The Guardian - 07.08.2026.pdf

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周五 7 August 2026 £3.50 订阅者 £2.40 起

卫报

剑桥大学在任命阿尔代时“释放了令人作呕的种族主义”

要求调查陷入剽窃争议的教授如何获得高职

理查德·亚当斯 (Richard Adams) 教育编辑

要求剑桥大学对该事件进行独立调查的学者认为，剑桥大学的领导层应对杰森·阿尔代被任命为教授而“释放的令人作呕的种族主义”承担责任。

《卫报》获悉，剑桥大学的高级学者们正在传阅一封联名信，要求调查阿尔代获得该职位的流程和情况，许多人认为大学想要通过一个“快速修复”方案来提高员工的多样性。

阿尔代在 2023 年被任命为教育社会学教授，当时年仅 37 岁，尽管与剑桥大学学术结构顶端类似讲席的获任者相比，他的研究和出版记录较为单薄。

在经历了超过一周关于其博士论文及其他出版物涉嫌剽窃的公开质疑、夸大其学术职位的指控、关于其声称为慈善机构筹集数百万英镑的争议不断，以及涉及蒙面袭击者甚至有人向其伦敦父母家中寄送猪头的离奇陈述后，他于周三辞职。

阿尔代原计划在未来几天于美国和英国出版其回忆录，并曾告诉《卫报》，其出版商西蒙与舒斯特出版社将就他非凡的背景故事向其支付“140 万”，该故事包括他直到 11 岁才能够说话。

剑桥大学的学者们希望任何调查都应包含外部成员并具有独立地位。他们指出，阿尔代职位的任命委员会存在问题，且阿尔代此前所在的大学教育学院内部也曾发生过争议。

剑桥大学英语学院后殖民研究教授、组织该信函的小组成员之一普里亚姆瓦达·戈帕尔表示：“一项独立调查必须审视，这样一个职业早期的人员是如何被任命到如此高级且享有盛誉的教授讲席上的，以及教育学院和大学管理层可能在哪些方面犯了严重的错误。”

她补充道：“无论调查结果如何，大学对这种令人作呕的”

英格兰每处水域均存在有毒污染

在对全国湖泊和河流的水质评估发现从微塑料到“永久性化学物质”等污染物的背景下，政治家被指责存在“沉默与不作为的共谋”。

新闻 第 6 页 →

米尔本：识别面临失业风险的学生

理查德·帕廷顿 (Richard Partington) 高级经济记者

一项政府审查将建议，英格兰的小学应被要求识别那些在 16 岁离开学校后可能无法找到工作的儿童。

领导英国青年失业危机审查的艾伦·米尔本表示，他将要求在教育政策方面进行全面改革，并对福利制度进行调整以解决这一问题。

在接受《卫报》采访时，他表示，部长们需要“让某人负责”识别并支持那些在普通中等教育证书考试（GCSE）年份后直到 24 岁期间，面临成为尼特 (未就业、未就学且未接受培训的人员) 风险的儿童。

“预警信号在非常早的阶段就出现了。坦率地说，从学前教育阶段就开始了，”他说。“因此，小学绝对应该识别那些有成为尼特风险的儿童。而中学和其他服务机构也应该”

照片：JACOB DE MATTERSON / TS

卫报 周五 7 August 2026 内页 07 / 08 / 26 每日四板块

特朗普威胁要将弹药短缺争议中“叛国”的官员投入监狱

大卫·史密斯 华盛顿分局局长

针对有关美国在与伊朗的战争中关键弹药短缺的报道，唐纳德·特朗普发表激烈言论，威胁要对泄露信息的官员处以长期监禁。

总统昨日声称，他的武装部队拥有“海量”弹药，且有更多弹药正在被制造并运往中东。特朗普在其 Truth Social 平台上写道：“国防公司正在建设我国历史上数量最多的工厂和车间”，但并未提供关于涉事具体武器的证据或细节。

他的这些言论是在一份报纸报道之后发表的。该报道称，在上周五于马里兰州总统度假地戴维营举行的一次内阁会议上，特朗普就所谓的短缺问题要求国防部长皮特·海格塞斯给出答案。

据《华盛顿邮报》引用两名熟悉此次交流的消息人士称，特朗普告诉海格塞斯，他觉得自己被误导了，因为他认为这个问题“已经解决了”。据称，海格塞斯为自己辩护，并试图将责任推给他的副手斯蒂芬·费恩伯格。

总统昨日愤怒地回应了《邮报》的报道，指责媒体传播“叛国言论”，并警告相关责任人将被追究。他写道：“这些叛国言论的‘泄密者’正在被追捕。我们将寻求长期监禁！”

CNN 则在另一篇报道中称，远程制导导弹和防空拦截弹的短缺限制了特朗普在冲突中的战略。该网络称，美国已“几乎耗尽了 80%”的末端高空区域防御（THAAD）拦截弹库存。

《邮报》还报道称，对供应日益减少的担忧促使特朗普取消了对伊朗的进一步袭击，尽管他此前多次威胁要“非常强硬”地打击该国。

“国会需要采取行动。美国人需要真相。海格塞斯无法提供。他必须离职。” 乔·斯卡伯勒 前国会议员

白宫和五角大楼否认了这些指控。白宫新闻秘书卡罗琳·莱维特在 X 上将戴维营交流的描述称为“假新闻”。她写道：“我当时与特朗普总统和海格塞斯部长在一起在戴维营。这件事根本没有发生。”

为了平息关于海格塞斯前途的猜测，莱维特坚持认为：“总统很喜爱这位部长，并认为他做得非常出色。”

五角大楼首席发言人肖恩·帕内尔驳斥了关于特朗普与海格塞斯发生冲突以及武器短缺的报道，称其“同样是虚构的”。

帕内尔补充道：“海格塞斯部长哪儿也不去，他将继续与副部长费恩伯格并肩工作，以执行唐纳德·特朗普总统的议程，加强美国的国防工业基础，并确保我们的战士拥有威慑和击败任何对手所需的所有能力。”

这一日益公开的争端发生之时，正值特朗普寻求在战争进程中展现信心之际。周日，鉴于关于霍尔木兹海峡的新谈判，他声称自己曾下令并随后取消了“二战以来最大规模的袭击”。

尽管总统声称德黑兰渴望达成协议，但伊朗外交部否认了谈判正在进行的说法。

五角大楼因操纵美国伤亡数字以及未能就战争举行定期新闻发布会而面临批评。

海格塞斯曾是福克斯新闻的主持人，他将自己定位为“战争部长”，上个月宣布了一项针对美国军队“睾酮缺乏”的筛查计划。

MS Now 主持人、前共和党国会议员乔·斯卡伯勒（Joe Scarborough）在 X 上发帖称：“当赫格塞斯将媒体关于此次极端弹药短缺的质疑攻击为‘假新闻’时，他让这个不可原谅的错误变得更加糟糕。国会需要采取行动。美国人需要真相。赫格塞斯无法提供真相。他必须下台。”

Restore党的洛夫拒绝说明查尔斯国王是否为“白人英国人”

Caroline Davies

Restore Britain 的领导人鲁珀特·洛夫（Rupert Lowe）在昨天接受 BBC《今日》（Today）节目的一次非同寻常的采访中，拒绝说明他是否认为查尔斯国王可以被归类为“白人英国人”。

在就洛夫声称“白人英国人将在 2063 年成为少数群体”这一观点进行质询时，这位 Radio 4 节目的主持人尼克·罗宾逊（Nick Robinson）指出，洛夫所引用的预测将“白人英国人”定义为父母双方均在英国出生的人。由于国王已故的父亲菲利普亲王出生于希腊的科孚岛，罗宾逊询问洛夫：“你是否意识到，根据该特定报告中所使用的定义，查尔斯国王并不是一名白人英国人？你认为他是一名白人英国人吗？”

洛夫回答道：“嗯，尼克，很多人对此有不同的解读。我的意思是，我们可以纠结于细节。”

罗宾逊说：“我们不是在纠结细节——你认为这个国家的君主是一名白人英国人吗？”

洛夫说：“我们所讨论的这种体验是非常清晰的，我认为大多数英国人如果你去问他们，他们会同意的。”

▲ 鲁珀特·洛夫称“白人英国人”将在 2063 年成为少数群体

在被指责回避问题后，他继续说道：“一个事实是，按照目前的趋势，到 2063, 白人英国人将成为少数群体。我认为没有人对此有异议。”

由于洛夫继续拒绝给出直接回答，罗宾逊说：“所以，因为菲利普亲王出生在希腊，根据你的定义，查尔斯国王不被视为一名白人英国人。现在让我继续问你另一个问题。”

洛夫说：“我来这里表面上是为了讨论我们刚刚发布的经济文件，以及关于奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）的问题，而你却成功地将其变成了关于

▲ 查尔斯国王与其已故父亲菲利普亲王（出生于科孚岛）的讨论，讨论英国人、白人英国人在 2063 年成为少数群体的问题。”

奈杰尔·法拉奇曾表示，Restore Britain 可能会给他的政党改革英国党（Reform UK）带来“巨大的伤害”。被改革英国党开除的洛夫在周一的一段视频信息中表示，他与法拉奇应该搁置分歧并合作，“以摧毁迫在眉睫的左翼联盟”。

他在视频信息中说，他已经做出了“真诚”的努力，以“诚意”接触法拉奇，并补充道：“目前为止，我在周日上午 10.30 收到过一条来自奈杰尔的信息，说：‘稍后回电。’而现在，他在新闻发布会上说他在等我的电话。”

在《今日》节目中，罗宾逊多次要求洛夫提供证据，证明“英国，用你的话来说，正朝着成为一个伊斯兰国家而受苦”。他指向了 Restore 的一份“219 页的强奸团伙调查报告”。洛夫表示，BBC 完全没有报道过这份报告，并补充道：“如果你有足够的知识欲望去阅读这份报告，我认为你甚至不需要问我这个问题。”

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2026 年 8 月 7 日，星期五 卫报新闻

不再是“匿名”。艺术侦探如何让女性艺术家的作品成为主角

乔安娜·穆尔黑德（Joanna Moorhead）

弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫曾说，“匿名”者往往是女性。2022年的某一天，辛西娅·奥西基（Cynthia Osiecki）在奥斯陆的挪威国家博物馆储藏区偶然发现一幅未署名的静物画时，也产生了同样的想法。

奥西基当时一直在研究 17 世纪著名的弗兰德斯艺术家克拉拉·皮特斯（Clara Peeters）的作品，她是静物画最早的实践者之一。皮特斯的作品被收藏在马德里的普拉多博物馆、牛津的阿什莫林博物馆和纽约的大都会博物馆。

这幅位于奥斯陆的画作《带银瓶的静物》（Still Life with Silver Vase）创作于 1620 年左右，画面中出现了九只刚死掉的鸟、榛子、杏子，以及一只停在葡萄串上的一只苍蝇。它曾被认为是安特卫普著名艺术家家族成员安布罗修斯·布鲁格尔（Ambrosius Brueghel）的作品。但在 20 世纪初，该作品的归属被重新评估，并被重新分类为“匿名”作品。随后，它被移至储藏室。

奥西基开始思考，这幅作品——其中一些细节已被多层清漆遮盖——是否可能出自皮特斯之手。皮特斯是一位神秘但多产的艺术家，她拓展了北欧巴洛克时期静物画的边界。

奥西基开始将这幅作品与这位画家的其他作品进行对比，皮特斯被认为于 1594 年左右出生在安特卫普。

“我查看了奥斯陆这幅作品所使用的画板，发现它来自皮特斯经常使用的供应商，”她说。“然后我查看了皮特斯的其他画作，我注意到其中一些画作中有一个 tazza（一种带底座的碟形盘），与奥斯陆画作中的那个非常相似。”

奥西基还注意到，死鸟、葡萄和榛子在构图中的摆放方式也具有相似之处。

不过，有一个问题是，皮特斯以在作品上签名而闻名，而奥斯陆的这件作品没有签名。但画板曾被蛀虫损坏，被蛀掉的部分正是作品的底边——而这正是皮特斯通常签名的地方。

这幅画作越来越像是皮特斯的作品，但拼图还缺少一块。

皮特斯以在作品中加入微型自画像而闻名，通常是她在锡器、玻璃制品或光亮的蔬菜水果中的倒影。

“我在一些葡萄上看到一个形状，仔细观察后我意识到它们看起来像人物的轮廓，”奥西基说。“这可能是艺术家本人，而且这个图像可能在修复过程中丢失了。”

今年，这幅画作被正式重新归属为皮特斯的作品。它将成为由奥西基策划、于 10 月 8 日在挪威国家博物馆开幕的“女性画家”展览中的明星展品之一。

该展览展出了 1550 年至 1650 年间在北欧和意大利活动的女性艺术家的作品，包括阿尔特米西亚·真蒂莱斯基（Artemisia Gentileschi）、拉维尼亚·丰塔纳（Lavinia Fontana）和朱迪思·莱斯特（Judith Leyster）以及克拉拉·皮特斯在内的 19 位艺术家的绘画。

奥西基表示，皮特斯以反映世事无常的细腻静物画而著称。

“她的绘画，包括这幅新归属的作品，都在探讨生命的短暂。我们看到刚死掉的鸟，它们将成为人类盛宴的一部分；以及很快会被吃掉或腐烂的葡萄。尽管作品中包含像 tazza 这样奢侈的物品，但皮特斯想要表达的是，当你死去时，你什么都带不走。最终我们都是平等的。”

挪威国家博物馆展览与收藏总监诺拉·塞西莉达特·内德鲁姆（Nora Ceciliedatter Nerdrum）表示，这次重新归属的作品证明了艺术史正在扩展，将那些作品被遗失或被忽视的女性纳入其中。近年来，欧洲的主要博物馆一直致力于举办女性作品展——2016年，皮特斯（Peeters）成为首位在普拉多博物馆举办个展的女性。内德鲁姆认同，纠正艺术史经典中缺失女性的探索始于从仓库中找回已知的女性作品；而现在，人们正在寻找那些作品被标记为“匿名”的女性。“请关注这个领域，因为未来还会有更多此类发现，”奥谢茨基（Osiecki）说道。“我们观察得越多，进行的档案研究越多，我们将发现的女性就越多。”

爵士乐俱乐部 Blue Note 将于下月在英国开设首家场馆

卡罗琳·戴维斯 (Caroline Davies)

世界著名的纽约爵士乐俱乐部 Blue Note 将于下月在伦敦开设其首家英国场馆。该俱乐部将位于科文特花园圣马丁巷酒店的地下室，承诺将呈现英国爵士乐的精华以及世界级的国际艺术家，其节目单将涵盖新兴人才和资深名家。

Blue Note 成立于 1981 年的格林威治村，随后扩展至美国各地以及日本、中国、巴西和意大利。格莱美奖得主、美国钢琴家、制作人和词曲作者罗伯特·格拉斯珀 (Robert Glasper) 将在 9 月 23 日的盛大开业典礼上担任领衔演出，以纪念具有影响力的美国萨克斯管演奏家、乐队领队兼作曲家约翰·科尔特雷恩 (John Coltrane) 的诞辰一百周年。

格拉斯珀表示：“伦敦拥有 。这里对突破边界的音乐有着深厚的喜爱，而 Blue Note 始终是这种精神的家园。”

“开设这家新俱乐部是为了创造一个让爵士乐、R&B、嘻哈以及两者之间的一切风格能够相遇、演变并给人们带来惊喜的空间。”

“我很兴奋能在伦敦打造一个感觉亲密、无畏且充满活力的空间——一个艺术家可以大胆尝试，观众可以近距离体验音乐的地方。”

该场馆将设有两个表演空间。其可容纳 250 人的主厅每晚将举办两场演出，周一至周六开放至凌晨 1 点，周日开放至午夜。首轮演出的门票将于 8 月 14 日公开发售。第二个可容纳 100 人的房间 B-Side 将于今年晚些时候开业，旨在支持英国的新兴人才。

Blue Note 娱乐集团的共同所有者齐翁·本苏桑 (Tsion Bensusan) 将此次开业描述为

▲ 2013 年在格林威治村 Blue Note 的爵士鼓手罗伊·海恩斯 (Roy Haynes) 一个“重要的里程碑”，并补充道：“伦敦一直是世界上伟大的音乐之都之一，拥有非凡的爵士乐传承和极具多样性的创意社区。”

“我们希望伦敦 Blue Note 能不仅仅是一个场馆，而是一个音乐家的家园，一个社区的聚集地，以及伦敦文化景观中不可或缺的一部分。”

演出和驻场嘉宾将包括新灵魂乐歌手 Erykah Badu，爵士流行钢琴家兼词曲作者 Jamie Cullum，屡获殊荣的萨克斯管演奏家兼作曲家 Nubya Garcia，鼓手 Yussef Dayes，Afrobeat 组合 Kokoroko 以及说唱歌手 Hak Baker。

--- 4 National

莱比锡无人机炸弹曾靠近载弹飞机

Deborah Cole 柏林

德国官员表示，在莱比锡机场发现了一架携带爆炸物的无人机，一场灾难可能因此被勉强化解。目前，官员们正在调查是否有外国政府在幕后策划此次阴谋。

根据公共广播公司 WDR、NDR 以及《南德意志报》引用的一份机密警方报告，在发现炸弹无人机的地方，旁边的一架乌克兰飞机装载了军用弹药。内政部长亚历山大·多布林特（Alexander Dobrindt）周三警告称，德国面临着“新级别的危险”，他表示，在这个运输和军事枢纽的停机坪上，只有由于一个显然被“撕裂”的引信才防止了该装置在乌克兰货机附近爆炸。

据称，这些装满喷气燃料且具有高度爆炸性的乌克兰货物不久前刚从法国运抵莱比锡。该机场距离莱比锡市中心约 13 英里。该设施拥有一个大型货物处理中心，数百人全天候在此工作，且毗邻两条高速公路。

《图片报》报道称，在乌克兰飞机附近发现的无人机配备了一个失效的手制远程引信，调查人员希望这能为追溯其来源和罪犯提供线索。

莱比锡机场作为北约和德国军事物流枢纽，以及乌克兰安东诺夫航空（Antonov Airlines）在欧洲的基地，使得怀疑指向了俄罗斯。德国议会情报委员会成员罗德里希·基泽韦特（Roderich Kiesewetter）直接指责俄罗斯。

“我认为俄罗斯策划的混合攻击对德国构成的威胁是严重的，”来自共同执政的基民盟（Christian Democrats）成员基泽韦特表示。“我还认为，莱比锡机场的无人机袭击企图是一次有针对性的混合攻击——换句话说，是由俄罗斯策划的一次恐怖主义企图。”

一名机场工作人员在周二午夜前不久发现了这架在地面两架飞机之间“盘旋”的无人机。

▲ 一名携带排爆机器人的警方调查员在莱比锡机场

安东诺夫航空 An-124 货机，是全球最大的货机之一。警方表示，被德国视为“关键基础设施”的机场无人机防御传感器系统未能捕捉到该无人机。

多布林特告诉记者，该无人机似乎经过改装以规避电子检测。根据 WDR-NDR-《南德意志报》的报道，它连接着一个大约拳头大小的爆炸物包裹，调查人员表示，内部物质被认为是 Semtex，一种强力塑料炸药。

无人机的发现导致机场暂停了航空交通，迫使一架从马赛起飞的 DHL 货机在进场时重新起飞。随后，该飞机与据信是第二架无人机的物体相撞。

媒体报道称，该飞机在向西北约 155 英里外的汉诺威紧急着陆前，也携带了未指明的“危险货物”，飞机受损轻微。《图片报》称，撞击 DHL 飞机的无人机配备了一个用于拍摄袭击过程的摄像头。

周三，该机场南跑道的航空交通被分流，但昨日已恢复正常，未报告采取额外的安全措施。

根据官方记录，自 2022 年 2 月俄罗斯全面入侵开始以来，乌克兰一直将莱比锡机场作为运输军用物资的替代地点。德国国防部官员表示，事发时该国武装部队并未在机场进行军事运输行动。

北约誓言向乌克兰提供防空系统，因俄罗斯加强空袭

卫报工作人员

北约秘书长表示，北约正致力于为乌克兰争取其“迫切需要”的防空系统。此前，基辅在周三的一次袭击中未能击落一枚俄罗斯导弹；同时，弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基警告称，莫斯科正寻求在冬季前大幅增加导弹产量。

在一次关于冬季韧性的国家安全和国防委员会会议上，这位乌克兰总统并未排除这样一种可能性，即西方盟友拖延导弹供应是“旨在让乌克兰在与俄罗斯的和平谈判中，可以说，更愿意妥协”。

在与北约秘书长马克·吕特会面后，泽连斯基表示：“消除所有繁文缛节并做出必要的政治决定至关重要。在乌克兰，每天人们的生命都取决于欧洲和美国伙伴的决心。”

俄罗斯在昨晚的一次袭击中发射了 24 枚弹道导弹，造成至少 17 人死亡。乌克兰空军的初步数据显示，其防空系统击落了俄罗斯昨晚发射的 115 架无人机中的 98 架，但没有击落任何弹道导弹。

泽连斯基表示，今年上半年，乌克兰盟友提供的防空导弹供应量已跌至 2025 年水平的三分之一。总统还警告称，随着冬季临近，莫斯科正寻求大幅增加弹道导弹的生产，预计届时将重启针对乌克兰能源部门的攻势。

乌克兰总统国防技术发展顾问塞尔希·贝斯克列斯特诺夫估计，俄罗斯每月有能力发射 100 枚弹道导弹，用于攻击物流枢纽、工业设施、食品店和仓库。他在 Telegram 应用程序上表示：“消耗战已进入下一个阶段。”

自战争开始以来，乌克兰一直缺乏能够击落俄罗斯弹道导弹的美国制“爱国者”拦截弹。但近几周情况显然变得极其短缺，仅在 7 月份，莫斯科大约每三天就袭击一次基辅。

泽连斯基表示，拦截弹短缺主要是由中东战争引起的。据乌克兰空军称，“爱国者”导弹系统是乌克兰服役系统中唯一能够拦截俄罗斯“伊斯坎德尔-M”、S-400 和“锆石”导弹的系统。

俄罗斯经常将弹道导弹与巡航导弹、无人机和诱饵结合使用，迫使防御者跟踪多种威胁并节省稀缺的拦截弹，但乌克兰表示，其电池组和拦截弹数量过少，无法实现有效自卫。

由于美以在伊朗的战争消耗了大量“爱国者”及其他拦截弹，拦截弹短缺问题变得更加严重。美联社的一项分析估计，自战争前以来，美国的“爱国者”库存已下降至少 65%。

生产无法立即弥补这一缺口。洛克希德-马丁公司在 2025 年交付了 600 多枚最新型号的拦截弹，并致力于在 2030 年底前将年产能提升至 2,000 枚。但根据一些估计，海湾国家在伊朗战争的前三个月里总共发射了 1,100 多枚拦截弹。

北约表示，欧洲首个“爱国者”导弹生产设施预计将于 9 月在德国启用。在上个月的一次北约峰会上，唐纳德·特朗普表示，美国将向乌克兰提供生产“爱国者”导弹的许可。大约三周后，他表示自己尚未做出最终决定。

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Z 世代耳语者 BBC 聘请 26 岁员工以争夺观众

“几乎超人般” 阿科斯塔的演出是一场芭蕾般的盛宴

国家

回归自然 剑桥大学国王学院使用传统方法收割其野花草甸。2020年，该学院将国王学院礼拜堂后方1720年代的后草坪（Back Lawn）的一部分替换为一片生物多样性田野，该田野于8月进行刈割、干燥和打包。

科学家首次利用AI设计病毒，引发安全担忧

伊恩·桑普尔 (Ian Sample) 科学编辑

科学家们首次制造出由人工智能设计的病毒。这一里程碑式的进展在为新药研发带来希望的同时，也引发了关于如何确保该技术保持安全的担忧。

这些病毒是被称为“噬菌体”的特定种类，它们仅感染细菌，在全球范围内被用于治疗患有持续性感染的患者。在实验室测试中，由AI设计的病毒组合杀死了对天然噬菌体具有耐药性的大肠杆菌。

加利福尼亚州斯坦福大学的化学工程师布莱恩·希 (Brian Hie) 博士使用了基因组语言模型（相当于AI聊天机器人背后的语言大模型在遗传学领域的对应物）来为噬菌体设计可运行的基因组。随后，这些病毒在实验室中被制造出来，并在培养皿中与大肠杆菌进行对抗。

研究人员在《科学》(Science) 杂志上写道，“快速设计”基因组并针对特定细菌进行调整且能克服耐药性的能力，可能会“改变噬菌体疗法”并“扩展生物技术工具箱”。

但除了潜在益处外，科学家们表示，这项工作引发了“重要的生物安全、生物遏制和生物安保考量”，并敦促其他设计完整基因组的人员在“整个项目过程中咨询安全和安保专业人士”。

在随附的一篇文章中，巴尔的摩约翰·霍普金斯大学健康安全中心的汤姆·英格尔斯比 (Tom Inglesby) 教授和莫里茨·汉克 (Moritz Hanke) 博士表示：“虽然这对于生命科学应用来说前景光明，但它也提出了紧迫的生物安全和生物安保问题。利用生成式AI构建病毒基因组的能力现在已经存在；但安全引导该能力的治理机制尚不存在。”

希及其同事使用了名为 Evot 和 Evot2 的AI模型来设计新的病毒基因组。

“考虑到仅仅利用现有病原体并对其基因组进行功能增强改造要简单得多，且更有可能成为真正的病原体威胁，那么由AI完全设计和编写病毒或细菌基因组的威胁被大大夸大了。” 汤姆·埃利斯 (Tom Ellis) 帝国理工学院伦敦分校

这些模型基于200万个噬菌体的遗传数据进行了训练。为了降低设计出危险病毒的风险，能够感染植物、人类或其他动物的病毒遗传代码被刻意排除在AI的训练之外。

AI生成了数千个潜在基因组，研究人员从中选择了近 300 个在实验室中制造。这些基因组被注入细菌中，细菌读取遗传代码并产出新的噬菌体。

这一过程效率不高：仅有 16 个噬菌体被证明具有活性，但它们的组合迅速克服了两种不同大肠杆菌菌株的耐药性。

噬菌体基因组非常小，但英格尔斯比和汉克表示，这项工作仍然证明了生成式AI可以创建可运行的病毒基因组。

目前尚不清楚同样的方法是否可以应用于其他病毒，但他们表示，不应开展针对可能感染人类、动物或植物的病原体的研究。他们写道：“此类基因组可能会编码新的病原体……现有的应对措施无法将其遏制。”

帝国理工学院伦敦分校合成基因组工程教授汤姆·埃利斯表示，这项工作令人印象深刻，但揭示了制造复杂基因组的难度之大。他说：“这简直是最小且最容易制造的基因组。”

埃利斯说，一个基于危险病原体遗传代码训练的AI可能会被用来设计更具危害性的病毒，但控制对遗传数据的访问以及限制制造看起来危险的基因组将会有所帮助。

“但坦白说，”他说，“当我们考虑到仅仅利用现有病原体并对其基因组进行功能增强改造要简单得多，且更有可能成为真正的病原体威胁时，由AI完全设计和编写病毒或细菌基因组的威胁被大大夸大了。”

安德鲁告知法院，涉嫌跟踪者在其住所附近追逐他 PA Media

法院获悉，安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎（Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor）表示，他曾与一名戴着巴拉克拉法帽（balaclava）的涉嫌跟踪者面对面，对方在他位于桑德灵厄姆（Sandringham）的住所附近追逐他。

39 岁的亚历克斯·詹金森（Alex Jenkinson）被指控在 5 月 6 日对这位前约克公爵使用了威胁性、辱骂性或侮辱性的言语或行为。萨福克郡警方还在申请针对詹金森的跟踪保护令，其依据是蒙巴顿-温莎提供的证据以及对詹金森手机的搜查结果。

在昨天于威斯敏斯特治安法院宣读的一份缺席声明中，蒙巴顿-温莎表示，当他在诺福克郡的庄园里遛狗时，他发现了一辆他认为属于新闻摄影师的汽车，随后他和他的安保人员“开车经过了那辆车”。

他说，一名男子“转身面对我——他戴着巴拉克拉法帽面罩”。蒙巴顿-温莎将其描述为一个“格格不入”的男人，并补充道：“然后看到一只脱缰的狗向他跑去。接着他意识到我是谁，并开始向我的车辆冲刺。”

詹金森被指控在沃尔弗顿（Wolferton）的一次冲突中，导致这位前约克公爵“担心遭受非法暴力”，该地靠近蒙巴顿-温莎的马什农场（Marsh Farm）房产。

詹金森否认该指控，并对另一项指控也表示不认罪，该指控称其在 5 月 5 日于金斯林（King's Lynn）使用威胁性、辱骂性或侮辱性的言语或行为，意图引起另一名男子斯蒂芬·特里（Stephen Terry）的恐惧或挑起针对其的非法暴力。

蒙巴顿-温莎预计将通过视频链接在刑事审判中提供证据，审判日期定于 12 月 21 日。

詹金森已被保释，条件是不得靠近与王室相关的若干地点——桑德灵厄姆、白金汉宫、巴尔莫勒尔、温莎和海格罗夫。他还必须不得直接或间接尝试联系蒙巴顿-温莎，或接近他。

▲ 安德鲁·蒙巴顿-温莎表示亚历克斯·詹金森向他冲刺

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国家环境

▼ 环境署（EA）的一项评估发现，该国仅有 14.3% 的地表水处于良好的生态状态

照片：CHRISTOPHER FURLONG / GETTY

数据显示，英格兰每一处水体均含有有毒化学物质 Pippa Neill 环境记者

最新政府数据显示，英格兰的每一处水体都被有毒化学物质污染，而仅有 14.3% 的地表水达到了良好的生态状态。

作为英格兰水质每六年一次评估的一部分，环境局（EA）对该国的所有河流、湖泊和河口进行了评估。环境局检测了一系列有毒化学物质，从 Pfas（即“永久性化学物质”）到微塑料。水体还根据涵盖野生动物、水质和物理栖息地的一系列标准进行了检查。如果化学物质的浓度超过设定标准，该水体即未能达到良好的化学状态。在最新的评估中，英格兰的所有地表水体在该项指标上均未达标。

根据水框架指令条例，所有水体达到良好化学和生态状态的官方目标日期是 2027 年 12 月，尽管某些特定化学物质的截止日期在 2030 年代。环境局表示，此次失败几乎完全是由汞、Pfos（一种与癌症相关的 Pfas 类型）以及此前用作阻燃剂的 PBDEs 引起。这些化学物质具有持久性，这意味着它们不会分解，并会在环境中累积。

据预测，英格兰的水体直到 2063 年才能达到良好的化学状态，环境局称届时持久性化学污染物应已充分降解，使水体能再次被视为未受污染。

绿色和平组织英国分部政治负责人 Ami McCarthy 表示，这场危机的规模令人“清醒”。她说，政府需要采取“紧急行动，从源头上关闭破坏我们土地的化学物质”。

英国政府被指责在应对有毒化学物质方面未能采取行动，其处理 Pfas 化学物质的计划未能与欧洲采取的更强硬立场相匹配。它还被指责未能解决汞污染问题，英国是少数尚未禁止在牙科填充中使用汞的国家之一。即使在低水平的暴露下，这种金属也是一种强效神经毒素，会损害神经、消化和免疫系统，以及肺、肾、皮肤和眼睛。

野生动物信托基金会（The Wildlife Trusts）首席执行官 Craig Bennett 表示，如果这是一个“外国势力恶意用致癌化学物质毒害英格兰每一处水体，那么整个政治光谱上的政治家都会感到极度震惊，并要求当时的政府竭尽全力反击、立即停止并寻求某种形式的报复”。相反，他说，“整个政治光谱上的政治家们达成了一种沉默与不作为的共谋”。

野生动物与乡村联系组织（Wildlife and Countryside Link）首席执行官 Richard Benwell 表示：“随着从化妆品到服装的数千种更多永久性化学物质进入市场，政府必须立即采取行动，通过匹配欧盟的保障措施并让污染公司支付清理费用，来阻止另一波污染。”他呼吁环境大臣重写指南并执行现行法律。

环境局表示，它正在开展一系列活动，以提高对环境中化学物质的了解，并识别影响河流、地下水和饮用水集水区的潜在来源。

“必须强制水务公司为其部分承担责任，但农业污染目前是英国河流环境破坏的最大驱动因素之一。现在是政府与农民合作的时候了，提供适当的支持以遏制化肥和农药的失控使用，并推广自然友好型实践，”McCarthy 说道。

针对涵盖野生动物、水质和物理栖息地等一系列标准的评估结果显示，英格兰仅 14.3% 的地表水达到了良好的生态状态，低于 2019. 年的 16.3%。然而，环境署（EA）表示，由于更新了分析方法，这两组数据集不具有直接可比性。环境大臣安杰拉·伊格尔（Angela Eagle）表示，结果“强调了整个水务部门进行彻底变革的必要性”。环保慈善机构“河流行动”（River Action）首席执行官詹姆斯·华莱士（James Wallace）表示：“尽管历届政府做出了承诺，但没有任何改变。我们的河流仍然是欧洲最肮脏的河流之列，被逐利且造成污染的水务公司排放的污水以及工业规模的农业所毒害，其中包括为快餐店和超市饲养数千万只禽类的密集禽类养殖单元产生的鸡粪径流。”

“政客们达成了一场沉默与不作为的阴谋”

克雷格·本内特（Craig Bennett） The Wildlife Trusts 首席执行官 --- 8 7

干旱状况 我们的水龙头会干涸吗？英格兰的一半地区和整个威尔士已正式进入干旱状态。但这意味着什么，我们的水龙头最终会干涸吗？

进入干旱状态意味着什么？

干旱没有单一的定义，且每一次干旱都各不相同。但它们的共同特点是长期的低降雨量导致水资源短缺。

今年夏天的干旱状况如何？

国家干旱小组主席海伦·韦克汉姆（Helen Wakeham）表示，今年的干旱“异常严重”，将对环境和经济产生深远影响。7月份，英格兰的降雨量仅为长期平均水平的 7%，使其成为近两个世纪以来记录以来最干燥的7月。

但英国不是以多雨著称吗？

是的，英国因其潮湿的天气而闻名全球，而且我们在今年上半年确实经历了特别严重的降雨。虽然冬季的降雨有助于补充水库和地下水，但夏季正变得异常炎热和干燥。结合气候引发的热浪，我们目前用水的速度超过了自然补充的速度。另一个关键问题是在资源充足时期如何储存。英国自 1992 年以来没有建造过新水库。

公司从哪里获取水？

大部分水来自湖泊、水库和河流。随后这些水被抽送到处理厂，再输送到家庭。公司可以取水的数量由环境监管机构控制。在干旱期间，公司可以使用干旱许可和干旱指令来获取更多水。去年，南方水务公司申请了一项干旱指令，允许其从一条国际知名的白垩溪流和稀有的鲑鱼栖息地取水。

为什么英国的水快用完了？

环境局（EA）估计，如果不采取紧急行动来确保资源的未来可用性，到 2055 年，英格兰的公共供应量每天可能会短缺 50 亿升。

▲ 如果不采取行动，英国将继续面临短缺的风险。随着人口增长，需求正在增加，而数据中心和能源基础设施带来的新工业需求需要更多水。此外，随着气候危机影响的显现，可用于满足这些需求的可用水量正在下降，降雨的波动性和不可预测性增加，且在更炎热、更干燥的夏季需求更大。

随着气候崩溃加速，英国如何提高抗旱能力？

虽然个人可以通过例如采取素食饮食或使用智能电表监测家庭消费来减少浪费，但投资才是关键。环境局（EA）预计，在预测的 2050 年缺口中，60% 将通过公司管理需求和大幅减少泄漏来解决。剩下的 40% 将通过增加供应来实现，包括建造新水库和实施调水方案。

公司的措施能比禁止使用软管更进一步吗？

目前英格兰约 40% 的人口处于软管禁令之下。违反禁令是刑事犯罪，最高可被处以 £1,000 的罚款。所有公司都被要求制定干旱管理计划，阐明在“紧急干旱”情景下将采取的措施。这可能会导致引入轮流限水，即每天仅在几个小时内供应水。

如果情况没有改变，我们真的会面临水资源枯竭吗？是的，如果没有投资并减少用水量，我们将面临严重的问题。在某些地区，影响已经显现。例如，萨塞克斯郡、剑桥郡、萨福克郡和诺福克郡都因为供水可用性以及水利基础设施老化或不足，导致住房和商业开发被推迟。东南水务公司（South East Water）本周表示，其服务区域内的供应量“处于极低水平”，并警告客户，除非该地区的用水需求下降，否则他们可能会失去供水。在一份针对 2025 年干旱（该年经历了 132 年来最干燥的春季）之后撰写的报告中，议员们警告称，如果不采取行动，英格兰的水龙头可能会干涸。 ### 这对未来意味着什么？水务公司正投入创纪录的资金用于修复泄漏；虽然英格兰和威尔士已经三十多年没有建造大型新水库，但目前有几个水库正处于规划阶段。 Pippa Neill 和 Safeerah Ahmed

创纪录的高温：中东欧遭遇新高点，引发健康与能源担忧

马修·泰勒 (Matthew Taylor)、阿吉特·尼兰詹 (Ajit Niranjan)

随着在整个欧洲大陆引发山火和干旱的极端天气持续，中东欧多个国家的温度记录被打破。包括斯洛伐克、奥地利和匈牙利在内的国家均记录到了创纪录的高温。斯洛伐克水文气象局昨日表示，多尔内普拉赫廷采 (Dolné Plachtince) 的气温达到了 42℃ (108°F) 的新高点。

波兰当局在维斯瓦河 (Vistula River) 水位极低导致冷却水供应受限后，被迫关闭了科齐耶尼采 (Kozienice) 和波拉涅茨 (Polaniec) 燃煤电厂。此次中断使波兰电力系统减少了约 1.3GW 的容量。周三，波兰总理唐纳德·图斯克 (Donald Tusk) 敦促雇主关照员工，并提供空调和冷水。

在德国，要求停止使用化石燃料的气候活动人士在总理府外举行抗议，反对政府在保护民众免受极端高温侵害方面缺乏行动。根据罗伯特·科赫研究所 (Robert Koch Institute) 的最新估计，该国今年夏天约有 11,900 人死于高温。

“这种极端高温及其后果是完全不负责任且极其危险的化石燃料政策导致的结果，”柏林“星期五为未来” (Fridays for Future Berlin) 的安娜克林·施维尔滕 (Annakrin Schwirten) 表示。“我们绝不能习惯于每年夏天都有数千人死于高温。”

匈牙利总理彼得·马加亚尔 (Péter Magyar) 昨日发推特称，一座此前暂时停电的核电站将重新上线。他写道：“好消息：我们已经比多瑙河周日的最低点高出 9 厘米，且预计奥地利集水区将有降雨。帕克斯 (Paks) 核电站的一台涡轮机正在运行。尽管如此，在今天这个炎热的日子里，仍强烈需要志愿者减少用电量。”

残酷的高温和持续的干旱状况正因不断升级的气候危机而加剧，专家警告称，这给该地区的当地人口、关键基础设施和野生动物带来了巨大压力。

▲ 匈牙利布达佩斯的人们在喷雾系统下消暑（上图），而首都北部的普尔斯马尼山 (Prsmány Hill) 居民在收集饮用水。下图为维也纳一座需求量巨大的公共喷泉。 照片：SHUTTERSTOCK, FERENC HILKAMP, GETTY, ELISABETH MANDL, NEUTERS

波兰环保组织 Eko-Unia 的帕维尔·波米安 (Paweł Pomian) 表示，“推动气候变化的电厂正日益成为气候变化的受害者”。波米安说，今年夏天极端状况的影响应该是“不仅是对波兰，而且是对整个欧洲的一次警钟”。“我们开发风能和太阳能——这些发电耗水量最少的技术——的速度越快，就越能更好地保护能源安全和我们的河流。”

热浪还夺走了植被的水分，使欧洲大陆大部分地区处于山火易发状态。根据欧洲森林火灾信息服务中心 (European Forest Fire Information Service) 昨日公布的数据，自今年年初以来，欧盟境内约有 50 万公顷土地被焚毁，主要集中在西班牙和法国。乌克兰另有 292,000 公顷 (721,000 英亩) 被焚毁。

火灾天气（使灭火更加困难的高温、干燥和多风条件）的严重程度在同年度时段创下记录，在某些国家其幅度令人震惊。在周三记录到 41. 最高温的奥地利，累计火灾天气的严重程度是此前同年度记录的两倍多。在夏季早些时候记录到国家最高气温的捷克，截至 8 月初的火灾天气比此前记录恶化了 50% 以上。在斯洛伐克，则恶化了 32%。

上周，世界天气归因（World Weather Attribution）联盟的一项快速分析发现，全球变暖使得上个月西班牙出现炎热、干燥且多风天气的可能性增加了至少 20 倍，法国增加了两倍。--- National

53岁男子被坠落窗户杀害，建筑师获判无罪

马修·韦弗 (Matthew Weaver)

由诺曼·福斯特创立的建筑事务所，就一名男子被从伦敦一座新建顶层公寓坠落 90 米的窗户杀害一案，已被判定无需承担责任。

Foster + Partners (F+P) 被认定不对 2018 年一名 53 岁的教练司机米克·费里斯 (Mick Ferris) 的死亡负责。然而，内伦敦刑事法院的陪审团裁定，该建筑的项目管理方 St James 及其工程师 Lindner Prater 在这起死亡事件中存在违反安全规定的行为，被判定有罪。

当一块 130 公斤的窗户从位于兰贝斯阿尔伯特堤岸 (Albert Embankment) 的豪华塔楼 Corniche 的顶层公寓坠落到下方街道时，费里斯被瞬间杀害。法庭获悉，就在一年多前，同一开发项目也曾有一块窗户面板坠落。法庭听证称，当时“奇迹般地”没有人受伤，但结果并未对设计做出任何更改。

由健康与安全执行局 (Health and Safety Executive) 发起的起诉方表示，费里斯的死亡是可以预见的，且设计人员忽略了关于向外开启窗户危险性的担忧。经过 11 个多小时的审议，陪审团判定 F+P 和该建筑的设计工程师 Wintech Ltd 无罪。但陪审团认定，St James 和 Lindner Prater 违反了《1974年工作健康与安全法案》中保障公众安全的职责。

公诉人戈登·门齐斯 (Gordon Menzies) 告诉陪审团，这“并非一个等待发生的意外……而是一个已经在 2017 年 8 月发生过的意外。控方称，这是一个等待再次发生的意外。”

法庭获悉，在建筑几乎完工时，窗户被风吹离了铰链，费里斯因此被杀。一个旨在防止窗户被吹离的限制装置已被拆除。控方表示，设计人员未能考虑到如果该限制装置出现问题将导致的“灾难性”后果。

陪审团被告知，在第一块窗户面板从建筑坠落后，设计人员未能将此事件作为“重新审视设计方案”的理由。陪审团还被告知，设计人员本应考虑侧挂窗风险的 12 次“错失机会”。

四名被告均否认指控，并声称他们已采取了所有合理可行的方法来确保安全。

门齐斯告诉法庭：“风力足够强，能将窗户吹开超过 8.5 英寸，导致悬挑玻璃与框架碰撞，结果铰链被撬脱。”

法庭获悉，直到费里斯死亡后，窗户的设计才被改回向内开启。控方表示，鉴于 F+P 在玻璃覆盖建筑方面的专业知识，其应当知晓此类风险。但 F+P 的律师表示，该公司并未参与技术问题，其职责是专注于设计的视觉方面。

F+P、St James 和 Lindner Prater 已被联系请求置评。

Amonik Melaco (Tyrone Jackson) 和 Edwin Ray (Mr Bell) 在一部充满胆量与热情、具有 20 世纪 80 年代风格的剧作中演出。摄影：JOSAN PERSSON

舞台评论 充满活力的复排版如摇晃过的苏打水般喷薄而出 《名声》音乐剧 (Fame the Musical) 普利茅斯皇家剧院 ★★★★☆ Holly O'Mahony 当现实生活中的一群表演者前往爱丁堡，希望在边缘艺术节（fringe）获得认可时，在英国的另一端，大卫·德·席尔瓦（David De Silva）的电影改编音乐剧复排版为其关于渴望成名的学生的故事注入了新鲜活力。这部作品由何塞·费尔南德斯（Jose Fernandez）编写剧本，史蒂夫·马戈什（Steve Margoshes）作曲，雅克·莱维（Jacques Levy）作词，是一部充满胆识与热情的制作。它像一罐被摇晃过的苏打水一样喷薄而出，轻松填满了普利茅斯皇家剧院（Theatre Royal Plymouth）宽广的舞台，而《名声》曾在 1995 年在此完成了其英国（及欧洲）的舞台首演。该剧由汤姆·杰克逊·格里夫斯（Tom Jackson Greaves）执导并编舞，并由一群充满活力的演员推动，其中大多数人在几部作品之前就实现了在专业舞台上表演的梦想，如今正处于事业上升期。虽然饰演舍曼小姐（Miss Sherman）的沙奈·霍姆斯（Shanay Holmes）显得略年轻，但她是推动剧情的核心力量，她的旁白引导着这个班级——以及我们——经历了纽约市一所表演艺术学校的四年周期，而她的唱功则是本剧的爆点。故事情节经过了微调，部分歌曲被删减，但该制作捕捉到了这些追梦者全天候的艰辛和纯粹的决心。早期的曲目《艰苦工作》（Hard Work）奠定了基调，演员们在舞台上伸展、练习音阶和旋转，动作填满了每一个角落。理查德·豪威尔（Richard Howell）的灯光设计通过在索特拉·吉尔莫尔（Soutra Gilmour）设计的学校布景堡垒上投射巨大的聚光灯，将学生们的整个世界视觉化为一个舞台，而之外的生活则留在阴影中。对 20 世纪 80 年代的致敬体现在护腿袜以及磁带录音机快退时的尖叫声中。它并未回避故事中较为残酷的时刻，包括最初充满活力的卡门（Carmen，由塔莉亚·帕拉马坦 Talia Palamathan 饰演）的命运，但就像希腊悲剧一样，这些情节发生在舞台之外。当学生们汇聚才华时——从喧闹的食堂场景到主题曲（由迪恩·皮奇福德 Dean Pitchford 和迈克尔·戈尔 Michael Gore 创作）的快闪舞，伴随着飞跃和空中劈叉——剧作才散发出最耀眼的光芒。此时，舍曼小姐告诉学生们，成功并非单打独斗，而是共同实现的目标，这句话显得最为真实。截止 15 August

三星 Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra 商务版

Galaxy AI 分屏视野 最大化生产力 由 Knox 提供安全保障 某些 AI 功能需要登录三星账号

定义商务新标准

现已在 EE 上市 以旧换新最高可省 £580 更适合商务

本研究为承保版本。 日期：17.08.2026

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国家媒体 9

BBC 聘请 26 岁 Minecraft 创业者，以遏制 Z 世代观众流向 YouTube

Michael Savage 媒体编辑

一名 26 岁的商业奇才兼自封的“Z 世代耳语者”已被 BBC 聘用。目前， 正努力争取年轻观众，而这些观众越来越多地选择 YouTube 和 TikTok 上的内容创作者，而非传统广播机构。

Brandon Relph 在 13 岁时创立了自己的第一家公司，并得到了苹果公司联合创始人史蒂夫·沃兹尼亚克（Steve Wozniak）的称赞。他现已加入 的战略团队，以帮助应对年轻人观众流失这一生存威胁。

Relph 曾开玩笑地将自己描述为“了解年轻人的首选人物”，并且已经拥有了一段令人眼花缭乱的职业生涯。他在 16 岁之前就凭借一家围绕 Minecraft 视频游戏建立的公司赚到了首批 £10,000，并在青少年时期创立了几家其他的科技和营销公司。

与所有广播机构一样，正面临着年轻观众消费媒体方式的巨大代际转变。虽然 78% 的 75 岁以上人群在一个月内仍会通过电视观看直播电视，但 16 至 24 岁的人群中只有不到一半这样做，他们转而寻求 YouTube 等数字平台上的内容创作者。

新任总干事 Matt Brittin 因其在科技领域的经验而被起用，他承诺将作为皇家特许状（royal charter）更新的一部分来重塑 ，目前该特许状正与大臣们进行谈判。优先发展数字内容将体现在 各项服务正在进行的重大削减中。该机构已经在尝试适应，最近宣布了一项制作定制 YouTube 内容的协议。

Relph 此前曾拥有英国历史上最年轻首席执行官的头衔，他专门向高管们提供关于针对年轻观众进行营销的咨询，并表示他的企业是“建立在人们对我们这一代人缺乏理解的基础之上”的。他的成就包括为直播游戏节目建立庞大的在线观众群，同时在他和他的商业伙伴在一次大会上会见埃隆·马斯克（Elon Musk）后，他的公司还制作了一个特斯拉的 Minecraft 版本。

熟悉他过去创业努力的人表示，他在媒体行业内部遇到了抵制拥抱在线内容创作者的阻力，而他认为这是触达年轻观众的必要手段。现在，这种阻力正在消融。

他的另一个被吹捧为“创作者世代的 Netflix”的项目未能获得所需的风险投资。Relph 随后被咨询公司埃森哲（Accenture）聘用，之后从那里加入了 。

Relph 已经开始在 的战略团队工作，内部人士称赞他对 Z 世代的关注。之前的同事将他描述为“特殊案例”，称尽管他年龄很小，但在团队中很受欢迎，并且愿意礼貌地就战略问题质疑高级管理人员。

▲ Brandon Relph 被 聘用被贴上了“非常必要的一步”的标签

他的任命受到了那些敦促 在触达年轻观众方面采取截然不同方法的人士的称赞，但他们同时也表示，这需要反映出更广泛的努力。

“Brandon 看起来很棒——他是一个职业生涯非常成功、做出了卓越工作且显然非常有才华的人，”Sidemen YouTube 团体经理 Jordan Schwarzenberger 表示，“他内心显然是一个创业者。”

“ 面临的挑战比聘请一个人要大得多。他们需要解决这样一个问题：以传统方式分发的机构媒体，无法触达那些已经转向其他地方的观众。”

Relph 此前曾就用户体验问题批评过 iPlayer，并表示如果没有更多地关注年轻人， “将没有长期的未来”。

一些 BBC 内部人士认为，其适应年轻受众的努力已经在稳步推进。在 16-34 岁年龄组最常用的五大媒体品牌中，它是英国唯一的品牌，其他四个是 YouTube、Instagram、Facebook 和 Netflix。该机构每周平均仍能触达该年龄组 63% 的人群。然而，BBC 的高层敏锐地意识到挑战的规模。“布兰登的任命是极其必要的一步，”前 内部人士、数字媒体专家乔·雷德芬（Jo Redfern）表示。“ 一直是英国生活的基石，并令全世界羡慕，但它面临着在年轻（群体）中失去这一地位的风险，如果真的发生，那将是一个遗憾。”“ 的本能是广播机构的本能，而广播的定义就是单向的，而现在的年轻人要求与媒体建立一种参与式的关系。任何阻碍这种关系的障碍，都是他们转向其他平台的理由，而且现在并不缺乏能够满足他们需求的媒体平台。”

唐纳德·特朗普 美国法官暂停要求在$10bn诽谤诉讼中提交财务数据的命令 Marina Dunbar 一名联邦法官暂时暂停了一项要求唐纳德·特朗普向 BBC 提交其商业帝国信息的命令，该命令是诽谤诉讼的一部分。美国地区法官罗伊·奥尔特曼（Roy Altman）在考虑特朗普提出的修改并缩小其针对 BBC 诉讼部分内容的请求时，发布了这一临时暂停令。该诉讼涉及一部 2024 年在英国播出的纪录片。特朗普的法律团队试图阻止这项证据开示命令，因为该命令将使 在这起涉及数十亿加元的案件中获得总统的财务记录。特朗普辩称， 2024 年关于 1 月 6 日袭击事件的纪录片损害了他的商业利益。上个月，一名法官裁定特朗普必须在 8 月 6 日前开始提供记录，包括涵盖特朗普家族信托持有企业的信息。周三，特朗普的律师请求法院暂时暂停该命令，理由是 要求提供的信息量“宽泛得令人震惊，且显然基于政治动机”。在昨天发布的一份四页的命令中，奥尔特曼表示，特朗普试图删除关于纪录片损害其企业的主张，这可能会减少 获取其财务记录的必要性。特朗普的律师正寻求将主张缩小为所谓的名誉损害。 则辩称，特朗普的商业价值仍然相关，因为他的名誉与其作为企业家的成功挂钩。该广播公司的律师还指出，特朗普拟议的修正起诉书（尚未公开）仍寻求 100亿美元 (74亿英镑) 的损害赔偿。他们认为，如果案件仅基于名誉损害，那么这一金额将难以获得支持。该诉讼的核心是 纪录片《特朗普：第二次机会》（Trump: A Second Chance）中的一个场景，该片将特朗普 2021 年 1 月 6 日演讲的部分内容剪辑在一起，使其看起来像是他直接鼓励支持者袭击美国国会大厦。 已为该剪辑道歉，但坚持认为诽谤指控缺乏依据。这起诉讼是特朗普针对他认为具有诽谤性或不公正报道的媒体机构发起的一系列法律行动的一部分。在另一起案件中，特朗普的律师辩称，在他被指于 2003. 年为杰弗里·爱泼斯坦（Jeffrey Epstein）的生日书贡献了一封“淫秽”信件并被《华尔街日报》报道后，他针对该报发起的 100亿美元 诽谤诉讼应进入审判阶段。特朗普领导的司法部在《纽约时报》报道关于空军一号总统专机的安全担忧后，还向该报记者发出了传票。该部门随后撤回了这些传票。 --- 10 National

塞特福德寻求庇护者抗议活动导致警察受伤 Matthew Weaver

在警察介入保护被认为寻求庇护的男子，使其免受试图闯入其住所的愤怒暴徒袭击时，警察受伤，随后两名男子被逮捕。

此次逮捕发生在诺福克郡南部塞特福德（Thetford）连续两晚的动荡之后，超过 100 人抗议在该集镇附近的前军营安置寻求庇护者的计划。

此次动荡起因于网络上流传的房产信息，这些房产的房东与一家为寻求庇护者提供住房的政府承包商有联系。

在少数群体担心自己的住所可能成为目标的情况下，人们担心未来几天会出现进一步的暴力行为。

周三，诺福克郡警方表示，在响应抗议者试图闯入该镇北部一处住所的报告时，一名男警员被石头击中，一名女警员被咬伤。警方表示，两名受伤警员已被送往医院，第三名警员被吐口水。

一名 40 多岁的男子因涉嫌破坏公共秩序被逮捕，目前仍被拘留。第二名男子布莱恩·汤普森（Brian Thompson），68 岁，被指控持有攻击性武器，将于 8 月 25 日在诺里奇治安法院出庭。

周二晚上，警员介入保护了五名受到数十名抗议者威胁的男子，其中一些人试图闯入一处房产。事件视频显示，在抗议者大声辱骂时，这些男子被护送到安全地带。

随后，警员响应了关于该镇南部两处住所居民受到威胁的报告。

当地工党议员特里·杰米（Terry Jermy）此前曾批评在附近的巴纳姆皇家空军基地（RAF Barnham）前军营安置多达 1,000 名寻求庇护者的计划，他谴责此次暴力行为以及他所谓的“暴民统治”。

他表示，在观看的动荡视频片段中，他认出许多抗议者是当地人，但他认为紧张局势正被“外部势力煽动”。

20.24 亿 今晚在 App 上开奖

*预估奖金，适用账户条款、规则及程序。玩家必须年满 18 岁。

电动滑板车骑行者比骑行者更容易遭受脑损伤 Ian Sample 科学编辑

一项针对英格兰和威尔士事故的分析显示，电动滑板车用户的创伤性脑损伤概率是摩托车骑行者或自行车骑行者的三倍。脑损伤占电动滑板车成年人受伤人数的三分之一以上，且内脏和血管受损率被发现高于摩托车骑行者或踏板自行车骑行者。

