity Lib Dems make gains in traditionally Tory areas Local elections: Who won in my area? The numbers from Thursday's local election in England do suggest that if everyone in the country voted in a general election this week Labour would not have had quite enough backing to get to Number 10 on their own. There was support for the Lib Dems too. But Labour is already pushing a different message - the line they pumped out yesterday was to claim they are on track for a majority. The last thing Labour leader Keir Starmer's party might want this far away from a general election is to get sucked into a debate about how he could govern and with whom if there were a hung parliament. The leader's backers reckon the results this week are instead a vindication of his whole approach, and they need to keep on keeping on - fleshing out their plans, his "missions", as the months go by and presenting themselves as hard-working winners. The results make it easier to argue down those on the left who have grumbled that he's not radical enough, not bold enough. The internal fights aren't over, but the Labour leader has more evidence this week that his plans are bearing fruit, particularly when you look at the parts of the election map that turned red. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65500690]

The BBC has allowed Buckingham Palace to veto what footage it can use in its coronation coverage, raising questions about the national broadcaster’s impartiality in relation to the monarchy. In recent days the BBC has submitted material to the palace for approval in royal-themed programming, only for Buckingham Palace to declare certain pieces could not be used, according to individuals with knowledge of the situation. “The balance of the power is a little bit more with the royal household than the BBC at the moment,” said one source at the broadcaster, who said negotiations over the terms of the BBC’s coronation coverage were still ongoing just hours before proceedings were due to begin. The BBC is leading global coverage of the event, with its footage of King Charles in Westminster Abbey to be shared with other news channels around the world. This has led to fears at rival broadcasters that they have to trust the BBC’s editorial calls over what can be shown during the formal church service. A BBC spokesperson said: “We are focused on delivering great coverage and don’t recognise any characterisation that suggests we ever compromise our editorial integrity on any of our output.” The BBC’s coronation coverage is being run by Claire Popplewell, who oversees royal events for the corporation. Earlier this year she was made a commander of the Royal Victorian Order by the king in recognition of her work producing the BBC’s coverage of his mother’s platinum jubilee. Membership of the Royal Victorian Order is given to those who have served the monarch. Unlike most other honours, which are awarded on the recommendation of the government, recipients of this award are personally selected by the sovereign. Popplewell, who was described by a BBC source as “currently one of the most powerful people within the BBC”, helps manage the broadcaster’s relationship with the palace. To confuse matters, she is employed by the corporation’s for-profit BBC Studios commercial arm. This had led to a split between the BBC’s public service news division, which has a more stringent editorial code, and the BBC Studios team who are producing the coverage that will go out on BBC One. The BBC spokesperson said: “The programmes are produced by BBC Studios and commissioned by the BBC and there are many individuals involved in the conversations and decisions about what content makes the final broadcast programmes.” There are already indications of the royal household choosing what can be seen by the public. King Charles has vetoed the televising of his anointment by the archbishop of Canterbury, according to the Times. This means the public will not be able to watch as holy oil from Jerusalem is poured from a golden container shaped like an eagle into a 12th century “coronation spoon” before being spread on Charles’s head, breast and hands. This is not the first time the BBC has allowed the palace to have control over royal footage. The Guardian has previously revealed how the palace vetoed particular pieces of footage from Queen Elizabeth II’s memorial services, banning them from being reused in news reports and social media clips. Royal staff had a WhatsApp group during the proceedings in which senior executives from the BBC, ITV and Sky News were told which footage could be used. A member of the royal household would send a message every five minutes, either approving or refusing the use of the previous block of video. After the funeral had finished the broadcasters were allowed to submit an hour-long tape of highlights which they could reuse in future, with use of any other material requiring signoff from the palace. The veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby, who took part in the BBC’s coverage of the queen’s funeral, later confirmed the story. In an appearance at the Henley literary festival he described being surprised by the “degree of control” exercised by Buckingham Palace over the footage of the funeral. “There was this complete list of things that no broadcaster could show because the copyright belongs to Buckingham Palace. I think that’s wrong, just wrong. It’s just interesting how tightly controlled monarchy is.” He also suggested that topics such as the royals’ tax affairs are “never touched by the BBC because I think they feel their viewers will not like it”. The National Union of Journalists this week passed a motion raising concerns about the palace’s veto over royal footage. They express concerns “that a public event, paid for by the people and televised for them to be able to pay their respects should be censored in even a small way”. It came as the BBC found itself in a last-minute standoff over the “restricting” of British news outlets’ ability to access footage by charging high fees. The corporation’s decision to charge media companies for what the industry calls pool footage was decried as “perverse” by its rivals, who said it would stop the public from witnessing key moments of the historic day. A statement from the newspaper industry body News Media Association said: “Given the historic significance of the occasion, all efforts should have been made by the BBC to ensure that the footage, which is created using licence fee-payer money, is distributed as widely as possible to allow UK citizens to witness this event, and the BBC has not fulfilled this obligation. “The decision to charge UK media companies an excessive commercial fee (with no visibility of true costs) seems perverse when the BBC is allowing foreign publishers and broadcasters the same footage for free.” [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/05/revealed-royal-family-has-power-to-censor-bbc-coronation-coverage]

I am a married mum of two boys, aged four and two. The oldest goes to nursery Monday-Friday, and the youngest is looked after at home by my mother. My husband and I both work full-time, but flexible patterns mean we see our boys every day and offer them lots of love, cuddles and praise. Our older son has always been more problematic - needy, stubborn and prone to tears when he doesn’t get his way. However, in the past few weeks his behaviour on returning from nursery has got much worse. We believe it’s linked to his friend from nursery being away on holiday for a month and have explained the situation to him, encouraging him to play with other children. It’s been causing a huge deal of stress for both my husband and me, and our younger child gets unfairly marginalised. We’ve tried to reason with him nicely. I’ve encouraged him (“you’re being very brave”); I’ve blamed and shamed him (“mummy doesn’t like these behaviours, our neighbours will call the police”); I’ve threatened him (“a monster will come if you don’t stop shouting”); and I’ve smacked him a few times. Yet the next day the same behaviour follows – unreasonable demands followed by complete meltdowns. Can you provide any insights into what might be going on and how to help our son cope as well as us as a family? At what age do children get diagnosed with autism and ADHD? It’s interesting you say your little boy is coming to you with unreasonable demands, because from his point of view you’re doing similar things. It’s hard to adjust when you first have a child, especially if you are used to things being done a certain way and people doing as you ask them. I went to ACP-registered child psychotherapist Rachel Melville-Thomas. We were both impressed by your honesty, but shall we try to look at it from your son’s point of view? He probably doesn’t understand why he has to go away to nursery while his younger brother stays at home with grandma (why can’t he, too?). If you and your husband are also at home, he probably feels he’s being sent away. When he tries to come to you with his concerns, he’s met with encouragement and praise but also threats, shame and physical abuse. That will feel confusing and devastating. Your son sounds like a very anxious little boy. He’s overwhelmed and doesn’t know what to do about change “You’ve tried to reason with him,” says Melville Thomas “but the part of the brain that deals with reasoning isn’t developed in him yet.” ” Next time, a calendar where he can cross off the days before his friend comes back, could help. What else might be unsettling him? Whatever the reason, your little boy is challenging you and you may need to look to your own past to work out why. Maybe you were parented this way and in times of stress we revert to panic responses. “Your son sounds like a very anxious little boy,” says Melville-Thomas. “He’s overwhelmed and doesn’t know what to do about change. When children get like this, they try to manage these transitions but get stuck and throw their feelings out. He’s saying ‘help me’ rather than being selfish or bad-tempered. You cannot leave the responsibility for change up to him: that’s just piling on the load” You also sound stuck. Resorting to threats and smacking will make him more anxious and withdrawn. “It might make him look temporarily better,” says Melville-Thomas, “but he’s not learning anything other than to be afraid, which he is already.” When he comes home give him a little space to just be and be understood. Melville-Thomas suggests saying things like” “‘I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” or “You sound really upset. That sounds like a very long day for you.” Teddy's in bed My nine-year-old son still wants to sleep in my bed. Should I let him? It sounds simple, but it works. Other good phrases to use are: “Tell me more,” “Mummy missed you,” and “Draw it for me.” Asking children who are in a high emotional state to do something practical can really help, as long as you’re not doing it to distract them from what they are trying to tell you. Your son may be neurodivergent. This can’t be diagnosed from a letter, but even if he is, listening to him and helping him deal with things would still be part of the answer. If in time you have ongoing worries you’d need to talk to your GP (by yourself first). Could you take some time off work, even an hour, and spend it just with him? Don’t expect results overnight. This is going to take time, but it will be worth it. You may also want to listen to this podcast on toddlers, which goes into much more detail. Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a personal problem sent in by a reader. If you would like advice from Annalisa, please send your problem to ask.annalisa@theguardian.com. Annalisa regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence. Submissions are subject to our terms and conditions. [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/05/what-can-we-do-to-stop-our-sons-post-nursery-meltdowns]

