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The Guardian — page 119

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‘I’ve got more of a sense of humour than Ralph Lauren’ – nine things we learned from Paul Smith’s new memoir

He put personality into boxers, collaborated with the pope (sort of) and is to thank for novelty socks. The British designer’s new book reveals there’s more to Smith than his stripes In July, the British designer Paul Smith celebrated his 80th birthday and he has now released a memoir to mark the occasion. Threads: My Life in Style tells Smith’s story, from growing up in Nottingham and leaving school with no qualifications to selling suits to celebs, including Gary Oldman and David Bowie. Here are nine of our favourite lesser-known takeaways from the book. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Chloe Mac Donnell10 Sept

Shabana Mahmood urges police to curb far-right, anti-migrant protests

Home secretary tells officers to make ‘full use’ of their powers after masked vigilantes cause weekend of chaos Shabana Mahmood has urged police to curb the activities of far-right, anti-migrant groups which have “obvious malign intent” after a weekend of chaos caused by balaclava-wearing vigilantes. In a meeting on Thursday, the home secretary told senior officers to make “full use” of their powers, including bans on face coverings, after police were assaulted and ports were disrupted in Kent and Hampshire. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor10 Sept

Shabana Mahmood urges police to curb far-right, anti-migrant protests

Home secretary tells officers to make ‘full use’ of their powers after masked vigilantes cause weekend of chaos Shabana Mahmood has urged police to curb the activities of far-right, anti-migrant groups which have “obvious malign intent” after a weekend of chaos caused by balaclava-wearing vigilantes. In a meeting on Thursday, the home secretary told senior officers to make “full use” of their powers, including bans on face coverings, after police were assaulted and ports were disrupted in Kent and Hampshire. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor10 Sept

Francophiles, Norman outfits and broken threads: visitors see Bayeux tapestry in UK for first time

Visitors got a first glimpse of the medieval artefact after it went on display at the British Museum in London On the day Bayeux tapestry tickets were released, Megan Stockwell was at the beach. She was so determined to lock down her spot, that she sat with her toes in the sand for an hour, waiting in the online queue. “The whole ticket buying experience felt like what other people would do to get Taylor Swift tickets. I was like, ‘oh God, am I, like, the geek version of this?’” she recalled. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Rachel Hall10 Sept

The hospitality industry fears a tourist tax will deter visitors – the evidence says otherwise

Studies from hotspots across Europe that have introduced levies suggest they have no impact on visitor numbers If you wandered down Las Ramblas or lazed on a beach in the Balearics this summer, you probably paid a tourist tax for the privilege. In fact, if you enjoyed any of Europe’s beauty spots in recent years, it is likely that an overnight levy was added to your bill. Britons have become used to paying these fees abroad but ministers have shied away from introducing them in the UK. The furious response from UK hospitality bosses helps to explain why. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Josh Halliday North of England editor10 Sept

The Russia-tied French billionaires opening UK's first historical theme park – explainer

French company Puy du Fou is planning a £600m history-themed park in Oxfordshire. A Guardian investigation has found the company continued working with associates of Konstantin Malofeyev, a pro-Kremlin oligarch under sanctions, on plans for a theme park in Russian-occupied Crimea for longer than it had previously disclosed, and later explored projects in Iran and China. Business reporter Rob Davies explains his findings, including documents that raise questions about whether Puy du Fou’s activities tested the limits of EU sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. He also examines the far-right politics associated with Puy du Fou’s founder, Philippe de Villiers, and asks whether the company is a suitable choice to tell Britain’s national story Kremlin connections: the Russia links to a £600m UK theme park Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Rob Davies, Elena Morresi, Karif Wat, Sarah Bertram and Boglarka Kosztolanyi10 Sept

Why are we giving a £24bn-a-year subsidy to profitable commercial banks? | Letter

