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Popular Twitch streamer Zack ‘Asmongold’ responded to Andrew Tate's recent tweets, which have come as a surprise to his followers

By Emma Farge GENEVA Older people have suffered and died at a disproportionately high rate since Russia's invasion

South Korea has canceled its plan to launch its first commercial-grade satellite citing a technical issue, days after rival North Korea reaffirmed its push to place its first military spy satellite into orbit

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson has condemned the handling of fresh allegations of Covid lockdown rule-breaking as "bizarre and unacceptable", as he faces a further possible probe into the "Partygate"...

Eddie Howe was not expecting much of a reception when he got back home after becoming the first manager since Sir Bobby Robson to steer Newcastle United into the Champions League. “The dog probably won’t even get up and give me a wag,” he said. “He will probably be asleep on the sofa.” But Howe has a smiling tendency to downplay and deflect. He had claimed he would celebrate the 6-1 demolition of Tottenham with a tea and a biscuit. Securing a top-four finish, he said, might prompt something slightly stronger. “I hope it is not with a tea and biscuit,” he said. It has been Howe’s way not to mention the Champions League; he claimed it had just “crept up on us” and that he had only started to think about it seriously in the last few weeks. Which, if true, would make Howe the exception at St James’ Park. He nevertheless sounded like a man who had started his planning, albeit with a typical willingness to moderate expectations. Champions League revenue could provide a £100 million boost to Newcastle’s income; not money their owners need, given the wealth of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, but essential for the club, considering the way Financial Fair Play regulations limit their room for manoeuvre. “We don’t have the ability to spend the money people think we have,” Howe insisted. A voice of caution made a couple of pertinent points. Firstly, Newcastle do not want to lose the unity and spirit that has propelled them beyond more talented teams. To put it another way, they don’t want to do a Chelsea. And secondly, the better the side has got, the fewer the number of players who can actually improve it. Of those who can, Newcastle are likely to ignore established superstars. So far, they have not raided any of their new rivals: they have not bought from the Premier League’s big six – a term they may have rendered outdated – while instead purchasing from Burnley, Aston Villa, Brighton and Everton and, with the arguable exception of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, they have recruited from Europe’s second tier: Real Sociedad, Lyon and Lille. The sense is the plan might not change; it can just be accelerated. “We have been really good in the three transfer windows,” said Howe. There was no need for false modesty; they have. Perhaps they have more ambitious targets now: then again, ambition was always apparent, whether taking Trippier to a club in the relegation zone, a few months after winning La Liga. Even without Champions League football, their persuasive powers were apparent: Bruno Guimaraes was an Arsenal target, Sven Botman wanted by AC Milan. More such targeted recruitment seems on the cards. “We will be adding to the squad but it won’t be huge numbers,” said Howe. Two targets look particularly attainable. Kieran Tierney would be their first recruit from the big six, but even then a player who has lost his place in Arsenal’s strongest side. Dan Burn has been an endearing emblem of Newcastle’s progress but a great overachiever is not actually a great left-back. James Maddison was wanted on Tyneside last summer; with Leicester’s possible relegation and the England international’s contract expiring in 2024, they are dual reasons why he could be available. He would offer something different, an injection of creativity into a hard-running team and a player whose goals and assist numbers are excellent. This summer may bring a search for a right-footed Botman, a right-sided centre-back of similar capability; well as Fabian Schar has done, it could be a position where Howe looks to upgrade. There is also scope for midfield reinforcements. The question of whether Guimaraes plays exclusively as the deepest of the trio or as one of the No 8s may dictate if Newcastle go for a more defensive presence. Certainly, there are a host of different types of midfielders who look like Howe-type players and are likely to be on the market: Moises Caicedo, James Ward-Prowse, Conor Gallagher and Mason Mount look cases in point. It will be instructive if Newcastle were to enter the race for Mount, given the high calibre of his suitors. Part of Howe’s task is to balance loyalty with ruthlessness, to assess how many of those who had the season of their life this season are capable of repeating the feat or will regress to a lower level: Burn, Schar, Miguel Almiron, Jacob Murphy, Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock all belong in that category. Some will surely spend more time on the bench. Another issue is whether Newcastle can play such an exhausting style of play with a far more crowded fixture list: to use Dean Smith’s word, they have “steamrollered” opponents this season but with the aid of freshness, cohesion and continuity. But Howe has scarcely rotated and only 14 players have made more than five league starts this season. It is an illustration of why he feels he has a small squad, especially after the January sales of Chris Wood and Jonjo Shelvey. The summer may see an exodus of some of the unused, of some of Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie, Jamal Lewis, Jamaal Lascelles, Isaac Hayden and Javi Manquillo, all part of his inheritance. Maybe Allan Saint-Maximin, too, the crowd-pleaser who does not fit Howe’s high-pressing ethos. Each represents the old Newcastle. The newer Newcastle is taking shape in Howe’s image and at a speed he did not forecast. The worrying element for their newer peers is their status as a Champions League club gives them more pulling power and a bigger budget. Read More Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton’s Lewis Dunk has been playing through pain barrier Let’s do it – Pep Guardiola wants PL charges dealt with as soon as possible Newcastle celebrate Champions League qualification – Tuesday’s sporting social Roberto De Zerbi: Brighton could lose Moises Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister Pep Guardiola expecting City’s intensity to drop but warns of challenges to come Leeds, Leicester and Everton facing final-day scrap for Premier League survival

