Footage of three-a-side game shows humanoids struggling to kick the ball or stay uprightThey think it's all over ... for human footballers at least.The pitch wasn't the only artificial element on display at a football match in China on Saturday. Four teams of humanoid robots took on each other in Beijing, in games of three-a-side powered by artificial intelligence. Continue reading...
by Jason Burke in Jerusalem and Malak A Tantesh in Ga on (#6YBG6)
Women, children and elderly people among at least 24 killed by attack that turned beach spot into scene of carnageWitnesses have described the bloody aftermath of an Israeli strike on a crowded seaside cafe in Gaza, which left at least 24 dead and many more injured on Tuesday.Al-Baqa cafe, close to the harbour in Gaza City, was almost full in the early afternoon when it was hit by a missile, immediately transforming a scene of relative calm amid the biggest urban centre in Gaza into one of carnage. Continue reading...
Court considers petition by 36 senators calling for dismissal of Shinawatra for dishonesty and breaching ethical standardsThailand's constitutional court has suspended the prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, while it investigates alleged ethical violations relating to a leaked phone call.The court announced on Tuesday that it would consider a petition filed by 36 senators calling for the dismissal of the prime minister, accusing her of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards in violation of the constitution. Continue reading...
by Charlotte Higgins in Ivano-Frankivsk on (#6YBC6)
You can always find an intersection to Shakespeare's world in such situations as we have,' says translator, as Shakespeare productions boom across UkraineThe Ukrainian Shakespeare festival in the city of Ivano-Frankivsk did not open with a play. Another kind of performance was staged on the steps of the theatre, one that did not deal with sad stories of the death of kings but with tragedy unfolding in real life.This was theatre in a different sense: a rally involving several hundred people demonstrating on behalf of Ukrainian prisoners of war, thousands of whom are estimated to remain in Russian captivity. Continue reading...
Less than half taking foreign languages GCSEs compared with 69% in most prosperous state schoolsMinisters must make access to language learning a national priority, experts have said, after research showed that children from more deprived areas of England are disproportionately denied the chance to learn a foreign tongue.This year's Language Trends report by the British Council surveyed 1,000 primary, secondary and independent schools and found that the proportion of pupils studying a modern language GCSE in less affluent English state schools was 38% lower than in the most affluent and 12% lower than the average. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: With its nuclear capabilities down but not out and domestic support strong, the question is where Iran goes nextGood morning. The term cakeism" - the false belief that one can simultaneously enjoy the benefits of two mutually exclusive choices - may forever be associated with the Brexit negotiations, when keeping the advantages of EU membership while also shedding its costs became the UK's official bargaining position.But the appeal of cakeism endures, and over the last week the US president's approach to the conflict with Iran has started to look distinctly gateau-shaped. Donald Trump wants the glory of a decisive victory on the battlefield but is not so keen on the long-term repercussions that come with it: tit-for-tat retaliations, unforeseeable conflict spillage, focused diplomacy, or even regime change - the kind of talk the Maga movement associates with Trump's predecessors.Welfare | Downing Street's plans to see off a major Labour welfare rebellion were in chaos on Monday night, amid continued brinkmanship between MPs and the government over the scale of the concessions. There was significant division between government departments over how to respond to rebels' demands ahead of the knife-edge vote on Tuesday.UK news | Police have formally opened a criminal investigation into comments made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury after reviewing video and audio footage of the performances. Meanwhile on Monday, the BBC said that it should not have allowed chants of Death to the IDF" at Bob Vylan's performance to be broadcast.Crown Estate | King Charles is set to receive official annual income of 132m next year, after his portfolio of land and property made more than 1bn in profits thanks to a boom in the offshore wind sector.Arms trade | Britain's decision to allow the export of F-35 fighter jet components to Israel, despite accepting they could be used in breach of international humanitarian law in Gaza, was lawful, London's high court has ruled. The judges ruled that the acutely sensitive and political issue" was a matter for the executive ... not for the courts".Crime | A 92-year-old man who evaded justice for almost 60 years has been convicted of raping and murdering a woman in Bristol, after a review by a cold case police team and scientists. Officers believe the 58-year gap between the crime and the conviction may be the biggest in modern English policing history. Continue reading...