Gerald Holtham suggests that it time to cut the 3.75% that the Bank of England pays out on the lenders’ reserves There are increasing calls for a windfall tax on banks ( Taxing the banks: what Europe’s windfall levies brought in as Burnham eyes his next move, 2 September ). Such a tax is unnecessary; it would be enough simply to stop paying commercial banks a huge existing subsidy. The Bank of England holds the reserve deposits of the commercial banks and pays its policy interest rate on the entirety of those reserves. Paying 3.75% on about £640bn means handing over £24bn a year of public money to profitable commercial concerns. The Bank does so only to control the banks’ lending rates by establishing a floor. Yet that could be done more economically by paying interest on a marginal slice of the reserves. The Bank could announce a tranche for each bank and declare that any reduction in reserves from that level is counted as coming firstly from the interest-bearing tranche. That keeps the same marginal opportunity cost to the banks and ensures interest-rate policy is effective. If the tranche were 20%, there would be a gross saving of more than £19bn a year. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Guardian Staff10 Sept

Hamilton confirms no rules of engagement at Ferrari despite Monza clash with Leclerc

‘When I was at Mercedes we had written rules’ British driver held positive talks with teammate Lewis Hamilton has said there remain no rules of engagement between the drivers at Ferrari, despite the 41-year-old calling for the team to employ them after he clashed with his teammate, Charles Leclerc, at the last round in Monza. Hamilton was forced wide by Leclerc at turn two on the opening lap at the Italian Grand Prix, which he felt had been unacceptable. Speaking before the first meeting for the Spanish Grand Prix at the new Madring circuit in Madrid this weekend, Leclerc admitted he had been at fault and Hamilton said the pair had talked frankly and cleared the air in a forthright fashion. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Giles Richards at the Madring10 Sept

A scientist said bananas ‘kill’ the benefit of blueberries. Is that true?

Can blending these popular fruits in a smoothie adversely affect the berries’ nutritional benefits? Experts weigh in This year was shaping up to be a banner year for bananas: they were lauded as “ 2026’s big viral taste ”, landed pride of place as Prada’s new lip balm flavor, and were even deemed “ the next pumpkin spice ”. But this summer, the Mel Robbins Podcast featured Dr Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist, who said that adding banana to a blueberry smoothie could adversely affect the nutritional benefits of the berries. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Adrienne Matei10 Sept

A scientist said bananas ‘kill’ the benefit of blueberries. Is that true?

Can blending these popular fruits in a smoothie adversely affect the berries’ nutritional benefits? Experts weigh in This year was shaping up to be a banner year for bananas: they were lauded as “ 2026’s big viral taste ”, landed pride of place as Prada’s new lip balm flavor, and were even deemed “ the next pumpkin spice ”. But this summer, the Mel Robbins Podcast featured Dr Rhonda Patrick, a biomedical scientist, who said that adding banana to a blueberry smoothie could adversely affect the nutritional benefits of the berries. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Adrienne Matei10 Sept

Mas edges closer to Vuelta glory after avoiding major losses in stage 18 time trial

Mas limits losses to Roglic and has 1min 37sec lead Stefan Küng wins time trial ahead of Callum Thornley Enric Mas held on to his overall lead in a key individual time trial at the Spanish Vuelta on Thursday. Only three hilly stages remain in the Grand Tour. The time trial specialist Primoz Roglic moved up from third to second overall and gained 33 seconds on Mas but remained 1 minute 37 seconds behind the Spaniard. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Associated Press and AFP10 Sept

UK politics: Visitor levy powers should be in place by March 2028 in England, ministers say – as it happened

