Samsung Electronics second-quarter operating profit beats estimates on soaring AI chip demand

Samsung Electronics extended its record run with second-quarter operating profit topping analysts' estimates.

Microsoft jumps 7% as it boosts capital spending plans, citing demand

Microsoft sees positive free cash flow for the new fiscal year as it changes accounting for data centers and office buildings.

Lindsay Clancy murder trial centers on ex's 911 call: "She killed the kids"

Prosecutors allege Lindsay Clancy made a "calculated decision" in killing her kids, while the defense says she was overmedicated and suffering from extreme postpartum psychosis.

Salman Rushdie attacker convicted in federal trial over 2022 stabbing

A man has been convicted of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie.

Ukraine war briefing: F-16 crashes while chasing Russian air targets

Pilot found safe and taken for medical treatment after ‘malfunction’; Russian drone company chief shot. What we know on day 1,618

SpaceX faces House Energy Committee demand to tour its AI data centers in Memphis

The ranking member of the House Committee on Energy is demanding SpaceX records and a tour of its data centers and power plants in and around Memphis.

Fauci invokes 5th in hearing, citing Rand Paul's "unhinged obsession"

Dr. Anthony Fauci appeared before the Senate to testify on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic but invoked his Fifth Amendment rights in answering all questions.

Maps show where heavy rainfall poses flood risks across Northeast

The storm system that brought dangerous tornadoes to the Midwest earlier this week has now moved into New England, threatening to cause flooding in multiple states.

Extended Interview: NIH director Jay Bhattacharya on Fauci hearing, COVID-19 origins, more

Rob Gutman speaks with Jay Bhattacharya, director of the National Institutes of Health and acting director of the CDC, about Dr. Anthony Fauci's actions during the pandemic, the possible origins of COVID-19, vaccines and more.

Elon Musk’s xAI sues Minnesota over law banning ‘nudification’ technology

First-in-nation law sets up test on states’ power to regulate use of AI as it tries to outlaw fake nude images of real people

Elon Musk’s company xAI has sued Minnesota over the state’s first-in-the-nation law banning “nudification” technology on websites and apps, potentially providing a test for how far states can go in constitutionally regulating the use of artificial intelligence.

Musk’s company sued on Monday in federal court, days before the law is set to take effect on Saturday and make Minnesota the first state to try to outlaw the increasingly proliferating technology that lets people use AI to create fake nude images of real people. The law was signed in May.

Lawyer, 42, tries on a different suit, gives lifeguarding a try: "Best summer of my life"

Ben Schweer, a medical malpractice lawyer from Pittsburgh, tried on a different summer suit, becoming a lifeguard at Delaware's Rehoboth Beach. Mark Strassmann has the story.

Pack of coyotes moves into condo construction site in Los Angeles

When developers started construction on a residential building in the Los Angeles suburb of West Hollywood years ago, they likely didn't expect these potential occupants. Carter Evans has more on what neighbors call the "coyote condos."

Iran targets U.S. forces in Jordan, Trump says the U.S. will hit back

Iran released video it claimed showed advanced ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces in Jordan in a surprise attack at the same base where three Americans were killed less than two weeks ago. Charlie D'Agata reports.

Birx says Fauci hearing shows there's still anger over handling of COVID

Dr. Deborah Birx offered "The Takeout" her takeaways on what the contentious Senate hearing with former colleague Dr. Anthony Fauci says about the nation's ability to move on from COVID.

Battacharya speaks on Fauci's diary, COVID-19

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health and the acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke with Matt Gutman about Dr. Anthony Fauci's hearing on Wednesday and other health issues that affect many Americans.

Fauci faces angry senators over diary, COVID response

Dr. Anthony Fauci faced an angry Senate hearing on Wednesday, with Republicans confronting him over diary entries and his handling of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nikole Killion has more.

New testimony, evidence in Lindsay Clancy's trial

On the second day of the triple murder trial of a Massachusetts mom who killed her three children, the judge heard new testimony and evidence. Prosecutors asked her ex-husband to describe the moment he returned home on Jan. 24, 2023. Shanelle Kaul reports on the details.

Chaotic, dangerous weather sweeps U.S.

Historic, life-threatening flash floods swamped parts of the Northeast this week. In the West, a rare firenado was caught on camera as scorching temperatures bake several states. Rob Marciano is tracking it all.

Animal spillover? Lab leak? What the science says about the origins of COVID-19

The release of Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic diaries has rekindled the debate over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. Here's how scientists have weighed in.

Here are the five big takeaways from this week's Fed meeting

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday followed through on expectations for no interest rate change.

Todd Blanche attorney general nomination on edge as Cornyn questions Trump-IRS settlement

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, says the DOJ has failed to satisfy his concerns about a deal to shield President Donald Trump and others from IRS tax audits.

