2026 Emmy nominations are announced: See the full list

The nominations for the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, with the final season of HBO Max's "Hacks" setting a new record for the most nominations in a single year for a comedy series.

World Cup 2026: France v Morocco quarter-final buildup, Collina defends refereeing – live

⚽ All the latest as we look ahead to the quarter-finals
⚽ Player guide | Bracketology| Golden Boot | Email us

Our very own Jonny Weeks has been doing clever things with photos from across the World Cup.

Check them out!

Trump says truce ‘over’ as Iran reports US attack near nuclear plant – Middle East crisis live

Sides exchange strikes with Iranian media saying attacks reported near facility in Bushehr

Kuwait’s foreign ministry has issued a statement condemning the Iranian attacks against the country. It reads almost identical to the statement issued yesterday, although emphasises Kuwait’s sovereignty is “a red line”.

“The state of Kuwait reserves its full rights to take all necessary measures to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty,” it said.

Wimbledon 2026: Muchova v Gauff, Kostyuk v Noskova semi-final updates – live

Updates from Thursday’s semi-final action in SW19
Wimbledon Q&A with Tumaini Carayol | Mail Katy

Gauff does hold a 6-1 lead in their head-to-head, by the way, but I’m not sure we can read too much into that, as none of those matches were on grass. Gauff, arguably the best competitor in the women’s game, has made an art out of “winning ugly” – the phrase made famous by her former coach Brad Gilbert – and has consistently found a way to come through three-setters during this tournament even when she’s not been at her best. She may well need all that fight to combat Muchova’s mix of power and touch – which is so dangerous on grass – especially if Gauff’s serve and forehand wobble, as they sometimes do. Gauff’s backhand, though, is brilliant. Will temperament + backhand or power + hands prevail? It’s going to be so fun finding out.

And here they come to a big cheer from the crowd, not that it’s quite as warm as the red-hot weather, with the current temp around 33C, and not that Gauff can properly hear it either, because she’s got her headphones – and game face – on.

Tour de France 2026: stage six updates as riders take on the Tourmalet – live

Updates from the 186.2km stage from Pau
Stage-by-stage guide | Stage five report | Mail Andy

Bold bicycle placement by Rod in that photo below. A strong gust of wind away from his steed ending up at the bottom of a ravine.

The bunch is bimbling south-east, about to start stage six. Christian Prudhomme waves the flag from his car.

LGBTQ+ inclusion in film at a three-year low, Glaad survey suggests

The advocacy group’s Where We Are In Film study finds a decrease in queer people of color and zero trans characters in 2025 films

LGBTQ+ characters are slowly disappearing from film in a trend that disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ characters of color, according to a report published today.

An annual study of films by Glaad (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has found that just 46 of 225 films released in 2025 contained LGBTQ+ characters, making only 20.4% of last year’s movies inclusive of the queer community.

‘New terrifying levels’: 10 people fatally shot by immigration officials in Trump’s second term

As Trump’s immigration crackdown continues, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s death marks another high-profile killing by ICE officers

Early on Tuesday morning, 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo took his coffee and a meal his wife had prepared for him, said goodbye to his dog, and left the house he built. He drove his white van, picked up three co-workers, and headed towards a construction site to work on some houses.

But Salgado never made it to work. During a “targeted enforcement operation”, officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot and killed Salgado and arrested the three other men.

MPs urge Labour to ditch £330m Palantir software contract with NHS

Cross-party group backs call from science and technology committee to look at alternative options, citing ‘serious mistrust’

A second parliamentary committee has urged Labour to scrap Palantir’s £330m contract with the NHS, increasing pressure on the next prime minister over government deals with the US tech company.

MPs on the health and social care select committee want the NHS to cut ties with Palantir and find a replacement for its system, which is supposed to unify and analyse huge amounts of often highly sensitive NHS health data.

Ohio is America's Top State for Business in 2026, capping yearslong rise with first No. 1 finish

Ohio tops CNBC's rankings for the first time in 2026, with the Buckeye State culminating a yearslong climb as the place to do business in America. 

Nolan Wells' family searches for answers in death of Mississippi teen

The family of Nolan Wells is demanding answers after the 18-year-old was found dead on Horn Island, off the mainland of Mississippi. Skyler Henry reports.

Barcelona registers highest temperature in 112 years as French nuclear reactor shuts down due to extreme heat – Europe live

Some stations in Spain recorded temperatures of up to 44C after western Europe experienced the warmest June on record

A high temperature warning has also been issued for a dozen counties in the Republic of Ireland, PA reported.

Irish national forecaster Met Éireann said temperatures could exceed 27C during the day with overnight temperatures staying above 15C. The agency warned of water safety issues, heat stress, and uncomfortable sleeping conditions as a result.

Ukraine’s drone playbook is wreaking havoc in Russia — and upending where NATO wants to invest

Ukraine’s deep drone strikes on Russian refineries are reshaping the war and pushing NATO toward a $40 billion counter-drone plan.

From Greek epics to biblical blockbusters: the 20 best mythological movies – ranked!

Ahead of the release of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey, we rate the top films based on myths, legends and fables

Featuring the young Henry Cavill as a Theseus who barely gets near a labyrinth, this Hellenic “reimagination” bags precious little deep mythological significance. But visuals ace Tarsem Singh at least gives it a strikingly theatrical and oppressive look. Unforgettable images include the Titans locked into their magical prison like ranks of table-football players, the sotto in su vision of the warring gods at the end and the campest Mount Olympus in cinema – like a gleaming Siegfried and Roy Vegas set.

Family of Houston man shot by ICE calls for independent investigation

More details are emerging on the shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican national who was killed by ICE on his way to work Tuesday. The agency said Salgado Araujo, who his family said has lived and worked in the U.S. for decades, rammed a car while attempting to evade arrest. Jason Allen has the latest.

Janse van Rensburg, Caluori and Kloska in line for England Test debuts against Fiji

• Janse van Rensburg has qualified on residency grounds

• Henry Slade and Guy Pepper recalled to starting XV

The South African-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg and the Saracens teenager Noah Caluori are both in line to win their first full international caps after being named as replacements in England’s matchday squad to face Fiji on Saturday. Both newcomers have been selected on the bench alongside the Bristol prop George Kloska who is also poised to make his Test debut.

