The i Newspapers - 07.08.2026.pdf

《i报》公正新闻 + 智能辩论

£1.10 2026年8月7日，星期五 第4,901号 theipaper.com

消费 我想让每个女性都知道关于金钱的一件事 凯蒂·派珀

文化 14本最佳奇幻小说

P42

政治 改革英国党（Reform UK）年收入激增2100 万英镑 » 数据显示法拉奇的政党收益超过代理人——进一步的捐款将提升明年的账目 P6

生活方式

“我秘密地打两份工” 关于“居家办公星期五”的真相 P34

访谈 我是个极端的人——我生活在两个极端 卡萨比安乐队主唱塞尔日·皮佐诺

P37

英格兰每条河流和湖泊均被有毒化学物质污染

• » 一份里程碑式的报告显示，英格兰所有的河流、湖泊、水库和运河都被永久性化学物质、微塑料、氨和磷酸盐污染
• » 六年来的首次评估显示，仅有14%处于“良好”的生态健康状态，许多被污水毒害，表明自2019年以来未取得任何进展
• » 环境署承诺，到2027年，英格兰4,658个水体中的75%将变得安全——但活动人士警告称这不会发生
• » 《i报》的“拯救英国河流”活动呼吁政府为实现其法律目标制定路线图 P9

观点 轮椅战士让我对自己感到糟糕 朱莉·伯奇尔 P21

教育 “我赌博并输了”：大学辍学者目前欠有£6bn的学生贷款 P7

体育 因凡蒂诺巨大的自我意识使世界杯陷入危险 丹尼尔·斯托里

P54

观点 - 剑桥大学在杰森·阿尔代这件事上错在哪里 P10 / 如何在度假时不花巨资 P19

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8月7日，星期五

今日金句 原谅你的敌人，但永远不要忘记他们的名字 约翰·F·肯尼迪

生日 查理兹·塞隆，演员，51, 大卫·杜科夫尼，演员，66, 吉米·威尔士，维基百科联合创始人，60, 亚历克谢·赛尔（见下文），喜剧演员，74, 格雷格·查佩尔，前板球运动员，78, 布鲁斯·迪金森，音乐家，68

周年纪念 1420年8月7日，星期三 菲利波·布鲁内莱斯基为佛罗伦萨大教堂建造的革命性圆顶开始施工。这一雄心勃勃的项目解决了主要的建筑挑战，成为文艺复兴工程的杰作，于1436.完工。

索引 / 纵横字谜 / 25

电视与广播 / 26 谜题 / 27 书籍 / 42 金钱 / 44 天气 / 48

新闻矩阵

今日概览

犯罪

慈善机构受数据泄露影响

一些慈善机构遭受了数据泄露打击，涉及一家常用于管理捐赠者信息的软件供应商。Beacon 客户关系管理系统表示，一个未经授权的第三方通过一个“受损的访问密钥”获得了访问权限，并补充说“数据库备份已被复制且可能已被下载”。

警察

音乐节使用面部识别

警方正在康沃尔的Boardmasters音乐节外使用实时面部识别摄像头（LFR）扫描人群，以阻止毒贩。LFR通过将实时摄像头画面与预先确定的监视名单进行对比来工作。这包括与刑事调查相关的警方通缉人员。

爱尔兰

特朗普的高尔夫访问仍不确定

爱尔兰总理米哈尔·马丁表示，关于美国总统唐纳德·特朗普可能为了爱尔兰公开赛访问爱尔兰一事，“没有任何确认”。位于克莱尔郡杜恩贝格的特朗普国际高尔夫链接及酒店将于下月举办爱尔兰公开赛。特朗普在独立日演讲中表示，他希望参加这次高尔夫锦标赛。

死因研讯

遗孀赢得在威尔士语中获得死亡通知的斗争

一名英国广播公司（BBC）前编辑的遗孀在丈夫去世三年多后，成功争取到了用威尔士语开具的死亡证明。65, 岁的 Aled Glyzne Davies 在加的夫意外掉入河中溺水身亡，关于其死亡的死因研讯于 2024. 9 月首次举行。由于此前收到的死亡证明仅为英文，他的妻子 Afryl Davies 此后一直推动对其死亡的双语认可。庞蒂普里德（Pontypridd）验尸官法院昨日举行了重新听证，并确认之前的死因研讯已被高等法院撤销，以便出具一份新的证明。

遗产

£450,000. 它将在纽卡斯尔的探索博物馆（Discovery Museum）展出。这面旗帜曾悬挂在“皇家主权号”（HMS Royal Sovereign）上，该舰是纳尔逊勋爵的副手库斯伯特·科林伍德（Cuthbert Collingwood）海军中将的旗舰。

榜单

利兹被冠以“打呼噜之都”

在打呼噜方面，有些城市的表现明显好于其他城市，而利兹、纽卡斯尔和莱斯特被列为英国最严重的几个城市。Zeus Sleep 的研究发现，东米德兰兹地区的人们平均因打呼噜者而损失 732 小时睡眠。打呼噜排名最高的城市依次为： - 1 利兹 - 2 纽卡斯尔 - 3 莱斯特 - 4 诺丁汉 - 5 格拉斯哥 - 6 伦敦 - 7 曼彻斯特 - 8 普利茅斯 - 9 伯明翰 - 10 布里斯托

法院

男子因 12, 岁男孩死亡被起诉

一名男子已从拉脱维亚被引渡至英国，并因一名学童在两年前的一起涉嫌肇事逃逸事故中死亡而被起诉。Keaton Slater, 12, 岁于 2024. 6 月在考文垂的 Radford 路被一辆黑色宝马车撞击后死亡。Dolara Aleksanders, 22, 岁已被还押候审。

人物

女演员 Driver 在车祸后“处于震惊状态”

女演员 Minnie Driver 表示，在一次前往巴黎的旅行中遭遇了“一次非常严重的车祸”后，她颈部扭伤且“处于震惊状态”。这位以《Good Will Hunting》而闻名的 56 岁演员在 Instagram 上分享了一段视频，视频中她戴着颈托，讲述了发生在“一条乡村公路”上的这次车祸。

朝鲜

平壤测试弹道导弹

据韩国军方称，朝鲜昨日向海域发射了一枚短程弹道导弹。平壤此次武器测试发生在美韩开始年度军事演习的前几天，朝鲜将该演习视为入侵演习。日本也表示，朝鲜可能试射了一枚弹道导弹。

法院

前警员与罪犯“过于亲近”

一名利用警察记录“窥探”犯罪关联人员信息的前警长被判处一年监禁，缓刑执行。曼彻斯特刑事法院昨日获悉，Daniel Hughes, 40, 岁与参与严重犯罪的人员变得“过于亲近”，与他们社交并一起出国度假。这名默西赛德郡警察在今年早些时候被陪审团裁定在 2016 和 2021. 期间的多个日期，共犯有八项未经授权访问计算机材料罪和三项泄露个人数据罪。

第 3 页人物档案

伊芙·缪尔黑德（EVE MUIRHEAD）重返冰场

刷刷，准备出发……冬奥会金牌得主伊芙·缪尔黑德在担任今年奥运会英国队（Team GB）代表团团长后，决定撤回其退休决定。在远离这项运动四年后，缪尔黑德将回归冰壶运动，在本赛季与两届奥运会银牌得主鲍比·拉米（Bobby Lammie）组成混双搭档。这对在2022年赢得世界冠军的组合，目标是参加2030年阿尔卑斯冬奥会。

再次冲击金牌。这位36岁的四届奥运选手在四年前于北京赢得金牌后停止了参赛。此后，缪尔黑德谈到了她在为赢得金牌奋斗15年期间所经历的心理健康挑战。她说，远离冰壶运动的时间让她有机会尝试新事物，并享受这项运动，“而不再有我多年来给自己施加的压力”。

这位苏格兰人在2月米兰-科尔蒂纳冬奥会担任代表团团长的经历让她渴望更多，因为这一角色“唤回了她很久没有感受到的情感”。

志在必得。缪尔黑德表示：“我竞争的一面从未消失，”并补充道，“我在顶尖体育和冰壶运动周围花费的时间越多，就越开始好奇自己是否在冰场上仍有贡献空间。”

缪尔黑德准备好面对前方艰巨的道路，而这一次她是以不同的心态面对。“我觉得精神焕发，身体强健，并对挑战感到兴奋。除非我相信自己能再次达到那个水平，否则我不会回来，”她说。

劳拉·巴特勒（Laura Butler）

美国

特朗普试图阻止财务披露

唐纳德·特朗普正寻求阻止在其针对英国广播公司（BBC）的100亿美元 (75亿英镑) 诽谤案中披露其财务记录。这位美国总统的法律团队已获得一项紧急暂停令，暂停法官要求其必须移交该广播公司所寻求文件的裁决，直到其修改起诉书以限制披露的申请结果出炉。

