“Shabbat as a day of rest [religiously] and also according to the law, is a central value in the lives of all Jews and our identity as a people.” The youth wing of the National Union religious party, a part of the Bayit Yehudi Knesset faction, has called on Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev […]

“All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard,” he said. “But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor.” Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman apologized again on Friday after he was accused by eight women of harassment and inappropriate behavior in a published report Thursday. In […]

From the Jurassic World and Mamma Mia! sequels to indie horror, a proper romcom – and a massive shark – Observer writers pick the must-see releases of the season Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (Ol Parker), 20 July The first Mamma Mia! was a head-spinning experience that redefined my understanding of the words “good” and “bad”; rarely […]

Alcoholism and ambition fuelled the actor’s rise to the top. He talks masculinity, fame – and why he’s finally ready to play Lear For anyone who looks toward their later years with trepidation, Sir Anthony Hopkins (“Tony, please”) is a proper tonic. He is 79, and happier than he has ever been. This is due to a […]

If I am not looking forward to Lars von Trier’s The House That Jack Builtwhen it eventually comes to UK screens, it is not because of the violence against women and children that helped earn the film an early round of disgusted reviews. No, what really fills me with dread is the prospect of seeing a […]

Love is just a four letter word – and it was a much ruder one when Robert Indiana, who has died aged 89, first thought up the work of art that was to define him and an entire decade. Indiana’s 1966 pop masterpiece Love originally said Fuck. Even after he changed it to the more heartwarming […]

Almost 18 million Britons tuned in to coverage, with BBC trouncing its competition Almost 18 million Britons watched coverage of Saturday’s royal wedding, making it by far the biggest television event of the year, as social networks and news websites also saw enormous online interest in the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. British viewers overwhelmingly […]

Spike Lee and Jean-Luc Godard were also among the prizewinners at the 71st annual film festival In a surprise verdict, the Japanese film Shoplifters, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda, has been awarded the Palme d’Or for main feature at the close of the Cannes film festival. “The ending blew us out of the cinema,” said jury president […]

Donation of record-breaking Liverpool player’s mint green footwear part of Egypt project A pair of Mohamed Salah’s mint green football boots are to enter the collection of the British Museum, to be displayed next to ancient Egyptian sandals in a gallery near its mummies. The boots, specially moulded for the shape of the Liverpool player’s feet, […]

SEOUL, South Korea — A week ago, things could not have been going better for President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. He was successfully arranging a meeting between North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, and President Trump. His approval ratings at home were soaring. The tone had changed so much that Mr. Trump had even called […]