The 29-year-old Janse van Rensburg, who qualified this week on residency grounds having previously been ineligible because of a brief age-grade appearance for South Africa in 2016, is the latest centre to be picked by head coach Steve Borthwick, who has already selected 17 different starting centre partnerships in his 46-Test tenure. “He’s willing to take the ball to the line and throw long passes into space, but also to get between defenders and use his physicality well,” said England’s defence coach, Richard Wigglesworth. “We’ve seen him play well in the Premiership … he’s been consistent for a long time now.”

Hawaii is America's Worst State for Business in 2026, even its legendary quality of life takes a dip

Hawaii, America's Worst State for Business in 2026, is trying to address one of the few disadvantages it can control: quality if life. It isn’t easy.

Arkansas is America's Most Improved State in 2026 as workers seek low costs, high quality of life

Arkansas is the Most Improved State for Business in CNBC's annual Top States rankings, as working-age adults are attracted by low costs and quality of life.

America's Top States for Business 2026: See the full rankings and where your state finished

CNBC's annual study puts all 50 states to the test across 138 metrics and 10 categories of competitiveness. These are America's Top States for Business.

Dangerous heat scorches southern U.S.

States in the southern U.S. are battling extreme heat. Kris Van Cleave has more.

Republicans ask WNBA to protect Caitlin Clark from possible ‘racially motivated’ attacks

• Clark has been on the end of hard fouls during career

• Black players routinely receive racist abuse in WNBA

Eleven Republican politicians have written to the WNBA asking the league to protect Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark from “multiple attacks” on court.

Clark has been on the receiving end of hard fouls since she entered the league in 2024 after a stellar college career with Iowa. Recently, the Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas hit Clark in the throat during a game. Thomas was not called for a foul at the time but the WNBA later suspended her for one game. Thomas and her family received racist abuse and death threats after the incident.

Swanning around and traditional fashion in Bolivia: photos of the day – Thursday

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

White House announces "Freedom Fuel" gas station selling $3.47 gasoline

The Freedom Fuel Network is offering gasoline for more than 30 cents a gallon below the national average.

Species’ ingenious survival strategies no match for human destruction, red list reveals

Newly endangered animals include desert frogs and snails in extreme ocean depths, both threatened by mining

Life has colonised every corner of the planet by evolving ingenious survival strategies but these are increasingly being overwhelmed by destructive human activities, this year’s red list of endangered species has revealed.

Many snails, limpets and clams have adapted to life at crushing depths in the oceans on hydrothermal vents where water temperatures can reach 450C (842F). But an assessment for the red list found that two-thirds of the hundreds of mollusc species found only on deep sea vents were at risk of extinction because of deep-sea mining.

Trump says Iran called to make a deal after U.S. strikes; adds it's unclear if war is back on

When asked whether the U.S. and Iran are returning to a full-scale military conflict, Trump responded: "I don't know."

Mosque effigy on loyalist bonfire in Northern Ireland condemned as ‘vile’

Amnesty says pyre to be burned on Friday in Moygashel is ‘blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred’

A loyalist bonfire in Northern Ireland featuring an effigy of a mosque has been condemned as an incitement to hatred.

The effigy sits atop a tower of pallets that is to be burned on Friday night in the County Tyrone village of Moygashel as part of wider loyalist commemorations. Placards beneath the display read “secure our borders” and “end the threat of radical Islam”.

Kia recalling almost 463,000 Tellurides that may catch fire in motion or parked

Kia America is recalling almost 463,000 Telluride SUVs from the 2020-2024 model years that could catch fire while being driven or parked, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says.

Here's who won — and lost — under Trump's "big, beautiful bill"

A year after President Trump signed the sweeping tax and spending package, its effects on households, businesses and federal programs are increasingly evident.

Meet SK Hynix, the trillion-dollar South Korean chipmaker debuting on U.S. markets

Following a more than sevenfold rally in its stock price over the past year, South Korea's SK Hynix is listing on the Nasdaq.

Popping the cork for crémant, the affordable alternative to champagne

As sales of sparkling wine continue to soar, one aromatic French fizz is worthy of particular appreciation

It was in the middle of the pandemic that I ceased stashing sparkling wine. There were no special occasions, or occasions at all, really, save for daily episodes of the BBC’s Baby Club with two cabin-fevered infants and the weekly thrill of a veg box. I might have been stockpiling chickpeas, but I was cracking bubbles open willy-nilly because, well, why not?

And I never stopped. The unrelentingly grim news agenda seems as good a reason as any to pop a cork these days, because sparkling wine invariably lifts my spirits. And I’m not alone in drinking more of it: according to a study by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, sparkling wine sales have grown faster than any other style in recent years, rising in value from €2.3bn to €8.5bn over the past quarter-century. (That said, I might be an outlier on the timing front, because 2020 figures also point to a dip in sales)

How to cook while camping, without a sausage or a marshmallow in sight

You don’t need any complicated kit to eat well while sleeping under the stars. Just take a stove, a spork – and these recipes

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Much as I love camping, I understand why so many recoil at the idea of spending their holidays sleeping in a field and sharing bathroom facilities with several hundred other people, plus the local spider population. But, having just enjoyed a week in Devon in a one-person tent, with an elderly terrier, I have to come out in praise of campsite cookery. Though we ate in some superb pubs, the meals that brought the most joy were the ones we threw together from the small village shops we passed. (Shout out to the Holne Community Shop and Tearoom for being so well stocked – and to the kind fellow shopper who gave me and the dog a lift back to the campsite with our loot.) It gave me pause for thought about the kind of meals you actually cook when camping … and by camping, I don’t mean sleeping in a van kitted out with a fridge and a cooker, nice as that looked while struggling with guy ropes. I mean when your only equipment is what you can carry on your back: ie a small gas stove or a disposable barbecue, a knife and a spork.