由于特朗普正试图将其主张缩小为名誉损害，而非最初指控的对其品牌和企业的更广泛损害，该命令的执行目前处于暂停状态。法院文件显示，英国广播公司反对这项暂缓动议。

报纸支持回收。2024年英国报纸的再生纸含量为37.2%。 由 Harmsworth Media 出版，地址：London, W8 5HX, Derry Street, 9。在英格兰和威尔士注册，编号 00084121。 由 Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Brandsport) 印刷。Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Knowsley), 69 Services (Jersey) Ltd, Newsprinters Holdings Ltd (Burscestrub), Lanarkshire; Irish Times (Citywest), Dublin, Ireland。 往期报纸可从 Historic Newspapers 购买，邮箱：info@historic-newspapers.com 2026年8月7日，星期五。在邮政局注册为报纸。

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新闻 2-25 观点 18-22 电视 26-31 星期五 37-43 星期一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026年8月7日，星期五 3

音乐

传闻蕾哈娜新专辑将采用雷鬼风格

说唱歌手 ASAP Rocky 确认其妻子蕾哈娜（Rihanna）正在创作新音乐。这位28岁的巴巴多斯歌手上一张专辑是2016年广受好评的《Anti》。此后，蕾哈娜育有两个儿子和一个女儿。有传闻称她的第九张专辑将是一张雷鬼唱片。

文化

Blue Note 爵士俱乐部将在伦敦开业

纽约著名的 Blue Note 爵士俱乐部将在伦敦西区开设其首家英国分店。该俱乐部位于科文特花园圣马丁巷酒店（St Martin's Lane hotel）的地下室，预计下月开业，将把英国顶尖的爵士乐与世界级的国际爵士及相关流派艺术家聚集在一起。

人物

Pretenders 乐队的海恩德恳请寻找丢失的爱犬

歌手克丽丝蒂·海恩德（Chrissie Hynde）表示，在寻找她两周多前失踪的“非常亲爱”的爱犬时，她感到“心碎不已”。这位74岁的 Pretenders 乐队主唱已在社交媒体上多次发出呼吁，希望找回她的杰克罗素梗混血犬 Nico，它最后一次出现是在伦敦北部的 Silkstream 公园。

电视

《艾默代尔》明星舞入《舞动严苛》

《艾默代尔》（Emmerdale）演员劳伦斯·罗布（Lawrence Robb）将参加英国广播公司（BBC）《舞动严苛》（Strictly Come Dancing）的新一季节目。出生于格拉斯哥的罗布在ITV肥皂剧中饰演丁格尔家族成员麦肯齐·“麦克”·博伊德（Mackenzie "Mack" Boyd）。他此前曾在西区出演音乐剧《律政俏佳人》（Legally Blonde: The Musical）。《舞动严苛》将于 19 September 开播。

环境记者 Lucie Heath 的来信 x@theipaper.com

水道报告读来令人心惊

每六年，环境署会承担起一项艰巨的任务，对英格兰境内 4,658 个内陆水体的健康状况进行分类。评估指标包括鱼类和无脊椎动物的数量，以及污染物和有毒化学物质的水平。

最新的结果已经出炉，情况不容乐观。我们的河流、湖泊、河口和地下水中，仅有 14.3% 的生态健康状况良好，且没有一条河流在化学健康方面处于良好状态。

根据这些结果，政府几乎肯定无法实现到明年年底前 77% 的水体健康状况良好的目标。正如长期环境活动家费加尔·沙基（Feargal Sharkey）昨天告诉我的，这些数据“可能是任何人见过的最糟糕的期末成绩单”。

最值得注意的是，自 2019 年上次公布这些分类以来，几乎没有取得进展。环境署声称，更新后的方法论是导致数据低迷的部分原因，然而分类结果也表明，英格兰的河流要达到安全且繁荣的状态还有很长的路要走。

公众对我们河流的意识在过去六年里发生了剧变。《i报》的“拯救英国河流”（Save Britain's River）活动在其中超过一半的时间里一直在呼吁变革。在全国各地可以看到一些小小的胜利；修复项目正将野生动物带回我们的水道，新的野泳地点也得到了清理。但整个系统的变革依然遥遥无期。

三星

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英国监管机构批准华纳兄弟收购案

作者：本·萨瑟兰（Ben Sutherland）

英国政府已批准派拉蒙（Paramount）以 810亿美元 (602亿英镑) 收购华纳兄弟探索（Warner Bros Discovery）。

竞争与市场管理局（CMA）和数字、文化、媒体和体育部（DCMS）此前都希望对此次合并进行评估，因为这可能会对英国电影和电视行业的很大一部分产生影响。

除了像《哈利·波特》这样的华纳兄弟知识产权外，涉及的资产还包括派拉蒙旗下的 Channel 5, 本地化的尼克儿童频道（Nickelodeon）节目以及华纳在英国的 TNT Sports 分支机构。

但这两个政府机构均已批准该交易继续进行。DCMS 表示，它已收到派拉蒙关于其在英国广播公司布局的几项“具有法律约束力的承诺”。

该部门表示，这包括维持 Channel 5, 的独立性，使其在编辑方向上与 CBS 和 CNN “完全分离”。派拉蒙还同意在英国不将其线性频道与点播服务合并，并且像尼克儿童频道和华纳兄弟的卡通网络（Cartoon Network）这样的儿童频道将保持独立。

健康 今年夏天可能会出现有史以来最高数量的与高温相关的死亡人数 PA

NHS 必须像“规划冬季那样”规划应对热浪

作者：Ella Pickover

NHS 已被要求每年为热浪的影响做准备，方式与规划冬季应对措施相同。

卫生大臣伊薇特·库珀（Yvette Cooper）表示，由于炎热天气的影响，前往急诊（A&E）部门就诊的人数“大幅增加”。她呼吁公众关注老年人以及其他易受极端高温影响的人群。

“我与急诊人员交谈过，他们告诉我，与高温相关的就诊人数大幅增加，这种情况通常只有在冬季才会出现，”她在 LBC 广播电台中表示。“因此，我的态度很明确：NHS 必须确保我们现在就以准备冬季的方式来准备应对夏季压力。”

“这意味着要确保制定好相应计划，以应对前往急诊就诊人数的增加——例如那些因高温而变得脆弱的人群；确保已采取相关安排，以便人们能尽快从医院出院；以及制定管理相关病况的安排。”

“但它还需要更强有力的预防措施——我们知道，在热浪袭击时，老年人和弱势群体面临风险。”

库珀还告诉 Times Radio：“高温确实有影响。在不同时间、不同地区发布高温健康预警，正是因为高温会对体弱、年长和脆弱人群产生影响，同样也会影响年幼的儿童。”

来自帝国理工学院（Imperial College London）、气象局（Met Office）和伦敦卫生与热带医学院的研究人员估计，今年夏天两次热浪期间，英格兰和威尔士共有 2,700 例超额死亡。

英国健康安全局上月表示，“2026 年可能会出现有记录以来最高数量的高温相关死亡人数”，将超过该机构开始研究此问题的 2022 年的数据。

天气

英格兰发布高温健康预警

作者：Mathilde Grandjean

由于预计气温将在周末回升，且下周可能达到 33℃，英格兰大部分地区已发布高温健康预警。

气象局称，气温从周三起已回落至接近该时段的平均水平，但预计从明天起将再次升高。

下周二，英格兰中部和南部以及威尔士部分地区的最高气温预计将在 30℃ 至 33℃ 之间。

英国健康安全局已向东米德兰兹、西米德兰兹、东南部、西南部、英格兰东部、约克郡和亨伯以及伦敦发布黄色高温健康预警。

这些预警将于明天上午 9 点生效，于 8 月 11 日周二晚上 9 点结束。

北爱尔兰和苏格兰部分地区预计明天将有云并伴有阵雨。

新闻，第 13 页 预报，第 48 页

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新闻 2-20 观点 18-22 电视 28-31 星期五 37-43 星期一 44-47 侦察 49-54 2026 年 8 月 星期五 5 封面故事

正式确认：英格兰的所有河流和湖泊均被有毒化学物质污染

作者：Lucie Heath 环境 / STANDIDROMENT

尽管有一项具有法律约束力的目标要求 75% 的水体应达到此标准，但英格兰只有不到 15% 的水体处于良好的生态状态。

由环境署（EA）每六年发布一次的最新水体分类结果揭示了英格兰河流、湖泊、河口和地下水的糟糕状况。仅 14.3% 被评估为至少具有“良好”的生态健康状况，该评估综合考虑了水道中的污染物水平以及鱼类和无脊椎动物的数量。

由于英格兰水道中发现了高水平的有毒物质，没有一条河流或湖泊处于良好的化学健康状态。

环境署根据一系列标准对全部 4,658 个地表水体进行了评估。根据规定，英国设有一个法律目标，即到 2027, 75% 的水体必须具有良好的生态状态，但环境署最新的分类结果确认，该目标很可能被广泛错过。

活动人士及前 Undertones 乐队主唱 Feargal Sharkey 称最新的分类结果“可能是任何人见过的最糟糕的期末成绩单”，并呼吁环境署董事会辞职。

慈善机构 WildFish 的法律主管 Justin Neal 表示：“这些可怕的数据不仅凸显了我们河流令人担忧的状态，还表明政府距离实现其自身目标还有多么遥远。”