Georgian city is not shy of milking its links with the author, but actually she was not happy during her time thereThe city of Bath does not fight shy of promoting its Jane Austen connections, tempting in visitors from around the world by organising tours, balls, afternoon teas and writing and embroidery workshops inspired by the author. If you have the inclination, you can buy souvenirs ranging from Jane Austen Top Trumps to a Mr Darcy rubber duck.But in this, the 250th anniversary year of her birth, an exhibition is being launched daring to point out that in truth Austen wasn't terribly happy during the five years she lived in the city. Continue reading...
Fellow Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May say Geldoff told Mercury: Just play the hits - you have 17 minutes'Freddie Mercury's performance with Queen at Live Aid in 1985 is often seen as the crowning glory of one of the greatest showmen the world has ever seen.But he still needed some very clear instructions from Bob Geldof, the festival's organiser, before going out on stage. Don't get clever," the Boomtown Rats frontman told him, according to fellow Queen members Roger Taylor and Brian May. Just play the hits - you have 17 minutes." Continue reading...
by Deepa Parent and William Christou in Amman on (#6YBC7)
Families report horrific' conditions in jails and fear executions may be hastened as part of broader crackdownLife for Reza Khandan has only got worse since Tehran's Evin prison, where he was an inmate, was hit by an Israeli airstrike on 23 June. The next night, the 60-year-old human rights activist - who was arrested in 2024 for his support of the Woman, Life, Freedom movement - was moved to another jail in the south of the capital, where he has told family conditions are hard to endure.My father and others do not have beds and are forced to sleep on the floor. He once found six or seven bedbugs in his blanket when he woke up," said his daughter Mehraveh Khandan, who described horrific" sanitary conditions in the prison. Continue reading...
by Anna Bawden Health and social affairs corresponden on (#6YBC8)
Health ombudsman says number of last-resort investigations into care in England up two-thirds in four yearsThe NHS has repeatedly failed in its diagnosis and care of stroke patients, England's health ombudsman has said.According to the World Stroke Association, more than 12 million people worldwide will have their first stroke this year and 6.5 million will die as a result. Strokes are one of the UK's biggest killers, causing about 34,000 deaths a year, and the single biggest cause of severe disability. Continue reading...
Tesla CEO also threatened forming an America Party' if the bill, which would increase US deficit to $3.3tn, is passedElon Musk has vowed to unseat lawmakers who support Donald Trump's sweeping budget bill, which he has criticized because it would increase the country's deficit by $3.3tn.Every member of Congress who campaigned on reducing government spending and then immediately voted for the biggest debt increase in history should hang their head in shame! And they will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth," he wrote on his social media platform, X. Continue reading...
The Oscar winner will appear alongside Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough when they play the same character at different ages in Tracy Letts' play Mary Page MarloweSusan Sarandon is to make her UK theatre debut alongside Andrea Riseborough, when the pair portray the same woman at different ages, in Tracy Letts' drama Mary Page Marlowe.The play will be staged this autumn at the Old Vic in London by Matthew Warchus, in his final season as artistic director. Several actors portray the title character, which is described as a time-jumping mosaic" spanning 70 years in the life of an accountant and mother of two in Ohio. Continue reading...
by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent on (#6YB0F)
Survey reveals 69% of women have seen or experienced sexual harassment, domestic abuse, violence, stalking or other offencesA majority of women have direct experience of violence or harassment, or know someone who has suffered it, in the last year, a poll has found.The poll finds little faith in the police or government to stem the tide of male violence, and most believe the problem has got worse. Continue reading...
