Bio

De voormalige aanvaller van Crystal Palace, Arsenal en Engeland zegt dat zijn levensverhaal – dat momenteel in ontwikkeling is bij Merky Films van de rapper – ‘harde momenten heeft, maar dat ik wil dat het mensen uiteindelijk hoop en vreugde geeft’.

Onderzoek van UCL suggereert dat het bezoeken van kunstgalerijen of musea, zingen en schilderen kan helpen bij het verbeteren van gezondheidsuitkomsten. Zingen, schilderen of een galerie of museum bezoeken helpt mensen om langzamer te verouderen, volgens de nieuwste studie die een actieve interesse in kunst en cultuur koppelt aan een verbeterde gezondheid. De bevindingen zijn de eerste die aantonen dat zowel deelname aan artistieke activiteiten als het bijwonen van evenementen, zoals het bekijken van een tentoonstelling, ertoe leiden dat mensen biologisch jonger blijven. Lees verder...

Diplomatieke inspanningen continueren ondanks gevechten in en rond de betwiste straat van Hormuz in de afgelopen dagen Midden-Oosten crisis – live updates De Amerikaanse minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, Marco Rubio, heeft verklaard dat Washington vrijdag een reactie van Iran verwacht op zijn voorstellen voor een interim-overeenkomst om het conflict in het Midden-Oosten te beëindigen, terwijl Iran de VS ervan beschuldigde het steeds kwetsbaarder wordende staakt-het-vuren dat vorige maand werd aangekondigd te hebben geschonden. In de afgelopen dagen hebben plaatsgevonden de grootste escalaties in de gevechten in en rond de betwiste straat van Hormuz sinds het begin van de informele wapenstillingsperiode. De toename van het geweld volgde op de aankondiging – en daaropvolgende snelle pauze – door Donald Trump van een nieuwe marine-missie die gericht was op het openen van de strategische waterweg. Lees verder...

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin at the Vatican on Thursday for 2½ hours to discuss Middle East peace efforts. • The visit aims to mend fences following President Donald Trump's recent public criticisms of the Pope over Iran policy. • Rubio focused on achieving a durable peace amid ongoing U.S. pressures on Tehran, including a naval blockade and peace proposal.

Comments with optimistic tone went viral on social media, with some calling it an unofficial start of his 2028 campaignMarco Rubio, the top US diplomat, has stoked speculation about a potential run for president in 2028 by releasing a campaign-style video that articulates a hopeful vision of America.The minute-long vertical video features images of Rubio, Donald Trump, jets flying over the White House, Americans of different races, former US president Ronald Reagan, and the Stars and Stripes being hoisted against a blue sky. Continue reading...

US secretary of state will hold talks with Italian government, also berated by Trump for not supporting Iran warThe US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, is to meet Pope Leo at the Vatican on Thursday in an effort to ease tensions after Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of the first North American pontiff.Amid unprecedented strain on relations between the Holy See and Washington, Rubio is expected to meet Leo at the Apostolic Palace in the morning, before holding a series of meetings with the Italian government. Continue reading...

US president says he will briefly pause Project Freedom after just one day; Rubio says US has achieved objectives of Iran operation; Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi flies to ChinaTrump puts ‘Project Freedom’ on hold, saying he hopes to finalise deal with IranIranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for talks in Beijing on Wednesday, China’s Xinhua news agency reported, without giving details on the discussion.Iran’s Fars news agency earlier said Araghchi would “discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments with his Chinese counterpart”.US secretary of state Marco Rubio said the military objectives of so-called “Operation Epic Fury” have concluded and the offensive stage of the war with Iran is “over”. Speaking at the White House press briefing, Rubio insisted that ongoing US military action in the strait of Hormuz is “defensive” in nature and a separate operation, in line with the Trump administration’s argument that it doesn’t need approval from Congress to continue the war against Iran. “There’s no shooting unless we’re shot at first,” he told reporters, urging Iran to “make the sensible choice” and negotiate a deal.With the status of the ceasefire in doubt, Donald Trump declined to say what would constitute a violation, telling reporters only that Iran knows “what not to do”. It comes amid rising tensions after both sides exchanged fire in the strait of Hormuz on Monday. “Well, you’ll find out because I’ll let you know,” the US president said. “They know what to do, or what not to do more importantly.”Before Trump’s announcement on Tuesday evening, his defense secretary Pete Hegseth insisted that “Project Freedom” had allowed the US to gain control of the strait, despite Iran claiming it has actually strengthened its control of the waterway, and thousands of cargo ships remain stranded there. Continue reading...