英国约有100万辆私有电动滑板车，但它们在法律上不能在公共道路、小径或自行车道上使用。警方已没收了数千台此类机器，而政府则支持租赁电动滑板车的试点。

事故分析揭示了电动滑板车事故中受害最严重人群的显著性别差异。女性参与碰撞的次数比男性多约三分之一，且报告严重受伤的可能性是男性的两倍多。18岁以下人群也面临风险，占电动滑板车受伤人数的16%。

这些发现引发了要求提高电动滑板车稳定性和安全性的呼吁，特别是针对女性，因为车把通常设置为适合男性的高度，导致女性更容易遭受胸部受伤。专家表示，强制性的安全培训和佩戴头盔的要求将有所帮助。

伦敦切尔西和威斯敏斯特医院的骨科医生 David Bodansky 利用国家重大创伤登记库，分析了2020至2022年期间英格兰和威尔士18个城市中电动滑板车、摩托车和自行车碰撞造成的伤害。电动滑板车骑行者遭受创伤性脑损伤或血管受损的可能性是摩托车骑行者的三倍多，内脏受伤的可能性是其1.5倍。在这些伤害方面，电动滑板车骑行者的表现也比自行车骑行者更糟。然而，电动滑板车骑行者骨折的风险低于自行车骑行者或摩托车骑行者。

数据并未揭示电动滑板车为何涉及如此多事故，但 Bodansky 认为设计是一个因素。他表示：“如果你观察电动滑板车，它们拥有非常小的轮子，很容易陷入坑洞。然后你就会头朝下翻过去，直接摔在头上。”

根据《科学报告》（Scientific Reports）的一项研究，报告佩戴头盔的电动滑板车骑行者不足6%。

虽然一些研究发现女性更倾向于在人行道上骑电动滑板车，但其他研究则未发现性别差异。诺丁汉特伦特大学交通心理学高级讲师 Petya Ventsislavova 博士在2024年的一项研究中发现，超过一半的电动滑板车骑行者在人行道上骑行，且同时搭载另一人。男性报告使用手机和闯红灯的情况多于女性。

“这些数据凸显了对私有电动滑板车制定全面立法的紧迫需求，”Ventsislavova 说道。她表示，立法不仅应明确电动滑板车可以使用的时间和地点，还应包括强制性的安全培训。她补充道：“与汽车和摩托车不同，电动滑板车在推出时没有任何正式培训要求，尽管它们是机动车辆。”

交通部的一位发言人表示：“这些发现令人担忧，我们对在道路上受伤的任何人表示关切。道路安全是我们的首要任务，这就是为什么我们的电动滑板车试点目前在受控环境中测试其使用，以便在更新法律以确保它们能更广泛地安全使用之前进行验证。”

▲ 专家呼吁尽快针对私有电动滑板车立法

6% 根据《科学报告》的一项研究，表示佩戴头盔的电动滑板车骑行者比例

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国家教育 11

米尔本表示小学应监测有失业风险的学生 ●

拦截、干预、支持，并帮助这些年轻人走上另一条道路。”这位前工党卫生大臣表示，该建议将成为他关于英国青年失业危机的最终报告的一部分，该报告预计将于今年秋季发布。

英国的年轻人正承受着失业率上升的沉重打击。5月份的数据显示，16至24岁之间处于尼特 (未就业、未就学且未接受培训的人员) 状态的人数在10多年来首次突破100万。这一比例高达八分之一的年轻人，在心理健康状况急剧恶化和就业市场严峻的背景下，其增长速度明显快于其他国家。

米尔本的审查正值安迪·伯纳姆将解决青年就业危机列入其议程首位之际，包括他在担任首相的前几周内，对技术教育和学徒制进行重新调整的变革。由于担心福利开支螺旋式上升，以及长期失业对经济和生活的打击，工党也正准备再次尝试福利改革。

米尔本表示，福利改革将成为其最终报告的关键组成部分，但他警告称，任何限制年轻人领取福利金的措施，都必须伴随更高水平的教育、健康和就业支持。

他表示，当一个年轻人进入福利体系时，这代表了教育、技能和健康政策在“上游”的失败，因为一个运作良好的系统本可以帮助他们找到工作。

“我认为我们必须加强教育和支持；我们必须加强年轻人的机会；我们必须让年轻人更容易找到工作，”他说。“当然，在提供机会的同时，也必须承担一些义务。这是必然的。”

在对爱尔兰进行实地调研时（爱尔兰在过去十年中记录了欧盟内尼特率下降最快），米尔本表示，青少年的脱节往往在16岁之前很久就开始了。

他指出，这种情况甚至可能在孩子进入校门之前就开始，并引用了布拉德福德的一项研究，该研究发现，在四或五岁时未准备好入学（school-ready）的孩子，在达到16至17岁时成为尼特人员的可能性几乎是其他人的三倍。

1m 16至24岁之间处于尼特状态的人数在10年内首次超过100万

“我们知道[孩子有成为尼特风险的]相关因素是什么——无论是贫困、心理健康，还是处于监护照顾之下。我们没有做的是将这些知识转化为行动。”

在他最终报告中将概述的提案下，英格兰的小学将被要求从小学毕业起就标记孩子成为尼特人员的风险，包括利用出勤记录。

虽然一些学校采用了所谓的“Roni”（尼特风险指标）工具策略，但这种做法并不普及，也没有被强制执行。

“我们必须在源头解决问题，因为我们现在所做的是在支付代价——这个国家，以及年轻人——正在为失败支付代价。”

爱尔兰的“秘密配方”：英国的邻国能否为青年危机指明方向？

Richard Partington

艾伦·米尔本正引导着一个金属环沿着一个电铃游戏的蜿蜒导线移动，同时向人们解释英国青年就业危机的挑战。“我们有超过一百万名未就业、未就学且未接受培训的人员 [尼特 (Neet)]。‘危机’这个词被过度使用了——但这就是一场危机。”

在前往都柏林的实地调研之旅中，这位前英国内阁大臣正在参观爱尔兰铁路的一处培训设施。他告诉那些搭建这个游戏的学徒们，虽然英国的情况很糟糕，但爱尔兰正走在正确的轨道上。“这里的比率大约只有英国的一半，而且下降得非常快。我们想试着弄清楚：那是怎么回事？为什么？”

在过去十年中，爱尔兰实现了欧盟境内尼特 (Neet) 率下降最快地步，从 2015 年的 14.3% 下降到去年的 6.1%。相比之下，英国的比率则从 11.1% 上升至 12.8%。

由于计划在今年秋天为英国政府发布一份关于该危机的报告，米尔本在这次跨越爱尔兰海的行程中带了一支由官员、慈善机构负责人和行业主管组成的代表团。“我们来这里真的是为了了解‘秘密配方’是什么，”他说。“这里的年轻人的生活机会正在发生转变。你不需要走远——走到都柏林郊区——就能发现巨大的贫困和匮乏区域。所以这里没有人会说：‘我们已经解决了这个问题。’但绝对有一些我们可以从中学习的不同之处。”

在爱尔兰，青年就业状况好转的部分原因是其从 2008 年金融危机中实现了经济复苏。该国曾是全球最大的受害者之一，单年经济崩溃 10%，到 2012 年失业率达到 16%。青年失业率一度接近 30%。。“当这里关闭时，他被选中去了那边，”这位爱尔兰铁路的学徒说。“从那时起他就一直在那边工作。”

从那时起，经济开始反弹，部分原因是大型美国科技公司利用低税收政策。法雷尔表示，该国已经“100%度过了最糟糕的时期”。如果说有什么问题，那就是随着生活成本激增，情况在另一个方向上走得太远了。“你可以从这里所有东西的价格之昂贵中比任何其他方面都更明显地看出这一点。”

米尔本承认，爱尔兰的进步部分是由经济因素驱动的。尽管如此，英国仍然可以吸取一些教训。在都柏林市中心西部的圣塞顿中学，教师们告诉米尔本，他们如何从爱尔兰政府获得额外资金，以支持面临贫困、社会排斥和教育劣势风险的孩子。学校非常注重技术教育，并帮助学生为进入职场做准备。

坐在教职员室里，该校校长莎拉·格林和职业指导顾问谢丽尔·基勒解释说，他们对于学生是否升入大学持中立态度。获得一份工作更为重要。工作经验被列入课程评分，而学生在学习学术或职业离校证书之前，有机会参加一个“过渡年”（TY）。作为一项可选方案，过渡年没有固定课程，通常包括工作经验和职业指导，但核心科目必须以某种形式每周覆盖两小时。

该校学生卡勒姆（Calum）参加了为期 10 周的中文课程。在完成应用类离校证书后，他将从 9 月起在都柏林的吉尼斯酿酒厂担任帝亚吉欧（Diageo）的学徒。“多亏了学校，这很容易，”他说。在爱尔兰铁路公司，学徒们表示他们觉得自己在走快车道。即便如此，艾莉克斯·托宾（Alyx Tobin）表示，学徒制在爱尔兰的声誉与英国相似。“就像是，如果你去做学徒，说明你不够聪明，没法上大学，”她说。“但我认为这种污名绝对必须尽快被消除。”在都柏林北部郊区巴利蒙（Ballymun）的一家青年中心（该地区是这座城市最贫困的社区之一），米尔本（Milburn）系上塑料围裙，与当地的孩子们一起烘焙小蛋糕。在学校暑假期间，雷科中央青年设施（Reco Central Youth Facility）热闹非凡，是年轻人参与活动的地方。这里还提供心理健康咨询、职业指导和就业支持。作为最终报告建议的一部分，米尔本将呼吁政府大幅提高青年支持水平，并期望学校能帮助识别并援助那些最有可能成为尼特 (未就业、未就学且未接受培训的人员) 的学生。“我们必须在源头采取行动，因为这个国家以及年轻人正在为失败付出代价，”他说。 --- 12 国家 杰森·阿尔代

陷入抄袭争议的教授称其图书合约金额达“140 万”

Ella Creamer, Lanre Bakare

被指控抄袭和夸大经历的前剑桥大学教授杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）声称，他即将出版的、详细讲述其非凡背景的回忆录获得了“140 万”的报酬。在周三晚上辞职之前，阿尔代一直被追问其学术作品和资历问题。他的离职发生在剑桥大学宣布在收到关于其学历和职业生涯的“新信息”后将启动调查之后。

尽管阿尔代面临指控，但西蒙与舒斯特出版社（Simon & Schuster）表示，仍将按计划于下周在美国以及 27 August 在英国出版他的回忆录。西蒙与舒斯特美国分社昨晚告诉《卫报》，将“按计划推进杰森·阿尔代所著的《伟大而不幸之事》（Great and Unfortunate Things）的出版”。

在接受《卫报》采访时，阿尔代曾表示，西蒙与舒斯特以 140 万 的价格进行了“抢先收购”（pre-empt）——这是一种出版合约，出版社通过开出高价，在书籍进入拍卖环节之前将其截获。阿尔代并未具体说明 1.4m 这个数字是指英镑还是加元。西蒙与舒斯特未就该金额的置评请求做出回应。

出版界人士表示，虽然这是一个高数字，但如果西蒙与舒斯特的美国和英国分社联手购买该书并寻求全球版权，那么这个数字是合理的。一位资深出版商表示，这是一个极其疯狂的数字，但“疯狂之事有时确实会发生”。他们表示，像阿尔代这样的书籍通常预计销量约为 5,000 册。如果每册版税为 £2，那么这相当于一笔更为适中的 £10,000 预付款。

该书讲述了阿尔代的人生故事：从 3 岁被诊断出患有自闭症和全球发育迟缓，到在“进入中学前几个月”才说出第一个词。他声称自己在 18, 岁时学会了读写，并最终在 37. 岁时成为剑桥大学历史上最年轻的黑人教授。

自 7 月下旬以来，阿尔代一直处于舆论风暴的中心。当时《电讯报》报道称，他的博士论文中有 100 段落与六年前发表的一篇论文相似。此外，阿尔代关于惊人筹款成就的说法也遭到质疑，而《卫报》的一项调查则对他声称曾被持刀蒙面入侵者袭击以及被寄来猪头的说法提出了质疑。

剑桥大学最初为阿尔代辩护，将这些指控描述为“卑劣的抹黑活动”的一部分。校方表示，已将投诉转交给阿尔代完成博士学位的利物浦约翰摩尔大学。利物浦方面认定他没有抄袭，但学术界人士表示，合理的担忧依然存在。

一位出版高管表示，西蒙与舒斯特决定支持其作者，可能仅仅是因为“他们签了合同，而他们决定遵守合同”。该高管补充说，如果涉及巨额预付款，那么“回收”这笔资金的动力可能会更大。

另一位出版商表示，仅从物流原因来看，撤回该书将是一个“相当重大的决定”。他们表示，西蒙与舒斯特“可能已经印好了书，可能已经向作者支付了款项，并且可能已经开始向全球发货”，撤回书籍将“极其困难且成本相当高”。

在阿尔代辞职前的一份声明中，西蒙与舒斯特表示：“自收购《伟大而不幸之事》以来，我们一直与杰森·阿尔代教授密切合作，可以证明他在出版的每个阶段都展现出了专业精神和正直品质。”

“《伟大而不幸之事》是阿尔代克服巨大挑战并以韧性应对逆境的回忆录。它是通过他自己的回忆以及与他最亲近的人的回忆讲述的。”

声明称，阿尔代“与他的共同作者以及我们的编辑和法律团队密切合作，对叙事内容进行了仔细的研究、撰写和证实”。

在《书业者》（Bookseller）4月份报道的评论中，西蒙与舒斯特出版社（Simon & Schuster）英国分社的非虚构类出版人克里斯·多伊尔（Kris Doyle）表示：“我可以向你保证，你从未读过这样的故事——即使是那些疯传的新闻标题也无法公正地描述它。”当被要求分享关于该书事实核查过程的信息时，西蒙与舒斯特出版社回应称：“我们不对我们的编辑流程发表评论。”阿尔代计划下个月在爱丁堡的 Topping 书店以及 11 月的斯特劳德图书节（Stroudbook festival）发表演讲，在被问及这些活动是否会照常举行时，两方均未做出回应。西蒙与舒斯特出版社面临的问题与企鹅出版社在《盐径》（Salt Path）丑闻后所面临的情况有相似之处，在当时，雷诺（Raynor）和莫斯·温（Moth Winn）被指控捏造了故事中的大量内容。

职场、体育与慈善

杰森·阿尔代的一系列主张现正接受审查

兰雷·巴卡雷（Lanre Bakare）

在剽窃指控出现的同时，人们对杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）的一系列主张提出了质疑，涵盖了从耐力跑、足球成就、慈善募捐到学术职位的各个方面。

剽窃

阿尔代在去年年底首次面临剽窃其博士论文部分内容的指控。他否认了这些指控。《电讯报》报道称，分析发现他的博士论文中有 100 多个段落与伦敦布鲁内尔大学的一名学生保拉·兹沃兹迪亚克-迈尔斯（Paula Zwozdiak-Myers）的另一篇论文相似。授予其博士学位的利物浦约翰摩尔大学在调查后并未支持剽窃指控，但表示错误可能是由“诚实且合理的失误”造成的。

阿尔代上周告诉《卫报》：“由于这些指控和巨大的审查，几家机构进行了多次彻底调查，其中包括一个学术不端行为小组，该小组得出结论认为不存在剽窃或学术不端行为。”

已有学者呼吁重新审查他的博士论文。阿尔代还面临指控，称他近期发表的一些作品存在缺陷。《泰晤士报》周三发表的分析发现，他的部分研究包含“不可能”的证据，且充斥着矛盾之处。

学术职位与成就

阿尔代声称曾在其他大学担任一系列享有盛誉的客座研究员和教授职务。阿尔代曾任研究员的耶稣学院网站称，他曾是俄亥俄州立大学和格拉斯哥大学的客座教授。两所大学均对此予以否认。

传记还称，阿尔代仍是其此前工作过的杜伦大学社会学系的“荣誉教授”。该大学告诉《每日邮报》，他不再担任任何职务。

--- 9 10

阿尔代还声称在伦敦大学伯克贝克学院完成了心理动力学实践的硕士学位。然而，当《卫报》联系伯克贝克学院时，该校表示未能找到一名名为杰森·阿尔代的学生在此就读的记录。

阿尔代声称在帕尔格雷夫·麦克米伦（Palgrave Macmillan）出版社出版了一本书。该出版社随后确认，他们确实收到了阿尔代的一份提案，但该书从未出版。

体育

阿尔代在书中声称，为了给慈善机构筹款，他在 35 天内跑了 30 场马拉松。2012, 年，当阿尔代与网球明星安迪·穆雷见面时，他告诉对方在第 20 场马拉松期间他发作了癫痫并导致腿部骨折。尽管发生了这次意外，阿尔代声称随后又跑了 9 场马拉松。

医生告诉《卫报》，在腓骨有发丝状骨折的情况下跑 9 场马拉松将极其痛苦，尽管在技术上并非不可能。在即将出版的回忆录中，阿尔代说他是通过服用止痛药才完成这段距离的。

他还曾在公开活动中声称在 6 天内跑了 600 英里，这一成就将使他成为世界上最有天赋的耐力跑者之一。他说，由于之前跑步挑战中“训练带来的累积损耗”，他“必须在跑步日之间安排休息日才能完成”这项挑战，而该挑战是在 12 天的时间段内完成的。

人们还对阿尔代在 2024 年声称曾作为 under-18, 球员为水晶宫队效力的说法提出质疑，他在“Talking Matters”播客中表示他在该俱乐部度过了“几年时间”。水晶宫队表示，他们没有追溯到 90 年代末和 00 年代初的记录，而阿尔代应该是在那个时间段在他们的名册上。

据报道，阿尔代确实在南郡东部第一组（Southern Counties East Division One）的刘易舍姆区（Lewisham Borough）队效力过，该组别处于非联赛金字塔的底层。

慈善工作

除了关于耐力跑的说法外，杰森·阿尔代还表示，在过去的二十年里，他完成了其他慈善工作。他在媒体采访中声称，在20年期间为慈善机构筹集了500万英镑（有时这一数字上升至500 万英镑.5m）。正如他的批评者所指出的，对于一个并非名人的人来说，筹集£5m的慈善资金将是一个惊人的数额。2012年，杰森·阿尔代表示，他希望在50岁之前筹集£250,000。当被问及£5m这个数字是否准确时，杰森·阿尔代向卫报澄清说，这笔钱是在“二十年期间在许多筹款集体的帮助下”筹集而成的。他还表示自己是一个100人辛迪加的一员。当被要求指认参与这些工作的其他人员时，杰森·阿尔代表示，他签署了保密协议（NDA），禁止他披露该信息。杰森·阿尔代声称曾访问过南美洲和西非，与慈善机构WaterAid一起安装供水点。该慈善机构表示，“出于对合作人员的尊重”，他们从不派遣志愿者出国。WaterAid补充说，它“也不鼓励或促进自费访问”。

恐吓

杰森·阿尔代无疑曾是种族主义虐待的受害者。剑桥大学此前表示，它被迫筛选这位学者的电子邮件。在2025年7月给政府部长杰奎·史密斯（Jacqui Smith）的一封信中，杰森·阿尔代声称自己曾被“用刀威胁、遭受肢体攻击并被吐口水；他及其家人收到强奸和死亡威胁；通过大学校园收到寄来的香蕉和子弹；其家庭住址收到腐蚀性物质和被肢解的动物”。在随后接受卫报采访时，杰森·阿尔代声称曾两次在学院大楼被一名蒙面男子拦截，对方威胁如果他不辞职就将伤害他。杰森·阿尔代说，在第二次拦截中，闯入者掏出了一把刀。两次事件均未被闭路电视（CCTV）拍到，学院内也没有人报告看到任何可疑人员。杰森·阿尔代当时并未报告这两次闯入事件，他告诉卫报，在第二次事件发生后，他继续工作了一整天。他没有告知同事学院大楼内有一名持刀的蒙面男子。杰森·阿尔代在接受卫报采访时确认，公开信中提到的“寄到其家庭住址的肢解动物”是一个被切下的猪头，被送到他位于伦敦的父母家中。在一次采访中，他声称警方进行了调查，询问南伦敦的屠夫是否卖过一只猪，最终发现有一家在猪头被留下的那个早晨卖出了一头“整猪”。当卫报向当地屠夫核实这些细节时，他们表示没有警察询问过关于猪的事情。当警方核实杰森·阿尔代提供的细节时，卫报被告知并未进行过调查。杰森·阿尔代向警方举报了一名调查针对其指控的记者。《泰晤士报》记者杰克·格罗夫（Jack Grove）带着一份详细列举涉嫌抄袭行为的63页报告接触了杰森·阿尔代。格罗夫在为该刊物撰写的一篇文章中写道，他“仅发送了三封礼貌的电子邮件”，但收到了杰森·阿尔代律师发来的一封威胁信。四个月后，他接到一名伦敦警察厅警官的电话，告知他们正在关闭针对他的投诉——而他此前并不知道有人对他提出了投诉。格罗夫写道：“我的询问构成了刑事投诉的理由吗？作为一名专门研究研究诚信和伦理问题的记者，这让我感到非常不安。”

剑桥大学学者呼吁就任命问题进行独立调查 ● 续自第 1 页

种族主义，而整个事件引发的种族主义，以及对处于风口浪尖的个人、黑人学者群体以及更广泛的批判种族研究领域的伤害。这要求责任人现在就承担责任，而不是掩盖事实。”其他接受《卫报》采访的学者表示，他们对 2023 年杰森·阿尔代的任命感到惊讶，一名社会学家表示在之前从未听说过阿尔代：“宣布任命时，我查阅了他的学术成果，说起来非常令人失望。”

戈帕尔表示，剑桥大学过于倾向于通过选择一个受媒体欢迎的任命，来在“促进平等与包容的艰苦工作中走捷径”。“大学在媒体上大肆宣传这次任命的程度……引发了人们的疑问：大学寻求的是通过这次任命获得公众的赞誉，还是为了教学和研究。”

“最起码地说，任命一名如此早期的青年学者担任如此高级的职位是非常不寻常的。学术不端行为也需要更稳健和透明的程序，剑桥大学的多个案例就表明了这一点。”

“大学还必须关注将有色人种青年置于高度可见的岗位上，让他们在准备好承受审查之前就承担代表性负担所带来的后果。”

当争议爆发时，大学告诉记者，它支持其任命程序，并在公开场合为阿尔代辩护，称其为旨在抹黑他的“恶毒活动”的“受害者”。但周三晚上，大学突然宣布，在收到关于其资质和任职的“新信息”后，将启动一项新的调查。

不久之后，阿尔代表示他将辞职，称：“我不再希望感觉自己生活在不断的聚光灯下，生活中每一个方面都要受到公众的审查和审判。”

此后，大学和其他组织通过删除网页和相关引用与他保持距离。一名学者将此描述为“抹除痕迹”。耶稣学院和大学的教育学院已经撤下了阿尔代的员工简介。

自从在剑桥大学任职以来，阿尔代曾在许多商业组织发表演讲，包括 2025 年的英国保险业协会（ABI）。ABI 网站上关于其演说的引用已被删除。西蒙与舒斯特出版社将阿尔代列为“一名国际上备受追捧的演讲者……[他]曾前往美国各地进行演讲活动”。

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《卫报》

升级你的闲暇时光

通过 On the ball、迷你填字游戏等谜题，让你的碎片时间焕发新生。 在《卫报》应用程序中游玩。 立即下载

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国家版 15

近50名在“一进一出”计划下被驱逐的人员已返回英国

戴安·泰勒（Diane Taylor）

《卫报》获悉，有近50名通过“一进一出”计划被驱逐的寻求庇护者被记录为第二次返回英国。据信，除了被内政部拘留的49名返回者外，可能还有未知数量的人员在未被察觉的情况下抵达英国。

该计划于去年9月开始，允许英国政府将乘坐小船抵达的人员遣返回法国，以换取同等数量的寻求庇护者合法进入英国。其目的是威慑寻求庇护者乘坐小船穿越英吉利海峡。

《卫报》此前披露，第一名第二次返回英国的寻求庇护者是在去年10月返回的，就在其被强制遣返回法国几周之后。但直到现在，在强制遣返后返回英国的人数才被揭晓。

今年以来，小船穿越人数与去年同期相比下降了约43%。此次下降可能是由于包括恶劣天气在内的因素，以及抵达欧洲的移民总数减少了约三分之一，同时英国和法国在打击人口走私方面的努力。

将部分小船抵达者遣返回法国的理由是法国是一个安全的国家。但随后返回英国的寻求庇护者辩称，他们在法国面临人口走私者的威胁，或者担心被法国当局遣返回原籍国或他们经过的国家。

到目前为止，在“一进一出”协议下，约4%的小船抵达者被遣返回法国。根据内政部的数据，截至6月30日，已有1,117人被转移至英国，1,087人根据该计划被遣返回法国。

官员表示，英国与法国之间的条约已修订，以便第二次返回英国的人员将被再次遣返回法国。

一名乘坐货车第二次返回英国的寻求庇护者在被拘留五个月后，最终被遣返回法国。他表示，法国当局仅为他提供了几天的住宿。

43% 今年以来，乘坐小船抵达英国的人数与去年同期相比下降的幅度

“在欧洲，寻求庇护者没有可以去且安全、平静的地方，”他说。“我睡在巴黎的街头，因为法国想把我送回保加利亚，我在那里录入了指纹。我在英国的拘留中心反而过得更好。”

移民福利联合委员会（Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants）的格里夫·费里斯（Griff Ferris）表示：“逃离战争的人们，。”“我们必须让每个人都能使用与许多人相同的安全旅行路线，比如加来和多佛之间的每日渡轮。”

内政部发言人表示：“任何试图在根据英法协议被移除后返回英国的人都是在浪费时间和金钱——并且将被再次移除。”

“根据我们与法国签署的按结果付费的遣返协议，我们已将1,000多名非法移民从英国领土上移除。自选举以来，针对移民走私网络的执法行动已开展数百次，我们已遣返或移除了近70,000名非法移民。”

法国内政部已被要求就此发表评论。

农民因杀害房客并将尸体藏在混凝土中被判入狱

Raphael Boyd 报道

一名杀害其房客并将肢解后的尸体藏在装满混凝土的桶中长达五年多的男子，被判处最低 35 年监禁。

克里斯托弗·赖特（Christopher Wright）是一名来自南约克郡的 73 岁农民，上个月在谢菲尔德刑事法院被裁定于 2019 年谋杀 55 岁的理查德·戴森（Richard Dyson）。戴森当时住在赖特位于霍伊兰（Hoyland）农场的一辆车里，并为当时 67 岁的赖特工作，随后两人发生了争执。

赖特是一名古董枪械收藏家，在审判期间被描述为“武器狂热者”，他怀疑戴森偷走了他的一些珍贵藏品并将其出售。法庭获悉，当赖特在 2019 年 11 月就其怀疑与戴森对质时，双方爆发了争吵，最终导致戴森被散弹枪击中胸部和手臂而死亡。

赖特曾是一名屠夫，他在几天内肢解了戴森的尸体，然后将遗骸放入一个桶中并填满混凝土。随后，他将桶放在一辆拖车上，并请求一名毫无察觉的邻居将车辆停放在其房产内。赖特在掩盖罪行时得到了终身好友卡尔·施瓦尔贝（Karl Schwalbe）的帮助，后者因共谋妨碍司法公正被判处三年监禁。

戴森的失踪最初被视为一起失踪人口调查，其遗骸在五年多时间里一直未被发现。虽然南约克郡警方知道他在失踪前曾出现在赖特的土地上，但未能找到牵涉到该农民的证据。

直到去年 7 月，戴森才被找到。警方根据新证据——显示赖特在戴森失踪后的几天内曾联系当地一名农民请求存放车辆——对农场进行了搜查，发现了一个装有混凝土和人类遗骸的桶。

在昨天宣判后，科特法官（Mr Justice Cotter）告诉赖特，他可能会在监狱中死去，并表示这名凶手作为屠夫的经历使他“足够熟练以至于能做出如此可怕的事情，这是极少数普通人能忍受去做的事情”。

克里斯托弗·赖特，一名前屠夫，在将房客的尸体藏在桶内之前对其进行了肢解。

舞蹈评论

庄重、优雅与超级巨星的魅力 卡洛斯·阿科斯塔：《神话与现代大师》 伦敦皇家歌剧院 ★★★★☆ Sanjoy Roy

将这个名为《神话与现代大师》（Myths and Modern Masters）的节目称为“令人愉悦”可能有些牵强，但诚然，这听起来比“杂烩”要好。卡洛斯·阿科斯塔（Carlos Acosta）——这位超级舞者，现任伯明翰皇家芭蕾舞团以及古巴 Acosta Danza 舞团的艺术总监——从这两个舞团中挑选了舞者，呈现了一场非常多元的舞蹈盛宴，并让自己也加入了其中。在 53 岁这个年纪，阿科斯塔或许不再拥有年轻时的身体素质，但他带来了强大的气场和深度——当然，还有一些精彩的舞步。

这在何塞·利蒙（José Limón）1949 年的作品《摩尔人的帕凡舞曲》（The Moor’s Pavane）中得到了很好的体现。这部作品是对莎士比亚《奥赛罗》的浓缩，将故事简化为四个角色——奥赛罗（阿科斯塔）、苔丝德蒙娜（Beatrice Parma）、

▲ 给予与索取的模式：卡洛斯·阿科斯塔与 Amisaday Naara 在《我们》中。下方，阿科斯塔在《摩尔人的帕凡舞曲》中饰演奥赛罗

伊阿古（Max Maslen）和艾米莉亚（Miki Mizutani）——在普赛尔（Purcell）的宫廷音乐背景下，作品将欺骗、嫉妒和复仇的戏剧冲突包含在由稳健步伐和程式化手势组成的庄重构图之中。

《我们》（Nosotros）是由古巴编舞家 Beatriz García 和 Raúl Reinoso 创作的一段亲密的双人舞，同样受益于阿科斯塔的庄重感。在忧郁的钢琴与大提琴伴奏下，阿科斯塔与 Amisaday Naara 演绎了一对长期伴侣之间复杂而日常的互动：给予与索取的模式，以及细微的温柔或忽视。

在自己的作品《哈瓦那套曲中的胡桃夹子》（Nutracker in Havana Suite）中，阿科斯塔将自己塑造成一名慈父般的魔术师，为年轻的克拉拉（Aila Acosta Holland——没错，他的亲生女儿）变出传统《胡桃夹子》第 2 幕中那些熟悉的欢乐场景。这段舞蹈表演得十分流畅，并以经典的双人舞收尾，仿佛在说：这就是巅峰。

然而，最令人惊叹的还是 Agrippina Vaganova 1935 年创作的《狄安娜与阿克泰翁》（Diana and Actaeon）双人舞，Katherine Ochoa 和 Yasiel Hodelin Bello 在旋转、跳跃和平衡中的表现几乎达到了超人的境界。

夜晚在克里斯托弗·布鲁斯（Christopher Bruce）以滚石乐队歌曲为背景的《公鸡》（Rooster）中落下帷幕。这是唯一一部未能充分发挥阿科斯塔优势的作品，因为其编舞本身是由青春的清新所驱动，尚未被经验所洗礼。而阿科斯塔已经超越了那个阶段。

演出至周日 摄影：TRISTEAM KENTON / THY GARDEN --- 16 National

Raleigh自行车品牌在母公司未能找到买家后面临裁减

Jasper Jolly

拥有历史悠久的Raleigh品牌的自行车公司在未能找到买家后，已启动破产程序。总部位于荷兰的Accell集团周三表示，在未能找到可行的方案以维持其现有形式的运营后，该公司已聘请接管人。

Raleigh成立于1887年，曾成长为全球最大的自行车制造商。在其鼎盛时期，其位于诺丁汉的工厂每年生产100万辆自行车，雇佣员工超过8,000人。然而，在20世纪70年代和80年代推出Chopper、Grifter和Burner等车型后，Raleigh失去了市场份额，并于2002年停止在英格兰生产自行车。

► 在鼎盛时期，Raleigh在诺丁汉工厂每年生产100万辆自行车，雇佣超过8,000人 照片：DON MCPHEE / THE GUARDIAN

2012年，该公司被Accell以1亿美元（7,400万英镑）收购，Accell还拥有Lapierre和Ghost自行车品牌，这结束了其作为一家英国所有权公司长达125年的历史。目前仍在诺丁汉郡保留办公室的Raleigh品牌的命运将由接管人决定。

Accell此前将自己描述为欧洲电动自行车的市场领导者，以及自行车零部件和配件领域的第二大厂商，该集团绝大部分生产已转移至匈牙利，那里的成本比之前的荷兰工厂低30%。

然而，近几十年来，欧洲自行车及零部件制造商面临着来自中国竞争对手的持续压力，导致幸存者寥寥无几。

Accell在2022年被美国私募股权公司KKR以14亿欧元（12亿英镑）收购，KKR希望利用全球城市对骑行重新产生的兴趣来获利。城市建设了自行车道以鼓励锻炼并减少拥堵和污染，而电动自行车则让不同身体能力的人也能参与骑行。

KKR的收购发生在冠状病毒大流行的高峰期，当时被封锁在当地区域的人们对自行车的需求激增。然而，该行业无法足够快速地做出调整，在大幅增加产量的同时，却发现自己错过了浪潮。这导致制造商积压了大量库存，需要打折处理。

KKR希望通过削减成本并在几个不同品牌之间共享运营。今年2月，该公司被迫将业务移交给债权人——一组未公开的欧洲银行和投资者。

新所有者试图通过总部位于新加坡的工业集团Dutech Holdings及其子公司Tri Star Group达成收购协议，但这些谈判未能取得结果。

Accell首席执行官Jonas Nilsson表示：“考虑到我们在股东和贷款人的支持下，为重组Accell的运营和财务所付出的所有艰苦努力以及我们所取得的一切成就，这是一个极其令人悲伤和沮丧的局面。”

“对于我们的员工、债权人、客户、供应商和合作伙伴来说，这是一个格外艰难的时刻。我们不遗余力地探索了所有关于业务未来的现实选项，但没有一个能产生让集团以现有形式继续运行的解决方案。”

“我们目前的重点是支持一个有序的流程，尽可能提供清晰的信息，并与相关法院任命的接管人合作，在情况允许的情况下保留可行的活动和就业。”

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National 17

安全港口？1.5 亿英镑 法尔茅斯码头开发计划引发污染担忧

Steven Morris

Janavi Kramer 刚刚和朋友们游泳完，正坐在长椅上欣赏康沃尔郡的美景——岬角没入深水之中，船只在水面起伏，这是一个繁忙的港口城镇。

“能拥有这个空间我们很幸运，”艺术家兼科学插画师 Kramer 说，“我们将其用于工作、休闲和娱乐，想到这一切都可能受到损害，就感到非常可怕。我担心我们很快将面对什么样的生活环境，以及我们将给后代留下什么。”

她谈到的是一项耗资 1.5 亿英镑 的计划，旨在重新开发康沃尔郡西南部的法尔茅斯码头（Falmouth Docks）。该计划包括扩建码头以允许更大的邮轮停靠，许多人担心这将加剧环境问题并给城镇的结构带来压力。

海洋社会科学家 Hannah Cocks 之前一直与 Kramer 一起游泳，她说她并不反对对这座已经在这里存在 150 年以上的码头进行重新开发。

“但我希望它能以一种在环境和社会上都公正的方式进行，”她说，“社区在面对一个可能产生如此不利影响的决定时，没有得到充分的咨询。”

“即便在现在，康沃尔郡的基础设施也无法应对夏季到访的人数。我们真的需要这些巨大的邮轮来到这里吗？”

该计划还涉及在码头周围进行疏浚，一些人担心这可能会将海床底部的重金属搅动起来，这些重金属是在康沃尔郡曾作为矿业强国时期冲入港口的，以及曾经用于保护船壳的有毒油漆。

渔民和环保人士警告称，珍贵的栖息地可能会遭到破坏，包括牡蛎养殖区和稀有的 maerl 床（由稀有类型的红海藻生长成坚硬的、像小树枝一样的块状物而形成）。

野生动物讲述者 Gio Reale 表示，今年夏天是观察海洋野生动物的好时机。

“我通常出去寻找鲨鱼。我们看到了小点猫鲨和 marshenous，相当多的章鱼，以及许多常见的龙虾和海龙。”

◀ 牡蛎渔民 Jason Pascoe 和右侧的海洋社会科学家兼游泳爱好者 Hannah Cocks 担心有毒废物以及对基础设施需求的增加

“我们这里有 maerl 床、海草草甸和海带。这是一个美丽但脆弱的生态系统，我担心它可能会受到严重的损害，”他说道。

政府支持此次重新开发。法尔茅斯已经接待了邮轮，但部长们表示，扩建将允许更大的船只停靠——例如长达 345 米（1,131英尺）的卓越级（Excellence Class）邮轮。

政府称，这有助于到 2030, 年每年吸引多达 200,000 名邮轮游客，为当地经济注入数百万英镑，并支持数百个与旅游相关的就业岗位。

康沃尔郡议会将在未来几周讨论该方案的部分内容，但其中大部分内容正通过政府的快速通道系统进行规划审批，该系统旨在推动复杂开发项目的进展并消除繁文缛节。

这意味着开发商只需与 1, 个主导环境机构——在本案例中为海洋管理组织（MMO）——合作，而不是与英国政府所称的“重叠监管机构的循环往复”打交道。

但镇上的许多人担心，快速通道可能会导致缺乏审查。

◀ 该方案的计算机生成图像。下方的法尔茅斯居民担心拟议的码头重新开发和额外游客可能给城镇带来的环境影响。

照片：ABHIE TRAILER-SMITH / 卫报；BALAZINA

在水边经营桑拿房的 Jem Wallis 表示，他觉得该项目还没有给出明确的理由。而且从未有邮轮乘客光顾过他的桑拿房：

“在我看来，这一切似乎是一个巨大的风险。”

导游佐伊·杨（Zoe Young）表示：“一个让臭气熏天的巨轮与臭气熏天的巴士在兰兹角（Land's End）会合的航站楼——这就是我们能期待的最好结果吗？”当《卫报》访问位于教堂街（Church Street）的约翰·斯帕戈（John Spargo）的纪念品店“高桅船贸易”（Tall Ships Trading）时，一场关于利弊的辩论爆发了。斯帕戈表示，大多数抵达该镇的邮轮乘客都被大巴车接走，前往伊甸项目（Eden Project）等其他景点。“他们给这个镇本身带来的钱没有你想象的那么多。”来自肯特郡的游客伯妮（Bernie）表示，她认为邮轮非常糟糕。“欧洲其他地方正试图摆脱它们。为什么你们想要更大的邮轮？为了邮轮而失去这个地方的特色是不值得的。”住在法尔茅斯（Falmouth）的苏西（Susie）则不同意。“它们确实带来了资金。这对许多商店是有好处的，而且当它们到来时，乘船游览业务表现良好。每当有邮轮在这里时，圣莫斯渡轮（St Mawes Ferry）总是挤满了人。乘客们说，他们在邮轮上感觉不像在真正的船上，所以很喜欢乘坐小船。”政府表示，快速通道系统并不意味着在简化流程。政府称，海洋管理组织（MMO）正在审查咨询期间提交的信息，以支持一项“稳健”的海洋许可决定。一名发言人表示：“主导环境监管模式旨在确保开发商与环境监管机构之间更好的协调，以防止规划过程中的延迟，且不会降低环境标准。”运营码头的海事工程和造船集团 Balaena 表示，该项目将确保港口保持适用性，保障技术岗位，创造学徒机会，并支持康沃尔郡及更广泛的西南部地区企业。该公司表示，码头周围需要进行“有针对性的局部疏浚”，且该项工作已通过全面的环境影响评估。主码头航道或更宽的河口将不进行疏浚，不适合在海上处置的材料将被运往内陆设施。从事牡蛎养殖近 40 年的杰森·帕斯科（Jason Pascoe）对此并不信服。“这里的河流系统非常复杂。他们能确定如果将废物倾倒在海里，它不会重新回到这里吗？讽刺的是，我们刚刚迎来了有史以来最好的季节。对我来说，这感觉像是一个可怕的威胁。” --- 18 National

总理就诱骗团伙成员提前释放问题“亲自干预”

Rajeev Syal 内政编辑

在人们对系统潜在漏洞提出担忧后，安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）政府正在“紧急”核查仍可能有资格提前出狱的诱骗团伙犯罪者。

一名首相发言人表示，在布拉德福德（Bradford）被判定袭击儿童的男子预计将提前获释后，总理已“亲自干预”，尽管本周早些时候曾承诺他们将继续被监禁。

唐宁街 10 号表示，将确保“采取一切可能措施，使那些卑劣的诱骗者受到受害者应得的对待”。

由于部长们将诱骗团伙成员、强奸犯和“严重”儿童性犯罪者排除在计划之外，预计将有约 5,000 人根据判刑变更提前释放，低于之前的 6,000 人。该计划将于10月开始，旨在解决监狱过度拥挤问题。

但有报道称，一些涉及历史诱骗团伙案件而被定罪的男子可能在获释之列，批评人士对此质疑了豁免范围。部分犯罪行为发生在 2003 年性虐待法律修订之前，犯罪者被指控的罪名包括猥亵袭击，而这并不在计划的排除范围之内。

伯纳姆的一名发言人表示：“作为判刑审查的一部分，总理要求司法部对案件进行深入审查，以确保诱骗案件被识别。”

“这项工作正在紧急开展。。”

伯纳姆在就任总理的第二周暂停了该计划，此前他面临来自国会议员、受害者、活动人士和监狱工作人员的巨大压力，要求停止严重性犯罪和暴力犯罪者的提前释放。

监狱已成为政治争论的主要焦点，工党指责保守党在 2010 和 2024 年之间通过增加刑期但未能建设足够监狱，造成了过度拥挤危机。

保守党党魁凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）昨天致信伯纳姆，要求就哪些罪行有资格提前释放给出答案，并指责政府“再次背叛受害者”。

“他要求进行深入审查以确保诱骗案件被识别” 发言人 唐宁街 10 号

正如《泰晤士报》首次披露，在针对亚裔诱骗团伙的历史调查中，有若干在布拉德福德被判定袭击儿童的男子未被排除在提前释放计划之外，因为他们的案件发生在反诱骗法律出台之前。这些男子被指控为猥亵袭击，这不属于豁免范围。

在其他方面，政府抵制了要求将安德鲁·哈珀（Andrew Harper）警员的两名杀手排除在提前释放之外的压力，而其原所属警队的负责人正在考虑加入针对该计划的潜在法律挑战。

根据提前释放计划，杰西·科尔（Jessie Cole）和阿尔伯特·鲍尔斯（Albert Bowers）可能会在 13 年的过失杀人罪刑期过半时获释。在伯克郡萨尔汉姆斯特德（Sulhamstead），当科尔、鲍尔斯和亨利·隆（Henry Long）在盗窃四轮摩托车后逃离现场时，哈珀被卷入车后的一根带子并在乡村道路上被拖行，导致致命伤。

汽车驾驶员隆被判处 16 年监禁，将不具备根据该计划获释的资格。

泰晤士河谷警察局局长杰森·霍格（Jason Hogg）表示，他正在就警队是否能加入由当地警察联邦负责人艾琳·奥康纳（Aileen O'Connor）提出的法律挑战以防止科尔和鲍尔斯获释而寻求法律建议。

首相表示，在下令对该计划进行审查后，他曾希望在豁免方面“走得更远”，但如果不导致监狱系统达到容量上限并崩溃，这是“不可能实现的”。

舞台剧评论

内容依然令人震惊，但至少这部剧不是音乐剧 《沉默的羔羊》 Curve剧院：莱斯特 ★★★☆☆ 马克·劳森 (Mark Lawson)

在戏剧版《快车道》(Trainspotting) 遭遇冷遇后不久，另一部 1990 年代的里程碑式电影《沉默的羔羊》尝试了类似的尝试。但在这种情况下，导演尼古拉·福斯特 (Nikolai Foster) 显然很明智地没有将这部素材改编成音乐剧。改编者吉娜·吉昂弗里多 (Gina Gionfriddo) 并非基于乔纳森·德米 (Jonathan Demme) 的电影，而是基于托马斯·哈里斯 (Thomas Harris) 1988 年的小说。该故事讲述了 FBI 新手克拉丽斯·斯塔林 (Clarice Starling) 对精神病心理学家汉尼拔·莱克特 (Dr Hannibal Lecter) 博士进行危险审讯，以获取他关于一名绰号为“水牛比尔” (Buffalo Bill) 的连环杀手的洞察力。

电影戏剧化最大的风险在于，表演可能会变成一种“卡拉 OK”。莫莉·加拉格尔 (Mollie Gallagher) 在事实上的女主角中自信地完成了舞台首秀，她模仿了福斯特设定的弗吉尼亚口音，并加强了那种好斗的姿态和步法。约翰·帕特里奇 (John Partridge) 饰演的莱克特在听感上比安东尼·霍普金斯 (Anthony Hopkins) 结合威尔士语调的演绎更像美国人（该角色实际上是立陶宛人），他避免了那种嘶嘶的舔唇动作，注入的魅力与文化气息也较少。

舞台化电影的另一个危险在于，电影导演的大部分工作是移动摄像机，而舞台的框架本质上是一个默认的全景镜头。然而，福斯特令人印象深刻地改变了视角。他通过在主场景两侧布置其他角色的静止画面，创造了一种分屏效果。在莱克特与斯塔林的场景中，霍华德·哈德逊 (Howard Hudson) 的灯光微妙地引导着我们的视线，鼓励观众集中注意力。角色精心的位置安排也巧妙地模拟了双人镜头。

▲ 约翰·帕特里奇饰演汉尼拔·莱克特，避免了电影中安东尼·霍普金斯的“嘶嘶舔唇”动作。照片：马克·布伦纳 (MARC BRENNER)

当该类型标准的尸检场景在舞台前演时，由于失去了多路电影院屏幕的遮挡，且没有摄像机可以选择性地避开视野，感觉极其令人反感。两位主角之间短暂的接触在现场演出中也具有电击般的张力。

但是，尽管福斯特对动作的呈现富有想象力，但内容仍可能让人感到不适。“水牛比尔”这一线索有时更像是主线而非子线，这意味着整晚的大部分时间都在观看女性被追踪和折磨。吉昂弗里多是一位顶尖的剧作家——曾两度入围普利策奖决赛，包括在伦敦取得成功的《贝基·肖》(Becky Shaw)——她机智地处理了这个问题。她强调了 1983 年背景下普遍存在的性别歧视，同时也反映了小说和电影面世四十年以来观念的变化，给了女性受害者（由洛蒂·阿莫尔 (Lottie Amor) 精准地演绎出差异）更多的戏份和自主权。一段令人震惊的新台词（重复了两遍）反映了一名受害者为了生存而做出的毁灭性权衡。

最大胆的是，虽然所有版本的莱克特与斯塔林叙事都将其视为一种爱情故事，但舞台版最大化了浪漫语境，尽管其程度在扭曲与绝望之间。此类跨界改编的风险在于，它们可能会促使人们转而去流媒体平台上搜索电影，但这仍是一部值得观看的演出。

演出至 15 August，随后将开启巡演

一名女子因在科文特花园行刺而被出庭 PA Media

一名女子昨日出庭，被指控在伦敦市中心的科文特花园用一把剪刀刺伤四名男子的背部。

斯特拉·戈洛夫纳（Stella Gollovna），47岁，被指控在周三午餐时间袭击了帕特里克·德·巴尔（Patrick De Barr）、托马斯·哈丁（Thomas Harding）、艾德里安·洛韦特（Adrian Lovett）和曼塔斯·詹库斯（Mantas Jankus）。她被指控四项蓄意造成严重身体伤害的伤人罪，以及一项持有攻击性武器（一把剪刀）的罪名。

没有固定住所的戈洛夫纳在海布里角（Highbury Corner）治安法院的一次听证会上首次面对这五项刑事指控。

听证会获悉，大约在 12.25pm，在充满酒吧、剧院和餐厅的繁忙旅游区恩德尔街（Endell Street），一名受害者拦住了警察。他与第二名男子报告称被刺伤，随后嫌疑人被追捕并被电击枪击中。

法院获悉，警方采集了四名男子的陈述，他们因背部刺伤在医院接受治疗。第五个人告诉警员自己也被刺伤，但不想提供陈述。

据指称，戈洛夫纳在被捕时携带了一把剪刀——也被描述为一把大剪刀。

副首席治安法官坦·伊克拉姆（Tan Ikram）将戈洛夫纳羁押，直至 3 September 在斯内尔斯布鲁克（Snaresbrook）刑事法院进行下一次听证。

戈洛夫纳发言确认了其身份，但未对指控做出任何答辩。

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国家 19

极右翼势力崛起推动 Prevent 计划转介人数创纪录

Rajeev Syal

根据昨日公布的官方数据，英格兰和威尔士地区被转介至政府反恐计划的人数创下纪录，一年内增长了 39%，其中极右翼意识形态的转介人数增长了 42%。

在截至 2025 年 9 月的一年里，Prevent 计划共收到 10,293 例转介（此前为 7,408 例），这是 11 年前开始记录以来的最高数字。该计划旨在防止人们转向恐怖主义，这些转介涉及 9,957 名被怀疑具有极端主义或暴力倾向的人员。

官员们指出，自 2024 年 7 月的南港（Southport）袭击事件以来，转介人数持续且显著增加。在舞蹈课上杀死三名女孩并试图谋杀另外八名女孩及两名成年人的 Axel Rudakubana 曾三次被转介至 Prevent 计划，但由于其缺乏明确的意识形态，其案件被关闭。

数据显示，2,103 例 Prevent 转介是由于对极右翼意识形态的担忧——占总数的 20%——高于前 12 个月的 1,480 例。关于伊斯兰极端主义的转介有 860 例（8%），低于前一年的 945 例。

内政部表示，在年龄已知的情况下，11 至 15 岁的人群在 Prevent 转介中占比最高（1,655 人或 36%），其次是 16 至 17 岁的人群（1,379 人或 13%）。

共有 818 例转介（8%）与对极端暴力或大规模伤亡袭击的痴迷有关，95 例（1%）为“非自愿独身者”（incel）极端主义——即一种厌女意识形态的分支——32 例（0.3%）为左翼极端主义，而 353 例（3%）涉及多种意识形态且未确定主导意识形态。该计划中 56% 的转介对象为未识别出意识形态的个人。

内政部还公布了 Prevent 计划转介人员的种族数据，但由于转介表上并非强制填写，该数据并不完整。在被转介至该计划的 5,315 人中，3,600 人（68%）为白人，949 人（18%）为亚裔，401 人（8%）为黑人，365 人（7%）被列为“其他”。

经过初步筛选和评估，被认为有激进化风险的 Prevent 转介人员可能会被移交给一个多机构的“渠道小组”（channel panel）。这些小组由地方当局主持，旨在确定一个人易受激化的程度，以及是否需要量身定制的支持方案来应对风险。

在截至 2025 年 9 月的一年里，被接纳为渠道案例且种族已知的人员中，共有 1,100 例，其中 835 人（76%）为白人，159 人（14%）为亚裔，59 人（5%）为黑人，47 人（4%）为“其他”。

被转介至该计划的人员中，近五分之一（18%）患有自闭症，而 36% 的人在其 Prevent 记录中至少列有一项心理健康或神经多样性状况。

权利与安全国际组织（RSI）表达自由与信仰团队负责人 Jacob Smith 表示，在这样一个秘密计划下，有如此数量的自闭症患者留下长期警察记录，这令人震惊。他说：“对自闭症患者释放如此之多的怀疑是没有理由的。”

安全大臣丹·贾维斯（Dan Jarvis）表示，创纪录的转介人数凸显了在保护公众免受恐怖主义侵害方面所面临的挑战规模。他说：“统计数据还显示了该计划在维护公众安全方面发挥的关键作用，已有 6,000 多人远离了可能导致自身或他人受伤害的暴力意识形态。”

贾维斯补充道：“我们将继续改进 Prevent 计划，确保它拥有必要的工具来完成防止人们成为恐怖分子或支持恐怖主义的工作。”

这位安全大臣表示：“在确保彼此安全和识别激进化迹象方面，我们每个人都扮演着一定的角色。”

南迪的批准意味着派拉蒙与华纳兄弟的交易更近了一步

迈克尔·萨维奇，媒体编辑

文化大臣丽莎·南迪（Lisa Nandy）表示，她不会干预派拉蒙拟议收购华纳兄弟探索（Warner Bros Discovery）一事，从而消除了这桩巨额交易剩余的障碍之一。

为了获得英国政府对这笔价值 1100亿美元 (850亿英镑) 收购案的支持，派拉蒙做出了重大让步。此次收购将打造一个全球媒体巨头，并增强派拉蒙首席执行官大卫·埃利森（David Ellison）的影响力。

南迪在 6 月决定命令英国媒体和竞争监管机构审查该交易，这在当时令人震惊。然而，她现在已批准该交易，但附带了关于保护英国本土内容的条件。

英国竞争与市场管理局（CMA）也已批准该交易，欧盟此前已表示支持。

根据英国的保证，派拉蒙旗下的第五频道（Channel 5）将继续作为公共服务广播公司运营至 2034. 年底。第五频道新闻将保留其编辑独立性，并与此次合并涵盖的其他新闻机构——CBS 新闻和 CNN 国际频道保持独立。

派拉蒙已同意其在英国的线性电视和点播服务在 5, 年内保留独特的编辑身份，包括其儿童电视内容。

南迪所在的部门还获得了一项保证，即该交易不会减少在英国负责内容委约的人员数量，而第五频道将继续支持涵盖剧集、纪实和娱乐节目的英国原创内容。

南迪将在“未来几周内”会见派拉蒙高管，以寻求关于该交易对英国更广泛创意产业影响的保证。

这意味着埃利森距离完成交易又近了一步。该交易将创建一个涵盖好莱坞工作室（包括《超人》、《蝙蝠侠》和《壮志凌云》等系列电影）、英国第五频道、新闻频道 CNN 以及 TNT 体育的集团。

在完成之前，此次收购仍面临最后一个重大障碍，即由美国多个州和编剧工会组成的联盟发起的旨在阻止该交易的法律挑战。

媒体内部也对华纳全球新闻网络 CNN 的新闻报道可能受到的影响表示担忧。派拉蒙自己的网络 CBS 新闻此前已面临裁员、紧张局势以及关于政治干预以使报道符合唐纳德·特朗普议程的指控。

埃利森是科技大亨及特朗普盟友拉里·埃利森（Larry Ellison）之子，他在追求收购过程中也面临过试图讨好白宫的其他指控。

然而，在最近的一篇随笔中，他否认具有亲特朗普偏见。他写道：“我经常投票给两个政党的候选人。我持有某些会被称为保守的观点，也持有某些会被称为自由的观点，就像大多数美国人一样。”

针对英国政府批准该交易的决定，派拉蒙在声明中表示：“这些批准认可了派拉蒙与 WBD 的结合将增强消费者的选择，并使一家创意优先的公司能够投资更多项目，将故事带给全球观众。”

▲ 上图为《哈利·波特》系列电影，是华纳的瑰宝之一。上方为丽莎·南迪。主图：MARSIE BROS

▲ 右侧为大卫·埃利森与演员杰伊·埃利斯（Jay Ellis）在《壮志凌云：独行侠》英国首映礼上的合影；左侧为报道国际足联世界杯的 CNN 记者阿曼达·戴维斯（Amanda Davies）。摄影：TRISTAN FEWINGS / GETTY; JESS STILES / JUMA PRESS WIRE / SHUTTERSTOCK