Twelve-member jury in New York starts to deliberate following closing arguments from both sidesAfter seven weeks of testimony from more than 30 witnesses, jurors in the high-profile federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean Diddy" Combs have begun deliberations, but ended their day with no verdict.The 12-member jury -made up of eight men and four women-began deliberating on Monday, following closing arguments from both sides that concluded on Friday and lengthy instructions from the judge. Continue reading...
Dealing with very serious blazes means fire and rescue service has limited ability to respond to other emergenciesFirefighters battled wildfires in the Scottish Highlands for a third day on Monday in a situation the first minister has called extremely serious".The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), which has helped tackle the blazes, warned the fires are becoming a danger to human life" that are leaving stretched" firefighters unable to attend other incidents. Continue reading...
Palace accounts show Treasury finding to remain at 86.3m, while duchy of Cornwall will waive some charity rentsThe royal family's private royal train" will be decommissioned as part of King Charles's drive to modernise the monarchy and reduce costs.The train has been used to transport members of the royal family around Britain's railway network since 1840, but it has become increasingly costly to maintain and store. Rolling stock from the 1980s would need to be updated for modern railway networks, and two new more fuel-efficient helicopters offer a suitable alternative. Continue reading...
A day before the crucial vote, here are the party figures leading the debate on the prime minister's welfare reformsKeir Starmer's welfare reforms hang by a thread the day before a vote that could define his premiership. The prime minister was almost certainly heading for his first Commons defeat in government before a last-minute deal reached last week between government officials and leading rebels.However, the result remains uncertain, with Labour MPs warning on Monday that they could not back the bill in its current form. Many are angry about the fact that the controversial four-point system to qualify for personal independence payments (Pips) will take effect in November 2026, no matter the outcome of a government review into the system. Continue reading...
MPs including select committee chairs express doubts that concessions agreed last week go far enoughDowning Street's plans to see off a major Labour welfare rebellion were in chaos on Monday night, amid continued brinkmanship between MPs and the government over the scale of the concessions.There was significant division between government departments over how to respond to rebels' demands - with seemingly little idea how to quell continuing anger ahead of the knife-edge vote on Tuesday. Continue reading...
Fashion house acknowledges work of traditional artisans after accusations of cultural appropriationPrada has acknowledged that its new leather sandal design was inspired by India's famous Kolhapuri chappals" - handcrafted shoes known for their toe-loop design - after facing criticism over its failure to credit the footwear's origins.We acknowledge the sandals ... are inspired by traditional Indian handcrafted footwear, with a centuries-old heritage," Lorenzo Bertelli, the corporate social responsibility chief at the Italian fashion house, said in a letter to the Maharashtra chamber of commerce. Continue reading...
Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat to increase use of facial verification after ministers raise concernsThe UK's three largest food delivery companies have announced increased security checks for riders after ministers raised concerns about people working illegally for the firms.Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat have committed to increasing the use of facial verification checks and fraud detection technology in efforts to ensure only those with registered accounts can work on their platforms. Continue reading...
Officers investigating public order incident' after chants against IDF and Keir Starmer at festivalPolice have formally opened a criminal investigation into comments made by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury after reviewing video and audio footage of the performances.Avon and Somerset police said the performances had been recorded as a public order incident at this time" and the investigation would consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes". A spokesperson added: There is absolutely no place in society for hate." Continue reading...
Andy McDonald says MPs are being asked to vote without vital evidence but work and pensions secretary says employment support programmes are being improvedThe Department for Work and Pensions has just published an analysis saying that, allowing for the concesssions announced last week, the welfare cuts will still push an extra 150,000 people into relative poverty.Here is the key chart from the document. Continue reading...
