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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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Entertainment

‘This is redemption time’: celebrities react to Democrats’ historic midterms sweep

After the party regained control of both houses of Congress, stars including Viola Davis, Bette Midler and John Cusack have been celebrating US midterms 2026 live – latest updates Track live results from all 50 states Tell us: what do you want to know about midterm results? Celebrities have been reacting to last night’s historic midterm victory for the Democrats after the party regained control of both the House and the Senate. The night saw a string of major victories for the party as voters expressed their disapproval of Donald Trump and his failing economy. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Entertainment

Can you tell a real Warhol from a fake? Four art exhibitions to see for free

A show of smart forgeries by Sturtevant will test your critical eye. Elsewhere, there’s a chance to dissect America’s cultural corpse and enter a terrifying immersive painting of Mexico Cady Noland’s US is a violent, celebrity obsessed, consumerist police state. In this small show of big, stark, awkwardly cropped and blurry black and white images and minimal sculptures, the influential American iconoclast is dissecting her country’s cultural detritus, and leaving its splayed corpse on display. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Politics

UNHCR criticises UK’s 30-year ‘earned settlement’ plans for refugees

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood maintains rigorous rules for those who arrive on small boats The UN refugee agency has said a government plan to make refugees wait up to 30 years before they get permission to settle in the UK “raises significant concerns”. The strategy was unveiled earlier this week by Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, as she announced a softening of aspects of her immigration plans, but kept some of the rigorous rules drawn up by her office last year. Continue reading...

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Sports

Casey, Jansen and Timoney start against Argentina

Nick Timoney, Craig Casey and Sean Jansen will start for Ireland against Argentina in the Nations Championship on Friday night with Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier on the bench at the Aviva Stadium.

BBC News
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