- Europeans warn Iran of UN sanctions if no concrete progress on nuclear issue Reuters
- France, UK and Germany would restore UN sanctions on Iran next month without progress on a deal AP News
- Iran faces August deadline to accept comprehensive nuclear deal or face renewed UN sanctions Fox News
- Iran faces stiff sanctions if no deal by end of August, U.S. and allies agree Axios
- Iran Makes Nuclear Threat Newsweek
North Korea bans foreign tourists to newly opened beach resort – ABC News
- North Korea bans foreign tourists to newly opened beach resort ABC News
- North Korea bans foreigners from seaside resort weeks after opening BBC
- Wonsan Kalma Beach Resort Hosts a High-Level Visit 38 North
- North Korea Bans Foreigners From Beach Resort After Lavrov Trip Bloomberg.com
- Kim Jong Un’s New Water Park Promptly Boots Out Tourists The Daily Beast
North Korea bans foreign tourists to newly opened beach resort – AP News
Grant Shapps defends use of superinjunction to suppress Afghan data leak
Shapps, defence secretary when the superinjunction was imposed, said its use was ‘entirely justified’ to save lives
The former defence secretary Grant Shapps has defended the use of an unprecedented superinjunction to suppress a data breach that led to the UK government relocating 15,000 Afghans.
The Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) was created in haste after it emerged that personal information about 18,700 Afghans who had applied to come to the UK had been leaked in error by a British defence official in early 2022.
Continue reading...Diane Abbott’s Labour suspension must be resolved ‘as swiftly as possible’, says minister – UK politics live
Treasury minister James Murray said Abbott’s claim that ‘this Labour leadership wants me out’ was ‘absolutely not the case’
Grant Shapps said he supported the publication of a defence assessment which formed the basis of the superinjunction over the Afghan data leak and he was “surprised” the gagging order had remained in place “so long”.
Asked whether he backed calls from the Intelligence and Security Committee for the report to be released, the former defence secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Yes I would.
Continue reading...Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time
Firm says technology used in El Eternauta is chance ‘to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper’
Netflix has used artificial intelligence in one of its TV shows for the first time, in a move the streaming company’s boss said will make films and programmes cheaper and of better quality.
Ted Sarandos, a co-chief executive of Netflix, said the Argentinian science fiction series El Eternauta (The Eternaut) is the first it has made that involved using generative AI footage.
Continue reading...Colbert says The Late Show will end after 33 years
Network CBS called it a financial decision tied to the "challenging backdrop in late night" TV.
After quitting government, Haredim launch scathing attacks on PM, national religious MKs – The Times of Israel
- After quitting government, Haredim launch scathing attacks on PM, national religious MKs The Times of Israel
- Netanyahu’s governing coalition is fracturing. Here’s what it means for Israel and Gaza AP News
- The Wheels Are Falling Off Netanyahu’s Government The Atlantic
- Ultra-Orthodox party quits Israeli coalition, weakening Netanyahu The Washington Post
- Israel's Protest Movement Failed to Break Through Netanyahu's Glass Ceiling Haaretz
Why thousands of Afghans were secretly relocated to the UK – podcast – The Guardian
- Why thousands of Afghans were secretly relocated to the UK – podcast The Guardian
- The U.K. government secretly relocated thousands of Afghans to Britain for 2 years NPR
- This fiasco didn’t start when Britain leaked Afghans’ names, but when we invaded their country | Simon Jenkins The Guardian
- How bad is Afghan data breach for MI6 and SAS? BBC
- The British people have been kept in the dark for two years The Economist
Israel says it ‘deeply regrets’ strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, pledges investigation – CNN
- Israel says it ‘deeply regrets’ strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, pledges investigation CNN
- Israel says it 'deeply regrets' deadly strike on Catholic Church in Gaza NBC News
- Cardinal brings aid to Gaza after Israeli strike on Catholic church Reuters
- Pope Leo calls for ceasefire in Gaza during phone call with Israeli PM Netanyahu Vatican News
- Catholic and Greek Orthodox leaders enter Gaza in rare solidarity visit after Israel's church strike AP News
Australian Base jumper James Nowland dies in competition accident in northern Italy
Perth man, 42, reportedly died on Wednesday after jumping from the peak of Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites region
An Australian who reportedly died earlier this week in an accident at a competition in northern Italy has been remembered as a much-loved member of the international Base jumping community.
James Nowland, 42, died on Wednesday after jumping from the peak of Sass Pordoi in the Dolomites region during the Pordoi Base race, Italy’s Ansa news agency reported.