Kyriakos Mitsotakis sets up taskforce over allegations fake' farmers had been scamming agricultural fundsThe Greek prime minister has vowed to get to the bottom of how a scheme of fraudulent EU subsidy claims could have operated undetected in the country for years, as he admitted that the scandal had revealed the state's inadequacy" in dealing with corruption.Faced with revelations that fake" farmers had been scamming designated agricultural funds to the tune of a reputed 290m (249m), Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday a special taskforce would be set up to immediately and exhaustively" investigate the illegal payments. Continue reading...
by Tom Ambrose (now); Yohannes Lowe and Joe Coughlan on (#6YAMC)
At least 38 people have been killed on Monday as Israeli officials are due in Washington for a new ceasefire push by the USHere are some of the latest images being sent to us over the newswires from Gaza:As we mentioned in a previous post, Israel is continuing its relentless bombardment of Gaza after tens of thousands of Palestinians fled eastern parts of Gaza City in the north of the territory on Sunday after Israel warned of a major new offensive. Continue reading...
Santos Cerdan's alleged criminal activities put Pedro Sanchez's government under pressure to call fresh electionsA former senior official in Spain's ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' party (PSOE) has been remanded in custody by a supreme court judge investigating corruption allegations that have put the country's centre-left government under unprecedented pressure.Santos Cerdan, who served as the PSOE's organisational secretary and was the right-hand man of the prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, quit earlier this month after a judge found firm evidence" of his possible involvement in taking kickbacks on public construction contracts. Continue reading...
Cold spell expected to push northwards as storm system that has brought torrential rain in Bolivia and Brazil clearsA sharp cold spell affecting the southern half of South America is expected to intensify and push northwards in the coming days as a broad area of high pressure builds over the continent.Over the weekend, large parts of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay had temperatures 10-15C below their seasonal averages. Night-time lows plunged well into the negative double digits. One weather station in Chile - located 69 metres above sea level at an airport near the city of Puerto Natales - recorded a minimum of -15.7C on Sunday evening, nearly 14C below the average June minimum. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Hungary has relentlessly cracked down on LGBTQ+ rights - but banning Pride proved a step too far, as European politicians joined its biggest ever crowdGood morning. In 1997, Budapest became the first capital in central and eastern Europe to hold a Pride parade. Three decades later, the march is firmly established as Hungary's biggest LGBTQ+ event, and, in the words of one opposition MP, a vital expression of joy, resistance and visibility".On Saturday, Budapest Pride took on the illiberal ambitions of Viktor Orban and, rainbow flags flying high under a cloudless blue sky, as many as 200,000 marchers from 30 countries - the biggest turnout ever - were there to say it won. At least, for the time being.Welfare |Vicky Foxcroft, the Labour whip who resigned in protest against disability benefit cuts, has said Keir Starmer's concessions do not yet go far enough to win her over, as No 10 launched a fresh attempt to stem the revolt against its welfare bill.NHS | Britain's health service is estimated to be spending 50m a year on the effects of poverty and deprivation. One senior NHS figure said there were medieval" levels of illnesses among poorer communitiesGlastonbury | The organisers of Glastonbury have said they are appalled" by comments made by Bob Vylan after the punk duo appeared to incite violence, something the festival said went against its ethos of hope, unity, peace and love".Environment | Wildlife activists who exposed horrific conditions at Scottish salmon farms were subjected to surveillance by private spies-for-hire, including being followed and photographed, the Guardian can reveal.Weather | Today's temperature in the UK is expected to rise to 34C, just short of the record for the hottest ever June day, 35.6C, recorded in Southampton in 1976. Continue reading...
Home Office says system changes needed at SIA to allow eVisas, prompting fears of another Windrush-type scandalThe Home Office-sponsored agency that licenses hundreds of thousands of security guards has become the latest to confirm that it will not accept newly introduced eVisas from job applicants, the Guardian has learned.eVisas are designed to replace physical biometric residence permits that show proof of the right to reside, rent, work and claim benefits. However, the rollout has been beset with difficulties. Continue reading...
Mohamed Jama says the Home Office should refund the 3,105 immigration health surcharge because his wife never made it to the UKA grieving husband has criticised the Home Office for holding on to thousands of pounds in visa fees he paid for his wife to come to the UK, despite the fact that she died before she was due to arrive in the country.Ubah Abdi Mohamed, 25, from Kenya, was granted a spouse visa to join her husband, Mohamed Jama, 47, a British citizen of Somali heritage who lives in north London. Continue reading...
