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‘Like a fresh start’: Michael Carrick relieved by Manchester United’s draw at Leeds
<ul><li><p>Head coach insists ‘we can still have a really good season’</p></li><li><p>‘We were the dominant side,’ says Farke</p></li></ul><p>After a week in which Michael Carrick had “the headphones on” to quieten the noise, Manchester United’s head coach claimed Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Leeds “felt like a fresh start” and insisted that the season can still be a good one.</p><p>Carrick’s team have seven points from seven Premier League games and have won only once in the competition, against Ipswich in August. Sunday’s draw followed the previous weekend’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/10/manchester-united-tottenham-premier-league-match-report">1-1 draw with Tottenham</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/manchester-united-michael-carrick-draw-leeds-fresh-start">Continue reading...</a>
Read the full reportAustralia’s Boland damages South Africa in brief respite from rain
<ul><li><p>Just 12.2 overs possible on first day of second Test</p></li><li><p>Bowler seizes his opportunity with two wickets</p></li></ul><p>If there is a theme to Scott Boland’s Test career, it’s making the most of limited opportunity. Finding a way into the team in 2021 when it seemed that chance had passed him by, remaining fourth in line for three spots, playing at the whim of absence, yet in those moments becoming a wrecking force, causing rashes of wickets, taking first-over strikes, threatening hat-tricks and once making good.</p><p>So began the second Test in Gqeberha, another match he wasn’t supposed to play, on a day that didn’t get 13 overs bowled, yet there he was. Making the score 20 for two. Squeezing into the game through the tiniest gap, like Eugene Tooms escaping from a cell.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/australias-boland-damages-south-africa-in-brief-respite-from-rain">Continue reading...</a>
Cornell students voice frustration at public hearing over rape case
The BBC's Nada Tawfik was at the hearing, where the university's Student Assembly led a discussion around safety concerns and sexual violence on campus.
What we know about Christa Pike’s condition after failed execution
The BBC’s Ione Wells reports from outside the Tennessee hospital where Pike is said to have arrived Wednesday night after surviving two lethal injection attempts.
Gómez halfway-line wondergoal sparks Brighton’s 5-0 thrashing of sorry Crystal Palace
<p>At last, Fabian Hürzeler has the scalp that matters most to all Brighton fans, and in humiliating fashion. Diego Gómez’s breathtaking goal-of-the-season contender from the halfway line, à la David Beckham, was the highlight of another hugely impressive performance from the Premier League’s top scorers as they continued their flying start to the season.</p><p>Not since a 4-1 thrashing here in February 2024 under Roberto De Zerbi had Brighton tasted victory against their arch rivals from up the A23 – a run of four matches. But having been handed the initiative by Jaydee Canvot’s own goal, a stunned Palace found themselves 3-0 down after 10 minutes.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/brighton-crystal-palace-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>
Manchester United held as Calvert-Lewin’s Leeds leveller keeps pressure on Carrick
<p>What next for Michael Carrick and Manchester United? Game-wise the answer is Wednesday’s trip to Como yet after failing, again, to double the campaign’s league wins tally to two you have to wonder where this already flatlining team are heading.</p><p>Sunday afternoon’s display was the latest unconvincing outing under the 45-year-old. It featured an odd formation, zero rhythm or control, and the same prevailing sense that the wheels could clatter off anytime.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/leeds-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal: Premier League – live
<p>⚽ Updates from the City Ground; kick-off 4.30pm BST<br>⚽ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live">Scores</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/tables">Tables</a> | <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/info/2022/nov/14/football-daily-email-sign-up">Read Football Daily</a> | <a href="mailto:daniel.harris.casual@theguardian.com">Mail Daniel</a></p><p><strong>Forest will want – and probably need – to make this game a mess.</strong> If it’s open and played through midfield, Arsenal will open them up because, with the guile they’ve added by buying Guimaraes, along with an in-form Odegaard, they have the ability to exploit space. For that reason, Forest need bodies everywhere, especially in the middle of the pitch, forcing them wide, where Saka might just’ve lost the spring in his acceleration following last season’s achilles injury while, on the other side, Eze isn’t going to go on the outside.</p><p><strong>Elsewhere, 10-man Sunderland trail Bournemouth 2-0 with seconds remaining,</strong> while Brighton have splattered Palace 5-0 to move second above Arsenal, their goal difference +18. Ridiculous behaviour.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2026/oct/18/nottingham-forest-v-arsenal-premier-league-live">Continue reading...</a>
Six-year-old among two dead after Kansas woman drives through soccer game, with 11 more injured