该计划的数据

39% 截至2025 9,957的一年内，英格兰和威尔士被转介至 Prevent 计划的人数增长率

2025 9,957 因涉嫌具有极端主义或暴力倾向而被转介至该反恐计划的人数

42% 因担心极右翼意识形态而导致转介人数的增幅

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下载 Feast 应用程序 App Store Get it on Google Play 14天免费试用后，将自动转为全价年度或月度订阅。可在续费日期前随时取消。完整条款请见 guardian.com / feasttacts 卫报

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国家 21 # 打破循环 走进为罪犯提供监狱刑期替代方案的计划

汤姆·皮尔斯顿 (Tom Pilston) 哈伦·西迪基 (Haroon Siddique)

随着监狱过度拥挤危机没有缓解迹象，且关于提前释放的争论愈演愈烈，西米德兰兹郡的一项倡议为监禁判决提供了一种替代方案。《卫报》获得了进入该项目的罕见机会，在该项目中，罪犯在斯梅思威克（Smethwick）周围的水道和绿地改善工作中服刑，而不是被送入监狱。这是社区偿还计划（community payback scheme）的一小部分，据估计，去年英格兰和威尔士在该计划中累计完成了 500 万小时的工作。

社区偿还并不适用于所有人，但涵盖了广泛的成年人犯罪，并可作为缓刑的一部分被执行。今年1月获得御准的《判刑法案》引入了一项推定，即法院将对 12 个月或更短的监禁判决予以缓刑，这意味着将有更多罪犯执行基于社区的处罚。

当《卫报》上个月访问斯梅思威克项目时，上午 9.30am 的气温已经高达 20 多度。参与者们来到运河边，进行一天的除草和修剪过度生长的植被工作，并清理拖道和运河本身的啤酒罐、塑料袋、瓶子和避孕套。

其中一名参与者是 54 岁的史蒂夫·沃默（Steve Warmer），他穿着一套灰色运动服，髋部疼痛。他最近被判定犯有一项可能导致罚款、禁驾以及最高六个月监禁的罪行。当两名同伴拿到网兜在运河中搜寻垃圾和厚厚的绿色浮萍时，沃默拿到了一把垃圾拾取器和许多黑色垃圾袋中的第一个。

“我其实很喜欢这项工作。它让我了解生活和他人” 史蒂夫·沃默 项目参与者

▲ 上图：项目主管莫·加特努尔（Mo Ghatnoor）带领一个社区偿还小组清理西米德兰兹郡斯梅思威克运河沿线的垃圾和过度生长的植被；左图：加特努尔帮助一名参与者使用除草机；右图：史蒂夫·沃默拿着他的垃圾拾取器 摄影：汤姆·皮尔斯顿 / 卫报

沃默是来自达德利（Dudley）的一名工厂工人，他说自己是朋友圈中“最后一个幸存的人”。他说：“我其实很喜欢这项工作。它让我了解生活和他人。”

社区偿还的目标是将惩罚与康复相结合。沃默补充道：“现在我和我的妻子会在我们自己的街道上捡垃圾。”

母亲从九楼窗户坠亡后婴儿平安出生

拉斐尔·博伊德 (Raphael Boyd)

一项死因研讯听证会获悉，一名因从九层楼坠落而死亡的孕妇，在死后30分钟内其婴儿被安全接生。

艾玛·阿特金森 (Emma Atkinson)，38岁，在2024年10月22日从其父亲位于利兹 (Leeds) Burman-tofts 地区 Shakespeare Towers 公寓的窗户坠落时，已怀孕七个月。

韦克菲尔德 (Wakefield) 验尸法庭昨日获悉，阿特金森在上午10.20分坠落后不久，抵达现场的急救人员宣布其死亡。阿特金森的遗体被送往利兹综合医院 (Leeds General Infirmary)，随后在那里进行了紧急剖腹产手术。

女婴在抵达医院后不久出生。她在坠落中受了一些伤，包括肺部穿孔和胫骨骨折，导致她在出生后的前几周需要留在重症监护室，但此后已康复。据报道，这名现在21个月大的女孩正由亲戚“快乐地抚养”。

在叙述性裁决中，研讯判定阿特金森是“故意将自己推离”九楼窗户的，但无法判定她这样做是否意在结束自己的生命。

验尸官娜奥米·麦克劳林 (Naomi McLoughlin) 表示，虽然“故意拆除窗户安全锁的行为”以及“监控摄像头捕捉到的坠落方式”具有重要意义，但其他证据——例如在之前的几周内没有出现令人担忧的迹象，以及她与家人制定了该日之后的计划——意味着她无法断定阿特金森在坠落时意图死亡。

法庭获悉，在死亡时，阿特金森一直遭受着糟糕的心理健康状况。

并非所有在运河工作的人都像沃默 (Warmer) 那样积极，沃默已完成了其250小时社区偿还 (community payback) 刑期中的126小时。在炎热的天气里，这项工作要求极高，需要多次饮水休息。

法院可命令在特定时间框架内完成40至300小时的社区偿还。失业的罪犯必须在三到四天内每周工作最多28小时。对于在职人员，工作则围绕其工作时间进行安排。如果没有正当理由而未能遵守，可能会导致强制执行行动并被送回法院。

沃默在场当天，斯梅斯威克 (Smethwick) 项目的主管是莫·加特努尔 (Mo Ghatnoor)，他曾担任过10年的企业银行家。他现在的职责包括驾驶将罪犯和设备运送到现场的面包车。

“这100%更令人满足，”他说。“我以前帮助企业获利，但我只是电话里的一个声音。在这里，我在自己社区的核心地带产生影响。我帮助了自己的心理健康，也帮助了他人、社区和个人。”

其他形式的社区偿还（原称为社区判决）包括清除涂鸦、装饰公共场所和社区中心等建筑，以及植树。任何人都可以为该计划提名项目，只要该项目有利于当地社区，不抢夺他人的有偿工作，且不为任何人创造利润。

由于《判刑法案》(Sentencing Act)，将在监狱中度过更少时间而在社区中度过更多时间的罪犯包括入室窃贼、商店窃贼和被判定犯有袭击罪的人。

最新的统计数据显示，从2024年7月到9月，服刑不足12个月后获释的成年人重新犯罪率为68.2%，而服刑12个月或以上的人员重新犯罪率为22.9%。

批评者可能将社区偿还视为一种轻量化的判刑选择，但加特努尔并不认同这一观点。

“我们关注的是个体，这为他们的生活提供了一种结构，”他说。“它通常能打破负面循环并改变他们的心态，从而降低重新犯罪率。”

一直担心自己在因未能出席一次关于商店盗窃罪行的出庭日期后，可能会被监禁。她的父亲大卫·阿特金森（David Atkinson）通过一份摘要声明告诉死因研讯庭，他的女儿那天早晨来他的公寓看望他。在期间，她开始在他客厅的一扇窗前抽烟，随后她在拆除安全锁后将窗户完全打开。阿特金森表示，他询问女儿在做什么，她告诉他“不用担心，我只是在呼吸新鲜空气”，随后她说：“我走了”，然后头朝下从窗户坠落。 --- 22

目击者

来自阴影的魔力

拉科鲁尼亚的一场新展览正在展出保罗·罗韦尔西的摄影作品。此次展览将展出这位时尚摄影师的标志性杰作以及此前从未公开的作品。

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23

◀ 保罗·罗韦尔西的作品赢得了全球赞誉。该系列被认为既是一次对他艺术世界的亲密探索，也是对他四十多年职业生涯中对时尚摄影语言持久影响的庆典。他选择将展览命名为《怀疑》（Doubts），因为对他而言，怀疑是“通往创造力和想象力的开放之门”。

摄影：保罗·罗韦尔西

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24

世界

特朗普的和平委员会签署首个加沙合同——用于建设军事基地

阿拉姆·罗斯顿（Aram Roston） 华盛顿报道

一名知情人士告诉《卫报》，唐纳德·特朗普于1月成立旨在监督加沙重建的和平委员会，终于在这一被摧毁的地区签署了首个建设合同：一个旨在容纳150人的简易军事前哨项目，用于安置摩洛哥军队。

该合同尚未最终敲定，已授予 Aykel 国际公司。这家总部位于路易斯安那州的公司此前曾在伊拉克等国家为美国政府执行过工作。和平委员会由美国总统担任主席，并由一个包括其女婿贾里德·库什纳和朋友史蒂夫·威特科夫在内的团队领导。

一名和平委员会官员在电子邮件中表示，该委员会以及一组被指派监督加沙的巴勒斯坦技术官僚“正处于准备签署几项合同奖项的最后阶段。目前还没有一项最终敲定”。该巴勒斯坦小组被称为加沙管理国家委员会。

该官员表示：“其中一项拟议合同涉及支持国际稳定部队 [ISF] 的设施，该部队将协助执行路线图中的安全与治理安排。”他们补充道：“这项合同将是许多对加沙未来至关重要的合同之一。”

在特朗普宣布哈马斯已同意解除武装仅几天后，该合同便出炉，尽管关于该组织将如何放弃武器仍存在诸多疑问。以色列反对该计划，并在特朗普宣布后增加了对加沙的空袭。

知情人士称，目前规划中的基地仅为 100 米 by 120 米，旨在容纳一支摩洛哥军队分遣队，这些人将从以色列的一个基地轮换而来。该基地将位于以色列军队直接控制的 60% 的加沙领土内。以色列军队还在该区域之外设立了一个缓冲区。

该知情人士表示，基地距离以色列边界约一英里，并将设有“快速撤离路线”，以防止这支小规模部队遭到攻击。

授权成立和平委员会的联合国决议已批准在加沙建立 ISF，关于哪个国家将提供这些军队一直有各种报道。摩洛哥已承诺提供一小支分遣队，但 ISF 的法律框架尚未最终敲定，部署何时开始尚不明确。

在《卫报》看到的早期合同计划中，这个 150 人的基地是计划为 ISF 在加沙建设一个 5,000 人军事基地的第一阶段。该基地将包括“车辆战斗阵地”和周界堤坝——即raised defensive bank（抬高的防御堤），并设有适用于短期部署的简易设施。

早期的合同称，第一阶段将包括“供部队睡眠的帐篷和行军床，以及化学厕所和洗手站。在这一阶段，这就是我们认为具备居住条件的设施”。

特朗普在 2025 年 2 月宣布，美国将“接管”并“拥有”加沙，尽管成立和平委员会的协议并未达到这一程度。在1月的委员会首次会议上，库什纳披露了一项建设“新加沙”的“总体规划”，计划打造一个拥有宽阔海滨城市和闪耀的综合用途大楼的区域。

“它可以成为一个希望，可以成为一个目的地。会有很多工业，”他说。

在战争中，加沙至少 80% 的建筑物遭到损坏或摧毁。在停火十个月后，该地区 200 万 居民中的大多数仍生活在临时且不卫生的营地中。

以色列空袭被指为“战争罪” 人权组织称记者被蓄意针对

William Christou

三家权利组织昨日表示，以色列在4月的一次袭击中导致黎巴嫩记者阿玛尔·哈利勒（Amal Khalil）死亡，其同事泽纳布·法拉吉（Zeinab Faraj）受伤，此举构成了战争罪。

来自人权观察（HRW）、国际特赦组织（Amnesty International）和法律议程（Legal Agenda）的调查显示，以色列在显然知晓哈利勒和法拉吉是平民的情况下，蓄意且直接地对她们发动了攻击。这些组织呼吁将此次袭击作为战争罪进行调查，而人权观察则呼吁各国停止向以色列出售武器，并对负责持续犯罪的以色列官员实施定向制裁。

蓄意攻击平民（两名记者均属于平民）是战争罪。根据联合国人权事务高级专员办事处的资料，自2023年以来，以色列在黎巴嫩境内已导致至少15名记者死亡，在加沙境内导致210名记者死亡。

报告还指出，以色列阻碍黎巴嫩救护车在数小时内抵达哈利勒和法拉吉身边——期间一度向黎巴嫩红十字会工作人员投掷震眩弹并向其救护车开火。救援的延迟可能导致了哈利勒的死亡，因为医院报告显示，在以色列的一次袭击将建筑压在哈利勒和法拉吉身上数小时后，她可能仍然活着。

人权观察的黎巴嫩研究员拉姆齐·凯斯（Ramzi Kaiss）表示：“证据很明确，以色列军队知道，或者应该知道法拉吉和哈利勒是平民，但仍然攻击了她们，随后又阻止医护人员在数小时内营救她们。”

以色列方面表示，“对给记者造成的任何伤害感到遗憾”，并称这些记者是在“一系列事件”中被杀的，期间有两名真主党军事特工被击毙。

在以色列称之为真主党特工的两名男子被击毙的首次袭击，与针对记者避难建筑的第二次袭击之间，大约间隔了两小时。

哈利勒是一名42岁的记者，就职于黎巴嫩报纸《al-Akhbar》；而法拉吉则是一名21岁的自由摄影师和照片记者。在过去三年中，两人一直活跃于黎巴嫩战争的报道工作。

2026年4月22日，两人开车前往黎巴嫩南部的阿尔-提里（al-Tiri）村，以核实以色列军队已撤离该地区的报道。她们跟在一辆车后面，车上载有宾特朱拜勒（Bint Jbeil）市的市政官员阿里·纳比尔·巴齐（Ali Nabil Bazzi）以及当地市长的朋友穆罕默德·胡拉尼（Mohammed Hourani）。

阿尔-提里位于以色列所谓的黎巴嫩南部“安全区”内，该区域由其军队占领。

国际特赦组织表示，尽管以色列军队

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“我们将攻击任何地方”

走进哥伦比亚的 游击队营地

抓娃娃机是我的主人

香港的抓娃娃 机成瘾现象

坚定不移 一名巴勒斯坦女孩从被占领的约旦河西岸马萨费尔亚塔（Masafer Yatta）受损的家中搬出一个被熏黑的毛绒玩具，此前该地发生了一起被指责由以色列定居者发起的袭击。摄影：MUSIA QAMALMA / REUTERS 尽管将其称为军事区并禁止人员进入，但仍需区分平民与战斗人员。下午 2.25，在进入 al-Tiri 后，搭载巴齐（Bazzi）和胡尔奈（Hournai）的车辆遭到袭击，导致两名男子死亡。卡利尔（Khalil）呼叫了黎巴嫩民防部门并请求援助。民防人员开车前往村庄入口，在那里他们被告知在军事检查站停止前进，同时等待以色列军队的授权以便安全进入村庄。在黎巴嫩南部发生战斗或被以色列军队占领的地区开展工作的救援人员必须与“机制”（一个冲突缓解渠道）协调，以获得安全通行权。除其他事项外，以色列军队必须批准民防部门获得安全通行的请求。到下午 5 点，驻黎巴嫩联合国维和部队已为民防部门进入该镇提供了一条安全路线，但以色列尚未给予批准。在等待民防人员到达期间，法拉吉（Faraj）和卡利尔离开车辆并在其他地方寻求掩护。法拉吉说，在两名记者等待时，以色列的四旋翼无人机在头顶盘旋。“无人机从屋顶飞得极近，距离我和阿玛尔（Amal）的脸不到一米，”她说。下午 3.31，一名黎巴嫩民防部门成员给卡利尔打电话，敦促她进入车内并开车离开村庄，因为他尚未收到“机制”进入村庄的许可。大约九分钟后，以色列袭击了记者的车辆，导致两名女性受伤。“玻璃碎片向我们飞来。我的耳朵感觉像爆裂了一样。她 [阿玛尔·卡利尔] 的鼻子和头部大量出血，手臂和大腿有碎片伤；她的腿无法移动，”法拉吉说。两名女性爬进附近的一栋建筑寻求掩护。她们继续打电话请求援助，但被告知在获得“机制”授权之前无法被救出。下午 4.25，以色列进行了第三次袭击，轰炸了该建筑。

▲ 阿玛尔·卡利尔（Amal Khalil）为日报《阿拉伯新闻》（al-Akhbar）工作，于 22 March 在黎巴嫩卡斯米耶（Qasmiyeh）一座被毁桥梁附近报道。左侧的哀悼者于 23 April 在黎巴嫩南部拜萨里耶（Baisariyeh）抬着卡利尔的棺材。摄影：MASIMOTO DUVAT / APF / GETTY IMAGES

约旦河西岸 定居者因杀害巴勒斯坦人被起诉

路透社 以色列检察官就去年在被占领的西岸地区杀死一名巴勒斯坦社区领袖一事，起诉了一名犹太定居者——这是近三年来首次出现此类起诉。在州检察官办公室提交的文件中，Yinon Levi 被指控在 Awdah Hathaleen 的死亡事件中犯有过失杀人罪，后者是一位著名的活动人士，曾参与 2025 年获得奥斯卡奖的纪录片《没有其他土地》（No Other Land）。该片拍摄于 2019 年至 2023 年之间，重点关注巴勒斯坦人被强行驱逐出他们在 Masafer Yatta 家园的情况，该地区是被占领的西岸地区中以色列军队的目标区域。对 Levi 的指控还包括在 2025 年 7 月的一次事件中涉嫌武装侵入和恶意损坏财产，当时定居者在巴勒斯坦村庄 Umm al-Khair 操作一台大型挖掘机，引发了与居民的冲突。Hathaleen 在冲突中拍摄到了自己被枪击的瞬间。以色列人权组织 B'Tselem 公布的片段显示，Levi 拔出武器并向 Hathaleen 的方向开火。随后可以听到 Hathaleen 在倒地时呻吟。Levi 因针对巴勒斯坦人的暴力行为已被英国和欧盟制裁，他此前否认开出了杀死 Hathaleen 的那一枪。路透社未能联系到其律师以获取评论。B'Tselem 表示，昨天的起诉书是自 2023 年 10 月 7 日哈马斯袭击以来（此次袭击引发了以色列在加沙的战争，随后西岸地区定居者针对巴勒斯坦人的暴力行为有所增加）的首次起诉。根据联合国数据，以色列士兵和定居者此后在西岸地区杀害了至少 1,100 名巴勒斯坦人，其中至少 240 名儿童。B'Tselem 表示：“起诉 Yinon Levi 的决定是一个证明规律的例外。以色列给予伤害巴勒斯坦人的士兵和定居者的免罪权并非系统失效，而是一项旨在允许暴力持续并升级的政策的核心组成部分。”以色列军方表示，它会对士兵的违规行为进行调查，并采取措施打击定居者暴力。数十万以色列人定居在以色列于 1967 年战争中夺取的土地上，那里居住着数百万巴勒斯坦人，且巴勒斯坦人将其视为未来独立国家的核心。联合国机构、巴勒斯坦人和大多数国家认为这些定居点根据国际法是非法的，且是和平的主要障碍。以色列对此观点持有异议。根据联合国数据，今年以来已有 18 名巴勒斯坦人在与定居者袭击相关的事件中丧生，而 2025 年全年为 17 人。

他们当时正在避难，建筑坍塌将两名女性埋在废墟之下。下午 5 点，黎巴嫩红十字会获准进入村庄。他们成功地撤离了 Faraj，她颅骨骨折，右腿和眼睛严重受伤，一只手被压碎。救援人员未能救出被困在废墟下的 Khalil。救援人员遭到了一架以色列四旋翼无人机的攻击，该无人机在他们附近投掷了一枚震眩弹。证人还表示，在撤离过程中听到了阵阵枪声，且人权观察组织（HRW）审查了救护车上弹孔的照片，这些弹孔与轻武器射击一致。救援人员被迫仅带着 Faraj 撤离。以色列军方最终在晚上 8.15 分批准救援队重新进入城镇的请求。Khalil 的遗体于晚上 11 点被寻获。在附近的 Tebine 医院对其遗体进行的检查显示，她可能在晚上 7 点死亡——即她最后一次被击中两小时半之后。在此期间，她被困在废墟下等待救援，而以色列军方阻止救援队挽救她的生命。

所有三个组织都要求对哈利勒（Khalil）被杀一事追究责任，并将其描述为以色列军队针对平民的一种更广泛的逍遥法外模式。“在过去三年中，以色列军队在黎巴嫩杀害记者和其他平民而享有的免责权，使得以色列军队能够继续进行其非法空袭，包括直接攻击平民，”国际特赦组织中东和北非地区主任海芭·莫拉耶夫（Heba Morayef）表示。“国际社会早就应该对以色列实施全面的武器禁运，”莫拉耶夫补充道。 --- 24 世界

哥伦比亚处于崩溃边缘：游击队准备重返冲突

托马斯·格雷厄姆，乔科省

当船只靠近河岸时，伪装的身影在林线后注视着。在他们身后的丛林灌木丛中，一名民族解放军（ELN）的指挥官将步枪放在膝盖上，周围是昆虫的嗡嗡声和砍刀砍伐竹子的啪啪声，而他的部队正在搭建营地，以躲避敌方无人机。

哥伦比亚长达62年的武装冲突正处于新篇章的边缘，今天就任总统的阿贝拉尔多·德·拉·埃斯普里埃拉誓言结束和平谈判，转而采取新的军事攻势。但哥伦比亚最后一支游击队表示，无论发生什么，他们都已准备就绪。

“在我们可以发起进攻的地方，我们将发起进攻，”该组织西部战线的指挥官（化名“耶尔森”）说道。“如果 ELN 领导层说我们必须在全国范围内开展军事攻势，我们将执行。在城市中，在乡村中——任何地方。”

耶尔森和他的部队身处太平洋沿岸的乔科省深处，这是一个只有经过数小时河道航行才能到达的 据点，潮湿的热气渗透在云层之中。河岸边偶尔出现的社区打破了茂密的森林，每个社区都是一排建在高脚架上的木屋。巨大的采矿驳船停泊在河上，挖掘机在河床中抓取以提取金粒。

与敌对武装组织为了控制圣胡安河及其资源和人口而战。在旅途中的某个时刻，来自准军事组织“海湾氏族”（Clan del Golfo）的武装人员拦住了《卫报》的船只以询问乘客，随后承诺要将该地区从 手中“解放”出来。

但耶尔森对这一威胁不以为意。

“所有 的领土都被雇佣兵团入侵了，”他说。“他们非常暴力——但他们并不在争夺政治权力。”

▲ 部队在哥伦比亚南部乔科省的丛林营地接收指令。这支由60人组成的部队男女比例相等 ▼ 该游击队拥有充足的武器供应，包括现代 AK-47 和 AR-15 突击步枪，其中一些产自美国

哥伦比亚的冲突始于 20 世纪 60 年代，根源于极端的土地不平等和排他性政治。左翼游击队出现以挑战国家，与政府军队作战，而政府军队后来与右翼准军事组织（“海湾氏族”的前身）结盟。可卡因贩运的资金为各方提供了支持。这场冲突已导致数十万人死亡，数百万人流离失所。

与哥伦比亚革命武装力量（Farc）一起， 是最重要的游击队组织。它成立于 1964 年，将马克思列宁主义与切·格瓦拉的“焦点理论”（即认为在偏远农村地区的一小支武装队伍最终可以推翻国家）以及将反贫困和反压迫斗争视为基督教信仰表达的解放神学相结合。

在追求革命的过程中，这两个组织实施了杀戮和绑架，并强迫平民人口禁闭和迁移。但虽然 Farc 在与哥伦比亚国家达成和平协议后最终于 2016 年解除武装，但 表示，其成员只有在政治和经济体制发生变革后才会放下武器。

“Farc...

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◀ 西部战线指挥官“耶尔森”。他表示，他的招募对象来自哥伦比亚的穷人，这些人几乎没有其他选择 ◀ 部队成员进行丛林战训练。他们的指挥官说，他们准备在“城市中，在乡村中——任何地方”发起攻击

摄影：Santiago Mesa / The Guardian

“在没有任何交换的情况下投降，”耶尔森说道，并补充称随后的历任总统都未能全面执行和平协议。2022年，古斯塔沃·佩特罗当选总统，他是一名左翼人士，在20世纪80年代曾是已解散的M-19游击队成员。他以实现“全面和平”为承诺竞选，誓言要履行与法尔克（Farc）的协议，并与剩余的武装团体（包括左翼和右翼）进行谈判。但几年后，几乎所有的谈判——包括与ELN、哥伦比亚海湾克兰（Clan del Golfo）以及在2016年拒绝解除武装的法尔克异见者的谈判——要么陷入停滞，要么彻底崩溃。

耶尔森否认了这样一种观点，即哥伦比亚首位左翼总统的当选意味着ELN的目标可以通过政治手段实现。“他们分发了土地（给穷人）。他们进行了一种养老金改革。他们一直在寻找改善医疗保健的方法，”他说，“但最终这些都是小事。它们无法帮助民众觉醒。”

据耶尔森讲述，佩特罗被“哥伦比亚寡头”允许掌权，因为在2019年和2021年不平等抗议爆发后，寡头们需要安抚民众，但他们知道他“永远不会进行根本性改革，他是可以被控制的”。“哥伦比亚的政治体制并不是它所声称的那种民主，”他说，“这就是陷阱所在。”

ELN现在面临着一个截然不同的方案，即德·拉·埃斯普里埃拉（De la Espriella）。他是一位崇拜特朗普的百万富翁，曾作为一名刑事律师而声名鹊起，代表被指控的AUC领导人出庭——AUC是一个右翼准军事组织，曾与游击队作战，并杀害被指控帮助游击队的平民。德·拉·埃斯普里埃拉给哥伦比亚的武装团体一个月的时间向他投降，否则将面临后果，同时承诺深化与美国的安全合作并建设巨型监狱。

然而，安全分析人士表示，武装团体已经聚集了力量和资源。ELN在哥伦比亚和委内瑞拉境内拥有约6,300名成员（包括武装和非武装人员）。营地里的60多人中，男性与女性、原住民与非裔哥伦比亚人的比例相当。

“‘我们已经奋斗了62年，未来还会有更多’——ELN指挥官‘耶尔森’。ELN的大多数成员一直是穷人，是最底层的人，”耶尔森说，“在这里，由于乔科省（Chocó）更多是非裔原住民，我们也是这样。”

他的每名士兵都配备了一把现代突击步枪：要么是AK-47，要么是AR-15——有些枪身刻有“美国制造”字样。其中一人还拥有一把.50口径步枪，其子弹可以击穿车辆。

营地位于ELN领土深处，他们显得很放松。当有人拿出便携式扬声器开始播放瓦亚纳托（vallanatos，哥伦比亚民歌）时，他们将步枪靠在树上或挎在背上，两人一组跳起舞来，突然之间看起来就像他们原本的样子——年轻的哥伦比亚人。

包括联合国和人权观察在内的多个组织指责ELN招募未成年人，但耶尔森坚称15岁以下的人不能加入。他将ELN描述为哥伦比亚穷人的“一种人生选择”，因为他们几乎没有其他选择。“也许这就是他们加入的原因——但一旦他们来到这里，他们就会明白我们为什么而战，”他说。

ELN通过对其领土内的“每个商业实体”征税来运作，在乔科省，这意味着非法金矿开采和伐木。它还进行勒索绑架。“我们是一个胚胎状态的国家，而每个国家都要征税，”他说，“如果他们在经济上扼杀我们，我们将不再作为一个反叛组织而存在。”

耶尔森声称，在乔科省的ELN领土上，古柯种植已经“消失”了。他否认ELN参与毒品走私，但承认它像对待其他业务一样对其征税。

美国已经赋予其军队一个新的角色，以应对整个美洲的“毒品恐怖主义”，美国可能并不认同这种区分。“是否有罪的问题对美国来说并不重要：对他们来说重要的是利益，”耶尔森说。

“我们是哥伦比亚乃至世界上唯一仍然坚守政治原则的游击队。我们永远是他们想要摧毁的对象。”上周，一辆被认为由国家解放阵线（ELN）安置的汽车炸弹在委内瑞拉边境附近的一个警察局外爆炸，造成12名警察和3名平民受伤，而无人机袭击已变得十分普遍。“目标必须是合法的：我们不会在会导致平民死亡的地方安置汽车炸弹，”耶尔森说道。尽管德拉·埃斯普里耶拉以及整个大陆的其他右翼领导人当选，但耶尔森表示，ELN并没有在意识形态之战中失败。“选民们被欺骗了，”他说道，随后引用了革命领袖西蒙·玻利瓦尔的话：“一个无知的民族是其自身毁灭的盲目工具。”当被问及在经历了数十年的冲突后，哥伦比亚是否更接近ELN的目标时，耶尔森并不确定：“我不知道。但我可以告诉你，为人民赢得成果的唯一途径就是通过斗争，”他说。“我们已经奋斗了62年，未来还将继续奋斗。”

丹麦学生将面临论文口试以遏制AI作弊

北欧特派员

丹麦政府宣布，为了打击AI作弊，青少年在提交书面论文后必须进行口头答辩。16至19岁的高中（在丹麦被称为 gymnasiet）学生还将被鼓励在学校的受控条件下完成书面作业，包括对其电脑屏幕进行监控，而非在家里完成。

这些措施于昨日公布，正值学生准备在暑假后于下周返校之际。在国家教育部长马格努斯·胡尼克（Magnus Heunicke）要求采取紧急行动后，这些措施将立即生效。他表示：“不幸的是，我们在高中阶段面临着AI作弊的问题。现在需要采取行动。”

教育部表示，AI给教学和考试带来了日益严峻的挑战。希望新措施能有助于为学生在何时不得使用AI建立更明确的指导方针。政府还在为所有学校及更广泛的教育领域制定一项全面的AI使用国家战略。胡尼克表示，他将与学校、教师和学生沟通，以“确保AI不会破坏

官员担心刚果民主共和国的埃博拉病毒可能在变异

全球健康记者 卫生官员担心，在刚果民主共和国引起大规模爆发的埃博拉病毒可能正在变异，目前确诊病例已超过 4,000 例。非洲公共卫生监督机构表示，采取渐进式行动的时代已经结束，并宣布计划扩大应对工作的各个方面，并采取“挨家挨户”的方式寻找患者。这次由埃博拉病毒 Bundibugyo 株引起的疫情于 15 May 首次报道，尽管该疾病可能自 1 月起就在传播。根据刚果民主共和国国家公共卫生研究所的数据，截至 8 月 4 日，已记录 3,973 例病例和 1,801 例死亡。非洲疾病控制与预防中心（Africa CDC）主任 Jean Kaseya 博士在昨天的新闻发布会上表示，病例数已超过 4,000 例。此次爆发是记录以来第二大规模的埃博拉疫情。其病例数是 2014-18, 年西非埃博拉疫情爆发 11 周时记录病例数的 8 倍，死亡人数则是当时的 6 倍；那次疫情感染了 28,000 多人，导致 11,000 多人死亡。Kaseya 表示，他已与世卫组织负责人 Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 博士进行了沟通，他们计划开展研究“以检查是否存在任何额外问题或病毒变化，因为这次 Bundibugyo 疫情的严重程度是前所未有的”。超过三分之二的埃博拉死亡病例发生在社区而非治疗中心。在布尼亚（Bunia）一个由无国界医生组织（MSF）运行的中心里，90% 的入院患者并未出现在当局已知的病例接触者名单上，这表明存在高水平的未追踪传播。Kaseya 表示，刚果民主共和国的接触者追踪不足，每名埃博拉患者预计有 40 个接触者，但仅识别出 10 个。埃博拉是一种病毒性出血热，可导致呕吐、腹泻、器官损伤和内出血。疫情集中在伊图里省（Ituri），但现在已蔓延至北基伍省（Nord-Kivu）、南基伍省（Sud-Kivu）、上韦莱省（Haut-Uele）和措波省（Tshopo）。邻国乌干达也记录了 20 例病例。

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学生的能力、专业精神，以及最重要的一点，即独立思考的能力”。首先将引入的措施是对在家完成的考试作业进行口头答辩。每年约 9,000 名高中学生需要写一篇大作业（称为 større skriftlige opgave 或 SSO），现在他们必须对此进行口头答辩。教育部表示，将与学校讨论实施此举的最佳方式。高中还将被要求使用监控工具来监督计算机在书面考试中的使用情况。他们被要求安装防火墙，以过滤考试和教学期间学校网络中可获取的内容。第三项措施是恳请学校鼓励学生在受控条件下在学校完成更多书面作业，以便“跟踪学生的工作过程，提供相关反馈，并为评估创建更准确的基础”。在瑞典，一项研究发现，因未经授权使用 AI 而被停学或警告的学生人数在 2023 年至 2025 年间增长了 688%。瑞典教育部长 Lotta Edholm 在 1 月宣布一项政策审查时表示：“没有理由对作弊的学生视而不见。无论采取何种形式，作弊都是完全不可接受的。这可能会影响本应反映学生知识水平的分数，从长远来看，学生实际上没有学到他们应该学习的内容。”

688% 2023 年至 2025 年间，瑞典被发现未经授权使用 AI 的学生人数增长率

48 世界

尼日利亚总统赞扬营救被武装分子绑架的300名人质之举

Eromo Egbejule 阿比让

尼日利亚安全部队营救了300多名被绑架人员，总统博拉·艾哈迈德·提努布（Bola Ahmed Tinubu）称这是该国历史上规模最大的单日人质营救行动。

周三宣布的这次释放行动是由军队、警察和反恐部队开展的一次联合行动，他们解救了被囚禁在中北部地区凯恩吉湖（Kainji Lake）国家公园茂密森林中的受害者。在重获自由的人员中，有163人是在2月份夸拉州（Kwara state）沃罗村（Woro）一次致命袭击中被绑架的，另有145人主要是在邻近的尼日尔州（Niger state）被抓走的。这两个州西接贝宁，近期贝宁的武装袭击事件频发。

官员确认，幸存者在与家人团聚前，正在一家军队设施中接受医疗救治。

“这次以情报为导向的行动成功执行，证明了我们安全部门之间日益增强的效率和协作，”提努布表示。“我赞扬我们身着制服的英勇男女，他们勇敢且坚定不移地致力于保护尼日利亚人的生命。”

政府发言人巴约·奥纳努加（Bayo Onanuga）表示，此次营救行动是总统决心“在国家每个角落恢复持久和平”的一部分。

在过去十年中，为了赎金而绑架的人员在非洲人口最多的这个国家已变得普遍，尤其是在北部，包括土匪帮派和圣战分子在内的不同武装团体在广阔的无人森林和灌木丛中游荡。

根据总部位于拉各斯的地理政治咨询公司 SBM Intelligence 的一份报告，在2024年7月至2025年6月期间，在997起报告的事件中，至少有4,722人被绑架，导致至少762人死亡。

在这12个月期间，绑架者要求支付480亿奈拉（2600 万英镑），而家庭和社区最终交付了至少 25.7亿 奈拉的赎金以确保其亲人的释放。

在提努布寻求第二个四年任期的1月总统选举之前，随着治安恶化，政府一直在加大改革和营救行动的力度。

最新的营救行动是在军队宣布伊斯兰国西非省省长阿布·穆萨·阿尔-曼加维·巴·舒瓦（Abu Musa al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa）及其副手阿米鲁尔·贾伊什·穆罕默德·吉达（Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda）为通缉犯的同一周宣布的。两人领导着一个隶属于伊斯兰国的博科圣地分支机构，主要在横跨喀麦隆、乍得、尼日尔和尼日利亚的查德湖盆地周围活动。

7月，安全部门解救了至少40名学生和教师，他们于5月在尼日利亚西南部奥约（Oyo）的一所学校被绑架。

上周，总统府宣布为数千名士兵增加30%至80%的薪资，这是多年来最大的一次加薪。这支军队曾被视为非洲最强大的军队之一，但现在被嘲讽为资金不足且装备匮乏。

卫报

由 # 一个新的YouTube系列 # FEED # 与 JIMI FAMUREWA 共同支持 跟随美食记者兼广播员 Jimi Famurewa，在新的系列节目中与塑造我们饮食方式的人们和菜肴相遇。在 YouTube 或卫报观看。 每周一和周四更新剧集

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世界

◀ 香港的抓娃娃机店吸引了各年龄段的玩家，提供毛绒玩具、Labubu 娃娃和宝可梦收藏品作为奖品，右图 照片：BILLY DE KWOK / THE GUARDIAN；插图：GETTY IMAGES

爪机热潮：游戏狂热席卷香港，引发成瘾担忧

杰西·庞（Jessie Pang） 香港

在香港霓虹闪烁的游戏机厅里，迷宫般的爪机照亮了当日的奖品：毛绒玩具、Labubu娃娃以及一系列宝可梦收藏品。在整个城市中，爪机店大量增加，目前数量已超过 2,500 家，其中许多店面填补了疫情期间关闭企业留下的空缺。这些场所（部分 24 小时营业）吸引了各年龄段的玩家。

“逛爪机店就像是在逃避现实，”28 岁的放射技师 Hiu-ching 说道，她如此痴迷于这款游戏，以至于决定租一台机器经营自己的摊位。“我无法抗拒一直玩爪机。因为我缺乏技巧，我通常通过抽奖的方式玩爪机，这类似于掷骰子。”

一些玩家对任何奖品都感到满意，而另一些人则被某些稀有收藏品可能具有的转售价值所吸引。Jerry 和 Parco 每月都会见面一起玩爪机，他们从去年起就开始这样做。Parco 表示，他曾在香港深水埗区的一个小游戏厅——龙中心，一层接一层地玩爪机，花费超过 4,000 港元（£380）。

对大多数人来说，爪机是一种乐趣，但人们担心有人在上面花费过多时间。今年 5 月，民政及青年事务局建议实施更严格的监管，包括展示成瘾风险警告。2022 年的一项法院裁决将爪机排除在公共娱乐牌照之外，使其处于不受监管的状态。一些资深爪机玩家对运营商心存不满。

印度法院判处一名记者 10 年监禁，罪名是强奸同事

法新社 孟买

昨日，一家法院判处一名新闻杂志前编辑监禁，原因是其强奸了一名初级同事，此举推翻了此前在一宗令印度震惊的案件中对他作出的无罪判决。

63 岁的塔伦·特杰帕尔（Tarun Tejpal）在 2013 年 11 月的一次活动期间，于西部沿海省份果阿的一家五星级酒店电梯内实施了性侵。他被逮捕并被监禁七个月，直到最高法院准予其保释。

2021 年，果阿的一家法院宣布特杰帕尔在包括强奸、性骚扰和非法限制在内的一系列指控中无罪。但果阿政府向孟买高等法院挑战该无罪判决，后者于昨日撤销了下级法院的裁决。

“他被判处 10 年严厉监禁。他被给予两周时间投案，”负责此案的警方调查员苏尼塔·萨万特（Sunita Sawant）表示。

高等法院还命令在 2000 年创办调查杂志《Tehelka》的特杰帕尔支付 £3,900 的罚金。

特杰帕尔表示，他将在最高法院对该定罪提出上诉。他最初将此次袭击归咎于“判断失误”，但随后声称针对他的案件是果阿邦印度人民党（BJP）政府政治报复的一部分。

“在过去的 13 年里，他们一直将我作为政治报复的一部分而追捕，”他声称。

但萨万特告诉记者：“这是一个女孩为自己的权利而站出来的判决……因此，这一判决对于在任何领域工作的女性来说都非常重要。”

此案出现之时，正值 2012 年 12 月德里一辆巴士上发生一名学生被团伙强奸并谋杀事件后，性侵案件受到严密审查之际。那次袭击引发了全国性的抗议和国际社会的愤怒，并促使政府加强了该国的强奸法。

特杰帕尔的案件严重损害了《Tehelka》的权威性和公信力，而该杂志一直以来一直倡导女性权利和社会正义。

. Rape Crisis 在英格兰和威尔士提供支持电话 0808 500 2222，在苏格兰为 0808 801 0302，在北爱尔兰为 0800 0246 991。

韩国警方因广告争议搜查星巴克美联社首尔 韩国警方已搜查星巴克韩国总部，以调查一项被指轻视该国 1980 年代民主运动的营销活动。警方周三表示，调查人员于周二搜查了位于首尔南部的该大楼。尽管当地媒体报道称警方还搜查了星巴克韩国高管的住所，但目前尚未公布进一步细节。

该咖啡连锁店在推出一系列名为“SS Tank”的不锈钢可重复使用随行杯，并将 5 月 18 日宣布为“坦克日”后引发了公众愤怒。这一日期是 1980 年光州起义的周年纪念日，当时示威者遭到韩国当时军政府的残酷镇压。该活动的标语“把它拍在桌上！”（Thwack it on the table!）被部分人士认为是在影射 1987 年警方的一项指控，即学生活动人士朴钟哲是在调查员简单地“拍了一下桌子”时死亡的，从而掩盖了其在审讯期间死亡的事实。

针对星巴克的愤怒促使持有星巴克韩国 67.5% 股份的新世界集团（Shinseae Group）取消了该促销活动并解雇了该公司的首席执行官。韩国的民主转型在 1987 年获得动力，当时在经历了数月的抗议后，曾主导光州镇压的独裁总统全斗焕接受了引入总统直选的宪法改革。

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爪机店老板 Ki Kwong 声称，有人使用竹牙签、针以及塑料和金属条来缩小孔径并减慢机器吊臂的速度，从而增加人们赢奖的难度。

“作为一个热爱玩爪机的人，我对目前的趋势感到相当不快，因为有很多缩小或封死孔径的方法，”Parco 说道。香港消费者委员会表示，关于爪机的投诉从 2023 年的 16 起激增至去年的 138 起，玩家指控运营商修改设置以降低中奖率。

但对于许多香港人来说，爪机是一种廉价的减压方式。38 岁的学校清洁工 Ming Lee 通过玩爪机来放松。在过去两年中，她通过玩机器收集了大约 100 个毛绒玩具。“吸引我的是成功抓到奖品时的快感，”她说道。

25 岁的厨房工人兼爪机店老板 Ki Kwong 表示，玩这些机器是一种“乐趣”。在他一台装满毛绒玩具的机器上贴着一条信息：“记得要开心。”如果顾客自己没抓到，他还会把抓到的毛绒玩具送给顾客。

“玩了这么久爪机，我想与他人分享……我想让人们体验到，玩爪机不是一种压力，而是一种快乐。”Kwong 将爪机视为与年轻人建立联系的一种方式：“目前香港的青少年自杀率很高，”他说，“他们承受着巨大的压力，而这是一种减压活动，所以我相信我可以做得更多。”

--- 卫报实时报道

娜奥米·克莱恩与阿斯特拉·泰勒：如何抵制末世法西斯主义

极右翼的统治意识形态已演变成一种畸形的、至上主义的生存主义。我们如何建立一个足够强大的运动来阻止他们？加入娜奥米·克莱恩（Naomi Klein）和阿斯特拉·泰勒（Astra Taylor）的行列，随他们深入探讨这一人为制造的“末日综合征”，并揭示抵抗的强大可能性，正如他们在犀利且充满希望的新书《末世法西斯主义：以及为生存世界而战》（End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World）中所探讨的那样。不要错过这个机会，直接聆听克莱恩和泰勒讲述我们如何能用一个更好的故事来共同反击这种启示录式的叙事。一个关于更好时代而非末世的故事；一个关于归属感和相互依存而非隔离与至上主义的故事。

9月28日，星期一，晚上7. 30pm-9pm St Georges Bristol Bristol BS1 5RR 现场 在线

在 theguardian.com / event / klein-taylor 预订门票或扫描二维码

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FTSE 100 20.41 10.0007.89 All share 7.92 5.896.14 Dow Indl 326.64 5.4022.48 Nikkei 225 617.18 6.5683.26 £€ 1.1671 10.0007 £$ 1.3465 10.0013 来源：ICE www.ice.com / data

帝亚吉欧将使健力士生产翻倍但将削减员工人数

罗布·戴维斯（Rob Davies）报道

帝亚吉欧（Diageo）的新任首席执行官公布了计划，拟将健力士（Guinness）的产量近乎翻倍，同时削减其30,000名员工中“相当大”的一部分。这一战略调整不愧其“激进”戴夫·刘易斯（"Drastic" Dave Lewis）的绰号。

在被空降至该职位以挽救这家总部位于英国的饮料公司日益下滑的局面后，这位前乐购（Tesco）老板昨日面临其任职以来的首个重大考验，帝亚吉欧的股价随即反弹。

在公司宣布销售额下降但营业利润略好于预期后，刘易斯在发言中表示，他的扭转计划将涉及裁员，并补充说“其后果对任何人来说都不是好事”。

但他补充道：“（公司内部）没有人告诉我这样做是错误的。”

夏季热浪促使购物者转向线上，商业街陷入低迷

Sarah Butler

上个月的热浪导致英国商业街的购物者减少，随着部分地区气温升至30多度，许多人选择改为在线购物。

根据Sensormatic公司为英国零售业联合会（BRC）开展的研究，7月份商业街的客流量同比下降3.8%，而6月份则下降了6.2%。购物中心的访客人数也有所下降，但零售园区的访客人数恢复增长；与去年同月相比，所有购物目的地的总人数下降了2.1%。

BRC首席执行官海伦·迪金森（Helen Dickinson）表示：“热浪在7月份继续对零售客流量产生压力，其中商业街受影响最严重。伦敦受到的冲击尤为沉重，因为气温飙升使得乘坐地铁和火车变得不那么吸引人，部分通勤者和购物者选择留在家里。”

上个月，伦敦的购物者人数下降了5.3%，而英格兰全境的下降幅度为3%。

（此处原文存在跳跃）

刘易斯拒绝透露公司全球员工预计裁减的具体人数。然而，帝亚吉欧（Diageo）已告知投资者，预计将产生5.14亿美元 (3.82 亿英镑) 的员工遣散费用，刘易斯表示，自担任首席执行官以来，他发现岗位职责存在“大规模”重复。

刘易斯因其削减成本的热忱而在金融城获得了“激进戴夫”的绰号，他承诺通过一项耗资$1.2bn的重组计划在两年内实现每年$1bn的成本节省，旨在提高公司的灵活性。

虽然这将涉及裁员，但刘易斯誓言要利用健力士（Guinness）在全球范围内看似不可阻挡的受欢迎程度。一项$1bn的投资旨在增加全球销售额，特别是在北美地区，并帮助公司避免重复近年来在英国（包括重要的节日期间）出现的短缺情况。

“在这个计划实施过程中 [by 2031]，”刘易斯说道，并补充称该品牌的未来“非常光明”。

生产能力计划从目前的 8.2m 百升增加到 2031, 的 15.7m 百升，这一增幅相当于每年增加300个奥运标准游泳池的容量。

在他被任命后的几个月里，一些金融城专家推测他可能会采取激进措施，通过出售健力士来筹集高达£8bn的资金。公司迅速否认了任何关于出售其表现最好的大品牌的建议。

刘易斯表示，帝亚吉欧并未积极寻求出售表现较差的品牌。

300 每年额外生产的健力士酒量可填满的奥运标准游泳池数量

在过去的十年里，该公司专注于“高端化”，寄希望于眼光敏锐的饮酒者选择高端品牌。然而，就在资金紧张的消费者停止购买顶级品牌之时，这一战略使帝亚吉欧拥有了一系列过剩的高价标签。

刘易斯表示，帝亚吉欧不会“兜售我们的品牌”，也不寻求购买资产，而是将更多地关注更广泛的产品组合，包括中端品牌和更小的包装尺寸，这些产品可能更适合注重成本的饮酒者。

他还承诺将解决帝亚吉欧未能从所谓的“即饮”类别（如预调鸡尾酒或“罐装金酒”）中获利的问题。

刘易斯补充道：“我们只要撸起袖子，做好我们自己的生意就行了。”

帝亚吉欧的股价在下午交易中上涨超过6%，表明投资者初步认可该转型计划。

公司昨天表示，在计入$900m的重组费用以及一项主要与土耳其业务相关的$1.5bn损失后，年度税前利润下降了26%，从$3.5bn降至26亿美元。

如果不计一次性影响以及债务利息等其他费用，营业利润为57亿美元，略高于分析师的预测。

EasyJet 同意接受美国私募股权公司 57 亿英镑收购

Gwyn Topham 交通记者

在竞争对手 Castlelake 表示将不再寻求收购后，EasyJet 已正式同意接受美国私募股权公司阿波罗全球管理公司（Apollo Global Management）以 57 亿英镑的价格进行收购。昨天的决定意味着该交易将以每股 7.15 英镑的价格成交，这是阿波罗在上个月 建议将其出售给 Castlelake 之后提出的报价。正式协议在双方提交最终报价的截止日期前 24 小时达成，而 Castlelake 则拒绝参与竞价战。

根据协议，该航空公司的创始人 Stelios Haji-Ioannou 及其家人将在新结构中保留其持股，目前约为 15%。股东们获得了出售或转移股份的机会，最高可达 49.9%。一个“欧盟信托”持股团体将保留最高 5% 的股份，这一结构似乎旨在遵守欧盟关于航空公司的外资所有权规定，使阿波罗的持股限制在 49.9%。

此次收购预计将于 2027 年 3 月底前完成。阿波罗已承诺保留 在英国和欧盟的总部，并表示将支持该航空公司的当前战略，助力其实现长期、可持续的增长。

该美国公司的欧洲私募股权负责人 Alex van Hoek 表示：“ 是欧洲航空业的领导者，通过其极具吸引力的客户主张、广泛的网络和强大的品牌，建立了差异化的市场地位。阿波罗强烈支持 致力于增强整个欧洲和英国旅客连通性的承诺，以及其员工所发挥的重要作用。”

该航空公司的主席 Stephen Hester 表示：“ 董事会仔细评估了阿波罗的提案以及 独立发展的前景……我们认为这次报价恰当地认可了我们所建立的业务质量，并为股东提供了即时、确定且具有吸引力的价值。”

首席执行官 Kenton Jarvis 表示：“我们欢迎阿波罗对我们业务和员工的承诺，并相信其在航空领域的经验使其成为 的强大合作伙伴。”

的股价在 Castlelake 退出消息传出后下跌了 10%，但随后反弹，较昨天开盘上涨 3%。

▲ 6 月下旬，利物浦的购物者试图保持凉爽。当月商业街客流量下降了 6.2% 摄影：CHRISTOPHER THOMSON / THE GUARDAN

在苏格兰下降 2.7%，在北爱尔兰下降 2.5%，而在天气没那么极端、客流量持平的威尔士。

Dickinson 表示：“气候变化在英国持续带来越来越多极端的高温。零售商正通过投资缓解措施——例如增加空调和更高效的制冷设备——以及旨在减少碳排放的可持续发展计划来应对。”

“不幸的是，商业税率（business rates）经常因为此类投资而惩罚门店，这表明政府需要重新审视这个失效的系统。”

这些数据凸显了零售商在酷暑期间可能面临的不同命运，那些更依赖实体店的零售商遭受了损失。

周三，时尚和家居零售商 Next 今年第三次上调其利润指引，称在截至 8 月 1 日的 13 周内，该公司受益于晴朗的天气以及部分“积压需求”的释放。

预计时尚产业将成为今年夏天零售业的赢家之一，超市和技术产品销售商同样如此，因为人们购买冷食、冷饮、风扇和空调以应对高温。家具和园艺植物则属于输家，前者受到生活成本和房地产市场低迷的压力，而由于极端高温和干燥天气，种植植物的数量有所减少。

--- 32 商业

Persimmon 在“伯纳姆效应”中上调房屋建设预测

Kalyena Makortoff

英国房屋建筑商 Persimmon 上调了全年展望，表示尽管与伊朗战争相关的成本不断增加，但该公司“处于有利位置”，能够从首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）的政策议程中获益。

随着房屋建筑行业的信心回升，Persimmon 计划在年底前完成 12,500 套新房，这将处于其此前指导范围的上限。

该建筑商目前希望从伯纳姆的政策计划中获益，包括增加住房供应以及为资金紧张的消费者削减成本的计划。

该公司表示：“Persimmon 凭借我们独特的一系列能力，依然处于推动进一步增长的有利位置。”

“英国住房市场继续面临住房长期供应不足以及新房主负担能力挑战的问题，这也是新政府关注的重点。”

“作为最具成本效益的全国性房屋建筑商，我们明确关注客户价值和负担能力，拥有不断增长的土地储备和不断扩大的销售网络，因此我们能够很好地做出响应。”

这家富时 100 指数（FTSE 100）公司告诉投资者，尽管市场环境“具有挑战性”、建筑成本上升，且许多人仍难以负担住房，但在今年前六个月，由于同期建成房屋数量增长了 13%，税前利润增长了 15%，达到 1.68 亿英镑。

Persimmon 补充说，成本压力在未来几个月可能会增加。

该公司在一次市场更新中表示：“由于中东冲突，我们预计 2027 年将出现额外的通胀压力。”

然而，该建筑商表示，即使其专注于低成本并努力提高业务效率，可能仍不足以完全抵消通货膨胀。

▲ 该公司计划在年底前完成 12,500 套新房，因为行业信心正在回升 照片：JASON ALDEN / BLOOMBERG / GETTY

“Persimmon 凭借我们独特的一系列能力，依然处于推动进一步增长的有利位置” Persimmon 市场更新

该公司补充道：“我们已经采取了额外的管理措施以确保进一步节省成本，包括确定采购节省、规格优化、房屋类型设计、管理费用节省和运营效率。”

根据标普全球（S&P Global）昨天的资料，上个月英国建筑行业的乐观情绪有所上升。

这家数据和分析公司发现，“对国内经济状况反弹的希望以及客户需求近期前景改善的迹象”提升了建筑商的信心。

然而，整个行业的产出在 7 月再次下降，但下降速度为四个月来最慢，房屋建筑、商业建筑和土木工程的活动下降幅度均小于 6 月。

标普全球市场情报（S&P Global Market Intelligence）经济总监蒂姆·摩尔（Tim Moore）表示：“7 月的数据表明，英国建筑行业的表现在经历了 2026 年第二季度的剧烈下滑后已开始稳定。”

“所有三个主要类别的业务活动水平继续下降，但在每种情况下，萎缩速度都比 6 月慢得多。这得到了自 2025 年 9 月以来新业务接单量降幅最小的支持。”

伯纳姆将英国的住房危机置于其国内议程的中心，承诺监督“战后以来规模最大的市政房屋建设计划”。

经济学家表示，地缘政治的不确定性、经济状况和高借贷成本都在抑制房屋建筑行业。

Walker Morris 律师事务所的建筑与工程合伙人卡莉·索普（Carly Thorpe）表示，该行业还继续面临结构性障碍。

“建筑安全监管机构（Building Safety Regulator）网关审批的延迟正在减缓项目交付，而持续的人才短缺正给产能、成本和时间表带来压力。”

“字幕功能根本没用”

来自圣迭戈的 84 岁老人凯伦·沃尔特（Karen Walter）患有严重的听力损失已超过 20 年，她购买这款眼镜完全是为了其实时字幕功能。 ▲ Meta 的 Ray-Ban 智能眼镜演示活动，该产品去年销量超过 700 万副。 “我在咖啡馆看到有人戴着它，就直接走开了，因为我觉得很不舒服” 基基，西米德兰兹郡 法院的裁决——约占其所收总额的 60%。 特朗普继续推销关税，将其作为振兴国内生产、确保更好的贸易协议以及弥补联邦预算赤字的一种手段。 任天堂在东京上市的股票在财报发布后昨日上涨 2.87%。 该公司在 美国最高法院 裁决几周后提起诉讼，要求白宫全额退还其在关税上的支出及利息。 虽然现在看来退款已经到账，但任天堂并未确认具体全额，而此时看来…… “即使使用最先进的助听器，除非对方离我很近且直接对我说话，否则我仍然很难理解人们在说什么，”她说。“我原以为（这款眼镜）在嘈杂的环境中以及我想跟上对话进度时会提供很大帮助。” 她说，在一家安静的百思买（Best Buy）门店进行演示时，实时字幕运行良好。“但在 3 人到 7 人的群体中尝试时，字幕功能根本没用。”

“它们让我对公共场合变得更加警觉”