• BioNTech revealed plans to close manufacturing sites in Germany and Singapore, impacting up to 1,860 jobs, as it shifts from COVID-19 vaccine production to oncology therapies. • The company, which co-developed the mRNA vaccine Comirnaty with Pfizer, will also repurchase up to $1 billion in shares amid a leadership transition. • This restructuring reflects the post-pandemic decline in demand for COVID vaccines, positioning BioNTech to focus on cancer treatments with greater long-term potential.

US secretary of state says US is better off than other countries hit by disruption in oil suppliesMarco Rubio has argued the US is in a “very fortunate” position as fuel prices continue to climb nationwide amid disruption sparked by the US-Israel war on Iran.With average US fuel prices now approaching $4.50 a gallon – their highest level in four years – the US secretary of state was asked on Tuesday how long Americans should accept them at such levels. Continue reading...

Letter from House Democrats to secretary of state calls for end to ambiguity over Israel’s nuclear weapons programsHouse Democrats have asked secretary of state Marco Rubio to publicly announce that Israel possesses nuclear weapons, arguing that Washington must end decades of ambiguity over the issue amid the conflict with Iran.In a letter sent on Monday, 30 Democrats wrote that it was unsustainable for Donald Trump to collaborate with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a military campaign against Iran – with the stated goal of preventing the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon – without publicly acknowledging the US ally’s possession of the bomb. Continue reading...

Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers breakout, will play legendary chef in a 70s-set drama from BlackBerry’s directorThe first trailer for the Anthony Bourdain biopic, Tony, has been released giving us a sweary look at the late food icon’s younger years.Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers breakout, plays 19-year-old Bourdain as he gets his first job in a kitchen in mid-70s Cape Cod. Continue reading...

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Rome this week for high-level meetings with Vatican officials following public tensions between President Donald Trump and Pope Leone. • The friction arose from Trump's attacks on the Pope's criticism of U.S. strikes in Iran and Lebanon plus hardline migration policies, risking a broader U.S.-Holy See fracture. • Agenda covers conflicts in Iran and Lebanon where Pope Leone called for civilian protection, U.S. migration restrictions, and concerns over Cuba and Latin America policies.

• Researchers analyzed invasive Escherichia coli samples from newborns at a US pediatric hospital, finding increasing resistance to first-line sepsis antibiotics. • Ampicillin nonsusceptibility rose from 46% in 2006-2013 to 61% in 2014-2021, with 54% overall; gentamicin nonsusceptibility affected 11% of isolates. • Cefazolin resistance as alternative therapy surged from 8% to 36%, reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, signaling urgent treatment challenges.

US secretary of state’s two-day visit reportedly intended to thaw Washington’s frosty relations with Vatican and ItalyThe US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will meet Pope Leo on Thursday, weeks after Donald Trump’s unprecedented broadside against the pontiff.Rubio will meet the first US-born pope privately in the Vatican’s apostolic palace at 11.30am (10.30 GMT), the Holy See’s press office confirmed on Monday after media reports on Sunday. Continue reading...

US secretary of state will be in Italian capital on Thursday and Friday, the one-year anniversary of Pope Leo’s papacyUS secretary of state Marco Rubio will travel to Rome this week, a visit reportedly aimed at thawing frosty relations with the Italian government and the Vatican.Rubio will be in the Italian capital on Thursday and Friday, which will also mark the one-year anniversary of the papacy of Pope Leo, the first US-born pontiff. Continue reading...

• The biopic 'Michael' premiered in US theaters over the opening weekend, chronicling Michael Jackson's early life and career ascent as the King of Pop. • Prince Jackson served as executive producer, with streams of Jackson's music surging 95% in the US following the release. • The film explores Jackson's impact and lasting legacy, as discussed by contributor Justin Tinsley amid strong box office interest.

Michael Jackson biopic debuted with £11.6m at the UK box office – almost double achieved by next-best Bohemian RhapsodyMichael, Antoine Fuqua’s authorised biopic of Michael Jackson’s life until 1988, before allegations of child sexual assault began to emerge against the singer, has performed marginally less impressively in the UK than the US.In the US, Michael outperformed the opening for Bohemian Rhapsody – the highest grossing music biopic of all time, with which Michael shares a producer in Graham King – by 90%, taking $97m (£72m) to its $51m (£38m). Continue reading...

• Anthropic announced the acquisition of Coefficient Bio, a U.S.-based AI startup specializing in biological modeling, on April 27, 2026. • The deal aims to integrate Coefficient's protein design AI tools with Anthropic's Claude models for advanced drug discovery applications. • This move positions Anthropic in the competitive AI-biotech space amid rising investments, potentially accelerating personalized medicine breakthroughs.