湖区（Lake District）的 Grammire。数据显示，英格兰没有一条河流或湖泊处于良好的化学健康状态。GETTY

14.3% 英格兰河流、湖泊、河口和地下水中，至少具有“良好”生态健康状况的比例。如果一个水体拥有洁净的水质并支持多种繁茂的野生动物，则被评估为具有良好的生态健康状况。为了评估这一点，环境署测试了一系列污染物，包括微塑料、氨和磷酸盐，并观察野生动物种群。如果一个水体在其中任何一项指标上表现不佳，就不能被评估为具有“良好”的生态健康状况。

75% 英国法律约束的目标，即到 2027. 具有良好生态状态的水体比例应达到此数值。结果仅 14.3% 达到了这一标准，而 2019, 这一比例为 16.3%。

磷酸盐污染被确定为水体未能达到良好生态状态的主要原因之一。这种污染物通过污水排放或农业径流进入河流。当磷酸盐含量过高时，会剥夺河流中的氧气并导致有毒藻类爆发。

16.3% 2019 年英格兰河流、湖泊、河口和地下水中，至少获得“良好”评级的比例。

“你可以看到这种退化，”Sharkey 表示。

River Action 首席执行官 James Wallace 表示，最新的分类结果表明，英格兰的河流正被“那些追求利润、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”。

《i报》的“拯救英国河流”（Save Britain's Rivers）活动一直致力于揭露英国水道的现状，并呼吁政府采取更多措施来保护它们。

环境 没有水道被分类为“化学健康状况良好” 作者：Lucie Heath

根据最新的分类，英格兰没有河流、湖泊、运河或水库被分类为“化学健康状况良好”。

这一结果与 2019. 相同，表明自那时起没有任何改善。

这一结果几乎完全是由一小组化学物质驱动的，包括全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）——一种被广泛用作防污剂和灭火剂的“永久化学物质”——以及以前用作阻燃剂的多溴二苯醚（PBDEs）。

这两种化学物质都与野生动物和人类的一系列健康问题相关。PFOS 被认为与发育问题、生育能力下降以及癌症风险有关。一项 2002 年关于 PBDEs 潜在健康风险的研究发现，人们担心其在环境中的存在可能会导致甲状腺激素紊乱、神经发育缺陷和癌症。此外，通过饮食将 PBDEs 摄入人体与体重增加和肥胖的风险之间也存在正相关关系。这些物质目前已被禁止或受到严格限制，但它们在环境中的分解速度非常缓慢，这意味着它们将继续污染河流。汞污染是英格兰河流的另一个持久问题。

在深水中 污染规模被揭露

经过环境署（EA）六年的广泛研究，珍贵的白垩溪流和受采矿污染的河流被列为英格兰最糟糕的水体之列。昨天，环境署公布了英格兰 4,658 个地表水体（包括河流、湖泊、河口和地下水）的最新分类。这些水体被分为五个等级：高、好、中、差或极差。仅 14.3% 的水体被发现至少处于良好的生态健康状态。没有一个被评为“高”。这些分类每六年公布一次，基于一系列因素，包括鱼类和无脊椎动物种群，以及营养盐和化学污染。

河流根据物理因素被划分为不同的河段，例如当一条大型支流汇入时。在环境署分类的 3,772 个河段中，132 个（3%）被发现处于最糟糕的状态，这意味着其生态系统遭到严重破坏，无法支撑生物多样性。许多白垩溪流在名单之列，包括约克郡沃兹（Yorkshire Wolds）的 Gypssy Race、坎布里亚（Cumbria）的 Chalk Beck 和多塞特（Dorset）的 Devils Brook。白垩溪流是一种罕见的河流类型，发源于具有白垩基岩景观的地下泉水。全球仅有 210 条白垩溪流，其中 85% 位于英格兰。白垩起到了净化作用，这意味着水质应当异常洁净，但许多溪流却被严重污染。

许多被评为“极差”的河流是由于污水污染而受害，例如伦敦南部泰晤士河的支流旺德尔河（River Wandle）。然而，其他河流则因其他原因而失效，例如

旺德尔河的水受到污水污染的严重影响，北约克郡的 Ashfieldshide Beck，由于历史上的铅矿开采，该河段被重金属严重污染。林肯郡的东芬排水沟（East Fen Drain）和西芬排水沟（West Fen Drain）也在名单上，这些人工水道因农业而受到严重污染。

仅有四个河段达到了最高生态标准，包括诺森伯兰国家公园内的两条溪流 Barrow Burn 和 Ridless Burn。北奔宁山脉（North Pennines）蒂斯河（River Tees）源头的一段以及诺森伯兰蒂尔河（River Till）源头的一段也被评为“高”。水库的水是安全的，因为在进入家庭之前经过处理以去除污染和污染物。

Lucie Heath --- 6 新闻 政治

改革英国党（Reform UK）成为资金最充足的政党

作者：Sanya Burgess，调查记者

改革英国党（Reform UK）去年的收入激增了 2000 万英镑，使其成为英国资金最充足的政党，在筹款金额上超过了保守党。得益于包括总部位于泰国的加密货币亿万富翁克里斯托弗·哈博恩（Christopher Harborne）在内的少数捐赠者提供的惊人捐款，改革英国党在 2025 年底拥有 1000 万英镑.2m 的银行存款——高于任何其他政党。

选举委员会公布的政党账目显示，改革英国党在 2025 日历年筹集了 300 万英镑1,862,420。这一数字超过了保守党筹集的 300 万英镑0,942,000。虽然少于工党庞大的 4501.2万英镑，但改革英国党的支出较少，使其银行账户留有 1000万英镑，而工党则负债 200 万英镑。

筹款、周边商品销售和会员费的增加也促成了改革英国党报告的收入增长，高于 2024 年的 1000 万英镑.8m。

在奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）触发其所在的克拉克顿（Clacton）选区进行补选后，改革英国党将在本月晚些时候面临民调考验，因为他及其政党在捐款和支持方面面临着日益增加的审查。该党党魁因收到哈博恩的一笔 500万英镑 赠款而成为议会标准调查的对象，法拉奇称这是一笔用于支付其安保费用的私人捐款。一项针对该党未申报捐款的刑事调查也已启动。

此外，人们还对改革英国党副党魁理查德·泰斯（Richard Tice）在 2024 年提供的贷款，以及法拉奇助手兼被定罪的诈骗犯乔治·科特雷尔（George Cottrell）之母菲奥娜·科特雷尔（Fiona Cottrell）的捐款提出了质疑，有指控称乔治是这笔资金的来源。

改革英国党资金充裕的一个关键因素是捐款的激增，该党申报的捐赠资金达 200 万英镑2.9m，比前一年增加了 1700 万英镑。其中超过一半的资金来自仅三个人。哈博恩捐赠了 1200 万英镑，分为 2025 年 8 月的 900 万英镑 捐款和去年 11 月的 300 万英镑 捐款。这将出现在明年的账目中，今年 1 月又记录了一笔 300 万英镑 的捐款。DonationWatch 报告称，多年来他向改革英国党赠款 200 万英镑5.2m。

选举委员会的登记册中还有两笔重大捐款尤为突出。第一笔是来自加密货币商人乔治·科特雷尔之母菲奥娜·科特雷尔的 200 万英镑50,000，乔治为法拉奇的办公室和安保人员提供了资金。在收到选举委员会的转交后，苏格兰场在去年 1 月启动了一项调查，针对这位贵族之母总计 £500,000 的两笔捐款。其调查重点是涉嫌规避 2024 年选举的捐款限制。改革英国党否认有任何不当行为。

第三位值得注意的捐赠者是该党财务主管尼克·坎迪（Nick Candy），他在一年中总共捐赠了 900 万英镑90,000。

虽然改革英国党的捐款比前一年的 500 万英镑.9m 增长了 290%，但其他主要政党则经历了大幅下降。保守党申报的捐款从 200 万英镑8.1m 下降到 1500 万英镑，而工党的捐款则从 300 万英镑9.4m 下降到 650 万英镑。由于 2024 年是选举年，政党通常预期筹款和捐款会增加，因此 2025 年的资金下降并不罕见。

政治

绿党缩小成员差距

作者：哈里·泰勒（Harry Taylor）

根据最新账目显示，在工党 2025 年成员人数下降超过 20% 之后，绿党可能即将超越工党的成员规模。

工党的账目显示，其成员人数从 2024 年底的 333,235 人下降至 2025 年底的 264,754 人。

今年 5 月，绿党声称其成员总数为 230,000 人，这意味着其与工党的差距约为 35,000 人。

一名发言人表示，自扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）就任领导人以来，过去一年的成员人数增加了“四倍”。该党截至 12 月底的成员人数为 186,441 人。

工党人数的下降还可能增强改革英国党（Reform UK）关于其是英国成员人数最多政党的说法。其网站称其拥有超过 370,000 名成员。

自由民主党的成员人数在 2025 日历年下降了近 3,000 人。

POLITICS

若由改革英国党执政，英国电子烟店数量可能被限制在1,000家

作者：George Lithgow 和 Christopher McKeon

改革英国党（Reform UK）表示，将把全国电子烟店的数量限制在1,000家，以努力“夺回我们的商业街”。该党的内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫（Zia Yusuf）声称，限制经营许可证将“立即减少”70%的电子烟店数量。任何无证店铺将被警方和贸易标准局关闭。