<p>Wichita police say 34-year-old truck driver from Garden City was taken into custody amid case at youth soccer game</p><p>The two people <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/17/kansas-soccer-game-killings">killed</a> on Saturday when a truck drove through a youth soccer game in north-east Wichita, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/kansas">Kansas</a>, were a six-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man, according to authorities.</p><p>Eleven other people between the ages of five and 68 were injured in a case whose possible motivations remained unclear early on Sunday, by when it had captured attention across the US.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/18/wichita-kansas-soccer-field-game-truck-deaths">Continue reading...</a>
Scholars conclude ‘beyond doubt’ that Shakespeare was main author of Edward III
<p>Exclusive: Play anonymously published in 1596 was collaboration between Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, according to computer analysis</p><p>Dramatic new evidence concludes that the play Edward III should be added to William Shakespeare’s canon, and also that it was a major collaboration with his contemporary rival Christopher Marlowe.</p><p>The history was published anonymously in 1596, and it has long been thought that Shakespeare wrote at least a few scenes. However, Dr Rory Loughnane, a leading scholar and co-author of the research, told the Guardian that computerised textual analysis pushed the case “beyond any reasonable doubt” that the Stratford-born playwright was the principal writer.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2026/oct/18/scholars-conclude-beyond-doubt-that-shakespeare-was-main-author-of-edward-iii">Continue reading...</a>
French government in crisis talks after ‘colossal failure of the state’
<p>Ministers, officials and police under pressure over response to days of violent unrest in cities across France</p><p>The French government was in crisis talks on Sunday after one of the most violent days of unrest in years left public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted, and more than 2000 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/17/protests-france-high-prices-social-security-gilets-jaunes">people arrested in cities across the country</a>.</p><p>Politicians on the left and right called for the resignation of the interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, after the government appeared to have been caught by surprise by the scale of violence as state buildings were stormed and torched, bus stops smashed, roads barricaded and shops broken into and destroyed.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/french-government-crisis-talks-violent-unrest-policing-macron">Continue reading...</a>
Manchester City owner’s £55m housing loan while Burnham was mayor investigated
<p>Scrutiny committee looks into financing of Manchester Life project as PM promises ‘full transparency’</p><p>A £55m loan to Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owner will be investigated as part of a review into a fund for housing projects while Andy Burnham was mayor.</p><p>The prime minister has faced weeks of scrutiny over his links to Manchester City’s super-rich owners after the club was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/29/manchester-city-found-guilty-all-premier-league-charges-rule-breaches">found guilty</a> of boosting its income by £900m in a nine-year breach of financial rules.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/18/manchester-city-owners-55m-housing-loan-while-burnham-was-mayor-investigated">Continue reading...</a>
Two killed and at least 17 injured as Russia and Ukraine trade blows on power infrastructure
<p>Ukraine used more than 1,000 drones to target Russian oil depots, logistics facilities and datacentres</p><p>Two people have been killed and at least 17 injured as Russia and Ukraine continue to trade strikes on each other’s power infrastructure, after the breakdown of Donald Trump’s short-lived and unilaterally declared “energy ceasefire”.</p><p>One person was killed and 15 wounded overnight after Ukraine used more than 1,000 drones to target Russian oil depots, logistics facilities and datacentres in one of its largest ever aerial bombardments.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/killed-injured-russia-ukraine-strikes-power-infrastructure">Continue reading...</a>
Air Force officer killed in rappelling accident before UTSA’s game against Navy
<ul><li><p>Officer fell from rafters during pregame display </p></li><li><p>Man treated on field before being taken to hospital</p></li></ul><p>An Air Force officer has died after he fell from the rafters of the Alamodome before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s home game against Navy on Saturday.</p><p>The officer, who has not been named, was taking part in an event to celebrate UTSA’s Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans night. He fell on to the field while rappelling down from the stadium rafters. He was treated on the field before being taken away on a stretcher. He later died from his injuries at a local hospital. Nellis Air Force Base said he was part of the 6th Combat Training Squadron. The unit helps train military members to rappel down from helicopters.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/air-force-officer-killed-in-rappelling-accident-before-utsas-game-against-navy">Continue reading...</a>