Joe Woodhouse has some lovely ideas here, and there’s plenty of advice in this collection of recipes from the likes of Ben Tish and Melissa Hemsley. But, for me, the trick is always to focus on one key ingredient that doesn’t need to be kept too cool (this will, of course, vary depending on where you’re camping), and base all your meals around it until it runs out, at which point you’ll need to track down a new one. Ours, on this trip, were chorizo – the cured, rather than the cooking kind – and feta. With those two flavour bombs, and the olive oil, chilli sauce and salt that should be on everyone’s packing list anyway, you can make a feast from almost anything you find en route. Claudia Roden’s spicy potatoes from Rioja would have been ideal, as would Thomasina Miers’ piperade with baked eggs and crispy chorizo, though we might have had to lose a couple of the spices in favour of Tabasco.

U.S., Iran trade fresh strikes as Trump says he's 'not sure' he wants deal

Centcom said it launched dozens of strikes on Iranian military infrastructure and small boats; Trump said the U.S. might take more military action "tonight."

PepsiCo earnings miss estimates as North American consumers tighten their budgets

PepsiCo reported weaker-than-expected quarterly earnings despite strong international demand.

Newcastle agree £51.5m Johan Manzambi deal and insist Bruno Guimarães not for sale

• Switzerland international poised to sign from Freiburg

• Guimarães wants to leave and is target for Arsenal

Newcastle have agreed a £51.5m deal with Freiburg that should see the versatile Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi swap the Bundesliga for the Premier League.

The 20-year-old, who has shone during this summer’s World Cup, is expected to sign a long-term contract at St James’ Park but the transfer will not be finalised while Switzerland remain in the World Cup. Manzambi, who has been widely coveted this summer, is struggling with a minor knee injury and Murat Yakin, Switzerland’s head coach, is unsure as to whether he will recover in time for the quarter-final against Argentina on Sunday.

Graham Platner ends Senate bid. And, why Nolan Wells' death captured national attention

Democrat Graham Platner ended his bid last night for U.S. Senate. And, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump has been enlisted to help get answers in the July Fourth weekend death of Nolan Wells.

Brian Potter, British songwriter behind hits for Glen Campbell, Take That and more, dies aged 87

Versatile Essex-born hitmaker known for Rhinestone Cowboy, It Only Takes a Minute and many more had been living with Alzheimer’s disease

Brian Potter, one of the most versatile and successful British producers and songwriters of his generation, has died aged 87. He had been living with Alzheimer’s disease in recent years, his daughter told Billboard.

Working with American songwriting partner Dennis Lambert, the Essex-born Potter was behind an astounding array of 1970s hits spanning pop, soul, soft rock, country and beyond. The best-known include Glen Campbell’s Rhinestone Cowboy, a US No 1 in 1975; It Only Takes a Minute, a barnstorming disco hit for Tavares and later Take That; Player’s super-smooth Baby Come Back, another US No 1; and Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got), one of the biggest hits for soul-poppers the Four Tops.

‘Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me?’ The story behind the iconic Norway v England commentary

Bjørge Lillelien’s famous rant after 1981 clash stemmed from Norwegian obsession with English football

What do Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper and Lady Diana have in common? On 9 September 1981 they were all beaten by Norway.

At least that is according to the iconic Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien. His triumphant, giddy and slightly unhinged rant after Norway beat England 2-1 in a World Cup qualifier has gone down in Norwegian folklore. It has also attained something of a cult status abroad, with the Observer declaring it in 2002 the greatest bit of commentary ever.

EU’s ‘unpleasant and dangerous’ border checks need overhaul, says Greek airports boss

Airports have had to use gazebos to shield passengers from sun as they wait to be processed, says Alexander Zinell

The boss of 14 Greek airports has called for a serious overhaul of the EU’s new border checks after having to erect gazebos for passengers queuing outside.

Alexander Zinell, the chief executive of Fraport Greece, joined a growing chorus of critics calling out “fundamental flaws” in the entry-exit system (EES), which requires non-EU passengers to have their fingerprints and photo taken at the start of their trip and verified every time they leave or re-enter the Schengen zone.

‘Is he a nice guy? No. He’s a good guy’: how Harry Kane became an England great

Figures who worked with striker in his formative years recall a self-belief – even when his talent did not stand out

There is another version of reality in which Harry Kane is not England’s greatest goalscorer but a goalkeeper. On his first day at Ridgeway Rovers, his first club, the coach Dave Bricknell asked whether anyone fancied going in goal. A six-year-old Kane threw up his hand – and he was pretty good.

“I thought I’d found a goalkeeper,” Bricknell says. “At that age, you don’t get many kids that don’t mind standing in front of a ball.”

US chemical accidents rising as Trump rolls back protections, report finds

Deaths and injuries up as critics condemn administration’s ‘appalling’ plan to gut federal disaster management system

The number of US chemical accidents is rising just as the Trump administration guts protections against the disasters, a new analysis of federal data by the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer) non-profit found.

The report found the number of chemical accidents, explosions, fires and other emergencies that release chemicals into the atmosphere was up by at least 51% since 2021. Deaths and injuries were up at least 20%.

Jack White: Frozen Charlotte review – brutal, squalid blues-rock that just about sells its own ridiculousness

(Third Man)
Following the superb No Name, White continues his fan service with stripped back songs and nasty, anarchic riffs – though it all ends up feeling a little samey

It’s a strange thing to say about one of the most prolific artists of his – or any – generation, but: Jack White has been undergoing something of a career renaissance of late. After firmly establishing himself as one of the most beloved and defining figures of 21st-century rock with his early-00s blues duo the White Stripes, White seemed to get bigger and bigger over the next decade-plus, releasing albums with well-liked side projects the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, dropping a couple of fine solo albums, and helping spark the music industry’s vinyl revival with his label and pressing plant Third Man Records.

But, at some point in the mid-2010s – around the release of his third solo album, 2018’s Boarding House Reach, let’s say – White’s influence and celebrity seemed to be outweighing his actual output, with rising pop stars like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo naming him a prime influence. Record plants the world over became backed-up, thanks to pop stars releasing dozens of gimmicky vinyl variants of their own albums, resulting in months-long delays for indie artists – hardly a problem White was responsible for (and likely one he himself was annoyed by), but certainly the result of a craze he had helped spark. At the same time, all the quirks and codes of White’s output – the specific colour schemes and sometimes arcane guiding opinions – threatened to overwhelm the immediacy and sharpness that had once been the core of White’s actual music.