Children’s animation series Wolfoo found guilty of copying Peppa Pig

Judge orders removal of all Wolfoo videos from online platforms after finding ‘prolific’ copyright infringement

The corporate owners of Peppa Pig have won a copyright battle against the copycat animation Wolfoo after a judge ruled the latter had illegally used audio from the famous cartoon pig.

The US-headquartered entertainment company Hasbro, which owns the rights to Peppa Pig, sued SConnect – the Vietnamese makers of Wolfoo – for copyright infringement regarding videos which used short audio clips of Peppa and her family saying words such as “Hooray!”

New DOJ rule would allow immigration judges to hold lawyers in contempt

The Justice Department is proposing a new rule to empower federal immigration judges to hold attorneys, their clients and witnesses in contempt if they violate court orders.

Why are workers at leading AI companies calling for a slowdown in AI development?

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other AI leaders say they support pacing the rapid advancement of AI's capabilities.

Idi Amin’s grandson disqualified from Commonwealth Games boxing for head-butt

• Aziz Abdul disqualified for ‘Glasgow kiss’ in third round

• Ugandan boxer: ‘Why can’t they let this fight continue?’

The Commonwealth Games debut of Idi Amin’s grandson ended in ignominy and disgrace as the boxer was disqualified in the third round for head-butting his English opponent – and then launched a bitter verbal assault on the referee.

Things then took an even more bizarre turn as Aziz Abdul, a 25-year-old from Uganda, refused to speak to a journalist afterwards because of what he had written about the tyrannical dictator.

SpaceX, Blue Origin could get quicker launch approval under FAA move to waive environmental rules

"America won the first Space Race, and we can do it again — but only if we get government red tape out of the way," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

Chipotle hikes same-store sales forecast, says cyclospora fears hit sales in late July

Chipotle Mexican Grill stock has fallen more than 7% this year, dragging its market value down to roughly $44 billion.

Carvana stock falls as auto retailer’s 2026 earnings guidance misses Wall Street’s expectations

Carvana said Wednesday it expects earnings of between $2.7 billion and $3 billion this year after reporting record quarterly results for the second quarter.

Fed holds interest rates steady, but 3 officials vote for hike

Fed officials are leaving their benchmark rate unchanged for a fifth straight meeting, a sign they expect inflation to ease.

Hollywood producer charged with seven counts of wire fraud in $100m scheme

Jason Cloth of Joker and The Green Knight diverted funds from entertainment investors toward his personal life

A federal grand jury in Chicago has charged the Hollywood producer Jason Cloth with seven counts of wire fraud for allegedly defrauding investors of $100m, according to federal authorities.

Cloth, who has credits on the blockbuster 2019 film Joker and critically acclaimed hits like The Green Knight, told investors their funds would go toward a motion picture and a gaming entertainment investment platform, among other media-related projects, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday in the US district court for the northern district of Illinois.

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in 2022 convicted of federal terrorism charges

Jury finds Hadi Matar, who is already serving a 25-year New York state prison sentence, guilty of all charges against him

A man was convicted on Wednesday of federal terrorism charges in the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, the author who has faced a decades-old death threat over his novel The Satanic Verses.

A jury found Hadi Matar guilty of all the charges against him, including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism.

Meta misses earnings forecasts after Zuckerberg media push to promote AI

Stock tumbles nearly 8% after weaker-than-expected results, despite CEO’s blitz to tout positive effects of AI

Mark Zuckerberg’s media spree touting the positive effects of artificial intelligence did little to cushion the blow of Meta’s second-quarter earnings, which sent its stock tumbling on Wednesday.

In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published on Tuesday, the Meta chief executive expressed his optimism for a world where everyone has access to a super-intelligent machine.

Starbucks stock jumps as coffee giant raises full-year outlook

Starbucks posted its fourth straight quarter of same-store sales growth, as it continues a turnaround under CEO Brian Niccol.

FTC sues Hims & Hers, alleging it shared health data with Meta, Snap

Telehealth platform disclosed users' "most private" health info and locked consumers into subscriptions, regulators allege.

Qualcomm to raise prices during memory crunch as chipmaker issues light earnings guidance

"Cost went up, prices are going to go up," Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said in an interview.

Senate unanimously passes resolution opposing pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell

Longtime Epstein associate serving 20-year sentence for sex-trafficking crimes has exhausted series of appeals

The US Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution declaring its opposition to any presidential pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes.

Introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen, a Democrat of Nevada, the resolution states that Maxwell “should not be granted a Presidential pardon or any form of clemency for her crimes with Jeffrey Epstein relating to the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors”.