尼格尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）领导的该党表示，犯罪资金正通过电子烟店、美甲店和理发店等商业街店铺进行洗钱，这些店铺还被指控雇佣非法劳工。

尤苏夫表示，改革英国党“将执行一项全面的战略以夺回我们的商业街”，这意味着电子烟店将“不再主导我们的购物区”。根据今年早些时候的一份贸易标准报告，在某些地区，估计多达一半的便利店和电子烟零售商与有组织犯罪有关。

尤苏夫在其他公告中还包括一项政策，即在没有持有完整英国驾照的情况下将车辆用于商业目的将被定为非法。他表示，改革英国党政府将设立一条“举报热线”，让人们举报商业街上的非法工作或帮派活动，并可能提供现金奖励。

改革英国党还宣布，根据所谓的“Deliveroo法”，将对相关公司处以其全球营收10%的罚款，并使首席执行官对非法雇佣承担个人和刑事责任。

他说：“英国将对那些雇佣非法移民的人实施全球最严厉的处罚。我们将针对非法工作引入全球任何地方最严苛的处罚。”

Deliveroo表示：“我们对所有骑手进行工作权利检查，每天进行多次身份核验，并使用尖端的欺诈检测技术，我们鼓励其他受非法工作影响的行业也这样做。”

内政部表示：“我们已经通过将工作权利检查扩展到零工经济和配送领域，正在堵住允许非法移民在英国工作的漏洞。”

工党主席布里奇特·菲利普森（Bridget Phillipson）表示：“这是改革英国党最新的绝望尝试，旨在转移人们对笼罩在尼格尔·法拉奇及其政党身上且不断增加的丑闻清单的注意力。”

“本届政府已经在打击非法工作。”

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新闻 2-26 观点 16-22 电视 26-31 周五 17-23 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026年8月7日，星期五

苏格兰

SNP在穆雷尔丑闻中将房车列为损失

作者：Craig Paton

文件显示，苏格兰民族党（SNP）已将其账目中由前首席执行官彼得·穆雷尔（Peter Murrell）使用党内资金购买的房车价值列为损失。

选举委员会昨日公布的该党资产负债表显示，这辆价值£100,000的车辆已从其账簿中移除。

穆雷尔（插图）——前首席部长尼古拉·斯特根（Nicola Sturgeon）的分居丈夫——在今年早些时候承认挪用SNP超过£400,000的资金，被判处五年以上监禁。

账目中还显示，穆雷尔在2021年向该党提供的一笔贷款中仍有£60,000未获偿还。该数字仍留在资产负债表上，但该党表示穆雷尔尚未“正式要求”偿还该款项，且不确定是否必须偿还。

犯罪

塞特福德骚乱期间一名警员被咬

作者：Sam Hall

本周，在一家集镇发生的第二晚动乱期间，一名女警员被“严重咬伤”，人群试图冲击与寻求庇护者有关的住宅。

周三在诺福克郡塞特福德（Thetford）发生反移民抗议活动后，两名警察被送往医院，随后两名男子被逮捕。

这是继周二晚上发生事件后的第二个动乱之夜。

警方表示，窗户被砸碎，围栏被破坏，且有人试图闯入一处住宅物业。一段发布在社交媒体上的视频显示，在愤怒的人群嘘声、大喊“滚出去”以及发表反对在该地区安置寻求庇护者的言论中，五名男子被警方从一处物业中押解而出。该镇的国会议员特里·杰米（Terry Jermy）表示，“过去几天在塞特福德（Thetford）发生的丑陋场景令人难以直视，且深感担忧”。教育

数千名学生仍在偿还未完成学位的贷款

独家报道 记者 Eleanor Langford（政治记者）

活动人士表示，在数据显示数万名前学生仍在偿还从未完成的课程贷款后，年轻人需要更好的职业指导以及在学习选择上拥有更大的灵活性。

这份与《i报》独家分享的数据显示，有 191,500 人尽管从未完成学位，但仍在偿还学生贷款。该数据涵盖了 2021 年后在英格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰申请贷款的人员。Teneo International School 根据《信息自由法》获得的数据显示，这些人共欠款超过 59亿英镑 —— 且随着贷款利息的增加，这一数字预计将继续增长。

2020-21 学年的第一年辍学者目前平均欠款约 £30,000，而 2024-25 学年离校者的平均欠款约为 £26,100。

教育部认为，无论课程是否完成，支付课程费用都是“公平的”。但其他人表示，这些数字表明系统存在“僵化”、学生选择匮乏，以及利率的不公平导致债务在定期还款的情况下依然持续增长。

一名叫 James 的学生在曼彻斯特就读建筑学学位第三年期间辍学，离校时欠款 £47,000，由于利息原因，现在欠款已达 £62,000。他说他感到“对这个系统相当愤怒”，并且自己“赌输了”。

191,500 尽管从未完成学位但仍在偿还学生贷款的人数

59亿英镑 2021 年后申请贷款且从未完成学位的人员累计欠款金额

数以千计的辍学者仍在偿还从未完成学位的贷款。这些数字仅包括随后没有重新注册课程的学生。《i报》今年早些时候获得的另一组数据显示，在高等教育过程中某个时间点辍学的所有学生总共欠款 1.25 亿英镑。

首相 Andy Burnham 已将教育改革作为其任职初期的标志性项目 —— 承诺为年轻人消除“死胡同”，并公布了扩大技术路线以替代大学的计划。

这些发现出炉之际，工党面临着采取行动的压力，新任教育大臣 Lucy Powell 将目前的学生贷款系统称为“极其糟糕”。超过 120 名国会议员和贵族院议员已致信财政大臣 John Healey，要求进行“紧急审查”。

全国学生会（National Union of Students）高等教育副总裁 Lewis Wilson 指出，59亿英镑 的欠款与 300亿英镑 的全国学生债务总额相比“微不足道”，并指责财政部“利用债务牟利”。他表示，这些数字并非反对大学的理由，而是支持“全面学生贷款改革”的理由。

Powell 表示，她希望研究 Plan 2 贷款的利率 —— 该贷款由 2012 年至 2023 年间开始就读大学的英格兰学生申请，且在威尔士仍在使用 —— 目前利率上限为 6%，毕业生需偿还超过起征点收入的 9%。

最近的审查始于 Rachel Reeves 在担任财政大臣的最后一次预算案中，将该起征点冻结在 £29,585，导致随着工资上涨，更多毕业生被纳入还款范围。

教育部一名发言人表示，“大约 9 成本科生完成了课程”，且对于申请贷款的人来说，偿还贷款是“公平的”。但该发言人补充道：“显然，年轻人从一开始就需要被赋予真正的选择。”

学生贷款公司（Student Loans Company）的一名发言人补充说，学生在申请资助时同意了贷款条款和条件，如果他们退出学习，将根据“这些条款”在次年 4 月进入还款阶段。

法律

斯塔默被要求对唐宁街10号的维修工程提出“异议”

独家报道 劳拉·巴特勒（Laura Butler）

基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）收到了一封信函，询问他是否想对唐宁街10号的翻修计划提出异议。这位曾住在唐宁街11号公寓的前首相，由于邻近的唐宁街10号（其官方住所）计划翻修台阶，因此收到了该通知。

这封来自威斯敏斯特市议会的信函并未直接称呼斯塔默。唐宁街10号在去年11月提交了一份规划申请，请求根据法定建筑规则获得该工程的许可。这触发了向邻居发送官方通知的程序，其中包括住在11.的斯塔默。

该地址在官方定义上是财政大臣的住所。在斯塔默任内担任财政大臣的瑞秋·里夫斯（Rachel Reeves）住在10.上方的一套公寓里。

这封邻里通知信于今年24 February发送。信中简要将该计划描述为“台阶外部工程申请”，并询问居民是否想要“发表评论”。

目前尚不清楚涉事台阶是指向唐宁街10号著名的黑门的那组台阶，还是属于另一个入口。出于安全原因，10号的布局不予公开。

信中详细说明了在线提出疑虑的指令，建议接收者了解“该提案可能产生的影响”。

威斯敏斯特市议会向唐宁街12号（10号工作人员的办公室）发送了同样的信函。街道沿线张贴了带有评论链接的海报，而该街道不对任何没有官方许可、新闻通行证或邀请的人员开放。

该申请于31 March获得批准，但翻修的具体性质仍不明确。规划图纸被列为机密，这在规划申请中并不常见，但被认为是由于10号的安全状态所致。

当地规划部门会将邻里通知信发送给拟建开发项目相邻或附近的物业。这是根据《1990年城镇与乡村规划法》和《1990.年规划（法定建筑与保护区）法》的要求。

已联系威斯敏斯特市议会、唐宁街10号及财政部。

--- 8 新闻评论

巴登诺克夺回右翼的计划充满风险 Kitty Donaldson

保守党领袖凯米·巴登诺克（Kemi Badenoch）决定允许一名（尽管已改过自新的）前新纳粹分子竞选保守党议员，这不仅让人对其判断力产生质疑，还引发了对其政治战略更广泛的担忧。在经历了一天的愤怒情绪后，约书亚·博恩希尔-佩恩（Joshua Bonehill-Paine）意识到形势不利，决定退出。他是《克鲁克恩公报》（Crewkerne Gazette）的创建者，这是一个拥有小众追随者的讽刺性在线AI视频账号。博恩希尔-佩恩在2016年因种族骚扰前工党议员卢西亚娜·伯格（Luciana Berger）而被定罪，而当时他正因分享反犹太主义帖子而被判处三年多监禁。此后，他将自己过去的观点描述为“不可原谅”，并表示自2018年出狱以来，他多年来一直致力于反对反犹太主义。