Egypt’s World Cup ended in heartbreak but they gave the country reason to smile | Karim Zidan

For Egypt this World Cup was about more than football – it was the first glimpse of collective joy that Egyptians have enjoyed in 15 years

For nearly 15 minutes on Tuesday it seemed Egypt were about to complete one of the great World Cup upsets. The Pharaohs were up 2-0 against Argentina, the world champions. The goalkeeper, Mostafa Shobeir, had earlier saved a penalty to deny Lionel Messi an equaliser. Then, late in the second half, Argentina staged a remarkable comeback. Inspired by their talisman, they scored three goals in 13 minutes to book a spot in the quarter-finals, ending Egypt’s magical run.

The dramatic match transformed Egyptians’ triumph into heartbreak, and then into anger over what many regarded as a refereeing decisions that favoured Argentina. Yet amid the frustration, there was also a kindling sense of pride. When the Egypt team returned to their hotel in Atlanta, they were greeted by legions of fans who gathered to show their appreciation. It was an emotional reception, the players standing and applauding in a shared moment of gratitude – a reminder that, despite the heart-wrenching end, this team had given Egyptians their first glimpse of collective joy in 15 years, dating back to the 2011 Egyptian revolution.

England have redemption on mind for historic first women’s Test at Lord’s

Five days after T20 World Cup final misery tickets are selling fast for India clash in a rare fixture at the home of cricket

England’s historic first Test at Lord’s, which begins on Friday against India, will be the swansong for at least one great of the game, after Tammy Beaumont announced her retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.

It is possible that more retirements may follow at the end of the summer; after England lost last Sunday’s T20 World Cup final to Australia, head coach Charlotte Edwards said that “a lot of younger players are now staking a claim” and that she planned to review the situation after The Hundred. Beaumont, though, has chosen to get ahead of the pack and go into the forthcoming Test with the certain knowledge that it will be the last time she pulls on an England shirt.

From 'dear Donald' to 'Trump trillion': Inside NATO chief Mark Rutte's U.S. strategy

NATO chief Mark Rutte lavished praise on U.S. President Donald Trump during a fractious summit in Turkey this week.

Analysis: Some of largest ICE facilities haven't been inspected in over a year

Detention facilities are now inspected every year or every other year rather than twice a year, a CBS News analysis of inspection reports found.

1 year after Supreme Court limited broad injunctions, groups see shifting landscape

More than one year after the Supreme Court restricted the use of nationwide injunctions, groups challenging President Trump's agenda have relied on other mechanisms to broadly block his policies.

What is cyclosporiasis, the parasitic illness causing ‘explosive’ diarrhea?

Illness surging in Michigan and other US states is rarely life-threatening, CDC says – but it can have severe effects

Cases of cyclosporiasis – a parasitic illness that can cause “explosive”, watery diarrhea – have surged across the United States in recent days, health officials have said, with an abnormally large outbreak of almost 1,000 cases reported in Michigan.

Michigan typically reports about 50 cases a year, making the current outbreak the largest in the state’s history and one of the nation’s biggest in recent years. Ohio has also reported a sharp increase, with 177 cases as of 2 July, since the CDC’s last count.

Why are we so obsessed with Taylor Swift’s wedding? | Dave Schilling

With marriage rates in decline, the appeal of a big wedding that we can live vicariously is stronger than ever

Finally, after decades, I have something in common with Taylor Swift. It feels great to say that out loud, in public. No, I’m not famous, rich, particularly attractive, or a woman. I really, really can’t sing. Like, not even my karaoke is tolerable for human ears (dogs seem to be fine with it). No, our sole point of connection in the cosmic swirl of life is that we’ve both been married. I can’t compare this achievement to winning a Grammy or selling out Crypto.com Arena 16 times, but it has to be on the list somewhere.

My wedding did not come close to the upwards of $50m floated by People Magazine as the cost of Swift’s. We got the venue for free because my wife’s family owned it, which is its own sort of privilege. Lena Dunham didn’t attend, but I certainly sent enough invites. Still, getting someone to agree to tolerate you “till death do you part” is no small feat. Did we get divorced three years later? Of course. I can’t believe she dealt with me even that long. Will Taylor and Travis Kelce beat our record? Depends on how often he forgets to put the toilet seat down in one of their numerous homes across the country. That guy just seems like the sort to make that mistake regularly. Don’t ask me how I came to this conclusion. I trust my own eyes.

Dave Schilling is a Los Angeles-based writer and humorist

Trump immigration cuts could worsen US caregiver shortage, experts say

The loss of protections for Haitian and Syrian workers could worsen shortages of nurses, aides and home care workers

The Trump administration may remove the temporary protected status (TPS) of Haitians and Syrians in the US, the US supreme court ruled in late June – a move that will worsen America’s growing caregiver shortage, experts say.

The US is now experiencing its fastest increase in the aging population in more than a hundred years, and more than 20% of the US population will be 65 or older by 2030. But the population of caregivers has not grown at the same pace, leading to staffing shortages.

Bonnie Tyler, singer of ballad 'Total Eclipse of the Heart,' has died at 75

Tyler died "unexpectedly" in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated for an illness, her family said Thursday in a statement on her website.

Bonnie Tyler totally eclipsed her power-ballad peers, and created an astonishingly wide variety of pop

After hopping between country, disco and soft rock, Tyler found her groove with Jim Steinman-penned epics, shining through even the most overblown backing tracks

• News: Bonnie Tyler, 80s pop legend known for Total Eclipse of the Heart and more, dies aged 75
• From Swansea clubs to worldwide fame: Bonnie Tyler – a life in pictures

Bonnie Tyler had a peculiar career: two bursts of global success that seemed to have almost nothing to do with each other beyond the name that appeared on the records. Her first big British hits, 1976’s Lost in France and 1977’s It’s a Heartache, were superior examples of what writer Pete Paphides subsequently dubbed “medium wave pop”, the largely forgotten stuff that actually filled the charts and Radio One’s playlists at a time when reductive rock histories would have you believe the entire nation was gripped by punk. They were a little bit soft rock, a little bit country, a little reminiscent of reliable mid-70s hitmakers Smokie, and so catchy that no one seemed to notice that somewhere between their respective releases, Tyler’s voice had changed dramatically: possessed of a rather sweet tone on Lost in France, an operation to remove nodules on her vocal cords had caused her to develop a striking Rod Stewart-like huskiness by the time of It’s a Heartache.