Body found in suitcase in Athens is that of 38-year-old British woman

Greek authorities identify remains as those of Elizabeth Jane Ross after discovery in a derelict building 11 days ago

A body found in a suitcase in an abandoned building in central Athens has been identified as that of a 38-year-old British woman.

Eleven days after the find, and following an appeal to foreign law enforcement agencies, Greek police shed some light on the mystery of the body that until Wednesday had remained unidentified.

Trump-affiliated companies distance themselves from Trump-IRS deal

Top Senate Democrats sought answers about Trump IRS deal from mining company Kaz Resources, cryptocurrency companies World Liberty Financial and prediction markets Polymarket and Kalshi.

The Trump administration's move to end subsidies for Medicare drug plans could cost consumers

Federal subsidies that have helped defray insurers' Medicare drug costs will disappear at the end of the year. Millions of beneficiaries could face higher premiums in 2027.

Meta’s Reality Labs lost over $4.6 billion in second quarter

Meta's Reality Labs unit, which develops virtual reality and wearable devices, continues losing money.

Oregon is on track for its worst wildfire season yet

Wildfires in central and eastern Oregon are prompting evacuations and forcing ranchers to scramble to move cattle and find feed as public range land burns. More than a million acres have burned so far. Most fires have little or no containment.

Todd Blanche’s US attorney general prospects in question as vote looms

Republican John Cornyn says he will not back nomination without written confirmation $1.8bn slush fund is dead

Todd Blanche’s hopes of becoming US attorney general seemed to be in jeopardy on Wednesday after the Department of Justice did not provide written assurances to a key Republican senator that a $1.8bn slush fund was dead.

The US Senate judiciary committee will hold a vote on Thursday on whether to advance Blanche’s nomination.

Trump unveils plans for overhaul of Dulles airport outside Washington

President Trump said he hopes the renovations will take Dulles from "an impossible airport" to one of the world's best.

Anthony Fauci’s high-profile Senate hearing: what we learned

Six years on from Covid crisis, Republicans still politicizing science – and Fauci remains a political punching bag

A US Senate committee hearing featuring Dr Anthony Fauci revealed at least one certainty: six years after the pandemic, politicizing science remains a vital political tactic.

The high-profile hearing was pitched by its Republican chair, Rand Paul of Kentucky, as an investigation into the origins of the Covid pandemic. It quickly became a forum for recrimination of a once-leading US government scientist by Republican senators.

Secret Service 'illegally' surveilled Comey in Trump ‘8647’ threat case: Court filing

Ex-FBI Director James Comey says he's the subject of vindictive prosecution for posting on Instagram a photo of seashells forming the numbers "8647."

Stephen Fleming to be appointed England Test coach after impressing ECB

• New Zealander will succeed Brendon McCullum

• Likely to start on South Africa tour in December

Stephen Fleming is expected to be named as England’s Test coach, after impressing the England and Wales Cricket Board in a series of interviews over the past two weeks. The 53-year-old would work alongside his predecessor, compatriot, former teammate and friend Brendon McCullum, who remains in charge of the white-ball teams.

Fleming stood down as head coach of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings – as well as their subsidiaries Joburg Super Kings in South Africa’s SA20 and Texas Super Kings in America’s Major League Cricket – this month. That announcement was made after CSK finished eighth out of 10 teams in this year’s IPL, following on from a last-place finish in 2025, but also less than 24 hours after McCullum was sacked by the ECB as Test coach.

How Trump drafted renovation plans for Dulles, a "terrible airport"

President Trump asked for 3D models of the renovation proposals as he personally tweaked ideas to overhaul Dulles International Airport that are scheduled to be unveiled on Wednesday.

Why are airlines banning humanoid robots from flights?

Three major U.S. airlines have quietly changed their policies to ban humanoid and animal-like robots from their flights.

Uefa calls emergency meeting as opposition to Fifa plan hardens

• 55 members to meet on Thursday to coordinate response

• ‘Uefa knows there is significant and growing opposition’

Uefa has called an emergency ­meeting of its 55 members for Thursday afternoon to discuss a coordinated response to Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors. A European boycott of Fifa tournaments is among the options under consideration.

As the next major event in the Fifa calendar, a boycott of next year’s Women’s World Cup has been ­mentioned in preliminary ­discussions, although there would be a reluctance in some quarters to make the women’s game suffer as a consequence of a protest against Fifa proposals that primarily revolve around ­monetising the men’s World Cup and Club World Cup.

Fauci invokes fifth amendment and declines to testify in Senate Covid hearing

Adviser to Trump and Biden for pandemic says Republican senator has ‘unhinged obsession’ with him

• US politics – live updates

Dr Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions at a high-profile Senate committee hearing on the origins of Covid-19 and accused the Republican senator leading questioning of having an “unhinged obsession” with him.

