The Tea Party

Posted by Raf Nicholson

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/29/england-womens-t20-cricket-world-cup-selection

Conservative selection policy reinforces perception that some are undroppable, no matter how bad the results

Insanity, they say, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. England’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards, is perfectly sane, but on Tuesday she announced a squad for the home T20 World Cup that starts on 12 June almost exactly the same as the one that surrendered the Ashes, by a score of 16-0, 15 months ago. The optics are dreadful.

For anyone who has followed England closely over the past year, the conservatism of Edwards and her selection panel comes as no surprise. Last summer, the main selection news was that Kate Cross – who did not play in the Ashes due to injury – was discarded. Edwards awarded one new cap, to Em Arlott, who was also the only new face in the squad Edwards took to India in October.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/29/england-womens-t20-cricket-world-cup-selection

Posted by Raf Nicholson

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/29/england-womens-t20-cricket-world-cup-selection

Conservative selection policy reinforces perception that some are undroppable, no matter how bad the results

Insanity, Einstein said, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. England’s head coach, Charlotte Edwards, is perfectly sane, but on Tuesday she announced a squad for the home T20 World Cup that starts on 12 June almost exactly the same as the one that surrendered the Ashes, by a score of 16-0, 15 months ago. The optics are dreadful.

For anyone who has followed England closely over the past year, the conservatism of Edwards and her selection panel comes as no surprise. Last summer, the main selection news was that Kate Cross – who did not play in the Ashes due to injury – was discarded. Edwards awarded one new cap, to Em Arlott, who was also the only new face in the squad Edwards took to India in October.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/apr/29/england-womens-t20-cricket-world-cup-selection

Posted by Tom Ambrose (now) and Taz Ali (earlier)

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/apr/29/two-people-stabbed-golders-green-says-jewish-group-latest-updates

A 45 year-old man has been arrested after two men attacked in Golders Green; prime minister condemns ‘appalling antisemitic attack’

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with police to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism, the Met said in a statement.

Head of counter terrorism policing Laurence Taylor said:

Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened.

Thank you to those who were in the area at the time and supported the response to this terrible incident.

Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack. We are grateful to officers who swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm.

We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area. A suspect is in custody, and investigators are considering all possible motives.

An investigation is under way and a man has been arrested following a stabbing incident in Barnet.

At 11:16hrs on Wednesday 29 April, officers responded following reports of people stabbed in Highfield Avenue.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/apr/29/two-people-stabbed-golders-green-says-jewish-group-latest-updates

Posted by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editor

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/29/britain-royal-navy-russia-open-sea-border-europe

Royal Navy chief says unified naval force will deter future Russian threats from the ‘open sea border’ to the north

Britain has agreed to create a unified naval force with nine European countries to deter future Russian threats from the “open sea border” to the north, the head of the Royal Navy has announced.

Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins said that despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, where the strait of Hormuz remains closed after the US-Israeli war in Iran, “Russia remains the gravest threat to our security”.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/29/britain-royal-navy-russia-open-sea-border-europe

Posted by Barry Glendenning

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/29/psg-bayern-champions-league-classic-football-daily-newsletter

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While a match-up between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain would almost certainly be most neutrals’ Bigger Cup final of choice, the major benefit of these two European heavyweights meeting in the semi-finals is that we get to watch them do it all again next week. While Football Daily has occasionally felt first-world resentment at being forced to sit through no end of turgid footballing dross masquerading as top-tier, top-flight entertainment this season, last night we felt genuinely sorry for any football fans who couldn’t enjoy the otherworldly treat served up in Paris. For many in the UK, the cost of watching Europe’s elite is an unaffordable luxury when they’re already struggling to put light in the bulb and food on the table. And while Pep Guardiola’s budget almost certainly stretches to an Amazon Prime subscription, last night the Manchester City boss took an ill-advised punt on Stockport County and Port Vale providing more bang for his buck at Edgeley Park.

Looking at that photo of Messi from 2005 (yesterday’s Quote of the Day), I had no idea before seeing his T-shirt that he was so left wing. We all know he did his best work off the right” – Andy McGregor.

A mention in Football Daily of Nike ‘Phantom Elite’ boots made me realise I may have missed some stages in the overdramatisation of product names in football. In my day we used to just call them Pumas, or Umbros or (quietly) Golas. Now it seems we’re just a few seasons away from kids clamouring for the new Nike Mega Eagle Missile Ghost Boss boots (as worn by Emil Krafth)” – Andrew Boulton.

What an absurd, breathless, brilliant game that was between PSG and Bayern last night. It was so end to end that, every time the camera panned to either end of the ground, I was surprised to see the keeper stood in a proper football goal, rather than between two piles of jumpers. I was also fully expecting the match to be brought to an end by a teacher marching onto the pitch ringing a brass handbell” – Phil Taverner.

Q: Would you like some goals?
A: Nine. Danke!
Q: Bayern’s second goal was scored in what part of Paris?
A: Champs-Olise’s.
Q: Do you think four goals are enough to get a result at PSG?
A: Cinq again!
Q: What time is it?
A: Five past Neuer.
Q: What now for PSG?
A: Oui go again next week!” – Peter Oh.

Wasn’t that a magnificent display of everything that’s good about football these days? No, not that trivial nine-goal kickabout in Paris. I’m referring to the wholly integrated approach to The Great Game yesterday evening in which the Hearts youth team won the Scottish Youth Cup final 4-0, and the Hearts Women’s team, already league leaders, won 3-0 to stretch their lead to five points with three games to go. What a season this could be for all things maroon” – Ken Muir.