It looked like It’s a Heartache would turn Tyler into a huge star: it sold 6m copies, and the accompanying album made the Top 3 on the US country chart. But said success proved difficult to sustain, compounded by the fact that her record label seemed bizarrely unsure what to do with her. Get her to cover Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, as on Louisiana Rain? Aim her squarely at the easy listening market via a version of Sometimes When We Touch? Encourage her to go disco, as on the fabulously camp (The World is Full of) Married Men?

Increase in racism during World Cup reflects ‘growing pattern of abuse’

Experts say rise in social media attacks on players such as Kylian Mbappé needs to be viewed in wider political context

• World Cup live – latest updates

As players in the World Cup shore up their tactics and hone their teamwork skills ahead of the quarter-finals, a chorus of voices have warned that the rise of divisive political rhetoric is translating into an intensifying challenge for players on the pitch: a surge in racism.

“There’s a huge issue,” said Samuel Okafor, the chief executive of Kick It Out, a UK-based organisation that seeks to tackle discrimination in football. “The political climate that we’re facing is clearly finding its way into football. And it’s making a huge difference in the levels of abuse we’re seeing – people are certainly being emboldened now more than ever.”

Neil the one-tonne elephant seal causing traffic jams in rural Tasmania has returned to sea – for now

Premier Jeremy Rockliff says the ‘traffic cones and street signs of Tasmania can breathe a small sigh of relief’

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

A one-tonne southern elephant seal named Neil, whose beachside antics have attracted millions of views on social media, appears to have returned to sea.

The five-year-old has spent several weeks at his usual twice-yearly haul-out spot in southern Tasmania.

VW faces protests in Germany over proposed job cuts and factory closures

Demonstrations at 18 sites set up as radical transformation plan put to board of Europe’s biggest carmaker

Volkswagen’s proposal to slash up to 100,000 jobs and close factories faces a major test on Thursday as they are formally put to its supervisory board, with protests planned at all plants in Germany.

IG Metall, the influential staff union, has organised demonstrations involving shop stewards and union council members at 18 sites at Europe’s biggest carmaker, including its headquarters. It told the chief executive, Oliver Blume, that he cannot “pass the buck for failures of recent years on to the workforce”.

Trump is bombing Iran again and blundering again. He has no grasp of his enemy | Sina Toossi

The president is behaving as if the battleground is the same, but it isn’t. Iran has leverage and knows it

And so to war. Again. After a ceasefire and a hiatus, Donald Trump is now into the second day of a new phase of bombing Iran, with the US military claiming to have struck 170 Iranian targets in the past 48 hours.

This is no surprise. Speaking at the Nato summit in Ankara this week, Donald Trump said he believed the US-Iran memorandum of understanding was “over”. He described Iran’s leaders as “evil, sick people” and threatened renewed military action and even a new blockade of Iranian ports, while also leaving the door open to further negotiations.

Sina Toossi is a senior non-resident fellow at the Center for International Policy, where his work focuses on US-Iran relations, US policy toward the Middle East and nuclear issues

‘A lot of art in Ireland was made by one type of man’: Richard Malone on taking his colourful fabric creations to the EU Council

As his bold yet delicate sculptures fill the glass buildings of Brussels for Ireland’s turn at the EU presidency, the Wexford artist discusses working with Björk, his decorator father – and one noisy horse

‘Just so you know,” says Richard Malone before we begin talking, “if you hear any neighing, it’s not me!” The Irish artist is speaking to me from an unusual studio space: a farm in Stradbally, County Laois. It may have the odd equine intruder, hungry for press coverage, but it also boasts huge lambing sheds – the perfect location for Malone to construct his latest five-metre sculptures.

“There’s lovely lambs everywhere and about 20 dogs running around,” he smiles. “Exactly what I’d choose to have around me.”

Bonnie Tyler, 80s pop legend known for Total Eclipse of the Heart and more, dies aged 75

Welsh singer and Eurovision entrant’s other hits included Footloose soundtrack smash Holding Out for a Hero

• Alexis Petridis on Bonnie Tyler: She totally eclipsed her power-ballad peers, and created an astonishingly wide variety of pop
• From Swansea clubs to worldwide fame: Bonnie Tyler – a life in pictures

Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh singer whose husky yet commanding voice made songs such as Total Eclipse of the Heart into 1980s classics, has died aged 75.

A message on her Facebook page reads: “Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for.”

A Florida airport is officially renamed for Trump. What does he stand to gain?

Trump is the first president to have an airport named after him while in office. The Trump Organization says he won't get royalties from the renaming, but legal experts see potential loopholes.

France national team uses ICE deportation planes for World Cup travel

The plane that French team used after match with Paraguay flew 44 deportation-related flights this year alone

The French men’s national soccer team, whose star Kylian Mbappé is one of the world’s most outspoken athletes against far-right politicians, has been using a charter airplane company that is at the heart of the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign.

Images of the team posted on social media and flight tracking data show the French team have used Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) for at least three domestic flights between their World Cup games and base camp in Boston. That same airline charter company has operated more than half of ICE’s removal flights in 2024 and 2025.

How England's class divide shaped Andy Burnham, the U.K.'s likely next prime minister

As mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham brought growth to the postindustrial city. Can he scale that nationally as the next prime minister?

New aviation mechanics graduate with jobs in hand, thanks to a labor shortage

Aviation is literally soaring in the U.S., with record passenger numbers. But with a generation of mechanics set to leave the workforce, the industry needs new graduates to fill the gap.