并非所有人都相信这项技术应该进入日常生活。 来自西米德兰兹郡的基基表示，看到人们在公共场合佩戴这种高科技眼镜让她感到不安。 “当有人透过眼镜看着你时，我会感到担心，”她说。“我想秘密拍摄图像要比（用手机）容易得多。你只需要假装调整头发或帽子，在随意的动作中按下按钮即可。我见过人们戴着它。我在咖啡馆看到有人戴着它，就直接走开了，因为我觉得很不舒服。” 尽管她承认这项技术可能具有真正的益处，但基基表示，她更担心的是缺乏保障措施。 “对于无障碍辅助，绝对有益，”她说。“但让我困扰的是，监管往往远远落后于技术。” “它们让我对公共场合变得更加警觉，”她说。“不过，我可以预见，深夜独自在店里工作的人如果能拍下骚扰他们的人的照片，可能会感到更安全。”

“我就是不信任它”

来自北安普顿的 44 岁男子皮特认为，这款眼镜指向了一个更广泛的问题：AI 驱动的可穿戴设备在缺乏足够审查或监管的情况下，正在收集越来越多的个人数据。“我不是一个对着天空挥拳发怒的老头，”他说。“我一生都支持技术进步，但在 AI 和 Meta 眼镜面前，我得划清界限。”相比于秘密拍摄，他更担心数据的最终去向。“我不知道最后是谁得到了这些照片，以及他们用这些照片在做什么。”

……拒绝将退款转交给其客户。任天堂上个月遭到了一项代表客户发起的集体诉讼，诉状称该公司因关税而提高价格，但随后从退款中获益。任天堂的律师将该诉讼描述为“毫无根据”，因为客户支付的价格代表了“他们想要并收到的商品的购买价格”。特朗普上个月对包括日本在内的 80 多个国家征收了新关税。然而，由 25 个美国州组成的联盟正就这些征税起诉白宫，这可能会为更多退款打开大门。

▲ 《耀西与神秘之书》在 Switch 2 的预测中表现稳健，销售额为 77.8 亿日元。任天堂表示，去年夏天发布的 Switch 2 主机销售保持强劲势头，而《耀西与神秘之书》、《星狐》和《宝可梦 Pokopia》等游戏表现稳健。然而，这未能弥补与去年同期相比的整体销售额下降，营收下降 10% 至 517.8 亿日元。任天堂表示，利润得到了关税退款的提升，此前美国最高法院在 2 月裁定特朗普总统广泛的贸易征税是非法的。美国已退还了此前收取的约 1000亿美元 (740亿英镑) 关税。

▼ Meta 首席执行官马克·扎克伯格与时尚造型师 Tina Leung 出席今年在纽约举行的 Meta 智能眼镜发布派对

3 --- # 暂停您的订阅... 零售价最高可省 31% ...随时随地暂停您的订阅

最高可省零售价的 31%（订阅时） 扫描二维码或访问 theguardian.com / newspapersubscription 订阅灵活。订阅《卫报》。 要出门？您的订阅也可以轻松地开启“假期模式”。只需登录并标记您不需要报纸的日期，您的付款将暂停——每年总计最多可暂停 5 周。 所示节省额为每月相对于零售价的节省额。仅限 18 岁及以上的英国居民新订阅者。每年最多暂停配送或领取 5 周。完整方案详情、配送区域和参与门店请见我们的网站。订阅条款与条件适用，详见：theguardian.com / subscription / terms。 《卫报》 --- 15 # 天气 2026 年 8 月 7 日，星期五

英国和爱尔兰

今日正午

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大西洋锋面 - 冷锋 - 温锋 - 锢候锋 - 槽

捕捉一切：从“点击庞廷”到病毒式失误——业余板球直播的新时代

詹姆斯·沃莱斯

“从周一到周五，人们都在分享这些内容，”板球直播公司 FrogBox 的首席执行官罗布·尼（Rob Knee）说道。这话一点也不夸张。上周，关于布莱恩·德文（Brian Devine）疑似通过手指点击进行欺骗的故事及其随附的视频在全世界传开了。当皮尔斯·摩根（Piers Morgan）和迈克·布雷尔利（Mike Brearley）分别在社交媒体上痛批你、在《星期日泰晤士报》中责备你时，这可能预示着事情已经有些失控了。

“我们更希望看到一些出色的接球、百分得分和六分球成为这些病毒式传播时刻的原因，”尼在墨尔本说道，而“点击庞廷”（Clicky Ponting）的风波仍在发酵。索尔特本（Saltburn）是 1,850 家俱乐部之一（主要分布在英国和澳大利亚），它们从这家总部位于澳大利亚的公司购买了直播设备。除了澳大利亚板球协会、苏格兰板球协会和荷兰板球协会，FrogBox 还与英格兰及威尔士板球委员会合作。

“我们可以获取他们的实时比分数据，这些数据随后用于驱动屏幕上的图形显示，并允许我们自动生成集锦。”尼表示 FrogBox 正在扩张。他们已经在网上发布了超过 300 万个板球片段，且其设备（建议零售价 £2,380）在今年已售罄。他们已经在接受下个赛季的预订。

俱乐部利用这些素材来争取赞助和资金，而这以及直播中温馨的一面，正是尼希望关注的重点。他指出，父母现在可以记录下孩子拿到的第一个得分或取得的第一个出局。像帽子戏法和百分得分这样的特殊时刻，不仅存在于记忆中，而且成为了永久的纪念品。

“当你一个周末直播超过 1,000 场比赛时，每周就有潜在的 25 万个集锦。我们最早的病毒式时刻之一是一位白天开出租车的球员，他最后把一个六分球直接击进了自己的出租车里。幸好，那些表现较好的片段通常是积极的。”

尽管如此，业余板球比赛的直播也引发了一些关于什么是私人空间和公共空间的棘手问题。

“我们是技术提供商，但我们要求俱乐部——而且我们推定他们确实这么做了——[确保]每个人都知道比赛正在被直播。”

“摄像机的音频效果相当好，所以[关键是]确保人们知道自己的声音也能被听到。俱乐部可以决定直播的公开程度，因此他们也可以将其设置为不公开。”

很难摆脱这样一种普遍想法：索尔特本的故事可以完美地放入乔恩·朗森（Jon Ronson） 2015 年关于社交媒体之残酷及其对大规模清教徒式围攻之贪婪渴求的书籍《所以你被公开羞辱了》（So You've Been Publicly Shamed）中。在我们之中，谁能诚实地说，自己在赛场上的激烈时刻中，没有做过某些令人心碎地尴尬或极其反常的事情？

更广泛地说，打板球的乐趣之一不正是它所提供的逃避现实感吗？在那大约八个小时里，外界渐渐远去，你的手机被塞在休息区的鞋子里，现实生活无法干扰你。

当我向尼提出这一点时，他笑了。他回应说，他认为 FrogBox 增加了这种神圣感，因为它确保了每周发生的那些特殊的个人和团队时刻得以保存。

“当然，偶尔会有球员被判出局后立即撕掉护腿并重新观看判决视频，但我们的创始原则更多地是以构建板球社区和粉丝参与为引导的。这绝对是我们的切入点。”

“其他公司更多地来自高性能和分析领域，但我们的公司一直更注重连接。让无法到场观看比赛的父母、家人和朋友仍然能感受到自己是其中的一部分。”

“我们还考虑到了二队和三队，他们并不总有机会观看一队的比赛。他们与一队一起训练，但从未见过他们在赛场上的实际表现，反之亦然。这样一来，各个分队就能观看其他比赛，在客场球场观看等等。这在俱乐部中营造了更多那种特殊的同志情谊。”除了高光时刻，低谷也被捕捉到了。Knee 参加过由 FrogBox 播报的比赛吗？“我现在不怎么打了，但肯定我参加的当地球队使用了 FrogBox，我被直播到做出一些极其糟糕的动作，被很差的球击出局之类的事情。这在周围总能引起一阵大笑。”无论看向哪里，职业板球都在被商品化。因此，这种情况渗透到业余比赛中也就不足为奇了。Knee 提到的一句话在我们的对话结束后仍久久回荡。“现在流传着这样一种说法：如果没在 FrogBox 上发生，那这件事真的发生过吗？”尽管 Knee 可以指出业余比赛的实时直播如何能让俱乐部凝聚在一起，并为后世捕捉金色瞬间，但很难摆脱这样一种感觉：在获得某些东西的同时，或许也失去了一些东西。“翻看记录本，”这是板球界的格言。在“查看直播流”取代这句话之前还有多久？对于 Brian Devine 来说，时间太快了。 --- 体育^{}[] 潜在 17

考克斯、波普和劳伦斯重返测试赛名单 ● 接后页

上个月对阵印度的最后一场一日国际赛，显然是一个严重的问题，即便诺斯无法提供更多细节。另一个潜在的变数是奥利·罗宾逊及其伴侣正等待在“接下来的 7 到 10 天”内迎来第一个孩子的出生。罗宾逊在 6 月于勋爵球场举行的对阵新西兰的第一场测试赛中拿下了 7 个三柱门，随后在该系列赛的剩余比赛中缺席。此后他的板球活动仅限于代表萨塞克斯队参加的三场白球赛。诺斯强调，虽然选拔小组始终在展望未来——在第二次测试赛出场中担任一号掉球位的考克斯是出场次数最少的菜鸟——但这支球队是为此时此刻而选拔的。在过去八场测试赛中遭遇六次失利后，英格兰队迫切需要重回胜利轨道。不过，这种紧迫感并不意味着斯蒂芬·弗莱明会立即开始他作为测试赛主教练的新工作。马库斯·特雷斯科西克将在对阵巴基斯坦的比赛中担任此职，据报道，弗莱明已就担任球队击球教练一职与迈克·哈塞沟通——这一职责在布伦登·麦卡勒姆执教期间由特雷斯科西克负责。但诺斯表示，弗莱明在本次选拔前参与了“多次长时间的对话”，如果不体现他对球队的愿景，将会是“矛盾的”。不过，这可能直到弗莱明下个月抵达英国后才会公开概述，人们怀疑鲁特希望这一天能早点到来。就队友而言，在场上遇到困难时刻时，鲁特可以寻求建议的经验丰富者不足。除了被排除在队长候选名单之外但预计将担任鲁特副手的哈里·布鲁克，本·达凯特是唯一另一位出场次数超过 25 次的资深成员。为此，奥利·波普作为替补击球手回归。波普可以覆盖前七个位置的大部分位置，并且如果在比赛当天早晨史密斯受伤，他可以担任守门员。但这次召回在很大程度上也归功于他在失去斯托克斯后的 64 次出场（包括 5 次代理队长），以及他在更衣室中以团队为先的专业见解。除了弗莱明的延迟抵达，旋转球可能是鲁特在未来几周最大的头疼问题。尽管过去两年在巴希尔身上投入了大量资源，但英格兰队打算在几十年来最干燥的夏天末期使用两名兼职球员，这本身就说明了很多问题。

英格兰测试赛名单

乔·鲁特（约克郡，队长）、乔弗拉·阿彻（萨克森）、古斯·阿特金森（萨里）、沙布·巴希尔（伯克希尔）、哈里·布鲁克（约克郡）、布赖登·卡夫（达勒姆）、萨姆·库克（埃塞克斯）、乔丹·考克斯（埃塞克斯）、本·达凯特（诺丁汉）、马修·费舍尔（萨里）、埃米利奥·盖（达勒姆）、斯坦·劳伦斯（萨里）、奥利·波普（萨里）、奥利·罗宾逊（萨克森）、杰米·史密斯（萨里）、乔什·汤格（诺丁汉）

“社区空间正在被夺走”：活动人士抗议付费板式网球场兴起

乔·平纳（Joe Pinner）写道，将滑板公园、游乐区和篮球场转换为正处于繁荣期的这项运动的计划，引发了愤怒以及对绅士化（gentrification）的担忧。

斋藤爱华（A iwa Saito）和她的孩子们是巴金滑板公园（Barking Skatepark）的常客之一。但在那里滑行五年多之后，伦敦唯一的全尺寸室内滑板公园于周日关闭——取而代之的是板式网球（padel）球场。

根据英国草地网球协会（Lawn Tennis Association）的数据，板式网球是英国增长最快的运动之一，而将巴金滑板公园进行改造的计划是伦敦一系列此类提案中的最新一项。

然而，一些试图在现有空间之上建设付费板式网球场的计划激怒了居民，并引发了关于“绅士化”和社区流离失所的指责。

斋藤觉得在首都已经没有一个安全的室内空间可以带孩子去滑板了。“室外滑板公园对孩子来说是不安全的，尤其是对青少年女孩，”她说。“家长们已经在告诉女儿们：‘你去滑板的时候必须非常小心，得看去哪个公园。那里不安全。’而在没有替代方案的情况下夺走这个空间，是不可接受的。”

斋藤对她11岁的女儿透子（Toko）寄予厚望，透子目前处于英国滑板协会（Skateboard GB）的人才培养路径计划中，希望有一天能参加国际比赛。但在巴金滑板公园关闭后，斋藤担心她是否能让透子的雄心延续下去。

“为了让她梦想成真，我们需要合适的设施，”她说。“如果没有室内公园，在冬天的阴雨周末，我们能去哪里？她能在哪里训练？”

不仅是那些渴望成为奥运选手的家长在担心关闭问题。领导拯救该场馆运动的埃莉诺·邓洛普（Eleanor Dunlop）表示：“这对当地社区很重要。家长们来这里社交，带孩子来活动。巴金和达格纳姆（Barking and Dagenham）是全国最贫困的地区之一，人们真的需要这个空间是可触达的。当我告诉人们这里可能会关闭时，我看到了他们脸上的恐慌，因为他们会问：‘我以后要把孩子带到哪里去？’”

议会表示，虽然该场地的所有权归其所有，但滑板公园（以及更广泛的体育综合体）是由一家名为 GLL 的慈善机构独立运营的，该机构有权决定提供哪些体育项目。

巴金和达格纳姆议会辩称：“GLL 已建议，滑板公园多年来一直处于财务亏损状态，并打算将其替换为室内板式网球场。需要注意的是，巴金滑板公园的设备已分发到周边地区的滑板公园，将在未来几年继续为滑板爱好者服务。”

当地居民对“板式网球热”的部分抵制情绪可以用这项运动的成本来解释。根据球拍类运动应用 Playroom 的数据，伦敦一个球场的平均费用为每小时 £51，这意味着许多人觉得他们不会是新设施的受益者。

“太贵了，感觉就是排外的，”邓洛普说。

板式网球的价格和受欢迎程度吸引了投资者和私募股权公司来建设利润丰厚的球场和俱乐部。根据 LTA 的数据，仅在过去七年里，英国的板式网球场数量就增加了 2,500 多个，从 2019 年的 68 个增加到如今的 1,800 多个。

斋藤说，在开始滑板之前，她的女儿经常去贝克顿（Beckton）的一家社区体操中心。直到那栋被指定为“社区价值资产”的建筑被卖给了一家开发商，并被改造成一家私人板式网球俱乐部——尽管当地人强烈反对，且一份在线请愿书有近 10,000 人签名。

“她的两项运动中已经有一项因为板式网球而被夺走了，”她说。她解释道，虽然体操俱乐部搬到了纽汉休闲中心（Newham Leisure Centre），但那里的设施不像贝克顿那样专业，她女儿的朋友们也都分散了。

“现在她的

“我们需要合适的设施。在冬天的阴雨周末，如果没有室内公园，我们能去哪里？”

▲ 活动人士要求拆除贝斯纳尔格林（Bethnal Green）的球场。

主导运动就要被夺走了。这感觉简直太疯狂了。”与此同时，在贝斯纳尔格林，当地议会在一个由人们免费进行轮滑、打篮球和玩滑板的开放式多用途区域中心，安装了一个每小时 200 万英镑4 的付费板式网球（padel）球场。“能够自发地出入这样一个空间，意味着我们在利用业余时间时少了一道经济限制——而在当今世界，由于所有东西都如此昂贵，这种自由已经受到了抑制，”致力于拆除该板式网球球场的活动人士莉莉·阿尔蒙德（Lillie Almond）说道。她补充道：“板式网球球场显然改变了现在是谁在利用这个空间，以及如何利用。”“这一切导致了具有丰富文化、多样性且长期存在的社区被移除——取而代之的是板式网球运动员。”

在卡姆登（Camden），议员哈姆扎·乔杜里（Hamza Chowdhury）发起活动，旨在阻止一个免费的儿童沙坑和游戏区被推平以给板式网球场让路。经过一年多的抗议，这项耗资 200 万英镑 的提案于上周被否决。“如果目标是让更多人参与运动，为什么不投资建设一个免费的全天候篮球场或足球场？”乔杜里说。“发展体育运动绝不能以缩减免费公共空间为代价。我们应该为社区增加资源，而不是从中夺走。”

伦敦大学皇家霍洛威学院（Royal Holloway, University of London）社会、文化和历史地理学教授奥利·莫尔德（Oli Mould）表示，卡姆登、贝斯纳尔格林和巴金（Barking）的计划反映了整个伦敦绅士化（gentrification）升级的更广泛模式。“绅士化关乎对土地的限制，”他说。“现在发生的情况是，人们夺走土地并在周围设置物理屏障——以便将其交给愿意付费的人。只要这种情况发生，就是绅士化。”

尽管巴金滑板公园在周日关闭，但邓洛普（Dunlop）及其同僚活动人士仍在努力争取停止施工。在当地国会议员内希尔·卡利斯坎（Nesil Caliskan）、该运动的国家管理机构英国滑板协会（Skateboard GB）以及一份拥有超过 4,500 个签名的在线请愿书的支持下，她希望他们能像乔杜里在卡姆登那样阻止开发项目。“不倾听占用空间的人的声音，然后直接进入并改变它，这就是绅士化，”邓洛普说。“我不能对板式网球这项运动本身发表评论，无论我是否喜欢它。我只是不认为它应该取代已经在那里的人。拥有社区空间至关重要——而它们正在被夺走。”

塔沃汉姆lets议会（Tower Hamlets Council）的一位发言人表示，贝斯纳尔格林花园的板式网球场是利用五个可用多用途区域之一进行试点的一部分。“此次试点支持我们开展的工作，旨在增加接触更广泛体育项目的机会，并改善居民的健康和福祉，”他们说道。

GLL 和卡姆登议会已被要求就此发表评论。

--- 18 体育 橄榄球

春羚羊队与全黑队为了共同目标而团结

回顾系列赛唤起美好回忆，但焦点在于现代比赛的财务现实 Gerard Meagher

如果你还不知道南非队与新西兰队之间被冠以“橄榄球最伟大宿敌”（RGR）之名的系列赛是一次“绝无仅有的巡赛”，那么春羚羊队刚刚揭晓的一款球衣足以证明这一点。这款“绝无仅有的球衣”将被穿着四次，然后便成为历史。然而，RGR的开端伴随着南非国内一场迫在眉睫的法律之争，争议点在于该系列赛的商业身份及其品牌标识的未经授权使用。你还以为体育浪漫主义已经消亡了吗？

抛开这些愤世嫉俗吧。这次系列赛有望成为一场大戏。这是一次回顾之旅，新西兰男队将面对省级球队进行四场比赛，从今天在开普敦对阵风暴队（Stormers）开始，此外还将与春羚羊队进行四场测试赛，首场将于8月22日举行。两国的女队也将进行一场单次测试赛。

此类巡赛在如今已极为罕见，这使得该系列赛更具吸引力。。这是新西兰自1996年以来首次举办此类巡赛——那是一次令人难忘的巡赛，也是全黑队首次在南非土地上获胜——而就在其前一年，他们在埃利斯公园球场（Ellis Park）的世界杯决赛中落败。营销部门没有浪费任何机会，以令人印象深刻的效果唤起这一特定系列赛的历史感，其历史可追溯至1921年。甚至连名称的设计初衷也是如此。

这对未来的测试赛格局意味着什么，同样令人着迷。RGR的推出距离首届国家锦标赛（Nations Championship）启动仅几周之久——这项赛事实际上终结了传统的巡赛，尤其是北半球球队南下的巡赛。关键的例外仍然是英国及爱尔兰狮队，而听到南非橄榄球联盟主席马克·亚历山大（Mark Alexander）表示，他认为RGR甚至可以超越那些每四年一次的巡赛，这一点极具启发性。更何况，狮队正被包括法国在内的其他方的诱惑所吸引，以及离开传统目的地所带来的潜在巨额利润。如果他们真的这么做，对于南非、新西兰和澳大利亚来说将是财务上的灾难，因此，他们寻求多样化收入来源是合情合理的。

如果说RGR在一定程度上让国家锦标赛的启动显得黯然失色——春羚羊队主教练拉西·埃拉斯姆斯（Rassie Erasmus）几乎没有试图掩饰他优先考虑的是哪一个，而球员们的意见也相当一致——那么南非和新西兰也让澳大利亚和阿根廷陷入了被动。今年没有橄榄球锦标赛（Rugby Championship），在经历了激动人心的2025年版本之后，这感觉像是一个错误；而从袋鼠队（Wallabies）和美洲豹队（Pumas）的角度来看，RGR似乎是一个自私之举。

即便如此，谁能真正责怪南非和新西兰？他们两人共同赢得了过去五届世界杯，而且与澳大利亚不同，他们在短期内没有现实机会再次举办该赛事。尽管两队之间那令人动容的历史被反复提及，但RGR的紧迫需求无疑是商业性的，而第四场也是最后一场测试赛在美国举行这一事实，则向所有人强调了这一点。在巴尔的摩的一场利润丰厚的附加赛将进一步充实金库，增强两支球队在美国的品牌知名度，对于世界橄榄球联合会（World Rugby）来说也是个好消息。他们虽然在表面上维持风度，但极力希望确保2031年世界杯不会被当地人忽视。

RGR在底线收益之外的益处显而易见。南非会迅速指出，打破传统的超级橄榄球（Super Rugby）赛制是新西兰的决定，但毫无疑问，由于其省队缺乏与南非对手的定期赛事，全黑队（All Blacks）受到了影响。在接下来的几周内，省队将失去他们的跳羚队（Springboks）球员，这降低了赛事的观赏性——这也是狮队（Lions）在过去两次巡赛中遇到的问题——且今日揭幕战的门票销售缓慢，但这确实让全黑队的新教练戴夫·雷尼（Dave Rennie）能够加强其球员储备。南非的省队在URC中稳步前行，其顶级球员则在日本，但国内源源不断的原始天赋球员将从与巡演的全黑队交手而获益。有报道称南非俱乐部正退出冠军杯（Champions Cup）和挑战杯（Challenge Cup），在这种情况下，在两个半球同时占据一席之地似乎难以持续，但对于这支双届世界冠军来说，这是一个独特的地位。尽管北半球继续集中财务权力，他们仍在不断寻找新的繁荣方式和设定基准的新方法。RGR 只是最新的尝试。环法女子自行车赛（Cycling Tour de France Femmes）

鲁瑟保持领先，勒库特夺得第六赛段冠军

杰里米·惠特尔，图尔农-叙尔-罗讷

在又一次穿越法国中部的酷暑赛段后，马琳·鲁瑟在环法女子自行车赛中继续保持总成绩领先，领先于竞争对手德米·沃尔勒林；而金·勒库特在图尔农-叙尔-罗讷赢得了她职业生涯的第二个环法赛段冠军。

毛里求斯车手勒库特在科尔-德-拉卢韦斯克（Col de Lalouvesc）爬坡过程中经历了机械故障，但随后成功追上当日的突围小组，并在冲刺中击败了法国的塞布琳·克巴奥尔以及爬坡分类领先者普克·皮特斯。

“我当时已经达到了极限，”勒库特在谈到获胜冲刺时表示，“我不敢相信我的腿还能冲刺。这次冲刺非常艰难。在我的团队付出了巨大努力之后，我绝不会放弃。”

勒库特最初被认为是最终冠军的竞争者，但在周二的计时赛后失去了优势。“自从计时赛那天起我就一直很挣扎，但我认为这次获胜真正定义了我们的环法之旅，”她说，“我们对总成绩排名仍有抱负，但在环法赛中赢得一个赛段是非常特别的。”

在经历了伤病缠身的一个赛季后，勒库特的成功赢得了广泛关注。同时，她也展现了极高的体育精神，在 2024 年环法女子赛冠军卡西亚·尼维亚多玛在米兰-圣雷莫赛中严重摔车后，她停下来提供帮助。

尽管错失赛段冠军，但对皮特斯来说这也是成功的一天，她目前在爬坡分类中积 47 分，创下了环法女子自行车赛历史上的最高总分记录。

“我当然想赢得这个赛段，”皮特斯说，“但我认为我今天完成了其他所有目标。”

随着热浪持续，车队在进入阿尔代什（Ardeche）的过程中经历了六次计分爬坡，而今天登顶旺图山（Mont Ventoux）的任务已成为他们关注的焦点。

在经历了想要忘记的三天之后，卫冕冠军保琳·费兰-普雷沃止住了状态下滑的趋势，与鲁瑟、沃尔勒林和尼维亚多玛一起在热门选手组中完成了该赛段。她目前总成绩仍处于第 15 位，落后于领先者鲁瑟 5 分钟，且在周三承认：“已经结束了。”

然而，尽管她的差距似乎几乎无法弥补，但她的竞争对手们一定会注意到她状态的提升，以及她对旺图山的经验——她早在 2021 年就首次骑行该山路。

“我认为这是法国最标志性的爬坡路段，”费兰-普雷沃在谈到这座普罗旺斯山峰时说，“每个人都知道它，即使你不是一名骑行者。”

世界田径锦标赛

场馆协议助力伦敦申办2029年世锦赛

Sean Ingle 报道

在与西汉姆联达成协议，允许其在当年9月举办赛事后，伦敦已提交申办2029年世界田径锦标赛的申请。世界田联尚未公布其他候选城市，但罗马、慕尼黑和内罗毕也已提交了 2029. 的申请。

西汉姆联此前曾威胁要阻挠伦敦的申办，理由是他们在足球赛季期间拥有场馆的优先使用权。然而，在与伦敦市长办公室、负责举办重大赛事的联合组织 Athletics Ventures 以及文化、媒体和体育部进行长时间讨论后，僵局终于被打破。

如果伦敦申办成功，西汉姆联在 2029-30 赛季英超联赛中连续客场比赛将不超过两场，在英格兰足球联赛（EFL）中则不超过三场。

英国田径协会首席执行官兼 Athletics Ventures 联合创始人杰克·巴克纳（Jack Buckner）表示：“在伦敦 2012, 年奥运会的标志性场馆——伦敦体育场申办世界田径锦标赛，一直处于英国奥运遗产计划的核心。我们很高兴能与伦敦体育场及西汉姆联就场馆使用达成协议，并对他们为促成此事所做出的承诺表示由衷感谢。”

伦敦马拉松赛事首席执行官兼 Athletics Ventures 联合创始人休·布拉舍尔（Hugh Brasher）表示：“我们的申办不仅关乎伦敦体育场内发生的事情。体育拥有凝聚社区、改变生活并激励下一代的力量。 2029 年伦敦世界田径锦标赛将带来超过 4 亿英镑 的经济和社会效益。”

世界田联计划在9月布达佩斯终极锦标赛后公布主办城市。

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体育 女子足球 19 “这些统计数据相当令人触目惊心，考虑到我们所看到的增长，这实在太遗憾了”

“当你加入这家俱乐部，你就承接了阿森纳的一部分以及那份热爱”

阿莱西亚·鲁索（Alessia Russo）享受了一个罕见的暑假，与亲友共度。这位已转变为“枪手”的鲁索，目标是实现双重突破——赢得更多奖杯，并解决基层资金问题。

苏珊·拉克（Suzanne Wrack）报道

手臂勾在巴士前方的横杆上，戴着太阳镜，，阿莱西亚·鲁索正玩得兴起。

“那天是我人生中最快乐的时光，”这位阿森纳前锋在谈到阿森纳男队赢得英超冠军以及阿森纳女队赢得欧冠杯后，在北伦敦充满红色烟雾的街道上进行的9公里巡游时说道。

球迷们一直把这位27岁的球员称为“童年枪手”，这成了一个经久不衰的笑话，而当一张家庭照片中，年幼的鲁索穿着的曼联球衣被改为阿森纳球衣后，这个梗被进一步放大。

虽然她并非童年时期的枪手，但她正迅速成为一名成年枪手。“自从我加入俱乐部并看到这里的人们，不可能不成为阿森纳的一部分，不可能不觉得自己支持阿森纳，”她说。“我希望他们表现出色，我在各方面支持他们，而那次巡游是我经历过的最神奇的事情之一。球迷们，那种氛围，庆祝男队赢得英超——那是他们多年来如此努力争取的结果，我只是沉浸其中，尽情享受。”

“那真的是一个非常、非常特别的日子。能与真正的枪手洛特（Lotte Wubben-Moy）和利亚（Leah Williamson）一起体验这一切很棒，但当你来到阿森纳，你就承接了它的一部分，开始理解并吸收他们对阿森纳的热爱。我绝对能感受到这一点，感觉自己是这样一个整体的一部分，这种感觉很好。”

“在职业生涯中，你会把赢得奖杯的时刻作为最突出的瞬间，但这次经历对我来说绝对将永远突出。”

到处都是人，在每一个阳台、屋顶、路障和红绿灯旁，涵盖了所有年龄、种族和宗教。有小男孩，但与90年代和千禧年初的阿森纳巡游相比，这次有这么多小女孩。

培养并支持对观看和参与足球感兴趣的新一代，是鲁索充满热情的事情。这就是她今年成立自己基金会的原因，也是她帮助启动星林银行（Starling Bank）“Kick On”计划第五年的原因。该计划将当地企业与需要赞助的女足队伍配对，并补贴球衣正面赞助费用。

星林银行对1,000名成年女性球员、1,010名11-17岁女性球员、501名中小企业负责人以及1,092名基层足球教练进行了调查。

几乎所有的基层女足俱乐部（97%）表示其球队需要更多资金，导致女孩们获得的机会因此受损。调查发现，76%的女性球员表示，如果未来五年内无法获得更多资金，她们将不得不退出球队或完全放弃这项运动；40%的女性球员表示，她们的球队获得的资金数额与男队不一致。

“这些统计数据相当令人触目惊心，考虑到我们看到的女足运动的增长，这真是太遗憾了，”鲁索说。“在过去的五六年里，增长简直不可思议，但在底层构建方面仍有工作要做。”

风险在于女足可能会失去势头，无法吸引潜在的明星球员。

“我总是说，你绝不想错过下一个利亚·威廉姆森或洛特·武本-莫伊，你不想仅仅因为她们没有当地球队，或者她们所在的球队解散了，就错过才华横溢的年轻球员，”鲁索说。“回顾我在基层成长过程中遇到的所有人，每一个人都在我的职业生涯中扮演了角色，我现在仍与其中许多人保持友谊。如果当地

企业可以投资一支球队，你永远不知道，也许你就在帮一个超级巨星成长，而她将永远记得你曾是其中的一部分。‘这不仅仅是投资，更在于你可以参与并影响这些年轻女孩成长旅程和生活中的核心部分。’由于没有重大的国际女足赛事，鲁索享受了一个罕见的夏季假期。‘能有一些真正的休息时间对我来说很重要，’她说。‘在过去的几年里，出场时间和赛事都增加了，所以我需要照顾好我的身体，并让自己的心理状态恢复良好。我完全停下来休息了大约两周半的时间，只是享受与朋友和家人的时光，这很美好，但到最后，我已经准备好重新开始锻炼了，我甚至不知道该怎么打发时间。’‘我很喜欢夏天独自训练，你可以了解自己最有效的训练程序和习惯。我经常和家人一起度假并在那里训练，这很不错，因为每个人都想参与进来。’‘我也为自己留了时间，像个正常的27岁女孩一样去度假。我去了纽约观看英格兰对阵巴拿马的比赛，体验了一把做球迷的感觉，感受世界杯的那种热闹氛围。我还参加了图尼 [英格兰队友埃拉·图尼] 的单身派对和婚礼，那太棒了。’鲁索在2025-26年度表现出色；许多人认为她在俱乐部和国家队的比赛水平提升了一个台阶。‘从个人角度来看，我对自己在阿森纳和英格兰队的赛季表现感到满意，但最终，我始终会以我们赢得的奖杯来衡量，’她说。‘过去几年在阿森纳，我们作为一支球队学到了很多，但我们对新赛季充满渴望。我们已经明确表示，我们将竭尽全力，成为最有可能赢得英超女足超级联赛（WSL）的球队，而勒内 [教练斯利格斯] 在这个季前训练中设定了很高的标准。’‘我们有七名新球员，我们拥有一支蓄势待发的阵容，内部竞争非常激烈。我感到很开心，但现在我想继续在阿森纳和英格兰队前行，并赢得奖杯。’

凯罗林在转会巴萨前缺席曼城训练

Tom Garry 这位巴西前锋凯罗林在7月份未能按时返回曼彻斯特城的季前训练，随后她转会至巴塞罗那的协议才达成。巴塞罗那在周二宣布签下了这位26岁的球员，但截至昨天下午，曼彻斯特城尚未发布任何关于此次转会的提及或对此举发表评论。

曼彻斯特城的几名工作人员和球员对凯罗林被认为试图强迫转会巴塞罗那的行为感到失望，且她在俱乐部度过的时光在令人惊讶的低迷基调中结束。尽管此前被认为与球队关系良好，但她并未参加从7月下旬开始的女子超级联赛冠军队的季前训练。

这笔交易的初始金额为120万欧元（100万欧元），代表了WSL俱乐部收到的最高转会费，且随着附加条款，金额可能会上升到约125万欧元，不过这一点尚未得到正式确认。这是女子足球中最高的一笔转会费之一。

凯罗林是上赛季曼城夺得十年来首个WSL冠军的成员，并帮助球队赢得了女子足协杯。但在庆祝活动结束几周后，许多同事在她没有亲自道别后感到震惊。凯罗林的代表已被联系以寻求回应。

此类转会僵局的高调案例在男子足球中屡见不鲜，但在女子比赛中相对罕见。曼城原则上对此次转会没有异议。对于凯罗林来说，这是一次前往欧洲冠军队的梦想之行，巴塞罗那在上一届女子欧冠决赛中击败了里昂女足。

曼城和巴塞罗那将于8月15日在乔伊体育场进行一场友谊赛，届时英格兰和西班牙的卫冕冠军将加强他们的季前准备。

--- 40 体育 足球 书摘 ▼ 一面描绘穆罕默德·萨拉赫的壁画，位于他家乡纳格里格一个以他命名的青少年中心墙上 DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE / ALAMY

萨拉的成功与牺牲之歌：“追逐一个我必须实现的梦想”

在这篇独家书籍摘录中，梅丽莎·雷迪（Melissa Reddy）记录了他在年幼时为了将足球愿景变为现实而所需的孤独奉献与坚韧。

进入阿拉伯承包商俱乐部（Al Mokawloon Al Arab）青训部门的入口给人一种威严感。起初，很难准确指出原因。是因为建筑立面吗；那些厚实的混凝土板交织在一起，大理石般的饰边随光线而变色，再加上那扇毫无装饰的黑色钢门？或许是因为深色背景上并列着白色阿拉伯语方块字的庄重标牌，以及周围散布的各类信息和公告，彰显着其重要性。但如果停下来观察开罗东部纳斯尔城（Nasr City）周围的建筑，就会发现这种功能性与装饰性元素相结合的入口——甚至包括字体和公告的排列方式——并非独一无二。

这座建筑的气场可以用大门上方的主图以及这样一个认知来解释：穿过这些大门，就是追随一个历史创造者从 14 岁起走过的足迹。穆罕默德·萨拉（Mohamed Salah）的面孔在门上方占据着显眼的位置；它提醒人们他曾身在何处，但更重要的是，它提醒人们将天赋与纪律、决心相结合为何如此重要。

汉迪·努赫（Hamdi Nouh）是萨拉在阿拉伯承包商俱乐部的第一任教练，萨拉将他视为第二位父亲。努赫知道这是因为“他准备好牺牲一切，他渴望努力工作，并且热爱学习”。这听起来很简单，直到你开始深入挖掘对于一个来自纳格里格（Nagrig）的男孩来说，每周五天往返九小时在开罗训练意味着什么。

萨拉的路线已变得如此出名，你可以用中文、西班牙语以及每一种主要语言读到他单程至少需要乘坐四辆巴士的故事。第一辆从村边 T 字路口出发前往巴叙恩（Basyoun）。然后从那里转车前往加尔比亚省（Gharbia Governorate）的首府坦塔（Tanta）。接着是约 100 公里的漫长跋涉，抵达喧闹的拉姆塞广场（Ramses Square）。再从开罗混乱的中心交通枢纽换乘前往纳斯尔城。在运气较好的日子里，他能搭车到靠近俱乐部大门的地方，从而免于在训练开始前跑近两公里的陡坡。在中心训练四个小时后，他会原路返回，再次经历这一切。

▲ 萨拉于 2010 年在阿拉伯承包商俱乐部开始其职业生涯，随后前往欧洲（图片由阿拉伯承包商俱乐部提供）

自 2017 年萨拉开始重新定义英超联赛的伟大标准以来，人们一直以这种方式概括这段旅程，但问题在于，这忽略了这种日常磨练的真实情况。当努赫强调“牺牲”时，其中一部分是萨拉放弃了他的青少年时光，在微型巴士中与他人肩并肩地挤在一起，身体填满了每一寸可用空间，甚至经常悬在车外，在奔向下一站的同时，还要面对在毫无规律可循的时刻表中错过换乘的焦虑，而他身上的现金仅够支付这次行程。

奇怪的是，萨拉并非在忍受这段压力巨大的奥德赛之旅，而是乐在其中。“我年轻时旅行并不觉得累，”他在 2022 年说道。“因为我是在做我想做的事，追逐一个我必须实现的梦想。我没有看到我的处境，我看到的是我的目标。这些是我现在坐下来思考的日子，我永远不会忘记它们，现在回想起这一切我依然会微笑。”

但对于乌姆·穆罕默德（Umm Mohamed）来说并非如此，她很反感长子每天只在早上七点到九点之间花两小时上学，并且冒险前往离村庄如此遥远的地方，因为在那个地方，车道被视为一种建议，而危险驾驶才是唯一的方式。

她的记忆中充满了因小巴车频繁发生事故而引发的担忧与恐惧。在她儿子通勤路线上发生的一起重大事故曾引发极大的恐慌，而当儿子的电话无人接听时，这种恐慌进一步加剧。她尝试拨打了20多次电话。尽管萨拉坚称在漫长的旅途中并未感到精疲力竭，但他没接电话是因为他正处于熟睡之中。她还担心他是否有足够的钱，她的丈夫萨拉·加利（Salah Ghaly）同样担心，后者是一名政府行政人员，同时经营茉莉花贸易。他资助了萨拉的足球之路：首先是前往巴叙恩（Basyoun）的伊蒂哈德队（Ittihad），车程半小时；随后是前往坦塔（Tanta）的奥斯马森俱乐部（Othmason club），车程50分钟；这一切都发生在萨拉成为青少年之前，之后则是前往阿尔莫卡翁（Al Mokawloon）的艰巨使命。萨拉8岁时开始在那里训练，他冲向对手时的无畏程度就像一名小巴车司机。“他个头小，但左脚和射门很有力，”当时青年中心青少年队的教练加姆里·阿卜杜勒-哈米德·埃尔-萨达尼（Ghamri Abdel-Hameed el-Saadani）说道，“他速度快，能用球做出其他男孩做不到的动作。”萨拉的父亲深知这一点，尽管他自己对大城市以及大城市如何吞噬并抛弃年轻希望者心存顾虑，但他告诉乌姆·穆罕默德（Umm Mohamed），他们做的是正确的事。回到阿尔莫卡翁青年部门的入口，就在黑色钢门后面，隐藏着一个不像那次巴士之旅那样传遍世界的秘密。萨拉的一名队友曾建议他们可以在大开罗地区他叔叔家住一周。那房子位于斋月十日城（10th of Ramadan City），经过多次说服，他的父母才同意这次留宿。萨拉的父亲给了他60埃及镑，随后他便出发了。当他们在深夜抵达那栋房子时，朋友的叔叔不在家。他们被困住了，没有足够的钱，也不了解如何寻找其他住所。萨拉对开罗的认知仅限于前往阿尔莫卡翁训练的道路。他的朋友（为了避免任何关于他生活的细节引发媒体狂热，他不愿透露姓名）建议去另一个他不远处的熟人家。当他们到达那里时，萨拉遇到了一个更大的问题：那处住所竟然在墓地里，这是开罗严重的住房短缺和高人口密度的悲哀——且恐怖——的症状。萨拉不打算住在死者之城。他的朋友有了最后一个计划：他认识一名阿尔莫卡翁的现场管理员，可以让他们进去。他们将随身携带的床单铺在地上，做成两张临时床。萨拉用鞋子当枕头，并将闹钟设定在凌晨6点，这样两人可以在任何人发现他们以及管理员陷入麻烦之前起床。他们收拾好床铺离开，并在上午9点返回综合体，仿佛才刚刚到达一样。这次住宿安排被保密，但仍需调整。第二天，两人睡在四个球场中的 Field 2，在寒冷的夜空下露宿。早晨，他们再次进入秘密模式，萨拉很享受能提前到达训练场的感觉。到18岁生日时，他已经积累了足以支撑一辈子的牺牲、努力和教训。然而，他永远不会忘记的时刻，是他加入一线队小组并搬进阿尔莫卡翁宿舍的时候。“并不是每个人都能住在那里，所以从心理上讲，我觉得自己变成了某个重要人物，像个明星一样，”萨拉说，“我以前看着球员们训练完后上楼，而我则离开去回纳格里格（Nagrig）的路上。我会想，‘有一天我也能上楼去。’”他最终将比任何一名埃及足球运动员走得更高。

● 本文节选自 Melissa Reddy 所著、Orion Publishing 出版的《Only Mo Salah: An intimate portrait of the Egyptian King》编辑版 --- 11

体育 足球

萨拉赫签约并斩获 1450 万英镑 大奖

穆罕默德·萨拉赫已与特拉布宗体育签署了一份为期两年的合同，这位埃及前锋每赛季将获得 1700万欧元 (1450 万英镑)。在特拉布宗体育球迷前往俱乐部体育场参加这位 34 岁的前利物浦球员自由转会签约仪式之前，该消息已向土耳其证券交易所公布；萨拉赫在抵达伊斯坦布尔时已身着球队球衣。萨拉赫将获得以其名义销售产品的 20% 分成，以及每赛季的条件性奖金。

PA Media

赛果

足球

卡拉巴奥杯 第一轮 布里斯托尔城 (0) ● 沃尔索尔 Presaley 47 (0)

1 欧联杯 第三轮资格赛：首回合 本菲卡 Rifa 1, Araújo 23 Pavilidis 42pen Prestizane 59, Durbin 87 Schjoldstrup 90+4pen 亚盖洛尼亚 Fernandez 1:5 Hraabe, 克拉科夫 0 贝西克塔斯 1, KuPS 1 Universitäts-Croixov 1, 莱赫波兹南 1: 41 Klatovik 0, 林肯红滴 1, Onovka 1, 马卡比特拉维夫 0 索非亚中央陆军 1, Frank D Andersson 1, RB 萨尔茨堡 1 帕福斯 0, 图恩 3 Vilsingur Reykjavik 0

欧协联 希伯尼安 Elding 73, O'Hara 90 (0) 1 Shlomdija Gjorgjjevski 76 HJK Pukki 71 (0) 1 马瑟韦尔 Moswardtse 64pen 阿贾克斯 3 谢尔本 1; Botnar Jerusalem 1 奥地利维也纳 2; 波希米亚人 0 中日德兰 2; 波拉茨巴尼亚卢卡 1 Vilsdals 0; 布拉加 1 迪纳摩梅斯托 0; 克卢日 0 特罗姆瑟 5; Defence m 0 哥本哈根 5; Epssens-flyer 2 Gjesberg 0; 哈 پو尔特拉维夫 2; GES 卡托维兹 0; IFK 哥德堡 0 根特 1; Inter D'Escaldes 2 Fijera Tallinn 0; 图尔库国际 2 Valdur 1; Jaltjönes 2 RFS 0; 卢加诺 2 NSF 0; Noah 2 锡永 2; Pablo 1 维也纳快速 4; 贝尔格莱德游击队 1, Sokol-Kostanay 1; Balcon-Cantico / Soeur 0 哈马比 0; 里加 1 Gyen (TTO) 0; 里耶卡 1 Ives 0; 谢里夫 1 St Esplan 3; Tre Kari 1 Svitta 6; 特温特 6 DAC 1906 0; Valar Reykjavik 0 Nordspellland 2; 扎尔吉里斯 2 斯普利特海杜克 5

板球

百球赛 男子 Lovt's 伦敦精神队 160-5 (LG Pretorius) 523, MI 伦敦 164-6, MI 以 4 个三柱门胜精神队。 百球赛 女子 Lovt's MI 122-9 (AC Kerr 60ne), 精神队 119-8, MI 以 3 分之差胜精神队。

联盟式橄榄球

BETFRED 超级联赛 圣海伦斯 18 哈尔 FC 12 BETFRED 女子超级联赛 圣海伦斯 6 Wiljan 44

网球

ATP 国家银行公开赛（加拿大蒙特利尔） 64 强赛： 1. Tine (美) 16 G Morella (PJ) 6-3 0-6 6-5; T Paul (美) 16 V Wyatt (V) 6-4 7-6 (5); T Drogott (P) 5 J Faria (秘) 7-6 (2) 6-2; B van de Zandschulp (荷) 1 D Molneder (俄) 6-3 7-6 (5); L Dardieri (R) 1 Shang J (Ovs) 4-6 6-1 6-4; A Fils (P) 5 M M Naveier (英) 6-3 6-2

WTA 国家银行公开赛（加拿大多伦多） 64 强赛： 4.Eula (PN) 16 A Parks (美) 6-1 4-6 6-2; M Joint (澳) 16 S Cortes (罗) 6-4 6-4; L Fernandez (加) 16 R Zarassa (墨) 6-2 6-2; E Alexandrovic (俄) 1 T Gibson (澳) 5-7 6-1 6-3; D Shoulder (俄) 1 6 Kaleskaya (俄) 4-3 6-5; I Swiatek (波) 16 V Golubic (瑞) 6-2 6-1.

高尔夫

PIF 锦标赛（圣阿尔班斯） 第一轮领先成绩（除非另有说明，否则为 GI & Inr：Pir 73）： 67 A Huang (捷) 68 K Bennett (澳); E Sato (澳) 69℃ Heath 70 A Knader (德); S Tan (新); A Nabilia (St); O Cowan (德), A Zarezzo (意), A Donegan, L Rydqvist (瑞) 71 L Salmon (西); P Urc (印); L Pace (南非); L Hall, E Young, A Ankel (印); G Caves 72 A Lee (美); J Rosenberg (美); E Hamilton, C Eaton, S Kozakova (捷); M Fidke (瑞); D Dorquez (厄), A van Dam (荷), A Prinez (西); C Satterkau (德); C Naja (德), J Bonin (澳), K Napoleone (捷)。

自行车赛 TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES 第六赛段（Mortheisen-Tourneo-sur-Rhone，153.0km）：1 K Le Court (Br) 5 AC Insurance-Soudaf 4小时2分48秒；2℃ Kerfoot (Fr) EF Education-Qatz；3 P Pieterse (Neth) Fenix-Premier Tech；4 S Van Dam (Can) Viano; Lesso a Blie；5℃ Gery (Fr) FB1 United-Suez 均为同一时间。总成绩排名：1 M Reusser (Sw) 1 M Wovinar 1 Bnr 43分34秒；2 D Vellering (Neth) FB1 United-Suez +0.12；3 K Nimaladintsi-Phinney (Pol) Canyon / Scam +3.17；4 E Longo-Barghini (It) UAE Team 1 MAD +2.28；5 A Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon / Scam +2.40。TOUR DE FOLOGNE (波兰) 第四赛段（Zagan-Karpta，175.5km）：1 B Lemmen (Neth) Vistou Lesso a Blie；1小时54分45秒，2℃ Scaroni (It) XDS Astana 同时间；3 A Laurance (Fr) Nelcompony Inves Cycling +0.14；4 M Breimer (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling；5 L Barre (Fr) Vistou Lesso a Blie 同时间。总成绩排名：1 B Lemmen (Neth) 16小时16分12秒，2℃ Scaroni (R) +0.06；3 M Breimer (Ger) +0.26；4 M Sabreira (It) Lab-Trek +0.27；5 F Fisher-Black (NZ) Red Bull-Bora-Ransgrohe +0.26。

赛程

足球（除非另有说明，否则为晚上7.45） Candine Cup 第一轮 Middlebrough v Wrecham (下午3点)；Wolves v Port Vale, Mycombe v Stevenage William Hill 苏格兰冠军联赛 Partick v Livingston (晚上7.30) Jörfgenos Phoenix Athos UK v Cardiff ME；Ammunford v Colwyn Bay；Caernarfon v Penzibont；Cambrian v Briton Ferry；Flint v Barry, Holywell v Connah's Quay, TNS v Haverfordwest；Treffelin v Llandudno Sports Direct NRL 顶级联赛 Cliftonville v Croxaders 女子冠军联赛 第二轮资格赛： 第三名决赛 8m stalk v Dinamo BGU (Swe)；决赛 Servette-Chinon v Altisloe (下午3点)

橄榄球联盟（除非另有说明，否则为晚上8点） Betfred 超级联赛 Cazdeford v Hull KR；Leigh v York, Wakefield v Leeds

板球（除非另有说明，否则为上午11点） Metro Bank 一日杯 男子 A组 Lancashire v Gloucestershire, Old Trafford；Leicestershire v Warwickshire, Grace Road (下午2点) Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire, Chesterfield；Somerset v Surrey, Taunton (下午2点) B组 Durham v Middlesex, Riverside (下午1.30) Glensorgan v Essex, Sophia Gardens；Sussex v Worcestershire, Hove (下午2点)；Yorkshire v Derbyshire, Scarborough The Hundred 男子 Birmingham Phoenix v SunRivers Leeds, Edgbaston (晚上6.30) The Hundred 女子 Birmingham Phoenix v SunRivers Leeds, Edgbaston (下午3点) 男子一日国际赛 阿富汗境内；Broady (上午10.45) 世界杯 第二级别三方赛 Scotland v Canada, Dundee (上午11点)

Greg Wood 的赛马预测

Masonburgh 1.50 Falcon Nine 2.20 Minster Man 2.30 Engels 3.20 Jenny Concorde (top) 3.50 Machine (nb) 4.24 Rot De Per 4.54 Wimmerold Tilnick 2.10 Tisilets 2.40 My Maria 3.10 Lone Tanya 3.40 Alainithéjungle 4.10 Master Vintner 4.40 Maximum Velocity Brighton 2.30 Deemed Spirit 3.00 Examined 3.30 Celebrating Ethel 4.00 U S S Charleston 4.30 Dragon Gull 3.00 Don't Eat The Blues Newmarket 5.27 Netherstrom 6.02 Oh Sweet Adore 6.37 Nolani 7.12 Fentander 7.47 Hilltop 8.22 Lucky Horn Hippford 5.43 Ancestor 8.10 Cap'n Star 8.53 Reेपछि 7.28 Arthurian 8.03 Silver Sovereign 8.18 Distinct Spirit

Sky Sports, sky TV & Netflix 每月

价格在 24 个月的最短合约期内可能会发生变化。

搜索“Essential TV” £15 Essential 包含精选频道。仅限 Now 注册用户。要求 Essential （当前 £15）和 Sports Complete（当前 £15）的合约期至少为 24 个月。专业知识目前（当前 £15 的 57%）。Essential 包含 Atlantic、Road、Sports Around Sports Racing、带广告的 Netflix 标准版以及 Discovery- Entertainment —— 需要设置账户。最低宽带速度（建议 15 Mbps）。所有内容于 10 月 18-24 日起提供。折扣基于 More 仅限住宅客户。适用进一步费率。 --- 12 体育^{}[] 足球

欧足联将核查国际足联对世界杯的估值

欧洲足球管理机构要求就詹尼·因凡蒂诺是否以低于市场价的价格提供股份提交一份独立报告。

该国际机构对因凡蒂诺的支持未能抵消抵制威胁，而早期急于发表此类声明的热潮已经放缓。英格兰足协现已正式致函国际足联，撤回其支持。在欧足联再次发出抵制威胁后，国际职业球员协会（Fifpro）发表了一份措辞激烈的声明。在世界杯之前，Fifpro 曾示意打算与国际足联合作，但事实证明这成了最短暂的休战。在批评的同时，Fifpro 致函国际足联提出了一系列要求，包括赋予球员在国际足联理事会中的投票权，该理事会本应是主要的

马特·休斯（Matt Hughes）报道：在担心詹尼·因凡蒂诺同意以低于市场价的价格将世界杯未来的利润出售给一家私募股权公司后，欧足联计划委托进行一次对国际足联世界杯销售计划的独立估值。在摩洛哥进行危机谈判后，因凡蒂诺于周二向国际足联 211 个会员协会发出的书面道歉并未动摇该欧洲管理机构。它将继续推动将其撤职，其策略包括进一步审查一项被主席迟迟才承认是“错误”的提案。

上周在四天后被放弃的“国际足联前行企业”（Fifa Forward Enterprise）计划涉及将 21% 的股份以 42亿美元 (31亿英镑) 的价格出售给 Thrive Capital。这家美国私募股权公司由唐纳德·特朗普的女婿贾里德·库什纳的兄弟约书亚·库什纳领导。欧足联在国际足联的转向中发挥了关键作用，此次转向是由全部 55 个会员协会威胁抵制世界杯和其他赛事而触发的。欧足联现在正寻求确定 200亿美元 的国际足联商业资产估值是如何计算出来的。

欧足联已与几位市场分析师沟通，以寻求关于独立估值的意见，一旦围绕因凡蒂诺近期前途的风暴过去，可能会进行正式研究。上周传阅的国际足联销售简报中包含的细节并未包含任何关于估值过程的信息或任何竞争性招标的证据。

“我们需要弄清楚他们是否在以低价出售世界杯，”一位了解欧足联计划的消息人士表示。“他们是如何得出 200亿美元 这个数字的？这是一个稳健的过程吗？”

在以今夏世界杯为顶峰的四个年度周期内，国际足联的收入为 150亿美元，这导致市场分析师认为 200亿美元 的估值过低，特别是该提案似乎没有包含任何防止扩军或创建新赛事的条款。

“世界杯是唯一真正全球性的群众娱乐活动，因此在当前收入基础上增加 50亿美元 对我来说似乎太低了，”该消息人士说。“这看起来像是一个低价出价。投资者会要求的进一步扩张带来的显而易见财务增值——更多球队，更多150亿美元 今夏世界杯的国际足联收入，因此 200亿美元 的估值似乎低于市场价。

（此处接前文关于 Fifpro 的论述）决策机构但经常被因凡蒂诺绕过。“‘国际足联前行企业’虽然消失了，但产生它的权力滥用依然存在，”Fifpro 表示。“紧迫需要的是治理改革，而不是掩盖。撤回 FFE 是必然的。但撤回提案并不能抹除它所揭露的事情。一项能够永久改变国际足联世界杯所有权和治理的计划……是在秘密中构思的，在闭门会议中谈判的，并在国际足联理事会、会员协会、球员和足球界公认的利益相关者甚至知道它存在之前，就几乎达成协议。这不仅仅是治理失败。这是对总统权力的严重滥用。”

南美足联（Conmebol）有三个成员国有望在2030年世界杯期间举办赛事，该组织在公开评论前等待了超过一周的时间。在的一份声明中，南美足联理事会“一致对在未寻求对话或未利用既定制度机制处理此类情况的情况下，反复采取的单方面行动表示关切”。昨天早些时候，约旦足协主席阿里·本·侯赛因王子表示，国际足联已支付了去年12月阿拉伯杯欠下的奖金，但他明确表示仍将反对因凡蒂诺。这笔资金似乎是在阿里王子指责国际足联进行“敲诈”，称该管理机构威胁如果约旦拒绝支持因凡蒂诺连任将扣留资金之后才到账。“感谢国际足联管理层在今天早晨突然地 ● 接续自封底页 --- 13 ◀ 詹尼·因凡蒂诺在将世界杯奖杯交给西班牙之前将其交给唐纳德·特朗普 ATMAN ARMY NORTHWEST BRITTERSTOCK 常规世界杯，以及更多的俱乐部世界杯——这一点尚未体现在定价中。”Ufa还呼吁对国际足联的治理进行审查，并威胁将对其采取法律行动。尽管包括秘书长马蒂亚斯·格拉夫斯特伦（Mattias Grafström）、首席运营官凯文·拉穆尔（Kevin Lamour）以及足球发展主管阿尔塞纳·温格在内的核心人物对出售计划提出了严厉的内部批评，但国际足联仍试图维持统一战线。因凡蒂诺在拉巴特参加危机谈判后，于周三与格拉夫斯特伦一同出席了在摩洛哥举行的马拉维队与赞比亚队之间的非洲女子国家杯小组赛。随后，国际足联发表声明称，主席仍拥有该组织的“全力支持”。这种表面上的支持表明，推动变革的力量必须来自组织外部。国际足联已被要求就此发表评论。他写道：“……支付了我们球员和教练组应得的款项，这是由于约旦国家队在去年12月卡塔尔国际足联阿拉伯杯中进入决赛而获得的资金。”“这笔资金本应在八个月前收到……这正是我们所有人面临的困难的典型症状，且通常与国际足联主席选举相关。这并没有改变我对国际足联领导层的明确立场：我的足协和我将不会支持因凡蒂诺主席，也不会投票给他。”

巴塞罗那加大对罗德里的兴趣，而皇家马德里与曼城球星的谈判陷入停滞

Ed Aarons

巴塞罗那已加大力度，试图拦截皇家马德里签下曼彻斯特城球员罗德里的计划。虽然曼城并未放弃希望这位西班牙世界杯冠军队长在合同进入最后一年后签署新约，但据认为他们愿意以约 6000 万英镑 的价格允许其离队。

尽管与罗德里及其代表进行了数周的谈判，皇马尚未达成协议，而巴塞罗那希望借此机会出手。据了解，罗德里在周三与他们的主教练汉西·弗里克以及体育总监德科讨论了潜在的转会，并表示他渴望回到西班牙。

巴萨的中场球员弗兰基·德容因膝盖受伤将缺阵数月，因此预计巴萨现在将与曼城取得联系，就这位 30 岁且曾获得世界杯最佳球员金球奖的球员的转会费结构进行谈判。

皇马此前以俱乐部纪录的 1500 万英镑 签下了 RB 莱比锡的扬·迪奥曼德，并与维尼修斯·儒尼奥尔达成了一份丰厚的六年续约合同，以抵御来自阿森纳的兴趣。如果他们还想签下罗德里，可能必须先清理球员。奥雷利安·楚阿梅尼和爱德华多·卡马文加可能是离队人选，曼彻斯特联队此前与这两名法国中场传出联系。

罗德里接受了背部的小手术，将错过曼城大部分的季前准备计划。曼城以 1600 万英镑 从诺丁汉森林签下了埃利奥特·安德森，并继续与里尔就 18 岁摩洛哥中场艾尤布·布阿迪的交易进行谈判。

► 罗德里被认为可用约 6000 万英镑 购得，但曼城尚未放弃留住他的希望

MARTIN RICKETT / FA

阿根廷将设立“致敬”日纪念半决赛战胜英格兰

阿根廷足协（AFA）正在纪念上个月世界杯半决赛战胜英格兰的胜利，并将15 July定为“国家足球队日”。在周三执行委员会会议后，AFA官方网站的一篇文章称：“选择这个日期是为了纪念阿根廷在世界杯半决赛中战胜英格兰的历史性胜利。”

“利昂内尔·斯卡洛尼的球队曾一度落后英格兰队一个球，但凭借恩佐·费尔南德斯和劳塔罗·马丁内斯的进球，他们反超了比赛，让整个国家陷入了狂欢的庆祝之中。”

“但这次致敬不仅仅是为了成年国家队实现的这一里程碑。当然，这种认可也延伸到每一支国家队（包括青年队、男足和女足、五人制足球、沙滩足球和足球场足球），他们每天在利昂内尔·安德烈斯·梅西训练中心训练，带着代表阿根廷的希望、喜悦和责任感。”

国际足联（Fifa）已针对AFA启动纪律程序，原因是球员在比赛结束时展示了一幅横幅，宣称福克兰群岛属于阿根廷。莱安德罗·帕雷德斯和纳胡埃尔·莫利纳也因参与世界杯决赛1-0负于西班牙后的冲突而受到国际足联的调查。PA Media

◀ 阿根廷球员在世界杯半决赛战胜英格兰后，展示了一幅提及福克兰群岛的横幅 MR MEDIA / GETTY IMAGES

与此同时，巴塞罗那在说服马德里竞技出售胡利安·阿尔瓦雷斯的努力中受挫。在罗伯特·莱万多夫斯基离开后，巴塞罗那整个夏天都将阿尔瓦雷斯作为目标，但马德里竞技继续坚持这位阿根廷前锋无论出价多少都不出售。

德科周三在西班牙首都与阿尔瓦雷斯的代表会面。所有目光都将集中在这位26岁的前曼城前锋是会在周一返回季前训练，还是尝试强行推动转会。阿森纳对他也保持兴趣。

在世界杯决赛中为西班牙打入制胜球的费兰·托雷斯已进入他在巴塞罗那合同的最后一年，并表示他正在等待俱乐部开始就续约进行谈判。

“我只知道我必须在12 August参加巴塞罗那的训练。让我们看看会发生什么。”

足球简讯

乌干达

国际

奥沃尔被抢匪杀害

在首都坎帕拉的一起抢劫案中，一名球员死亡，乌干达足球界陷入哀悼。大卫·奥沃尔曾担任乌干达超级联赛俱乐部维拉体育俱乐部（Sports Club Villa）的队长，并曾在青年级别代表国家队出战。他在周二晚上因反抗抢夺手机及其他财物的企图而遭到袭击。

这位27岁的球员是SC Villa的右后卫和中场，并帮助球队在2024年赢得了创纪录的第17个乌干达超级联赛冠军。Carlos Mureithi

澳大利亚

两名伊朗足球运动员获得公民身份

两名伊朗女足球员在获得澳大利亚公民身份。此前，她们因在比赛前拒绝唱国歌而在国内被指责为叛徒。法蒂玛·帕桑迪德和阿特法·拉马扎尼萨德曾是来自[...OMITTED...]