且不论巴登诺克的言语技巧——她通过声称议员与国会议员不同，仅处理垃圾桶和停车问题，从而得罪了那些分发传单的保守党人——这场争端再次引发了党内最后剩余的中间派的担忧，即巴登诺克正在争取过于狭窄的一类选民。在克鲁克恩的这场争端发生前不久，她刚刚拒绝了中间派前保守党议员作为下次选举的候选人。在“一国保守主义”（One Nation）旗帜下松散聚集的中左翼保守党人担心，她正在将他们以及那些可能被说服投票给保守党的“政治无家可归者”边缘化。

巴登诺克目前战略的选举逻辑基于这样一个假设：自2024年以来，大多数转向改革英国党（Reform UK）的选民都属于右翼。该理论认为，保守党的生存威胁并非自由民主党在西南部的温和阵地中蚕食份额，而是奈杰尔·法拉奇在蚕食他们的基本盘。这正确吗？工党流向改革英国党的2024年选民较少。但保守党的情况也是如此。

对于曼彻斯特大学政治学教授罗伯特·福特（Robert Ford）来说，目前的战略意味着巴登诺克即便在最好的情况下——且如果顺风地见证工党衰落——也只能将自己局限在选后与改革英国党组建联合政府或组建少数派政府。福特认为，她无法在目前的道路上赢得绝对多数，而需要向黄色标志的自由民主党控制区渗透。“地图上那个巨大的黄色斑块是一个大问题。那里全部是前保守党席位。如果不赢回至少一部分‘一国保守主义’类型的选民，很难赢回其中的大部分。如果你不能赢回那个巨大黄色斑块中的一部分，那么你的325个席位究竟从哪里来？”他说道。

中间派保守党人感到担忧。“我与那些接近核心圈的人交谈，这意味着他们真心认为自由民主党不是威胁，而他们在这一点上错了，”一名保守党人抱怨道。“你可以在没有‘红墙’的情况下赢得选举，因为我们在2017年没有赢得其中任何一个席位，但仍然拥有某种程度的多数席位。然而，如果你不能赢得肯特郡的一半、萨里郡的一半、赫特福德郡和地图上那个巨大的黄色斑块是一个大问题。那里全部是前保守党席位牛津郡，那么很难看出你如何构建保守党的多数席位，”他们补充道。

巴登诺克的盟友则认为，重建保守党品牌还处于相对早期阶段：“只有时间才能让选民原谅我们，”一名影子内阁部长如此表示。党内人士指出，新政策包括取消商店和酒吧的商业税、废除印花税以及退出《欧洲人权公约》（ECHR）。所有这些政策旨在向右倾选民保证，保守党而非改革英国党，才是符合其直觉的胜任载体。

他们还表示，左右之分已经过时，选民们对“小船”（非法移民船）问题感到如此厌倦，以至于几年前还令人震惊的退出欧洲人权公约（ECHR）的想法，现在已成为主流。他们称，政府对净零目标的追求让该党赢得了阿伯丁南区的补选。尽管如此，英国政坛的右翼领域过于拥挤，保守党、改革英国党（Reform UK）和恢复英国党（Restore Britain）都在争夺选票。巴德诺克拒绝了所有关于选举协议的想法。但本周，恢复英国党的领导人鲁珀特·洛（Rupert Lowe）——一名曾与法拉奇闹翻的前改革党议员——向他的前同事伸出了橄榄枝。这让一些保守党人感到担忧，他们认为巴德诺克将洛分配到下议院公共账户遴选委员会的一个党派席位是在玩火。当时，保守党将其辩护为一项旨在减少公共支出浪费的跨党派努力。法拉奇声称他们之间达成了一项“协议”。一名保守党议员质疑道：“让我担心的是她与洛关系良好，我告诉自己凯米曾认同他想要摧毁法拉奇的想法，但现在他不想这么做了。那我们该怎么办？”巴德诺克表示，她相信改造。这就是为什么她向博恩希尔-佩恩提供了一个担任该党文化与融合委员会顾问的职位，他将专门关注年轻人如何被激进化。她的批评者称，这反映出她在战略和判断力上的根本缺失。她的盟友则希望那些在政治上无家可归的人能意识到她是正确的，并重新审视。

WELFARE

保守党将限制外国人的社会住房

作者：Rhiannon James

该党表示，在保守党政府领导下，外国国民将失去在英国获得社会住房的权利。保守党声称，由于他们限制社会住房权益的计划，将有约 230,000 套住房被释放。不符合条件的租户将被要求在六个月内搬离住所。

任何目前居住在社会住房中且非英国、爱尔兰或欧盟公民的单身人士都将失去其社会住房。这包括那些育有子女的人。拥有欧盟定居身份（由于连续居住五年，允许欧盟、欧洲经济区和瑞士公民在英国无限期生活和工作）的人员将不会被驱逐。

在未来的租赁方面，拥有欧盟定居身份的人将符合条件，但没有此类身份的欧盟公民则不符合。夫妻双方均非英国或欧盟公民且没有欧盟定居身份的，将失去其权益。

影子工作与养老金大臣海伦·沃特利（Helen Whately）表示：“将英国作为你的家……不应意味着在福利制度中搭便车。”工党称这是一个“不严肃、不可行的提案”。

政治

领导人排除与“觉醒”的改革党达成协议

作者：Christopher McKeon

凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）在再次排除与奈杰尔·法拉奇（Nigel Farage）的政党达成协议时，将改革英国党（Reform UK）描述为“觉醒”的。

这位保守党领导人在接受 Political Currency 播客采访时表示，无论在下次选举前还是选举后，她都不会与改革党达成任何协议。她说，她不希望公众对“保守党代表什么”感到“困惑”。

她补充道：“改革党是一个觉醒的政党……但当我谈论觉醒时，我谈论的是那些……一切都是委屈，都是受害者叙事，人们在这样对待我们，压迫者叙事，这是压迫阶级。

这一切都是抱怨和发牢骚，而不是真正的解决方案。这关乎权力动态以及如何获得权力，而不是……如何解决问题。”

改革党的内政发言人齐亚·尤苏夫（Zia Yusuf）表示，巴德诺克开始“给我们贴标签”，是因为她最近“这几天过得并不太好”。

“她说我们是一个满腹委屈的政党。确实如此。我们的委屈在于[他们]花了 14 年时间欺骗英国公众。”

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西部 2-35 观点 18-22 电视 28-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56

2026 年 8 月 7 日 周五 9

保持联系的方式

卫生大臣伊薇特·库珀（Yvette Cooper）昨天访问了谢菲尔德的一家社区心理健康中心。

政府宣布，从今年秋天起，全英将开设多达 159 个 NHS 中心——分布在图书馆、银行和其他商业街地点——以便让人们“在离家更近的地方更早获得支持”。

ANNABEL LEE-ELLISIPA

社会

大多数青少年将选择退出社交媒体宵禁

作者：Christopher McKeon

民意调查显示，大多数青少年打算选择退出政府计划实施的社交媒体宵禁。

基尔·斯塔默爵士（Sir Keir Starmer）在离任前的最后几周公布了针对 16 岁和 17 岁青少年的自愿宵禁计划。

该宵禁将默认禁止青少年在午夜至凌晨 6 点之间访问社交媒体网站，但可以关闭。

Censuswide 的调查发现，84.6% 的 16 至 18 岁青少年表示他们将选择退出拟议的宵禁。

此外，45.2% 的青少年表示他们会关闭宵禁以便与朋友或家人交谈，另有 37.2% 的人会关闭宵禁以观看在线内容。

84.6% 选择退出社交媒体宵禁的 16 至 18 岁青少年的百分比

在线责任网络（Online Responsibility Network）的监管负责人利安·普罗克特（Leanne Proctor）表示，研究表明，仅靠宵禁“可能不足以防止在线伤害”。

她说：“与其依赖服务层面的限制，应该更加关注设计功能层面的保护和强有力的年龄验证。”

旅行

电力中断导致英格兰北部铁路运行紊乱

作者：Pat Allingham

昨日高峰时段，一场电力中断导致英格兰中西部和西北部的火车陷入停滞。电力供应故障于昨日下午2点前不久发生在曼彻斯特，影响了信号系统和通信。CrossCountry、TransPennine Express、Northern以及威尔士交通局（Transport for Wales）均建议乘客不要出行。TransPennine Express表示，由于此次故障，其列车“无法安全运行”。