Reese Witherspoon radiated youthfulness in the selfie that highlighted her distinctive features with minimal makeup

A famous drag show restaurant has filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming a bill that prohibits children’s attendance at drag shows has hurt its business and is a violation of the First Amendment. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando, a franchise location of the drag show restaurant chain Hamburger Mary’s, is alleging that the state of Florida, “Seeks to explicitly restrict or chill speech and expression protected by the First Amendment” in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Monday. The lawsuit pertains to SB 1438, nicknamed the Protection of Children, which allows for criminal penalties against a food service establishment for admitting children to “an adult live performance.” The bill, which was signed into law by Mr DeSantis last week, prohibits children from attending adult live performances or the establishment can face fines, have their license suspended or revoked and their liquor license suspended or revoked. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando offers “family friendly” drag performances on Sundays, which they say have been greatly affected by the passage of SB 1438. “This bill has nothing to do with children, and everything to do with the continued oppression of the LGBTQ+ community,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando wrote in a Facebook post. In the lawsuit, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando said “immediately” after the bill passed, 20 per cent of their bookings were cancelled for the 21 May 2023 show as well as future bookings despite the performances being “family friendly.” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando is alleging in the lawsuit that the bill does not serve a compelling governmental interest and is too vague, thus violating the restaurant’s First Amendment right to freedom of expression. “The law and anticipation of it has had a chilling effect on free speech in Florida,” the lawsuit says. The lawsuit names Mr DeSantis, the state of Florida, as well as Melanie Griffin, the Secretary of the State Department of Business and Professional Regulation for Florida, as defendants. The recent Protection of Children bill defines “adult live performance” as any presentation in front of a live audience where a part of it depicts sexual activity, sexual conduct, nudity, lewd exposure, lewd conduct, prosthetic or imitation genitals and more. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando claims, “There is no lewd activity, sexually explicit shows, disorderly conduct, public exposure, obscene exhibition, or anything inappropriate for a child to see” in their family-friendly brunches. The restaurant claims several undercover agents visited a drag brunch in December and did not witness “any lewd acts” that were inappropriate for children. Hamburger Mary’s Orlando is also alleging that the state of Florida has not provided examples of specific conduct that is harmful to children. “The uncertainty about what specific conduct this law prohibits, as well as the threat of police surveillance and criminal charges, is precisely what concerns the Plaintiff in this case,” the lawsuit says. Instead, Hamburger Mary’s Orlando believes this is another example of conservative leaders trying to restrict LGBT+ inclusivity in communities. “Anytime our legislators want to demonize a group, they say they are coming for your children. In this case, creating a false narrative that drag queens are grooming and recruiting your children with no factual basis or history to back up these accusations AT ALL,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando wrote on Facebook. “They are setting a precedent that the state legislators [sic] can decide what is best for you based on THEIR own values and convictions, and write it into law,” Hamburger Mary’s Orlando added. The Independent has reached out to Hamburger Mary’s Orlando and Mr DeSantis’ office for comment. Read More Why are drag shows being targeted by the state of Tennessee and other republicans? Tampa Pride event cancelled over Ron DeSantis’ latest anti-LGBT+ laws Pride events cancelled across Florida due to ‘climate of fear’ after DeSantis’s anti-LGBT+ laws A famous restaurant chain has sued Florida over DeSantis’s drag ban Florida school bans poem recited by Amanda Gorman at Biden inauguration AP News Digest 3:10 am

The head of Iran’s nuclear program is insisting that his nation will cooperate with international inspectors on any “new activities” regarding its nuclear sector

Barcelona's stance on a possible Jules Kounde exit following reports that he wants to leave the club for being played out of position.

