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The Guardian — page 109

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Coverage, page 109

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Lucas Debargue: Gershwin Variations album review – freshness and flair

(Sony) Alongside supple and distinctive accounts of Rhapsody in Blue and the Piano Concerto and Preludes, the French pianist showcases his jazz chops in reinterpretations of Gershwin’s timeless songs Ever since Lucas Debargue took fourth prize at the 2015 international Tchaikovsky competition, he’s refused to be pigeonholed. His distinctive journey brings him now to George Gershwin, complementing the piano concerto and preludes with beguiling original explorations of the composer’s songs in the form of a dozen études. His supple account of Rhapsody in Blue is based on Gershwin’s solo piano arrangement, to which he adds his own partly improvised cadenzas. Like everything here, it comes up fresh as a daisy. The Piano Concerto in F brings Debargue’s jazz credentials to the fore (he cut his teeth on the club circuit). The Orchestre de Paris under Elim Chan provides an admirably clear and concise accompaniment. The edge-of-your-seat stakes are reminiscent of André Previn. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Clive Paget11 Sept

MPs urged not to take ‘extraordinary risk’ of forcing through assisted dying bill as vote looms

Labour MPs Gareth Snell and Meg Hillier say Lords must be allowed to fulfil duty in scrutinising bill on serious public issue 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 Walker11 Sept

Solheim Cup golf 2026: Europe v USA, day one – live

⛳️ Solheim Cup updates from 6.40am BST at Bernardus Golf ⛳️ Live scorecard | Send your thoughts to Scott via via email Koertz Madsen is right up against a tree, almost bent double. As she prepares to punch out, she clips a hanging branch with her practice backswing. A penalty? The match referee comes over and allays her fears. But she can only hack back out onto the fairway, and after Lauren Coughlin sends the USA’s second into the heart of the green, Europe are suddenly up against it on the opening hole. Nanna Koertz Madsen and Celine Boutier join Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin on the 1st tee, and the second match is under way. Lee splits the 1st fairway with her opening drive, but Boutier hooks nervously into thick heather down the left. Trouble there. Koertz Madsen might not even have much of a swing, the ball sitting down, near a tree. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Scott Murray11 Sept

UK economy defies forecasts with surprise 0.4% growth in July

Welcome boost for chancellor with unexpected rise put down to rapid growth of AI in services sector outweighing Iran war fallout The UK economy grew in July as the rapid growth of AI appeared to outweigh the economic damage from the Iran war, in a welcome boost for the John Healey before next month’s budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a surprise 0.4% increase in gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 0.3% growth in June. City economists had forecast zero growth. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Heather Stewart Economics editor11 Sept

UK economy defies forecasts with surprise 0.4% growth in July

Unexpected GDP rise comes as borrowing costs and inflation risks mount ahead of Healey’s first budget The UK economy grew in July despite the fallout from the Iran war, in welcome news for John Healey ahead of next month’s budget. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a 0.4% increase in gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 0.3% growth in June. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Heather Stewart Economics editor11 Sept

Australian fuel prices set to rise by 30c as global markets react to ‘deadly cocktail’

Global oil price at its highest since May while investors dump stocks and bonds after Donald Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ promise Fuel prices are on track to climb a further 20 to 30 cents over coming weeks as the escalating Middle East conflict pushed the global oil price to its highest since mid-May. As investors dumped stocks and bonds in an increasingly febrile environment, Donald Trump’s promise to give every US adult citizen a $US5,000 “dividend” after the November mid-terms added to alarm around the parlous state of the country’s finances. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Patrick Commins Economics editor11 Sept

‘I never imagined such pleasure could be had from the simple sardine’: readers’ favourite foodie experiences in Europe

Your top culinary discoveries, from Bled cake in Slovenia to sardines in Portugal and seafood soup in Spain • Tell us about autumn days out in the UK – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher Last August, the smoky aroma of grilled sardines drifting over the beach in Portimão woke me up from my sunbathing on the beach. Attracted by the aroma of barbecued fish, we found ourselves in the old port where, for €12, I was served two delicious sandwiches on rustic bread of sardines in garlic and olive oil, with a small cold beer. I sat down, ate and chatted with locals on benches at simple communal tables. The important thing seemed to be to enjoy food together. The next morning, a reenactment of the fishing boats arriving loaded with fish, as they once were, was a real spectacle – complete with guitar playing, drum-banging and excited seagulls whirling and wailing above in the hope of a feast. Later, concerts and dancing animated the town as the party for the sardine festival went on well into the night. Cooking demos and dishes including sardine-based soup and salads, added to the enjoyment. I never imagined such pleasure could be had from the simple sardine. Joe Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Guardian readers11 Sept