Matt Harvey, the onetime Mets ace who helped New York to an unlikely 2015 run to the National League pennant but had the peak of his career cut short by injuries, announced his retirement from baseball in an Instagram post Friday morning. "To the fans, and most importantly the NY Mets fans: You made a dream come true for me. A dream I never could have thought to be true. Who would have thought a kid from Mystic, [Conn.] would be able to play in the greatest city in the world, his hometown. You are forever embedded in my heart." "Goodbye, baseball. And thank you." Harvey, the seventh overall pick by the Mets in the 2010 MLB Draft, made his major league debut in 2012 and emerged as the Mets' best starting pitcher and a fan favorite by 2013, getting the nod to start for the NL in that year's All-Star Game at his home stadium of Citi Field. A Sports Illustrated cover early that season dubbed Harvey the "Dark Knight of Gotham" after the superhero Batman, and Mets fans quickly adopted the "Dark Knight" nickname for Harvey for the rest of his time there. He would miss the 2014 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but came back in 2015 to lead a young, talented Mets starting rotation that also included Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz. Sparked by a midseason trade for slugger Yoenis Cespedes, the Mets surged to win the 2015 NL East division title and beat the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in the playoffs, advancing to face the Kansas City Royals in the World Series. Harvey pitched well enough to exit with the lead in Game 1 of the series, only for the Royals to tie the game in the ninth and later win in extra innings. In Game 5, Harvey convinced manager Terry Collins to let him keep pitching in the ninth inning after throwing over 100 pitches in eight shutout innings with the Mets facing elimination at home. However, Harvey immediately allowed a walk an and RBI double and was pulled. The Royals once again tied the game later in the ninth and prevailed in extra innings to clinch the series win. 2015 would be the last season where Harvey pitched at an elite level. He dealt with injuries, poor performance, and off-field issues over the next few years before the Mets released him early in the 2018 season, and never came close to replicating his past success during stops with the Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels. After sitting out the 2022 MLB season, he also pitched for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, allowing just one run on four hits over seven total innings across two starts. In his retirement announcement, Harvey referenced an early 2013 game where Mets fans at Citi Field chanted his name after he outdueled Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg and helped the Mets to a victory against the then-defending NL East champions. [https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/former-mets-ace-matt-harvey-retires-from-baseball]

The Conservatives have had a miserable time in England's local elections. The problem the Tories have faced is a range of competitive opponents. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and even the Green Party have capitalised on the shrivelling of Tory po[CENSORED]rity. Liberal Democrat smiles were sufficiently broad that party leader Sir Ed Davey was found comparing himself to a Cheshire cat. The Lib Dems appear to have finally banished the baggage of their years in coalition government. Plenty of Lib Dems are proud of their time serving alongside the Tories between 2010 and 2015, but plenty of their voters were horrified by it and they were near obliterated eight years ago. Memories of it for many seem to have retreated sufficiently far into the rear-view mirror that it is no longer a drag anchor on their prospects. "We are the none-of-the-above party again," one party source observed. This was the Green Party's best ever set of local election results. For the first time, they've secured a majority on a council, in Mid-Suffolk. Labour optimism The only Conservative comfort blanket on an otherwise cold night for them is the scale of a bounce back Labour has to make to win a general election. Some have suggested the numbers from this election suggest they would have fallen short of a majority had there been a general election this week. Labour are continuing to insist these local elections results would have led to a majority Labour government, because of progress they believe they can make in Scotland, plus the geographical distribution of their vote share. Party strategists reckon, with all the problems the Scottish National Party is facing, they could win 20 seats in Scotland at the next general election. They currently hold one. And Labour say their vote is much more "efficient" than it has been. What do they mean by this? They point out Labour won the general election in 2005 on 35% of the vote, but lost in 2017 with 40% of the vote, because the party was stacking up voters in places where it was already dominant - such as big cities and university towns. They argue this week's results show, for them, a much better distribution of their vote in places they need to beat the Conservatives - including good performances in places that voted to leave the EU and places with smaller proportions of graduates. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65505481]

The Scottish government will meet its pledge to provide free school meals for all primary school children, the deputy first minister has said. Shona Robison said the full rollout that had been due to happen last 2022 will include P6 and P7 pupils by 2024. But she confirmed a plan for universal free meals in secondary schools would have to be looked at again. It comes after the first minister warned "tough choices" needed to be made about existing budgets. Humza Yousaf said on Tuesday that future Scottish government spending plans would be targeted at those most in need. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Shona Robison backed Mr Yousaf's call for targeted spending to be effectively aimed at reducing poverty. Future spending to target the poorest, says Yousaf Delay to free school meal rollout 'shameful' - EIS She said there was "no question" that the commitment to free school meals for P6 and P7 pupils would go ahead. But she added that "resources are tight and we need to make difficult decisions". "That is where the issue and question of targeting comes in," Ms Robison said. "With the resources to roll out free school meals in secondary schools, would it be better targeted to support, for example, breakfast clubs or pre-clubs to make sure that children who are from the poorest families are actually getting three meals a day instead of one at lunchtime." Ms Robison said the government could not and would not ignore the fact that many families were struggling to feed their children. "We need to make sure that, within the limited resources we have, that money is being spent in the most effective way and that is what we're doing," she said. Universal free school lunches have been extended to children in P4 and P5 since the SNP retained power in the May 2021 election, saving families an average of £400 a year. Bruce Adamson, the Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland, welcomed the deputy first minister's commitment to free meals for all primary pupils. Douglas Fraser: The politics of priorities But he said the policy did not go far enough. "When we are talking about something as basic as food, we know that a universal approach is effective," he said. "We know that a targeted approach to free school meals means that some people miss out. "Secondary pupils will be shocked that the Scottish government is reconsidering." Scottish Labour MSP Paul O'Kane accused Humza Yousaf of "jettisoning promises" just weeks into his new job as first minister. He said: "There is hidden hunger in schools. "The government have committed to free school meals from primary one to seven and haven't delivered it yet." [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65479990]