流浪者队在波兰落败后仍有工作要做

流浪者队在欧联杯第三轮资格赛首回合客场对阵雅盖隆尼亚比亚韦斯托克（Jagiellońska Białystok）的比赛中，因防守疏忽丢失早期领先优势，最终以 1-2 输球。德里克·麦克因内斯（Derek McInnes）作为流浪者队主教练的首场欧战比赛开局梦幻，比赛仅进行 4 分钟，对方后卫吉列尔梅·蒙托亚（Guilherme Montóia）将图尔·罗门斯（Tuur Rommens）的传中球挡入自家大门。然而，卡耶坦·什myt（Kajetan Szmyt）在第 13 分钟扳平比分，动摇了客队的信心，随后在 8 分钟后利用客队的防守松懈攻入第二球。麦克因内斯在下半场开始时换上了卡米·德夫林（Cammy Devlin）、尼科·拉斯金（Nico Raskin）和芬德利·柯蒂斯（Findlay Curtis），流浪者队掌控了控球权，但未能找到扳平比分的方法，柯蒂斯在补时阶段的一次射门击中门柱。他们必须在下周回到伊布罗克斯球场反败为胜。

与此同时，马瑟韦尔队在阿尔弗雷德·约汉森（Alfred Johansson）的率领下继续保持令人印象深刻的开局，他们在欧协联第三轮资格赛首回合客场对阵芬兰球队赫尔辛基（HJK Helsinki）的比赛中获得 1-1 平局。在比赛一小时后，塔万达·马斯万希塞（Tawanda Maswanhise）通过点球帮助球队领先，马瑟韦尔的新主教练一度看起来有望取得连续第四场胜利。但 36 岁的前凯尔特人和诺里奇前锋特穆·普基（Teemu Pukki）在第 70 分钟替补登场后数秒内便为赫尔辛基扳平比分。PA Media

在 3 月份女足亚洲杯期间的抗议活动后，伊朗代表团请求澳大利亚提供保护。他们对保护的需求让伊朗领导层感到尴尬，但其中 5 人改变主意返回了国内。然而，帕桑迪德（Pasandideh）和拉马扎尼萨德（Ramezanisadeh）留了下来，并在一次仪式上获得了公民身份。其余队员在返回伊朗后的处境仍不明确。AFP

伯恩茅斯

塞维利亚全背 Juanlu 以 1110 万英镑 价格加盟

伯恩茅斯已完成对塞维利亚右后卫 Juanlu 的 1110 万英镑 交易，新任主教练马尔科·罗斯（Marco Rose）正在为俱乐部在欧洲赛场的首个赛季敲定阵容。这位前西班牙 U-21 国际球员签署了一份为期五年的合同，初始费用为 940 万英镑，另可能包含 170 万英镑 的附加费。这位 22 岁的球员是伯恩茅斯在夏天继从本菲卡签入安东尼奥·席尔瓦（Antonio Silva）和从埃尔切签入阿尔瓦罗·罗德里格斯（Álvaro Rodríguez）之后的第三名签约球员。

此外，英格兰门将詹姆斯·特拉福德（James Trafford）在通过体检后，完成了创俱乐部纪录的转会加盟利兹联。利兹联就这位 23 岁球员与曼城达成 4000 万英镑 费用外加附加费的协议。PA Media

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鲁索势头强劲 “这次游行是有史以来最令人惊叹的事情之一” 第 39 页 $\rightarrow$ 6000 万英镑 重磅消息 巴塞罗那准备拦截皇马签下罗德里（Rodri）的希望 第 43 页 $\rightarrow$

体育

“严重的权力滥用” 欧足联坚持抵制威胁，工会反戈因凡蒂诺 尼克·艾姆斯 (Nick Ames) 马特·休斯 (Matt Hughes)

欧足联（Uefa）加倍强化了抵制国际足联（Fifa）运营赛事的威胁，并重申对其主席詹尼·因凡蒂诺（Gianni Infantino）领导层的信心丧失。在针对因凡蒂诺的批评从多个方面接踵而至之际，这个欧洲足球管理机构再次发表了严厉的干预声明。全球球员工会 Fifpro 谴责这是“严重的总统权力滥用”，而通常是因凡蒂诺坚定盟友的南美足联（Conmebol）也被迫谴责其“在不寻求对话的情况下采取的重复单方面行动”。

然而，欧足联持续持有的立场可能对因凡蒂诺造成最严重的损害。在的一份声明中，欧足联表示，国际足联在周三晚上公开对因凡蒂诺的支持“改变不了任何事情”，并解释称，它并不相信过去九天危机的情况不会再次发生。上周，欧足联的 55 个成员协会达成一致，如果因凡蒂诺不撤回其私人资助的“国际足联前行企业”（Fifa Forward Enterprise, FFE）计划，他们将抵制国际足联的赛事。尽管该计划在上周五被废除，但欧足联表示，避免抵制所需的条件尚未达成。

“欧足联的协会对于不参加国际足联赛事的附加条件表达得非常明确，”声明称。“首先，出售重大赛事的提案必须撤回；其次，必须保证绝不会再次出现以这种方式破坏足球运动的尝试。”

“这些条件尚未达成。此外，欧足联在周六的声明中已明确表示，它对詹尼·因凡蒂诺的主席任期失去了信心。这一立场依然不变。昨天宣布由国际足联主席雇佣的部分人员（且其职业生涯依赖于他的青睐）同意他的观点，这改变不了任何事情。”

这加剧了笼罩在足球治理之上的动荡。如果在 5 September（9 月 5 日）于波兰开幕的 Under-20（U-20）女足世界杯之前未能达成协议，该赛事将成为首个遭受欧足联领导的抵制行动的赛事。

尽管在周三于拉巴特举行的部分管理委员会会议后，由因凡蒂诺领导的统一阵线得以展现，但欧足联仍希望能够利用国际足联领导层内部的分歧。然而，会议中有几位显著的缺席者，据了解，阿尔塞纳·温格（Arsène Wenger）以国际足联全球发展主管的身份拒绝了前往摩洛哥的邀请，因为他希望与因凡蒂诺保持距离。这位前阿森纳主教练此前对世界杯出售计划发起了猛烈抨击，称废除该计划是“绝对必要且毫无疑问的”。

与温格相反，曾将这些提案描述为“一个人的项目”的国际足联首席运营官凯文·拉穆尔（Kevin Lamour）未被邀请参加此次峰会，这一进展将使其未来面临更多质疑。此外，首席足球官吉尔·埃利斯（Jill Ellis）和首席女足官萨莱·巴雷曼（Sarai Bareman）也未在拉巴特出席。

虽然国际足联已就他们被排除在 FFE 进程之外向国际足联理事会和成员协会表示歉意，但据信这些情操未能动摇很大比例的理事会成员。少数几个欧足联成员协会已经撤回了支持因凡蒂诺竞选第四任期的支持信，尽管

英格兰在后斯托克斯时代依赖人数优势 Ali Martin

从纸面上看，关于英格兰在对阵巴基斯坦的测试赛系列赛中将如何取代本·斯托克斯（Ben Stokes）的答案，似乎是通过增加人数来解决问题并提供多种选择。一支由 16 人组成的阵容已被选定参加从 8 月 19 日开始的前两场测试赛，这类似于一支巡回参赛队，且有臃肿的风险。尽管在昨天公布阵容时——该阵容计划由乔丹·考克斯（Jordan Cox）在 3 号位击球，而雅各布·贝塞尔（Jacob Bethell）因膝伤缺席本系列赛——国家选拔员马库斯·诺斯（Marcus North）阐明了在乔·鲁特（Joe Root）尽职回归队长之位后，出场 11 人阵容的预期结构。

斯托克斯留下的空缺最初将由丹·劳伦斯（Dan Lawrence）填补，他在远离赛场两年后回归，并将排在接球手杰米·史密斯（Jamie Smith）之前，在 6 号位击球。劳伦斯的旋转离轴球加上鲁特，将允许在海丁利（Headingley）和勋爵板球场（Lord's）这两座旋转球作用较小的球场上派出四名一线快球手。在确认此点的同时，诺斯还对萨姆·库兰（Sam Curran）作为未来的预期接缝球全能球员给予了强力认可。在后斯托克斯时代，库兰或类似球员似乎是肖艾布·巴希尔（Shoaib Bashir）——一名击球能力极弱的旋转球手——能在主场有利于接缝球的球场上进入阵容的唯一途径。然而，库兰正与身体微恙作斗争，在第三场测试赛之前可能无法恢复到最佳状态。与此同时，劳伦斯有机会证明自他最后一次在 14 场出场记录中亮相以来，他已成为一名更出色的球员。

考克斯在 3 号位是一个不确定因素，即便他在两年前转会至埃塞克斯（Essex）之前，曾在肯特（Kent）担任过一段时间的开局击球手。贝塞尔的膝盖问题使他自

以来一直无法参赛

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It's a family affair → Film & Music

The Womack Sisters live up to the legacy

Dominic Sessa 'I want to escape the modern era'

Friday 7 August 2026 £3.50 From £2.40 for subscribers

The Guardian

Cambridge 'unleashed grotesque racism' with Arday appointment

Call for inquiry into how professor in plagiarism row was given top post

Richard Adams Education editor

The University of Cambridge's leaders deserve blame for the "grotesque racism unleashed" by Jason Arday's appointment as a professor, according to academics calling for the

university to hold an independent inquiry into the affair.

The Guardian understands senior academics at Cambridge are circulating a joint letter calling for an inquiry into the processes and circumstances around Arday's being given the position, with many suggesting the university wanted a "quick fix" to improve the diversity of its staff.

Arday was appointed as a professor of sociology of education in 2023 at the relatively young age of 37 despite a slim track record of research and publications compared with those

appointed to similar chairs at the apex of Cambridge's academic structure.

He resigned on Wednesday after more than a week of public questions over claims of plagiarism in his PhD thesis and other publications, allegations of exaggerating his academic appointments, mounting controversy over his claims to have raised millions of pounds for charity, and lurid statements involving masked attackers and even a pig's head delivered to his parents' home in London.

Arday was preparing to publish his memoir in the US and Britain in

the coming days, and had told the Guardian that its publisher, Simon & Schuster, was to pay him "1.4 million" for his extraordinary backstory, which includes being unable to speak until he was 11 years old.

The Cambridge academics want any inquiry to include external members and to be given independent status. They point to concerns over the appointment committee for Arday's post, and to previous disputes within the university's faculty of education, where Arday was based. Priyamvada Gopal, professor of

postcolonial studies at Cambridge's English faculty and one of the group organising the letter, said: "An independent investigation must scrutinise how such an early-career appointment to a very senior and prestigious professorial chair was made and what both the faculty of education and university management may have got very badly wrong."

She added: "Whatever the results of any investigation, the university bears no little responsibility for the grotesque"

Toxic pollution in every body of water in England

Politicians accused of "conspiracy of silence and inaction" as evaluation of water quality in lakes and rivers across country finds pollutants ranging from microplastics to "forever chemicals". News Page 6 →

Milburn: spot pupils at risk of joblessness

Richard Partington Senior economics correspondent

Primary schools in England should be required to identify children at risk of leaving education at 16 without finding a job, a government review is to recommend.

Alan Milburn, who is leading a review into Britain's crisis in youth worklessness, said he would call for sweeping changes in education policy alongside a shake-up of the benefits system to address the problem.

Speaking to the Guardian, he said ministers needed to "make somebody responsible" for identifying and supporting the children who risked becoming Neet (not in employment, education or training) after their GCSE year up to the age of 24.

"The warning signs are there from a very early, early age. You know, frankly from preschool," he said.

"So, definitely primary schools should be identifying children who are at risk of being Neet. And secondary schools and other services should be"

PHOTOGRAPHS: JACOB DE MATTERSON/TS

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The Guardian Friday 7 August 2026

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News

▲ A propaganda poster in central Tehran. Iran denied talks were taking place when Donald Trump called off airstrikes on Sunday PHOTOGRAPH /ATUMED RAHMAN/ ANADOLUGETTY

Trump threatens to jail 'treasonous'

officials in munitions shortfall row

David Smith Washington bureau chief

Donald Trump has lashed out at reports that the US is running short of key munitions in its war with Iran, threatening long prison sentences for officials who leak information.

The president claimed yesterday that his armed forces had 'massive amounts' of ammunition and more was being manufactured and shipped to the Middle East.

'Defense companies are build- ing the largest number of plants and factories in our country's his- tory,' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, without providing evidence or details about the specific weapons in question.

His remarks came after a news- paper report claimed he had demanded answers from his defence

secretary, Pete Hegseth, over alleged shortages at a cabinet meeting held last Friday at Camp David, a presi- dential retreat in Maryland.

Trump told Hegseth he felt misled because he believed the problem 'had been fixed', according to the Washington Post, citing two sources familiar with the exchange.

Hegseth allegedly defended him- self and tried to shift blame to his deputy, Stephen Feinberg.

The president responded angrily yesterday to the Post's reporting, accusing the media of spreading 'treasonous statements' and warn- ing that those responsible would be pursued. 'The 'leakers' of these treasonous statements are being hunted down,' he wrote. 'Long-term jail sentences will be sought!'

CNN separately reported that shortages of long-range guided missiles and air defence interceptors

were constraining Trump's strategy in the conflict. The US had 'nearly exhausted 80%' of its stock of Terminal High Altitude Area Defence interceptors, the network said.

The Post also reported that concerns over dwindling supplies had contributed to Trump calling off further strikes against Iran, despite his repeated threats to hit the country

'Congress needs to take action. Americans need the truth. Hegseth can't give it. He needs to go'

Joe Scarborough Former congressman

'very hard'. The White House and the Pentagon rejected the claims.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, described the account of the Camp David exchange as 'FAKENEWS' on X. She wrote: 'I was at Camp David with President Trump and Secretary Hegseth. This literally never happened.'

Seeking to quash speculation about Hegseth's future, Leavitt insisted: 'The president loves the secretary and thinks he's doing a tremendous job.'

Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, dismissed the reports of a confrontation between Trump and Hegseth and the claims of weap- ons shortages as 'equally fictional'.

Parnell added: 'Secretary Hegseth isn't going anywhere and he's going to continue to work side by side with deputy secretary Feinberg to execute President Trump's agenda, strengthen America's defence indus- trial base, and ensure our warfighters have every capability they need to deter and defeat any adversary.'

The increasingly public dispute comes as Trump seeks to project confidence over the course of the war. On Sunday, he claimed he had ordered and subsequently called off 'the biggest attack since world war two' in the light of fresh negotiations over the strait of Hormuz.

Isra's foreign ministry denied that talks were taking place, despite the president's claim that Tehran was eager to reach a deal.

The Pentagon has faced criticism for manipulating US casualty fig- ures and failing to hold regular press briefings about the war.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host who styles himself as the secretary of war, last month announced a screen- ing programme for 'testosterone deficiency' among US troops.

Joe Scarborough, an MS Now host and former Republican congressman, posted on X: 'When Hegseth attacks media questions on this extreme munitions shortage as 'fake news', he makes this unforgivable blunder worse. Congress needs to take action. Americans need the truth. Hegseth can't give it. He needs to go.'

Restore's Lowe

refuses to say if King Charles is a 'white Briton'

Caroline Davies

Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, refused to say he believed King Charles could be classified as a 'white Briton' in an extraordinary interview on the BBC's Today pro- gramme yesterday.

Questioning Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, over his claims that 'white Britons will become a minor- ity by 2063', the presenter of the Radio 4 programme, Nick Robinson, noted that the forecast Lowe referred to defined a 'white Briton' as some- one whose parents were both born in the UK.

With the king's late father, Prince Philip, having been born on the Greek island of Corfu, Robinson asked Lowe: 'Are you aware that, by the def- initions used in that particular report, King Charles is not a white Briton? Do you think he is a white Briton?'

Lowe answered: 'Well, many peo- ple have different interpretations of that, Nick. I mean, we can split hairs.'

Robinson said: 'We're not splitting hairs - do you think the monarch of this country is a white Briton?'

Lowe said: 'The experience of what we're talking about is quite clear and I think most British people, if you speak to them, would agree.'

▲ Rupert Lowe says 'white Britons' will become a minority by 2063

Accused of ignoring the ques- tion, he continued: 'It is a fact that, by 2063, white British people will be a minority on current trends. I don't think anyone disputes that.'

As Lowe continued to decline to give a direct answer, Robinson said: 'So, because Prince Philip was born in Greece, King Charles is not, under your definition, treated as a white Briton. Now let me go on and ask you a different question.'

Lowe said: 'I did come on to speak about ostensibly the economic paper we've just put out, and about the issue with Nigel Farage, and you've man- aged to turn it into a discussion about

▲ King Charles with his late father, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu

British people becoming minority, white British people, by 2063.'

Nigel Farage has said Restore Brit- ain could inflict 'great harm' on his party, Reform UK. Lowe, who was expelled from Reform, said in a video message on Monday that he and Far- age should set aside differences and cooperate 'to destroy the looming leftwing alliance'.

He said in the video message he had made a 'genuine' effort to reach out to Farage 'in good faith', add- ing: 'Now, so far, I had one message from Nigel on a Sunday morning at 10.30 saying: 'Will call later.' Now, in his press conference, he said he was waiting for a call from me.'

On the Today programme, Lowe was asked several times by Robin- son to provide evidence 'that Britain, in your words, is hurting towards becoming an Islamic country'.

He pointed towards Restore's '219- page rape gang inquiry report'. The BBC had not covered it at all, Lowe said, adding: 'And if you had the intellectual appetite to actually read the report, I don't think you'd even need to ask me this question.'

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Friday 7 August 2026 The Guardian

News

'Anonymous' no more. How art detective gave female artist's work a starring role

Joanna Moorhead

Anonymous was often a woman: so said Virginia Woolf. And so thought Cynthia Osiecki one day in 2022, when she chanced on an unattributed still life in the storage area of the National Museum of Norway in Oslo.

Osiecki had been studying the work of a renowned 17th-century Flemish artist, Clara Peeters, one of the earliest practitioners of still life painting. Works by Peeters hang in the Prado in Madrid, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

The Oslo painting, Still Life with Silver Vase, was created around 1620 and features nine freshly dead birds, hazelnuts, apricots and a fly perched on a bunch of grapes. It was once regarded as the work of a member of a famous family of Antwerp artists, Ambrosius Brueghel. But in the early 20th century the attribution was reassessed, and the work reclassified as being by 'anonymous'. Then it was consigned to storage.

Osiecki began to wonder whether the work - some details of which have been obscured by many layers of varnish - could be by Peeters, an enigmatic but prolific artist who pushed the boundaries of still life painting in the Northern European baroque period. Osiecki began to compare the work with other pieces by the painter, who is thought to have been born in Antwerp around 1594. 'I looked at the panel the Oslo work is painted on, and discovered it was from a supplier

'Her paintings, including the newly attributed work, are all about the brevity of life'

Cynthia Osiecki Art historian

Peeters often used,' she said. 'Then I looked at other paintings by Peeters, and I noticed some of them had a tazza [a saucer-like dish on a pedestal] very similar to the one in the Oslo painting.' Osiecki noticed, too, similarities in the way the dead birds, the grapes and the hazelnuts were positioned in the composition.

One problem, though, was that Peeters was well known for signing her works, and the Oslo piece

▲ Still Life with small game and grapes on a gilded tazza, now known to be by Clara Peeters PHOTOGRAPH: RØMRE HØSTLAND/NATIONAL MUSEUM

had no signature. But the panel had been damaged by woodworm, and the area eaten away was the bottom edge of the work - the very area where Peeters usually signed her pieces.

It seemed more and more likely that the painting was a work by

▲ A painting thought to be a self-portrait of Clara Peeters includes a tazza, which is used to display fruit PHOTOGRAPH: WORTOR SEYMOHOWICZ

Peeters - but a piece of the jigsaw was missing. Peeters is famous for including miniature self-portraits in her work, often reflections of herself in pewter or glass objects, or on shiny fruit or vegetables. 'I could see a shape on some of the grapes, and on closer examination I realised they look like outlines of human figures,' said Osiecki. 'These might be the artist herself, and it could be the image had been lost during conservation work.'

This year the painting was officially reattributed to Peeters, and it will be one of the star exhibits in Woman Painter at the National Museum of Norway opening on 8 October, curated by Osiecki.

The show features the work of female artists working across northern Europe and Italy between 1550 and 1650, with paintings by 19 artists including Artemisia Gentileschi, Lavinia Fontana and Judith Leyster, as well as Clara Peeters.

Peeters was known for intimate still life reflecting the transience of this world, said Osiecki. 'Her paintings, including the newly attributed work, are all about the brevity of life. We see recently dead birds, who will be part of a feast for humans, and grapes that will soon either be eaten or will decay. And though the work includes luxurious objects such as the tazza, Peeters is making the point that you can't take anything with you when you die. In the end we're all equal.'

The reattributed work demonstrates how art history is expanding to include women whose work has been lost or ignored, said Nora Ceciliedatter Nerdrum, director of exhibitions and collections at the National Museum of Norway. Over recent years, Europe's major museums have been opening up to shows of women's work - in 2016, Peeters became the first woman ever to be given a solo show at the Prado.

Nerdrum agrees that the quest to correct the omission of women from the canon of art history began by retrieving known works by women from storage; now, the search is on for women whose work has been labelled 'anonymous'. 'Watch this space, because there will be lots more of these finds in the future,' said Osiecki. 'The more we look, the more archival research we do, the more women we're going to find.'

Jazz club Blue Note swings into first British venue next month

Caroline Davies

The world-famous New York jazz club Blue Note is open its first British venue in London next month.

The club, which will be located in the basement of the St Martins Lane hotel in Covent Garden, promises the best of British jazz as well as world-class international artists, with a programme featuring emerging and established talent. Founded in

Greenwich Village in 1981, Blue Note has expanded across the US and into Japan, China, Brazil and Italy.

Robert Glasper, the Grammy-winning US pianist, producer and songwriter, will headline the grand opening on 23 September, marking the centenary of the influential US saxophonist, bandleader and composer, John Coltrane.

Glasper said: 'London has been a big supporter in my career from the very beginning and I've always had so much respect for the musical culture

of the UK past and present. There is a deep love for music that pushes boundaries and Blue Note has always been a home for that same spirit.

'Starting this new club is about creating a space where jazz, R&B, hip-hop and everything in between can meet, evolve and surprise people.

'I'm excited to build something in London that feels intimate, fearless and alive - a place where artists can take chances and audiences can experience the music up close.'

The venue will feature two performance spaces. Its 250-capacity main room will stage two shows each night and remain open until 1am from Monday to Saturday, and until midnight on Sundays. Tickets for the first run of shows will go on general sale on

14 August. A second, 100-capacity room, B-Side, supporting emerging British talent, is due to open later in the year.

Tsion Bensusan, the co-owner of Blue Note Entertainment Group, described the opening as

▲ Jazz drummer Roy Haynes at the Greenwich Village Blue Note in 2013

a 'significant milestone', adding: 'London has always been one of the world's great music capitals, with an extraordinary jazz heritage and an incredibly diverse creative community.'

'Our hope is that Blue Note London becomes more than a venue - it becomes a home for musicians, a gathering place for the community and an integral part of London's cultural landscape.'

Performances and residencies will include the neo-soul singer Erykah Badu, jazz-pop pianist and songwriter Jamie Cullum, award-winning saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia, drummer Yussef Dayes, Afrobeat collective Kokoroko and the rapper Hak Baker.

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4

National

Leipzig drone bomb was near plane carrying ammunition

Deborah Cole Berlin

A catastrophe was possibly narrowly averted by the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport, German officials said, as they examined whether a foreign state could be behind the plot.

One of the Ukrainian aircraft next to where the bomb drone was found was loaded with military ammunition, according to a classified police report quoted by the public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Süddeutsche newspaper.

The interior minister, Alexander Dobrindt, who warned on Wednesday that Germany faced a "new level of danger", said that only an

apparently "ripped" detonator had prevented the device going off near Ukrainian cargo planes on the tarmac at the shipping and military hub.

The highly explosive Ukrainian cargo, filled with jet fuel, had apparently been transported from France to Leipzig shortly beforehand.

The airport is about 13 miles from the centre of Leipzig. The facility hosts a major cargo processing centre that employs hundreds of people round the clock and is adjacent to two autobahn routes.

The Bild newspaper reported that the drone found near the Ukrainian plane had a handmade remote detonator that did not work, and investigators hoped it could offer clues as to its origin and the culprits. Leipzig airport's status as a Nato

and German military logistics hub, as well as the base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines in Europe, has directed suspicion toward Russia.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German parliament's intelligence committee, blamed Russia directly. "I consider the threat to Germany posed by hybrid attacks orchestrated by Russia to be serious," said Kiesewetter, a member of the co-ruling Christian Democrats.

"I also believe that the attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport was a targeted hybrid attack - in other words, an attempted act of terrorism - orchestrated by Russia."

An airport staff member discovered the drone shortly before midnight on Tuesday, "hovering" near the ground between two

▲ A police investigator with a bomb disposal robot at Leipzig airport

Antonov Airlines An-124 cargo aircraft, among the world's biggest freighters.

Police said a drone defence sensor system at the airport, considered "critical infrastructure" by Germany, had not picked up the drone.

Dobrindt told reporters that the drone seemed to have been modified to circumvent electronic detection. It was attached to a package of explosives roughly the size of a fist, according to the WDR-NDR-Süddeutsche report, and investigators said the substance inside was believed to be semtex, a powerful plastic explosive.

The discovery of the drone led the airport to suspend air traffic, forcing a DHL cargo plane from Marseille on its approach to take off again. The plane then collided with what is believed to have been a second drone.

The media report said that plane had also been carrying unspecified "dangerous goods" before it made an emergency landing in Hanover, about 155 miles north-west, with minor damage.

Bild said the drone that hit the DHL plane had a camera used to film the attack.

Air traffic had been diverted on Wednesday from the airport's southern runway, but was back to normal yesterday with no additional security measures reported.

Ukraine has been using Leipzig airport as an alternate location for the transport of military goods since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to official records. German defence ministry officials said the country's armed forces were not conducting military transport operations at the airport at the time of the incident.

Nato vows to supply air defences to Ukraine as Russia ramps up airstrikes

Guardian staff

Nato is working to get Ukraine the air defences it "urgently needs", its secretary general has said, after Kyiv failed to shoot down a single Russian missile in an attack on Wednesday, and as Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Moscow was seeking to significantly increase missile production before the winter.

Speaking at a National Security and Defense Council meeting on winter resilience, the Ukrainian president did not rule out the idea that stalling

missile supplies from western allies were "aimed at making Ukraine, so to speak, more willing to compromise" in peace talks with Russia.

After meeting the Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said: "It is important to cut through all red tape and make the necessary political decisions. Literally every day, people's lives here in Ukraine depend on the resolve of our partners in Europe and the United States."

Russia launched 24 ballistic missiles in an overnight attack yesterday, killing at least 17 people. Preliminary data from the Ukrainian air force showed its defences shot down 98

of the 115 drones fired by Russia overnight, but no ballistic missiles.

Zelenskyy said that in the first half of this year, supplies of air defence missiles from Ukraine's allies had fallen to a third of their 2025 level.

The president also warned that Moscow was looking to significantly increase ballistic missile production as winter neared, when it is expected to renew its campaign against Ukraine's energy sector.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's president on the development of defence technology, estimated that Russia was capable of launching 100 ballistic missiles

▲ An elderly man is evacuated from a building hit by Russian strikes in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, this week PHOTOGRAPH: FRANCISCO BECHART/GITTY IMAGES

every month to attack logistics hubs, industrial facilities, food stores and warehouses. "The war of attrition has entered its next phase," he said on the Telegram app.

Ukraine has been short on US-made Patriot interceptors capable of downing Russian ballistic missiles since the start of the war. But in recent weeks it has become clear there is an acute shortage, with Moscow attacking Kyiv about every three days in July alone. Zelenskyy said the interceptor shortage was mainly caused by the war in the Middle East.

Patriot missile systems are the only system in Ukrainian service able to intercept the Russian Iskander-M, S-400 and Zircon missiles, according to the Ukrainian air force.

Russia often combines ballistic missiles with cruise missiles, drones and decoys, forcing defenders to track many threats and ration scarce interceptors, but Ukraine says it has too few batteries and interceptors to properly protect itself.

The interceptor shortage has become more acute as a result of the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has consumed large numbers of Patriot and other interceptors. An analysis by the Associated Press estimated that the US Patriot inventory had fallen by at least 65% since before the war.

Production cannot immediately close the gap. Lockheed Martin delivered more than 600 of the newest model of interceptors in 2025 and is working toward annual capacity of 2,000 by the end of 2030. But according to some estimates, Gulf states collectively fired more than 1,100 interceptors in the first three months of the Iran war.

Nato says Europe's first Patriot missile production facility is expected to open in September in Germany.

At a Nato summit last month, Donald Trump said the US would give Ukraine a licence to produce Patriots. About three weeks later, he said he had not made a final decision.

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The gen Z whisperer BBC hires 26-year-old in battle for audience Page 9

'Almost superhuman' Acosta's ensemble is a balletic delight Page 15

National

Back to nature Traditional methods are used to harvest the King's College wildflower meadow at the University of Cambridge. In 2020 the college replaced part of the 1720s Back Lawn, behind King's College chapel, with a biodiverse field which is cut, dried and baled in August.

Safety fears as scientists make first viruses designed by AI

Ian Sample Science editor

Scientists have made the first viruses designed by artificial intelligence in a milestone that raises hopes for new medicines but also concerns over how to ensure the technology remains safe.

The viruses are specific kinds known as bacteriophages which only infect bacteria and are used around the world to treat patients with persistent infections. In lab tests, a cocktail of the AI-designed viruses killed E coli bugs that were resistant to natural bacteriophages.

Dr Brian Hie, a chemical engineer at Stanford University in California, used genome language models, the genetic equivalent of the large language models behind AI chatbots, to design functioning genomes for bacteriophages. The viruses were then made in the laboratory and pitted against E coli in a dish.

The ability to 'rapidly design'

genomes and tune them for specific bugs while overcoming resistance could 'transform phage therapy' and 'expand biotechnological toolkits', the researchers write in the journal Science.

But beyond the potential benefits, the scientists say the work raises 'important biosafety, biocontainment and biosecurity considerations' and urge others who are designing whole genomes to 'consult both safety and security professionals throughout the project'.

In an accompanying article, Prof Tom Inglesby and Dr Moritz Hanke at the centre for health security at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said: 'Although this is promising for life sciences applications, it also raises urgent biosafety and biosecurity questions. The ability to compose viral genomes using generative AI now exists; the governance to safely steer it does not.'

Hie and his colleagues used AI models called Evot and Evot2 to design the new viral genomes. The

'The threat from full AI design and writing of a genome of a virus is very overblown'

Tom Ellis Imperial College London

models were trained on genetic data from 2m bacteriophages. The genetic code for viruses that can infect plants, humans or other animals was intentionally excluded from the AI's training to reduce the risk of it designing dangerous viruses.

The AI generated thousands of potential genomes, from which the researchers selected nearly 300 to make in the lab. These were dropped into bacteria which read the genetic code and churned out the new bacteriophages. The process was not efficient: only 16 bacteriophages proved to be viable, but a cocktail of

them swiftly overcame resistance in two different strains of E coli.

Bacteriophage genomes are tiny, but Inglesby and Hanke say the work nevertheless proves that generative AI can create functioning viral genomes. Whether the same approach can be applied to other viruses is unknown, but they say work on pathogens that could infect humans, animals or plants should not be pursued. 'Such genomes might encode new pathogens that ... cannot be contained by existing countermeasures,' they write.

Tom Ellis, a professor of synthetic genome engineering at Imperial College London, said the work was impressive but revealed how hard it would be to make complex genomes. 'This is literally the smallest and easiest genome to make,' he said.

An AI trained on the genetic code of dangerous bugs could be used to design more harmful viruses, Ellis said, but controlling access to genetic data and having limits on making genomes that look dangerous would help. 'But honestly,' he said, 'the threat from full AI design and writing of a genome of a virus or bacteria is very overblown when we consider that just taking existing pathogens and making gain-of-function changes to their genomes is so much easier and much more likely to be a real pathogenic threat.'

Andrew tells court alleged stalker chased him near home

PA Media

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor says he came face to face with an alleged stalker wearing a balaclava who chased after him close to his Sandringham home, a court has heard.

Alex Jenkinson, 39, is charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour towards the former Duke of York on 6 May.

Suffolk police are also applying for a stalking protection order against Jenkinson, relying on evidence from Mountbatten-Windsor and searches on Jenkinson's phone.

In a statement read out in his absence at Westminster magistrates court yesterday, Mountbatten-Windsor said that when he was out for a walk with his dogs on the Norfolk estate, he had spotted a car which he assumed to belong to press photographers, and then he and his security detail 'drove past the car'.

He said a man had 'turned and faced me - he was wearing a balaclava face covering'. Mountbatten-Windsor described him as an 'out of place' man, and added: 'Then saw a loose dog running towards him.

'Then he realised who I was and began to sprint after my vehicle.'

Jenkinson is accused of causing the former duke of York to 'fear unlawful violence' during the confrontation in Wolferton, close to Mountbatten-Windsor's Marsh Farm property.

Jenkinson denies the charge and has also pleaded not guilty to a further charge of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke unlawful violence against another man, Stephen Terry, in King's Lynn, on 5 May.

Mountbatten-Windsor is due to give evidence by videolink at the criminal trial, which has been set for 21 December. Jenkinson has been bailed with conditions not to go near a number of sites linked to the royal family - Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Balmoral, Windsor and Highgrove. He must also not try to contact Mountbatten-Windsor directly or indirectly or approach him.

▲ Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor said Alex Jenkinson sprinted at him

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National Environment

▼ An assessment by the EA found only 14.3% of country's surface waters were in good ecological status PHOTOGRAPH: CHRISTOPHER FURLONG/GETTY

Every single body of water in England contains toxic chemicals, data reveals

Pippa Neill Environment reporter

Every single English water body is polluted with toxic chemicals, new government data shows, while just 14.3% of surface waters achieved good ecological status.

Each of the country's rivers, lakes and estuaries was assessed by the Environment Agency (EA) as part of a six-yearly evaluation of England's water quality. The EA checked for a range of toxic chemicals, from Pfas - or 'forever chemicals' - to microplastics. Waters were also checked against a range of standards covering wildlife, water quality and physical habitat.

If concentrations of the chemicals exceed the set standards, the water body fails to meet good chemical status. In the latest assessment, every surface water body in England failed on this measure.

Under the water framework directive regulations, the official target date for all water bodies to reach

good chemical and ecological status is December 2027, although some individual chemicals have deadlines in the 2030s.

The EA said this failure was driven almost entirely by the presence of mercury, Pfos - a type of Pfas with links to cancer - and PBDEs, which were formerly used as flame retardants. These chemicals are persistent, meaning they do not break down and can accumulate in the environment.

England's water bodies are not predicted to reach good chemical status until 2063, when the EA says the persistent chemical pollutants should have degraded sufficiently for waters to again be considered unpolluted.

Ami McCarthy, Greenpeace UK's head of politics, said the scale of the crisis was 'sobering'.

The government needs to take 'urgent action to turn off the chemicals destroying our land at the source', she said.

The UK government has been accused of failing to take action on toxic chemicals after its plan to tackle Pfas chemicals failed to match the

tougher stance being taken in Europe. It has also been accused of failing to tackle mercury pollution, with Britain being one of the few countries yet to ban mercury in dental fillings.

The metal is a potent neurotoxin that can harm the nervous, digestive and immune systems, as well as the lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes, even at low levels of exposure.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts said if it was a 'foreign power maliciously poisoning every single water body in England with cancer causing chemicals, politicians right across the political spectrum would be utterly

horrified and demand the government of the day do absolutely everything in their power to fight back, stop it immediately, and seek some sort of retribution'. Instead, he said 'politicians across the political spectrum have come together with a conspiracy of silence and inaction'.

Richard Benwell, the chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: 'With thousands more forever chemicals on the market from cosmetics to clothing, the government must act now to stop another wave of contamination by matching EU safeguards and making the polluting companies pay for clean up.'

Water campaigner Feargal Sharkey said the EA has 'failed every water body in the country' and 'overseen the collapse of an issue they were supposed to be policing'.

He called on the environment secretary to rewrite the guidance and enforce the law as it stands.

The EA said it was undertaking a range of activities to improve understanding of chemicals in the environment and identify potential

sources affecting rivers, groundwater and drinking water catchments.

'Water companies must be made to take responsibility for their part, but pollution from agriculture is now one of the biggest drivers of environmental damage in UK rivers. It's time for the government to work with farmers, providing proper support to rein in runaway use of fertilisers and pesticides, and boost nature-friendly practices,' McCarthy said.

Assessment against a range of standards covering wildlife, water quality and physical habitat also showed that just 14.3% of England's surface waters achieved good ecological status, a decline from 16.3% in 2019.

However, the EA said the two datasets were not directly comparable because it had updated its analytical methods.

The environment secretary, Angela Eagle, said the results 'underline the need for wholesale change across the water sector'.

James Wallace, chief executive of the environmental charity River Action, said: 'Despite successive governments' promises, nothing has changed. Our rivers remain among the fithiest in Europe, poisoned by sewage from polluting, profit-driven water companies and by industrial-scale agriculture, including chicken manure runoff from intensive poultry units that rear tens of millions of birds for fast food and supermarkets.'

'Politicians have come together with a conspiracy of silence and inaction'

Craig Bennett CEO, The Wildlife Trusts

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8

7

Drought conditions

Could our taps run dry?

Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought. But what does this mean and could our taps eventually run dry?

What does it mean to be in drought?

There is no single definition of drought and every drought is different. But they are all characterised by a prolonged period of low rainfall creating a shortage of water.

What are the drought conditions like this summer?

Helen Wakeham, chair of the National Drought Group, said this year's drought was "exceptionally serious" and would have long-lasting impacts on the environment and the economy. In July, England received 7% of the long-term average rainfall, making it the driest July since records began almost two centuries ago.

But isn't the UK famously rainy?

Yes, the UK does have a global reputation for its wet weather and we did see particularly heavy rain in the first half of the year.

While winter rainfall can help to replenish reservoirs and groundwater, summers are becoming exceptionally hot and dry. Combined with climate-induced heatwaves, we are currently using water faster than nature can replenish it.

A key issue is also storing water during times of plenty. The UK has not built a new reservoir since 1992.

Where do water companies get the water from?

Most of the water comes from lakes, reservoirs and rivers. This is then pumped to water treatment plants before being directed to homes. The amount of water that companies can take is controlled by environmental regulators.

During times of drought, water companies can use drought permits and drought orders to take more water. Last year Southern Water applied for a drought order that allowed it to draw water from an internationally prized chalk stream and rare salmon habitat.

Why is the UK running out of water?

The Environment Agency (EA) has estimated England's public water supply could be short by 5bn litres a day by 2055 without urgent action to futureproof resources.

▲ Without action, the UK remains vulnerable to water shortages

Water demand is going up as the population grows and new industrial demands from datacentres and energy infrastructure require more water. Plus, the water available to supply those needs is going down as the effects of the climate crisis kick in, and we have greater variability and unpredictability of rainfall and greater water demand during hotter, dryer summers.

How can the UK become more drought resilient as climate breakdown accelerates?

While individuals can reduce water wastage through, for example, adopting a vegetarian diet or monitoring household water consumption using a smart meter, investment is key.

The EA expects 60% of the predicted 2050 water deficit to be addressed by water companies managing demand and dramatically reducing leaks. The remaining 40% would come from boosting supply, including the building of new reservoirs and water transfer schemes.

Can water companies go further than a hosepipe ban?

Around 40% of the population of England is currently under a hosepipe ban. Breaching the ban is a criminal offence and can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

Water companies are all required to have drought management plans setting out what they would do in an "emergency drought" scenario. This could see rota cuts introduced where water is limited to a few hours each day.

If nothing changes, could we actually run out?

Yes, without investment and reductions in our water use, we are facing a serious problem.

In some areas, the impact is already being felt. For example Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk have all seen housing and business development delayed due to water supply availability and ageing or inadequate water infrastructure.

South East Water said this week supplies in its area are "critically low" and warned customers they may lose supply unless demand for water in the area drops.

In a report written in the aftermath of the 2025 drought, which saw the driest spring in 132 years, parliamentarians warned that without action, England's taps could run dry.

What does this mean for the future?

Water companies are channelling record investment into fixing leaks and while it has been more than three decades since a major new reservoir was built in England and Wales, several are now in the planning stage.

Pippa Neill and Safeerah Ahmed

Record heat

Health and energy fears as central and eastern Europe hit by new highs

Matthew Taylor Ajit Niranjan

Temperature records have been broken in several countries across central and eastern Europe as the extreme weather that has caused wildfires and droughts across the continent continues.

Countries including Slovakia, Austria and Hungary have registered record temperatures. The Slovakian hydrometeorological agency said yesterday that a new high of 42C (108F) had been reached in Dolné Plachtince.

Authorities in Poland were forced to shut down the Kozienice and Polaniec coal-fired power plants after critically low water levels in the Vistula River limited supplies of cooling water. The disruption removed about 1.3GW of capacity from Poland's power system.

On Wednesday the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, had urged employers to look after their staff and provide air conditioning and cold water.

In Germany, climate activists demanding an end to the use of fossil fuels protested outside the chancellery against the lack of government action to keep people safe from extreme heat. An estimated 11,900 people in the country have died from heat this summer, according to new estimates from the Robert Koch Institute.

"This extreme heat and its consequences are the result of a fossil fuel policy that is completely irresponsible and extremely dangerous," said Annakrin Schwirten of Fridays for Future Berlin. "We must not become accustomed to thousands of heat-related deaths every summer."

The Hungarian prime minister, Péter Magyar, tweeted yesterday that a nuclear power station that had been temporarily powered down would be going back online. "Good news: we are already nine centimeters above the Danube's Sunday low point, and rain is expected in the Austrian catchment areas," he wrote. "One of the turbines at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant is operating. Regardless of this, on today's hot day there will still be a strong need for voluntary reductions in electricity consumption."

The brutal heat and continuing drought conditions are being supercharged by the escalating climate crisis, and experts warn these are putting huge pressure on local populations, critical infrastructure and wildlife across the region.

▲ People cool off under a misting system in Budapest, Hungary, top, while residents of Prsmány Hill, north of the capital, collect

drinking water. Below, a public fountain in Vienna is in high demand

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK, FERENC HILKAMP, GETTY, ELISABETH MANDL, NEUTERS

Paweł Pomian of Eko-Unia, a Polish environmental organisation, said the "power plants driving climate change were increasingly becoming its victims".

The impact of this summer's extreme conditions should be a "wake-up call not only for Poland, but for the whole of Europe", Pomian said. "The faster we develop wind and solar power - technologies that require the least water to generate electricity - the better we can protect both energy security and our rivers."

The heatwaves have also deprived vegetation of moisture and primed much of the continent for wildfires. About half a million hectares have

burned across the EU since the beginning of the year, mostly in Spain and France, according to data published yesterday by the European Forest Fire Information Service. A further 292,000 hectares (721,000 acres) have burned in Ukraine.

The severity of fire weather - the hot, dry and windy conditions that make it harder to battle blazes - has set records for the time of year, by alarming margins in some countries.

In Austria, which had a record high temperature of 41.2C on Wednesday, cumulative fire weather is more than twice as severe as the previous record for this time of year. In Czechia, which registered a national temperature record earlier in the summer, fire weather by early August was more than 50% worse than the previous record. In Slovakia it was 32% worse.

Last week, a rapid analysis by the World Weather Attribution consortium found that global heating had made last month's hot, dry and windy weather at least 20 times more likely in Spain and twice as likely in France.

---

National

Architects cleared after man, 53, killed by falling window

Matthew Weaver

The architecture firm founded by Norman Foster has been cleared over the death of a man killed by a window that fell 90 metres from a newly constructed London penthouse.

Foster + Partners (F+P), the firm behind some of the world's most recognisable buildings such as the Gherkin and revamps of the British Museum and the Reichstag in Berlin, was not held to be responsible for the death of Mick Ferris, 53, a coach driver, in 2018.

However, St James, the project managers of the building where the incident took place, and its engineers, Lindner Prater, were found guilty of safety breaches over the death by a jury at Inner London crown court.

Ferris was killed instantly when the 130kg window fell from the penthouse of the Corniche, a luxury tower block on the Albert Embankment in Lambeth, on to the street below.

The court heard that just over a year earlier a window panel had also fallen from the same development. "Miraculously" no one was hurt but no changes were made to the designs as a result, the court heard.

The prosecution, which was brought by the Health and Safety Executive, said Ferris's death was foreseeable and the designers had ignored concerns about the danger of outward-opening windows.

After more than 11 hours of deliberation the jury cleared F+P and the building's design engineers, Wintech Ltd. But it found St James and Lindner Prater had failed in their duty to keep the public safe under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Gordon Menzies, prosecuting, told the jury it "wasn't an accident waiting to happen ... it was an accident that had already happened in August 2017. The prosecution say it was an accident waiting to happen again."

Ferris was killed by the window, which was blown off its hinges when the building was almost complete, the court heard. A restrictor put in place to prevent the window being blown off had been removed.

The designers failed to consider the "catastrophic" consequences if something went wrong with this restrictor, the prosecution said.

Jurors were told that after the first window panel fell from the building the designers failed to use the incident as a reason to "go back to the drawing board". The jury was told of 12 "missed opportunities" where the designers should have considered the risk of the side-hung windows.

All four defendants denied the charges and claimed they had done all that was reasonably practicable to ensure safety.

Menzies told the court: "The wind was sufficiently strong to blow the window open further than 8 and a half inches and the oversailing glass clashed with the frame and, as a result, the hinges were prised off."

It was only after Ferris's death that the design of the windows was changed back to be inward-opening, the court heard. The prosecution said F+P should have known such risks owing to its specialist knowledge of glass-covered buildings.

But lawyers for F+P said it had not been involved in technical issues. They said it had been there to focus on the visual aspects of the design.

F+P, St James and Lindner Prater were approached for comment.

◀ Amonik Melaco (Tyrone Jackson) and Edwin Ray (Mr Bell) in a 1980s-styled production pumped with guts and gusto FISCTOGRAPH: JOSAN PERSSON

Stage review

Exuberant revival fizzes like a shaken can of soda

Fame the Musical Theatre Royal Plymouth ★★★★☆

Holly O'Mahony

As a real-life cohort of performers head to Edinburgh hoping to achieve recognition at the fringe, at the other end of the UK a revival of David De Silva's

film turned musical breathes fresh life into its own story of fame-hungry students.

With a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy, this is a production pumped with guts and gusto. It erupts like a shaken can of soda and comfortably fills the vast stage at Theatre Royal Plymouth, where Fame received its UK (and European) stage premiere in 1995. It's directed and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves and fuelled by an exuberant cast, most of whom fulfilled their own dreams of performing on the professional stage several credits ago and are now flourishing.

Shanay Holmes, though a shade young to play Miss Sherman, is the driving force whose narration carries the class - and us - through a four-year cycle at a performing arts school in New York City, while her vocals are the show's dynamite.

Storylines have been tweaked and songs cut, but the production captures the round-the-clock toll and sheer determination of these aspirants. Early number Hard Work sets the scene with movement

filling every corner as the gaggle stretch, practise their scales and pirouette across the stage.

Richard Howell's lighting visualises the sense that the students' whole world is a stage by casting a giant spotlight on the fortress of Soutra Gilmour's school set, while life beyond remains in shadow. Nods to the 1980s come in the shape of leg warmers and the sound of squealing tape recorders being rewound.

It doesn't shy away from the story's grittier moments, including the fate of the initially spunky Carmen (Talia Palamathan), but as in a Greek tragedy, they take place offstage.

It's when the students pool their talents - for the boisterous canteen scene and flashmob to the title track (written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore), with its flying jumps and mid-air splits - that it beams brightest. That's when Miss Sherman's message to her students, that success is not a solo endeavour but something to achieve together, rings truest.

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National Media

9

BBC hires Minecraft entrepreneur, 26, to stem loss of gen Z audiences to YouTube

Michael Savage Media editor

A 26-year-old business prodigy and self-styled gen Z whisperer has been hired by the BBC as it battles to reach young audiences increasingly choosing content creators on YouTube and TikTok over traditional broadcasters.

Brandon Relph, who founded his first company aged 13, and has been praised by the Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, has joined the BBC's strategy team to help counter the existential threat of falling audiences among young people.

Relph has jokingly described himself as "the go-to guy who knows the youth" and has already had a dizzying career. He made his first £10,000 before the age of 16 with a firm based around the Minecraft video game and founded several other tech and marketing companies as a teenager.

The BBC, along with all broadcasters, is facing a huge generational

shift in the way young audiences consume media. While 78% of over-75s still watch live TV on a television in the course of a month, less than half of 16- to 24-year-olds do so, turning instead to content creators on digital platforms such as YouTube.

Matt Brittin, the new director general brought in for his experience in the tech world, has pledged to reshape the BBC as part of the renewal of its royal charter, which is being negotiated with ministers.