A new "toxic" trend is taking over TikTok that involves people comparing their body measurements to Bella Hadid – and some users are concerned. While social media can sometimes be a force for good, other corners of the internet have received several side eyes for their damaging messages. A quick TikTok search into 'Bella Hadid measurements' will reveal hundreds of videos of people sharing their measurements. As we know, Hadid is a supermodel and the comparisons haven't sat easily with many users, as it perpetuates unrealistic beauty standards. "When Bella Hadid’s measurements are 34-24-32 and mine are 31-22-33," one person wrote in a viral clip that's racked up almost half a million likes. The TikToker went on to call the measurements a "big flex in my life." Another person wrote: "POV I have the same measurements as Bella Hadid, nothing can hurt my feelings, I don't care". Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter While the clips are seemingly intended to be lighthearted, many more TikTokers have hit back at its "toxic" roots – especially given TikTok is predominantly a Gen-Z app. Creator Felix (@fmjat) raised the concern, asking viewers: "Aren’t these Bella Hadid measurements low-key a step back backward and hypocritical?" @fmjat bare in mind these are the same gurlies saying all bodys r beautiful ?? #bellahadid #bodypositivity #models #modelcommunity #bodyimage His clip was met with people who agreed on the matter, with one writing: "Like.. the trend is so bad for impressionable teens/ppl on this app with eating disorders." Another user simply put it: "The fixation on bodies is tiring." Meanwhile, a third person chimed in: "Can we all say the things we like ab our bodies and accept the fact that we’re all gonna see things we don’t relate to without freaking out." 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.

Each year, the Cannes Film Festival red carpet sees the biggest stars in Hollywood and beyond gather in their finest threads. The 2023 festival, which began on Tuesday 16 May and will run until Saturday 27 May, has already served up a plethora of looks, from Elle Fanning’s delightfully risqué sequinned gown to Maya Hawke’s pleasantly demure mossy green dress. There have also been some surprising moments on the red carpet, such as Jennifer Lawrence’s unexpected choice of flip-flops instead of heels and a shock protest by a Ukrainian activist involving plenty of fake blood. Here are our picks for the best-dressed stars at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Elle Fanning Fans went wild for The Great star Elle Fanning’s silver Paco Rabanne dress that she wore on Thursday 18 May. The metal gown was declared the “party dress of the season” and included long, shard-like sequins and two metal cut-out snowflakes that covered the actor’s breasts. Jennifer Lawrence The Oscar-winning actor arrived on the red carpet on Sunday 21 May wearing a crimson Christian Dior couture gown for the premiere of the Anatomie D’une Chute (Anatomy of a Fall). The dress featured a corset bustier topped with a ruffled bust and a matching shawl worn around Lawrence’s arms. But it was her footwear that really stood out. Lawrence opted to descend the steps at the Palais des Festivals in a pair of casual black flip-flops instead of heels. Maya Hawke The Stranger Things star opted for a Prada ensemble at the world premiere of Asteroid City on Tuesday 23 May. Hawke wore a moss green strapless grown and baby blue gloves, accessorised with a chunky diamond necklace. Julia Fox Known for her daring fashion choices, actor Julia Fox has already appeared several times at this year’s Cannes Film Festival in outfits including transparent elements. She attended the Art of Elysium Paradis 25th anniversary party on Sunday 21 May wearing a see-through abstract breastplate atop a voluminous white skirt. The following day, while attending the premiere of The Idol, Fox wore a sheer gown that appeared to be constructed out of transparent plastic, designed by Nicolas Jebran. She completed the look with black lipstick. Troye Sivan Also attending the premiere of The Idol, which he stars in opposite Lily-Rose Depp, Troye Sivan wore an all-black ensemble on the red carpet on Monday 22 May. His outfit consisted of a black shirt with cut-outs under the collar, as well as a black jacket and trousers. He accessorised with a red rose and silver stem brooch on his lapel, and silver rings. Michelle Yeoh Newly minted Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh arrived at the festival wearing a green taffeta silk gown by Balenciaga Couture, with a matching stole. The look was completed with black opera gloves and black stiletto heels. Around her neck, she wore a black-and-white statement necklace. Gigi Hadid Gigi Hadid wore a strapless, structured Zac Posen gown that featured peplum details around her hips and a slightly flared skirt. The model attended the premiere of Firebrand on Sunday 21 May. She accessorised with a number of jewels from Messika, including a collar necklace, two pairs of drop earrings and multiple diamond rings. Natalie Portman Natalie Portman made jaws drop when she arrived at the Cannes Film Festival wearing a recreation of Christian Dior’s iconic Junon dress, which was first designed in 1949. The actor’s gown features a white bustier and petal-like layers cascading down the voluminous skirt, with each petal edged with sequins. It was named as a nod to Greek mythology and was inspired by peacock feathers. Lily Gladstone Lily Gladstone made her Cannes debut wearing a Valentino Haute Couture gown for the premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon on Saturday 20 May. The actor’s dress featured large yellow flowers against a black base, with a matching cape around her shoulders. She wore dangling earrings by Jamie Okuma, as well as other jewellery by Chopard. Read More Elle Fanning wows fans with daring cut-out dress at Cannes: ‘My nips could never’ Joe Alwyn attends Celine dinner at Cannes Film Festival Maya Hawke raises eyebrows at Cannes as she pirouettes down red carpet

A hard-line anti-migrant party has decided to throw its weight behind the opposition candidate who is running against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in this weekend’s runoff presidential race