Downing Street gives more details of plan, saying it would be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs, not a flat fee Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plans The Centre for Cities , a thinktank that focuses on promoting growth in cities, has welcomed the government’s plans to let mayors in England impose a tourism tax. This is from its chief executive, Andrew Carter. The overnight visitor levy is a great step forward for fiscal devolution. This marks the first time that mayors in England have gained more autonomy over funding. The overnight visitor levy means places will get rewarded for doing what they need to attract more visitors and grow their local economies. Labour’s solution to every issue is always to hike taxes. This is just the latest method they’ve found to squeeze more money out of hardworking families and the economy. The hospitality industry has already been hit by colossal business rates hikes thanks to Labour, on top of their Jobs Tax and employment red tape that have driven up costs. Now hotels and other businesses face another blow that will harm local economies and discourage local tourism. VAT is already charged at 20% on hotels - much higher than in other countries - and now they’ll pay VAT on this tourism tax too: a Labour double whammy. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Andrew Sparrow10 Sept

UK politics: Visitor levy powers should be in place by March 2028 in England, ministers say – as it happened

Downing Street gives more details of plan, saying it would be charged as a percentage of accommodation costs, not a flat fee Tourists in England face nightly levy on hotel and Airbnb stays under new plans The Centre for Cities , a thinktank that focuses on promoting growth in cities, has welcomed the government’s plans to let mayors in England impose a tourism tax. This is from its chief executive, Andrew Carter. The overnight visitor levy is a great step forward for fiscal devolution. This marks the first time that mayors in England have gained more autonomy over funding. The overnight visitor levy means places will get rewarded for doing what they need to attract more visitors and grow their local economies. Labour’s solution to every issue is always to hike taxes. This is just the latest method they’ve found to squeeze more money out of hardworking families and the economy. The hospitality industry has already been hit by colossal business rates hikes thanks to Labour, on top of their Jobs Tax and employment red tape that have driven up costs. Now hotels and other businesses face another blow that will harm local economies and discourage local tourism. VAT is already charged at 20% on hotels - much higher than in other countries - and now they’ll pay VAT on this tourism tax too: a Labour double whammy. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Andrew Sparrow10 Sept

Tony Gatlif obituary

Algerian-born French director of more than 20 films that celebrated Roma culture The French film director Tony Gatlif, who has died aged 77, was regularly described as “cinema’s Gypsy auteur”, so often did his films focus on Roma communities and their music. Between 1975 and 2025, Gatlif directed more than 20 films, beginning with La Tête en Ruine (The Ruined Head). That film was never released, and he struggled throughout the 1970s and 80s to get funding for his films, and then to find a distributor, before finally breaking through with Latcho Drom (1993, the title being Romany for “good journey”). An international arthouse hit, Latcho Drom is a meditative travelogue that blends footage of staged musical performances in contemporary Roma communities in Istanbul, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France and Spain, with historic recreations of such communities in Rajasthan and an Egyptian oasis. Latcho Drom conveys the centuries-long migration from Asia to western Europe of a nomadic people we now call Gypsies or Roma, as a fable told entirely in images and music. There is no voiceover, talking heads or text; instead Gatlif lets the striking settings and musical performances enchant viewers. It is an idealised portrait of the Roma, not a documentary (as some labelled it), and while Gatlif portrays the discrimination and persecution Roma communities experience, his emphasis was on celebrating Roma beauty and artistry. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Garth Cartwright10 Sept

MPs on both sides urge Commons not to take ‘extraordinary risk’ of forcing through assisted dying bill

Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Meg Hillier say Lords must be allowed to fulfil duty in scrutinising bill on serious public issue UK politics live – latest updates MPs who voted for and against assisted dying have urged their respective sides not to take the “extraordinary risk” of forcing through the bill using an obscure parliamentary procedure if it continues to be blocked by the Lords. Two Labour MPs have written a warning letter to colleagues in the crucial hours before the next vote on Friday: Gareth Snell, who voted in favour of the bill, and Meg Hillier, who voted against. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker10 Sept

MPs on both sides urge Commons not to take ‘extraordinary risk’ of forcing through assisted dying bill

Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Meg Hillier say Lords must be allowed to fulfil duty in scrutinising bill on serious public issue UK politics live – latest updates MPs who voted for and against assisted dying have urged their respective sides not to take the “extraordinary risk” of forcing through the bill using an obscure parliamentary procedure if it continues to be blocked by the Lords. Two Labour MPs have written a warning letter to colleagues in the crucial hours before the next vote on Friday: Gareth Snell, who voted in favour of the bill, and Meg Hillier, who voted against. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Jessica Elgot and Peter Walker10 Sept