Prioritising digital content will be reflected in the major cuts being made across the BBC's services. The corporation is already trying to adapt, recently announcing a deal to produce bespoke YouTube content.

Relph, who previously claimed the title of the UK's youngest ever chief executive, has specialised in talking to executives about marketing to young audiences, stating his businesses have been "built on people's lack of understanding of our generation".

His exploits have included building a large online audience for live video game shows, while his company also built a Minecraft version of a Tesla after he and his business partner met Elon Musk at a convention.

Those familiar with his past entrepreneurial efforts said he had encountered resistance within the media industry to embracing online content creators, which he sees as necessary to reach young audiences. That resistance is now melting away.

Another of his projects, touted as a "Netflix for the creator generation", could not find the venture capital needed. Relph was subsequently hired by the consulting firm Accenture, from where he joined the BBC.

Relph has already started in the BBC's strategy team, with insiders praising his gen Z focus. Previous colleagues described him as a "special case", stating he was popular with his teams and willing to politely question senior executives over their strategy, despite his young age.

▲ Brandon Relph's hiring by the BBC was labelled a 'much-needed step'

His appointment has been praised by figures pushing the BBC to take a radically different approach to reaching young audiences, but they also said it needed to reflect a wider effort.

"Brandon looks great - he's somebody who's had a very successful career, done brilliant work and is obviously very talented," said Jordan Schwarzenberger, the manager of the Sidemen YouTube collective. "He's clearly an entrepreneur at heart."

"The BBC's challenge is a bigger issue than one hire. They need to

address that institutional media, distributed traditionally, can't reach an audience who have simply gone to other places."

Relph has previously criticised the iPlayer over its user experience and said the "BBC won't have a long-term future" without a greater focus on younger people.

Some in the BBC argue its efforts to adapt to young audiences are already well under way. It is the only UK brand in the top five most used media for the 16-34 age group, alongside YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Netflix. It still reaches 63% of the age group on average each week. However, BBC figures are acutely aware of the scale of the challenge.

"Brandon's appointment is a much-needed step," said Jo Redfern, a former BBC insider and digital media expert. "The BBC has been foundational in British life and envied around the world, but it risks losing that position with younger (groups) and it would be a shame if that were to happen."

"The BBC's instinct is that of a broadcaster, the very definition of which is one way, at a time when young people demand a participatory relationship with media. Every barrier to that is a reason to go elsewhere and there's no shortage of places to find media that fulfils their needs."

Donald Trump US judge halts order to hand over financial data in $10bn libel lawsuit

Marina Dunbar

A federal judge has temporarily halted an order requiring Donald Trump to turn over information about his business empire to the BBC as part of a libel lawsuit.

The US district judge Roy Altman issued the temporary pause while he considers Trump's request to revise and narrow parts of his lawsuit against the BBC over a 2024 documentary that aired in the UK.

Trump's legal team sought to stop the discovery order that would have given the BBC access to the president's financial records in the multibillion-dollar case.

Trump has argued the BBC's 2024 documentary about the January 6 attack harmed his business interests. Last month, a judge ruled that Trump would have to begin producing records by 6 August, including information covering the businesses held by the Trump family trust.

On Wednesday, Trump's attorneys asked the court to temporarily suspend that order, arguing the BBC had demanded a "shockingly broad amount of information based on clearly political motivations".

In a four-page order released yesterday, Altman said Trump's effort

▲ Trump has argued that a BBC programme on the January 6 attack damaged his business interests

PHOTOGRAPHS: JOSE LUIS MACAVAK

to remove his claims that the documentary had damaged his businesses could reduce the BBC's need to obtain his financial records. Trump's lawyers are seeking to narrow the claim to alleged reputational harm.

The BBC has argued that Trump's business value remains relevant

because his reputation was linked to his success as a businessman.

The broadcaster's lawyers also pointed out that Trump's proposed amended complaint, which has not yet been made public, still seeks $10bn (£7.4bn) in damages. They contend that amount would be difficult to support if the case were based only on reputational harm.

At the centre of the lawsuit is a scene from the BBC documentary Trump: A Second Chance, which

edited together portions of Trump's 6 January 2021 speech in a way that made it appear he directly encouraged supporters to attack the US Capitol. The BBC has apologised for the edit but maintains the defamation allegations lack merit.

The lawsuit is part of a series of legal actions Trump has launched against media organisations over coverage he says is defamatory or unfair.

In a separate case, Trump's attorneys argued that his $10bn

defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal should proceed to trial after the newspaper reported on a "bawdy" letter the president was said to have contributed to a birthday book for Jeffrey Epstein in 2003.

Trump's justice department also issued subpoenas to New York Times journalists following the newspaper's reporting on security concerns involving the Air Force One presidential aircraft. The department later withdrew those subpoenas.

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10

National

Police injured at protests over asylum seekers in Thetford

Matthew Weaver

Two men have been arrested after police were injured as they intervened to protect men believed to be asylum seekers from angry mobs trying to break into their homes.

The arrests followed two nights of unrest in Thetford, south Norfolk, involving more than 100 people protesting against plans to house asylum seekers in former military barracks near the market town. The unrest

came after the online circulation of properties whose landlords have contact with a government contractor to provide homes for asylum seekers.

There are fears of further violence in the coming days, amid concerns from minority communities that their homes could be targeted.

On Wednesday Norfolk police said one its male officers was struck by a rock and a female officer was bitten while responding to reports of protesters trying to break into a home in the north of the town.

Both injured officers were taken to

hospital, and a third officer was spat at, police said.

A man in his 40s, arrested on suspected public order offences, remains in custody. A second man, Brian Thompson, 68, has been charged with possession of an offensive weapon and will appear at Norwich magistrates court on 25 August.

On Tuesday night officers intervened to protect five men who were being threatened by dozens of protesters, some of whom tried break into a property. Video of the incident showed the men being escorted to

safety as protesters shouted abuse. Later officers responded to reports of residents being threatened at two homes in the south of the town.

Terry Jermy, the local Labour MP, who has previously criticised plans to use former barracks at nearby RAF Barnham to house up to 1,000 asylum seekers, condemned the violence and what he called "mob rule".

He said he recognised many of the protesters as locals in video footage he watched of the unrest, but he believed tensions were being "whipped up by outside forces".

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E-scooter riders more likely than cyclists to suffer brain injuries

Ian Sample Science editor

Electric scooter users are three times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than motorcyclists or cyclists, according to an analysis of accidents in England and Wales.

Brain injuries accounted for more than a third of adult injuries on e-scooters and rates of internal organ and blood vessel damage were found to be higher than in motorcyclists or pedal cyclists.

There are about 1m privately-owned e-scooters in the UK but they cannot legally be used on public roads, paths or cycle lanes. Police forces have confiscated thousands of the machines while the government has backed trials of rental e-scooters.

The accident analysis reveals stark sex differences in those most harmed in e-scooter accidents. Women were involved in about a third more collisions than men and were more than twice as likely to report severe injuries. The under-18s were also at risk, accounting for 16% of e-scooter injuries.

The findings have led to calls to make e-scooters more stable and safer, particularly for women who sustain more chest injuries because the handlebars are typically set at a height for men. Mandatory safety training and a requirement to wear a helmet would help, experts said.

David Bodansky, an orthopaedic surgeon at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London, used the national

major trauma registry to analyse injuries from e-scooter, motorbike and bicycle collisions in 18 cities in England and Wales from 2020 to 2022.

E-scooter riders were more than three times as likely to suffer traumatic brain injury or blood vessel damage and 1.5 times more likely to injure internal organs than motorbike riders. E-scooter riders also fared worse than cyclists for these injuries. The risk of bone fractures was lower, however, for e-scooter riders than cyclists or motorcyclists.

The data shed no light on why e-scooters were involved in so many accidents, but Bodansky believes design is a factor.

He said: "If you look at an e-scooter, they've got very small wheels and it's very easy to jam one of those into a pothole. You'll then go head over heels over the front and land on your head."

Less than 6% of e-scooter riders reported wearing a helmet, according to the study in Scientific Reports.

While some research has found that women were more likely to ride e-scooters on the pavement, other research saw no sex differences.

Dr Petya Ventsislavova, a senior lecturer in transport psychology at Nottingham Trent University, found in a 2024 study that more than half of e-scooter riders rode on pavements, and with another person at the same time. Men reported using their phones and shooting red lights more than women.

"These figures highlight the urgent need for comprehensive legislation governing private e-scooters," said Ventsislavova.

The legislation should not only clarify where and how e-scooters could be used, but include mandatory safety training, she said. "Unlike cars and motorcycles, e-scooters were introduced without any requirement for formal training, despite being motorised vehicles," she added.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "These are concerning findings, and our thoughts are with anyone who has been injured on our roads. Road safety is our top priority, which is why our e-scooter trials are testing their use in a controlled environment now, before updating the law to ensure they can be used safely more widely."

▲ Experts have called for urgent legislation on private e-scooters

6%

Proportion of e-scooter riders who said they wore a helmet, according to a study in Scientific Reports

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National Education

11

Milburn says primary schools should monitor pupils who are at risk of becoming jobless

● Continued from page 1

intercepting, intervening, supporting, and helping those young people to get on a different path."

The former Labour health secretary said the recommendation would form part of his final report into Britain's youth worklessness crisis, which is expected this autumn.

Britain's young adults are bearing the brunt of a rise in unemployment, with figures in May showing the number of 16- to 24-year-olds who are

Neet surpassing a million for the first time in more than 10 years. Representing as many as one in eight young people, the rate has swollen at a significantly faster rate than in other countries amid a sharp rise in mental ill-health and a tough jobs market.

Milburn's review comes as Andy Burnham puts tackling the crisis in youth employment at the top of his agenda, including changes in his first weeks as prime minister to retool technical education and apprenticeships. Labour is also gearing up

for a fresh tilt at welfare reform amid concerns over a spiraling benefits bill and the hit to the economy and lives from a prolonged period out of work.

Milburn said welfare reform would form a critical plank of his final report, but cautioned that any steps to restrict benefits payments for young people would need to be accompanied by higher levels of education, health and job support.

He said that by the time a young person reached the benefit system it represented an "upstream failure"

in education, skills and health policy because a functioning system could have helped them to find a job.

"I think we've got to turbocharge that education; that support. We've got to turbocharge opportunities for young people; we've got to make it easier for young people to get a job," he said. "And alongside opportunities, of course, there has got to be some obligations. Of course."

Speaking on a fact-finding mission to Ireland, which has recorded the fastest fall in Neet rates in the EU over the past decade, Milburn said that far too often youth disengagement began long before the age of 16.

Suggesting that it can start before a child even reaches the school gates,

1m The number of 16- to 24-year-olds who are Neet has exceeded a million for the first time in 10 years

he highlighted a study in Bradford that found children who were not school-ready at the age of four or five were almost three times as likely to become Neet by the time they reached the age of 16 to 17.

"We know what the correlated factors are [for a child at risk of becoming Neet] - whether that is poverty; mental health, or being in care. What we don't do is take that knowledge and turn it into action."

Under the proposal to be outlined in his final report, schools in England would be expected to flag a child's risk of becoming Neet from the end of primary school, including by drawing on attendance records.

While some schools have strategies using so-called "Roni" (risk of Neet indicator) tools, the practice is not widespread or mandated. "We've got to get upstream because what we're doing is we're paying - this country, and young people - are paying the price of failure."

Ireland's 'secret sauce' Can Britain's neighbour point way on youth crisis?

Richard Partington

Alan Milburn is guiding a metal loop along the serpentine wire of an electrical buzzer game as he explains the challenge of Britain's youth jobs crisis. "We have got more than a million young people not in education, employment or training [Neet]. Crisis is an overused word - but this is a crisis."

On a fact-finding trip to Dublin, the former UK cabinet minister is being shown around an Irish Rail training facility. He tells the apprentices who rigged up the game that, while things are bad in Britain, Ireland is on the right track.

"It's about half the rate here, it's fallen very rapidly. And we want to try to work out: what is that? Why?"

Over the past decade, Ireland has achieved the fastest reduction in Neet rates anywhere in the EU, from 14.3% in 2015 to 6.1% last year. That compares with a rise from 11.1% to 12.8% in the UK.

As he prepares to publish a report on the crisis for the UK government this autumn, Milburn has brought a delegation of officials, charity leaders and industry bosses with him on the trip across the Irish Sea.

"We're here really to understand what the secret sauce is," he says. "The life chances of young people

here are being transformed. You don't have to go far - to the outskirts of Dublin - before you find huge pockets of deprivation and poverty. So nobody here would say: 'We've got it solved.' But there is definitely something different that we can learn from."

In Ireland, part of the reason for the youth jobs turnaround is down to its economic recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. The country was among the biggest global casualties, with a 10% crash in a single year and unemployment at 16% by 2012. Youth joblessness reached almost 30%.

Corey Farrell's dad was among many who left for the UK when his job as a mechanic at the German airline Lufthansa was put at risk. "When that shut down here, he got sniped to go over," says the Irish Rail apprentice. "He's worked over there ever since."

Since then, the economy has bounced back, in part fuelled by big US tech companies taking advantage of low taxes. The country is "100% through the

worst", Farrell says. If anything, things have gone too far the other way as living costs surge.

"You can see it more than anything else in how expensive everything here is."

Milburn recognises Ireland's progress is partly driven by economic factors. Still, Britain could still learn a few lessons.

At St Seton's secondary school to the west of central Dublin,

teachers tell Milburn how they get extra money from the Irish government to support children at risk of poverty, social exclusion and educational disadvantage.

There is a big focus on technical education and helping students to prepare to enter the world of work.

Sitting in the staff room, the school's principal, Sarah Green, and its career and guidance counsellor, Cheryl Keeler, explain they are

'We're here really to understand. The life chances of young people are being transformed'

Alan Milburn Former cabinet minister

Alan Milburn bakes with local children at the Reco Central Youth Facility in Ballymun, Dublin PHOTOGRAPH: PATRICK ROLGED/THE GUARDIAN

agnostic about whether a student progresses to university. Getting a job is more important.

Work experience is graded as part of the curriculum, while pupils have an opportunity to take a "transition year" (TY) before studying for either an academic or vocational leaving certificate. As an optional scheme, the TY has no curriculum and typically involves work experience and careers guidance, but core subjects have to be covered in some form for two hours a week.

Calum, a student at the school, took a Chinese course for 10 weeks. After completing his applied leaving certificate, from September he will start as an apprentice for Diageo at the Guinness brewery in Dublin. "It was easy thanks to the school," he says.

At Irish Rail, the apprentices say they feel they are on the fast track. Even so, Alyx Tobin says the reputation of apprenticeships in Ireland is similar to Britain. "It was like, if you did an apprenticeship you weren't smart enough to go to college," she says. "But I think that's a stigma that absolutely has to be dismantled as soon as possible."

At a youth centre in the north Dublin suburb of Ballymun, one of the city's most deprived neighbourhoods, Milburn pulls on a plastic apron to bake fairy cakes with local children. The Reco Central Youth Facility is buzzing in the school summer holidays, as a place young people can go to engage in activities. It also provides mental health counselling, careers guidance and job support.

As part of the recommendations for his final report, Milburn will call on the government to drastically boost the level of youth support, with schools expected to help identify and help pupils most at risk of becoming Neet.

"We have got to get upstream because this country, and young people, are paying the price of failure," he says.

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12

National Jason Arday

Professor in plagiarism row said he landed '1.4m' book deal

Ella Creamer Lanre Bakare

Jason Arday, the former Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, claimed he was paid '1.4 million' for his forthcoming memoir, which details his extraordinary backstory.

Arday was dogged by questions over his academic work and credentials before resigning on Wednesday night. His departure came after Cambridge announced it would launch an investigation on receiving 'new information' about his qualifications and career.

Despite the allegations against Arday, Simon & Schuster has said it is going ahead with the publication of his memoir next week in the US and on 27 August in the UK. Simon & Schuster US told the Guardian last night it was 'proceeding with the publication of Great and Unfortunate Things by Jason Arday as planned'.

In an interview with the Guardian, Arday had said Simon & Schuster had offered 1.4m in a 'pre-empt', a type of deal in which a publisher puts in a high offer to take a book off the table before it can go to auction. Arday did not specify whether the 1.4m figure was in pounds or dollars.

Simon & Schuster did not respond to a request for comment on the sum. While it is a high figure, publishing sources said it would be plausible if Simon & Schuster US and UK teamed up to buy the book and sought worldwide rights.

One senior publisher said it was an utterly mad number but that 'madness sometimes happens'.

They said a book such as Arday's would normally be expected to sell about 5,000 copies. With £2 of royalty per copy, that equates to an advance of a much more modest £10,000.

The book recounts the story of Arday's life, from being diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay aged three, to speaking his first words 'months before starting secondary school'.

He claims to have learned to read and write aged 18, before ultimately becoming the youngest ever Black professor at Cambridge at 37.

Arday has been at the centre of a media storm since late July, when the Telegraph reported that more than 100 passages of his PhD had similarities to a thesis published six years earlier. Doubts have been raised about claims Arday has made about prodigious fundraising feats and a Guardian investigation raised questions about his claims to have been

targeted by knife-wielding masked intruders and being sent a pig's head.

Cambridge initially came to Arday's defence, describing the claims as part of a 'vile smear campaign'. It said it had passed complaints on to Liverpool John Moores University, where Arday completed his PhD.

Liverpool cleared him of plagiarism but academics said legitimate concerns remained.

One publishing executive said Simon & Schuster's decision to stand by its author might simply be because 'they had a contract, and they're sticking with the contract'. If there was a significant advance involved, there might be more motivation to 'recoup' it, the executive added. Pulling the book would be a 'pretty massive decision', another publisher said, if only for logistical reasons.

They said Simon & Schuster had 'probably printed the book already, probably paid the author, and may have started shipping the book all over the world' and withdrawing it would be 'extremely difficult and quite expensive'.

In a statement before Arday's resignation, Simon & Schuster said: 'We have worked closely with Professor Jason Arday on Great and Unfortunate Things since acquiring it and can speak to the professionalism and integrity he has brought to every stage of the publication.

'Great and Unfortunate Things is Arday's memoir of overcoming remarkable challenges and responding to adversity with resilience. It is told through his own recollections and those of people closest to him.'

It said Arday 'worked closely with his co-writer, as well as our editorial and legal teams, to carefully research, write and corroborate the narrative'.

In comments reported by the Bookseller in April, Kris Doyle, the nonfiction publisher at Simon & Schuster UK, said: 'I can promise you've never read a story like this - even the viral news headlines don't do it justice.' When asked to share information about the book's fact-checking process, Simon & Schuster responded: 'We do not comment on our editorial processes.'

Arday is scheduled to speak next month at the Topping bookshop in Edinburgh and at Stroudbook festival in November, neither of which responded when asked whether those events would go ahead.

The problem facing Simon & Schuster has echoes of that faced by Penguin after the Salt Path scandal, where Raynor and Moth Winn were accused of fabricating large chunks of their story.

Jobs, sport and charity

Long list of Arday's claims now being scrutinised

Lanre Bakare

Amid accusations of plagiarism, questions have been raised about a long line of claims by Jason Arday, from endurance running, footballing exploits and charity fundraising to academic positions.

Plagiarism

Arday first faced allegations that he plagiarised parts of his PhD thesis late last year. He has rejected the claims. The Telegraph reported that analysis had found more than 100 passages in his PhD were similar to

another thesis by Paula Zwozdiak-Myers, a student at Brunel University of London.

An investigation by Liverpool John Moores University, which awarded his PhD, did not uphold the charges of plagiarism, but said mistakes were probably caused by 'honest and reasonable error'.

Arday told the Guardian last week: 'There have been multiple thorough investigations across several institutions as a result of the allegations and immense scrutiny, including with an academic misconduct panel who concluded that there was no plagiarism or academic misconduct.'

There have been calls from academics to re-examine his PhD.

Arday has also faced claims that some of his more recently published work is flawed. The Times published analysis on Wednesday that found some of his research contained 'impossible' evidence and was littered with inconsistencies.

Academic posts and achievements

Arday has claimed to have held a string of prestigious visiting fellowships and professorships at other universities.

The website for Jesus College, where Arday was a fellow, stated that he had been a visiting professor at the Ohio State University and the University of Glasgow. Both denied this.

The biography also stated that Arday was still an 'honorary professor at Durham University in the department of sociology', where he had previously worked. The university told the Daily Mail that he no longer held any role.

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9

10

Arday has also claimed to have completed a master's in psychodynamic practices at Birkbeck, University of London. However, when the Guardian contacted Birkbeck, the university said it had not been able to find records of a student named Jason Arday having studied there. Arday has claimed to have published a book with Palgrave Macmillan. The publisher subsequently confirmed that they took a proposal from Arday, but the book was never published.

Sport

Arday claims in his book to have run 30 marathons in 35 days to raise money for charity. In 2012, when Arday met tennis star Andy Murray, he told him that he'd had an epileptic seizure during the 20th marathon and fractured his leg. Despite that incident, Arday claimed to have run nine more marathons.

Doctors have told the Guardian that running nine marathons with

a hairline fracture in a fibula would be incredibly painful, though technically not impossible. In his forthcoming memoir, Arday says he completed the distance by taking painkillers.

He also claimed at public events to have run 600 miles in six days, an achievement that would make him one of the world's most gifted endurance runners.

He said that because of the 'cumulative wear and tear of training' from his previous running challenges he 'had to put rest days in between the running days just to finish' the challenge, which was completed over a 12-day period.

Questions have also been raised about Arday's claims in 2024 to have played for Crystal Palace as an under-18, telling the Talking Matters podcast that he spent 'a handful of years' at the club.

Crystal Palace said they did not have records dating back to the late 90s and early 00s, when Arday would have been on their books. It has been reported that Arday did

play for Lewisham Borough in the Southern Counties East Division One, which is near the bottom of the non-league pyramid.

Charitable work

As well as his endurance running claims, Arday has said that he's completed other charitable work over the last couple of decades.

He has claimed in media interviews to have raised £5m for charities over a 20-year period (sometimes this figure has risen to £5.5m). As his critics have pointed out, £5m raised for charity would be a staggering amount for someone who is not famous. In 2012, Arday said he hoped to raise £250,000 by the time he was 50.

When asked if the £5m figure was accurate, Arday clarified to the Guardian that the money was raised with the help of 'many fundraising collectives over a two-decade period'. He has also said he is part of a 100-person syndicate. When asked to identify other people who took part in

these efforts, Arday said he had signed NDAs preventing him from disclosing that information.

Arday claimed to have visited both South America and west Africa to install water points with the charity WaterAid. The charity said that 'out of respect for the people we work with,' they never send their volunteers abroad. WaterAid added that it 'doesn't encourage or facilitate self-funded visits either'.

Intimidation

Arday has undoubtedly been the victim of racist abuse. Cambridge has previously said it was forced to screen the academic's emails.

In a letter to the government minister Jacqui Smith in July 2025, Arday claimed to have been 'threatened with a knife, physically assaulted and spat on; [had] rape and death threats being made to him and his family; bananas and bullets being posted to him via the university campus; and corrosive substances and mutilated animals sent to his family home'.

In a subsequent interview with the Guardian, Arday claimed to have been confronted at his faculty building on two occasions by a masked man threatening to harm him if he did not resign. On the second occasion, Arday said, the intruder produced a knife.

The intruder was not picked up by CCTV on either occasion and no one in the faculty reported seeing anyone suspicious. Arday did not report either intrusion at the time, telling the Guardian that after the second incident he continued his working day. He did not inform colleagues that a masked man with a knife was in the faculty building.

Arday confirmed in an interview with the Guardian that the 'mutilated animals sent to his family home' mentioned in the open letter was a severed pig's head, delivered to his parents' home address in London.

In an interview he claimed the police investigated, checking with butchers in south London if they had sold a pig, eventually finding one that had sold a 'whole hog' on the morning the head was left.

When the Guardian checked those details with the local butchers, they said no police asked about a pig.

When the details Arday gave were checked by police, the Guardian was told no investigation had taken place.

Arday reported a journalist investigating claims against him to the police. Jack Grove, a reporter at the Times, approached Arday with a 63-page report detailing alleged plagiarism. In a piece for the publication, Grove writes that he 'submitted only three polite emails', but received a threatening letter from Arday's solicitors.

Four months later he was phoned by a Metropolitan police officer to say they were closing the complaint against him - a complaint he did not know had been made. 'Were my inquiries grounds for a criminal complaint? That was hugely troubling to me as a reporter who specialises in examining issues of research integrity and ethics,' Grove wrote.

Cambridge dons call for independent inquiry over appointment

● Continued from page 1

racism which this whole business has unleashed, and for the harm done both to the individual in the line of fire, to black academics as a group, and the broader field of critical race studies. This requires accountability now from those responsible, not a cover-up.'

Other academics who spoke to the Guardian said they had been surprised by Arday's appointment in 2023, with one sociologist saying they had never heard of Arday before: 'When it was announced, I looked for his body of work, and it was disappointing to say the least.'

Gopal said Cambridge had been too tempted to 'cut corners on the hard work of fostering equality and inclusion' by opting for a media-friendly appointment.

'The extent to which this appointment was paraded in the media by the university ... raises questions about whether the university sought public kudos for itself rather than teaching and research from this appointment.'

'It is highly unusual, to say the least, to appoint such an early-career academic to a very senior post. Academic misconduct also needs more robust and transparent procedures in place, as more than one case at Cambridge indicates.'

'The university must also pay attention to the consequences of putting young people of colour in highly visible places to carry the burden of representation before they are ready to withstand scrutiny.'

When the controversy erupted, the university told journalists it stood by its appointment process and publicly defended Arday as 'the victim of a vile campaign' to discredit him. But on Wednesday night the university abruptly announced that it would open a fresh investigation after receiving 'new information' about his qualifications and appointments.

Shortly afterwards Arday said he would resign, saying: 'I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgment.'

The university and other organisations have since distanced themselves from him by deleting webpages and references. One academic described this as 'wiping away the traces'. Jesus College and the university's faculty of education have taken down Arday's staff profiles.

Since his Cambridge appointment Arday addressed a number of commercial organisations, including the Association of British Insurers in 2025. A reference to his speech has been deleted from the ABI website.

Simon & Schuster lists Arday as 'an internationally sought-after speaker... [who] has travelled across the United States for speaking engagements'.

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National

15

Almost 50 people deported under ‘one in, one out’ scheme have returned to UK

Diane Taylor

Almost 50 asylum seekers deported using the “one in, one out” scheme have been recorded as returning to the UK a second time, the Guardian has learned.

It is believed that in addition to the 49 returnees detained by the Home Office, an unknown number are likely to have arrived in the UK undetected.

The scheme, which began last September, allows the British government to return people arriving on small boats to France, in exchange for a similar number of asylum seekers being brought to the UK legally. The

aim is to deter asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats.

The Guardian previously revealed that the first asylum seeker who returned to the UK a second time did so last October, a few weeks after being forcibly returned to France. But until now the number of people returning to the UK after forced returns was not known.

So far this year small boat crossings have declined by about 43% compared with the same period last year. This fall was probably due to factors including bad weather and a reduction of about a third in the number of migrants arriving in Europe overall, as well as UK and French efforts to disrupt people smugglers.

The rationale for sending a proportion of small boat arrivals back to France is that it is a safe country. But asylum seekers who have subsequently returned to the UK have argued that they faced threats from people smugglers in France, or feared being returned by French authorities to their home countries or to countries they passed through.

About 4% of small boat arrivals have been returned to France so far under the one in, one out deal.

According to the Home Office, as of 30 June, 1,117 individuals had been transferred to the UK and 1,087 individuals returned to France under the scheme. Officials said the treaty between the UK and France had been amended so that second-time returnees to the UK would be once again returned to France.

One asylum seeker who returned to the UK a second time, in a lorry, was eventually returned to France after spending five months in detention. He said he was accommodated for only a few days by French authorities.

43%

Decline in small boat crossings to the UK so far this year, compared with the same period last year

“There is nowhere for asylum seekers to go and be safe and have peace in Europe,” he said. “I’m sleeping on the streets of Paris because France wants to send me back to Bulgaria, where I was fingerprinted. I was better off in a UK detention centre.”

Griff Ferris, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: “People fleeing war, persecution and climate destruction are forced to take incredibly dangerous routes to cross the Channel and get to the UK because there is no other way.”

“We must let everyone access the same safe routes to travel that are open to so many, like the daily ferries between Calais and Dover.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money - and will be removed again.”

“Under our payment-by-results returns agreement with France, we have removed more than 1,000 illegal migrants from British soil. Hundreds of enforcement actions ... have been pursued against migrant-smuggling networks since the election, and we’ve returned or removed almost 70,000 illegal migrants.”

France’s interior ministry was approached for comment.

Farmer jailed for killing his lodger and hiding body in concrete

Raphael Boyd

A man who killed his lodger and concealed his dismembered body in a barrel filled with concrete for more than five years has been jailed for a minimum of 35 years.

Christopher Wright, a 73-year-old farmer from South Yorkshire, was convicted last month in Sheffield crown court of murdering Richard Dyson, 55, in 2019.

Dyson had been living in his car on Wright’s farm in Hoyland and had been doing jobs for the then 67-year-old when the pair had a falling out.

Wright, an antique firearms collector who was described as a “weapons fanatic” during his trial, suspected Dyson of stealing some of his prized possessions and selling them.

The court heard that when Wright confronted Dyson with his suspicions in November 2019 an argument broke out that ended with Dyson being shot in the chest and arm with a shotgun, killing him.

Wright, a former butcher, dismembered Dyson’s body over the course of several days, then placed the remains in a barrel which he filled with concrete. He then placed the barrel in a trailer and asked an unsuspecting neighbour to keep the vehicle on their property.

Wright was aided in covering up his crime by Karl Schwalbe, a lifelong friend, who received a three-year sentence for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Dyson’s disappearance was initially treated as a missing person inquiry and his remains went undiscovered for more than five and a half years.

While South Yorkshire police were aware he had been on Wright’s land before his disappearance, they could not find evidence implicating the farmer.

Dyson remained missing until last July when police, driven by new evidence that showed Wright had contacted a local farmer about storing a vehicle on his property in the days after Dyson disappeared, searched the farm and found a barrel containing concrete and human remains.

Speaking after sentencing him yesterday, Mr Justice Cotter told Wright he would probably die in prison and said the killer’s experience as a butcher made him “skilled enough to do such a terrible thing, something few ordinary people would have the stomach for”.

Christopher Wright, a former butcher, dismembered his lodger’s body before hiding it inside a barrel

Dance review

Gravitas, grace and a superstar’s charisma

Carlos Acosta: Myths and Modern Masters

Royal Opera House, London

★★★★☆

Sanjoy Roy

It’s a bit of a stretch to call this enjoyable programme Myths and Modern Masters but granted, it sounds better than Miscellany. Carlos Acosta – superstar dancer, now director of Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Cuban company Acosta Danza – has chosen dancers from both companies to offer a very eclectic spread of dance, and added himself into the mix.

At 53, Acosta may not have the physical prowess of his youth, but he brings great presence and depth – and some great dancing, too. That serves very well in José Limón’s 1949 work The Moor’s Pavane, a distillation of Shakespeare’s Othello that boils down the story to four characters – Othello (Acosta), Desdemona (Beatrice Parma),

▲ Patterns of give and take: Carlos Acosta and Amisaday Naara in Nosotros. Below, Acosta as Othello in The Moor’s Pavane

Iago (Max Maslen) and Emilia (Miki Mizutani) – and contains their drama of deception, jealousy and revenge within a stately composition of measured steps and stylised gestures, set to courtly music by Purcell.

Nosotros, an intimate duet by the Cuban choreographers Beatriz García and Raúl Reinoso, also benefits from Acosta’s gravitas. Backed by plangent piano and cello, Acosta and Amisaday Naara enact the complex yet everyday dynamics of a longstanding couple: patterns of give and take, small gestures of tenderness or neglect.

In his own Nutracker in Havana Suite, Acosta casts himself as a fatherly magician to young Clara (Aila Acosta Holland – yes, his own daughter), conjuring up scenes of

delight familiar from Act 2 of the traditional Nutcracker. It’s nicely danced and ends with the classic pas de deux as if to say: there’s your pinnacle. Yet it is topped by a show-stopping performance of Agrippina Vaganova’s 1935 Diana and Actaeon pas de deux, Katherine Ochoa and Yasiel Hodelin Bello almost superhuman in their whirls, bounds and balances.

The evening closes with Christopher Bruce’s Rooster, set to songs by the Rolling Stones. It’s the one piece that doesn’t quite play to Acosta’s strengths, because the choreography itself is fired by the freshness of youth, yet to be weathered by experience. Acosta has moved beyond that.

Until Sunday

PHOTOGRAPHS: TRISTEAM KENTON/THY GARDEN

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National

Raleigh bicycle brand faces chop after parent firm fails to find buyer

Jasper Jolly

The bicycle company that owns the historic Raleigh brand has started insolvency proceedings after failing to find a buyer.

The Netherlands-based Accell Group said on Wednesday that it had called in administrators after it failed to find a viable solution to continue its operations in their current form.

Raleigh was founded in 1887 and grew to be the biggest bike manufacturer in the world. At its height it was making 1m bicycles per year at its factory in Nottingham and employed more than 8,000 people.

However, after models such as the Chopper, Grifter and Burner bikes in the 1970s and 1980s, Raleigh lost market share and it stopped making bikes in England in 2002.

► At its height, Raleigh made 1m bicycles per year at its factory in Nottingham, employing more than 8,000 people PHOTO: DON MCPHEE/THE GUARDIAN

It was bought in 2012 for $100m (£74m) by Accell, which also owns the Lapierre and Ghost bicycle brands, ending 125 years as a British-owned company.

The fate of the Raleigh brand, which still retained offices in Nottinghamshire, will now be decided by administrators.

Accell previously described itself as the European market leader in e-bikes and the second-largest in

bicycle parts and accessories, with the vast majority of the group's production moved to Hungary, where costs were 30% below those of its previous Dutch factories.

However, European bike and parts makers have come under relentless pressure from Chinese rivals in recent decades, leading to fewer and fewer survivors. Accell was bought in 2022 in a €1.4bn (£1.2bn) buyout by the US private equity firm KKR, which

hoped to capitalise on the renewed interest in cycling in cities around the world. Cities have built cycle lanes to encourage exercise and to cut congestion and pollution, while e-bikes have opened up cycling to people with different physical abilities.

The KKR purchase came at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when demand for bikes soared from people locked down in their local areas. However, the industry was

unable to adjust quickly enough, increasing output massively, only to find it had missed the wave. That left manufacturers with lots of stock that needed to be offloaded at a discount.

KKR hoped to cut costs and share operations between several different brands. In February, it was forced to hand over the business to creditors, a group of undisclosed European banks and investors. The new owners tried to agree a takeover with Dutech Holdings through the Singapore-based industrial group's subsidiary Tri Star Group, but those talks came to nothing.

Jonas Nilsson, the chief executive of Accell, said: "This is a deeply sad and frustrating situation given all the hard work and everything we have achieved, with the support of shareholders and lenders, to restructure Accell's operations and finances.

"It is an especially difficult moment for our employees, creditors, customers, suppliers, and partners. Every realistic option for the future of the business has been tirelessly explored, and none have resulted in a solution to continue the group in its current form.

"Our immediate focus is to support an orderly process, provide clarity wherever possible, and work with the relevant court-appointed administrators to preserve viable activities and employment where circumstances allow."

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National

17

Safe harbour?

Pollution fear over £150m Falmouth dock development

Steven Morris

Janavi Kramer had just enjoyed a swim with friends and was sitting on a bench taking in a wonderful Cornish view - headlands plunging into deep water, bobbing boats, a bustling harbour town.

"We're lucky to have this space," said Kramer, an artist and scientific illustrator. "We use it for work, recreation and pleasure and it's so scary to think that this could all be harmed. I worry about what we may be living with soon and what we'll be leaving for future generations."

She is talking about a £150m plan to redevelop Falmouth Docks in south-west Cornwall. It includes expanding the docks to allow larger cruise ships to berth, which many people worry will exacerbate environmental problems and put pressure on the fabric of the town.

Hannah Cocks, a marine social scientist, who had been taking a dip with Kramer, said she wasn't opposed to redevelopment of the docks, which have been here for more than 150 years.

"But I want it to be done in a way that is environmentally and socially just," she said. "The community has not been adequately consulted about a decision that could have such adverse effects."

"Even now Cornish infrastructure can't cope with the number of people who come in the summer. Do we really need these huge cruise ships here?"

The plans also involve dredging around the docks, which some fear could lead to heavy metals washed into the harbour when Cornwall was a mining superpower and toxic paints once used to protect boat hulls, being churned up from the seabed.

Fishers and environmentalists are warning that precious habitats could be damaged, including oyster grounds and rare maerl beds - created when rare types of red seaweeds grow into hard, twig-like lumps.

Gio Reale, a wildlife storyteller, said it had been a good summer for spotting marine wildlife. "I normally go out looking for sharks. We have seen small-spotted catsharks and marshenous, quite a few octopuses and a lot of the usual lobsters and pipefish."

◀ Jason Pascoe, an oyster fisher, and Hannah Cocks, right, a marine social scientist and keen swimmer, worry about toxic waste and increased demands on infrastructure

'We use it for work, recreation and pleasure and it's so scary to think that this could all be harmed'

"We have maerl beds, seagrass meadows, kelp here. It's a beautiful but fragile ecosystem and I'm concerned it could be really badly harmed," he said.

The government is supporting the redevelopment. Falmouth already hosts cruises, but ministers say the expansion will allow larger vessels - such as Excellence Class cruise ships, which are up to 345 metres (1,131ft) long, to berth.

This could help to attract up to 200,000 cruise visitors annually by 2030, it says, injecting millions of pounds into the local economy and supporting hundreds of tourism-related jobs.

Cornwall council will debate elements of the scheme in the coming weeks but much of it is going through the planning process under the government's fast track system, designed to push complicated developments through and out red tape.

It means developers work with a single, lead environmental body - in this case the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) - rather than what the UK government calls a "merry-go-round of overlapping regulators".

But many in the town worry that fast-tracking may lead to a lack of scrutiny.

◀ A computer generated image of the scheme. Residents of Falmouth, below, are concerned about the environmental

impact that the proposed dock redevelopment and extra visitors could have on the town

PHOTOGRAPHS: ABHIE TRAILER-SMITH/ THE GUARDIAN; BALAZINA

Jem Wallis, who runs a sauna on the waterfront, said he didn't feel a clear case had been made for the project. And he had never had a cruise passenger visit his sauna: "It all seems a massive risk to me."

Zoe Young, a tour guide, said: "A terminal for stinky great ships to meet stinky coaches to Land's End - is that the best we can hope for?"

When the Guardian visited John Spargo's souvenir shop Tall Ships Trading on Church Street, a debate about the pros and cons broke out. Spargo said most cruise passengers who arrive in the town were taken by coach to other attractions such as the Eden Project. "They don't bring as much money into the town itself as you think."

Bernie, a visitor from Kent, said she thought cruise ships were dreadful. "Other places in Europe are trying to get rid of them. Why do you want bigger ones? It's not worth losing the character of this place for cruise ships."

Susie, who lives in Falmouth, disagreed. "They do bring in money. They are good for many of the shops and the boat tours do well when they come. St Mawes Ferry is always packed when a cruise ship is here. The passengers say they don't feel they are on a real boat when they're on a cruise ship so love getting on a little one."

The government has said the fast track system does not mean corners are being cut. It said the MMO was reviewing information submitted during the consultation period to support a "robust" marine licensing decision.

A spokesperson said: "The lead environmental regulator model is about ensuring better coordination between developers and environmental regulators to prevent delays in the planning process without lowering environmental standards."

Balaena, the maritime engineering and shipbuilding group that operates the docks, said the project would ensure the port remained fit for purpose, safeguard skilled jobs, create apprenticeship opportunities and support businesses across Cornwall and the wider south-west.

It said "targeted pocket dredging" was needed around the dock, which had been subject to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. There would be no dredging in the main docks channel or wider estuary and material that is not suitable for disposal at sea would be taken to a facility inland.

Jason Pascoe, who has worked the oyster fishery for almost 40 years, was unconvinced. "The river systems here are very complex. Can they be sure if they dump waste out to sea it won't find its way back here? Ironically, we've just had our best ever season. This feels like a horrendous threat to me."

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National

PM 'personally intervened' over early release of grooming gang members

Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Andy Burnham's government is 'urgently' identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release after concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system.

A spokesperson for the prime minister said he had 'personally intervened' after men convicted of assaulting children in Bradford were expected to be freed early despite a promise earlier this week that they would remain locked up.

No 10 said it would ensure that 'everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve'.

About 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after

ministers excluded grooming gang members, rapists and 'serious' child sex offenders from the scheme, which starts in October and is designed to tackle overcrowding in jails.

But critics have questioned the scope of exemptions after reports that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed.

Some of the offending took place before sexual abuse laws were changed in 2003, and the perpetrators were charged with crimes including indecent assault, which does not fall within the exclusions to the scheme.

A spokesperson for Burnham said: 'As part of the review of sentences, the prime minister asked the Ministry of Justice to conduct an in-depth review of cases to ensure that grooming cases were identified.'

'This work is happening urgently. This is extremely important to the

PM and he has personally intervened to ensure everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve.'

Burnham suspended the scheme in his second week as prime minister after coming under intense pressure from MPs, victims, campaigners and prison staff to halt the early release of serious sexual and violent offenders.

Prisons have become a major point of political contention, with Labour blaming the Tories for creating the overcrowding crisis between 2010 and 2024 by increasing sentences while failing to build enough jails.

The leader of the Conservative party, Kemi Badenoch, wrote to Burnham yesterday demanding answers on which offences would be eligible for early release and accusing the government of 'yet another betrayal of the victims'.

'He asked for an in-depth review to ensure grooming cases were identified'

Spokesperson No 10 Downing Street

As first disclosed by the Times, there are a number of cases where men who were convicted of assaulting children in Bradford, as part of historical investigations into Asian grooming gangs, were not excluded from the early release scheme as their cases took place before the anti-grooming laws were introduced.

The men were charged with indecent assault, which does not fall within the exemptions.

Elsewhere, the government has resisted pressure to exempt two of PC Andrew Harper's killers from early release, as the boss of his former force considers joining a potential legal challenge over the plans.

Under the early release scheme, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers could be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter.

Harper sustained fatal injuries after getting caught in a strap attached to the back of a car and being dragged down a country road as Cole, Bowers and Henry Long fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.

Long, the driver of the car, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for release under the scheme.

The chief constable of Thames Valley police, Jason Hogg, said he was receiving legal advice on whether the force could join a legal challenge mooted by the local Police Federation chief, Aileen O'Connor, to prevent Cole and Bowers being freed.

The prime minister has said he had wanted to 'go further' with the exemptions after ordering a review of the scheme, but that this was 'not possible without the prison system reaching capacity and collapsing'.

Stage review

Content still shocks but at least this one's not a musical

The Silence of the Lambs

Curve: Leicester

★★★☆☆

Mark Lawson

Soon after the hostile reception of the theatrical version of Trainspotting, another landmark 1990s movie, The Silence of the Lambs, attempts a similar manoeuvre.

But in this case, director Nikolai Foster is surely sensible not to turn this source material into a musical. And adapter Gina Gionfriddo is working not from Jonathan Demme's film but Thomas Harris's 1988 novel about the dangerous interrogation of the psychotic psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter by the FBI rookie Clarice Starling for his insight into a serial killer called Buffalo Bill.

The biggest risk of theatricalised movies is that the acting becomes a form of karaoke. Mollie Gallagher, making a confident stage debut in effectively the lead role, echoes Foster's Virginia accent and ramps

up the pugnacious posture and walk.

John Partridge's Lecter is more sonically American than Anthony Hopkins's variation on his Welsh register (the character is actually Lithuanian), avoids the hissy lip-sipping and also injects less charm and culture.

Another jeopardy of staged films is that much of a cinema director's job is moving the camera in, out and around while the frame of a stage is essentially a default wide shot. Foster, however, impressively varies the perspective. He creates a sort of split screen by bracketing the main scene with silent tableaux of other characters.

In the Lecter-Starling scenes, Howard Hudson's lighting subtly directs our gaze, encouraging a tight focus. Careful placing of characters also allows a clever approximation of a two-character

▲ John Partridge, as Hannibal Lecter, avoids Anthony Hopkins's 'hissy lip-sipping' in the film PHOTOGRAPH: MARC BRENNER

shot. The genre-standard autopsy scene feels rawly appalling when played downstage without the protection of a multiplex screen or the camera choosing and cutting away from views. The brief touch between the two main characters also electrifies live.

But, for all Foster's imaginative presentation of the action, the content can feel queasy. The Buffalo Bill strand, sometimes more a main than subplot, means that much of the evening consists of watching women stalked and tortured.

Gionfriddo is a front-rank dramatist - twice a Pulitzer prize finalist, including for Becky Shaw, a London success - and intelligently

addresses this problem. Stressing the pervasive sexism of the 1983 setting, she also, reflecting changes in attitudes across the four decades since novel and film, gives the female victims - neatly differentiated by Lottie Amor - more plot-time and agency.

A shocking new line (which is spoken twice) reflects the devastating calculations that a victim may make with the aim of survival.

Most daringly, while all versions of the Lecter-Starling narrative have considered it as a sort of love story, the stage version maximises the romantic context, albeit on a scale from warped to desperate.

A risk of such crossovers is that they will encourage streamer searches for the film instead, but it's a show worth seeing.

Until 15 August, then touring

Woman appears in court over Covent Garden stabbings

PA Media

A woman appeared in court yesterday accused of stabbing four men in the back with a pair of scissors in Covent Garden in central London.

Stella Gollovna, 47, is accused of attacking Patrick De Barr, Thomas Harding, Adrian Lovett and Mantas Jankus on Wednesday lunchtime.

She has been charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon, a pair of scissors.

Gollovena, of no fixed address, faced the five criminal charges for the first time in a hearing at Highbury Corner magistrates court.

The hearing was told that police were flagged down in Endell Street, in a busy tourist area filled with bars, theatres and restaurants, at about 12.25pm by one of the victims.

He and a second man reported being stabbed, leading to the suspect being chased and Tasered.

The court heard that police took statements from four men who were treated in hospital for stab wounds to their backs. A fifth person told officers they had also been stabbed but did not want to give a statement.

It is alleged that Gollovna had a pair of scissors - also described as a pair of shears - on her when arrested.

Tan Ikram, the deputy chief magistrate, remanded Gollovna in custody until the next hearing at Snaresbrook crown court on 3 September.

Gollovena spoke to confirm her identity but did not enter any pleas to the charges.

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National

19

Prevent referrals reach record level fuelled by rise of extreme right

Rajeev Syal

A record number of people have been referred to the government's anti-terror programme in England and Wales, with a 39% rise in a year including a 42% rise in referrals for extreme right-wing ideology, according to official data released yesterday.

A total of 10,293 referrals - up from 7,408 - were made to the Prevent programme in the year to September 2025, which is the highest number since records began 11 years ago.

Those referrals to the scheme, which aims to stop people turning to terrorism, involved 9,957 people suspected of extremist or violent tendencies.

The rise came after officials noted a sustained and significant increase in referrals since the Southport attack in July 2024.

Axel Rudakubana, who killed three girls at a dance class and tried to murder eight others, as well as two adults, had been referred to Prevent three times but his case was closed over his lack of a clear ideology.

The figures showed 2,103 Prevent referrals were because of concerns over extreme right-wing ideology - 20% of the total - up from 1,480 in the previous 12 months. There were 860 referrals (8%) about Islamist extremism, down from 945 over the previous year.

Where age was known, 11- to 15-year-olds made up the largest proportion of Prevent referrals (1,655 or 36%), followed by 16- to 17-year-olds (1,379 or 13%), the Home Office said.

A total of 818 referrals (8%) related to fascination with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks, 95 (1%)

were for 'incel' extremism - meaning 'involuntary celibate', the term given to a strand of misogynist ideology - and 32 (0.3%) for left-wing extremism, while 353 (3%) were for multiple ideologies with no dominant ideology identified.

Fifty-six per cent of referrals to the scheme were for individuals with no identified ideology.

The Home Office has also published data showing the ethnicity of referrals to the Prevent programme, although the data is incomplete because it is not mandatory on the referral form.

Of 5,315 people referred to the scheme, 3,600 (68%) were white, 949 (18%) were Asian, 401 (8%) were black and 365 (7%) were listed as 'other'.

After initial screening and assessment, Prevent referrals who are deemed at risk of radicalisation may be passed to a multi-agency 'channel panel'. Chaired by local authorities, these panels determine the extent of a person's susceptibility to radicalisation, and whether a tailored package of support is necessary to address the risk.

Of the 1,100 referrals taken on as a channel case in the year to September 2025 where ethnicity was known, 835 (76%) were white, 159 (14%) were Asian, 59 (5%) were black and 47 (4%) were 'other'.

Nearly one in five of those referred to the programme - 18% - were autistic, while 36% had at least one mental health or neurodiversity condition listed on their Prevent record.

Jacob Smith, the team leader on freedom of expression and belief at Rights & Security International (RSI), said there was a shocking number of autistic people who now had long-lasting police records under a secretive programme.

'There is no excuse for unleashing this much suspicion against autistic people,' he said.

The security minister, Dan Jarvis, said the record number of referrals underlined the scale of the challenge faced in protecting the public from terrorism.

'The statistics also show the crucial role the programme plays in keeping the public safe, with more than 6,000 people moved away from violent ideologies that could have resulted in harm to themselves or others,' he said.

Jarvis added: 'We will continue to improve Prevent to ensure it has the tools it needs to do its job of stopping people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.'

'We all have a role to play in keeping each other safe and spotting the signs of radicalisation,' the security minister said.

Nandy's approval means Paramount-Warner Bros deal moves a step closer

Michael Savage Media editor

The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has said she will not intervene in Paramount's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, removing one of the remaining obstacles to the blockbuster deal.

Paramount has made significant concessions in order to secure the UK government's backing for the $110bn (£85bn) takeover, which will create a global media powerhouse and bolster the influence of Paramount's chief executive, David Ellison.

Nandy's decision to order Britain's media and competition watchdogs to examine the deal in June came as a shock. However, she has now approved the deal with conditions attached around protecting UK-based content. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has also cleared the deal, which has already been supported by the EU.

Under the UK guarantees, Paramount's Channel 5 will continue to operate as a public service broadcaster until the end of 2034. Channel 5 News will retain its editorial independence and will remain separate from other news operations covered

by the merger, CBS News and CNN International.

Paramount has agreed its linear and on-demand services in Britain would retain distinct editorial identities for five years, including its children's TV content.

Nandy's department also secured a guarantee that the deal would not reduce the number of people commissioning content in Britain, while Channel 5 would continue to back UK-originated content covering drama, factual and entertainment shows.

Nandy will meet Paramount executives 'in the coming weeks' to seek assurances about the deal's impact on Britain's wider creative industries.

It means Ellison is a step closer to closing the deal, which would create a group encompassing the Hollywood studios behind franchises including Superman, Batman and Top Gun, the UK's Channel 5, news channel CNN and TNT Sports.

The acquisition still faces a final major hurdle before being completed, following a legal challenge by a coalition of US states and writers' guilds to block it.

There are also concerns within the media about the potential impact on the news coverage of Warner's global news network, CNN. Paramount's own network, CBS News, has faced layoffs, tensions and claims of political interference to push coverage in line with Donald Trump's agenda.

Ellison, the son of the tech mogul and Trump ally Larry Ellison, has faced other accusations of attempting to curry favour with the White House as he pursued acquisitions. However, in a recent essay, he denied having a pro-Trump bias.

'I have regularly voted for candidates of both parties,' he wrote. 'I hold some views that would be called conservative and others that would be called liberal, just like most Americans.'

Responding to the UK government's decision to clear the deal, Paramount said in a statement: 'These clearances recognise that the combination of Paramount and WBD will enhance consumer choice and enable a creative-first company to invest in more projects and bring stories to audiences worldwide.'

▲ The Harry Potter films, top, are among Warner's jewels. Above, Lisa Nandy MAIN PHOTOGRAPH: MARSIE BROS

▲ David Ellison, right, with actor Jay Ellis, at the UK premiere of Top Gun: Maverick; left, CNN reporter Amanda Davies covering the Fifa World Cup PHOTOGRAPH: TRISTAN FEWINGS/GETTY; JESS STILES/JUMA PRESS WIRE/ SHUTTERSTOCK

The scheme in numbers

39%

The rise in referrals to the Prevent programme in England and Wales in the year to September 2025

9,957

Number of people referred to the anti-terror scheme over suspicion of extremist or violent tendencies

42%

Increase in the number of referrals made because of concerns about extreme right-wing ideology

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National

21

Breaking the cycle Inside the scheme that gives offenders an alternative to a jail term

Tom Pilston Haroon Siddique

As the prison overcrowding crisis shows no sign of abating and the debate over early releases rages, an initiative in the West Midlands offers an alternative to custodial sentences.

The Guardian was given rare access to the project under which offenders work on the improvement of waterways and green spaces around Smethwick instead of being sent to jail.

It is a small part of the community payback scheme, through which an estimated 5m hours of work were clocked up across England and Wales in the last year.

Community payback is not suitable for everyone but covers a wide range of adult offending and can be imposed as part of a suspended sentence. The Sentencing Act, which received royal assent in January, introduces a presumption that courts will suspend custodial sentences of 12 months or less, meaning more offenders will carry out community-based punishments.

When the Guardian visited the Smethwick project last month, the temperature was already in the high 20s by 9.30am as participants arrived at the canal for a day of strimming and cutting back overgrown vegetation, as well as clearing beer cans, plastic bags, bottles and condoms from the towpath and the canal itself.

Among them was Steve Warmer, a 54-year-old with a painful hip who was dressed in a grey tracksuit. He was recently convicted of an offence that can attract a fine, a driving ban and up to six months in prison. As two of his fellow participants were given nets to trawl the canal for rubbish and thick, green duckweed, Warmer was handed a litter picker and the first of many black rubbish bags.

'I actually enjoy this work. It gives me knowledge of life and other people'

Steve Warmer Project participant

▲ Top, project supervisor Mo Ghatnoor leads a community payback group clearing rubbish and overgrown vegetation along the canal in Smethwick, West Midlands;

left, Ghatnoor helps a participant with a strimmer; right, Steve Warmer with his litter picker

PHOTOGRAPH: TOM PILSTON/ THE GUARDIAN

Warmer, a factory worker from Dudley, said he was 'the last one standing [alive]' from his group of friends. He said: 'I actually enjoy this work. It gives me knowledge of life and other people.'

The aim of community payback is to combine punishment with rehabilitation. Warmer added: 'Me and my wife now litter pick in our own street.'

Baby born after mother died in fall from ninth-floor window

Raphael Boyd

A pregnant woman who died from a nine-storey fall had her baby safely delivered 30 minutes after her death, an inquest has heard.

Emma Atkinson, 38, was seven months pregnant when she fell from the window of her father's flat in Shakespeare Towers in the Burman-tofts area of Leeds, on 22 October

▲ The woman fell from her father's flat in Shakespeare Towers, Leeds

2024. Wakefield coroner's court heard yesterday that Atkinson was pronounced dead by paramedics who arrived at the scene shortly after she fell at 10.20am. Atkinson's body was taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where an emergency caesarean section was performed.

The baby girl was born soon after arriving at the hospital. She sustained some injuries from the fall, including a punctured lung and fractured tibia, requiring her to remain in intensive care for the first weeks of her life, but has since recovered. The girl, who is now 21 months old, is reportedly 'being raised happily' by relatives.

In a narrative verdict, the inquest ruled that Atkinson had 'deliberately

propelled herself' from the window on the ninth floor, but was unable to decide if she had done so with the intention of ending her own life.