Despite being native Baltimorean – yes, a Baltimoron if you must – I had to search for the meaning of recent allusions to Jimmy McNulty (Football Daily passim). Call me chauvinistic, but you see I’ve made it a point of never watching ‘The Wire’. When I need dramatic representation of harrowing, Sisyphean struggle on the one hand and ghastly, inexorable decline on the other, I simply turn to north London’s two (at least for now) Premier League flag-bearers” – Clinton Macsherry.

This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/29/psg-bayern-champions-league-classic-football-daily-newsletter

Posted by Joanna Partridge

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/29/uk-refineries-asked-to-maximise-jet-fuel-production-amid-growing-supply-fears

Government request follows contingency planning to stop planes being grounded if Iran war supply shocks continue

• Business live – latest updates

British refineries have been asked to maximise jet fuel supply as part of government contingency planning, amid growing fears the Iran war will force planes to be grounded.

The energy minister Michael Shanks said the government is closely monitoring UK jet fuel stocks and working with airlines, airports, fuel suppliers and other governments, as carriers face rocketing fuel costs as a result of the conflict.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/29/uk-refineries-asked-to-maximise-jet-fuel-production-amid-growing-supply-fears

Posted by Tom Ambrose (now) and Taz Ali (earlier)

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/apr/29/two-people-stabbed-golders-green-says-jewish-group-latest-updates

A 45 year-old man has been arrested after two men attacked in Golders Green; prime minister condemns ‘appalling antisemitic attack’

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing are leading the investigation and working with police to establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism, the Met said in a statement.

Head of counter terrorism policing Laurence Taylor said:

Whilst I must stress this investigation is at an early stage, we are working quickly to understand exactly what happened.

Thank you to those who were in the area at the time and supported the response to this terrible incident.

Our thoughts are with the victims of this horrific attack. We are grateful to officers who swiftly Tasered and arrested the suspect before he could cause further harm.

We are aware of the significant distress and concern this incident is likely to cause in the face of a number of incidents in the local area. A suspect is in custody, and investigators are considering all possible motives.

An investigation is under way and a man has been arrested following a stabbing incident in Barnet.

At 11:16hrs on Wednesday 29 April, officers responded following reports of people stabbed in Highfield Avenue.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2026/apr/29/two-people-stabbed-golders-green-says-jewish-group-latest-updates

Posted by Jakub Krupa

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/apr/29/europe-iran-hungary-russia-ukraine-eu-latest-news-updates

Ursula von der Leyen later due to meet new Hungarian leader who is seeking to unlock EU funds in return for reforms

AFP is reporting that so far, officials in Brussels are hopeful that Péter Magyar – who once served under Viktor Orbán, before turning on his former boss – will genuinely launch a new chapter in ties.

But wary of celebrating too soon, they insist they need to see concrete moves and not just kind words.

“A huge mandate, a strong mandate, a great responsibility!

We know our task: we will bring home the EU funds that Hungarians are entitled to. More soon.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/apr/29/europe-iran-hungary-russia-ukraine-eu-latest-news-updates

Posted by Rachel Savage in Johannesburg

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/29/south-africa-deports-mugabes-son-after-separate-offences-three-months-after-shooting-at-family-home

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe also fined after pleading guilty to immigration and firearms-related offences

Two months after an employee was shot in the back at the Mugabe family home in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg, a South African court has fined and ordered the deportation of Robert Mugabe’s youngest son over two unrelated charges.

Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, 28, and his cousin Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33, were initially both charged with attempted murder after the incident on 19 February.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/29/south-africa-deports-mugabes-son-after-separate-offences-three-months-after-shooting-at-family-home

Posted by Keith Stuart

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/apr/29/pushing-buttons-what-made-good-game-feel-pragmata-saros-vampire-crawler

Pragmata, Saros and Vampire Crawler bring together aesthetics, responsiveness and creative opportunities in joyous ways that can’t be defined, only experienced

Game feel is one of the most elusive concepts in the glossary of interactive entertainment, at once perfectly clear and difficult to define. Obviously, it refers to what a game feels like to play, but where does that feeling come from? How does it manifest? Or consider it from a different angle. When the chef Samin Nosrat started her career at the renowned Chez Panisse in California, she began to understand that what diners really responded to in their food were four key factors – salt, fat, acid and heat – and how these elements interacted. This idea formed the basis of her bestselling cookbook. It perhaps also inspired a video game audio director to once compare game feel to eating a potato chip: the salt and fat are part of it but so are the crunch and the sensation of the chip dissolving in your mouth (pdf). Game feel is a combination of elements – the responsiveness of the controls, the intuitiveness of the action, the aesthetics of the world and the creative opportunities they engender – all coming together in the right quantities.

I’m thinking about this a lot right now, because three games released in the last few days illustrate the idea of good game feel beautifully. The first is Pragmata, Capcom’s sci-fi action adventure in which you explore an abandoned colony base with the help of a child-like android, who lets you hack robotic enemies, lowering their defences before you blast them to pieces. The hacking mini-game takes place on a grid with nodes that add power-ups to your hack attack. As you progress, you add new types of nodes, as well as new weapons, and the interplay between these elements is complex, multifaceted and fun. This takes place in a linear world filled with hidden areas, so exploration is guided but discovery is possible. You run, jump and glide – it all feels seamless. It is joyous simply to be there.

https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/apr/29/pushing-buttons-what-made-good-game-feel-pragmata-saros-vampire-crawler