Don’t sashay away! The BBC’s decision to cancel Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK is sickening in all the wrong ways

The hyper-flamboyant and hilariously filthy show is an inclusive, celebratory platform for queer culture. The broadcaster’s choice to nix it is giving stupidity The BBC is canning RuPaul’s Drag Race UK – a decision that, in my household, will bring the number of regularly watched programmes on the Beeb down from one to zero. It’s a decision that will no doubt please enemies of LGBTQ+ culture, but otherwise seems inexplicable. For a start, Drag Race UK regularly pulls in 1 million viewers a week, which hardly seems like a show in its death throes (even if this is down from a previous high of 1.5 million). RuPaul’s Drag Race is also a bona fide cultural phenomenon. Since the US version started in 2009, it has brought tons of performers to national, or even global, attention who would otherwise still be plying their trade in provincial gay bars. Jinkx Monsoon from the US is now starring in Oh Mary! in London’s West End; the UK’s La Voix made it on to Strictly; and Bimini Bon-Boulash, who “stepped their pussy up” to astonishing effect in season two, has made records, modelled and written a book. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Alex Needham10 Sept

NAZA review – Israeli intelligence officers cast chilling light on civilian deaths

Venice film festival: Under the cover of night, anonymous personnel discuss AI, error rates and problematic intelligence units in a documentary produced by the Guardian Here is a disquieting documentary about what Israel’s military chiefs in Gaza reputedly call “Naza”, meaning civilian collateral damage – itself a queasy euphemism. The calculated “Naza” number is the amount of projected civilian deaths from each military strike, and perhaps it will come to have the same connotations as the US military term “body count” during Vietnam. The directors are Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, two of the film-makers behind No Other Land , which was about attacks by the Israel Defense Forces on Palestinian West Bank villages. NAZA is executive produced by Jonathan Glazer and James Wilson and appears under the production auspices of the Guardian, in which some of the stories have already appeared. There are flaws: interviews were conducted on the condition of anonymity, but if no-one can be persuaded to put their name and face to their words (and of course it is terribly dangerous) then the impact of this as testimony is lessened. But even so, the film is casting a chilling light on what is happening now in Gaza. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Peter Bradshaw in Venice10 Sept

Orthodox church sends medieval prince’s remains to Russian troops in Ukraine

Part of Dmitry Donskoy’s right hand sent to ‘spiritually strengthen’ soldiers The Russian Orthodox church has sent a fragment of a medieval warrior prince’s remains to troops fighting in Ukraine, saying the relic would “spiritually strengthen” soldiers and help them achieve victory. A reliquary containing part of the right hand of Dmitry Donskoy, the 14th-century prince revered in Russia for his victory over the Mongolian Golden Horde in 1380, has been taken to Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine and is now being transported along the frontline. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Pjotr Sauer10 Sept

Tschabalala Self’s Lady in Blue review – this striding scupture fills the fourth plinth with humour and life

Trafalgar Square, London The swaggering statue’s luscious collision of brown and blue could stop traffic – and serves as a reminder of the big, beautiful, multicultural world we enjoy It hit me like a thunder clap. One moment I was bored and irritated by the official speeches before the unveiling of Tschabalala Self’s sculpture on the fourth plinth, which so insisted on its sociopolitical worth it sounded like Soviet propaganda. Then the covering slid off and I was in love with the Lady in Blue. Self has created one of the most beautiful sculptures put on Trafalgar Square’s empty plinth – and I don’t mean that in a cool, formalist way. There is a serious danger of traffic accidents as drivers passing the square stare a little too long at the Lady’s generous proportions, her long stride in platform shoes, her intensely physical, confident being. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Jonathan Jones10 Sept