乘客被困在全国各地的车站。其中一人布拉德利·布莱克（Bradley Black）从北部前往伯明翰出差，随后被困在伯明翰新街车站（New Street station）。他告诉英国广播公司（BBC）：“我刚结束工作，试图在下午3点下车，以便回去接女儿放学。我到了新街车站，结果所有北上的火车都被取消了。这绝对不理想。”

截至昨晚《i报》发稿时，国家铁路公司（Network Rail）正在努力修复问题，预计今日不会继续出现紊乱，尽管官员们尚未排除这种可能性。国家铁路公司西北线路总监克里斯·赖特（Chris Wright）昨日表示：“对于曼彻斯特电力问题导致穿城列车严重延误而受到影响的乘客，我们深表歉意。”

据报道，由于连接备用电源延迟，电力中断时间被延长。由于信号故障，受影响线路上的所有列车必须立即停止运行。

昨日曼彻斯特发生电力供应故障

在塔姆沃思（Tamworth）和伯顿-昂-特伦特（Burton-on-Trent）之间的铁路附近发现的一枚战争时期炸弹也加剧了紊乱，导致所有线路被封锁。交通大臣海蒂·亚历山大（Heidi Alexander）表示，在国家铁路公司努力解决问题的同时，她正在“接收定期更新”。亚历山大表示：“预计在今天剩余时间内仍会出现紊乱，因此请在出行前进行检查。”

电力中断发生在靠近阿什伯里斯站（Ashburys station）的曼彻斯特铁路运行中心。它是为了管理整个英国铁路网络而建设的12个运行中心之一。这些设施取代了此前用于控制列车的800个信号箱及其他安装设备。根据官方蓝图，曼彻斯特铁路运行中心将在2034,年之前控制英格兰西北部的所有铁路。

独立监督机构交通焦点（Transport Focus）的亚历克斯·坎贝尔（Alex Campbell）提醒受影响人员，如果符合条件，请申请“延误赔付”（Delay Repay）补偿。

航空

荷罗都拨款£1m恢复岛屿航班

作者：Rachel Keenan

苏格兰政府已确认，今年晚些时候将恢复从因弗内斯（Inverness）飞往各岛屿的航班。Loganair航空公司上个月因可持续性问题削减了服务，但表示如果能获得100 万英镑.3m的资金，服务可在10月恢复正常。

苏格兰政府现已宣布，将向高地和岛屿机场有限公司（Hial）提供超过£1m的资金，用于全面恢复从因弗内斯起飞的岛屿航空服务。该资金将恢复连接因弗内斯与刘易斯（Lewis）、奥克尼（Orkney）和设得兰（Shetland）的航空服务频率，并将从26 October开始。

经济、旅游和交通大臣斯蒂芬·弗林（Stephen Flynn）表示：“我很高兴苏格兰政府确认提供超过£1m的资金，以支持全面重启连接因弗内斯与斯托诺韦（Stornoway）、柯克沃尔（Kirkwall）和桑伯格（Sumburgh）的航空服务。”

“Hial和Loganair通过商业讨论协作，以重启这些服务，为乘客提供更大的确定性。”

“苏格兰交通局（Transport Scotland）现在将与Hial及行业利益相关者合作，讨论可持续长期解决方案的下一步措施。”

商业

私募股权公司在£5.7bn交易中收购easyJet

作者：Henry Saker-Clark

在竞争对手Castlelake退出这场针对这家廉价航空公司的竞标战后，easyJet将由私募股权公司Apollo以£5.7bn的价格收购。Castlelake此前曾提出£5.5bn的收购报价，但上个月被Apollo超越。在今天的截止日期前，Castlelake确认其不打算提出正式的收购要约，从而使Apollo能够推进其交易。

这家同时拥有Wagamama所有者The Restaurant Group的美国公司，将向股东支付每股715便士的价格来收购该业务。该交易还需要通过股东投票批准，预计将在明年第一季度完成。

easyJet由Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou于1995年创立，旨在作为英国航空的低成本替代方案，此后它已成为欧洲最大的航线网络之一。拥有该公司约15 per cent股份的Haji-Ioannou及其家人已对此次收购表示支持。

“我对Apollo关于easyJet业务的战略意图感到满意，这些意图旨在创造更多增长，”Haji-Ioannou表示。“我和我的家人打算在公司旅程的下一篇章中，继续作为长期主要股东持有投资。”

easyJet非执行主席Sir Stephen Hester表示：“easyJet董事会对Apollo的提案以及easyJet独立发展的前景进行了仔细评估。”

“虽然我们对自身业务的实力和未来的机遇充满信心，但我们认为此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的、确定的且具有吸引力的价值。”

Apollo的高管表示，他们认为这家航空公司是全球航空领域“最具吸引力的企业之一”。

该公司合伙人兼欧洲私募股权负责人Alex van Hoek表示：“我们很荣幸能够获得信任，在easyJet集团增长的下一阶段发挥主导支持作用，并进一步增强其对欧洲和英国航空业的重要贡献。”

EasyJet创立之初是作为英国航空的低成本替代方案 --- 10 新闻 # 教育

绿党领袖为因剽窃争议辞职的剑桥大学教授辩护

作者：Ellie Ng

绿党领袖扎克·波兰斯基（Zack Polanski）为一名在剽窃指控中辞职的前剑桥大学教授辩护。

杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）在周三晚上辞职，此前剑桥大学表示，在获得“关于阿尔代教授学术资格和荣誉职位的最新信息”后，正在对其进行调查。

伦敦警察厅局长马克·罗利爵士（Sir Mark Rowley）昨日表示，警方在对一名向阿尔代发送询问邮件的记者启动骚扰调查一事上“失职”了。

社会学家阿尔代上周面临指控，称其在利物浦约翰摩尔斯大学（Liverpool John Moores University）的博士论文中存在部分剽窃。他还面临关于其体育和筹款成就的质疑，包括他曾在六天内跑了 600 英里并为慈善机构筹集了 550 万英镑。

阿尔代在 2023. 年成为剑桥大学最年轻的黑人教授，当时他 37 岁。

在警方调查一名向阿尔代发送询问邮件的《高等教育时报》（Times Higher Education）记者一事曝光后，苏格兰场也被卷入这场争端。记者杰克·格罗夫（Jack Grove）直到伦敦警察厅告知他该案件将被关闭后，才得知自己曾被调查涉嫌骚扰。

杰森·阿尔代，图中与 2012, 年的奥运火炬合影，已从剑桥大学的职位上辞职。 JOE GUDENSA, OCGGIPA

伦敦警察厅局长马克·罗利爵士昨日承认警方“在那件事上失职了”，并表示骚扰指控本应“更早地被筛选掉，判定为无需调查”。

英格兰和威尔士绿党领袖波兰斯基为其签署一封批评针对阿尔代诚信进行“持续且恶意攻击”的信函的行为辩护。该信函还由其他左翼人物签署，包括工党议员约翰·麦克唐纳（John McDonnell）、贝尔·里贝罗-阿迪（Bell Ribeiro-Addy）、克莱夫·刘易斯（Clive Lewis）、纳迪亚·惠特莫尔（Nadia Whitmore）和阿普萨娜·贝古姆（Apsana Begum）。

波兰斯基告诉 LBC：“我认为大学已经进行了两次调查，并发现这里没有问题，或者指控是没有根据的。”

此前利物浦约翰摩尔斯大学的一项调查已证明阿尔代没有违规行为。

阿尔代在辞职信中表示，“结束这一章节的唯一方法就是离开”。

他说：“这一决定不应被解读为对学术信仰的丧失。也不应被误认为是对围绕我的那些说法的认可。”

回忆录将于本月出版

尽管陷入丑闻，杰森·阿尔代的个人回忆录仍将于本月晚些时候出版。

西蒙与舒斯特出版社（Simon & Schuster）表示，计划于 11 August 在美国、27 August 在英国出版《伟大而不幸的事》（Great and Unfortunate Things）。

阿尔代此前告诉《卫报》，这本书获得了“14m”的报价，但未指明该金额是英镑还是加元。

该书的预订列表将其描述为一部“强而有力且令人深感触动的回忆录”，讲述了“激发全球读者共鸣的病毒式新闻轰动背后的不可思议的真实故事”。

记者本杰明·瑞安（Benjamin Ryan）表示，对泄露的美国版和英国版样书的对比表明，该书在英国出版前经过了编辑。

据认为，西蒙与舒斯特出版社已经印制了该书。

在阿尔代辞职前的一份声明中，西蒙与舒斯特出版社表示：“自收购该书以来，我们与杰森·阿尔代教授在《伟大而不幸的事》上紧密合作，可以证明他在出版的每个阶段都展现出了专业精神和诚信。”

“这本书是通过他自己的回忆以及与他最亲近的人的回忆来讲述的。”