Air Force officer killed in rappelling accident before UTSA’s game against Navy
<ul><li><p>Officer fell from rafters during pregame display </p></li><li><p>Man treated on field before being taken to hospital</p></li></ul><p>An Air Force officer has died after he fell from the rafters of the Alamodome before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s home game against Navy on Saturday.</p><p>The officer, who has not been named, was taking part in an event to celebrate UTSA’s Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans night. He fell on to the field while rappelling down from the stadium rafters. He was treated on the field before being taken away on a stretcher. He later died from his injuries at a local hospital. Nellis Air Force Base said he was part of the 6th Combat Training Squadron. The unit helps train military members to rappel down from helicopters.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/air-force-officer-killed-in-rappelling-accident-before-utsas-game-against-navy">Continue reading...</a>
Kartal denied biggest win of career after Chwalinska fightback in Wuhan Open final
<ul><li><p>French Open finalist wins 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 for her first title</p></li><li><p>Kartal will become new British No 1 after record run</p></li></ul><p>Sonay Kartal missed out on winning the biggest title of her career as her brilliant run at the Wuhan Open ended in a final defeat by Maja Chwalinska.</p><p>Kartal has enjoyed her best tournament only a fortnight after returning from six months out with a back injury, but her efforts appeared to catch up with her as she faded in a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 loss.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/kartal-denied-biggest-win-of-career-after-chwalinska-fightback-in-wuhan-open-final">Continue reading...</a>
‘My time, my era’: Dubois sends out warning to rivals with Wardley demolition
<p>WBO heavyweight champion targets big paydays against Hrgovic, Kabayel and Itauma after second round win</p><p>Thirty minutes after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/17/daniel-dubois-devastating-second-round-stoppage-of-fabio-wardley-retain-wbo-title-boxing">Daniel Dubois had dismantled Fabio Wardley</a> in less than two rounds on Saturday night, his promoter Frank Warren shook his head in slight awe as he described the intensity before the annihilation: “I went in the dressing room beforehand like I normally do and I couldn’t have a conversation with Daniel because he was so zoned in and focused. It showed when he got in the ring. He went out there on a seek-and-destroy mission.”</p><p>Dubois resembled a much bigger and heavier version of a young Mike Tyson as, wearing black trunks and a black cape, he walked to the ring with intense purpose. There was not a flicker of emotion as he marched quickly towards Wardley for their WBO world title rematch.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/18/daniel-dubois-fabio-wardley-wbo-heavyweight-title-rematch-boxing">Continue reading...</a>
Forget the seven-year itch: opposite-sex marriages more likely to end after two decades
<p>ONS data for England and Wales shows 26% of heterosexual divorces in 2025 followed 20 years or more of marriage</p><p>Most couples are aware of the dreaded “seven-year itch”, when the honeymoon period wears off and real life starts to bite.</p><p>Now official data has shown that couples in England and Wales are more likely to split after 20 years. According to Office for National Statistics figures, more than a quarter of all divorces between opposite-sex couples happened after 20 years or longer of marriage.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/oct/18/opposite-sex-marriages-end-after-20-years-divorce-england-wales-ons">Continue reading...</a>
Bristol Old Vic tackles arts ‘emergency’ by bringing the theatre into classrooms
<p>Amid financial pressures on household and school budgets, the theatre company is expanding access with free plays </p><p>Six young actors step into the spotlight as a reverent silence descends on the hall at City Academy in Bristol. A boy steps forward to pose a central question: “What does it mean to be young in Britain in 2026?”</p><p>Union jack flags flash across the backdrop as three girls excitedly debate a Spice Girls reunion concert, before the focus swings back to the young boy wrestling with modern British identity. He rattles off a list of familiar cultural touchstones – fish and chips, cups of tea, Butlin’s, David Attenborough, Gogglebox and the England football team, naming heroes such as Jordan Pickford and Jude Bellingham.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/oct/18/bristol-old-vic-arts-emergency-city-academy-theatre-plays-access">Continue reading...</a>
James and Carpenter lead Chelsea surge as sorry Spurs hit for six in WSL again
<p>Two goals each from a rampant Lauren James and battling Ellie Carpenter helped Chelsea cruise past Tottenham and keep the pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Women’s Super League table.</p><p>It was a thrilling show and a statement from the home team, a game laden with stunning goals after a frustrating first half that allowed Tottenham more of the ball than Chelsea would have been happy with.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/18/chelsea-tottenham-wsl-match-report">Continue reading...</a>