Four members of the Proud Boys extremist group, including its former leader Enrique Tarrio, were on Thursday convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in planning and leading the January 6 Capitol attack, in a desperate effort to keep Donald Trump in power after his 2020 election defeat. The verdicts handed down in federal court in Washington marked a major victory for the US justice department in the last of its seditious conspiracy cases related to the January 6 attack. Prosecutors previously secured convictions against members of the Oath Keepers, another far-right group. Seditious conspiracy is rarely used but became the central charge against the Proud Boys defendants after the FBI identified them as playing crucial roles in helping storm the Capitol in an effort to interrupt and stop the congressional certification of electoral results. “Evidence presented at trial detailed the extent of the violence at the Capitol on January 6 and the central role these defendants played setting into motion the unlawful events of that day,” attorney general Merrick Garland later said at a news conference at justice department headquarters. “We have secured the convictions of leaders of both the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers for seditious conspiracy, specifically conspiring to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power. Our work will continue,” Garland said. Those convicted now await sentencing. The verdicts were partial, and hours after the initial four were found guilty of seditious conspiracy, the jury found another Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola, who smashed a window to gain entry to the Capitol, not guilty of seditious conspiracy. Tarrio, who was not in Washington for the Capitol attack, as well as Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl were also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. All five were convicted of obstructing an official proceeding. The trial, which lasted more than three months and tested the scope of the sedition law, was particularly fraught for the defense, the prosecution and the presiding US district court judge, Timothy Kelly. Clashes in court and motions for mistrial were frequent. Trump played an outsized role in the trial, given the reverence the Proud Boys accorded the former president. In closing arguments, the prosecution said they acted as “Donald Trump’s army” to “keep their preferred leader in power” after rejecting Joe Biden’s victory. The former president has long been considered the lynchpin for the involvement of the Proud Boys and others in the Capitol attack when he called for a “wild” protest on 6 January 2021 in an infamous December 2020 tweet and told supporters to “fight like hell” for his cause. More than a thousand arrests have been made in connection to the Capitol attack and hundreds of convictions secured. Trump was impeached a second time for inciting an insurrection but acquitted by Senate Republicans. He still faces state and federal investigations of his attempted election subversion. In court, prosecutors said Tarrio and his top lieutenants used Trump’s December tweet as a call to arms and started putting together a cadre that they called the “Ministry of Self-Defense” to travel to Washington for the protest, according to private group chats and recordings of discussions the FBI obtained. Around 20 December 2020, Tarrio created a chat called “MOSD Leaders Group” – described by Tarrio as a “national rally planning committee” – that included Nordean, Biggs and Rehl. The chat was used to plan a “DC trip” where all would dress in dark tones, to remain incognito. The prosecution argued that Tarrio’s text messages about “Seventeen seventy six”, in reference to the year of American independence from Britain, suggested the leadership of the Proud Boys saw their January 6 operation as a revolutionary force. Lacking evidence in the hundreds of thousands of texts about an explicit plan to storm or occupy the Capitol, the prosecution used two cooperating witnesses from the Proud Boys to make the case that the defendants worked together in a conspiracy to stop the peaceful transfer of power. The first witness, Jeremy Bertino, told the jury the Proud Boys had a penchant for violence and there was a tacit understanding that they needed to engage in an “all-out revolution” to stop Biden taking office, testimony meant to directly support a sedition charge. The second witness, Matthew Greene, told the jury he did not initially understand why the Proud Boys marched from the Washington monument to the Capitol to be among the first people at the barricades surrounding Congress, instead of going to Trump’s speech near the White House. Once the Proud Boys led the charge from the barricades to the west front of the Capitol, Pezzola using a police riot shield to smash a window, Greene said he realized there may have been a deliberate effort to lead the January 6 riot. The prosecution persuaded the judge to allow them to use a novel legal strategy: that though the Proud Boys leaders did not really engage in violence themselves – Tarrio was not even in Washington – they got other rioters to do so, using them as “tools” of their insurrection conspiracy. The defense protested the ruling allowing prosecutors to show the jury videos of other low-level Proud Boys and random rioters committing violence at the Capitol, saying that it amounted to making the five defendants guilty by association. Notwithstanding the other evidence, the defense’s complaint was that if the jury had to assess whether the defendants’ limited use of violence alone met the threshold to “destroy by force the government of the United States”, the outcome might have been affected. [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/04/proud-boys-convicted-seditious-conspiracy-capitol-attack]

In December I received a phone call from my father, which, through no fault of his own, tends to fill me with dread. “So … Mom says you’re vegan now,” my dad said. “You’re not eating meat or dairy at all? No eggs, no cheese?” My shoulders eased up. I’ve lived far enough away from home for long enough to know that a phone call is often a precursor for bad news, the kind not fit for a text message. But, thankfully, this wasn’t that. This conversation wasn’t about tragedy or illness, but it still fell into the Serious Topic category: what I wanted to eat on vacation. I had called my mom the day before and told her that I would only be eating fish on our annual holiday trip to Mexico to visit family. After a noticeable pause, she drummed up her usual enthusiastic support: “You know what, I think it’s great!” The scope of my dietary experiment grew overnight in a concerned game of telephone. I hadn’t made a big deal out of it, but the stakes were perhaps a bit higher than I wanted to concede. I was risking confused looks and questions, and potentially even offending some relatives. Maybe worse: I was risking missing out. “I’m just making sure!” my dad insisted, after I clarified that I was not vegan. “I just want to make sure we have enough food for you at Christmas.” Like my mom, my dad made it sound easy. But in Mexico where my extended family lives, meat is first, revered, king. Monterrey, where I was born, is considered the capital of carne asadas. There, cabrito – or roasted kid goat – is a delicacy. I had tried going vegetarian once as a teenager, only for it to wreak havoc on our annual Christmas tamale order. As I grew older, my ties to my Mexican identity felt threatened by my wish to go meatless; I didn’t really think I could do it. But living away grants you the discretion to experiment. I had only cut out meat on a handful of trips to Mexico. One year, with my dad’s help, I had plenty of quesadillas, cheese tamales and tortas de aguacate, as long as the aguacate – avocado – wasn’t scarfed up by another family member who didn’t realize it was my whole meal. But the truth is I have been flirting with not eating meat for a long time. I’m an editor who works on the Guardian’s climate and environment coverage. While I know the climate crisis is not my individual fault, I can’t help but look at a cheeseburger and think about all the greenhouse-gas emissions that come from raising meat for human consumption. During the lockdown period of the pandemic, I found it easy to cut out meat and dairy at home. I stopped craving meat except for very special occasions. This was harder to keep up when I went home, especially without adopting the formal title of “vegetarian”. My parents live in Texas, where Tex-Mex cooking still revolves around cuts of steak, chicken, pork. In my studio apartment in Brooklyn, it was easier. When my grandma called me to ask how I was doing, her first question was whether I had a good place to buy meat nearby. I knew she knew I was abstaining, even though I hadn’t announced anything officially, from the way she remained suspicious even after I answered, “Yes …?” Guilt lingered. But the more I looked around, the more I realized: there is Mexican food before meat, and there is Mexican food after. And part of the joy is finding your way to the “after”. Mexican food in the US isn’t a monolith. A burrito in El Paso, Texas, looks radically different from a San Francisco one. But po[CENSORED]r, Americanized versions of it are largely synonymous with meat (think: fajitas). And the idea that meat should be the centerpiece of all Mexican cuisine is pervasive in many circles – Anglo or otherwise. Growing up in the border cities of Tijuana and San Diego, writer and recipe developer Andrea Aliseda was often told you couldn’t be Mexican if you didn’t eat meat. “For some time, I’d try to be vegetarian during the week only to crack over the weekend, bowing my head to a taco,” she told me over email recently. “[T]hat act felt like the epitome of Mexican-ness to me, a communion culturally and gastronomically.” These myths didn’t hold true for long. At 24, Aliseda went vegan, after a three-year stint of eating meat. In that moment, she said: “I definitely thought I was severing a connection with my Mexican gastronomy.” It was only later that she realized going vegan “opened the door to another side of the cuisine entirely”. Aliseda’s forthcoming book, Plant-Based Mexican Food, joins a growing array of cookbooks and resources on how to veganize po[CENSORED]r Mexican dishes, like Edgar Castrejón’s Provecho. Her work, like that of other authors and cooks, shines a light on the long history of vegetarian foodways in Mexican cooking. Despite po[CENSORED]r ideas of what Mexican food should be, vegetables have a storied place in the cuisine. In pre-Hispanic times, milpa farming systems were used to grow corn, beans, squash and chiles. This ancient practice is still carried out today throughout Mesoamerica, providing a nutritious diet for its stewards. Varieties of Mexican cuisine that prize meat above all risk eliding these histories. A few years ago, I rolled my eyes nonstop when a friend invited me to dinner at Jajaja, a vegan Mexican restaurant near New York’s Chinatown. The phrase “vegan Mexican” felt nonsensical to me, and I probably said as much. But I went back there last month and was amazed at the tofu drizzle on its mushroom taco. This crema felt true to the spirit and presentation of classic Mexican dishes. New York gets a bad rap for its Mexican food offerings (when compared with Texas and California), but I’ve found that chefs and restaurateurs in the city are opening up ambitious possibilities for vegetarians and vegans. At the Brooklyn-based cafe For All Things Good, owner Matt Diaz says he and his business partner never set out to open a vegetarian restaurant. They don’t bill themselves as such (it took me several bites to realize their tinga was made of carrots). They consider the restaurant a molino above all else: a place that makes and sells fresh tortillas. The restaurant prepares these through nixtamalization, a process that soaks and boils corn in lime and water. This gives masa a higher nutritional value and a deeper flavor than traditional corn tortillas sold in stores. Even as Diaz hewed to one tradition, he didn’t feel obligated to add meat. “As I was developing the menu and writing the recipes, it felt like, if you really worked on the recipes, you could finish every single one before adding a protein – or a meat, rather,” said Diaz. “And then it almost felt like being lazy” to throw in chorizo or chicken. Diaz projected their business would potentially triple if they added meat to the menu. But for now, the plan is to stay vegetarian. “I like the challenge of keeping the menu vegetarian. If you’re creative, it can be really fun. “And I feel better about it, morally,” he added, laughing. Like me, Diaz isn’t vegetarian – but we both worry about eating too much meat. These days, there’s no end of ways for the not-totally-veg to identify: flexitarian, social omnivore. Ixta Belfrage, a London-based cook and recipe developer whose forthcoming book Mezcla offers new takes on Mexican, Brazilian and Italian fare, says she recently worked with someone who only eats meat 10 times a year. [https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/may/04/mexican-vegetarian-meat-cuisine-food-mexico]