The coroner Naomi McLoughlin said that while 'the deliberate act of removing the safety catches from the window' and 'the manner of her falling, captured by the CCTV' was significant, other evidence such as the lack of concerning signs in the weeks prior, and the fact she had made plans beyond that day with her family, meant she could not conclusively say Atkinson meant to die when she fell.

The court heard that at the time of her death Atkinson had been suffering from poor mental health and

Not everyone working at the canal was as positive as Warmer, who had completed 126 hours of his 250-hour community payback sentence. In the hot weather, the work was particularly demanding, with plenty of water breaks needed.

Courts can order between 40 and 300 hours of community payback to be completed within a specific timeframe. Offenders who are unemployed must work up to 28 hours a week over three or four days. For those in employment, the work is organised around their working hours. Failure to comply without reasonable excuse can result in enforcement action and a return to court.

The supervisor at the Smethwick project on the day Warmer was there was Mo Ghatnoor, who spent 10 years as a corporate banker. His responsibilities now include driving the van that takes offenders and equipment to the site.

'This is 100% more fulfilling,' he said. 'I used to help businesses with profit but I was just a voice on the phone. Here I make a difference in the heart of my own community. I help my own mental health and that of others, the community and individuals.'

Other forms of community payback, formerly known as community sentences, include removing graffiti, decorating public places and buildings such as community centres, and planting trees.

Anyone can nominate a project for the scheme, provided it benefits the local community, does not take paid work from others, and makes no profit for anyone.

Among the offenders who will spend less time in prison and more time in the community as a result of the Sentencing Act are burglars, shoplifters and people convicted of assault.

The latest statistics, from July to September 2024, show that adults released after serving sentences of less than 12 months had a reoffending rate of 68.2%, compared with 22.9% among those who had served sentences of 12 months or more.

Critics might see community payback as a soft sentencing option, but Ghatnoor does not share that view. 'We look at the individual to whom it gives a structure to their life,' he said. 'It often breaks a negative cycle and changes their mindset, and therefore brings reoffending down.'

had been worried about the possibility of being incarcerated after failing to attend a court date for a shoplifting offence.

Her father, David Atkinson, told the inquest via a summarised statement that his daughter had come to visit him at his flat that morning. While there, she began to smoke a cigarette in front of a window in his living room, which she then opened fully after removing the safety catches.

Atkinson said that he had asked his daughter what she was doing, to which she had told him 'not to worry [as] she was just getting some fresh air', before she said: 'I'm off' and fell through the window head first.

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22

Eyewitness

Magic from the shadows

A new exhibition in A Coruña is showcasing the photography of Paolo Roversi. The exhibition will show the fashion photographer's iconic masterworks as well as never-before-seen pieces.

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23

◀ Paolo Roversi's work has won universal acclaim. The collection is considered both an intimate journey through his artistic universe and a celebration of his enduring influence on the language of fashion

photography, in a career spanning more than four decades. He chose to name the exhibition Doubts, because for him, doubt is 'the open door to creativity and imagination' PHOTOGRAPHS: PAOLO ROVERSI

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24

World

Trump's Board of Peace issues first Gaza contract - for a military base

Aram Roston Washington

Donald Trump's Board of Peace, which was set up in January to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, has finally issued its first construction contract in the devastated territory: a project to build a rudimentary 150-person military outpost to house Moroccan troops, a source familiar with the matter told the Guardian.

The contract, which has not yet been finalised, was awarded to Aykel International, a Louisiana-based firm that has previously carried out work with the US government in countries such as Iraq.

The Board of Peace is chaired by the US president and led by a team that includes his son-in-law Jared Kushner and friend Steve Witkoff.

In an email, a Board of Peace official said the board and a group of Palestinian technocrats installed to oversee Gaza "are in the final stages of preparing several contract awards. None have been finalised." The Palestinian group is known as the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.

The official said: "One prospective contract concerns facilities to support the international stabilisation force [ISF], which will assist in

▲ Israeli security forces arresting a Palestinian man in a refugee camp

implementing the roadmap's security and governance arrangements."

They added: "This contract will be one of many that are essential for the future of Gaza."

The award comes just days after Trump announced that Hamas had agreed to disarm, though there are considerable questions about how the group would give up its guns. Israel has opposed the plan, and it increased airstrikes in Gaza after Trump's announcement.

The Guardian reported in July that the board's original Gaza reconstruction had shrunk dramatically from an ambitious blueprint to rebuild the whole territory to a small pilot project in the south of the strip.

The base now being planned is just 100 metres by 120 metres and is intended to house a contingent of Moroccan troops, who would rotate

from a base in Israel, the source said. It would lie in the 60% of Gaza's territory that the Israeli army directly controls. Israeli forces have also created a buffer zone beyond that area.

The source said the base was about a mile from the Israeli border and would have a "quick extraction route" in case the small force came under attack.

The UN resolution authorising the Board of Peace had approved establishing the ISF for Gaza, and there have been varying reports on which country would provide these troops. Morocco has promised a small contingent, but the legal framework for the ISF has yet to be finalised, and it is not clear when the deployment would begin.

In earlier contract plans seen by the Guardian, the 150-person base was the first phase of a plan to build a 5,000-person military base in Gaza for the ISF.

This base would have included "vehicle fighting positions" and a perimeter berm - or raised defensive bank - and would have rudimentary facilities suitable for short-term deployments. The earlier contract said the first phase would consist of "tents and cots for forces to sleep, as well as chemical toilets and handwashing stations. At this phase, this is what we would consider habitable."

Trump announced in February 2025 that the US would "take over" and "own" Gaza, although the agreement that set up the Board of Peace fell short of that.

At the board's first meeting in January, Kushner unveiled a "master plan" to build "New Gaza" with an expansive waterfront city with gleaming mixed-use towers. "It could be a hope, it could be a destination. A lot of industry," he said.

At least 80% of Gaza's buildings were damaged or destroyed in the war. Ten months after the ceasefire, most of the territory's 2 million people are still living in makeshift and unsanitary camps.

Israeli airstrike 'war crime'

Journalists were deliberately targeted, say rights groups

William Christou

An Israeli strike that killed the Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil and injured her colleague Zeinab Faraj in April was a war crime, three rights organisations said yesterday.

Investigations from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International and Legal Agenda showed that Israel deliberately and directly attacked Khalil and Faraj, with apparent knowledge that they were civilians.

The organisations called for the attacks to be investigated as war crimes, while HRW called for states to halt arms sales to Israel and put

targeted sanctions on Israeli officials responsible for ongoing crimes.

Deliberate attacks on civilians, which both journalists were, is a war crime. Israel has killed at least 15 journalists in Lebanon and 210 in Gaza since 2023, according to the UN human rights office.

The reports also indicated that Israel delayed Lebanese ambulances from reaching Khalil and Faraj for hours - at one point dropping stun grenades on Lebanese Red Cross workers and firing on their ambulances.

The delay in rescue might have led to Khalil's death, as hospital reports indicate that she might have still been alive hours after an Israeli

strike toppled a building on top of her and Faraj.

"The evidence is clear that the Israeli military knew, or should have, that Faraj and Khalil were civilians, but attacked them anyway, and then prevented paramedics from rescuing them for hours," said Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Israel said it "regrets any harm caused to journalists," and that the journalists were killed "as part of a series of events" during which two Hezbollah military operatives were killed.

There were about two hours between the initial strike that killed the two men Israel said were Hezbollah operatives, and a second strike that targeted a building the journalists were sheltering in.

Khalil was a 42-year-old journalist working for al-Akhbar, a Lebanese newspaper, while Faraj was a 21-year-old freelance camerawoman and photojournalist. Both had been active

in covering the war in Lebanon over the last three years.

On 22 April 2026, the pair drove to the village of al-Tiri, south Lebanon, to verify reports that Israeli troops had left the area. They drove behind a car carrying Ali Nabil Bazzi, a

municipal official of the city of Bint Jbeil, as well as Mohammed Hourani, a friend of the local mayor.

Al-Tiri was in what Israel calls its "security zone" in southern Lebanon, which its troops occupy. Amnesty said that despite the Israeli military

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'We'll attack wherever'

Inside Colombia's guerrilla camp

Page 26

The claw is my master

Hong Kong's grabber machine addiction

Page 29

29

Standing

firm

A Palestinian girl carries a blackened cuddly toy out of her damaged home in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank after an attack blamed on Israeli settlers.

PHOTOGRAPH: MUSIA QAMALMA/REUTERS

calling it a military zone and barring people from going there, it is still required to distinguish between civilians and combatants.

At 2.25pm, after entering al-Tiri, the car carrying Bazzi and Hournai was struck, killing the men. Khalil

▲ Amal Khalil, working for the daily al-Akhbar newspaper, reports near a destroyed bridge in Qasmiyeh, Lebanon, on 22 March.

Mourners, left, carry Khalil's coffin in Baisariyeh, south Lebanon, on 23 April PHOTOGRAPH: MASIMOTO DUVAT/APF/GETTY IMAGES

called the Lebanese civil defence and requested assistance.

The civil defence drove to the entry of the village, where they were told to stop at a military checkpoint while they waited for authorisation from the Israeli military to enter the village safely.

Rescue crews operating in areas of south Lebanon where fighting is taking place or which the Israeli military occupies must coordinate with the 'mechanism', a deconfliction channel, to get safe passage. Among others, the Israeli military must give approval for requests for civil defence to get safe passage.

By 5pm, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon had given a safe route for civil defence to follow to enter the town, but Israel had not yet given its approval.

While waiting for the civil defence to arrive, Faraj and Khalil left their car and sought shelter elsewhere. Israeli quadcopters circled overhead while the two journalists waited, Faraj said.

'The drones came extremely close through the roof, less than a metre from my face and Amal's,' she said.

At 3.31pm, a member of the Lebanese civil defence called Khalil and urged her to get into her car and drive out of the village, as he had not yet received permission from the mechanism to enter the village.

Around nine minutes later, Israel struck the journalists' car, injuring both women.

'Glass and debris flew towards us. My ear felt like it burst. She [Amal Khalil] was bleeding heavily from the nose and head and had shrapnel wounds in her arm and thigh; she couldn't move her leg,' Faraj said.

The two women crawled into a nearby building for shelter.

They both continued calling people, asking for assistance, but were told they could not be rescued until authorisation was given from the mechanism.

At 4.25pm, Israel conducted a third strike, bombing the building where

West Bank

Settler is charged over killing of Palestinian

Reuters

Israeli prosecutors have charged a Jewish settler over the killing of a Palestinian community leader in the occupied West Bank last year - the first such indictment in nearly three years.

In papers filed by the state attorney's office, Yinon Levi is charged with reckless manslaughter in the death of Awdah Hathaleen, a prominent activist who was involved in the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

The film, made between 2019 and 2023, focuses on the forced displacement of Palestinians from their homes in Masafer Yatta, an area of the occupied West Bank targeted by Israeli forces.

The charges against Levi also include armed trespass and malicious damage to property during an incident in July 2025 in which settlers operated a large excavator in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, prompting a confrontation with residents.

Hathaleen filmed the moment he was shot during the confrontation. Footage released by the Israeli rights group B'Tselem shows Levi drawing a weapon and firing in Hathaleen's direction. Hathaleen is then heard moaning as he falls to the ground.

Levi, who has been placed under sanctions by the UK and EU over violence against Palestinians, has

they were sheltering, collapsing it and burying both women under the rubble.

At 5pm, permission was given to the Lebanese Red Cross to enter the village. They were able to evacuate Faraj, who had a fractured skull, severe injuries to her right leg and eye, and a crushed hand. Rescuers could not rescue Khalil, who was trapped under rubble.

The rescuers came under attack by an Israeli quadcopter, which dropped a stun grenade near them. Witnesses also said they heard bursts of gunfire during the evacuations, and HRW reviewed photographs of bullet holes in the ambulances consistent with small arms fire.

The rescuers were forced to withdraw with only Faraj.

The Israeli military finally granted the request for rescue crews to re-enter the town at 8.15pm. Khalil's body was recovered at 11pm.

An examination of her body at the nearby Tebine hospital showed that

▲ A woman holds a photo of Awdah Hathaleen during a Tel Aviv protest

previously denied firing the shot that killed Hathaleen. Reuters was not able to reach his lawyer for comment.

Yesterday's indictment is the first since the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023, which triggered Israel's war in Gaza and were followed by a rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, B'Tselem said.

Israeli soldiers and settlers have since killed at least 1,100 Palestinians in the West Bank, among them at least 240 children, according to UN data.

B'Tselem said: 'The decision to indict Yinon Levi is the exception that proves the rule. The impunity Israel grants to soldiers and settlers who harm Palestinians is not a failure of the system. It is a central component of a policy designed to allow the violence to continue and escalate.'

Israel's military says it investigates instances of wrongdoing by its soldiers, and takes steps to crack down on settler violence.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians on land captured by Israel in the 1967 war, and sought by Palestinians as the core of a future independent state.

UN bodies, Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under international law and a major obstacle to peace. Israel disputes that view.

Eighteen Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler attacks so far this year, compared with 17 in the whole of 2025, according to UN figures.

she probably died at 7pm - two-and-a-half hours after she was struck for the last time.

She was trapped under the rubble during that time, waiting to be rescued, while the Israeli military prevented rescue crews from saving her life.

All three organisations have demanded accountability for Khalil's killing, and described it as part of a larger pattern of impunity by the Israeli military towards civilians.

'The impunity enjoyed by Israeli forces for the killing of journalists and other civilians in Lebanon over the past three years has enabled the Israeli military to continue with its unlawful airstrikes, including direct attacks on civilians,' said Heba Morayef, director for the Middle East and north Africa at Amnesty International.

'It is well past time that the international community impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel,' Morayef added.

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24

World

Colombia

on the brink Guerrilla group gets ready for a return to conflict

Thomas Graham Chocó

As the boat approached the riverbank, camouflaged figures watched from the tree line.

Behind them, in the jungle undergrowth, a commander of the National Liberation Army (ELN) sat with his rifle on his lap, amid the buzz and whine of insects and the thwacks of machetes on bamboo, while his troops set up camp, hidden from enemy drones.

Colombia's 62-year-old armed conflict is on the brink of a new chapter, with Abelardo de la Espriella, who takes office as president today, vowing an end to peace talks in favour of a new military offensive. But Colombia's last guerrilla group says it is ready, come what may.

"Where we can go on the offensive, we will," said the commander of the group's western war front, who goes by "Yerson".

"And if the ELN leadership says we have to carry out a military offensive at the national level, we will. Attacks in cities, in the countryside - wherever."

Yerson and his troops were deep in the Pacific department of Chocó, in an ELN stronghold accessible

only after hours of river travel, where humid heat soaks through the cloud cover.

Occasional communities, each a line of wooden shacks on stilts, broke the dense forest on the banks. Giant mining barges were moored on the river, with diggers clawing up the riverbed to extract particles of gold.

The ELN and rival armed groups fight to control the San Juan River, its resources and its population. At one point in the journey, armed men from Clan del Golfo, a paramilitary group, stopped the Guardian's boat to question the passengers, before promising to "liberate" the area from the ELN.

But Yerson was unfazed by this threat. "All of the ELN territories are being invaded by bands of mercenaries," he said. "They are

▲ ELN troops are issued with instructions at their jungle encampment in southern Chocó, Colombia. The 60-strong force has equal numbers of men and women

▼ The guerrilla group is well supplied with weapons, including modern AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles, some made in the US

very violent - but they are not disputing political power."

Colombia's conflict began in the 1960s, rooted in extreme land inequality and exclusionary politics. Leftwing guerrillas emerged to challenge the state, battling government forces that later allied with rightwing paramilitaries, forerunners of the Clan del Golfo. Money from cocaine trafficking fuelled all sides. The conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions.

Along with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the ELN was the most important of the guerrilla groups. Founded in 1964, it fused Marxism-Leninism with Che Guevara's foco theory - the idea that a small armed band in a remote rural area can eventually topple the state - and Liberation theology, which framed the struggle against poverty and oppression as an expression of Christian faith.

In their pursuit of revolution, the two groups have carried out killings and kidnappings and forced the confinement and displacement of civilian populations.

But while the Farc finally demobilised in 2016 after striking a peace deal with the Colombian state, the ELN says its members will lay down arms only after the political and economic system has been transformed. "The Farc

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8

27

◀ Commander 'Yerson' of the ELN's western war front. He says his recruits are drawn from the poor of Colombia, who have few other options

◀ ELN troop members training in jungle warfare. Their commander says they are prepared to mount attacks 'in cities, in the countryside - wherever'

Photographs: Santiago Mesa/ The Guardian

surrendered in exchange for nothing," said Yerson, adding that subsequent presidents have failed to fully implement the peace deal. In 2022, Gustavo Petro, a leftist who in the 1980s was a guerrilla with the defunct M-19, was elected president on the promise of "Total Peace", vowing to make good on the Farc deal and negotiate with the remaining armed groups - on the left and right.

But after a few years, almost all the talks - including those with the ELN, the Clan del Golfo and Farc dissidents who refused to demobilise in 2016 - either stalled or collapsed.

Yerson rejected the idea that the election of Colombia's first leftist president meant the ELN's goals could be achieved through politics.

"They handed out lands [to the poor]. They did a kind of pension reform. They were looking for ways to improve healthcare," he said.

"But in the end these are small things. They don't help with the popular awakening."

By Yerson's telling, Petro was allowed to take power by the "Colombian oligarchy", which needed to pacify the people after an explosion of inequality protests in 2019 and 2021 but knew he "was never going to do fundamental reforms, that he could be controlled".

"Colombia's political system is

not the democracy it claims to be," he said. "That is where the trap is."

The ELN faces a very different proposition in the form of De la Espriella, a Trump-admiring millionaire who rose to prominence as a criminal lawyer representing accused leaders of the AUC, a rightwing paramilitary group that fought the guerrillas and killed civilians accused of helping them.

De la Espriella has given Colombia's armed groups a month to submit to him or face the consequences, while promising to deepen security cooperation with the US and build megaprisons.

However, security analysts say that armed groups have gathered strength and resources. The ELN has about 6,300 members, armed and unarmed, across Colombia and Venezuela.

The 60 or so in the camp were evenly split between men and women, Indigenous and Afro-Colombian. "The majority of the

'We've been in the struggle for 62 years and there will be many more'

'Yerson' ELN commander

ELN has always been the poor, the lowest down," said Yerson. "Here, as Chocó is more Afro-Indigenous, that's what we are."

Each of his troops had a modern assault rifle: either an AK-47 or an AR-15 - some with "Made in USA" stamped on the body. One also had a .50 calibre rifle, bullets from which can punch through vehicles.

The camp was deep in ELN territory and they were relaxed. When someone took out a portable speaker and began to play vallanatos - Colombian folk songs - they left their rifles resting against trees or slung them over their backs, and paired up to dance, suddenly looking like the young Colombians they were.

Various groups, including the UN and Human Rights Watch, have accused the ELN of recruiting minors - but Yerson insisted that under-16s could not join up.

He described the ELN as "a life choice" for Colombia's poor, who have few options. "Maybe that's why they join - but once they are here they come to understand why we are fighting," he said.

The ELN functions by taxing "every commercial entity" in its territory and in Chocó this means illegal gold mining and logging. It also carries out ransom kidnappings.

"We are an embryonic state, and every state takes taxes," he said. "If they can strangle us economically, we will cease to exist as a rebel organisation."

Yerson claimed that coca cultivation has "disappeared" in ELN territory in Chocó. He denied that the ELN was involved in drug trafficking but acknowledged it taxed the business like any other.

The US, which has given its military a new role to take on "narcoterrorism" across the Americas, might not think much of that distinction.

"The question of guilt doesn't matter to the US: what matters to them are interests," said Yerson.

"We are the only guerrilla group with political principles left standing in Colombia and the world. We will always be something they want to destroy."

Last week, a car bomb attributed to the ELN exploded outside a police station near the border with Venezuela, injuring 12 police officers and 3 civilians, while drone attacks have become common.

"They have to be legitimate objectives: we don't put car bombs where the civil population will die," said Yerson.

Despite the election of De la Espriella and other rightwing leaders across the continent, Yerson said the ELN was not losing the ideological battle.

"Voters are being deceived," he said, before quoting the revolutionary leader Simón Bolívar: "An ignorant people is the blind instrument of its own destruction."

Asked whether Colombia was any closer to the ELN's goals after decades of conflict, Yerson was unsure: "I don't know. But I can tell you that the only way to win things for the people is through the struggle," he said. "We've been in the struggle for 62 years and there will be many more."

Danish pupils face oral tests on essays to stop AI cheats

Nordic correspondent

Teenagers in Denmark will have to make an oral defence of their written essays to combat AI cheating, the government has announced.

Pupils aged 16 to 19 at upper secondary school (known in Denmark as gymnasiet) will also be encouraged to do written assignments at school under controlled conditions, including monitoring of their computer screens, rather than at home.

The measures, announced yesterday as pupils prepare to go back to school next week after the summer break, will come into immediate effect after Magnus Heunicke, the country's education minister, demanded urgent action.

"Unfortunately, we have a problem with AI cheating in upper secondary schools," he said. "Action is needed now."

AI posed a growing challenge to teaching and exams, the education ministry said. It is hoped the new measures will help to establish clearer guidelines for when pupils are not permitted to use it.

The government is also preparing a comprehensive national strategy for AI use in all schools and the wider education sector.

Heunicke said he would speak to schools, teachers and students to "ensure that AI does not undermine

Officials fear Ebola virus in DRC may be mutating

Global health correspondent

The virus causing a massive outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be mutating, health officials fear, as confirmed cases pass 4,000.

Africa's public health watchdog said the time for incremental action was over, as it announced plans to scale up every aspect of the response and go "door to door" looking for patients.

The Ebola outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, was first reported on 15 May, although the disease could have been spreading since January.

There have been 3,973 cases and 1,801 deaths recorded as of 4 August, according to the DRC's national public health institute.

Speaking yesterday, Dr Jean Kaseya, director general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and

students' competencies, professionalism and, not least, the ability to think for themselves".

The first measure to be introduced is the oral defence of exam assignments written at home. About 9,000 upper secondary school students each year write a big assignment (known as større skriftlige opgave or SSO), which they will now have to defend orally. The ministry said it would speak to schools about the best way to do this.

Upper secondary schools will also be required to use monitoring tools to oversee how computers are being used for written exams. They are required to install firewalls to filter what is available on the school network during exams and teaching.

The third measure is a plea to schools to encourage pupils to do more of their written assignments at school under controlled conditions, to "follow the students' work process, provide relevant feedback and create a more accurate basis for assessment".

In Sweden, a study has found that the number of students suspended or warned for unauthorised AI use rose by 688% between 2023 and 2025.

Announcing a policy review, Lotta Edholm, a Swedish education minister, said in January: "There is no reason to turn a blind eye to cheating students. Cheating is completely unacceptable regardless of what form.

"It risks affecting grades that should reflect students' knowledge and in the long term students are not actually learning what they should."

688% Rise in number of students in Sweden caught using unauthorised AI from 2023 to 2025

Prevention (Africa CDC), told a press briefing that cases had exceeded 4,000.

The outbreak is now the second-largest Ebola epidemic on record. There are eight times more cases, and six times more deaths than were recorded 11 weeks into the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014-18, which infected more than 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000.

Kaseya said he had spoken to the WHO chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and they planned studies "to check if there is any additional issue, or changes to the virus, because the level of severity of this Bundibugyo outbreak is unprecedented."

More than two-thirds of Ebola deaths are happening in the community, rather than in treatment centres. In an MSF-run centre in Bunia, 90% of admitted patients did not appear on authorities' lists of contacts of known cases, indicating high levels of untracked transmission.

Kaseya said contact tracing in the DRC was insufficient, with only 10 contacts out of an expected 40 identified for every Ebola patient.

Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, organ damage and internal bleeding. The outbreak has centred in Ituri province, but now spread to Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Haut-Uele and Tshopo. There were also 20 recorded cases in neighbouring Uganda.

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48

World

Nigerian president hails rescue of 300 hostages abducted by militants

Eromo Egbejule

Abidjan

Nigerian security forces have rescued more than 300 abducted people in what the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, hailed as the largest single-day hostage recovery in the country's history.

The release was announced on Wednesday after a joint operation by the military, police and counter-terrorism units freed victims held captive in the dense forests of the Kainji Lake national park in the north-central region.

Among those who regained freedom were 163 people abducted in February during a deadly raid on the village of Woro in Kwara state, and 145 others seized primarily from the neighbouring Niger state.

Both states are flanked to the west by Benin, where militant attacks have been surging in recent times. Officials confirmed the survivors

were receiving medical attention at an army installation before being reunited with their families.

"The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services," Tinubu said. "I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian lives."

The government spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the rescue operation was part of the president's resolve to "restore lasting peace across every corner of the nation".

In the last decade, kidnapping for ransom has become endemic in Africa's most populous country, especially in the north where different armed groups including bandit gangs and jihadists roam large swathes of unoccupied forests and shrublands.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, at least 4,722 people were kidnapped across 997 reported incidents, leading

▲ The scene of a raid on Woro, Kwara state, in February in which 163 people were abducted. In July, students and teachers taken in Oyo, left, were freed PHOTOGRAPHS: LIGHT ORIYE TAMUNUFOWYE/AFF/GETTY; EMMANUEL ABEGROYK/EPA

to at least 762 deaths, according to a report by the Lagos-based geopolitical advisory SBM Intelligence. In that 12-month period, abductors demanded 48bn naira (£26m) in payments, with families and communities ultimately handing over at least 2.57bn naira in ransom to secure the release of their loved ones.

Before January's presidential election, in which Tinubu is seeking a second four-year term, the government has been ramping up reforms and rescue operations as insecurity worsens.

The latest rescue was announced in the same week the army declared the governor of Islamic State West Africa Province, Abu Musa al-Mangawi Baa Shuwa, and his deputy, Amirul Jaish Muhammad Jidda, wanted men. The duo run the Islamic State-affiliated Boko Haram offshoot operating primarily around the Lake Chad basin, which straddles Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

In July, security services freed at least 40 students and teachers who had been kidnapped in May from a school in Oyo in south-western Nigeria.

Last week, the presidency announced a salary increase worth 30% to 80% for thousands of soldiers, the largest rise in years for an army once seen as one of the continent's most powerful but now derided as underfunded and unequipped.

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World

◀ Claw machine shops in Hong Kong attract players of all ages, offering plushies, Labubu dolls and Pokémon collectibles as prizes, right

PHOTOGRAPH: BILLY DE KWOK/ THE GUARDIAN; ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES

Claws out

Addiction fears as gaming craze grabs hold of Hong Kong

Jessie Pang Hong Kong

In Hong Kong's neon-lit arcades, a maze of claw machines illuminates the prizes of the day: plushie toys, Labubu dolls and an array of Pokémon collectibles.

Across the city, claw machine shops have proliferated, now numbering more than 2,500, many filling vacant spaces left by businesses that closed in the pandemic. The venues, some of them open 24 hours a day, attract players of all ages.

"Visiting a claw machine shop is like escaping," said Hiu-ching, a 28-year-old radiographer who became so enthralled with the game that she decided to rent a machine and operate her own stall.

"I can't resist playing the claw machine all the time. Because I lack skill, I usually play the claw

machine with a lucky draw, which is similar to rolling dice."

Some players are happy with any prize, while others are enticed by the possible resale value of some of the rare collectibles on offer.

Every month, Jerry and Parco meet to play claw machines together, something they have been doing since last year. Parco said he once spent more than HK$4,000 (£380) playing claw machines floor by floor at the Dragon Centre, a small arcade in Hong Kong's Sham Shui Po district.

To most, claw machines are a bit of fun but there are concerns about people spending too much time on them. In May, the home and youth affairs bureau proposed stricter regulations, including displaying addiction risk warnings.

A 2022 court ruling exempted claw machines from public entertainment licences, leaving them unregulated.

Some serious claw machine players have gripes with operators,

Indian court sentences journalist to 10 years for rape of colleague

Agence France-Presse Mumbai

A court yesterday jailed the former editor of a news magazine for raping a junior colleague, overturning his acquittal in a case that gripped India.

Tarun Tejpal, 63, committed the sexual assault in the lift of a five-star hotel in the western coastal state of Goa during an event in November 2013. He was arrested and spent seven months in jail until the supreme court granted him bail.

In 2021, a court in Goa acquitted Tejpal of a series of charges that included rape, sexual harassment and wrongful restraint.

But the government of Goa challenged the acquittal at the high

court in Mumbai, which yesterday set aside the lower court's verdict.

"He has been convicted to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. He has been given two weeks to surrender," said Sunita Sawant, the police investigator who led the case.

The high court also ordered Tejpal, who founded the investigative magazine Tehelka in 2000, to pay a £3,900 penalty.

Tejpal said he would challenge the conviction in the supreme court.

He had initially blamed the assault on "a lapse of judgment" but later alleged the case against him was part of a vendetta by the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government in Goa.

"For the past 13 years, they have been pursuing me as a part of a political vendetta," he claimed. But

Sawant told reporters: "This is a sentence where a girl has stood up for her rights ... so this judgment is very important for women who are working in any sector."

The case emerged at a time when sexual assault cases were under intense scrutiny after the gang-rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus in December 2012.

That attack triggered nationwide protests and international outrage, and prompted the government to strengthen the country's rape laws.

Tejpal's case severely damaged the authority and credibility of Tehelka, which has championed women's rights and social justice.

The news magazine is operating under new leadership but has failed to regain the influence it enjoyed before the 2013 rape case.

Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland

Korean police raid Starbucks in row over ads

Associated Press Seoul

South Korean police have raided the headquarters of Starbucks Korea as part of an investigation into a marketing campaign that has been accused of trivialising the country's 1980s pro-democracy movement.

Investigators searched the building in southern Seoul on Tuesday, police said on Wednesday.

No further details were released, although local media reported that police officers had also searched the homes of the Starbucks Korea executives. The coffee chain caused a public outcry after launching a range

'Young people! are under a lot of pressure, and this is a stress-relieving activity'

Ki Kwong Claw machine owner

claiming they use bamboo toothpicks and needles, as well as plastic and metal strips, to narrow the hole and slow down the machine's crane, making it harder for people to win.

"As someone who loves to play claw machines, I am quite unhappy about the current trend, as there are many ways to narrow or seal the hole," said Parco.

Hong Kong's consumer council has said complaints about claw machines surged from 16 in 2023 to 138 last year, with players alleging operators altered settings to lower the odds of winning.

But for many Hongkongers, claw machines are a cheap way to relieve stress. Ming Lee, a 38-year-old school cleaner, plays claw machines to relax. She has collected about 100 plushie toys from playing the machines over the past two years. "It's the thrill of successfully grabbing a prize that attracts me," she said.

Ki Kwong, a 25-year-old kitchen worker and a claw machine owner, said playing the machines was "a joy". A message placed on one of his machines filled with plushies reads: "Remember to be happy."

He also gives away the plushies he wins to his customers, if they do not win themselves.

"After playing claw machines for so long, I want to share with others ... I want to let people experience that playing the claw machine is not a pressure but a joy."

Kwong sees claw machines as a way to connect with young people: "The current youth suicide rate in Hong Kong is high," he says. "They are under a lot of pressure, and this is a stress-relieving activity, so I believe I can do more."

of stainless steel reusable tumblers it called "SS Tank" and declared 18 May "Tank Day". The date is the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju uprising, when demonstrators were brutally suppressed by South Korea's then military-backed government.

The campaign slogan "Thwack it on the table!" was viewed by some as a reference to a 1987 police claim that the student activist Park Jong-chul died when an investigator simply "hit the desk with a thwack", concealing that died during interrogation.

The outrage against Starbucks prompted Shinseae Group, which owns a 67.5% stake in Starbucks Korea, to cancel the promotion and dismiss the firm's chief executive.

South Korea's transition to democracy gained momentum in 1987, when the authoritarian president Chun Doo-hwan, whose government had overseen the Gwangju crackdown, accepted constitutional reforms introducing direct presidential elections after months of protests.

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Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor: How to resist end times fascism

The governing ideology of the far right has become a monstrous, supremacist survivalism. How do we build a movement strong enough to stop them?

Join Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor as they take us deep into this man-made Armageddon complex and reveal powerful possibilities for resistance, as explored in their blistering and hopeful new book, End Times Fascism: And the Fight for the Living World.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from Klein and Taylor on how we can collectively counter this apocalyptic narrative with a far better story. A story not of end times, but of better times; not of separation and supremacy, but of belonging and interdependence.

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Diageo will double Guinness production but cut workforce

Rob Davies

Diageo's new chief executive has unveiled plans to nearly double Guinness production while cutting a "significant" proportion of its 30,000-strong workforce, in a strategic overhaul worthy of his nickname, "Drastic" Dave Lewis.

Shares in Diageo bounced yesterday as the former Tesco boss faced down the first big test of his time in the job, after being parachuted in last November to revive the flagging fortunes of the UK-based drinks firm.

Speaking after the company announced a decline in sales but slightly better-than-expected operating profit, Lewis said his turnaround plan would involve job cuts, adding that the "consequences of that are not great for anybody".

But he added: "Nobody [inside the company] is saying to me that this is the wrong thing to do."

High streets wilt as summer heatwaves drive shoppers to buy online

Sarah Butler

Shoppers stayed away from UK high streets during last month's heatwave temperatures, with many choosing to buy online instead as the mercury in some areas rose into the mid-30Cs.

Trips to high streets were down by 3.8% year on year in July after a 6.2% fall in June, according to research from the firm Sensormatic for the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

Visitors to shopping centres also declined, but those at retail parks returned to growth, with a 2.1% overall decrease in numbers attending all shopping destinations against the same month last year.

Helen Dickinson, the BRC chief executive, said: "The heatwave continued to bear down on retail footfall in July, with high streets worst affected. London was hit particularly hard as soaring temperatures made tube and train travel less attractive, with some commuters and shoppers opting to stay home."

The capital had 5.3% fewer shoppers last month compared with 3% across England. There were increases

Lewis declined to give a figure for the expected reduction in the company's worldwide headcount. However, Diageo has told investors it expects to incur $514m (£382m) in charges relating to employee severance, and Lewis said he had discovered "massive" duplication in roles since becoming chief executive.

Lewis, who earned the "Drastic Dave" nickname in the City for his cost-cutting zeal, promised to deliver $1bn of annual savings over two years through a restructuring that would cost $1.2bn and was aimed at making the company more agile.

While this will involve slashing jobs, Lewis vowed to harness the seemingly unstoppable popularity of Guinness around the world.

A $1bn investment in the brand is aimed at increasing global sales, particularly in North America, and helping the company avoid a repeat of shortages reported in the UK in recent years, including during the important festive period.

"We're going to double the capacity of Guinness during the course of this plan [by 2031]," Lewis said, adding that the future of the brand was "very bright".

Production capacity is slated to increase from 8.2m hectolitres today to 15.7m by 2031, an increase equivalent to 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools a year.

In the months after his appointment, some City pundits speculated that he might take the radical step of selling Guinness to raise up to £8bn. The company moved quickly to quash any suggestion it would sell its best-performing big brand.

Diageo was not actively seeking to sell its poorer-performing brands, Lewis said.

300

The number of Olympic-sized pools that could be filled with the extra Guinness to be produced each year

Over the past decade, the company has focused on "premiumisation", banking on discerning drinkers choosing upmarket brands. That strategy has left Diageo with an overloaded stable of expensive labels just as cash-strapped consumers stopped drinking from the top shelf.

Lewis said Diageo would not be "hawking our brands" and was not looking to buy assets either, but would focus more on a broader portfolio, including mid-market brands and smaller pack sizes that were likely to suit cost-conscious drinkers.

He also promised to address Diageo's failure to cash in on the so-called ready-to-drink category, such as premade cocktails or "gin in a tin". Lewis added: "We're just going to roll our sleeves up and get on with our own business."

Shares in Diageo rose by more than 6% in afternoon trading, indicating early contentment among investors of the turnaround plan.

The company said yesterday that annual pre-tax profit fell by 26%, from $3.5bn to $2.6bn, after it booked in $900m in restructuring charges and a $1.5bn hit, largely related to its Turkish business.

Without the one-off impact and other charges such as debt interest, operating profit was slightly ahead of analysts' forecasts at $5.7bn.

EasyJet agrees to £5.7bn takeover from US private equity firm

Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent

EasyJet has formally agreed to a £5.7bn takeover from US private equity firm Apollo Global Management after a rival bidder, Castlelake, said it would no longer pursue its attempted acquisition.

Yesterday's decision means the deal will go through at £7.15 a share, which Apollo tabled last month after easyJet had recommended a sale to Castlelake. The formal agreement came 24 hours before a deadline set for both parties to submit a final offer, but Castlelake declined to enter a bidding war. Under the agreement, the airline's founder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, and his family will retain their shareholding, currently about 15%, in the new structure.

Shareholders have been offered the opportunity to either sell or transfer, up to a maximum of 49.9%. An "EU Trust" shareholding group will retain up to 5%, a structure that appears designed to comply with the European Union's foreign ownership rules for airlines, with Apollo limited to 49.9%. The takeover is expected to complete by the end of March 2027.

Apollo, which has committed to retaining easyJet's UK and EU head offices, has indicated it would back the airline's current strategy and support it in generating long-term, sustainable growth.

Alex van Hoek, the US firm's European private equity lead, said: "EasyJet is a leader in European aviation, having built a differentiated market position through its compelling customer proposition, expansive network and strong brand. Apollo strongly supports easyJet's commitment to enhancing the connectivity of travellers throughout Europe and the UK and the important role that its employees play."

Stephen Hester, the airline's chair, said: "The easyJet board has carefully evaluated the proposal from Apollo alongside easyJet's stand-alone prospects ... we believe this offer appropriately recognises the quality of the business we have built and delivers immediate, certain and attractive value for shareholders."

Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's chief executive, said: "We welcome Apollo's commitment to our business and our people, and believe that its experience in the aviation sector makes it a strong partner for easyJet."

EasyJet's share price, which dropped 10% on news of Castlelake's exit, rebounded to 3% up from the start of yesterday.

▲ Shoppers in Liverpool try to keep cool in late June. High street visits fell by 6.2% that month PHOTOGRAPH: CHRISTOPHER THOMSON/THE GUARDAN

of 2.7% in Scotland and 2.5% in Northern Ireland and flat footfall in Wales, where the weather was less intense.

Dickinson said: "Climate change continues to deliver more and more extreme temperatures in the UK. Retailers are responding by investing in mitigations - such as more air conditioning and more efficient refrigeration units - and in

sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

"Unfortunately, business rates often punish stores for such investments, showing the need for government to look again at this broken system."

The figures highlight the potentially differing fortunes of retailers during the hot spell, with those more reliant on physical stores suffering.

On Wednesday, the fashion and homewares retailer Next upgraded its profit guidance for the third time this year, saying it had benefited

from sunny weather and the release of some "pent-up demand" in the 13 weeks to 1 August.

Fashion is expected to be one of the winners in retail this summer, along with supermarkets and technology sellers as people bought cold food and drink, fans and air-conditioning to cope with the heat.

Furniture and garden plants are among the losers, with the former under pressure from the cost of living and slow housing market while fewer plants have been planted because of the extreme heat and dry weather.

---

32

Business

Persimmon increases housebuilding forecast amid 'Burnham bounce'

Kalyena Makortoff

The UK housebuilder Persimmon has lifted its outlook for the full year, saying it is 'well placed' to benefit from the prime minister Andy Burnham's policy agenda, despite growing costs linked to the Iran war.

As confidence rises across the housebuilding sector, Persimmon plans to complete 12,500 new homes by year-end, which would be at the upper reach of its previous guidance.

The housebuilder is now hoping to benefit from Burnham's policy programme, including plans to increase housing and slash costs for cash-strapped consumers.

'Persimmon remains well placed to drive further growth through our unique set of capabilities,' the company said. 'The UK housing market continues to experience both a long-term undersupply of housing and affordability challenges for new

homeowners, which is a key focus for the new government.

'As the most cost-efficient national housebuilder, with a clear focus on customer value and affordability, a growing land pipeline and expanding outlet network, we are well-placed to respond.'

The FTSE 100 company told investors that pre-tax profits were up 15% for the first six months of the year to £168m, after a 13% rise in the number of homes built over the same period despite 'challenging' market conditions, a rise in building costs, and with many people still struggling to afford homes.

Persimmon added that cost pressures were likely to increase in the coming months. 'We expect additional inflationary pressure in 2027 as a result of the conflict in the Middle East,' it said in a market update.

However, the housebuilder said that even its own focus on low costs and its efforts to make the business more efficient might not be enough to

▲ The company plans to complete 12,500 new homes by the end of the year as confidence rises in the sector PHOTOGRAPH: JASON ALDEN/BLOOMBERG/GETTY

'Persimmon remains well placed to drive further growth through our unique set of capabilities'

Persimmon Market update

fully offset inflation. 'We have taken additional management actions to secure further cost savings, including identifying procurement savings, specification optimisation, house-type design, overhead savings and operational efficiencies,' the company added.

Optimism across the UK construction sector rose last month, according to data from S&P Global yesterday.

The data and analytics company found that 'hopes of a rebound in domestic economic conditions and signs of an improved near-term outlook for customer demand' had lifted builders' confidence.

However, output across the sector fell again in July, but at the slowest rate in four months, with housebuilding, commercial construction and civil engineering all recording a smaller drop in activity than in June.

'July data suggests that the performance of UK construction sector has started to stabilise after a sharp downturn throughout the second quarter of 2026,' said Tim Moore, the economics director of S&P Global Market Intelligence.

'Business activity levels continued to decline in all three main categories, but in each case the rate of contraction was much slower than in June. This was supported by the weakest reduction in new business intakes since September 2025.'

Burnham has put Britain's housing crisis at the centre of his domestic agenda, promising to oversee the 'biggest council housebuilding programme since the postwar period'.

Economists have said geopolitical uncertainty, economic conditions and high borrowing costs are all dampening the housebuilding sector.

Carly Thorpe, a construction and engineering partner at the law firm Walker Morris, said the sector also continued to face structural barriers. 'Delays in Building Safety Regulator gateway approvals are slowing project delivery, while persistent skills shortages are placing pressure on capacity, costs and timescales.'

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Business

'I'm not spying'

Are Meta glasses life-changing or a dystopian horror?

Nicola Slawson Rosie Peters-McDonald

With more than 7m pairs reportedly sold in 2025, Meta's Ray-Ban smartglasses are fast becoming one of the world's most popular gadgets.

While supporters say they are transforming photography and accessibility, critics have raised concerns about nonconsensual filming, privacy and data collection. We spoke to users, and people who refuse to wear them, about the impact they have had.

'It's not like I'm spying'

Based in The Hague in the Netherlands, Servaas wears his Meta glasses every day. He bought them for the built-in camera rather than the AI features and uses them to photograph and film walks and bike rides. 'It's an immersive experience,' he says. 'I love everything tech.'

He says the discreet camera means most people don't realise he is wearing smartglasses, although he was once stopped by security at an event held in a government building because staff feared he might be recording. 'For some reason, security didn't understand. They were very scared of [the glasses]. People said I should have expected that but I didn't agree with them. It's not like I'm spying.'

Despite claims that Meta workers in Kenya viewed private footage recorded on the glasses, Servaas was not put off. 'I know Meta loves your data [but] I'm not worried about my privacy because I've only used them to record outside.'

Nintendo's profits surge by 54% after Trump tariff refunds

Kalyena Makortoff

Nintendo has reported a jump in profits, with its earnings buoyed up by a long-awaited refund on Donald Trump's 'liberation day' tariffs.

The Japanese game maker said profits surged 53.5% to 147.4bn yen (£694m) over the three months to June, substantially beating expert

'A real gamechanger'

For others, however, the glasses offer far more than convenience. Nikki, 59, from Devon, has been blind since birth owing to an inherited retinal disease and calls the glasses, received as a Christmas present, 'a real gamechanger'.

'I live in quite a rural location,' she says. 'I could hear something going on ahead of me as I was walking down to the village shop. I said: 'Hey Meta, look and tell me what's in front of me.' It told me there was a van unloading scaffolding. It's things like that that I find absolutely amazing.'

While she understands concerns about privacy, Nikki worries public criticism could make the technology less accessible for people who genuinely rely on it.

'I kind of worry that if people start going on about privacy and safety, it will be harder for those of us who genuinely benefit from the glasses,' she says.

'The caption feature just doesn't work'

Karen Walter, 84, from San Diego, who has had severe hearing loss for more than 20 years, bought them solely for their live-caption feature.

▲ A demonstration event for Meta's Ray-Ban smartglasses, more than 7m of which were sold last year

'I saw someone wearing them in a cafe and just moved away because I felt uncomfortable'

Kiki West Midlands

the court ruling - about 60% of the total it had collected.

Trump is continuing to pitch tariffs as a way to revive domestic production, secure better trade deals and close the deficit in the federal budget.

Nintendo's Tokyo-listed shares were up 2.87% yesterday after the earnings release.

The company filed a lawsuit weeks after the US supreme court ruling, demanding a full refund from the White House that would cover what it spent on tariffs, plus interest.

While a refund now appears to have come through, Nintendo stopped short of confirming the full amount, at a time when it appears to

'Even with state-of-the-art hearing aids, I have a great deal of difficulty understanding what people are saying unless the person is very close to me and speaking directly to me,' she says. 'I expected [the glasses] would be a great help in noisy environments and when I was trying to keep up with conversations.'

The live captions worked well during a demonstration in a quiet Best Buy store, she says.

'But I have tried the glasses when in a group of three up to a group of seven and the caption feature just doesn't work.'

'They've made me much more wary in public'

Not everyone is convinced the technology belongs in everyday life at all. Kiki, from the West Midlands, says seeing people wearing the hi-tech glasses in public has left her feeling uneasy.

'When someone's just looking at you through their glasses, it worries me,' she says. 'I imagine taking images secretly is far easier [than on phones]. You could just pretend to adjust your hair or cap, and press the button in a passing gesture. I've seen people wearing them. I saw someone wearing them in a cafe and just moved away because I felt uncomfortable.'

Although she accepts the technology could have genuine benefits, Kiki says her concern is more about the lack of safeguards. 'For accessibility, absolutely,' she says. 'But what bothers me is regulations often lag so far behind technology.'

'They have made me much more wary in public,' she says. 'I can, however, see that people working in a shop late at night by themselves might feel safer being able to take a picture of someone harassing them.'

'I just don't trust it'

Pete, 44, from Northampton, believes the glasses point to a broader problem: AI-powered wearables collecting ever more personal data with too little scrutiny or regulation.

'I'm not an old man shaking my fist at the clouds,' he says. 'I've been onboard with technological advancement all my life, but with AI and Meta glasses, I'm drawing the line.' He is more concerned about where the data ends up than covert filming. 'I don't know who's getting the pictures at the end and what they're doing with them.'

be resisting calls to pass the refunds on to its customers.

Nintendo was hit with a class action lawsuit last month on behalf of customers, which says the company raised its prices because of tariffs but later benefited from the refunds.

Nintendo's lawyers described the lawsuit as 'meritless' because the price customers paid represented 'the purchase price of the goods they wanted and received'.

Trump last month imposed fresh tariffs on more than 80 countries, including Japan. However, a coalition of 25 US states is suing the White House over the levies, potentially opening the door to more refunds.

▲ Yoshi and the Mysterious Book was a steady seller on Switch 2

forecasts for 77.8bn yen. Nintendo said sales of its Switch 2 console, which was released last summer, maintained strong momentum while the games Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Star Fox, and Pokémon Pokopia performed steadily.

However, that did not make up for an overall drop in sales compared with the same period last year, with revenue down by 10% to 517.8bn yen.

Nintendo said profits were boosted by a refund on tariffs after the US supreme court ruled in February that President Trump's sweeping trade levies were illegal.

The US has refunded about $100bn (£74bn) of the tariffs charged before

▼ Mark Zuckerberg, the Meta chief executive, with the fashion stylist Tina Leung at a Meta smartglasses launch party in New York this year

3

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15

Weather

Friday 7 August 2026

UK and Ireland Noon today

Forecast

Atlantic front

• Cold front
• Warm front
• Occluded front
• Trough

High tides

Aberdeen	0712	3.7m	2004	3.5m
Avonmouth	0024	10.8m	1252	10.4m
Barrow	0504	7.8m	1739	7.4m
Belfast	0439	3.1m	1729	3.0m
Cobb	1118	3.5m	2156	3.4m
Cromer	0009	4.1m	1218	4.4m
Dover	0428	5.6m	1707	5.7m
Dublin	0524	3.6m	1809	3.4m
Galway	1120	4.1m	2358	4.0m
Greenock	0540	3.0m	1808	3.0m
Hornich	0530	3.4m	1739	3.4m
Hollywood	0355	4.8m	1641	4.5m
Hull	--	--	1208	6.4m
Leith	0821	4.8m	2113	4.6m
Liverpool	0434	8.1m	1715	7.7m

London Bridge	0718	5.9m	1944	6.2m
Lossiemouth	0521	3.5m	1808	3.3m
Milford Haven	--	--	1203	5.6m
Newquay	1101	5.4m	2345	5.4m
North Shields	0914	4.4m	2207	4.1m
Oban	--	--	1128	3.0m
Penzance	1028	4.5m	2308	4.5m
Plymouth	--	--	1133	4.5m
Portsmouth	0513	4.0m	1753	4.1m
Southport	0347	7.8m	1621	7.4m
Stornoway	0041	3.9m	1337	3.7m
Portland	--	--	1223	1.4m
Whitby	0945	4.8m	2239	4.5m
Wick	0455	3.0m	1746	2.8m
Workington	0503	7.0m	1741	6.7m

Sun & Moon

Lighting up

Belfast	2114 to 0548
Bow/bam	2048 to 0538
Brighton	2036 to 0537
Bristol	2048 to 0546
Carlisle	2102 to 0533
Cork	2113 to 0607
Dublin	2110 to 0553
Glasgow	2112 to 0536
Hartnich	2059 to 0546
Inverness	2118 to 0527
London	2038 to 0534
M'chester	2054 to 0537
Newcastle	2058 to 0528
Norwich	2037 to 0525
Penzance	2055 to 0601

Pollutionwatch

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology have been tracking wildfire smoke arriving in the UK. They found that wildfires, some on the other side of the globe, are responsible for about 10% of the country's particle pollution.

Damaris Tan from the University of Edinburgh said: "While wildfires may not impact air pollution in the UK as acutely as other countries, wildfires globally add to the UK population's long-term health burden." She added: "Time lags on the scale of months are possible. It depends on the location of the wildfires relative to the UK and the meteorology, but it took over three months for the effects of 2018 wildfires to become negligible to 2019 concentrations in the UK."

In 2019, almost half the wildfire pollution in the UK came from fires in Russia arriving on winds from the east and also from the west via circulation around the globe. Canadian fires dominated in 2023, setting a pattern for the next two years. The smoke from wildfires reacts chemically with our local pollution to produce even more particles. In some cases, these chemical reactions can double the amount of wildfire particles that we breathe. Gary Fuller

Around the world

Algiers	13	Lichon	15
Amel'dom	14	Madrid	15
Athens	14	Malaga	16
Auckland	12	Metf'me	17
B-Aries	13	Mexico C	21
Bangkok	13	Miami	22
Barcelona	13	Milan	23
Basra	10	Montbasa	25
Beijing	17	Moscow	26
Berlin	10	Mumbai	27
Bermuda	10	N Orleans	28
Brussels	10	Nairobi	29
Budapest	13	New Delhi	30
C'Rogers	20	New York	31
Cairo	20	Oslo	32
Cape Town	20	Paris	33
Chicago	20	Perth	34
Corfu	20	Prague	35
Dakar	13	Reykjavik	36
Dhaka	23	Rie de J	37
Dublin	22	Rome	38
Florence	19	Shanghai	39
Gibraltar	27	Singapore	40
H'Kong	19	Stockh'm	41
Harare	14	Stradly	42
Ivtsinkiv	11	Sydney	43
Istanbul	11	Tel Aviv	44
Jo'burg	11	Tenerife	45
K'Lompur	19	Tokyo	46
K'manda	26	Toronto	47
Kabul	22	Vancouver	48
Kingston	24	Vienna	49
Kolkata	10	Warsaw	50
Langdas	10	Wash'ton	51
Lagos	20	Welt'ton	52
Lima	25	Zurich	53

---

18

Sport

Rugby union Springboks and All Blacks set for 'Greatest Rivalry'

Page 38 →

Athletics

West Ham deal clears way for London 2029 bid

Page 38 →

▲ Saltburn Cricket Club found itself at the eye of an online storm after apparent chicanery in the slips was caught on camera GARY CALFON/THE GUARDIAN

Catching everything From Clicky Ponting to viral blunders - the new era of amateur cricket livestreams

James Wallace

'Monday to Friday, people are sharing the content,' says Rob Knee, chief executive of the cricket livestreaming company FrogBox. You can say that again. The story and accompanying footage of Brian Devine's apparent finger-clicking chicanery went around the world last week.

When Piers Morgan and Mike Brearley are wading into the discourse to give you a kicking on social media and a ticking off in the Sunday Times respectively, it is probably a sign things have got a bit out of hand. 'We'd much rather see some outstanding catches, centuries and sixes being the cause of those viral moments,' Knee says from Melbourne with the 'Clicky Ponting' saga still rumbling.

Saltburn are one of 1,850 clubs, mainly in the UK and Australia, who have bought a livestreaming kit from the Australia-based company. As well as Cricket Australia, Cricket Scotland and Netherlands Cricket, FrogBox partners with the England and Wales Cricket Board. 'We have access to their live scoring data, that then powers the on-screen graphics and also allows us to automate highlights.'

Knee says FrogBox is expanding. They have posted more than three million cricket clips online and their kits (RRP £2,380) have sold out this year. They are already taking pre-orders for next season. Clubs have used their footage to secure sponsorships and funding and it is this, and the heartwarming side to livestreaming, Knee is keen to focus on,

pointing out that parents can now have their child's first run or wicket captured. Special moments such as hat-tricks and centuries live on not just in memory, but as a permanent memento.

'When you are streaming over 1,000 games a weekend that is a potential quarter of a million highlights every single week. One of our first viral moments was a player whose day job is a taxi driver and he ended up smashing a six into his own cab. Thankfully, the clips that tend to do well are positive.'

Nevertheless, the livestreaming of amateur cricket matches throws up some thorny issues about what constitutes a private and a public space. 'We're the technology provider, but we require the clubs, and we presume it happens, [to make sure] everyone is aware the match is being streamed.'

'The cameras have got pretty good audio and it's [about] making sure people know they can be heard as well. The clubs can make decisions on how public the streams are, so they can also determine them to be unlisted.'

'It is hard to shake the prevailing thought that the Saltburn story would slot perfectly into Jon Ronson's 2015 book So You've Been Publicly Shamed about the cruelty of social media and its insatiable thirst for a mass puritanical pile-on. Who among us can honestly say they haven't done something soul-crushingly embarrassing or bewilderingly out of character on the field of play, in the heat of the moment?'

More widely, isn't one of the joys of playing cricket the escapism it offers? The eight or so hours where the outside world drifts away, your phone is stuffed in your shoe back in the pavilion and real life can't get you. Knee laughs as I put this to him, responding that he believes FrogBox adds to this sanctity as it ensures those special individual and team moments that happen on a weekly basis are preserved.

'Of course you get the odd player who gets given out and is immediately ripping off the pads and rewatching their decision, but our founding principles were much more guided by building cricket communities and fan engagement. Certainly that was our angle.'

'Other companies come from more of a high performance and analytics world, but ours was always more about connection. That parents, family and friends who can't be at the game can still feel part of it.'

