Give Edinburgh fringe the same status as Olympics, departing head urges | Edinburgh festival

The Edinburgh festival fringe should be given the same status as major sporting events like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games, its outgoing chief executive has said. Shona McCarthy, who stands down this week after nine years running the fringe, said its needs were routinely ignored by public authorities, who expected it to fend for … Read more

Trump address to Congress live: president to speak amid global turmoil over Ukraine and trade wars | Trump administration

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature The theme of Donald Trump’s address to Congress will be the “renewal of the American dream”, the White House said. House speaker Mike Johnson formally invited Trump to speak to Congress in January. In his letter, Johnson invited the president to … Read more

Largest theme park in Wales closes after nearly 40 years | Theme parks

The largest theme park in Wales has closed with immediate effect, its owner has confirmed. Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, announced on Tuesday that it will shut immediately after nearly 40 years. Aspro Parks, the owner and operator of Oakwood Theme Park, said it reached the “difficult decision” due to financial challenges caused … Read more

AP files amended complaint against White House over press pool ban | Trump administration

The Associated Press amended its complaint against the Trump administration on Monday, including in its epigraph a punchy quote from an anonymous White House adviser: “The AP and the White House Correspondents Association wanted to f–k around. Now it’s finding out time.” The unnamed White House adviser’s quote came about during an exchange on 25 … Read more

Australia news live: Albanese in Brisbane as Tropical Cyclone Alfred remains on course to slam into Gold Coast | Australia news

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature A string of surprisingly strong economic figures have prompted forecasters to increase their expectations for growth in Australia’s gross domestic product, Australian Associated Press reports. The nation’s economy is still expected to record one of the weakest calendar years for economic … Read more