Police say the man whose arrest led to a controlled explosion at Buckingham Palace asked to speak to a soldier before he allegedly began throwing shotgun cartridges. The man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace in central London on Tuesday after he approached the gates. King Charles and the queen consort were not at Buckingham Palace at the time. At a media briefing on Wednesday the deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said the suspect was arrested for possession of a lock knife and on suspicion of possessing ammunition. Adelekan said the man approached the palace gates at about 7.15pm and asked to speak to a soldier. When he was told no, shotgun cartridges were thrown. Adelekan said the suspect was “grabbed within seconds” and after being searched was arrested within five minutes. The suspect had told police a bag he was carrying “needed to be handled carefully”. At 8.12pm a controlled explosion of the bag took place. Adelekan said police had not pointed their guns at him and a review of security had found police plans had worked. He said terrorism was not believed to be a factor and the investigation continues. The incident comes amid meticulous preparations for the king’s coronation on Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London in a security procedure called Operation Golden Orb. Thousands of officers are being drawn from across the UK for the ceremonial event. [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/03/man-arrested-at-buckingham-palace-asked-to-speak-to-a-soldier-police-say]

Yamaha, the Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, has been making waves in the electric scooter market with its first “50cc equivalent” mass-produced electric scooter, the NEO’s. Released in the European market, the NEO’s represents the beginning of a new era of zero-emission models from Yamaha, as they look to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future. The NEO’s electric scooter features simple and compact styling, combined with a relaxed riding position and connected instruments, making it the smart way to move around in the city. With its silent running, the NEO’s is the perfect solution for urban trips. It comes equipped with a removable lithium-ion battery, giving a range of approximately 37km. For longer journeys, the NEO’s Dual Battery, with its extended range of up to 68km, is the ideal choice. How is Yamaha NEO’s Inspired by the iconic face of the original NEO’s, the Yamaha NEO’s electric scooter features rounded lines and a compact body. Its dual LED headlight arrangement creates a distinctive ‘robot face’, with the two lights resembling cute ‘eyes’. Yamaha has intentionally incorporated this design element to pay homage to the NEO’s heritage, adding a touch of personality to the scooter’s sleek and modern look. The engine of this electric scooter is situated in the rear wheel hub, and boasts a maximum power output of 2.06 kW. This translates to a top speed of up to 40 km/h. The NEO’s features two distinct riding modes, as per the company. The first is STD (maximum power), while the second is ECO, which limits the power output to 1.58 kW and restricts the maximum speed to 35 km/h. These modes enable riders to choose the level of performance they require, depending on the distance of their journey or their preference for speed or energy efficiency. Although the Yamaha NEO’s electric scooter has a lot going for it, the battery can be considered its weak point. The scooter is equipped with a removable lithium-ion battery that delivers 50.4 V and 19.2 Ah of power. According to the company, this battery enables a range of up to 37 km in STD mode, or up to 38.5 km in ECO mode. However, there is a Double Battery version available that can extend the scooter’s autonomy to a modest 68 km, enough for urban trips. Finally, the scooter has Full-LED lighting, LCD digital panel with smartphone connection, Smart Key, 13″ wheels, KYB (Kayaba) suspension at the front, and low resistance tires, with 110mm at the front and 130mm at the rear. The 2023 Yamaha NEO’s retail in the UK from £3,350.00 for the single battery version, and £3,799.00 for the dual battery version. [https://motonewsworld.com/yamaha-reveals-exciting-new-aqua-color-for-the-2023-neos-electric-scooter/]

I am a Southern Housing tenant and, a year ago, reported a leak in my bedroom ceiling. It was after three months of calls and emails to United Living, Southern Housing’s repair service provider, that surveyors arrived and discovered a hole in the recently replaced roof. It took another four months of pushing from me before a repair was made. Within a week, the leak had worsened. A month later, the same contractor returned to repeat the job, but a week later it was leaking again. The contractor was called back. No work started. By now, there was damp in every room and I was optimistic when another roofing company came to do a survey. However, two months later, nothing has been done. The living conditions are now intolerable, but I have been told I would have to move indefinitely into a B&B or, if I want to be given a new flat, to leave my home town. SM, Brighton This is shocking. Avoidable carelessness allowed your flat to deteriorate so badly you faced losing your home of 25 years. Your physical and mental health has also deteriorated due to the damp, mould and stress. United Living repeatedly relied on a contractor that was clearly not up to the job and, you claim, communications were dire. You say the housing association batted you back to United Living, whose preferred strategy was silence. The work finally began with the new roofing firm just after you contacted me and 11 months after you first reported the leak. Southern Housing claims, without offering detail, the repair was “large-scale and unusual” which is odd since the leaking roof was only a year old. It also claims that, due to Covid, roofing contractors and supplies were in short supply. But it wasn’t the shortage of contractors that was the main issue – it was the fact it kept botching the job. It says: “We do recognise the need for improved communications between our team, our contractors and the tenant. We’re reviewing how we can improve this in the future. Any compensation will be arranged via our complaints process.” Worryingly for residents, Southern confirmed that it had renewed its contract with United Living for another two years. United Living says: “In this instance we regret we have not maintained our usual high standards of resident communication. The work on this property contracted to United Living is now completed, and we are currently undergoing a full review of our processes to ensure that this does not happen again.” [https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/may/03/my-landlord-has-left-me-in-a-flat-with-a-leaking-roof-for-a-year]