Fauci, the veteran former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), served as a key adviser to Donald Trump and Joe Biden during the Covid-19 pandemic. The hearing was called by Kentucky senator Rand Paul, who has investigated Fauci for years.

Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn $83.3 million E. Jean Carroll case

President Trump is asking the Supreme Court to throw out an $83.3 million defamation judgment the writer E. Jean Carroll won against him.

Divided Fed holds interest rates steady, but three members voted to hike

Despite increasing support for a rate increase, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-3 to leave the federal funds rate in a range between 3.5% and 3.75%.

Here's what changed in the second Fed statement under Warsh

This is a comparison of Wednesday's Federal Open Market Committee statement with the one issued after the Fed's previous policymaking meeting in June.

Three firefighters killed on Crete and in mainland Greece as Europe battles wildfires

Repeated heatwaves and strong winds alarm experts, who warn blazes are becoming harder to quell

Three Greek firefighters have died while tackling wildfires on the island of Crete and in the south of the mainland, the Greek fire department has said, as extreme heat hinders efforts to control blazes ravaging southern Europe.

The arc of brutal fires, which runs from the Atlantic coast to the eastern Mediterranean, and from the Scottish Highlands to the south of Spain, has alarmed experts because many of the fires have been out of control and burning close to towns and cities.

Comey claims DOJ ordered illegal surveillance, seeks dismissal of "86 47" case

Former FBI Director James Comey filed new motions late Tuesday in his effort to toss out federal charges accusing him of threatening President Trump's by posting a photo of seashells arranged to form the numbers "86 47."

‘I’m very sorry’: Mancini apologises after being reappointed as Italy head coach

• Mancini quit Italy job to take over Saudi Arabia in 2023

• ‘Some will be against me … maybe people will forgive’

Roberto Mancini issued an apology in his first public comments after being reappointed as the Italy head coach, three years after he abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia.

“I’m very sorry,” Mancini said. “It was like losing the woman of your life. And it means you did something that shouldn’t have been done. So I’m sorry, very sorry also for everything that happened over these last three years … I’m going to try to bring the national team back where it belongs.”

Excessive time spent online linked to stress and worse mood – study

German study surveyed adults who engage in gaming, pornography and online shopping

Spending excessive time online is associated with higher stress levels, worse mood, and greater neglect of other activities, according to analysis.

The new study by academics at the University of Duisburg-Essen published in the journal PLOS One, surveyed 900 German adults in 2025 who reported engaging in gaming, pornography use, social network use, or online shopping at least once in the last year.

US-Saudi strikes in Iraq push region into ‘uncharted territory’, analysts warn

Riyadh’s decision to join US in strikes on Iran-backed militia further complicates widening and ‘unpredictable’ war

US-Saudi strikes on Iran-backed militia in Iraq have pushed the region into “uncharted territory”, analysts have warned.

Amid stark warnings of a widening and increasingly “unpredictable” conflict, Riyadh’s decision to publicly join the US in striking sites associated with Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), killing at least 20 fighters, has added another complicating dimension to the war.

Murder victim found in Oregon woods in 1972 identified as WWII veteran

A murder victim has been identified decades after his remains were discovered in a wooded area in Oregon in 1972, authorities said.

The Guardian view on selling off the World Cup: a red-card offence by Gianni Infantino | Editorial

Fifa’s president hopes to sell stakes in the planet’s most watched sporting event. In the wider interests of football, he must be resisted

Like a sporting Dr Pangloss, Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, would like to persuade football followers that they are living in the best of all possible worlds. Maddeningly for him, many disagree. On Monday, Mr Infantino published a 15-page Instagram rant in which he bemoaned the “hate and false rumours” in circulation during the recent men’s World Cup. White House interference over a crucial refereeing decision, prohibitive ticket prices, unnecessary but lucrative hydration breaks; it was all, as his best friend in politics, Donald Trump, would say, “fake news”.

But where the president of world football’s governing body sees haters, others see lovers of the game rightly concerned over where he is taking it. On Tuesday, Fifa confirmed that it hopes to sell stakes in the World Cup and other tournaments to private investors who may include Joshua Kushner, the brother of Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared. The investors would buy into a new $20bn company, Fifa Forward Enterprise, which would sell all of Fifa’s commercial rights, including ticketing, and take charge of “operational delivery” of World Cups.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

Airport immigration arrests stem from TSA-ICE collaboration, sources say

Recent reports of immigration arrests at U.S. airports​​, some of them captured in videos that have gone viral​, stem from increased collaboration, ICE sources tell CBS News.

Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings against Argentina over Falklands banner and final chaos

• Players held banner after semi-final against England

• Paredes and Molina investigated over brawl after final

Fifa has opened disciplinary ­proceedings against Argentina over the Falkland Islands banner ­displayed after their World Cup semi‑final win against England in Atlanta.

As Argentina celebrated ­reaching the final with their dramatic 2-1 ­victory, several players held a sign ­proclaiming “Las Malvinas son ­Argentinas” – the ­Malvinas are Argentinian – in ­reference to the ­British overseas territory in the south Atlantic.

‘You have to sit quietly until you die’: The families failed by England’s social care system

Carers tell of their struggles to get loved ones the support they need, and the emotional and financial toll caring takes on their own lives

Andy Burnham has vowed to fast-track the Casey Commission, an independent review of adult social care in England, with final recommendations expected to be released by summer 2027.

“I think social care in England is as unfair as American healthcare,” Burnham said in a speech outlining his pledge for reform on Wednesday. “The vulnerable pay with everything and it can completely leave them with nothing.”

Ben Jennings on plans to allow private investors to buy stakes in the World Cup – cartoon

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Norwegian teenager guilty of travelling to UK to carry out contract killing

Johannes Kongsnes Natland was recruited to murder unknown person by international crime gang linked to Iran

A Norwegian teenager has been found guilty of travelling to England to carry out a killing ordered by an international crime gang linked to Iran.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, from Stavanger, Norway, agreed to shoot an unknown person for €25,000 (£21,500) in March last year. Two days after he arrived in the UK armed police arrested him in a hotel room in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, seizing two guns and ammunition.

'Taiwan Travelogue' rethinks history, colonialism, and identity

The author and translator of Taiwan Travelogue, the winner of the 2026 International Booker Prize, discuss identity and history amid the debate over Taiwan's colonial ties to Japan and escalating geopolitical pressure from China.

Elon Musk's xAI sues Minnesota over law to ban 'nudify' apps

Elon Musk's xAI, now owned by SpaceX, is challenging a law that would ban so-called nudify apps in Minnesota

BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop prize

K-pop superstars will not submit Arirang album or its songs for 2027 ceremony

BTS, the biggest pop act in east Asia, have withdrawn themselves from the 2027 Grammy awards, intimating that their decision is due to the addition of a new award for best Asian pop music performance.

Writing on Instagram, each of the South Korean group’s seven members said: “We have decided not to enter the Grammys this year. I hope that music can be heard and loved for what it is, rather than being divided by region or language.”

Revealed: George Cottrell transferred $2m to his mother days before her donations to Reform UK

Exclusive: Sources say Fiona Cottrell told bankers the transfers, received 24-72 hours before her donations to Reform, came from her son

The convicted fraudster George Cottrell transferred a total of more than $2m to his mother, Fiona Cottrell, in the days before her 2024 donations to Reform UK, the Guardian understands.

Financial industry sources told the Guardian that Fiona received one deposit of $1.4m and two tranches of more than $300,000 each – money she attributed to having come from her son, George, when bankers asked about the deposits.

Infantino tries to cash in on World Cup: is football’s soul for sale? - The Latest

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has announced plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup to private investors in a new commercial entity worth $20bn. One of the leading would-be investors is Joshua Kushner, brother of Trump’s son-in-law Jared.

The plans have prompted an immediate backlash – with Uefa accusing Fifa of trying to ‘sell football’s soul’. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian reporter Paul MacInnes

Humana tops quarterly estimates, maintains profit outlook as medical costs stay in line

Humana maintained its 2026 adjusted profit outlook of at least $9 per share, which some analysts called a "disappointment" amid high expectations for insurers.

Warren, Schiff urge SEC to probe Trump Media's paid service giving faster access to Trump's posts

Trump has frequently posted policy announcements or other newsworthy information on Truth Social that have sent global markets hurtling up or down.

Your worst fears about cultural collapse might be true – here’s what you can do about it

Writer Sarah Wilson argues we’re hurtling toward the same end as ancient Rome and the Mayan civilisation – but there’s plenty to fight for

In Sarah Wilson’s new book, one page is mostly blank. It’s intended as a reprieve, a neutral space “for you to stare at for a minute while your feelings catch up”.

You will need it. In I Eat the Stars, Wilson argues that the world as we know it is in collapse – and that we are too late to avoid the worst.

Tony review – knives out in tasty reheat of Anthony Bourdain’s memoir

Dominic Sessa stars as a conceited yet vulnerable young chef alongside Antonio Banderas – but the feelgood factor is compromised by what we know of the author

For all the drugs and punch-ups, this is an unexpectedly sentimental coming-of-age story – or maybe origin myth – about the formative youthful kitchen experiences of legendary badass chef Anthony Bourdain. It is taken from the opening chapters in his bestselling memoir Kitchen Confidential; Canadian film-maker Matt Johnson directs and Dominic Sessa (the callow kid from Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers) plays the conceited, smug yet lonely and vulnerable young college student Tony. “Anthony” is in the future.