观点

阿尔代事件揭露了一些值得质疑的思维方式

聚光灯必须聚焦在剑桥大学

梅兰妮·麦克多纳（Melanie McDonagh） 专栏作家及作者

要弄清楚杰森·阿尔代（Jason Arday）事件该由谁负责并不难，线索就在于：责任不在杰森·阿尔代。如果你正处于学术界那些竞相推崇你的人们所带来的赞誉和盲目崇拜的浪潮之中，那么，很难责怪你不想离开。你还不如去责怪珀金·沃贝克（Perkin Warbeck）被设定为“塔中王子”之一；他并不是主谋。不，是剑桥大学——我自己的母校——在这起糟糕事件中的处理方式，往好里说显得粗心且狡诈。首先，校方急于否认关于阿尔代剽窃以及虚构体育成就的指控，而这些指控是非常可信的。（本科生若是做出此类行为可能会被开除。）随后，阿尔代的支持者们竭力指责怀疑者种族主义，而不是面对证据——不仅针对某个个体，而是针对任何意识到有问题的人。

这里真正的问题不在于对阿尔代那些字面意义上不可思议的成就持有极大的轻信，而是一个更大的问题：剑桥大学学术标准的下降。阿尔代曾是该校教育学院的教育社会学教授。诚然，随着时间的推移，会出现一些适合大学的新兴、非传统学科，但有些学科的严谨程度根本无法与其他学科相比。只需阅读阿尔代在其中一篇论文摘要中使用的那些胡言乱语即可。更关键的是，剑桥大学将其教育系扩大为大学内部的一个学院，这贬低了品牌。它不是一个可信的学院，教育也不是一个可信的学术科目——它不能与古典学或数学相提并论。看看该学院的教授希拉里·克雷明（Hilary Cremin）将阿尔代称为“最优秀中的最优秀”就知道了。但在参与了这场幻想之后，剑桥大学现在得解释为什么给阿尔代设定的门槛如此之低，这对剑桥来说是新鲜事。唯一能解释这一点的是，他的故事是许多人真心希望它是真实的故事。这还不够充分，不是吗？

剑桥大学为这段故事点燃了第一把火

阿尔比·阿曼科纳 (Albie Amankona) 广播员兼活动人士

这场丑闻包含了所有令无聊的评论界梦寐以求的元素：剑桥大学、高风险的剽窃指控，以及点击率的圣杯——批判种族理论。再加上一位在“黑人的命也是命”（Black Lives Matter）运动后被任命的、年轻英俊、出身工人阶级且患有神经多样性的黑人教授，而且他即将出版回忆录。再加上他参加超马赛、为慈善事业筹集数百万资金，以及据称有持刀种族主义者在他位于剑桥的办公室附近跟踪的背景故事，这简直是一个为驱动算法和新闻流而量身定制的故事。

但评论界是否在无意中策划了一场猎巫行动？在BLM之后，建制派忘记了真正的平等意味着平等的对待，而非特殊的对待。但同样真实的是，这个故事被播种的方式使其变成了一场血腥运动。

直接原因可以追溯到阿尔代的非凡背景，以及前剑桥学者内森·科尔纳斯（Nathan Colnas）的Substack博客。科尔纳斯理论认为，在真正的精英管理制度下，黑人将从体育和娱乐之外的高端职位中消失。今年夏天，他发布了关于阿尔代博士论文剽窃的指控。随后引发了一场狂热。从右翼的《每日电讯报》到左翼的《卫报》，接连不断的揭露，并在国内被英国广播公司（BBC）、在国外被《纽约时报》放大。这变成了一道震耳欲聋的噪音之墙，以至于阿尔代辞职了。

媒体在揭露潜在的不诚实和制度失败方面履行了职责。但一个人的职业生涯以最公开的方式被摧毁了。这是一个成比例的结果吗？

土壤早已干枯。剑桥大学对阿尔代大肆宣传——随后又强力地为他辩护——点燃了第一把火。它塑造阿尔代的方式以及随后处理该故事的方式，给了他的追随者所需的一切。当我们剖析这个可悲的故事时——这究竟是公平的博弈，还是一个将争议转化为英镑的合法商业追求？

剑桥大学有许多问题需要回答。

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新闻 2-20 观点 16-22 电视 28-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 11 8月 周五

为《Sunny》戴上墨镜

从左至右，Ruby Stokes, Jasmine Elcock, Conrad Khan, Bella Ramsey, Earl Cave 和 Daniel Quinn-Toys昨晚出席在伦敦Genesis电影院举行的《Sunny Dancer》伦敦首映式。曾在《权力的游戏》中出演的Ramsey在片中饰演Ivy，一名57岁的女性，在癌症康复后，她的父母为她报名参加了一个她称之为“化疗营”的夏季活动，在那里她在一群不合群的人中找到了意想不到的朋友。这部英国喜剧电影还由《是我怎样的遇见你的》明星尼尔·帕特里克·哈里斯（Neil Patrick Harris）和《快乐谷》的詹姆斯·诺顿（James Norton）主演。 LIA TOBHEETTY

体育

欧洲足球主管们坚持世界杯抵制威胁

作者：巴里·古德温（Barry Goodwin）

在因凡蒂诺誓言继续担任国际足联（Fifa）主席后，欧洲球队再次发出抵制世界杯的威胁。足球管理机构国际足联表示，尽管因凡蒂诺在放弃出售世界杯商业股份计划后面临巨大的辞职压力，但他仍拥有国际足联的“全力支持”。

欧足联（Uefa）上周表示，如果该计划继续实施，其 55 个成员将抵制包括世界杯在内的国际足联赛事。这一威胁迫使因凡蒂诺废除了该提案，该提案原计划由私人投资者购买国际足联赛事的股份。

一个由欧足联领导的全球足球协会联盟旨在罢免因凡蒂诺。但国际足联董事会在周三晚上于摩洛哥举行的一次特别会议上，对这位瑞士-意大利裔人士表示支持。

欧足联昨天表示，国际足联对因凡蒂诺的支持“没有任何改变”，且其抵制世界杯的威胁依然有效。

欧足联表示：“我们的协会对于不参加国际足联赛事的附加条件非常明确。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，对其对因凡蒂诺主席的信心已经丧失。这一立场保持不变。昨天宣布的一些由国际足联主席雇佣（且其职业生涯依赖于他的青睐）的人员同意他的观点，这改变不了任何事情。”

因凡蒂诺原计划创建一家名为国际足联前行企业（Fifa Forward Enterprise, FFE）的公司，用于管理其赛事，包括男女世界杯和世俱杯。最具有争议的细节是，因凡蒂诺计划将该公司 20% 的股份出售给由约书亚·库什纳（Joshua Kushner）领导的私人投资者，后者是唐纳德·特朗普的女婿贾里德·库什纳（Jared Kushner）的兄弟。

欧足联官员担心，私人投资者会推动增加世界杯的举办频率，从而影响俱乐部赛事和欧洲杯。据《卫报》昨天报道，欧足联现已委托一项调查，以确定国际足联对 FFE 200亿美元 (150亿英镑) 的估值是否低于市场价。

作为欧足联成员的英格兰足球协会（The Football Association）也已撤回对因凡蒂诺明年连任竞选的支持，威尔士、塞尔维亚、瑞典、克罗地亚和芬兰的协会同样撤回了支持。

消息人士称，国际足联对因凡蒂诺的支持反而加剧了其对手的愤怒。他们预测世界足球最高层将爆发“公开战争”。据报道，欧足联以及亚洲和美洲的足球协会已威胁要进行“治理抵制”，使国际足联陷入停滞。

但因凡蒂诺显然意在坚守。据报道，他已向摩洛哥承诺，如果摩洛哥支持他继续担任国际足联主席，摩洛哥将在 2030 年举办世界杯决赛。

体育版，第 56 页

约旦足球协会主席阿里·本·侯赛因王子（Prince Ali Bin Hussein）表示，他对因凡蒂诺的立场没有改变，他不会投票给他。

犯罪

一名女性因科文特花园袭击事件被起诉

作者：Ellie Crabbe 在伦敦市中心发生的一起持刀袭击导致四名男子受伤后，一名女性被起诉。周三，警方接到报告称，位于科文特花园Endell街的一处地段发生了持刀袭击，该地是充满酒吧、剧院和餐厅的热门旅游区。伦敦警察厅表示，无固定住所的Stella Golovena（47岁）于昨日被起诉，涉嫌四项蓄意造成严重身体伤害的伤人罪名，以及一项在公共场所持有攻击性武器的罪名。她被还押候审，将在海布里角治安法院出庭。周三下午，一架空中救护直升机降落在拥挤的特拉法加广场，但伦敦救护车服务中心随后表示，其在“现场救治了四名患者，并优先通过陆路将他们全部送往大型创伤中心”。警方表示，四名男子（年龄分别为34、39、42和56岁）均有刀伤，但由于伤势被认为不危及生命且不会导致生活质量改变，目前已出院。

安全

Prevent计划转介人数创历史新高

作者：Lizzie Doarden 数据显示，被转介至Prevent反恐计划的人数创下纪录，其中11至15岁的儿童所占比例最高。在截至2025年9月的年度内，共有10,293起转介至该计划，该计划旨在为人们在被恐怖主义吸引之前提供干预机会。内政部发布的一份报告称，虽然该数字创下历史新高，但这可能与2024年7月南港袭击事件后“对Prevent意识的增强”有关。Axel Rudakubana在研究校园枪击事件后，自2019年起曾三次被转介至Prevent，但由于他似乎缺乏任何意识形态动机，其案件被多次关闭。反恐警察表示，Prevent系统及其对意识形态的关注“不足以应对新兴风险”，一项审查引发了一系列改革。其中包括记录一个新的转介类别，涵盖“对极端暴力的痴迷”，这目前已成为记录中最大的一类担忧。