The 2023 NFL Draft wrapped up Saturday, which means fans should have a good idea what their team is going to look like ahead of OTAs and training camp later this spring and summer. With coaching hires, free agency and the draft all set, Colin Cowherd ranked the top 10 NFC teams on Tuesday's airing of "The Herd." Cowherd noted that the NFC top 10 is "bleak" in contrast to the "much more dynamic" AFC. Here are Cowherd's top 10 NFC teams. 10. Carolina Panthers Colin's thoughts: "My surprise team in the NFC, and you know there's going to be one, is Carolina. People are not paying attention. They made a major upgrade at coach, going to Frank Reich from Matt Rhule. They added Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and Vonn Bell. They spent some money. They got nice, productive NFL players. Jonathan Mingo was the best player arguably taken in the second round. I think he's a great player. And Bryce Young was easily the most stabilizing quarterback." 9. Green Bay Packers Colin's thoughts: "I like the structure, but I don't know what Jordan Love is. We have no idea. They just signed a contract today that clearly protects the Packers. They lost Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan. Those are nice offensive pieces. I thought their first four draft picks were excellent. But Jordan Love has started one game." 8. New York Giants Colin's thoughts: "The Giants added a good tight end in Darren Waller. I still don't love their offensive line. I still don't love their receiving corps. I think they're going to regress a little bit. They have enough to put in the top 10. I like Saquon Barkley, their defense and their coach. But I still think they have an average quarterback. Their division … feels better to me. I think it's too much Brian Daboll and not enough Daniel Jones." 7. Minnesota Vikings Colin's thoughts: "I don't think they upgraded their defense enough. I think the best move they made in the offseason was hiring Brian Flores as a defensive coordinator. I still think they have average personnel. They were 26th in defense last year. They made Daniel Jones look great twice. They do have a smart offensive coach. They added Jordan Addison. So, the offense will be fine." 6. Detroit Lions Colin's thoughts: "It's hard to really love the Lions. They screw stuff up. Many thought they screwed the draft up. But their first four draft picks are guys that are going to start, so I like that. Jameson Williams, the great receiver, is suspended early due to the gambling policy issue. They have a pretty good offensive line, a quarterback that doesn't move a lot, but can throw the ball to the right spots in Jared Goff." 5. Los Angeles Rams Colin's thoughts: "I'm still a buyer in the Rams a year after the Super Bowl. Folks, when Matthew Stafford last played for an entire season, he threw for over 5,000 yards. Cooper Kupp was the No. 1 volume receiver in the league. And Aaron Donald didn't play last year after Thanksgiving. They get three stars back. They also had a ton of picks. They add depth. The offensive line got the best guard in the draft and can't have 13 different starting lineups this season." 4. Dallas Cowboys Colin's thoughts: "There's another drop-off. Kellen Moore's gone and Mike McCarthy's calling the plays. I don't love that. I also don't love the fact that, let's be honest here, Brandin Cooks is your No. 2 receiver. A little older Stephon Gilmore at corner. I didn't love their draft though Mazi Smith should start in the interior on defense. I just think that no Kellen Moore is going to cost you a game or two in that division. He's a very, very clever offensive mind." 3. Seattle Seahawks Colin's thoughts: "I've got to tell you, I loved the Seahawks' draft again this year. They got the best corner, the best receiver and maybe the second-best running back. They took more off the plate of Geno Smith. So, this is a franchise that doesn't have a lot of holes. They feel a little too young to beat an older San Francisco or an older Philadelphia, where you have established Pro Bowl-level players. But in terms of young talent, I think Seattle has the best young talent arguably in the entire conference." 2. San Francisco 49ers Colin's thoughts: "They don't have a Jalen Hurts at quarterback, so my guess is that they'll be playing in Philadelphia in the postseason. They got Javon Hargrave, another good defensive lineman. It's a full season with Christian McCaffrey. For the record, they were 12-1 when Christian McCaffrey was in the starting lineup. It's a tested team that's getting a little old in the tooth. George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams - they may have to make some tweaks after this season." 1. Philadelphia Eagles Colin's thoughts: "I think there's a gap now. Jalen Hurts is locked and loaded. I do worry about losing both coordinators, specifically Shane Steichen. But because the culture's so strong, they get a Jalen Carter. They are loaded on both lines, offense and defense. Jalen Carter to me was the best player in the draft. They lost some linebackers. I just want to see them without Shane Steichen. The good news is that they have an offensive coach, so the drop-off shouldn't be significant." [https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/eagles-seahawks-among-colin-cowherds-top-10-nfc-teams-after-2023-draft]

The SNP has signed a contract with a new auditor more than six months after the previous firm quit. The SNP's Westminster group risks losing £1.2m of public funding if it does not submit audited accounts by 31 May. Group leader Stephen Flynn said he was now confident that the deadline would be met. The party must also file its audited accounts with the Electoral Commission in July. Humza Yousaf, the SNP's leader and Scotland's first minister, said Manchester-based AMS Accountants Group had agreed to complete the accounts for both the party and its Westminster group. Mr Yousaf said: "There is hard work ahead but it is really encouraging to have them on board as we work towards challenging deadline". It emerged last month that the SNP's previous auditors, Johnston Carmichael, had quit last September. Mr Yousaf has said he only found out after winning the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon in March that the party no longer had an accounting firm in place. Firm which audits SNP finances has resigned SNP could lose £1.2m if accounts not filed on time A source told the BBC that Mr Yousaf, Mr Flynn and their teams had "put in some shift to fix the situation they inherited". The source added: "They have managed to turn things around in a matter of weeks and both the party and the Westminster group now have auditors in place." Mr Flynn previously told the BBC that the party was having problems finding new auditors and that he could not guarantee it would be able to meet the 31 May deadline. He also said the SNP was likely to lose £1.2m of Short Money if it was not able to file its accounts by that date. Short Money is given to opposition parties to help them carry out their parliamentary work, and is based on how many MPs they have. However, Mr Flynn said on Wednesday that he was "confident we'll meet the deadline, as in previous years". Mr Flynn was recently accused by his predecessor, Ian Blackford, of giving "false assurances" that a new auditor had been found - a claim that he dismissed. Johnston Carmichael, which had worked with the party for more than a decade, said the decision to stop auditing the SNP's accounts was taken after a review of its clients. It comes amid an ongoing police investigation into the party's finances that saw Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell - who was until recently the SNP's chief executive - and former treasurer Colin Beattie being arrested last month. Both men were released without charge pending further investigation. Detectives also spent two days searching Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell's home in Glasgow, and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh as part of the inquiry. And a luxury motorhome which can sell for more than £100,000 was seized from outside the home of Mr Murrell's 92-year-old mother in Dunfermline, where it was said to have sat for more than two years. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-65467591]

A 15-year-old equestrian was killed Sunday during a competition in Florida after a horse knocked her off and fell on her head. Hannah Serfass, of Webster, Florida, was competing in the Fox Lea Farm Spring Concours I in Venice, about 70 miles from Tampa, when "the horse tripped and suffered a rotational fall," the U.S. Equestrian Federation said in a statement. The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office said Serfass was about halfway through the course in a jumper event when she tried the sixth jump. "The horse landed the jump successfully and took two or three steps/gallops toward the next hurdle and for unknown reasons planted its left foot, which caused the horse to lean down significantly towards its left front hoof," authorities said. "This action caused the rider to then topple forward and off the horse in the same direction and onto the ground," the sheriff's office said. "The horse then continued to fall in the same direction falling over and onto the rider's head on the ground." The equestrian federation said the fall was "unrelated to a jumping effort." Fox Lea Farm personnel rushed to Serfass' aid until deputies arrived. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The horse, Quaxx 2, a 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding, was not injured. Serfass was described as a talented up-and-coming rider. The federation said she was known for her work ethic and her love of horses. Fox Lea Farm said in a statement that it sends its "sincere condolences to the family, trainer, friends, & the whole equestrian community. We are all heartbroken." The federation will review the accident "to learn what we can do to minimize risk and increase safety in equestrian sport [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/teen-equestrian-dies-horse-falls-florida-competition-rcna82484]