Morning news brief

Trump criticizes Iran's leaders and says ceasefire is over, Middle East countries prepare for the potential of more war as U.S. and Iran renew strikes, Graham Platner drops his bid for Senate.

Democrats search for new candidate after Platner announces he's suspending campaign

Democrats are searching for a new path forward in Maine after Graham Platner announced he was suspending his campaign for U.S. Senate.

PlayStation says it will stop making physical games – and that should worry us all

Sony’s announcement spells the end of a whole ecosystem built by superfan collectors – and signals a troubling shift in the industry

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Sony’s decision last week to quietly announce the end of physical games production for the PlayStation in 2028 is one of the most perfect PR disasters in recent gaming history – and considering what has been happening with Xbox, that’s saying something.

First, there was the timing. Sony posted the news of its decision on the PlayStation blog, less than a week after admitting that it would be deleting 550 movies from the digital libraries of PlayStation owners due to the end of a licensing deal – thereby perfectly illustrating the dangers of purchasing digital products. (Surprise! You never actually owned them!) The move is in stark contrast with the company’s stance on this very issue back in 2013. When Microsoft was attempting to push Xbox One as a digital-first console with strict controls on the sharing and reselling of its games, Sony brilliantly mocked its rival with a short video on how easy it was to lend physical games to pals on the PS4. Oh dear.

Venomous snakes escape breeding farms in southern China during flooding

Local media in Hengzhou report king ratsnakes and cobras among hundreds in flood waters caused by typhoon Maysak

Hundreds of snakes, including cobras, have escaped from flooded breeding farms in southern China as severe storms continue to batter parts of the country.

State media reported that a snake farm in Hengzhou, in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, was hit by flood waters after days of heavy rainfall caused by typhoon Maysak, prompting warnings for nearby residents.

Great Britain’s grid operator issues fresh warning over power supplies in heatwave

Neso asks for extra supplies from electricity generators to cope with added demand on Thursday night

Great Britain’s energy system operator has warned that “extreme temperatures” could hit power supplies on Thursday night, as the UK entered its third heatwave of the year.

The National Energy System Operator (Neso) issued a notice overnight asking for extra supplies from power generators to cope with the added demand from households turning on fans and air conditioners to cope with the high temperatures.

World Cup quarter-final (and beyond) predictions: will anyone derail France’s title bid?

With the World Cup down to eight teams, our writers assess who’s left, identify the biggest remaining threats to France and make calls on who will lift the trophy

Lionel Messi. As he proved in thrilling style against Egypt, Argentina’s No 10 still has magic in his boots even at the age of 39. While his penalty record of four from eight attempts is much worse than you’d expect, he is clinical when it matters most. EA

Egypt complains officials were biased in World Cup loss to Argentina

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said Wednesday it "cannot remain silent" after what it believes was unfair and biased officiating in Egypt's 3-2 round of 16 loss against Argentina on Tuesday.

Britain’s dysfunctional dynamic: the public wants change, but those in power always tell them it’s not possible | Andy Beckett

Whenever major reform is proposed the media, big business and Westminster quickly conclude it’s too expensive and disruptive. This doesn’t bode well for Andy Burnham

In an old, often anxious and conservative country, the perception of risk is a potent political weapon. If a policy or a project for reforming the UK seems too risky, or can be made to seem so by its opponents, then it can usually be quickly killed off. It can be added to the pile of possible futures that never occurred.

In politics as in life, riskiness is sometimes real. To see that Brexit or Britain’s involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq might not end well did not require huge foresight. Yet often the perception of risk is politically constructed: a reflection of powerful forces, their self-interest, and what they do or don’t want to happen.

Andy Beckett is a Guardian columnist

Team for now, not a squad for later – Spurs are spending big but what is it for? | Jonathan Liew

Tottenham’s strategies have changed over the years and this summer’s transfer splurge marks a sharp turn away from the Levy years

A couple of weeks ago, Sotheby’s in London concluded one of its biggest art auctions. In all, the sale of 25 modern and contemporary works raised almost £300m. Seated Nude With Necklace, by Modigliani, went for £41.5m; La Belle Promenade, by Magritte, went for £13.5m. And amid all the feverish commentary on the resilience of the London art market and the enduring appeal of post‑war pieces among the younger generation of collectors, one question above all presented itself: was this all for the benefit of Roberto De Zerbi?

Naturally, it would be premature to link the sale of a significant portion of Joe Lewis’s art collection to the lavish summer transfer spending of the football club he owns. But of course money is money, and in a summer where Tottenham Hotspur are spending an unprecedented £230m in the transfer market, funded in large part through cash injections from the Lewis family, the connections make themselves. Are Tottenham’s owners selling off the family heirlooms to pay for Jan Paul van Hecke? And on a wider level, what exactly are the Premier League’s 17th-best club playing at here?

You be the judge: should my friend stop expecting gratitude for splitting a freebie?

Gary got a free festival ticket and agreed to go halves on a full-price one for Rita, but now he won’t stop going on about it. He says calling it a favour is simply a fact. You decide who the party pooper is

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The way he presents it makes me feel as though I’m being a burden or that I now owe him something

Frump well and truly dumped: M&S to celebrate 100 years at London fashion week

Reputation for frumpiness is over as M&S wins over younger audience with shows at Silverstone, Ibiza and now LFW

This autumn’s London fashion week boasts plenty of familiar labels, from Burberry to Alexander McQueen, ready to show off their wares. But on Wednesday there was an unexpected addition: Marks & Spencer is joining the luxury lineup.

The British high-street retailer will celebrate its 100th anniversary in the fashion industry by staging a catwalk show in September highlighting its latest women’s and menswear collections.

Trouble Was by Charlotte Edwardes review – a sharp child’s-eye view of adult neglect

A young boy and his two siblings stay with their aunt in the West Country, in this haunting debut set over the long, hot summer of 1976

The summer of 1976 calls to my generation of novelists. We don’t remember it, but we remember the textures of daily life in that era, and a heatwave puts daily life under the kind of pressure that fuels fiction. In Guardian journalist Charlotte Edwardes’s first novel, Trouble Was, the scene is set by that heatwave with its attendant, escalating water shortage; the escalating marital and mental health crisis of the mother of three young children; a remote farm in the West Country. Though in some ways the pace is slow– not a criticism, the pace of school holidays with nowhere to go and nothing to do is also slow – the novel’s engines thrum from the first page.

