George Martin dies, Sunday trading battle and Muslims in Hollywood
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Version 0 of 1. Top story: Beatles producer George Martin dies Legendary record producer Sir George Martin has died aged 90. Martin famously signed the Beatles to Parlophone records when others had turned them down and produced all but one of their albums. The title of “fifth Beatle” is much-disputed but Martin had more claim than most because of his influence on the band’s sound and the innovation he brought to their production, stretching the boundaries of sound recording. Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer, announced Martin’s death on Twitter and it was later confirmed to the Hollywood Reporter by Universal Music. Tributes are rolling in from performers and producers in the music industry Read the full obituary here News wrap: today’s headlines digested Bernie Sanders has pulled off his biggest win of the Democratic presidential race. The anti-establishment candidate beat Hillary Clinton in a shock upset in Michigan. In a rust-belt state hit hard by the decline of manufacturing, Sanders’ consistent opposition to free trade deals appears to have hit home, but he also showed signs of weakening Clinton’s dominance among African American voters. No round-up of US primary news would be complete without a word on Trump though, who won in in three of the four states voting yesterday. He accepted victory as graciously as usual. __________ Downing Street is facing a knife-edge vote on plans to liberalise Sunday trading laws, after a “flip-flop” by the SNP. The government wants to allow Sunday shopping zones in England and Wales with unrestricted trading hours but Tory rebels are seeking to defeat the proposals. The SNP leadership, which had apparently indicated recently that it would not stand in the way of the reforms in George Osborne’s July budget, has changed tack and announced that it will support the Tory rebels. __________ Striking junior doctors are running free lifesaving classes for parents as a way of using their skills during today’s protest over contracts. There will be about 25 events up and down the country as part of an initiative called #littlelifesavers, and will teach parents how to administer CPR and stop children from choking. The strike is the third by junior doctors, and the first since Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, announced he was imposing new the working conditions. __________ Buckingham Palace has insisted the Queen is “politically neutral” in the EU referendum campaign, after a report in the Sun that she vented her anger at pro-EU Nick Clegg. The paper claimed that she had expressed strong Eurosceptic views to the then-deputy prime minister during a lunch at Windsor Castle. However, Clegg dismissed the report as “nonsense” while the palace said it would not comment on “spurious, anonymously sourced claims”. The thing you’ll be talking about today The Matrix film-maker, Lilly Wachowski, formerly known as Andy, has come out as a transgender woman. Wachowski, whose sister and collaborator Lana came out as transgender in 2012, says she went public after the Daily Mail “threatened public outing”. “You know, when you’re living as an out transgender person it’s kind of difficult to hide. I just wanted – needed – some time to get my head right, to feel comfortable. But apparently I don’t get to decide this.” Your lunchtime read ‘Death to the infidels!’ Why it’s time to fix Hollywood’s problem with Muslims The US government wants the movie business to help counter Isis propaganda. But from shady sheikhs to detonator-happy terrorists, Hollywood’s pervasive Islamophobia is already a big part of the problem. __________ Love the Guardian? Help keep our journalism fearless and independent by becoming a Supporter. Find out more here |