The Israeli court's decision to cancel this week's hearing in the long-running trial came after Donald Trump said the case should be thrown outAn Israeli court has cancelled this week's hearings in Benjamin Netanyahu's long-running corruption trial, accepting a request made by the prime minister on classified diplomatic and security grounds.Following the explanations given ... we partially accept the request and cancel at this stage Mr Netanyahu's hearings scheduled" for this week, the Jerusalem district court said in its ruling, published online by Netanyahu's Likud party. Continue reading...
Prosecutor says the bodies in Ciudad Juarez had not been cremated, and that relatives of the dead have been given other material'Police have found 381 corpses piled up in a private crematorium in northern Mexico's Ciudad Juarez, the local prosecutor's office has said , attributing the grisly find to negligence.Preliminarily, we have 381 bodies that were deposited irregularly in the crematorium, which were not cremated," Eloy Garcia, spokesperson for the Chihuahua state prosecutor's office, told AFP. Continue reading...
Committee says products may not be best use of public money and may have been mis-sold to people on certain benefitsLifetime Isas could lead to savers making poor investment decisions and may not be the best use of public money, a cross-party committee of MPs has said.In a report published on Monday, the Treasury select committee described rules which penalise benefit claimants as nonsensical" and concluded that lifetime Isas, known as Lisas, may have been mis-sold to savers eligible for universal credit or housing benefit. Continue reading...
Patient safety measure is part of 10-year plan to tackle poor standards in mental health and maternity servicesThe NHS is to become the first health system in the world to use AI to analyse hospital databases and catch potential safety scandals early, the government has said.The Department of Health and Social Care said the technology will provide an early warning system which could detect patterns or trends and trigger urgent inspections. The scheme is part of the 10-year plan for the NHS that is due to be published by Wes Streeting this week. Continue reading...
Fifty-seven-year-old arrested after Range Rover collided with central reservation in Neston, Cheshire on SaturdayFormer England and Manchester United footballer Paul Ince has been charged with drink-driving in Cheshire.The 57-year-old was arrested after a black Range Rover collided with a central reservation on Chester High Road in Neston at about 5pm on Saturday, according to Cheshire police. Continue reading...
City's bar association says people deprived of their liberty through arbitrary, unjust, and illegal detention'Police arrested more than 50 people in Istanbul on Sunday ahead of a banned LGBTQ+ Pride march, the city's bar association said.Before today's Istanbul Pride march, four of our colleagues, including members of our Human Rights Centre, along with more than 50 people, were deprived of their liberty through arbitrary, unjust, and illegal detention," the Istanbul Bar's Human Rights Centre posted on X. Continue reading...
Israeli forces urge people to evacuate eastern areas before military operations that will escalate and intensify'Tens of thousands of Palestinians were fleeing eastern parts of Gaza City in the north of the territory on Sunday after Israel warned of a major offensive.The messages on social media from the Israel Defense Forces warned of military operations [that] will escalate, intensify, and extend westward to the city centre to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organisations" and directed those living in several crowded neighbourhoods to al-Mawasi, a coastal area much further south that is already overcrowded and has very limited facilities. Continue reading...
by Natricia Duncan, St Elizabeth, Jamaica on (#6YA8R)
Black River film festival invited US, European and African producers and directors to explore partnerships with local film-makersA film festival has brought US, European and African producers and directors to Jamaica to explore collaborations with local film-makers, who are set to benefit from several million US dollars-worth of government investment to boost the domestic industry.Held on a beach in Black River, in Jamaica's south-western parish of St Elizabeth, the Black River film festival over the weekend gave Jamaican actors and film-makers a rare opportunity to screen their films to experienced movie makers such as the Netflix producer and director Samad Davis, the Atlanta-based executive movie producer Dolapo Erinkitola, and Cedric Pierre-Louis, the programming director of Nollywood TV, ROK and Zacu TV (Canal+). Continue reading...
World news | The Guardian