BlinkDash

Children and teenagersInterviewTonke Dragt interview: ‘I was born a fairytale teller’Michelle PauliWhy has it taken so long for The Letter for the King to be translated? The million-selling Dutch children’s author reflects on her eventful life‘There is a place on the other side of every door. And as long as the door is closed, you do not know what is on the other side. Where do I find my stories? It is there that I find them: the other side of the door,” says Tonke Dragt.

A coordinated move by the US, UK and EU to strengthen the nuclear agreement could pave the way to reducing tensions, says Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group Published: 22 Jan 2021 ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaKiipLOquMRomKWhXauupsY%3D

Country diaryFungiWenlock Edge, Shropshire: These mushrooms are outrageously exhibitionist, and bring to mind an old song “One for sorrow, two for joy” goes the old magpie rhyme, but these are not birds, these are mushrooms – Coprinopsis picacea, the magpie inkcap. There have been changes since the last time I walked this path between field and wood: a new wire fence erected, low-sweeping branches of an old oak lopped, debris and scrub cleared, pasture tidied and improved.

Game of Thrones This article is more than 4 years oldGame of Thrones: Chinese fans angry as censorship results in 'castrated' debutThis article is more than 4 years oldFull six minutes cut from premiere show of final season that was streamed online While Game of Thrones fans worldwide were watching the premiere of the latest season on Monday, Chinese fans were disappointed by a censored version that streamed online in the country.

Indira VarmaInterviewIndira Varma: ‘Dicking about is much more fun than being serious’Rachael SigeeShe has won an Olivier, appeared in Game of Thrones, and will shortly star in the climate-consequences drama Extrapolations. The actor ponders ageing, sexism – and the benefits of being an ‘old hippy’ Indira Varma has her pitch for a role in a future White Lotus season ready. The Indian-Swiss actor suggests Goa as a possible location, gesturing – eyebrow raised – at her complexion and quipping: “If you’re looking to cast me and you’re limited with your imagination?

MusicRedfoo under fire over ‘misogynist’ song Literally I Can’tUS rapper defends appearance in new Play-N-Skillz video as ‘satirical’ as pressure builds to sack him from Australia’s X Factor US rapper and judge on Australia’s X Factor Redfoo has responded to online backlash for appearing on a new song that has been widely condemned as misogynist. Literally I Can’t, by production duo Play-N-Skillz, also features rappers Lil Jon and Enertia McFly, and is accompanied by a video set at a frat house party.

Books This article is more than 1 year oldRepublican ex-congressman suggests colleagues ‘had serious cognitive issues’This article is more than 1 year oldPaul Gosar and Louie Gohmert were eager to believe ‘wild, dramatic fantasies’, claims Denver Riggleman in new book The Republican congressmen Louis Gohmert and Paul Gosar adopted such extreme, conspiracy-tinged positions, even before the US Capitol attack, that a fellow member of the rightwing Freedom Caucus thought they “may have had serious cognitive issues”.

Manchester UnitedSir Jim Ratcliffe says Manchester United buy-in is most exciting deal he has doneBillionaire at Old Trafford for first time since agreement struckHe expects Premier League to sign off on deal by mid-FebruarySir Jim Ratcliffe says his involvement with Manchester United is the most exciting thing he has done and expects his partial takeover to be ratified by mid-February. The 71-year-old billionaire was at Old Trafford on Sunday to attend his first United match since agreeing to buy a 25% stake in the club.

FoodMade from algae found in coastal waters, this so-called superfood can be added to tea, smoothies and yoghurts, juices, or even eaten straight from the jar. But is there any point? It is 8am on a Tuesday and I’m stirring jellified sea moss into my morning brew. Or at least, I’m trying to – little lumps of the stuff keep bobbing up and eyeballing me from the milky surface. Clearly, a plant that grows on rocks by the Atlantic coast doesn’t dissolve.