‘I never imagined such pleasure could be had from the simple sardine’: readers’ favourite foodie experiences in Europe

Your top culinary discoveries, from Bled cake in Slovenia to sardines in Portugal and seafood soup in Spain • Tell us about autumn days out in the UK – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher Last August, the smoky aroma of grilled sardines drifting over the beach in Portimão woke me up from my sunbathing on the beach. Attracted by the aroma of barbecued fish, we found ourselves in the old port where, for €12, I was served two delicious sandwiches on rustic bread of sardines in garlic and olive oil, with a small cold beer. I sat down, ate and chatted with locals on benches at simple communal tables. The important thing seemed to be to enjoy food together. The next morning, a reenactment of the fishing boats arriving loaded with fish, as they once were, was a real spectacle – complete with guitar playing, drum-banging and excited seagulls whirling and wailing above in the hope of a feast. Later, concerts and dancing animated the town as the party for the sardine festival went on well into the night. Cooking demos and dishes including sardine-based soup and salads, added to the enjoyment. I never imagined such pleasure could be had from the simple sardine. Joe Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Guardian readers11 Sept

A Thought Without Collision by Adrian Duncan review – a brilliant interrogation of philosophy and wonder

With a character inspired by Wittgenstein, this exploration of the mysteries of the universe draws on multiple philosophical traditions For several years I ran community groups that involved reading books aloud with other adults. Sharing the experience of reading in that way made me notice how, when one or more of us was baffled by a story, this bafflement was rarely experienced without an accompanying sense of mild anger. It was so easy to make us, the readers, angry – at the characters; at the author; perhaps even at the nature of this reality on which we’d lost our grip. We were confronted with the fact that our capacity to understand the world was limited. We didn’t like that. Irish author Adrian Duncan’s fifth novel, A Thought Without Collision, takes risks with this bafflement: it relates and conveys an experience of being mystified by the universe. As it opens, in Ireland in 1923, it is becoming apparent that six-year-old Catherine has exceptional academic gifts, and that her father’s farm is failing. In the next chapter, set in 1951, Dr Josef Alois, a Tyrolean émigré academic in his mid-50s, is living in his self-built house on the east coast of Scotland. He is alone until Catherine reappears, “a handsome woman in her mid-thirties”, and now an Oxford professor. The second chapter ends starkly: Alois “is more unwell than he believes and will perish in one month and eleven days”. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Daisy Hildyard11 Sept

A Thought Without Collision by Adrian Duncan review – a brilliant interrogation of philosophy and wonder

With a character inspired by Wittgenstein, this exploration of the mysteries of the universe draws on multiple philosophical traditions For several years I ran community groups that involved reading books aloud with other adults. Sharing the experience of reading in that way made me notice how, when one or more of us was baffled by a story, this bafflement was rarely experienced without an accompanying sense of mild anger. It was so easy to make us, the readers, angry – at the characters; at the author; perhaps even at the nature of this reality on which we’d lost our grip. We were confronted with the fact that our capacity to understand the world was limited. We didn’t like that. Irish author Adrian Duncan’s fifth novel, A Thought Without Collision, takes risks with this bafflement: it relates and conveys an experience of being mystified by the universe. As it opens, in Ireland in 1923, it is becoming apparent that six-year-old Catherine has exceptional academic gifts, and that her father’s farm is failing. In the next chapter, set in 1951, Dr Josef Alois, a Tyrolean émigré academic in his mid-50s, is living in his self-built house on the east coast of Scotland. He is alone until Catherine reappears, “a handsome woman in her mid-thirties”, and now an Oxford professor. The second chapter ends starkly: Alois “is more unwell than he believes and will perish in one month and eleven days”. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Daisy Hildyard11 Sept

