Landslide kills more than 1,000 after wiping out Sudan village

More than 1000 people are reportedly dead after a landslide struck the village of Tarasin in Sudan’s central Darfur region on Sunday.

The rebel group controlling the area, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, said in a statement: “Initial information indicates the death of all village residents, estimated to be more than one thousand people. Only one person survived.”

The rebel group said that the disaster struck Tarasin village in Central Darfur’s Marrah Mountains on Sunday, following several days of heavy late-August rainfall.

The group said the village was “completely levelled to the ground” and urged the UN and international aid organisations to assist in recovering the victims’ bodies.

Minni Minnawi, Darfur’s Army-aligned governor said the landslide was a “humanitarian tragedy”.

According to Al Jazeera, the remote Marrah Mountains of central Darfur, inaccessible by road, serve as a refuge for many, including those displaced by conflict, making its villages densely populated.

The disaster struck amid a brutal civil war that erupted in April 2023, when clashes between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted in Khartoum and across the country. Widespread conflict and severe access restrictions have left much of Darfur, including the Marrah Mountains, largely unreachable for the UN and humanitarian organisations.

Estimates of casualties from Sudan’s ongoing civil war vary widely, with a US official last year putting the death toll at up to 150,000 and around 12 million displaced, the BBC reported.

Meanwhile, factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, which control the region affected by the landslide, have declared their support for the Sudanese military in fighting the Rapid Support Forces.

Scandal-hit former Tory MP found dead in London flat

A former Tory MP who resigned after facing allegations of sexual misconduct and cocaine use has died aged 59.

David Warburton represented the Somerton and Frome constituency in Somerset from 2015 until June 2023 but ended his political career when he resigned his seat after revelations about his conduct.

The subsequent by-election was one of the worst reversals for the Tories in history and helped set them on the path for a historically bad defeat in the following year’s general election.

Scotland Yard said police were called to an address in Sands End, west London, on August 26 where a man in his 50s was found dead at the scene.

Officers are treating the death as “unexpected but not suspicious”, the force said.

The former MP had admitted cocaine use but denied claims of sexual misconduct against him and hit out at a parliamentary probe into the allegations, which had taken 14 months at the time of his resignation.

He said he had been denied a fair hearing and left with “no choice” but to provoke “the upheaval of a by-election”, which was won by Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke.

The seat was abolished as part of boundary changes that came into effect at last summer’s general election.

Allegations that he had sexually harrassed three women were withdrawn after an invesigation by the parliamentary authorities in 2022. But the impact on the then MP meant he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital.

He was married with two children and after a successful business career as the founder of The Music Solution Ltd (TMS) , later SplashMobile, he was expected to have a promising political career.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said on Monday: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.47hrs on Tuesday, 26 August to an address at Chelsea Crescent, Sands End.

“A man in his 50s was found dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.

“His death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called on Tuesday 26 August at 10.14am to reports of an incident in Chelsea Crescent, Chelsea Harbour, SW10.

“We sent (an) ambulance crew and a clinician on a bicycle.

“Sadly, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A former Tory MP, who had been close to Mr Warburton, told The Independent: “Most of us lost touch with him after he left parliament. It is very sad to hear about his death though.”

Dwayne Johnson could be headed for Oscar with The Smashing Machine

It would be wrong to suggest that Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine shows Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in an entirely new light. Johnson is playing a professional wrestler – and so the new role is a chip off the old block. Safdie, though, is forcing one of Hollywood’s most popular mainstream stars to grapple with parts of his personality that are usually left untouched. Johnson gives a performance of immense pathos, intensity and depth – one that looks bound to win him awards recognition. At the early press screening in Venice, the film (playing in competition) was warmly applauded by an audience of critics who never paid much attention to him in Jumanji or Hobbs & Shaw.

Co-star Emily Blunt (who previously worked with Johnson in the goofy action comedy Jungle Cruise) is likewise a long way out of her comfort zone as the wrestler’s loyal but emotionally unstable girlfriend. She is both his biggest support, and, at times, the agent of his destruction.

The film, set in the late 1990s, plays like an anti-Rocky. This is the story of the real-life mixed martial arts and UFC fighter, Mark Kerr. The tone is deliberately dour and downbeat. One of the main pleasures here is the way the picture turns so many of the traditional sports movie conventions on their head. Safdie’s screenplay focuses as much on Mark’s addiction to painkillers and opioids as to his exploits in the ring.

Of course, Mark is also addicted to winning. He rhapsodises about the orgasmic high of imposing his will on his opponent in front of 40,000 baying fans. He’ll go to extremes to achieve that high. If he needs to stick a finger in his opponent’s cut to maximise his pain and thereby secure a victory, that’s what he’ll do. Moments later, though, he’ll be trying to console the man he has just battered into submission.

