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The worst two words in the dead of night? ‘Motorway closed’ | Adrian Chiles

You are shunted into side streets, crawling along, united with your fellow drivers in wordless despair. Last week, at 2am, my spirit broke The worst three words in the transport lexicon are often said to be “rail”, “replacement” and “bus”, in that order. But there’s worse. “Motorway closed” is worse. At least with rail replacement buses you get fair warning, on booking apps and whatnot. You can resolve to embrace the pain or, more likely, abandon the journey. Motorway closures, in the dead of night, invariably come as a nasty surprise. Waze, Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc can reliably get you fr

The Guardian
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Entertainment

Brahms’ First is 150 years old today. Here’s how he grappled with ‘a giant on his back’ to write a masterpiece

Brahms’ first symphony was 21 years in the making. It was well worth the wait. Also, today, why Ivan Fischer and the Berlin Phil have parted company over a seating arrangement By any reckoning, 21 years is a very long gestation period. Beethoven wrote his first eight symphonies (and was stuck into the ninth) in less time. But it’s how long it took Brahms to complete his First Symphony. He initially sketched it in the mid-1850s, in his 20s, and he was 43 by the time it was premiered, exactly 150 years ago on 4 November 1876 in Karlsruhe. Earlier that summer had seen the premiere of Wagner’s Rin

The Guardian
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International

ANC faces anger over poor services as South Africans vote in local elections

Party expected to get less than a third of the vote amid frustration over water outages and power cuts The African National Congress is on course for a bruising result in South Africa’s local elections on Wednesday as voters go to the polls amid deep discontent over water outages, power cuts and crumbling infrastructure. The former liberation movement, which Nelson Mandela led to power in 1994 at the end of apartheid as South Africa’s first black president, is still likely to be the largest party. However, polls showed it getting less than a third of the vote, down from 45.6% at the last munic

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Sports

Real Madrid close on agreement to sign Manchester United 16-year-old JJ Gabriel

Madrid hope to bring in forward during January United to consider legal action if they feel rules broken Real Madrid are closing in on signing JJ Gabriel, though Manchester United will consider legal action if the club believe any rules have been broken. Madrid have offered the 16‑year‑old forward a multi‑year contract and, subject to final talks, hope to bring him to the Bernabéu in January. Gabriel is registered with United’s academy until the end of the season and it is understood the club have yet to be contacted by the player’s camp or Real Madrid regarding the proposed move. Continue rea

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