UK GDP report to show if economy kept growing in July –business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. We’re about to learn how the UK economy fared in July, during the summer heatwave. 7am BST: UK GDP report for July 7am BST: UK trade report for July 1.30pm BST: US CPI inflation report 3pm BST: University of Michigan’s US consumer confidence report Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Graeme Wearden11 Sept

TV tonight: Lenny Henry and Joanne McNally pop into the Lycett Arms

They join pub landlord Joe for more a night of more convivial chaos. Plus: cosy crime in Brooke Shields’ You’re Killing Me. Here’s what to watch this evening 10pm, Channel 4 It’s opening time once again at Joe Lycett’s paisley-carpeted boozer, and even though the pub is only open for an hour a week, Lycett isn’t a man to do things by halves. Accordingly, the premises are legit, the bevvies are real and hopefully so is the atmosphere of convivial chaos. This week, Joe welcomes Lenny Henry, who offers Brum solidarity as temporary bar manager, and comic Joanne McNally, who proves a lively punter. Phil Harrison Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Phil Harrison, Ali Catterall, Hannah J Davies and Graeme Virtue11 Sept

Ashes legal dispute: Hampshire damages claim led to lack of 2027 Test in north of England

Hampshire paid £1m by ECB after missing out in 2023 County challenged decision to give Headingley match The lack of Ashes cricket in the north of England next summer is the result of a legal dispute that followed the allocation of venues for the 2023 series against Australia, which also involved the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) paying about £1m in damages to Hampshire. The Guardian can reveal that Hampshire brought a legal challenge against the ECB after missing out on hosting the Ashes in 2023 to Yorkshire, who staged the third Test – which England won by three wickets – at Headingley. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Exclusive by Matt Hughes11 Sept

The ‘great grid upgrade’ is off track – ministers should spell out the risks for bills | Nils Pratley

National Audit Office calls for greater transparency on £70bn programme that is running over budget and behind schedule Speed up electricity grid upgrade or else face higher bills, warns UK watchdog It’s an open secret in the energy industry that “the great grid upgrade” – the £70bn programme to rewire the nation’s electricity transmission network to enable clean power by 2030 – is running over budget and behind schedule, and may end up costing consumers and businesses more in their bills than advertised. How far behind? How much more? It is impossible to get straight answers from the bodies overseeing the massive spending programme, which may continue at an even greater scale into the 2030s. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz), its in-house body, the National Energy System Operator (Neso), and Ofgem, the supposedly independent regulator, publish acres of information on narrow matters, but none provides a clear big-picture assessment: how is the grid upgrade really going? Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Nils Pratley11 Sept

Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for ricotta, blackberry and lemon cake | The sweet spot

Make the most of the early-autumn glut of fruit with this quick, squidgy-crumbed bake that’s bursting with berries Every year, I get annoyed with myself for not making the most of blackberry season, and then it’s gone before I’ve had a chance really to enjoy them. They’re such great berries to bake with, and here I’ve scattered them in a simple ricotta cake. It’s a quick, one-bowl bake with a perfectly squidgy crumb that’s bursting with fruit. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Benjamina Ebuehi11 Sept

Speed up electricity grid upgrade or else face higher bills, warns UK watchdog

National Audit Office says failure to implement £70bn modernisation would also hold back economic growth The ‘great grid upgrade’ is off track – ministers should spell out the risks for bills Consumers will pay higher energy bills unless the UK government speeds up work on a vast programme of upgrades to the electricity grid to enable the switch to renewables, the public spending watchdog has warned. The National Audit Office (NAO) said that without faster action the extra costs associated with managing the ageing power network, which are ultimately passed on to the public, could reach £7.8bn a year by 2030. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Alex Daniel11 Sept

Diana’s ‘revenge dress’, worn when Charles revealed infidelity, up for auction

Christina Stambolian dress from 1994 has defined a whole category of fashion and is expected to fetch up to £220,000 The dress that Diana, Princess of Wales wore one September evening in 1994 would have been memorable for its design alone – black, fitted, off-the-shoulder, skintight and short. However, it has another distinction, of defining a whole category of fashion – what has since become known as “revenge dressing”. Worn by Diana the same night Charles would reveal his infidelity on TV, the dress was quickly labelled “the revenge dress” by the media. It has its own Wikipedia page , with the same title. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe Guardian•Lauren Cochrane11 Sept