Mark’s victories exert a huge toll on himself too. He is in constant physical pain, and his mental state deteriorates. Perversely, Dawn (Blunt) seems happiest when Mark is at his lowest ebb because that is when he is most dependent on her. She likes parties, booze and high-jinks, and isn’t the ideal partner for an athlete trying to keep himself in shape.

Safdie shoots the film in deliberately grungy, naturalistic fashion, as if it’s an observational documentary rather than a dramatic movie. The camera is always handheld. Interiors – whether gyms, hotels, sports venues or Mark’s home – are darkly lit. The fights themselves are sickeningly brutal. Mark fought in a period when anything seemed to go, from biting to kneeing your opponent in the head or gouging their eyes.

Ukrainian boxing world champ Oleksandr Usyk has a supporting role as Igor Vovchanchyn, one of Mark’s toughest, most vicious opponents. Usyk doesn’t camp it up like Mr T in Rocky but plays the role straight, albeit occasionally flashing that gap-toothed grin that has put the fear of god into so many of his British opponents.

Safdie doesn’t avoid the cliches altogether. Mark’s bond with his coach and fellow fighter Mark Coleman (played by real-life MMA star Ryan Bader) is almost as strong as his relationship with Dawn. The film has its share of gnarled old coaches sharing their wisdom. “Pain is temporary, pride is forever,” one has emblazoned on his T-shirt.

This, though, is a story in which winning finally begins to seem very hollow. The real way Safdie puts a chokehold on his audience is by examining Mark and Dawn’s physical and emotional weaknesses in such forensic detail. The Smashing Machine may not provide the pay-offs that audiences expect from more conventional sports movies, but this is the most raw and vulnerable that Johnson has ever been on screen. Once you’ve seen him this exposed, you won’t watch his typical action movie stunts in quite the same way ever again.

Dir: Benny Safdie. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Oleksandr Usyk. 123 mins, cert 12A.

‘The Smashing Machine’ will be released on 3 October

Meghan shares rare photo of children to promote Netflix show

Meghan Markle has shared several photos from filming her second season of her Netflix show, with her two children excitedly watching behind-the-scenes.

In a post on Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex said said that filming ‘With Love, Meghan’, had been “more fun than you can imagine” with several pictures showing Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, lending a helping hand.

In one picture, Lilibet, who was named in honour of the late Queen Elizabeth II, can be seen sitting in the director’s chair on set, wearing a pink jumper with her red hair on display.

In another, she and her brother watch the camera operations as the show is being filmed, wearing headphones to listen to their mother speaking.

A third picture shows Archie holding a clapperboard, which is used to mark scenes, with a heart emoji covering his face.

Other pictures included a snap of her and her husband Prince Harry with guest chef Clare Smyth, who prepared the food for their 2018 royal wedding, and a picture of Meghan filming.

She also made a note of the music played during the filming, which included upbeat songs such as ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston and ‘Lovely Day’ by Bill Withers.

But the eight-episode output, which was released on Tuesday, has fared poorly with reviewers, like the critically savaged first series, with two star ratings so far.

The Independent’s Helen Coffey said the series was like being “gaslit by a multimillionaire” and the series delivered “cloying sentimentality and flavourless wholesomeness”.

The Telegraph pointed out that the duke, who is not seen in person unlike last time, is “conspicuously absent”, asking: “Has she got Harry locked in the pantry?”

It said the series, which it gave two stars, was “marginally less mad than the first” but that Meghan was “more needy” and the show offered “more tone-deafness from the Montecito Marie Antoinette”.

The Guardian also gave it two stars, adding: “It’s so boring, so contrived, so effortfully whimsical that, do you know what? In the end, it does become almost fascinating.”

The Times labelled it “baffling” and occupying “the sweet spot where irrelevant meets intolerable”.

Meanwhile, Meghan was perceived as taking a swipe at the royal family in a promotional interview on Bloomberg’s The Circuit With Emily Chang, when she claimed she “had to wear nude pantyhose all the time” as a working royal which felt “inauthentic” and that she could not be “as vocal”.

“It was different several years ago, where I couldn’t be as vocal and had to wear nude pantyhose all the time,” she said.

“Let’s be honest, that was not very myself. I hadn’t seen pantyhose since movies in the 80s when they came in the little egg. That felt a little bit inauthentic.”

Trump trolls Biden with plans for ‘very controversial’ new portrait

After paving over the luscious turf of the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump has announced another addition to the iconic outdoor space: a portrait of his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Trump, who has amassed an increasing collection of self-portraits, teased the new painting on Monday after unveiling plans for a “Presidential Wall of Fame” during an interview with conservative news outlet the Daily Caller. However, when it comes to a piece about his immediate predecessor, it is not clear how serious Trump is being.