It is the mid-1970s and Tony effectively runs away from home after failing to get a residential summer writing scholarship that he had assured everyone was in the bag. He shows up nearly penniless in the seaside vacation resort of Provincetown, Massachusetts – a place that is pretty similar to Amity Island in Jaws, which is showing at every drive-in. The reason is that he has a desperate crush on Nancy (Emilia Jones) who is there for the summer too and whom he desperately wants to impress with his smouldering intellectualism.

'Odyssey' translator Emily Wilson says Nolan shouldn't have written the movie himself

The renowned classics scholar caused a stir when her critical review of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey went viral. Wilson explains her reaction to the film and why she's translating the poem again.

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, US Soccer in ‘final stages’ of agreeing on new contract

• Deal would extend Argentinian through 2030 World Cup

• Coach would stand to earn ‘significantly’ more

• Pochettino’s tenure has been mixed bag of results

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino and US Soccer are “in the final stages” of finalizing an agreement for a new contract through the 2030 World Cup, multiple sources briefed on ongoing negotiations have told the Guardian. Those sources requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.

Pochettino was brought on as US head coach in September 2024, tapped to lead the team through the 2026 World Cup, where the Americans suffered a disappointing exit in the last 16. Both sides had expressed interest in potentially extending the deal in the run-up to the tournament, with US Soccer chief executive JT Batson saying the federation was “excited” about the potential of building on progress made during Pochettino’s initial spell as head coach.

Charley Hull shooting for Open glory after multiple near misses at majors | Ewan Murray

Nelly Korda may be a safer bet, but home fans would be thrilled to see Hull triumph after five runner-up finishes

Nelly Korda is the likeliest winner of the Women’s Open, but there is no question who would be the most popular. Charley Hull’s brushes with major glory – she has five runner‑up finishes – have only intensified a widespread desire for the 30‑year‑old to break through the tape. Royal Lytham & St Annes provides the latest opportunity for the flamboyant Englishwoman.

Korda arrived in Lancashire with half her four major triumphs having come in 2026. Perhaps the Floridian can afford to be generous and she has endorsed Hull’s prospects. “She’s such a great personality,” Korda said. “It would be great for her to do it on home soil, too. She’s an amazing player. I enjoy playing with her. It would be great for the game.”

Drinkflation: why British booze is getting weaker

While the sizes and prices are staying the same, brands are reducing the alcohol content in their beer

Name: Drinkflation.

Age: The current round started in 2023.

Warren probes Pentagon program to hire highly paid private sector workers

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said she is concerned about a Pentagon program to pay high salaries to Wall Street recruits.

Prince Harry and co-claimants face huge legal bill due to insurance shortfall

Claimants’ cover might not meet Associated Newspapers’ costs for defending phone-hacking case, high court hears

The Duke of Sussex and his co-claimants could be millions of pounds out of pocket after losing their privacy case against the publishers of the Daily Mail, the high court in London heard.

The seven claimants, who include Prince Harry, Doreen Lawrence and Elton John, sued Associated Newspapers Limited over allegations of unlawful information gathering.

Jordan Klepper on Trump being heckled: ‘That’s President Pedophile Protector’

Late-night hosts speak about Trump’s trip to Michigan, where a local again shouted the same name at him

Late-night hosts spoke about Donald Trump’s recent Michigan visit and his attendance at Lindsey Graham’s funeral.

FIFA is embroiled in a $20 billion World Cup controversy. Here's what's going on

UEFA – European soccer's governing body – accused FIFA of "crossing a line" and said the tournament is not its to sell.

‘People are loving it’: Formula One chief Domenicali hits back at critics of regulations

• Chief executive says fans don’t care about technology

• Season may finish in Europe due to war in Middle East

Stefano Domenicali has issued a stout rebuttal to critics of Formula One’s new regulations, claiming most fans are enjoying the sport more than ever and are unconcerned by driver complaints. The Formula One chief executive also confirmed that this season’s finale would be staged in Europe if the last two grands prix, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, are called off due to the Middle East war.

Lando Norris, the defending world champion, hit out at F1 in Hungary last week for putting profit before the sport to attract engine manufacturers with the new regulations. The focus on electrical energy management has been roundly disliked by drivers.

Procter & Gamble revenue misses estimates as volume stays unchanged

Procter & Gamble reported quarterly earnings per share that topped Wall Street's estimates, but its revenue fell short of expectations.

