The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a record-breaking start, but can they keep it up?

In a pretty spooky case of coincidence, news that Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato have both reportedly parted ways with their manager Scooter Braun comes almost four years to the day after Taylor Swift confirmed she planned to re-record her first five albums - from her debut to 1989. On 22 August 2019, the 'Cruel Summer' singer told Good Morning America she was “very excited” to be able to release her own versions of her back catalogue, after Braun bought her former record label Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) and, with that, the rights to the masters of her earlier work. She said: “It’s something I’m very excited about doing because my contract says that starting November 2020 – so next year – I can record albums one through five all over again.” When that month came around, Swift alleged Braun sold the master rights and “100 per cent of my music, videos, and album art” to a private equity firm known as Shamrock Holdings. The musician is now with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records, and is continuing to re-release past albums with the additional stamp of ‘Taylor’s Version’ on them. We’ve already had revamped versions of Fearless, Red and Speak Now, with Swift recently announcing that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) would be coming later this year. Although she told Good Morning America she would re-record her first five albums, Swift eventually had six records under her belt when she parted ways with BMLG, meaning fans can still expect Reputation and her debut, Taylor Swift, to be re-released. And Swift hasn’t held back from making her feelings known about Braun in recent years, with the music video from her track “The Man” – from her seventh album, Lover – showing Swift in prosthetics as a male protagonist urinating against a wall featuring the names of past albums graffitied onto it. There’s a sign banning the riding of scooters (wink, wink), and another which reads: “Missing: if found return to Taylor Swift.” Ouch. Now things haven’t been much better for Braun, as on Monday 21 August – close to four years since that Good Morning America interview - it was reported both Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato have split from the music manager, and last week there were rumours Justin Bieber would do the same. Although representatives for Lovato, Grande and Braun all declined to comment when approached by Billboard, the outlet cites sources who have confirmed the artists’ dramatic decision. Of course, Swifties have been absolutely relishing what they consider to be an incredible case of “karma” – conveniently, the name of a song by Swift herself: And as if the anniversary of Swift’s Good Morning America interview matching the ditching of Braun by Lovato and Grande wasn’t enough, one Swiftie pointed out that the star announced the release of her album Reputation – famed for its rumoured digs at the likes of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian – on 23 August 2017. This is Taylor Swift’s world and we’re all just living in it. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

It was a good news/bad news weekend for "Blue Beetle," the latest superhero film to hit North American theaters and the first built...

By William Schomberg LONDON The Bank of England is trying to curb an inflation rate that is running

A huge phosphate rock deposit discovered in Norway contains enough minerals to meet the global demand for batteries and solar panels for the next 100 years, according to the mining company that controls it. Norge Mining said up to 70 billion tonnes of the non-renewable resource may have been uncovered in south-western Norway, alongside deposits of other strategic minerals like titanium and vanadium. Phosphate rock contains high concentrates of phosphorus, which is a key component for building green technologies but currently faces significant supply issues. Phosphorus was first discovered in 1669 by German scientist Hennig Brandt, who was searching for the philosopher’s stone. While it proved ineffective in turning ordinary metals into gold, it has become an essential component in lithium-iron phosphate batteries in electric cars, as well as for solar panels and computer chips. Russia previously controlled the world’s largest ultra-pure phosphate rock deposits, with the European Union warning that these “critical raw materials” have a high supply risk. The EU is currently almost entirely dependent on imports of phosphate rock from the rest of the world, according to a report from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, with China, Iraq and Syria also home to large deposits. The report, which was published before the discovery of the massive Norwegian deposit, warned that the EU should be “concerned about phosphate rock shortages”. An article in the scientific journal Nature last year warned of imminent supply disruptions of phosphorus, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent economic sanctions as a potential cause of market volatility. The global economy consumes an estimated 50 million tonnes of phosphorus each year, with scientists warning earlier this year that the planet could face a “phosphogeddon” if supply trends continue. “The buyers’ market is becoming increasingly crowded by limited trade – due to political instability in several source countries, as well as international sanctions imposed on others,” Norge Mining noted in a June blog post. “This is forcing importers to fear an impending crisis.” Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Jan Christian Vestre, said last month that the government was considering fast-tracking a giant mine in Helleland once analysis is completed on 76 kilometres of drill cores. If approval is given, the first major mine could begin operation by 2028. The politician said Norway’s “obligation” was to develop “the world’s most sustainable mineral industry” following the discovery of the minerals. The mining plans already have the support of the European Raw Materials Alliance, according to local reports, while local consultations continue. A spokesperson for the European Commission described the discovery as “great news” for meeting the objectives of the Commission’s raw material objectives, with Norge Mining telling Euractiv that the projected 4,500-metre-deep ore body would theoretically be capable of meeting global demand for the next century. Read More Solar trees offer unique solution to charging electric cars ‘Miracle material’ solar panels to finally enter production Twitter is breaking more and more iPhone users urged to check their photo library amid fears they could be deleted

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the type of result they simply cannot afford if they're to make the playoffs this season.