“We’re doing what’s called the Presidential Wall of Fame,” Trump said, showing off presidential portraits in gold frames he plans to display to the publication’s White House Correspondent Reagan Reese in the Oval Office.

With Hotel California blaring from the speakers, the president escorted Reese through the Rose Garden before retreating to his office to share more about the “very controversial” Biden portrait.

“You’re going to put President Biden up too?” the reporter asked.

“Okay – show it,” Trump said. “We put up a picture of the autopen.”

“Oh, that’s hilarious,” Reese replied, before Trump pivoted to insist the 2020 election was rigged and mistakenly declared that Biden had “stage nine” cancer. Biden revealed his stage four prostate cancer diagnosis in May, which carries a Gleason score of nine.

While the president did not reveal precisely where he wants the portrait to hang, he said that the black-and-white painting is being “prepared” before it goes “up in about two weeks.”

“This is going to be very controversial,” Trump said.

“It’s going to be funny,” Reese replied.

It remained unclear whether Trump’s comments about the autopen painting were made in jest or whether Biden would ultimately be included.

Trump and other Republicans have accused Biden’s staff of making decisions on behalf of the Democrat by using the autopen when he was unaware.

The tool allows staffers or assistants to place the president’s signature on an official document without requiring a “wet signature”, one physically made with ink on paper.

The president has called the allegations a “tremendous scandal” and claimed that Biden “knew nothing about what he was signing.”

Trump and his supporters have theorized that Biden’s frequent use of the autopen, a commonly used practice among presidents and officials, is directly correlated to his alleged mental decline.

Biden denied the allegations, telling The New York Times in July that he made “every decision” but used the autopen to sign off on certain documents, such as clemency and pardons issued at the end of his term.

Make the most of London this summer with this stadium experience

Whether you’re experiencing London for the first time or you’re a family with kids keen to create unforgettable memories during the holidays, a visit to this world-famous stadium in North London is a must.

After 90 years at their beloved Highbury stadium, Arsenal’s ambitions outgrew their original home and in 2006, the club opened the Emirates. With a seating capacity of over 60,000, the Emirates stadium is one of the largest in England. The sheer scale of this field of dreams must be seen to believed — and thanks to its easy-to-reach location, you can hop on a bus or train and get there in no time.

Once there, Arsenal’s award-winning tours open the doors to parts of the stadium that are usually off-limits to the public. For sightseers who prefer to go at their own pace and for those with little ones who tire easily, the club’s self-guided audio-visual tour is a great option.

Fans and families can take their time to soak in the atmosphere and stroll in the footsteps of footballing legends, imagining the roar of the crowd as you step into the players’ tunnel. Afterwards, feel the tension rise in the dugout and experience the best seats in the house in the directors’ box.

It’s a rare opportunity to glimpse the inner workings of a prestigious football club and explore normally restricted areas that also include the home and away dressing rooms, the media lounge and the exclusive members-only Diamond Club.

Available in seven languages on a state-of-the-art handheld device, the tour is narrated by Arsenal presenter David Frimpong, otherwise known as ‘Frimmy’, as well as featuring commentary from Arsenal legends Alex Scott and David Seaman.

As well as audio, the tour recreates the electric atmosphere of matchday using 360-degree augmented footage and includes brand new interactive elements. You can also take souvenir photos with iconic Arsenal trophies, including that of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The Arsenal Legend Stadium Tour is a more bespoke alternative to the self-guided tour, where visitors can explore the stadium for 90 minutes alongside an Arsenal hero. Tour guides include Nigel Winterburn and Perry Groves, as well as former women’s captain Faye White MBE.

During the tour, the Arsenal legend will share memories, anecdotes and behind-the-scenes stories from their time on the pitch, offering a unique insider’s perspective on life at the club. Expect plenty of humour, fascinating insights and a chance to hear back-room gossip straight from the legends themselves. There’s also a chance for a Q&A and photo opportunity with your Arsenal legend of choice.

Included with every tour ticket is entry into Arsenal’s interactive museum situated right next door to the stadium. Chart the club’s evolution from humble origins in Woolwich in 1886 to its modern powerhouse status with a global following of over 100 million fans.

The museum features two impressive video theatres, showing highlights from the club’s origins to the present day as well as twenty major displays of Arsenal’s proud history. Feast your eyes on silverware from the club’s most successful eras, Michael Thomas’s boots from Anfield 1989 and Jens Lehmann’s goalkeeper gloves worn for every league match of the unbeaten Invincibles season in 2003/4.

For lifelong Gooners, it’s a trip down memory lane. For families and tourists, it’s an eye-opening lesson in why football matters so much to the UK and is the perfect outing to experience London at its most authentic.