‘Saltburn are the Argentina of local cricket’: victims and neighbours on the ‘Clicky Ponting’ scandal

Laughter, disbelief and outrage over video appearing to show Saltburn player tricking umpire into giving batters out

At the Saltburn over-60s ukulele club there was a unanimous reaction to news that the town’s cricket club were being compared to the Argentina football team: laughter. Then a spirited rendition of I Love to Boogie.

On the seafront, a litter-picking volunteer was looking forward to the Wednesday night quiz just to get the gossip. But she had her own view. “All I would say is it’s just not cricket, is it?”

Greetings from an isolated region in northern Pakistan's Hindu Kush mountains

Chitral borders Afghanistan and isn't easy to reach. Breathtaking views abound in this remote mountainous region — as do rockslides and avalanches.

Trump says U.S. will give Iran a 'beating' after surprise attack

Centcom in a post on X said that the attack originated from Iran, but all missiles were intercepted.

Schools are testing pepper-spraying drones to stop shooters

Schools in three states will be equipped with drones this coming academic year that aim to find and deter active shooters within seconds.

After 40 years, Aliens is still shaping the way video games are made

James Cameron’s high-octane film sequel is a blueprint for modern action space slashers

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It is difficult to believe that James Cameron’s Aliens was released into cinemas 40 years ago. The seminal space shooter took the original Alien – a tense slasher film with a tiny cast and one monster – and transformed it into an intergalactic war movie crammed with wry one-liners, massive guns and an actual boss battle finale. As a 14-year-old, I stood in line at the Tatton Gatley cinema, unsure if I’d be allowed in – I came out three hours later a changed person, my head filled with esoteric military slang and a deep fear of beeping motion detectors. For days afterwards, I slept with my duvet covering my mouth so that no facehuggers could get me. (I was a highly impressionable teenager.)

It’s little wonder that the film has had such a profound effect on video game design. Take the colonial marines, for example. Although the concept of the space soldier had been around in sci-fi novels since the 1930s, most notably in the works of EE “Doc” Smith and Robert Heinlein (the Starship Troopers), Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez and co, were the perfect 80s rendition, combining the witty banter of contemporary buddy cop flicks with awesome weaponry and hi-tech gadgets. Their influence is easy to spot in Doom, where the nameless marine fights ceaseless waves of hellish monsters using a mix of futuristic rifles and good old shotguns. It’s there too in the Halo series, the Spartan soldiers sporting the same armour and mega weapons, cruising about in very similar highly militarised starships and fighting recognisable hive-mind space beasts. Gears of War, Killzone and Marathon all borrow from the same set of costumes and deadly accessories.

Ukraine has found a new pressure point in Russia’s wartime economy

Ukraine's drone attacks on Russia's biggest online retailer, Wildberries, have ratcheted up the pressure on Moscow's wartime economy.

Flash floods and storms batter north-east US as deadly weather threatens millions

Lightning kills a New Jersey man as rescues, power outages and travel disruption hit region

Bands of deadly, extreme weather including torrential rain and high winds sparked flash flooding and tornado warnings in several north-eastern US states on Tuesday night and into Wednesday, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people and playing havoc with travel.

A 32-year-old man was killed on Tuesday afternoon in a lightning strike in Monroe township, New Jersey, authorities said.

You can’t argue with 118 Brummies in their swimsuits: Attilio Fiumarella’s best photograph

‘I was thinking about the Terracotta Army when I took this shot of Birmingham swimmers in their local pool, which faced closure. They had to stand there for an hour, waiting for the sun to come out’

I took this image in Birmingham on 20 July 2014 – part of my first professional photography project. I had moved to the city in 2013 and I would pass this building every day on the bus on my way to the city centre. I remember looking at the facades and being impressed and intrigued by the three different entrances – what were once the first class, second class and women’s entrances.

One day I decided to get off the bus and find out what the building was. The door was open, and a nice lady welcomed me in and started to explain its history. It is the Moseley Road Baths, an Edwardian-era community building. In 2014 the second pool was still operating but the gala pool, where I took this image, was already empty. The building was in need of restoration and, without funding, the council planned to shut it down for good. The woman I met there told me lots of stories about the place – people who had come to learn to swim, how it had served as a casualty station during the second world war, and how it had even been used as a dance hall. It was a very charming place with an incredible history: as soon as I saw the gala pool, I knew I had to fill the majestic empty space.

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: the secret to summer layering? Sheer bravery

Adding layers doesn’t have to leave you a hot mess – think sheer scarves and crochet with flashes of colour to elevate your look

Perhaps I shouldn’t admit this, but I’m in two minds about summer dressing. Part of me believes summer is about joy, sunshine and good times, and clothes should embrace all of that. This woman loves Pucci and owns not one but two silver kaftans. The other part of me believes summer should be uncomplicated, laid-back and earthy. This woman never checks in luggage and has worn the same black beach cover-up for so many years it’s too threadbare to cover anything much.