By Martin Coulter LONDON (Reuters) -Britain will host the world's first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit this week to

Lewis Hamilton finished only 15th in practice on a troubling day for the home favourite at the British Grand Prix. As a dominant Max Verstappen carried over his crushing form to a sizzling Silverstone by completing an ominous practice double, Hamilton’s Mercedes team laboured in the heat. Hamilton finished 12th in the opening running, and then ended the day three places further back, 1.2 seconds adrift of Verstappen. Fellow Briton George Russell was a few places better off in 12th in the other Mercedes. Carlos Sainz took second for Ferrari, 0.022 sec behind Verstappen, with Alex Albon an impressive third in his Williams. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished fourth, with Albon’s Williams team-mate Logan Sargeant fifth. Verstappen, a winner at seven of the opening nine rounds of a one-sided campaign, has already established a commanding 81-point lead in his pursuit of a hat-trick of world championships. The Dutch driver cruised to the chequered flag a week ago at Red Bull’s home race in Austria, and he will head into the remainder of the weekend as the driver to beat following an emphatic start at Silverstone. Hamilton has won seven of the last 10 races staged here, but the Mercedes man will have to upset the odds to add to his tally on Sunday. Hamilton has a new front wing as Mercedes hope to claw back the deficit to their rivals. But their star driver was on the radio complaining about the bouncing his machine was suffering from, while Russell was also on the intercom to bemoan his unruly Mercedes. “I have no grip,” reported Russell. “The car is sliding all over the place.” Hamilton is in the midst of another up-and-down campaign. He arrived at the last round in Spielberg following consecutive podium finishes, but Mercedes struggled at the Red Bull Ring. Hamilton crossed the line in seventh and was demoted to eighth following a second timed penalty, and on the evidence of practice, he may be braced for another underwhelming weekend. Despite the threat of action from Just Stop Oil protesters, both practice sessions passed off without incident. However, F1 bosses, Silverstone and Northamptonshire Police remain on high alert that a protest could yet disrupt qualifying on Saturday and Sunday’s 52-lap race where 150,000 spectators are expected to attend. Elsewhere, Lando Norris was only 14th for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc finished rooted to the bottom of the order. The Monegasque was ruled out of the second running with an electrical failure on his Ferrari. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lewis Hamilton promises to keep his cool on team radio after Austrian flashpoint Lewis Hamilton defends casting ‘iconic’ Brad Pitt as F1 driver in new film Max Verstappen hints he may retire from Formula One unless calendar reduced

UPDATE: Jul. 12, 2023, 2:40 p.m. EDT This list has been updated with the best

A federal judge in Delaware has ordered West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to provide information about his finances to attorneys for a Pennsylvania coal exporter owed $1.9 million by Justice and one of his coal companies

It was just after six in the morning on Tuesday when the agents came to the home of...

Anthony Joshua’s training-camp manager has revealed that the heavyweight is training with Ben Davison, former coach of Tyson Fury, ahead of a potential fight with Deontay Wilder. After a long spell under Rob McCracken, Joshua teamed with Robert Garcia for last summer’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, which went the same way as the pair’s first fight, with “AJ” losing on points. Joshua, 33, then began training with Derrick James earlier this year, and he has earned back-to-back wins under the American – beating Jermaine Franklin via decision in April and stopping Robert Helenius in August. While Joshua is expected to conduct his next camp under James’s guidance in Texas, he has recently been training with Davison, as was revealed by David Ghansa this week. Ghansa, better known by his nickname “KD”, told Boxing King Media on Sunday (1 October): “[Joshua] is currently ticking over, he’s at the Ben Davison performance institute at the moment. He’s ticking over with Ben. “He’s still active. When he’s got a [fight] date, you’ll see him back out in Dallas, back with Derrick James, and continuing the work.” Briton Davison coached Fury in the heavyweight’s first five fights after the “Gypsy King” returned to boxing in 2015. Davison oversaw wins over Sefer Seferi, Francesco Pianeta, Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin, as well as Fury’s controversial draw with Wilder in 2018. Fury then began training under Sugarhill Steward for his 2020 rematch with Wilder, in which the Briton stopped the American to win the WBC heavyweight title, which he has held since. Under Steward, Fury stopped Wilder again in 2021. Since Joshua knocked out Helenius in August, the focus has been on a long-awaited bout between the Briton and Wilder, with AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn suggesting that it could take place in December or early 2024. Ghansa said: “In regards to that, [Joshua’s] message to us was, ‘I wanna fight three times within the year.’ His first fight of the year was in April; we’ve got until April to get the public three fights within 12 months. “I won’t give December – Eddie was giving December – but I will definitely say: Anthony Joshua wants to be very active.” It is understood that Joshua could in fact fight in December against an alternative opponent, if the Wilder fight cannot be made in time. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More ‘Nobody can beat this Canelo’: Alvarez dominates Jermell Charlo for statement win in undisputed clash Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk ‘signed’ with undisputed heavyweight title fight confirmed The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings On This Day in 2018: Anthony Joshua stops Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Joe Joyce on knockouts, oil painting, and teaching 60-year-olds to swim The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings