Woke wins: Zootopia 2 tackles colonialism and race while storming the Box Office with $140m
A decade after the original explored racial profiling, Disney’s sequel turns to segregation and systemic exclusion—and audiences are flocking to cinemas.
A decade after the original explored racial profiling, Disney’s sequel turns to segregation and systemic exclusion—and audiences are flocking to cinemas.
Royal Albert Hall, London The violinist was joined by an unconventional ensemble of cello, guitar and accordion for a relaxed evening that felt like a super-polished jam session Not for nothing was Nicola Benedetti proclaimed “the country’s favourite violinist” in the publicity for this concert. Six weeks in to her first major concert tour in a decade, she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall to lead what in some ways felt like a celebration – a sort of super-polished jam session, punctuated by friendly, unpolished chat from the stage. Musically, though, if this were a party she was serving canapes – lots of small, delicious things, but not quite a proper meal. And yet those bite-size pieces offered a lot of enjoy. Benedetti’s supporting ensemble is an unconventional but inspired combo of cello, guitar and accordion: Maxim Calver, Plínio Fernandes and Samuele Telari were tight, flexible and responsive partners, and together the quartet created some intriguing sonorities, which came across in this hall better than some of the finer details. Continue reading...
Royal Albert Hall, London The violinist was joined by an unconventional ensemble of cello, guitar and accordion for a relaxed evening that felt like a super-polished jam session Not for nothing was Nicola Benedetti proclaimed “the country’s favourite violinist” in the publicity for this concert. Six weeks in to her first major concert tour in a decade, she arrived at the Royal Albert Hall to lead what in some ways felt like a celebration – a sort of super-polished jam session, punctuated by friendly, unpolished chat from the stage. Musically, though, if this were a party she was serving canapes – lots of small, delicious things, but not quite a proper meal. And yet those bite-size pieces offered a lot of enjoy. Benedetti’s supporting ensemble is an unconventional but inspired combo of cello, guitar and accordion: Maxim Calver, Plínio Fernandes and Samuele Telari were tight, flexible and responsive partners, and together the quartet created some intriguing sonorities, which came across in this hall better than some of the finer details. Continue reading...
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks to nurses and members of the media during a visit to University College London Hospital in London, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. (Adrian Dennis/Pool Photo via AP) Rachel Reeves has been accused of misleading voters by claiming there was a huge hole in the government’s finances which did not actually exist. Treasury officials briefed that the chancellor needed to raise around £20 billion in the Budget to balance the nation’s books. Reeves herself even held a highly-unusual pre-Budget press conference in Downing Street on November 9 in which she refused to rule out putting up income tax – a move which would have broken a key Labour manifesto pledge. Later that week, she told Radio 5Live that deep cuts in public spending would be needed if she did not increase income tax rates. But days later the Financial Times revealed that Reeves had decided not to put up income tax rise after all. Treasury sources said that was because the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) forecasts showed the economy was in better shape than previously thought. But figures released by the OBR on Friday showed that fully two weeks before that U-turn, their assessment was that there was no black hole at all. Reeves hiked taxes by £26 billion in the Budget as she massively increased public spending, including on welfare. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said the chancellor had “lied to the public” and should be sacked. Posting on X, she said: “Her Budget wasn’t about stability. It was about politics: bribing Labour MPs to save her own skin. Shameful.” Yet more evidence, as if we needed it, that the Chancellor must be sacked. For months Reeves has lied to the public to justify record tax hikes to pay for more welfare. Her Budget wasn’t about stability. It was about politics: bribing Labour MPs to save her own skin. Shameful. https://t.co/fR1dNgeUKp — Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) November 28, 2025 Treasury sources denied Reeves had misled the public, and said the OBR calculations had not taken account of things like the government’s decision to reinstate winter fuel payments for pensioners, and the chancellor’s decision to give herself more fiscal headroom, or spare cash. “I don’t think anyone can suggest she was preparing the country for something that didn’t end up happening,” said one Reeves ally. However, social media users reacted angrily to the OBR’s figures. So…the “blackhole” never existed after all. There’s spin and then there’s flat-out deception. Could be a long weekend in No11… https://t.co/5gQdtEpatz — Tom Swarbrick (@TomSwarbrick1) November 28, 2025 The OBR's jaw-dropping revelation this lunchtime puts Reeves on course to go down as the most dishonest Chancellor we've ever had Snap analysis - https://t.co/doMJ0RpKOt — Calgie (@christiancalgie) November 28, 2025 The OBR has - of course - in effect confirmed that Rachel Reeves’s decision not to increase the basic rate of income tax had zilch to do with any late-arriving new information about higher tax revenues - which was what was briefed to the media at the time of the u-turn as the… https://t.co/jK2LDcLGzf — Robert Peston (@Peston) November 28, 2025 Reeves gave her tough choices/income tax press conference four days after the OBR told her she was in the clear. WTF? https://t.co/fR9ermrEad — Robert Colvile (@rcolvile) November 27, 2025 Related... BBC Question Time Audience Deliver Damning Verdict On Rachel Reeves's Budget Analysis: Rachel Reeves's £26 Billion Gamble Could Be The Final Nail In Labour's Coffin Reeves Scraps The Two-Child Benefit Cap And Delights Campaigners: 'We Won!'
Alan Smith once broke his leg playing for Manchester United against Liverpool, but a different injury left him with permanent damage, and he'll never experience normality again
Scott McTominay has flourished since leaving Manchester United for Napoli in the summer of 2024
Royal commentators have been weighing in this week on what could happen if Sarah Ferguson sits down for a tell-all interview and who it might be with
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he would consider the findings
A BOYBAND star has revealed he needs surgery after suffering a painful injury. Aston Merrygold from JLS has thrown the band's tour into chaos after being injured and left to walk on crutches. Along with Aston, the group is made up of Marvin Humes, JB Gill and Oritse Williams But now the tour has been...
Kevin Bridges has announced a 44-date tour across the UK and Ireland, with 13 shows in Scotland in 2026.
The Met Office says the conditions 'may cause disruption'
Ticketmaster said it would ‘lead by example’ after Dean called out ticketing companies for the resale prices for tickets for her North American tour.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery isn't falling into the trap of playing the role of the favourites against Wolves this weekend
A NETFLIX voice artist and actor has tragically died after falling off the roof of his home. The 55-year-old was checking the progress of renovation work on the roof of his parents' house when he fell. Tony Germano had moved back to his parents' Brazilian home less than a month ago. He was on the...
THERE'S a huge landmark that's been under renovation for the last decade - and it's under three hours away from the UK. The huge structure overlooks the capital of Hungary and is about to reopen in March 2026. If you've been to Budapest in the past decade, you might have noticed that the Citadella that...
Get that holiday shopping done for all the kids on your list — and under budget. View Entire Post ›