The thing is, either approach looks absurd if taken to extremes. Candy swirls, cherry prints and strawberry bag charms are delightful, but pile them too high and you look like a walking knickerbocker glory. And while white linen shirts and simple black sandals are chic, you risk looking a bit like you’re on a meditation retreat where the dress code is “wealthy disciple”. Know what I mean?

Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret review – the tales of abuse are utterly disturbing

Four women speak out about their underage experiences with the movie star and musician. Are the floodgates finally about to open?

Jared Leto has long been a person with something of a reputational issue. The public-facing side of this was bad enough – while playing The Joker in 2016’s Suicide Squad, he reportedly sent rats, dead pigs and used condoms to his cast mates – but for years there have been upsetting rumours about what he does in private. After a lengthy investigation, the BBC documentary Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret has finally brought at least some of them to light.

This is, as you might imagine, not a fun thing to watch. The film documents allegations of what are said to be decades of systematic criminal misconduct against teenage girls. The women interviewed here allege sexual assault, threatened sexual assault, sexualised grooming and statutory rape. They are backed up by anonymous male former co-workers who claim to have witnessed the machinery that Leto set up to procure underage girls from concerts.

Gaza strikes, a gymnastic backbend and yurt culture: photos of the day – Wednesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world

Tim Cook’s last earnings call comes at momentous time for Apple with stock at record

Apple just hit a $5 trillion market cap for the first time, but CEO Tim Cook still has plenty of concerns to address on his final earnings call at the helm.

I thought Nolan’s Odyssey was an epic bore. If you want Greek myths brought to life, try the thrill of opera!

Composers from Purcell to Birtwistle have created passionate dramas inspired by ancient Greek stories – and none of them require you to sit through three hours of solemn spectacle without an interval

For me, the most astonishing thing about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is its barnstorming popularity. I found this cinematic epic for the ages visually bloodless, expressively monotonous and very, very long. Mind you, it is good to know that Nolan thinks that war is, on balance, you know, once you really think about it, probably a bad idea.

The music, too, was disappointing. If I were Nolan, I’d have asked Mica Levi to score The Odyssey. Ludwig Göransson could have surely done more to make a soundworld of genuine strangeness, but all he could manage is a falling tritone and then a descending fifth on the two reeds and pipes of a recreated aulos, which he uses as a melancholy leitmotif in all-too-conventional Hollywood fashion. (The aulos is beautifully played by Callum Armstrong on the soundtrack, at least.) The best sounds in the film come in the scene with Samantha Morton’s Circe, in which the crew’s gluttony is horrorshow ASMR: surround-sound mastication that threatens to devour the audience.

Braiding used to be low maintenance and budget-friendly. What happened?

Every time I get my hair done, I find myself confronted with rising costs, and dizzyingly long maintenance regimes

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This week, I tried to book in for some knotless braids at the last minute. I knew I was going to be writing about how the simple pleasure of getting a head of box braids is starting to feel increasingly complicated, and thought that it would be good to get some pictures of the process. Then, I found myself getting wound up as the subject of this newsletter began to play out on a sort of meta-level.

When I decided to get my hair done for this piece, I knew that booking a next-day braiding slot would prove to be a kafkaesque task. My usual place asks that you schedule around a month in advance. My second option says that we’d need a “private room” to bring a photographer, bumping the bill up to £600. While trying to write an immersive report on the difficulties that come with getting braids, I suddenly realise that I am living the report.

How to turn mozzarella whey into delectable muffins – recipe | Waste not

Don’t pour it down the sink. This subtly tangy liquid is naturally acidic, adding flavour and fluffiness to your baking

Mozzarella comes in a bag or pot surrounded by whey or brine. This is known as latticello in Italy, and has all the flavour of the cheese and more – it’s lactic, sour and subtly sweet, with a powerful, salty, umami-rich depth of flavour. It’s delicious as a drink in it’s own right, but it’s also great to cook with. It can be used instead of buttermilk or yoghurt in marinades, even though it has less viscosity than both, and in baking. I’ve included the mozzarella itself in today’s recipe, but it is entirely optional and could easily be saved for another recipe.

The Great Lakes’ most emblematic fish could be consigned to history books

A delicacy for centuries and a key part of Native tradition, the lake whitefish has seen its population crash. Researchers know why … but stopping it is another matter

From the basement of the Sandusky library, page 29 of the book Sandusky of To-Day proclaims the town to be the “largest fresh water fish market in the world”. Two pages later, an image of the lake whitefish, referred to as “Sandusky’s pride”, takes up the entire page.

But the book was published in 1888.