Harley-Davidson has been known for producing some of the most iconic motorcycles in the world, and since 1999, their Custom Vehicle Operations™ (CVO™) motorcycles have been the epitome of luxury and performance. Now, Harley-Davidson has announced two new 2023 CVO motorcycles, the all-new CVO Street Glide® and CVO Road Glide®, which will be officially premiered on June 7, 2023. According to Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President, and CEO of Harley-Davidson, these motorcycles represent a new era of innovation, design, engineering, and technology that redefines the boundaries of CVO. Harley-Davidson CVO motorcycles are limited-production motorcycles that deliver the ultimate in refinement of styling, design, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, along with top-of-the-line performance. With the introduction of the all-new 2023 CVO Street Glide and 2023 CVO Road Glide, Harley-Davidson has completely reimagined two of its most iconic motorcycles, breaking the mold and resetting the bar for the pinnacle Harley-Davidson riding experience. Brad Richards, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Design and Creative Director, commented on the design of the new motorcycles, stating that they bring a cohesive and dynamic flow from the front fenders to the saddlebags. The all-new batwing fairing featured on the 2023 CVO Street Glide model offers an evolved profile, exhibiting a faster overall gesture and more swept windshield. Undercuts beneath the headlamp are more pronounced, and turn indicators are integrated as opposed to external units. In addition, the silhouette and graphic outline of the batwing fairing have been modernized with updated surfacing, and the new fairing integrates in design with the fuel tank, side covers, and saddlebags. The all-new 2023 CVO Road Glide model fairing presents an aggressive update to the MY22 “sharknose” design and integrates with the fuel tank, side covers, and saddlebags. In addition, the single LED headlamp has a wide, horizontal shape, yet appears to have twin elements, recalling a key feature of all previous Road Glide model fairings, and turn signal lamps are integrated within the outer portions of the signature lighting. Both models feature the new Milwaukee-Eight® VVT 121 engine, all-new suspension, all-new infotainment system, and are offered with two paint/finish options. [https://motonewsworld.com/harley-davidson-unveils-all-new-2023-cvo-motorcycles-with-revolutionary-designs-and-advanced-technology/]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says he is confident that senior civil servant Sue Gray has not broken any rules in talking to Labour about a role. Ms Gray was offered a job as Sir Keir's chief of staff in March. Sir Keir also said he did not have any discussions with Ms Gray while she was investigating former PM Boris Johnson. The Cabinet Office will update MPs later on its investigation into the circumstances around her resignation with a written statement. The report is not expected to be the final judgement on Ms Gray's departure, which will come from the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba). The watchdog is to recommend how long Ms Gray, who probed lockdown gatherings in Downing Street, should wait before being allowed to take up the job with Labour. Sir Keir accused the government of using the issue to try and deflect from the local election campaign, saying it should be focusing on the cost-of-living crisis instead. "[The public are] not sitting at their breakfast talking about Sue Gray, they're talking about their bills," he told BBC Breakfast. Asked whether Ms Gray had broken any code of conduct, Sir Keir said: "Firstly I had no discussions with her whilst she was investigating Boris Johnson whatsoever." He added: "I'm confident she hasn't broken any of the rules." Gray job offer may have broken rules, says minister Who is Sue Gray, civil servant in row over Labour job? Under the civil service code, officials of Ms Gray's seniority must wait a minimum of three months before taking up outside employment. Senior civil servants, as well as ministers, are expected to check with Acoba about any employment they wish to take within two years of leaving government. The body provides advice and can recommend a delay of up to two years in starting a new job, but it has no power to block appointments. However, Labour has said the party and Ms Gray will abide by its recommendations. A long delay could hamper attempts to have Ms Gray in place well before the next general election, which is widely expected next year, to help Labour prepare for government if it wins power. Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin has previously said Ms Gray's talks with Labour may have breached civil service rules, including the requirement to inform Acoba before a job offer is announced, and to clear contact with opposition parties with ministers. Ms Gray became well known after she was chosen to look into the Partygate scandal last year. She has held a number of senior positions, including head of the government's propriety and ethics team, since joining the civil service in the 1970s. Ms Gray resigned from the post of second permanent secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in March, after it emerged she had been offered a job with Labour. Labour has insisted it did not approach Ms Gray until after her Partygate report was published. Bur Mr Johnson and his allies have seized on Labour's job offer to claim Ms Gray's investigation when he was in power was an attempt to smear him. Her report was critical of the senior political and civil service leadership, saying they "must bear responsibility" for the culture at No 10 during Covid lockdowns. It contributed to Mr Johnson's downfall as prime minister, prompting numerous Conservative MPs to call on him to resign. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65454496]

Mountain views and mounting tension underscore the fifth episode of the final series of Succession, set in Norway. The entire dysfunctional clan of Roys and courtiers descend on what appears at first sight to be a kind of Center Parcs for billionaires – but is, in fact, the Juvet Landscape Hotel, on the Atlantic coast between Bergen and Trondheim. Shiv quips, “Which way to Chairman Matsson’s re-education camp?” before the inevitable sauna, axe-throwing, archery and cringey disco kick in. Outside the transparent sweat bath, Karl jokes that the men in (birthday) suits are “hanging in the window like peking duck”. The minimalist Juvet will be familiar from the 2014 sci-fi movie Ex Machina and is clearly inspired by Mies van der Rohe’s famous Edith Farnsworth House near Chicago. Kendall is not impressed, calling his brother to complain about how small his room is. Though after the ride to the restaurant at the top of Nesaksla via the Romsdalen cable car, Swedish billionaire Matsson defends it all by saying: “People kind of think it’s cool.” Though, as usual with Succession, none of the bored super rich characters seems even remotely excited by the luscious locations they always reach by gas-guzzling private jet. Juvet’s picture windows are all about communing with nature, which is all the rage now, from a British version in Sussex to a beach hut in Devon for £450 a night and 1 Hotels bringing plants and green walls into the rooms – its first British outpost opens in London this summer. But unless you’ve got a media mogul’s offshore bank account, you’d be better off in one of these more affordable options, where you can immerse yourself in nature with surroundscape views of the British countryside. The Treehouses at Leckie, near Stirling Louisa and Simon Dickson have won plaudits for their treehouses at Lanrick, and opened this sister outpost last monthat Leckie near Stirling. With easy access from Edinburgh and Glasgow, it’s simple to get here but you can also escape the rat race in one of the four hideaways perched atop oak and sycamore trees. Outdoor copper baths, wood-burning stoves and underfloor heating offer indulgence – though crags and waterfalls are within easy striking distance. Other nearby attractions include Stirling Castle and the Falkirk Wheel – that marvel of canal engineering that Scots-born Logan Roy might have cracked a smile over. You’re not far from the V&A Dundee, which featured in an earlier series of Succession. Stargazers will love the chance to experience dark skies above Northern Ireland at Sperrinview Glamping. Each of the pods arrayed around the site comes with a kitchenette and a shower room, plus a viewing window that allows guests to feel at one with the dramatic landscape. Each is painted a different colour. After you’ve been up all night with the telescope and the Milky Way, you might spend the day exploring Beaghmore Stone Circles and cycling in Davagh Forest or walking the Sperrin area of outstanding natural beauty. [https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/may/02/natural-lines-of-succession-six-luxury-retreats-in-the-uk]

