More than 70 protesters across UK arrested for allegedly holding signs supporting Palestine Action

‘Dozens’ held after campaigners gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday, with demonstrations across the UK prompting police action

More than 70 people have been arrested across the UK in several demonstrations where references to Palestine Action were allegedly made, a week after the group was banned as a terrorist organisation.

Protesters gathered for the second week in a row in central London after police reiterated that showing support for the group was a criminal offence, resulting in the Metropolitan police making 42 arrests.

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X ordered its Grok chatbot to ‘tell like it is.’ Then the Nazi tirade began. – The Washington Post

  1. X ordered its Grok chatbot to ‘tell like it is.’ Then the Nazi tirade began.  The Washington Post
  2. xAI issues lengthy apology for violent and antisemitic Grok social media posts  CNN
  3. What AI bot started referring to itself as 'MechaHitler'? Find out in the quiz  NPR
  4. xAI apologized for Grok's 'horrific' rant, and blamed the chatbot's new instructions and 'extremist' X user posts  Yahoo
  5. Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok makes antisemitic posts on X  NBC News
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World Cup will use more indoor venues for day-time kick-offs to combat heat

  • Infantino acts after player welfare fears at Club World Cup

  • ‘Heat is definitely an issue. We have covered stadiums’

Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, has said indoor air-conditioned venues will be used as much as possible for day-time kick-offs at the 2026 World Cup to combat expected high temperatures. Concerns have been raised about player welfare during the Club World Cup in the US, which will co-host next year’s tournament with Canada and Mexico.

Enzo Fernández described conditions during Chelsea’s semi-final against Fluminense, when the temperature was 35C, as “very dangerous”.

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German castles and French megaliths become UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Euronews.com

  1. German castles and French megaliths become UNESCO World Heritage Sites  Euronews.com
  2. Germany updates: Bavarian castles join World Heritage list  DW
  3. The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee  UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  4. Fairytale palaces of ‘mad king’ could get world heritage status  The Times
  5. Bavaria's fairy-tale palaces granted world heritage status  Reuters
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President Announces 30% Tariffs on E.U. and Mexico – The New York Times

  1. President Announces 30% Tariffs on E.U. and Mexico  The New York Times
  2. Dow futures drop over 200 points after Trump slaps 30% tariff on Mexico and the EU: Live updates  CNBC
  3. Trump Tariffs: Which Countries Have Got Letters So Far?  The Wall Street Journal
  4. Here's a list of Trump's tariff letters so far and the rates they threaten  NPR
  5. US recession risk soars as Trump tariffs hammer households  The Telegraph
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UK police arrest scores of supporters of newly banned Palestinian protest group – Reuters

  1. UK police arrest scores of supporters of newly banned Palestinian protest group  Reuters
  2. Fifty-five arrests at Palestine Action ban protests  BBC
  3. More than 50 protesters across UK arrested for allegedly holding signs supporting Palestine Action  The Guardian
  4. More than 40 arrested at London protest in support of banned group Palestine Action  The Hill
  5. Huw Lemmey · Short Cuts: Who’s afraid of Palestine Action?  London Review of Books
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Rome recovery conference delivers unprecedented €11 billion boost to Ukraine – Euromaidan Press

  1. Rome recovery conference delivers unprecedented €11 billion boost to Ukraine  Euromaidan Press
  2. Concern that Ukraine will be split up casts shadow over reconstruction talks  The Guardian
  3. European leaders announce new equity fund for Ukraine and urge investment even as war accelerates  AP News
  4. Over $4 billion in new funds pledged for Ukraine's reconstruction after Recovery Conference, ministry says  The Kyiv Independent
  5. Zelenskiy calls for 'biting' sanctions on Moscow after Russia's largest drone attack on Ukraine  Reuters
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Texas Hill Country under flood watch as search continues for missing people

‘Locally heavy rainfall’ of 1-3in predicted as death toll from the Fourth of July flood rises to nearly 130 people

Texas Hill Country was back under a flood watch on Saturday, with the National Weather Service warning of “locally heavy rainfall” of 1-3in with isolated amounts close to 6in possible.

The flood watch, which continues through Sunday evening, comes as the death toll from the 4 July flood continues to rise – now at nearly 130 people - and authorities continue their search for the 160 more who are missing.

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More than $113,000 of rare Pokémon cards stolen in Massachusetts break-in

Owners of 1st Edition Collectibles in New Bedford say suspect broke in to courtyard and smashed window in door

More than $113,000 worth of rare Pokémon cards have been stolen from a Massachusetts shop, according to the store’s owners.

Officers responded to a reported break-in at 1st Edition Collectibles, a trading card shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on Tuesday. The break-in reportedly happened around 2.30am and the thief stole a handful of Pokémon cards including five to seven rare cards and a few vintage boxes.

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EU will be reeling over how to tackle trade talks after Trump’s 30% tariff threat

Bloc had already backtracked from tough talk to seeking a bare bones deal – but US president has turned tables again

Second-guessing Donald Trump is a fool’s errand.

But Saturday’s shock threat to impose tariffs of 30% on the EU is a blow to the bloc’s confidence, which had already secretly capitulated during negotiations with diplomats revealing they had to sacrifice trade for the wider prize of security and defence of the continent.

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US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports – Reuters

  1. US demands clarity from allies on their role in potential war over Taiwan, FT reports  Reuters
  2. China-Taiwan Weekly Update, July 11, 2025  Institute for the Study of War
  3. The 8-point buzzsaw facing any invasion of Taiwan  Responsible Statecraft
  4. Getting Inside the Mind of Xi Jinping  The Cipher Brief
  5. US demands to know what allies would do in event of war over Taiwan  Financial Times
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Jeff Lynne cancels final live show over health concerns

Electric Light Orchestra frontman withdraws from BST Hyde Park festival owing to a ‘systemic infection’

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) frontman Jeff Lynne has cancelled what had been billed as his final ever performance, owing to ill health.

Lynne was due to appear at the BST Hyde Park festival series on Sunday night, closing what had been the band’s farewell “Over and Out” tour, 55 years since the band formed.

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