Edwardes has taken the risk of a first-person child narrator, primary-aged Frank. Such figures are necessarily precocious – there’s a reason full-length novels by nine-year-olds are rarely written and never published – and tend to make demands on our suspension of disbelief, but in this case it’s convincing and compelling from the outset. The use of past tense helps, allowing both strikingly immediate observation and the feeling that the prose is in the steady hands of a remembering adult. Through the gap between Frank and the reader’s comprehension, the book conveys what the reader needs to understand about the adults’ lives. We know that most of the adults are also adulterers, that his mother’s mental illness is hereditary as well as situational, and that her efforts to fob off social services are just about adequate.

A brilliant and bonkers day out: how art and spectacle transformed a former Durham mining town

Bishop Auckland is abuzz with culture and family fun, thanks to the vision of Auckland Palace’s owners – and the new Kynren show featuring birds of prey, Viking raids and mythical beasts, which opens next week

Booming Hans Zimmer-style cinematic music reaches a crescendo, shaking my bones. Two turquoise macaws swoop within an inch of my hair and join a sky filled with nearly 250 birds. Hawks, kites, pelicans, and an owl soar and swoop around a pagan-looking wooden circle. Peacocks fuss at the makeshift river below, coaxed by two actors telling the story of humans’ relationship with nature. Grey clouds roll in, dark with rain. After all, we are risking an open-air performance in north-east England. I’m at a preview of Kynren: the Storied Lands, the latest gloriously unrestrained project in the market town of Bishop Auckland, 12 miles south of Durham.

I grew up near Bishop Auckland, which was once an important coal-mining and railway town. Last time I was here, its centre was dominated by discount stores. If, in 2003, you’d told teenage me that the high street would become an ode to art, history and culture, I would have laughed. Well, I would have grunted and turned up the Nu metal on my MP3 player.

‘Soul of the community’: Sabelo Mlangeni’s groundbreaking photography – in pictures

The South African photographer, whose images arise from being embedded in queer and rural communities, has been named the winner of the James Barnor prize

‘They said: wear angelic white’: British women who accused US airman of rape tell of American military trial

Two women who alleged they were raped by Tyrion Davis in Suffolk had to testify at an invasive court martial on a US base

Minutes after fleeing the home of an American airman, Rebecca called 999 in tears to report that he had raped her. She recalls vomiting at a police station in Suffolk as she described being repeatedly and violently attacked.

Officers took her to a sexual assault referral centre for an intimate examination. There, a nurse measured and photographed her injuries, including bruises and bite marks on her neck.

No evidence for ‘witches’ marks’ claims at old English buildings, historian says

Author argues symbols such as daisy wheels are no more than the working marks of stonemasons

Over the years, English Heritage and Historic England have claimed to have identified large numbers of “witches’ marks” or “ritual protection symbols” on the walls of historic buildings, including medieval churches and houses.

Now a leading architectural historian has said there is “absolutely no evidence” that these marks have anything to do with witches or any “mystical meanings”.

‘I’m left with a year of nothing’: UK gap year students lose thousands of pounds as tour operator closes

GVI shuts down without refunds for students booked on volunteer programmes with overseas conservation projects

UK students who paid thousands of pounds for summer and gap year placements on overseas conservation projects have lost everything after their eco tour operator shut down.

GVI, which offered volunteer and internship placements on wildlife and marine projects across the world, was continuing to advertise trips until it went into liquidation and removed its website on 1 July.

In Britain, Europe, the USA, almost everywhere – maxxing the all-you-can-eat buffet is the people’s sport | Emma Brockes

As the all-inclusive holiday has a revival, I recall honing my buffet talents at the Pizza Hut salad bar in the 1980s. It's skill and science: exhilarating

School’s almost out and the holidays are here, which means for millions of Britons we have arrived at the start line for what might be called our biggest annual event: Wimbledon and the World Cup are one thing, but the all-inclusive and all-you-can-eat buffet olympics remains, I would argue, this country’s strongest competitive sport. Arriving at Luton airport before dawn last year, my children walked past the bars and with the innocence of the American-born said, owl-eyed, “Are they drinking … alcohol?” They are, my darlings, and will continue to do so from first light in the terminal until the last coach leaves the resort.

This is how it is now. Since Covid, vacation trends in Britain have skewed increasingly towards formalising this country’s latent maximalist instincts when it comes to enjoying our holidays. Between 2023 and 2024, bookings for European all-inclusive resorts rose by 30%, and the latest figures from Abta suggest that a quarter of British holidaymakers will now opt for the all-inclusive – meaning bottomless canteen-style food and drink, which, no matter how much we paid for it up front, I defy any of us not to experience as “free”.

Emma Brockes is a Guardian columnist

‘I was a self-centred, entitled little horror ... arguably I still am’: cult psych rocker Robyn Hitchcock talks to Stewart Lee

Armed with a new album inspired by ‘dead English blokes’, the revered musician discusses writing nasty songs about his neighbours and how he’s finally made it in Nashville aged 73

‘I owe a lot to a dead man’s cock.” So begins the first song, a propulsive piece of Lennonesque powerpop called I Am This Thing, on The Confuser, the latest album by the 73-year-old English gentleman survivor of the 60s/70s frontline, Robyn Hitchcock. The album has been recorded by a crack team of session guys in Nashville, where Hitchcock lives and runs a boutique record label with his second wife, the Australian singer-songwriter Emma Swift.

“I’m not just some sort of old public school dilettante floating around the South Bank or whatever,” Hitchcock protests, unbidden. “Making it work in Nashville means I actually am a real musician songwriter in the real musician songwriter town. And I think, ‘OK, I actually did do this!’ I wanted to go to Nashville when I, as a 13-year-old boarding school boy, heard those Dylan records he made here. And a mere 60 years later, here I am!”