The man often touted as the godfather of AI has quit Google, citing concerns over the flood of fake information, videos and photos online and the possibility for AI to upend the job market. Dr Geoffrey Hinton, who with two of his students at the University of Toronto built a neural net in 2012, quit Google this week, the New York Times reported. Hinton, 75, said he quit to speak freely about the dangers of AI, and in part regrets his contribution to the field. He was brought on by Google a decade ago to help develop the company’s AI technology. Hinton’s research led the way for current systems like ChatGPT. He told the New York Times that until last year he believed Google had been a “proper steward” of the technology, but that changed once Microsoft started incorporating a chatbot into its Bing search engine, and the company began becoming concerned about the risk to its search business. Some of the dangers of AI chatbots were “quite scary”, he told the BBC, warning they could become more intelligent than humans and could be exploited by “bad actors”. “I’ve come to the conclusion that the kind of intelligence we’re developing is very different from the intelligence we have.” “So it’s as if you had 10,000 people and whenever one person learned something, everybody automatically knew it. And that’s how these chatbots can know so much more than any one person.” Hinton’s concern in the short term is something that has already become a reality – people will not be able to discern what is true any more with AI-generated photos, videos and text flooding the internet. The recent upgrades to image generators such as Midjourney mean people can now produce photo-realistic images – one such image of Pope Frances in a Balenciaga puffer coat went viral in March. Hinton was also concerned that AI will eventually replace jobs like paralegals, personal assistants and other “drudge work”, and potentially more in the future. Google’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean said in a statement that Google appreciated Hinton’s contributions to the company over the past decade. “I’ve deeply enjoyed our many conversations over the years. I’ll miss him, and I wish him well! “As one of the first companies to publish AI Principles, we remain committed to a responsible approach to AI. We’re continually learning to understand emerging risks while also innovating boldly.” It came as IBM CEO Arvind Krishna told Bloomberg that up to 30% of the company’s back-office roles could be replaced by AI and automation within five years. Krishna said hiring in areas such as human resources will be slowed or suspended, and could result in around 7,800 roles being replaced. IBM has a total global workforce of 260,000. The Guardian has sought comment from IBM. Last month, the Guardian was able to bypass a voice authentication system used by Services Australia using an online AI voice synthesiser, throwing into question the viability of voice biometrics for authentication. Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at the University of New South Wales’ AI Institute, said people should be questioning any online media they see now. “When it comes to any digital data you see – audio or video – you have to entertain the idea that someone has spoofed it.” [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/may/02/geoffrey-hinton-godfather-of-ai-quits-google-warns-dangers-of-machine-learning]

NEW YORK — The rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the Atlanta Braves offered their division rival a ruthless reminder of how beneficial it can be to have a surplus of power in the starting lineup. No, the pop didn’t come from Travis d’Arnaud, who has troubled the Mets plenty since they released him in 2019. Nor were they punished this time by Austin Riley and his .918 career OPS against New York. The Amazins have had a whole cast of Atlanta hitters give them migraines over the years, and a new Met killer emerged in their first series of the season against the Braves. It was Sean Murphy who crushed a pair of three-run home runs for Atlanta in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader at Citi Field, helping the Braves to a 9-8 win. After the weekend’s slate of matchups were postponed by April showers, Murphy provided battery mate Spencer Strider a three-run lead before he even threw his first pitch. The star catcher's first home run of the day, on a flat Denyi Reyes slider that Murphy was able to stay in front of, was also his first career long ball against the Mets. His performance on Monday suggested there will be plenty more of those. Murphy’s aggressive approach at the plate fits in perfectly with the rest of Atlanta’s dangerous hitters. The former A’s backstop might also be thriving because of the protection around him, something he simply didn’t have with his previous team. Murphy was traded by Oakland in December, and acquiring him was perhaps the splashiest move the Braves made this offseason. Coming from a 60-win squad in 2022, Murphy has settled in as Atlanta’s cleanup hitter. His six-RBI output Monday afternoon emphasizes his 180 OPS+ start to the season. After adding two more hits in the back half of the doubleheader, he leads all qualified catchers in nearly every major statistical category, including home runs (8), extra-base hits (15), runs (19), RBIs (22), on-base percentage (.413) and slugging (.647). It’s clear that playing for the contending Braves has been a shot in the arm for Murphy. His eighth home run of the season didn’t come until June 19 last year. He’s punishing mistakes at a higher clip than ever. "He’s a strong man, I’ll tell you that," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Murphy. "He’s a threat every time he goes up there. He’s a pro. He prepares. He studies. He’s really into the game with the pitching staff. And the thing is, he wants to post every day, too." Murphy’s first-inning homer was just a sneak peek of how many Braves can change the game with one swing. Ronald Acuña Jr. obliterated a baseball to the third deck in the second inning, a 448-foot solo shot that was one of the longest home-run balls ever hit at Citi Field. Kevin Pillar, from the nine-hole, cranked a two-run homer to left off Reyes in the second inning. Add in Murphy’s second three-run dinger of the day, another big mash to left field on a Jeff Brigham hanging slider, and the Braves collected four home runs in the first part of the doubleheader. Those four Atlanta homers proved to be the difference when the Mets scratched and clawed in a comeback attempt that fell short in the afternoon. The long ball also allowed Strider to get away with a subpar outing (four earned runs allowed on five hits across five innings) that wasn’t up to his usual standards. Atlanta’s 44 home runs and .448 slugging percentage both rank among the top three teams in MLB. The Mets rank 21st and 18th, respectively. That power could be the difference come September in what should be a tight race for the NL East crown. [https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/braves-deep-lineup-gives-them-early-edge-over-mets-in-nl-east-race]

Ducati has launched in Europe the 2023 Panigale V4 R, its 998cc supersport bike, which arrives with a series of improvements, including a new engine with more than 240 hp of maximum power, to win on the most demanding tracks. According to the brand, the new model offers the most sophisticated and refined technological solutions, which bring the road supersport bike even closer to the racing bikes used in the WorldSBK Championship. In addition to its own improvements, the 2023 Panigale V4 R receives the same electronics package that was featured on the 2023 version of the Panigale V4 and Panigale V4 S, which further enhances the riding feel and performance on the track. In short, it features the new Engine Brake Control (EBC) EVO 2 software, which features a different gear-to-gear calibration in each of the three selectable levels, a new strategy for the Ducati Quick Shift (DQS), a new strategy for the cooler, capable of offering better management of operating temperatures and greater thermal comfort for the rider, and a refinement strategies of the Ducati Traction Control (DTC) and Ride by Wire electronic throttle. Finally, the new 2023 Panigale V4 R received a revision in the aerodynamic package, with new two-element carbon fiber wings (main + flap) that guarantee the same aerodynamic load, but are more compact and thinner, and paintwork inspired by the MotoGP, which integrates the white plates with the number “1” highlighted. Engine and Gearbox The engine of the 2023 Panigale V4 R is the 998 cm³ Desmosedici Stradale R derived from MotoGP, capable of generating up to 218 hp of maximum power at 15,500 rpm, in its standard configuration, respecting the emission limits of Euro5. But with the appropriate racing exhaust, the new engine delivers up to 237 hp of maximum power and if it uses a new special oil, developed by Shell in collaboration with Ducati Corse, the maximum power reaches a monstrous 240.5 hp, something extraordinary. To achieve these numbers, longitudinally “drilled” titanium connecting rods, DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) surface treated pistons, and a more aggressive profile of the intake cams were used. The transmission is a 6-speed with dry clutch, in addition to the quick-shift system, and the gear ratio is the same used in the WorldSBK. [https://motonewsworld.com/2023-ducati-panigale-v4-r-debuts-new-engine-with-more-than-240-hp-to-win-on-the-tracks/]