Continue reading...First tickets to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sell out – a year before its 2026 release
The blockbuster adaptation of Homer’s epic has not finished filming and has no official runtime. But super fans – and scalpers – already have seats
The first tickets to Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s Odyssey have gone on sale – before he’s even finished filming it and a year before the film is even out, in what is likely the longest pre-sale in cinematic history.
The Odyssey, which stars Matt Damon as the cunning Odysseus as he fights his way home after the end of the Trojan war, will be released on 17 July 2026. But on Thursday, Imax released tickets to the first screenings at the 26 Imax cinemas around the world that have the staff and equipment required to project in 1570 format.
Continue reading...Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Moscow for second night in a row – The Kyiv Independent
- Ukrainian drones reportedly attack Moscow for second night in a row The Kyiv Independent
- Ukraine targets Moscow as Russia reports shooting down more than 140 drones ABC News
- Russia says it downed 73 Ukrainian drones, including 3 flying to Moscow Reuters
- Ukraine attacks Moscow with drones for 3rd straight night, Russian official says The Kyiv Independent
- Russia Says Ukrainian Drones Targeted Moscow, St. Petersburg The Wall Street Journal
French mural of Statue of Liberty covering her eyes in shame angers Trump supporters – France 24
Friday briefing: A ‘cruel and unlawful betrayal’ – why is the EU not doing more to sanction Israel?
In today’s newsletter: In failing to leverage its economic influence, the bloc is showing its threats are empty – and is breaking its own rules
Good morning. Before we get into the news of the day, a bit of housekeeping.
I’ve been away from the newsletter for a few months, but this isn’t the grand return I’m sure you’ve all been eagerly awaiting. Instead, this will be my last First Edition (cue sad music). After three and a half years, I’m moving teams to join the Guardian’s international desk. So, farewell readers! It’s been real and a proper privilege to be the first port of call for many of you each morning. Apologies for the countless times I’m sure you’ve opened your inbox, bleary eyed, to be greeted by some alarming event. You’ll be in excellent hands with my brilliant colleagues Aamna Mohdin and Phoebe Weston over the summer.
UK news | The voting age will be lowered to 16 across the UK by the next general election in a major change of the democratic system. The government said the reform would bring in more fairness as 16- and 17-year-olds already work and are able to serve in the military.
US news | Donald Trump said on Thursday he had directed his attorney general, Pam Bondi, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking case as he sought to tamp down controversy over a story published by the Wall Street Journal alleging he contributed a sketch of a naked woman to Epstein’s 50th birthday album.
Israel-Gaza | An Israeli strike has hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others, including the parish priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis.
Labour | Diane Abbott has been suspended from the Labour party for a second time after saying she did not regret her past remarks on racism. In a statement to Newsnight on Thursday evening, Abbott said: “It is obvious this Labour leadership wants me out. My comments in the interview … were factually correct, as any fair-minded person would accept.”
Sudan | Children in Sudan, caught up in what aid organisations have called the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and threatened by rising levels of violence, are increasingly vulnerable to deadly infectious diseases as vaccinations in the country plummet.
Continue reading...US House passes Trump plan to cut $9bn from foreign aid, public broadcasting
Along with Democrats, only two House Republicans voted against the cut
The US’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed president Donald Trump’s $9bn funding cut to public media and foreign aid early on Friday, sending it to the White House to be signed into law.
The chamber voted 216 to 213 in favor of the funding cut package, altered by the Senate this week to exclude cuts of about $400m in funds for the global PEPFAR HIV/Aids prevention program.
Continue reading...Jaguar Land Rover delays launch of new Range Rover Electric
Exclusive: Customers are told the carmaker is allowing more time for testing and for demand to pick up
Britain’s largest carmaker, Jaguar Land Rover, has delayed the planned launches of its new electric Range Rover and electric Jaguar models to give it time for more testing and for demand to pick up, the Guardian can reveal.
JLR has written to customers waiting for the Range Rover Electric to inform them that deliveries of the new version of the model will not start until next year, after initially aiming for late 2025.
Continue reading...Kill Russian soldiers, win points: Is Ukraine’s new drone scheme gamifying war?
The scheme allows Ukrainian troops to trade videos of confirmed kills on the battlefield for prizes.
Its U.S. funding cut, rights group flees Bukele’s El Salvador – The Washington Post
- Its U.S. funding cut, rights group flees Bukele’s El Salvador The Washington Post
- Top rights group leaves El Salvador after threats from its government The Guardian
- Facing threats, leading human rights group exits El Salvador NPR
- Why dozens of journalists and human rights leaders are fleeing El Salvador Los Angeles Times
- Human Rights Defenders Are Fleeing El Salvador as Bukele Cracks Down Rolling Stone
Trump orders officials to release Epstein court documents after mounting pressure
Trump's supporters and opponents alike have demanded more disclosures related to the disgraced financier.