This content is brought to you by Living360, a digital lifestyle destination keeping you up to date with health and fitness, food and drink, homes and gardens, beauty, travel, finance trends and more.

Boy arrested over 12-year-old’s death from park roundabout

A teenager has been arrested after a boy died after falling from a roundabout in a playground.

Cheshire Police is investigating reports 12-year-old Logan Carter died after the wheels of an e-bike were used to propel the roundabout in Winsford, Cheshire, on Friday.

A 13-year-old boy has now been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been released under investigation.

Officers were called to the scene near Ledward Street at around 6.11pm by the North West Ambulance Service, and found the boy seriously injured, Cheshire Police said.

Floral tributes have been left near the roundabout which has been covered with tape while investigations are ongoing.

Cheshire Police said it is exploring a “number of lines of inquiry” into what happened at the park.

A force spokesperson said: “As part of this, officers are exploring reports that an e-bike was used to propel a children’s roundabout in the park at around the time of the incident occurring.”

In a statement released by Cheshire Police on Sunday, Logan’s family paid tribute to “a little boy who was so full of life”.

“Logan was a much-loved son, brother, grandson, great-grandson, cousin and friend to many,” the family statement read.

“He had an infectious personality and a beautiful smile.

“Everyone wanted to be where Logan was.

“He was a little boy who was so full of life and wanted to make everyone laugh.

“He made every day worth living.

“Logan was everyone’s therapy person, their calm and he will be missed more than we can ever put into words.

“We are taking comfort from the words of support we have received whilst we take time to come to terms with the untimely loss of our blue-eyed boy.”

His family shared a picture of their son holding a large fish after a fishing trip, smiling at the camera in the sun. A GoFundMe has been set up in the 12-year-old’s memory to support his family which as so far raised close to £9,000 in less than 24 hours with a target of £13,000.

Anna Wintour finally picks her successor to lead Vogue

Vogue has reportedly named Chloe Malle — the daughter of actor Candice Bergen and filmmaker Louis Malle — as its new head of editorial content.

She takes over from legendary editor Anna Wintour, who announced she was stepping down in June after leading the publication for 37 years.

Puck was the first to report the news of Malle’s appointment.

The 39-year-old was previously the editor of Vogue.com and host of The Run-Through with Vogue podcast. She was first rumored last month to be the frontrunner as Wintour’s successor. She is expected to step into the role ahead of New York Fashion Week, which runs from September 11 to 16.

The appointment marks a seismic change at the magazine as Wintour’s tenure over nearly four decades redefined both Vogue and fashion publishing.

The 75-year-old will remain as Condé Nast’s global chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director.

Malle has risen through the ranks of the fashion Bible — from social editor to podcast host and editor of Vogue.com. The staffer who landed Naomi Biden’s 2022 wedding at the White House, and a Lauren Sanchez interview ahead of her nuptials to Jeff Bezos, will soon shape the fashion world.

Malle’s early childhood was spent in Los Angeles, where her mom relocated them from New York when Malle was only three to shoot Murphy Brown. Her father, the Academy Award-nominated director Louis Malle, lived in France because he “didn’t like living or working in Hollywood,” Bergen said in a 2015 interview with Dallas News. The director would travel between Paris and L.A. every other month to visit his wife and daughter.

After briefly considering a career in public health, Malle landed an internship at the New York Observer and was later hired to cover real estate. From there, she became a freelance writer, filing pieces for The New York Times Style section and landing bylines in Vogue. Then her big break came in 2011 for the social editor role.

“I was hesitant when I was interviewing, because fashion is not one of my main interests in life, and I wanted to be a writer more than an editor, but I was so seduced by the Vogue machine that I couldn’t resist,” Malle said.

According to Puck, other frontrunners for the position included Condé Nast CEO Roger Lynch, W magazine editor Sara Moonves, and Nicole Phelps, who runs Vogue Runway and Vogue Business.

Wintour’s reign as editor-in-chief saw Vogue reestablish itself as the leading voice in fashion in the 1990s, holding off competition from the likes of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Mirabella. Wintour developed a reputation for a hands-on and painstaking approach to Vogue photoshoots, giving her personal approval to all outfits and set-ups. Since 1995, she has also presided over the exclusive guest list for the annual Met Gala.

The best-selling 2003 novel The Devil Wears Prada was written by former Vogue writer Lauren Weisberger, whose time as an assistant to Wintour is believed to have inspired the story and the character of domineering editor Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep in the 2006 film adaptation).

“I actually love working with Anna, because I love someone telling me exactly what needs to be done and exactly what she thinks about something,” Malle once said of her boss. “There’s no indecision. There’s no ambiguity.”