My holiday from hell: I went to Ibiza at 16 – and am still haunted by what I saw in a bathroom sink

I didn’t see being a couple of years away from technically qualifying for an 18-30s jaunt to be a problem. But the booze, humiliation and a ‘mystery pooer’ made me rethink my entire life

‘First the bad news,” yelled our lairy Irish club rep as the coach drove us from Ibiza airport to our hotel. “All the great clubs: Amnesia, Space, Pacha … they’re CLOSED!”

A confused silence descended. “But the good news?” he yelled. “We’re gonna have a fucking amazing time anyway!!!”

Teatime in Tbilisi: Georgia’s Soviet-era plantations brew up a renaissance

Georgia’s tea industry collapsed alongside the Soviet Union but is now reaching a luxury market

Rainclouds shroud the Caucasus mountains as the day’s harvest begins on a rural estate in western Georgia. A tea picker moves quickly between bushes with confidence, her hands plucking only the greenest, most recent growth on each plant.

When Pati began picking tea leaves as a teenager this was a collective farm in the Soviet Union – following its collapse it was abandoned and the bushes swallowed by the surrounding forest until new growers began cutting them free in the 2010s.

Graham Platner debacle puts Democrats in grave danger of blowing it in the midterms

The meltdown in Maine’s Senate race risks the Democrats’ opportunity to turn Trump into a lame duck president.

Two years ago Democrats had one job: stop Donald Trump from returning to the White House. It was the only thing that mattered, but with breathtaking political malpractice, they imploded.

This November Democrats have two jobs: win the House of Representatives and win the Senate to turn Trump into a lame duck president for his final two years. But once again the party, fond of warning that the stakes are existential, is in grave danger of blowing it.

Trump loses appeals court bid to delay paying E. Jean Carroll $5M in damages

Trump was held civilly liable in two trials for defaming E. Jean Carroll when he denied her claim he sexually abused her in a New York department store.

What to know about "explosive" diarrhea-causing parasite reported in several states

Michigan is experiencing its largest outbreak of a parasitic infection, called cyclosporiasis, that causes severe diarrhea.

Judge orders release of over $5 million due to E. Jean Carroll in Trump case

The damages were awarded to Carroll, a writer, by a 2023 jury in a civil sexual abuse and defamation case.

Suspect's roommate in Charlie Kirk killing given immunity for recorded statements

Prosecutors revealed that the roommate of the man accused of assassinating Charlie Kirk was given "use immunity" in exchange for providing recorded video statements to investigators about the case.

Graham Platner suspends Maine Senate campaign, maintains innocence

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner has suspended his campaign following sexual assault allegations. He has denied all claims. The 41-year-old announced his decision in a social media video on Wednesday. Caitlin Huey-Burns reports.

Platner quits Maine Senate race; Democrats set to pick new nominee

Maine Democrats must now replace Platner with less than four months until the midterm elections.

Toddler declared dead in pool accident found alive in hospital morgue

Two police officers saw possible signs of life, but the child was still taken to the hospital's "cold room" after being treated by staff, according to police documents.

How 3 kids convinced the Michigan House to change a law

Three brothers from Michigan have run a lemonade stand for the last three summers. After a local Michigan health department said their lemonade stand required a permit, they decided to fight it. Tony Dokoupil has the story.

New video shows how Arizona toddler was declared dead, but later found alive

Warning: Disturbing footage. New details and new video show how an Arizona toddler was declared dead hours before a hospital morgue discovered he was actually alive. Jericka Duncan reports on what officers tried to tell the doctor.

Powerful storms hit some states, while extreme heat and wildfires hit others

An outbreak of powerful storms is targeting 30 million Americans on Wednesday from the Rockies to the Carolina Coast. While triple-digit heat is adding to the misery, firefighters are battling nearly three dozen large wildfires out West. Rob Marciano is tracking it all and Kris Van Cleave reports on the heat emergency.

Ambassadorial appointments should be subject to veto by MPs, committee recommends

Foreign affairs select committee says Peter Mandelson episode was ‘nothing short of disastrous’ for government

Political selections for ambassador posts should be subject to a veto by MPs, a parliamentary committee has recommended, as it made damning criticisms of how Peter Mandelson became Britain’s top diplomat in Washington.

The foreign affairs select committee concluded that Mandelson’s appointment was “nothing short of disastrous”, “highly damaging” for the British government and “painful and offensive to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein”.

7/8: CBS Evening News

U.S. announces new strikes on Iran as Trump declares the ceasefire over; Mississippi family demands answers after missing teen found dead.

SpaceX stock closes below debut price at $148 in two-day slide after Nasdaq-100 inclusion

SpaceX's record IPO raised a total of $85.7 billion after underwriters exercised the "greenshoe" overallotment.

Meta is building its first big Canadian data center as AI expansion crosses the border

Meta is building its first big Canadian data center as AI expansion crosses the border.

Sons of man killed by ICE officer in Houston demand independent probe

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo worked for 35 years to send all three of his American citizen sons to college, his son said. He was shot and killed by an ICE officer on Tuesday.

Fed officials were split on direction of interest rates at last meeting, minutes show

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday released minutes from its June 16-17 meeting.

Trump loses latest appeals court bid to restore his name to Kennedy Center

The appeals court said Trump had failed to provide any evidence that the Kennedy Center's fundraising would be harmed if his name is not attached.

Pierpaolo Piccioli’s couture debut reimagines Balenciaga in his own colourful image

Italian designer brings sculptural silhouettes and playful palettes to storied house, while it is hats off to Giorgio’s niece at her second Armani Privé show

The house of Balenciaga takes haute couture very seriously indeed. Cristóbal Balenciaga was so horrified by the rise of mass-produced clothes that in 1968 he abruptly shuttered his brand and retired to his native Spain, announcing that “high fashion is mortally wounded”.

So Pierpaolo Piccioli, who now helms the house, approached the brief of his first Balenciaga couture collection conscientiously, despite having 25 years of experience at Valentino. At a preview, the haute couture war room where he worked on the show for nine months was plastered with images that ranged from a 1961 Balenciaga dress to Spanish golden age art – Zurbarán’s chic saints, Velázquez’s doll-like infantas – and a monumental Hepworth pierced megalith.