'We also thought about the second and third XIs who don't always get to watch the first XI play. They train with them, but they never get to see them in action and vice versa. The various sides are then able to consume the other games, watch it from an away ground and so on. That creates a lot more of that kind of special camaraderie at clubs.'

As well as the highs, the lows are captured too. Has Knee played in a FrogBox-streamed game? 'I don't play so much any more, but certainly the local side I play for has FrogBox and I've been streamed doing some horrific things, getting out to very poor balls and all that type of stuff. It always gets a decent laugh around the place.'

Professional cricket is being commodified wherever you look. It fits that this bleeds into the amateur game. One thing Knee says lingers long after our conversation. 'There is a saying going around, that if it didn't happen on FrogBox did it even happen?'

As much as Knee can point to how the livestreaming of the amateur game can bring clubs together and capture golden moments for posterity it is hard to shake the sense that as some things are gained, others perhaps are lost.

'Look in the book,' the cricketing adage goes. How long before this is replaced by 'Check the streams'? All too soon for Brian Devine.

---

Sport^{}[] potential

17

Cox, Pope and Lawrence get Test recalls

● Continued from back page

final one-day international against India last month, is clearly a serious one, even if North could not provide more details.

Another potential curveball is Ollie Robinson and his partner awaiting the birth of their first child in 'the next seven to 10 days'. Robinson took seven wickets in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's in June before sitting out of the remainder of the series. His cricket since amounts to three white-ball outings for Sussex.

North stressed that while the panel are always looking to the future - Cox at first-drop in his second Test outing is the rookie by way of caps - this was a squad selected for the here and now. After six defeats in their past eight Tests, England urgently need to get back to winning ways.

Not that this urgency means Stephen Fleming will start his new job as Test head coach straight away. Marcus Trescothick will perform the role against Pakistan with reports that Fleming has approached Mike Hussey about becoming the team's batting coach - the discipline Trescothick oversaw under Brendon McCullum.

But Fleming, North said, has been involved in 'many lengthy conversations' leading into this selection and it would be 'contradictory' not to reflect his vision for the side. This may not be outlined publicly until Fleming arrives in the UK next month, however, something one suspects Root wishes came sooner.

In terms of his teammates, there is a shortage of experience for Root to call on for advice during trickier moments on the field. Beyond Harry Brook, who was overlooked for the captain's but is expected to be Root's deputy, Ben Duckett is the only other seasoned consignees with more than 25 caps.

To that end, Ollie Pope returns as a reserve batter. Pope can cover most top-seven spots and keep wicket if Smith goes down injured on the morning of a game. But the recall also owes plenty to 64 caps, including five as a stand-in captain, and his knowledgeable team-first outlook in the dressing room.

Beyond Fleming's delayed arrival on the loss of Stokes, spin may well be Root's biggest headache in the coming weeks. For all the investment in Bashir these past two years, it says plenty that England are intending to use two part-timers at the back end of what has been the driest summer for decades.

England Test squad

Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), Jofra Archer (Saxon), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shaab Bashir (Berlighshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carve (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Ben Duckett (Nottingham), Matthew Fisher (Surrey), Emilio Gay (Durham), Stan Lawrence (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Saxon), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottingham)

'Community spaces are being taken away': campaigners rail at rise of pay-to-play padel courts

Plans to convert skateparks, play areas and basketball courts in favour of booming sport have fuelled anger and fears of gentrification, writes Joe Pinner

A iwa Saito and her children are among the many families who were regulars at Barking Skatepark. But after they skated here for more than five years, London's only full-size indoor skatepark closed on Sunday - to be replaced with padel courts.

Padel is one of the UK's fastest-growing sports, according to the Lawn Tennis Association, and the plan to convert Barking Skatepark is the latest in a series of proposals across London. However, some plans that have sought to build pay-to-play padel courts on top of existing spaces have angered residents and sparked claims of 'gentrification' and community displacement.

Saito no longer feels she has a safe, indoor space in the capital to take her kids skating. 'Outdoor skateparks aren't safe for children, particularly teenage girls,' she says.

'Parents already tell their girls: 'You have to be really careful when you go skateboarding, which park you go to. It's not safe.' And to take that away, with no alternative, is unacceptable.'

Saito has high hopes for her 11-year-old daughter, Toko, who is on Skateboard GB's talent pathway programme and hopes to one day compete internationally. But after the closure of Barking Skatepark, Saito worries if she will be able to keep Toko's ambition alive. 'To make her dreams come true, we

need the right facilities,' she says. 'Without an indoor park, on a wet weekend in winter, where do we go? Where can she train?'

It is not just parents of aspiring Olympians who worry about the closure. 'It's important to the local community,' says Eleanor Dunlop, who led the campaign to save the venue. 'Parents come here to socialise, they bring their kids to be active. Barking and Dagenham is one of the most deprived parts of the country, and people really need this space to be accessible. I've seen panic in people's faces when I told them that it could close, because they're saying: 'Where am I going to take my kids?''

The council says that while it owns the freehold on the site, the skatepark (and wider sports complex) is run independently by a charity, GLL, which has the right to determine what sports it offers. Barking and Dagenham Council argues: 'GLL has advised that the skatepark has been operating at a financial loss for a number of years and that it intends to replace it with indoor padel courts. It should be noted that equipment from Barking Skatepark has been distributed to skateparks in the wider area, and will be enjoyed by skateboarders for years to come.'

Part of the backlash to the 'padel boom' among local residents can be explained by the cost of playing the sport, which at an average of £51 an hour for a court in London according to the racket sports app Playroom, means that many feel they will not be the ones to benefit from new facilities. 'It's so expensive, it just feels exclusive,' Dunlop says.

The price and popularity of padel has attracted investors and private equity firms to build lucrative courts and clubs. According to LTA figures, in the past seven years

alone the number of padel courts in the UK has increased by more than 2,500's, from 68 in 2019 to more than 1,800 today.

Saito says that before taking up skating, her daughter used to attend a community gymnastics centre in Beckton. That was until the building, a designated 'asset of community value', was sold to a developer and converted into a private padel club - despite local opposition and an online petition signed by almost 10,000 people.

'One of her two sports was already taken away because of padel,' she says, explaining that while the gymnastics club moved to Newham Leisure Centre, the facilities were not as specialised as those at Beckton and her daughter's friends all dispersed. 'Now her

'We need the right facilities. Without an indoor park on a wet weekend in winter, where do we go?'

▲ Campaigners have demanded the court at Bethnal Green be removed

main sport is going to be taken away. It just feels crazy.'

In Bethnal Green, meanwhile, the local council installed a £24-an-hour, pay-to-play padel court in the middle of an open, multi-use area shared by people freely roller-skating, playing basketball and skateboarding.

'Being able to spontaneously come and go from a space like this, means one less financial restriction on how we use our free time - which in today's world is already inhibited by just how expensive everything is,' says the campaigner Lillie Almond, who is fighting to remove the padel court.

'The padel court has obviously changed who's now using this space, and how,' she adds. 'This all results in the removal of culturally rich, diverse, long-standing communities - who are replaced with padel players.'

In Camden, councillor Hamza Chowdhury campaigned to stop a free children's sandpit and play area being bulldozed to make way for padel courts. After more than a year of protests, the £2m proposal was rejected last week.

'If the goal was to get more people active, why not invest in a free, all-weather basketball or football court?' says Chowdhury. 'Growing sport should never come at the cost of shrinking free public space. We should be adding to our communities, not taking away from them.'

Oli Mould, professor of social, cultural and historical geography at Royal Holloway, University of London, says the plans in Camden, Bethnal Green and Barking reflect a broader pattern of rising gentrification across London.

'Gentrification is about the restriction of land,' he says. 'What's happening is people taking land away and putting a physical barrier around it - so it can be given to people who will pay. Any time that happens, that is gentrification.'

Though Barking Skatepark closed on Sunday, Dunlop and her fellow campaigners are still fighting to halt construction. With backing from the local MP, Nesil Caliskan, and Skateboard GB, the sport's national governing body, as well as an online petition that has more than 4,500 signatures, she hopes they can stop the development, as Chowdhury did in Camden.

'Not listening to people who occupy a space, and then going in and changing it, is gentrification,' Dunlop says. 'I can't comment on padel as a sport, whether I like it or not. I just don't believe that it should displace the people who are already there. Having community spaces is so important - and they're being taken away.'

A spokesperson for Tower Hamlets Council said the padel court at Bethnal Green Gardens is part of a trial using one out of five multi-use areas available. 'The trial supports our work to increase access to a wider range of sports and improve the health and wellbeing of our residents,' they said.

GLL and Camden Council have been approached for comment.

---

18

Sport Rugby union

Springboks and All Blacks

united in common purpose

Throwback series rekindles fond memories, but focus is very much on financial realities of modern game

Gerard Meagher

Just in case you were unaware that the series between South Africa and New Zealand, styled as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry (RGR), is a "tour like no other", the Springboks have just unveiled a jersey to prove it. "A jersey like no other" to be worn four times and then consigned to history.

The RGR, though, kicks off with a looming legal battle in South Africa in the background over the series' commercial identity and the unauthorised use of its branding. And you thought sporting romance was dead.

Enough of the cynicism. The series promises to be a blockbuster. It is a throwback, with New Zealand's men facing four matches against provincial sides, starting with the Stormers in Cape Town today, as well as four Tests against the Springboks, with the first on 22 August. The countries' women's sides also face each other in a one- off Test.

The series has further allure in just how rare tours such as this are these days. Add in the fact that the rugby calendar is pretty much barren at the moment and a series between the two best sides in the world is enough to quicken the pulse.

It is the first of its kind by New Zealand since 1996 - an unforgettable tour and the first won by the All Blacks on South African soil - a year after their World Cup final defeat at Ellis Park. The marketing departments have wasted no opportunity, to impressive effect, in evoking the history of this particular series, which dates back to 1921. Even the name is designed to do just that.

What it means for the future Test landscape is just as fascinating. RGR comes a few weeks after the launch of the inaugural Nations Championship - a competition that

has effectively brought an end to traditional tours, certainly those made by northern hemisphere sides heading south.

The key exception remains the British & Irish Lions and it was instructive to hear Mark Alexander, president of the South African union, say he believes RGR can eclipse even those quadrennial tours. All the more so because the Lions are having their heads turned by advances from, among others, France and the lucrative potential of moving away from their traditional destinations. Should they do so, it would be financially catastrophic for South Africa,

New Zealand and Australia, so it stands to reason they would seek to diversify revenue streams.

If RGR puts the launch of the Nations Championship in the shade somewhat - the Springboks' head coach, Rassie Erasmus, has barely tried to conceal which he has prioritised and opinion among the players would be pretty unanimous - South Africa and New Zealand have left Australia and Argentina hanging, too. There is no Rugby Championship this year, which feels like a mistake after the thrilling 2025 edition and, viewed through the lens of the Wallabies and Pumas. RGR seems a selfish move.

That said, who can really blame South Africa and New Zealand? They have won the past five World Cups between them and, unlike

▼ South Africa and New Zealand share a long and rich rivalry TOM JENKINS/THE GUARDIAN

Australia, they have no realistic chance of hosting the tournament again any time soon. For all that the evocative history between the two sides is invoked, the imperatives for RGR are undoubtedly commercial, hammered home for those at the back by the fact the fourth and final Test takes place in the United States.

A lucrative add-on in Baltimore will swell the coffers further, strengthen both teams' brand awareness in the US and is welcome news for World Rugby, who are putting a brave face on it, but are desperate to ensure the 2031 World Cup does not pass unnoticed by the locals.

The benefits of RGR, beyond the bottom line, are obvious. South Africa would be quick to point out it was New Zealand's decision to break up the traditional Super Rugby format, but there is no doubt the All Blacks have been hurt by the absence of regular fixtures for their provinces against their South African counterparts. That the provincial sides will be shorn of their Springboks in the coming weeks detracts from the spectacle - it is a problem the Lions have run into on their past two tours - and ticket sales for today's opener have been slow, but it does allow the new All Blacks coach, Dave Rennie, to strengthen his player pool.

South Africa tick along with their provinces in the URC and their best players in Japan, but a conveyor belt of raw talent at home will benefit from playing the travelling All Blacks. Having a foot in both hemispheres does not seem sustainable with reports that the South African clubs are pulling out of the Champions and Challenge Cups, but it is a unique position for the double world champions. They continue to find new ways to thrive and new ways to set the benchmark despite the continued concentration of financial power in the north. RGR is just the latest.

Cycling Tour de France Femmes

Reusser keeps

lead as Le Court takes stage six

Jeremy Whittle Tournon-sur-Rhône

Marlen Reusser retained the overall lead in the Tour de France Femmes from rival Demi Vollering after another broiling stage through central France saw Kim Le Court take the second Tour stage win of her career in Tournon-sur-Rhône.

The Mauritian rider Le Court recovered from a mechanical problem on the climb of the Col de Lalouvesc to join the day's breakaway group and outspirit Cebline Kerbaol of France, and Queen of the Mountains classification leader, Puck Pieterse.

"I was on the limit," Le Court said of her winning sprint. "I can't believe I still had the legs to sprint. It was really hard, this close. I will never give up after the big effort my team did."

Le Court had originally been con- sidered a contender for final victory but lost ground after Tuesday's time trial. "I've been really struggling since the time trial day but I think this really makes our Tour," she said. "We've still got ambitions for the general classification, but winning a stage in a Tour de France is very special."

Le Court's success is a popular one, after a season in which she has dealt with serial injuries. But she has also shown considerable sportsmanship, stopping to help Kasia Niewiadoma after the 2024 Tour Femmes winner crashed heavily in Milan-San Remo.

Despite missing out on the stage victory, it was a successful day for

Pieterse as she now has 47 points in the mountain classification, the highest total ever recorded in the history of the Tour de France Femmes.

"I wanted to win the stage of course," Pieterse said, "but I think I did everything else today."

As the heatwave continued, the peloton raced over six classified climbs into the Ardeche, with today's ascent of Mont Ventoux now very much in their thoughts.

After three days she will want to forget, defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot arrested the decline in her form and finished the stage in the group of favourites alongside Reusser, Vollering and Niewiadoma. She is still languishing in 15th place overall, five minutes behind race leader Reusser, and on Wednesday had conceded that: "It's over."

However, while her deficit seems almost insurmountable, her rivals will have taken note of her improved performance and of her experience of the Ventoux, which she first rode in 2021.

"I think it's the most iconic climb in France," Ferrand-Prevot said of the Provençal mountain. "Everyone knows about it, even if you're not a cyclist."

Athletics World Championships

Stadium deal

enables bid for London 2029

Sean Ingle

London has submitted its bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships after reaching an agreement with West Ham to allow it to host the event that September.

World Athletics is yet to announce the other candidate cities, but Rome, Munich and Nairobi have also submitted applications for 2029.

West Ham had threatened to thwart London's bid, arguing they had priority for the stadium during the football season. However, the impasse has been broken after lengthy discussions with the London mayor's office, Athletics Ventures, the joint organisation responsible for putting on major events, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

If London is successful, West Ham will play no more than two consecutive away games in the Premier League or three in the EFL in the 2029-30 season.

Jack Buckner, the chief executive of UK Athletics and co-founder of Athletics Ventures, said: "Bidding to hold the World Athletics Champion- ships in the London Stadium, the showpiece of London 2012, was always at the centre of the UK's Olym- pic legacy plans. We're delighted that we have reached agreement with the London Stadium and West Ham for the use of the London Stadium and our sincere thanks for their commit- ment in making this happen."

Hugh Brasher, the chief execu- tive of London Marathon Events and co-founder of Athletics Ventures, said: "Our bid is not just about what happens within the London Stadium. Sport has the power to bring communities together, to change lives and to inspire the next generation. The 2029 World Athletics Championships in London would drive more than £400m in economic and social benefit."

World Athletics is scheduled to announce the host city after the Ultimate Championships in Budapest in September.

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Sport Women's football

19

'They are quite damning statistics, which is such a shame considering the growth we see'

'When you join the club, you take on a part of Arsenal and the love'

Alessia Russo enjoyed a rare summer off, spent with friends and family

Alessia Russo, a converted Gooner, has sights on a double-more trophies and tackling grassroots funding issues

Suzanne Wrack

Arms hooked over the bar at the front of the bus, sunglasses on, a drink in one hand and the other pointed towards the fans as she moved to the music and joined in with the singing and chanting, Alessia Russo was having a blast.

'I had the time of my life that day,' says the Arsenal forward of the 9km parade through the red smoke-filled streets of north London after Arsenal men's Premier League triumph and Arsenal women's Champions Cup success.

It has been a running joke among fans to refer to the 27-year-old as a 'childhood Gooner', which was turbo-charged when the shirt a very small Russo was wearing in a family photo with the FA Cup was changed from a Manchester United one into an Arsenal one.

While she was not a childhood Gooner, she is fast becoming an adult one. 'Since I've joined the club and seen the people around the place, it's impossible to not become a part of Arsenal and to feel like I support Arsenal,' she

says. 'I want them to do well, I'm backing them every way, and the parade was just one of the most amazing things I've experienced. The fans, the atmosphere, celebrating the men winning the Prem, something they'd worked so hard for for so many years, I was just soaking it in, having fun and enjoying myself.'

'It was just a really, really special day. It was nice to experience it with Lotte [Wubben-Moy] and Leah [Williamson] who are proper Gooners, but when you come to Arsenal you take on a part of it and start to understand and absorb their love for Arsenal. I definitely feel that and it's nice to feel like you're a part of something like that.'

'You pick out moments where you win trophies as the main ones that stand out within your career, but that will definitely always stand out for me.'

There were people everywhere, on every balcony, rooftop, boiled and traffic light, of all ages, races and religions. Young boys, but also, in contrast to the Arsenal parades of the 90s and noughties, so many young girls. Cultivating and supporting that fresh generation interested in watching and playing the game is something Russo is passionate about.

That is the reason she launched her own foundation this year and why she helped launch the fifth year of Starling Bank's Kick On initiative. This partners local businesses with girls' teams in need

of sponsorship and subsidises the front-of-shirt sponsorship.

Starling commissioned surveys of 1,000 adult female players, 1,010 11-17 female players, 501 small- and medium-sized business leaders and 1,092 grassroots football coaches. Nearly every grassroots female football club (97%) said their team needed more funds, with opportunities for girls suffering as a result. The surveys found 76% of female players said they will have to drop out of their team or the sport altogether if more funding is not secured in the next five years, and 40% of female players said their team does not receive the same amount of funding as men's teams.

'They are quite damning statistics, which is such a shame considering the growth we see in the women's game,' says Russo. 'Over the past five or six years, the growth has just been incredible, but there's still work to do at the bottom to build it up.'

The risk is that women's football loses momentum and fails to attract potential star players. 'I always say you never want to miss out on the next Leah Williamson or Lotte Wubben-Moy, you don't want to miss out on talented young players just because they haven't got a local team, or the team that they were at folds,' Russo says.

'I look back on all the people I met through my grassroots journey and every single one of them played a part in my career and I'm still friends with many of them. If local

businesses can invest in one team, you never know, you might help produce a superstar who will always remember you being a part of it.

'There's more to it than just investment, it's that you can have a say in a core part of these young girls' journeys and lives.'

With no major international women's tournament, Russo has enjoyed a rare summer off.

'It was important I did have some proper downtime,' she says. 'Over the past few years, the minutes and tournaments have increased, so I needed to look after my body and get myself in a good place mentally. I shut down for about two and a half weeks and just enjoyed time with friends and family, which was lovely, but by

▲ Alessia Russo enjoyed Arsenal's double celebration parade to the full

the end of it I was ready to start exercising again, I didn't know what to do with myself.

'I quite enjoy training on my own over the summer, you get to know your best routines and habits. I often go on holiday with my family and train out there, which is nice because everyone wants to get involved.'

'I just took time for myself too, being a normal 27-year-old girl, going on holidays. I went to the England v Panama game in New York and got to be a fan and be around that buzz of the World Cup. I had Toonie's [England teammate Ella Toone] hen do and wedding, which was amazing.'

Russo had a standout year in 2025-26; many believe her game moved up a level for club and country. 'I'm pleased with my season for Arsenal and England from a personal point of view, but, ultimately, I'll always judge it on the trophies we win,' she says.

'We've learned a lot as a team over the past couple of years at Arsenal, but are hungry for the new season. We've made it quite clear we want to do everything we can to be the team most capable of winning the WSL and Renée [Sleegers, the coach] has set the standard high this pre-season.'

'We've got seven new players, we've got a squad that's raining to go, the competition in it is high. I feel happy, but now I want to continue to push on with Arsenal and England and win trophies.'

Kerolin absent at City before Barça transfer

Tom Garry

The Brazil forward Kerolin failed to report back for pre-season training at Manchester City in July before her transfer to Barcelona had been agreed.

Barcelona announced their signing of the 26-year-old on Tuesday but, as of yesterday afternoon, Manchester City were yet to publish any reference to the transfer or comment on the move.

Several staff and players at Manchester City were disappointed at what were perceived to be efforts by

Kerolin to force a transfer to Barcelona and that her time at the club ended on a surprisingly sour note. She did not join pre-season with the Women's Super League champions, which began in late July, despite previously having been felt to have been on good terms with the squad.

The deal, worth an initial €1.2m (€1m), represents the largest transfer fee received by a WSL club, and it could rise with add-ons to approximately €1.25m, although this has not been officially confirmed. It

is one of the largest transfer fees in women's football.

Kerolin was part of the City side that lifted their first WSL title in a decade last season and also helped them win the Women's FA Cup. But within weeks of those celebrations many of her colleagues have been stunned after she did not say goodbye in-person. Kerolin's representatives have been contacted for a response.

High-profile examples of such transfer standoffs have been seen

in men's football, but incidents in the women's game have been comparatively rare.

City have no objections to the transfer in principle. For Kerolin, it is a dream move to the European champions, who beat OL Lyonnes in last season's Women's Champions League final.

City and Barcelona will meet in a friendly at the Joie Stadium on 15 August as the reigning champions of England and Spain step up their pre-season preparations.

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40

Sport Football Book extract

▼ A mural of Mohamed Salah on the walls of a youth centre named after him in his home village of Nagrig DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE/ALAMY

Salah's story of success and sacrifice: 'Chasing a dream I had to reach'

In this exclusive book extract, Melissa Reddy documents the lonely dedication and fortitude that was required at a young age to make his footballing vision a reality

The entrance to Al Mokawloon Al Arab's youth sector feels imposing. At first it is confusing to pinpoint the reason. Is it the facade; a mesh of thick concrete slabs, a marble-like trim that alters in colour depending on the light and the no-nonsense black steel gate?

Perhaps it is the stately signage of white block letters in Arabic juxtaposed against the dark background, with satellite pieces of information and announcements signifying importance. But to stop and pay attention to buildings around Nasr City in eastern Cairo is to notice that the blend of functional and decorative elements of the entrance, down to even the font and array of notices, is not unique.

The building's aura can be explained by the main image above its gates and the knowledge that to walk through them is to follow the footsteps a history-maker took from the age of 14. Mohamed Salah's face has pride of place above the gates; it is a reminder of where he's been, but, more pertinently, of why it is important to marry talent with discipline and determination.

Hamdi Nouh, Salah's first coach at Al Mokawloon and who he has referred to as a second father, knows that is because 'he was ready to sacrifice everything, he wanted to work hard, and liked to learn'. It sounds simple, until you

start drilling at the heart of what it means for a boy from Nagrig to endure a nine-hour round trip five days a week to train in Cairo.

Salah's route has become so well known, you can read the tale of the minimum four buses he needed to take each way in Chinese, Spanish and every other major language. One from the T-junction at the edge of his village to reach Basyoun. The transfer from there to the capital of the Gharbia Governorate, Tanta. The great slog of around 100km to reach the rush of Ramses Square. A connection from Cairo's chaotic central transport hub to Nasr City. And, on the luckier days, a ride close to the club's gates to spare Salah having to run almost two kilometres up a steep hill to be on time for his training session. After four hours at the centre, he would leave to do that all again in reverse.

▲ Salah began his career at Al Mokawloon in 2010 before moving to Europe COURTESY OF AL MOKAWLOON

The problem with summarising the journey in this way, as it has been done since 2017 when Salah started shifting the parameters for greatness in the Premier League, is that it omits the reality of what this daily grind truly entailed.

When Nouh underlines sacrifice, part of it was Salah giving up his youth to sit shoulder slammed into shoulder, bodies filling up every available inch of the microbus and often even hanging off it, racing to the next stop and against the anxiety of missing a connection in a schedule that had no rhyme nor reason, with only enough cash for the exact journey. Salah weirdly enjoyed rather than endured the stressful odyssey.

'I didn't feel tired travelling when I was young,' he said in 2022. 'It's because I was doing something I wanted, chasing a dream I had to reach. I wasn't seeing my situation,

I was seeing my goal. These are days I sit and think about, I'll never forget them and I still smile now when I remember everything.'

It is not the same for Umm Mohamed, who was averse to her eldest son spending only two hours at school, between seven and nine in the morning, and venturing so far away from his village, when lanes were seen as a mere suggestion and dangerous driving was the only type.

Her memories were of worry and fear prompted by the high number of crashes involving microbuses. One major accident along her son's route provoked sheer panic, which only increased as his phone rang unanswered. She tried calling more than 20 times. While Salah insists exhaustion didn't grip him during his great trek, he didn't pick up because he was fast asleep.

She was also concerned if he had enough money, as was her husband, Salah Ghaly, who worked as a government administrator and traded in jasmine. He funded Salah's football path, first to Ittihad in Basyoun, which was a half-hour trip, then on to the Othmason club in Tanta, 50 minutes away, all before he became a teenager, followed by the almighty mission to Al Mokawloon.

Salah was eight when he started training there and rushed at opponents with the fearlessness of a microbus driver. 'He was small, but his left foot and his shots were powerful,' says Ghamri Abdel-Hameed el-Saadani, who was the juniors coach at the youth centre. 'He was fast and could do things with the ball the other boys couldn't.'

Salah's father knew it and despite his own apprehensions about the big city and how it could swallow

and spit out young hopefuls he told Umm Mohamed they were doing the right thing.

Back to the entrance of Al Mokawloon's youth sector and just behind the black steel gates lies a story that hasn't travelled the world like the bus trip. One of Salah's teammates had suggested they could stay at his uncle's house in Greater Cairo for the week. It was located in the 10th of Ramadan City and it took plenty of convincing for his parents to green-light the sleepover. Salah's father gave him 60 Egyptian pounds and he set off. When they arrived at the house, in the black of the night, his friend's uncle was not there. They were stuck, with not enough money or knowledge to find other lodgings.

All Salah knew of Cairo were the roads through it to train at Al Mokawloon. His friend, whose name he doesn't want to reveal to avoid the media frenzy that accompanies any detail about his life, suggested the house of someone else he knew not too far away. When they got there, Salah encountered a bigger problem.

The dwelling was in a cemetery, a saddening - and scary - symptom of Cairo's severe housing shortage and high population density. Salah was not going to stay in the necropolis. His friend had one final plan: he knew an on-site administrator at Al Mokawloon who could let them in. They laid out the sheets they had packed on the floor into two makeshift beds.

Salah used his shoes as a pillow and set his alarm for 6am so the pair could be up before anyone caught them and the administrator got in trouble. They packed up their bedding and headed off, returning to the complex at 9am as though they had just arrived.

The sleeping arrangement stayed secret, but needed to be amended. The next day, the duo slept on Field 2 of the four pitches, in the open under the cold night sky. In the morning, they would again go into covert mode and Salah enjoyed that he could be early for training.

He had already packed in a lifetime's worth of sacrifice, effort and lessons by his 18th birthday. The moment he will never forget, however, was when he joined the first team group and moved into the Al Mokawloon's residences.

'Not everyone could stay there, so psychologically I felt like I became someone, like a star,' Salah said. 'I used to see players finish training and go upstairs, while I would leave to take the journey back to Nagrig. I'd think, 'One day I'll go up there.''

He would go higher than any other Egyptian footballer.

● This is an edited extract from Only Mo Salah: An intimate portrait of the Egyptian King by Melissa Reddy, by Orion Publishing

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11

Sport Football

UMIT BERTAJ/ROUTERS

Salah signs in and hits £14.5m jackpot

Mohamed Salah has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor and the Egypt forward will receive €17m (£14.5m) a season. The announcement to the Turkish stock exchange came before Trabzonspor fans headed to the club's stadium for a ceremony to mark the 34-year-old former Liverpool player's signing on a free transfer, the day after he arrived in Istanbul in the team's kit. Salah will receive a 20% share from products sold under his name, plus conditional bonuses each season. PA Media

Results

Football

CARABAO CUP

First round

Bristol City

(0) ● Walsall

Presaley 47

(0) 1

EUROPA LEAGUE

Third qualifying round: first leg

Benfica

Rifa 1, Araújo 23

Pavilidis 42pen

Prestizane 59, Durbin 87

Schjoldstrup 90+4pen

Jagiellonia

Fernandez 1:5

Hraabe, Krakow 0 Besiktas 1, KuPS 1 Universitäts-Croixov 1,

Lech-Puznan 1: 41 Klatovik 0, Lincoln Red Drops 1, Onovka 1,

Maccabi Tel-Aviv 0 CSKA Sofia 1, Frank D Andersson 1,

RB Salzberg 1 Pafos 0, Thun 3 Vilsingur Reykjavik 0

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Hibernian

Elding 73, O'Hara 90

(0) 1 Shlomdija

Gjorgjjevski 76

HJK

Pukki 71

(0) 1 Motherwell

Moswardtse 64pen

Ajax 3 Shelbourne 1; Botnar Jerusalem 1 Austria Vienna 2; Bohemians 0 Midtjylland 2; Borac Banja-Luka 1 Vilsdals 0; Braga 1 Dinamo Mesto 0; CFR Cluj 0 Tromsø 5; Defence m 0 Copenhagen 5; Epssens-flyer 2 Gjesberg 0; Hapoel Tel-Aviv 2; GES Katowice 0; IFK Göteborg 0 Gent 1; Inter D'Escaldes 2 Fijera Tallinn 0; Inter Turku 2 Valdur 1; Jaltjönes 2 RFS 0; Lugano 2 NSF 0; Noah 2 Sion 2; Pablo 1 Rapid Vienna 4; Partizan Belgrade 1, Sokol-Kostanay 1; Balcon-Cantico/Soeur 0 Hammarby 0; Riga 1 Gyen (TTO) 0; Rijeka 1 Ives 0; Sheriff 1 St Esplan 3; Tre Kari 1 Svitta 6; Twente 6 DAC 1906 0; Valar Reykjavik 0 Nordspellland 2; Žalgiris 2 Hajduk Split 5

Cricket

THE HUNDRED MEN

Lovt's London Spirit 160-5 (LG Pretorius) 523, MI London 164-6, MI London beat London Spirit by four wickets.

THE HUNDRED WOMEN

Lovt's MI London 122-9 (AC Kerr 60ne), London Spirit 119-8, MI London beat London Spirit by three runs.

Rugby league

BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE

St Helens 18 Hall FC 12

BETFRED WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE

St Helens 6 Wiljan 44

Tennis

ATP NATIONAL BANK OPEN (Montreal, Canada)

Round of 64: 1. Tine (US) 16 G Morella (PJ) 6-3 0-6 6-5;

T Paul (US) 16 V Wyatt (V) 6-4 7-6 (5); T Drogott (P) 5

J Faria (Per) 7-6 (2) 6-2; B van de Zandschulp (Neth) 1

D Molneder (Rus) 6-3 7-6 (5); L Dardieri (R) 1 Shang J

(Ovs) 4-6 6-1 6-4; A Fils (P) 5 M M Naveier (Ang) 6-3 6-2

WTA NATIONAL BANK OPEN (Toronto, Canada)

Round of 64: 4.Eula (PN) 16 A Parks (US) 6-1 4-6 6-2;

M Joint (Aus) 16 S Cortes (Rom) 6-4 6-4; L Fernandez

(Can) 16 R Zarassa (Mex) 6-2 6-2; E Alexandrovic (Rus) 1

T Gibson (Aus) 5-7 6-1 6-3; D Shoulder (Rus) 1 6 Kaleskaya

(Rus) 4-3 6-5; I Swiatek (Pol) 16 V Golubic (Sw) 6-2 6-1.

Golf

PIF LONDON CHAMPIONSHIP (St Albans)

Leading first-round scores (GI & Inr unless stated: Pir 73): 67 A Huang (Cze) 68 K Bennett (Aus); E Sato (Aus) 69 C Heath 70 A Knader (Ger); S Tan (Sin); A Nabilia (St); O Cowan (Ger), A Zarezzo (It), A Donegan, L Rydqvist (Swe) 71 L Salmon (Sp); P Urc (Ind); L Pace (SA); L Hall, E Young, A Ankel (Ind); G Caves 72 A Lee (US); J Rosenberg (US); E Hamilton, C Eaton, S Kozakova (Cz); M Fidke (Swe); D Dorquez (Ecz), A van Dam (Neth), A Prinez (Sp); C Satterkau (Ger); C Naja (Ger), J Bonin (Aus), K Napoleone (Cz).

Cycling

TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES

Stage six (Mortheisen-Tourneo-sur-Rhone, 153.0km): 1 K Le Court (Br) 5 AC Insurance-Soudaf 4hr 2mm 48sec; 2 C Kerfoot (Fr) EF Education-Qatz; 3 P Pieterse (Neth) Fenix-Premier Tech; 4 S Van Dam (Can) Viano; Lesso a Blie; 5 C Gery (Fr) FB1 United-Suez all at the same time.

General classification: 1 M Reusser (Sw) 1 M Wovinar 1 Bnr 43min 34sec; 2 D Vellering (Neth) FB1 United-Suez +0.12; 3 K Nimaladintsi-Phinney (Pol) Canyon/Scam +3.17; 4 E Longo-Barghini (It) UAE Team 1 MAD +2.28; 5 A Niedermaier (Ger) Canyon/Scam +2.40.

TOUR DE FOLOGNE (Poland)

Stage four (Zagan-Karpta), 175.5km): 1 B Lemmen (Neth) Vistou Lesso a Blie; 1hr 54min 45sec, 2 C Scaroni (It) XDS Astana at same time; 3 A Laurance (Fr) Nelcompony Inves Cycling +0.14; 4 M Breimer (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling; 5 L Barre (Fr) Vistou Lesso a Blie at same time.

General classification: 1 B Lemmen (Neth) 16hr 16min 12sec, 2 C Scaroni (R) +0.06; 3 M Breimer (Ger) +0.26; 4 M Sabreira (It) Lab-Trek +0.27; 5 F Fisher-Black (NZ) Red Bull-Bora-Ransgrohe +0.26.

Fixtures

Football (7.45pm unless stated)

Candine Cup

First round Middlebrough v Wrecham (3pm);

Wolves v Port Vale, Mycombe v Stevenage

William Hill Scottish Championship

Partick v Livingston (7.30pm)

Jörfgenos Phoenix

Athos UK v Cardiff ME; Ammunford v Colwyn Bay; Caernarfon

v Penzibont; Cambrian v Briton Ferry; Flint v Barry, Holywell v

Connah's Quay, TNS v Haverfordwest; Treffelin v Llandudno

Sports Direct NRL Premiership

Cliftonville v Croxaders

Women's Champions League

Second qualifying round: Third place final 8m stalk v

Dinamo BGU (Swe); Final Servette-Chinon v Altisloe (3pm)

Rugby league (8pm unless stated)

Betfred Super League

Cazdeford v Hull KR; Leigh v York, Wakefield v Leeds

Cricket (11am unless stated)

Metro Bank One Day Cup Men

Group A Lancashire v Gloucestershire, Old Trafford;

Leicestershire v Warwickshire, Grace Road (2pm)

Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire, Chesterfield;

Somerset v Surrey, Taunton (2pm)

Group B Durham v Middlesex, Riverside (1.30pm)

Glensorgan v Essex, Sophia Gardens; Sussex v Worcestershire,

Hove (2pm); Yorkshire v Derbyshire, Scarborough

The Hundred Men

Birmingham Phoenix v SunRivers Leeds, Edgbaston (6.30pm)

The Hundred Women

Birmingham Phoenix v SunRivers Leeds, Edgbaston (3pm)

Men's One-Day International

Inland in Afghanistan; Broady (10.45am)

World Cup League Two Tri-Series

Scotland v Canada, Dundee (11am)

Greg Wood's racing tips

Masonburgh 1.50 Falcon Nine 2.20 Minster Man

2.30 Engels 3.20 Jenny Concorde (top) 3.50 Machine (nb)

4.24 Rot De Per 4.54 Wimmerold

Tilnick 2.10 Tisilets 2.40 My Maria 3.10 Lone

Tanya 3.40 Alainithéjungle 4.10 Master Vintner

4.40 Maximum Velocity

Brighton 2.30 Deemed Spirit 3.00 Examined

3.30 Celebrating Ethel 4.00 U S S Charleston 4.30 Dragon

Gull 3.00 Don't Eat The Blues

Newmarket 5.27 Netherstrom 6.02 Oh Sweet Adore

6.37 Nolani 7.12 Fentander 7.47 Hilltop 8.22 Lucky Horn

Hippford 5.43 Ancestor 8.10 Cap'n Star 8.53 Reेपछि

7.28 Arthurian 8.03 Silver Sovereign 8.18 Distinct Spirit

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12

Sport^{}[] Football

Uefa to check Fifa valuation of World Cup

European governing body to request an independent report into whether Gianni Infantino offered stakes below market rate

Global body's backing for Infantino fails to stave off boycott threat

early rush to make such declarations has slowed. The Football Association has now written to Fifa formally retracting its backing.

Uefa's repeat of its boycott threat was followed by a scathing release from Fifpro. Before the World Cup Fifpro signalled its intention to work with Fifa but that has proved the briefest of truces.

Alongside the criticism, Fifpro wrote to Fifa making a series of demands, including giving players voting rights on the Fifa council, which is supposed to be the main

Matt Hughes

Uefa plans to commission an independent valuation of Fifa's World Cup sale plans after concerns that Gianni Infantino agreed to sell the tournament's future profits to a private equity firm at below the market rate.

The European governing body is unmoved by the written apology issued by Infantino to Fifa's 211 member associations on Tuesday after crisis talks in Morocco. It will continue to push for his removal, with its tactics including further scrutiny of a proposal the president belatedly conceded was "a mistake".

The Fifa Forward Enterprise plan that was abandoned last week after four days involved a 21% stake being sold to Thrive Capital for $4.2bn (£3.1bn). The US private equity

decision-making body but has often been bypassed by Infantino.

"Fifa Forward Enterprise is gone, but the abuse of power that produced it is not," Fifpro said. "Governance reforms, not a cover-up, are urgently needed. The withdrawal of FFE was inevitable. But withdrawing the proposal does not erase what it revealed.

"A plan capable of permanently altering the ownership and governance of the Fifa World Cup ... was conceived in secrecy, negotiated behind closed doors and brought to the brink of agreement

firm is led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Uefa played a key role in Fifa's U-turn, which was triggered by all 55 member associations threatening to boycott the World Cup and other tournaments, and is now seeking to establish how the $20bn valuation of Fifa's commercial assets was worked out. Uefa has spoken to several market analysts to seek opinions regarding an independent valuation and a formal study is likely to follow once the storm surrounding Infantino's immediate future has passed.

Last week, the Fifa sales deck circulated details that did not contain any information of the valuation process or any evidence of a competitive tender. "We need to find out if they were selling the World Cup at a knockdown price," a source with knowledge of Uefa's plans said.

"How did they get to $20bn? Was it a robust process?" Fifa's revenues for the four-year cycle that culminated in this summer's World Cup were $15bn, leading the market analysts to suggest that $20bn was a low valuation, particularly as the proposal did not appear to include any provisions to prevent expansion and the creation of new tournaments.

"The World Cup is the only genuinely global mass entertainment event so an increase of $5bn on current revenues seems low to me," the source said. "This looks like a low-ball offer. The obvious financial upside of further expansion that the investors would demand - more teams, more

$15bn

Fifa's revenues for this summer's World Cup, so a valuation of $20bn seems below the market rate

before the Fifa council, the member associations, players and football's recognised stakeholders even knew it existed. That is not merely a governance failure. It is a profound abuse of presidential power."

Conmebol, three of whose members are in line to host matches at the 2030 World Cup, had waited more than a week to comment publicly. In a statement it said the Conmebol council "unanimously expresses its concern regarding the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or to the

institutional mechanisms established to address situations of this nature."

Earlier yesterday the Jordan Football Association president, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein, said Fifa had paid bonuses owed from last December's Arab Cup but clarified he would still oppose Infantino. The money appears to have materialised after Prince Ali accused Fifa of "blackmail", saying the governing body had threatened to withhold funds if Jordan refused to back Infantino's re-election.

"Thank you to the Fifa administration for suddenly this morning

● Continued from back page

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13

◀ Gianni Infantino hands the World Cup to Donald Trump before it is presented to Spain ATMAN ARMY NORTHWEST BRITTERSTOCK

regular World Cups, more Club World Cups – is not priced in.”

Ufa has also called for a review of Fifa’s governance and threatened it with legal action. Fifa is attempting to put on a united front despite scathing internal criticisms of the sell-off plan from leading figures including the secretary general, Mattias Grafström, the chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, and Arsène Wenger, head of football development.

Infantino appeared alongside Grafström at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations group game between Malawi and Zambia in Morocco on Wednesday after attending crisis talks in Rabat. That was followed by a Fifa statement saying the president retained the “full support” of the organisation.

Such apparent support indicates the push for change will have to come from outside the organisation.

Fifa was approached for comment.

delivering what was owed to our players and coaching staff, for the Jordan national team’s accession to the final of the Fifa Arab Cup in Qatar last December,” he wrote.

“This was funding that should have been received eight months ago... It is symptomatic of those exact difficulties that we all face, and that are usually linked to the Fifa presidential elections. And it does not change my clear position concerning the leadership of Fifa: my FA and I will not endorse president Infantino, nor will we vote for him.”

Barcelona step up Rodri interest as Real Madrid talks with City star stall

Ed Aarons

Barcelona have stepped up their attempts to hijack Real Madrid’s move to sign Rodri from Manchester City.

While City have not given up hope that Spain’s World Cup-winning captain will sign a new contract after he entered the final year of his deal, they are thought to be willing to allow him to leave for about £60m. Despite weeks of talks with Rodri and his representatives, Real have yet to reach an agreement and Barcelona are hoping to take advantage.

It is understood that Rodri spoke to their manager, Hansi Flick, and sporting director, Deco, about a potential move on Wednesday and indicated he is keen to return to Spain. Barça, who will be without midfielder Frenkie de Jong for several months after the Netherlands midfielder sustained a knee injury, are now expected to make contact with City to negotiate the structure of the fee for the 30-year-old, who won the Golden Ball for the World Cup’s best player.

Real, who have signed RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande for a club record fee of £15m, have also agreed a lucrative six-year contract extension with Vinicius Júnior to ward off interest

from Arsenal. They may have to offload players first if they are to sign Rodri as well. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga are possible departures, with Manchester United having been linked with the France midfielders.

Rodri has had minor surgery on his back and will miss most of City’s pre-season programme. They have signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £16m and remain in negotiations with Lille over a deal for the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

► Rodri is thought to be available for around £60m but City have not given up hope of keeping him MARTIN RICKETT/FA

Argentina to mark semi-final win over England with ‘tribute’ day

Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England last month is being commemorated by the country’s football association, the AFA, which has established 15 July as National Football Teams Day.

“The date was chosen to commemorate Argentina’s historic victory over England in the World Cup semi-final,” an article on the AFA’s official website stated after a meeting of its executive board on Wednesday. “Lionel Scaloni’s team was trailing the English side by a single goal, but with goals from Enzo Fernández and

Lautaro Martínez, they turned the game around, sending the entire nation into a frenzy of celebration.

“But the tribute isn’t just for that milestone achieved by the senior national team. The recognition, of course, also extends to each and every one of the national teams (youth, men’s and women’s, futsal, beach soccer, and field football), who train daily at the Lionel Andrés Messi training complex with the hope, joy and responsibility of representing Argentina.”

Fifa has opened disciplinary proceedings against the AFA over the display of a banner by players at the end of that match proclaiming the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina.

Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina are also being investigated by Fifa over their involvement in the brawl that followed the 1-0 defeat by Spain in the World Cup final. PA Media

◀ Argentina players display a banner referring to the Falkland Islands after their World Cup semi-final victory against England MR MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

Meanwhile, Barcelona have been frustrated in their efforts to persuade Atlético Madrid to sell Julián Alvarez. After Robert Lewandowski’s departure, Barcelona have targeted Alvarez all summer, but Atlético continue to insist the Argentina striker is not for sale at any price.

Deco was in the Spanish capital to meet Alvarez’s representatives on Wednesday. All eyes will be on whether the 26-year-old former City forward will return to pre-season training on Monday or attempt to force through a transfer. Arsenal also retain an interest in him.

Ferrán Torres – who scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final – has entered the final year of his contract at Barcelona and said he is waiting for them to begin talks over extending his deal. “All I know is that I have to be in training for Barcelona on 12 August. Let’s see what happens.”

Football in brief

Uganda

International Oworl killed by robbers

The Ugandan football community is in mourning after the death of a player during a robbery in the capital, Kampala. David Oworl, who captained Sports Club Villa, a Uganda Premier League club, and represented the national team at youth level, was attacked on Tuesday night after resisting an attempt to steal his mobile phone and other belongings. The 27-year old was a right-back and midfielder for SC Villa and helped the team win a record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024. Carlos Mureithi

Australia

Two Iranian footballers granted citizenship

Two female Iranian footballers have been granted Australian citizenship after being called traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from

European qualifying

Rangers left with work to do after defeat in Poland

Rangers paid the price for sloppy defending as they let slip an early lead to lose 2-1 to Jagiellońska Białystok in Poland in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie.

Derek McInnes’s first European match as Rangers manager got off to a dream start when home defender Guilherme Montóia turned a Tuur Rommens cross into his own net after just four minutes. However, Kajetan Szmyt levelled in the 13th minute to rattle the away side then added a second eight minutes later after defensive slackness from the visitors.

McInnes brought on Cammy Devlin, Nico Raskin and Findlay Curtis for the start of the second half and Rangers dominated possession but could not find a way to equalise, with Curtis crashing a shot off the post in added time, and they will have to turn the tie around at Ibrox next week.

Meanwhile, Motherwell’s impressive start under Alfred Johansson continued as they secured a 1-1 draw away to Finnish side HJK Helsinki in the first leg of their Conference League third qualifying round tie.

Motherwell’s new manager briefly looked on course for his fourth consecutive victory after Tawanda Maswanhise’s penalty gave his side the lead just after the hour. But 36-year-old former Celtic and Norwich striker Teemu Pukki equalised for HJK within seconds of coming off the bench in the 70th minute. PA Media

Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection after the protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March. Their demands for protection were an embarrassment for Iran’s leaders, but five changed their minds and returned home. Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh stayed, however, and were granted citizenship at a ceremony. The plight of the rest of the team remains unclear since their return to Iran. AFP

Bournemouth

Sevilla full-back Juanlu joins in £11.1m move

Bournemouth have completed an £11.1m deal for the Sevilla right-back Juanlu as the new head coach, Marco Rose, finalises his squad for the club’s first season in Europe. The former Spain Under-21 international has signed a five-year contract for an initial £9.4m fee and could cost a further £1.7m in add-ons. The 22-year-old is Bournemouth’s third signing of the summer after the transfers of Antonio Silva from Benfica and Álvaro Rodríguez from Elche. Elsewhere, England goalkeeper James Trafford has completed a club-record move to Leeds after undergoing a successful medical. Leeds agreed a £40m fee plus add-ons with Manchester City for the 23-year-old. PA Media

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Russo on a roll 'The parade was one of the most amazing things ever'

Page 39 →

£60m stunner Barcelona ready to hijack Real's hopes of signing Rodri

Page 43 →

Sport

'Profound abuse of power'

Union turns on Infantino as Uefa sticks to boycott threat

Nick Ames Matt Hughes

Uefa has doubled down on its threat to boycott Fifa-run competitions and reiterated its loss of confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency.

The latest damning intervention from European football's governing body came as criticism of Infantino continued to rain in from several angles. The global players' union, Fifpro, condemned 'a profound abuse of presidential power' while the South American confederation, Conmebol, usually a strong Infantino ally, was moved to chastise 'repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue'.

It is Uefa's continued stance, though, that may damage Infantino

most severely. In a statement it said Fifa's public backing of Infantino on Wednesday night 'changes nothing' and explained it was not convinced repeats of the past nine days' crisis will not occur.

Last week Uefa's 55 member associations agreed to boycott Fifa tournaments if Infantino did not withdraw his privately funded Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme and, although the plan was scrapped last Friday, it said the terms necessary to avert the boycott have not been met.

'Uefa's associations were very clear about the conditions attached to their non-participation in Fifa competitions,' it said. 'First, the proposals to sell off the major competitions had to be withdrawn and, secondly, assurances have to be made that such

attempts to disfigure the game in this way will never be made again.

'These conditions have not been met. In addition, Uefa made it abundantly clear in its statement on Saturday that it has lost confidence in Gianni Infantino's presidency. That position holds. Yesterday's announcement that some people employed by the Fifa president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing.'

It heightens the turmoil enveloping football's governance. If no accord is reached before the Under-20 Women's World Cup, which begins in Poland on 5 September, that would be the first tournament subjected to a Uefa-led boycott.

Uefa remains hopeful it can exploit divisions within Fifa's leadership despite the Infantino-led show

of unity following Wednesday's meeting of some of its management board in Rabat.

There were several notable absentees, however, and it is understood that Arsène Wenger declined an invitation to travel to Morocco in his capacity as Fifa's chief of global development because of a desire to distance himself from Infantino. The former Arsenal manager had launched a scathing attack on the World Cup sell-off plans, saying it was 'absolutely necessary and beyond question' that they were scrapped.

In contrast to Wenger, Fifa's chief operating officer, Kevin Lamour, who had described the proposals as 'the project of one person', was not invited to the summit in a development that will raise further questions over his future. Additionally Jill Ellis, the chief football officer, and Sarai Bareman, the chief women's football officer, were not present in Rabat.

While Fifa has sent apologies to the Fifa council and member associations for their exclusion from the FFE process, it is believed that those sentiments failed to sway a large percentage of council members.

A handful of Uefa federations have withdrawn letters of support for Infantino's re-election for a fourth term, although the

England rely on strength in numbers for post-Stokes era

Ali Martin

On paper, the answer to how England will replace Ben Stokes for the Test series against Pakistan appears to be to throw bodies at the problem and have options. A 16-strong squad has been selected for the first two Tests starting on 19 August, akin to a touring party and at risk of being bloated.

Although on announcing the squad yesterday - a group that has Jordan Cox slated to bat at No 3, with Jacob Bethell missing the series with a knee injury - the national selector, Marcus North, laid out the intended structure of the XI that will play under Joe Root when he dutifully returns to the captaincy.

The void left by Stokes will initially be filled by Dan Lawrence, who is back after two years on the sidelines and will bat at No 6 ahead of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Lawrence's whirligig off-breaks, plus Root, will allow four frontline quicks to play at Headingley and Lord's, two grounds where spin has a lesser role.

While confirming this, North also gave a strong endorsement of Sam Curran as the intended seam-bowling all-rounder down the line. Post-Stokes, Curran or similar appears the only way Shoaib Bashir - a spinner who offers precious little with the bat - can get into the side on seam-friendly pitches at home.

Curran is battling fitness niggles, however, and is not likely to be up to speed until the third Test. In the meantime, Lawrence has the chance to show he is an improved player since the last of his 14 outings.

Cox is something of a wildcard at No 3, even if he had spells opening for Kent before his move to Essex two years ago. Bethell's knee problem, which has put him out of action since the

QA Report - The Guardian - 07.08.2026.pdf

Pipeline

• Extraction route: mistral-ocr
• extraction_route=mistral-ocr
• Translation chunks: 96
• Extraction warnings:
• [OCR-ROUTE] FORCE-MISTRAL: All PDFs route directly to MistralOCR.

Non-model Checks

• WARNING: missing numeric tokens from source: 1028, 1101, 1118, 1120, 1128, 1133, 1203, 1208, 1218, 1223
• WARNING: Missing proper nouns in translation: Accell Group, Account Terms, Additionally Jill Ellis, Africa Centres, Africa Cup, After Robert Lewandowski, Agence France, Air Force One, Alan Milburn, Alan Milburn Former
• WARNING: source dates, money, or percentage tokens may be missing

Model QA

这是一份针对提供的翻译件的严格 QA 审核报告。

═══ 审核报告 ═══

1. 幻觉核查 (Hallucination Check)

• [FALSE_POSITIVE]：译文中关于“特朗普威胁将弹药短缺争议中的官员投入监狱”以及“和平委员会签署首个加沙合同”的内容，在提供的 STRATIFIED TEXT SAMPLES 中并未出现，但在 COMPLETE ARTICLE HEADLINE INDEX 中有明确的标题索引（如 # Trump threatens to jail 'treasonous' officials in munitions shortfall row 和 # Trump's Board of Peace issues first Gaza contract）。根据第一步协议，此类内容属于真实，非幻觉。

2. 关键缺陷审计 (Critical Defect Audit)

【数字与量级】 - [BLOCKING]：在“伯恩茅斯”部分，译文提到“利兹联就这位 23 岁球员与曼城达成 4000 万英镑 费用外加附加费的协议”。 - 核查：原文虽未在 Sample 中完整提供此段，但根据报纸翻译的一贯严谨性，此处数字量级巨大且关键，需与源文件最终核对。但在本 Prompt 提供的 STRATIFIED TEXT SAMPLES 中未见此段原文，且 数据参考 列表中未出现 4000 万，存在潜在的数字幻觉或 OCR 错误风险。 - [WARNING]：在“阿根廷”部分，日期译为 “15 July”，建议统一翻译为“7月15日”以符合中文报刊习惯。

【完整性与漏译】 - [BLOCKING]：严重漏译/截断。译文在“英格兰在后斯托克斯时代依赖人数优势”段落末尾，在 ![img-120.jpeg] 处戛然而止（“贝塞尔的膝盖问题使他自...以来一直无法参赛”）。原文在该处后应有具体的日期或时间描述，译文此处出现截断，导致句子不完整。 - [BLOCKING]：低 CJK 密度区域完全未翻译。 - Greg Wood 的赛马预测 区域完全丢失。 - 自行车赛 TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES 区域完全丢失。 - 足球赛程 (Candine Cup, William Hill 等) 区域完全丢失。 - 虽然步骤三提到“不需报告天气表格等”，但赛马预测和体育赛程属于报纸的功能性版面，在翻译任务中若无明确过滤指令，不应直接删除。

【交付标签与残留英文】 - [WARNING]：译文中仍保留多处英文日期（如 “7 August 2026”, “12 August”），建议全部转换为中文格式（如 “2026年8月7日”）。 - [WARNING]：译文中出现 $\rightarrow$ 符号，属于排版残留，应转换为文字引导（如“详见第 X 页”）。

【术语准确性】 - [WARNING]：在“社区偿还”部分，译文将 "community payback" 翻译为“社区偿还”，虽正确但在此语境下（刑事处罚）通常译为“社区服务”或“社区补偿”。

═══ 总结 ═══

审核结果：发现阻塞性问题 (Blocking Issues Found)

主要问题汇总： 1. 致命截断：板球文章末尾句子不完整，直接截断。 2. 大段漏译：低中文密度区域（赛马、自行车赛、足球赛程）被完全忽略。 3. 量级风险：4000 万英镑的转会费在提供的参考数据中无支撑，需核实是否为幻觉。 4. 格式问题：日期未统一本地化，残留 $\rightarrow$ 符号。