• The Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael' launched with a massive $97 million opening in U.S. and Canada theaters, breaking the previous music biopic record of $60.2 million set by 'Straight Outta Compton' in 2015. • Co-produced by the Jackson estate and distributed by Lionsgate, the film overcame negative reviews and production troubles to achieve strong international performance with $120.4 million overseas. • The film's $217.4 million global opening marks a new high-water mark for music biopics, significantly outpacing 'Bohemian Rhapsody' which earned $51 million in its 2018 debut.

Michael Jackson biopic has shrugged off controversy, bad reviews and a troubled production to take $217m worldwide, including $97m in North AmericaMichael, the big-budget Michael Jackson biopic, has shrugged off bad reviews and a troubled production to launch with a $97m opening in North American theaters, contributing to its enormous $217m (£160m, A$303m) worldwide box office and shattering the record for the biggest biopic opening of all time.The film, a highly authorised portrayal of the “king of pop” that was co-produced by the Jackson estate and stars Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson, took $120.4m internationally and $97m domestic – combining to surpass Oppenheimer’s $180.4m worldwide opening weekend in 2023 and Bohemian Rhapsody’s $124m in 2018. Continue reading...

Thousands of research papers have been published based on participants’ data, but there are questions over protection of private informationWith the revelation that the confidential health records of half a million British volunteers have been put up for sale on a Chinese website, we take a look at what the UK Biobank project has achieved – and why concerns have been raised. Continue reading...

• Stanford University neuroscientists discovered a blood-based biomarker (phosphorylated tau-217) that reliably predicts Alzheimer's disease development one to two decades before cognitive decline appears, according to research published April 20. • The biomarker was identified through analysis of blood samples from 2,500 cognitively healthy individuals followed for 15 years, with positive predictive value exceeding 92% in early-stage detection. • The finding could enable preventative therapies targeting amyloid and tau proteins before neurodegeneration becomes irreversible, potentially transforming Alzheimer's treatment approaches.

Study shows signature changes more pronounced in people with genetic risk, raising hopes for new therapiesChanges to microbes that live in the gut can identify people at greater risk of Parkinson’s disease long before symptoms develop, according to work that also raises hopes for new therapies.Researchers discovered signature changes in the gut microbiome that are more pronounced in people with a genetic risk for Parkinson’s and even more stark in those diagnosed with the disease. Continue reading...

The author, who will interview members of royal family for book, says being chosen for role is a ‘profound honour’Anna Keay, a historian whose most celebrated book is about Britain’s republican period, has been confirmed as Queen Elizabeth II’s official biographer.Keay will interview members of the royal family and the late queen’s friends and servants. She will also have access to the monarch’s personal and official papers held in the royal archives. Continue reading...

• The Broad Institute is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate drug discovery, designing new antibiotics and predicting drug toxicity with greater accuracy than traditional methods. • The AI systems are also being applied to identify specific genes, molecules, and cells that might serve as therapeutic targets for disease treatment. • This computational approach promises to dramatically speed up the drug development pipeline and reduce the cost and time required to bring new medications to patients.

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Lebanese and Israeli military commanders in Washington D.C. on Tuesday as the Trump administration seeks to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. • Israel has signaled that negotiations will focus on disarming Iran-backed Hezbollah, while Hezbollah has called on the Lebanese government to withdraw from talks with Israel. • The latest conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalated on March 2, following the US-Iran military exchange, making the diplomatic effort a high-stakes initiative for regional stability.

President has long been a fan of mixed martial artsIvanka and Donald Trump Jr also at eventDonald Trump and US secretary of state Marco Rubio attended a UFC event in Miami night on Saturday as peace talks with Iran failed on the other side of the world.Trump entered the Kaseya Center shortly after 9pm alongside several members of his family and UFC chief Dana White, who has been a supporter of the president since his first term. Seated nearby was Rubio as well as US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the rapper Vanilla Ice and former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino. Continue reading...

• Anthropic expanded its AI strategy by acquiring AI drug discovery startup Coefficient Bio for approximately $400 million and launching a political action committee to influence AI regulation. • The company is also seeing surging investor demand for its shares amid tightening AI infrastructure supply and growing market appetite. • These moves position Anthropic to shape policy, enter life sciences, and capitalize on demand for leading AI technologies in the US.

Crimson, seen alone in Santa Monica mountains for days, gets care in Oakland zoo after mother nowhere to be foundIt was an unusual scene. A lion cub alone for days in southern California’s sprawling Santa Monica mountains, emitting a noise that sounded like a cross between a purr and a light squeal, perhaps calling out for his mother.Where was his mother? Continue reading...