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has accused the RMT transport union of "cynically targeting the Eurovision song contest" by calling strikes on the day of the final. RMT members are due to strike on 13 May after the union rejected the latest pay deal from train operators. The RMT said the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents the train operators, had "torpedoed" pay talks. But Mr Harper said a "fair and reasonable pay offer" had been made. In an interview on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Harper urged the RMT - the UK's largest specialist transport union - to put the pay offer to its members and let them decide. Mr Harper said, rather than doing this, the RMT had "called strikes which are cynically targeting the Eurovision song contest". "The reason that's so appalling is because that's not our song contest," Mr Harper said. "We're hosting it for Ukraine." Mr Harper said the RMT should be standing "in solidarity" with Ukrainian rail workers targeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in war-torn Ukraine. The BBC asked the RMT if it wished to comment but the union said it had nothing to add beyond its previous statements. Rail strike planned on day of Eurovision final Train drivers to strike again on FA Cup final day What Eurovision fans affected by train strikes can do The RMT union said it would launch action across 14 train operators for 24 hours on Saturday 13 May - the day Liverpool hosts the Eurovision final on behalf of Ukraine. Members will be walking out from 00:01 to 23:59 BST on 13 May. The union's executive and the train operators had been discussing a new pay offer aimed at ending a long-running dispute. The RDG's proposals involved one year's pay rise of 5% that was dependent on the union agreeing to go into a "dispute resolution process" and accepting the general principle of changes to working practices. Earlier this week, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said the RDG had "reneged on their original proposals and torpedoed these negotiations". Train operators said they had been "blindsided" by the strike, and denied union claims they had changed their offer. Steve Montgomery, chair of the RDG Group, said the union was "negotiating in bad faith, again denying their members a say on a fair pay deal, needlessly disrupting the lives of millions of our passengers, and undermining the viability of an industry critical to Britain's economy". The RMT's decision to take industrial action followed the announcement of strikes by Aslef, a union that represents train drivers. Aslef has strikes on 12 and 31 May, and on 3 June, the day of the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. The strikes will run from 00:01 to 23:59 each day. The union rejected a fresh offer from 16 train firms, including a 4% pay rise for two years in a row and changes to conditions. Mick Whelan, Aslef's general secretary, said the offer was "risible" and "clearly not designed to be accepted as inflation is still running north of 10%". The only people responsible for the ongoing strikes in this country "are the government and the employers", he told the BBC. On the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Mr Harper was asked whether the government was prepared to let rail strikes disrupt the industry until Christmas. He did not answer the question directly, but said: "In the end, the people who work in those industries have got to make a judgement about whether they accept the pay offer." "All that the rail unions are going to do is drive people away from it," he said. "Take the two biggest events they're trying to disrupt, Eurovision and the FA Cup Final." Mr Harper predicted the bus and coach sector would "step up" on the days of planned rail strikes in May and June. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65441184]

Your husband is breaking promises and not listening to you. You’re hurt and frustrated, and desperate for things to change, but don’t act in haste or rage The dilemma I am 47, have two primary-school children and a marriage that is in slow decline. From our initial pre-marriage ideals of a kind of Scandinavian shared approach to parenting and marriage it became apparent that, in fact, our underlying approach was that of his parents. The expectation is that I do everything. Nothing is done in an abusive way, but there is a passive detachment which I see in him that mirrors his dad. In his side of the family, the women run around doing everything while the men watch TV and discuss the news. I have brought this up numerous times, both in frustration and anger and in calmer, sadder moments. My husband will acknowledge this when I am calmer and will try to be more of an equal partner, but after a short time everything falls back to how it has been. I often think about being single. I am not interested in being with another man, but sometimes I find myself wondering if I would have a more equal relationship with a woman. I don’t want to break up because of our children. I have talked with him about splitting up, but he only laughs. Do I stay married? Or should I get out? Philippa’s answer For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health… and we should add another vow along the lines of having to stay together when, despite our best intentions, we end up being like our parents. My husband, after 30 years of marriage, kindly points out to me whenever I have turned into my mother and I remind him, with all the goodwill I can muster, when he is reverting to the model of a Victorian patriarch. However much we might not want to, without the gentle challenge of a loved one, we will revert to mimicking our ancestors. Right now, you are furious. I don’t blame you, your husband, without realising it, keeps reverting to type, leaving your headspace taken up with remembering to get milk and loo rolls, while he can chat about loftier ideas with other men. You are cooking dinner and listening to children read to you at the same time, while he watches the news and when you tell him you are reaching the end of your tether and have fantasies of not having him around at all, he is not taking you seriously. Sounds very tempting from an I-told-you-so perspective to leave, I can see that. He breaks his promise about the Scandinavian model on a daily basis and this hurts you. It seems when you shout, he cannot hear your words, but just tries to defend himself against the shouting. Very tough when you are trying to teach your children about life to have to repeat yourself to a grown man as well. But when you nudge him without shouting, he does respond – maybe you need a shorthand word, so you don’t need to go through the lengthy explanations each time. Maybe start calling him by his dad’s name? You can have one more gentle long chat, the sort he takes notice of, and then stay a week or two away with a friend. It may bring it home to him just how much there is to think about and do that should be shared. Remind him the children have grown out of all their clothes and shoes on your way out. Watch this clip of comedian Simon Brodkin on YouTube (bit.ly/SBrodkin) – share it with him, too. When you fantasise about it, divorce can appear like a lovely quick fix, but it rarely is. It can take a long time to rebuild yourself afterwards. There are complications about splitting the finances, with both parties usually ending up with less. No divorce with kids is a clean split as you must continue to co-parent and the things that annoyed you when you were together continue, but with less goodwill to work through them. The children suffer and act out. If you have a new same-sex relationship, it will have its own problems and rocky patches to work through. Men tend to repartner more quickly than women when there are children involved and resentments tend to grow rather than recede. At 47, it is possible your oestrogen levels are falling. At the beginning of my perimenopause I felt homicidal until I got some HRT. It is as though nature didn’t realise we’d still be rearing kids in our middle-age and thought we’d do well with less patience and more rage by now, but we are having children later and need our patience a bit longer, so it might be an idea to have a test to see if you are perimenopausal. And if you get HRT and find yourself more tolerant as a result, I do not suggest you let your husband get away with not sharing the physical and emotional labour of the home, but it may give you more patience when you remind him to think about what needs doing and not leave it all to you. Relationships go through good and bad times, it’s why we need to take vows at the beginning of the commitment. If relationships were all plain sailing, there wouldn’t be marriage to keep us together when things get stormy. I don’t envy your position right now in the middle of your storm, but I do think it is one that can be weathered. [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/apr/30/my-husband-wont-lift-a-finger-to-help-me-should-i-stay-or-go]

HELSINKI — A walrus that became a global celebrity last year after it was seen frolicking and basking in an Oslo fjord before it was euthanized by the authorities has been honored with a bronze sculpture in Norway. The life-size sculpture by Norwegian artist Astri Tonoian was unveiled Saturday at the Oslo marina not far from the place where the actual 600-kilogram (1,300-pound) mammal was seen resting and relaxing during the summer of 2022. The walrus, named Freya, quickly become a po[CENSORED]r attraction among Oslo residents but Norwegian authorities later made a decision to euthanize it — causing public outrage — because they said people hadn’t followed recommendations to keep a safe distance away from the massive animal. Norwegian news agency NTB said a crowdfunding campaign was kicked off last fall to finance the sculpture. The private initiative managed to gather about 270,000 Norwegian kroner ($25,000) by October, NTB said The walrus, named Freya, quickly become a po[CENSORED]r attraction among Oslo residents but Norwegian authorities later made a decision to euthanize it — causing public outrage — because they said people hadn’t followed recommendations to keep a safe distance away from the massive animal. Norwegian news agency NTB said a crowdfunding campaign was kicked off last fall to finance the sculpture. The private initiative managed to gather about 270,000 Norwegian kroner ($25,000) by October, NTB said [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/animal-news/life-size-sculpture-freya-euthanized-walrus-unveiled-norway-rcna82148]