国际足联权力斗争

因凡蒂诺的全球盟友或许仍能挽救他的国际足联主席之位 因凡蒂诺仍拥有众多盟友，尤其是在依赖国际足联慷慨资助的发展中国家足球协会中。非洲足球联合会（CAF）昨晚“一致”支持因凡蒂诺，感谢他多年来对非洲足球的支持。规模最小且最贫困的区域联合会——大洋洲足联的执行委员会将于下周三开会讨论其应对方案。尽管亚洲足球联合会持批评态度，但卡塔尔、科威特、黎巴嫩、斯里兰卡、印度尼西亚和菲律宾均已宣布效忠因凡蒂诺。根据国际足联的规则，每个国家的投票权重与巴西、德国、阿根廷和西班牙等世界杯冠军国相同。那些很少或从未参加过世界杯的国家往往支持因凡蒂诺，因为他承诺扩大赛事规模。在因凡蒂诺寻求将主席任期延长至2031年之际，一个明显的优势是，在明年3月的选举中，尚未出现明确的竞争对手。但因凡蒂诺不能再指望一位关键支持者——美国总统唐纳德·特朗普。因凡蒂诺上周多次尝试致电特朗普但均未成功。两人此前曾是亲密盟友，因凡蒂诺去年授予了总统首届“国际足联和平奖”。

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12 新闻

黎巴嫩

以色列发动报复，爆炸导致两名士兵丧生

作者：Abby Sewell 和 Korzi Saeed

军方昨日表示，黎巴嫩南部发生的一起爆炸导致两名以色列士兵丧生。这是自近两个月前与黎巴嫩武装组织真主党达成脆弱停火协议以来，以色列方面首次出现死亡病例。另有四名士兵受重伤。

一名以色列军方官员表示，当士兵们进入马吉达尔·祖恩（Majdal Zoun）村的一个地点时，“发生了爆炸”，目前正在审查爆炸物的性质。两名丧生的士兵被确认为连长 Harel Birenstock（34岁）和战斗士兵 Tamir Vaknin（33岁），两人均为预备役人员。

以色列军队昨日在黎巴嫩南部（见插图）发动袭击，以回应其所称的真主党违反停火协议的行为，并呼吁曼苏里（Mansouri）村的居民撤离——这是以色列数周来首次在黎巴嫩发出此类警告。

黎巴嫩卫生部表示，以色列在特赫米内（Tehmine）镇的一次袭击中造成一人死亡，12人受伤。在对布尔杰·谢马利（Burj al-Shemali）村的夜间袭击中，另有八人受伤。

受伊朗支持的真主党尚未发表声明。

最近一次战争爆发于 3 月 2 日，在美以向伊朗发动攻击两天后，真主党向跨境发射了火箭弹。自那时起，以色列在黎巴嫩的袭击已导致 4,000 多人丧生，其中包括数百名平民。以色列方面约有 40 名士兵和三名平民丧生。

以色列与真主党之间不稳定的停火协议自 6 月 20 日以来基本维持，但以色列军队继续占领黎巴嫩南部的大片地区，并定期进行空袭和炮击。

联合国驻黎巴嫩南部维和部队表示，其记录显示以色列军方在周三发射了 113 枚投射物。

最新的局势升级发生在黎巴嫩和以色列谈判代表在罗马会面，讨论执行以色列与黎巴嫩政府于 6 月 26 日达成的协议之际。根据协议，以色列军队应从黎巴嫩南部的占领区撤出，以便黎巴嫩军队接管，以换取真主党的解除武装。真主党已拒绝解除武装。

美国

特朗普否认弹药短缺并支持海格塞斯

作者：Laura Butler

尽管有报道称双方就影响与伊朗战争的弹药短缺问题发生争执，但唐纳德·特朗普仍表示支持其国防部长。

这位美国总统昨日否认美国面临武器短缺，此前美国向伊朗投下了数千枚导弹和炸弹，其中许多是从世界其他地区的美国基地重新部署的。

据报道，特朗普及其国防部长皮特·海格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）就短缺问题产生了分歧。但特朗普表示，他对“皮特·海格塞斯所做的工作极其满意”。

与此同时，据称伊朗与阿曼关于重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的谈判已进入最后阶段。自 2 月战争爆发以来，这条狭窄的水道实际上已被关闭，切断了全球约五分之一的石油和天然气供应。

他在其 Truth Social 平台发布帖文——

澳大利亚 伊朗足球运动员获得公民身份

两名于3月在澳大利亚申请庇护的伊朗女足队员已获授予公民身份。法蒂玛·帕桑迪德（Fatemeh Pasandideh）和阿特法·拉马扎尼萨德（Atefeh Ramezanisadeh）在一份声明中表示，移民部长托尼·伯克（Tony Burke）（照片中）在她们的新家布里斯班举行的公民身份授予仪式上为她们主持了宣誓。拉马扎尼萨德表示：“昨天是一个真正特别且难忘的日子，我为能成为一名澳大利亚人而感到自豪并深表感激。”代表寻求庇护者的非营利伞形组织澳大利亚难民委员会表示，难民通常必须持签证在澳大利亚居住四年后才能申请公民身份。根据澳大利亚法律，她们的公民身份申请可能得到了快速办理，从而使她们有资格为澳大利亚国家队踢球。

昨天，特朗普表示：“美国拥有海量的‘弹药’，尤其是某些类型的弹药。”

“此外，大量弹药正

根据需要被制造并运往美国。”据《华盛顿邮报》报道，特朗普在周末的一次内阁峰会上质问了海格塞斯（Hegseth），要求其对武器短缺做出解释。据认为，短缺是特朗普没有对伊朗发动更多袭击的部分原因。在帖子中，特朗普称有关他与海格塞斯对峙的媒体报道为“假新闻”。特朗普补充道：“这些叛国言论的‘泄密者’正在被追捕。”

随着与伊朗的战争进入第六个月，关于美国军械库状态的质疑日益增加。这一短缺情况最早由国家安全智库战略与国际研究中心揭露。利用公开数据，该中心估计，到7月底，美国剩余的爱国者防空导弹在 759 到 827 枚之间，而冲突开始时拥有 2,330 枚，但关于美国导弹库存的准确信息属于机密。自从海格塞斯接管以来，记者获取五角大楼信息的渠道受到了限制。五角大楼继续否认弹药短缺，理由是签署了新的生产协议，但武器本身的生产可能需要长达两年时间，这意味着任何短缺无法轻易解决。

俄罗斯 # 乌克兰袭击距离边境 800 英里的石油设施

作者：伊利亚·诺维科夫（Ilia Novikov）

总统弗拉基米尔·泽连斯基昨天表示，乌克兰在夜间袭击中击中了俄罗斯境内深处的更多石油设施，基辅继续开展旨在削弱莫斯科战时经济并让克里姆林宫难堪的行动。

与此同时，由于前一天俄罗斯的导弹和无人机袭击造成 17 人死亡，基辅地区昨天举行了官方哀悼日，这促使乌克兰及其伙伴国家日益紧迫地寻求新的防空供应。

联合国驻基辅办事处周三表示，今年前六个月，乌克兰有 1,396 名平民死亡，7,978 人受伤。该办事处称，这比去年同期增加了 37%，比 2024, 增长了 114%。

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德国

机场发现携带爆炸物的无人机

作者：Ludwig Burger 和 Friederike Heine

将这一增长归因于俄罗斯增加了更多远程空中袭击。泽连斯基表示，他会见了高级官员，计划如何加速乌克兰自身弹道武器的开发，类似于其在战争期间在无人机技术方面实现的快速创新。泽连斯基称，乌克兰军队袭击了俄罗斯巴什科尔托斯坦地区的一家炼油厂（距离前线 800 英里以上），以及雅罗斯拉夫尔地区的一家炼油厂（距离边境 400 英里以上）。雅罗斯拉夫尔州州长米哈伊尔·叶夫拉耶夫确认了一次对炼油厂的袭击，他在 Telegram 的一篇帖子中表示，无人机碎片击中了该设施的储油罐，引发了火灾。他补充说，三栋私人住宅也起火，几栋住宅楼受损。泽连斯基表示，乌克兰军队还击中了黑海上的两艘俄罗斯军事巡逻艇，以及属于莫斯科所谓“影子舰队”的船只。与此同时，当局表示，一夜之间在乌克兰全境进行的无人机和滑翔炸弹袭击造成至少三名平民死亡，22 人受伤。基辅官员称，莫斯科军队近几周使用弹道导弹猛烈轰炸乌克兰，而只有美国制造的爱国者防空系统才能拦截这些导弹。

德国联邦检察官昨天表示，在德国一座机场 grounds 发现的一架无人机配备了专业爆炸物和引信，并补充说，该部门正就其所谓的“严重袭击”展开调查。这架无人机于周二晚上在莱比锡 / 哈勒机场被发现。“这构成了对德国交通和物流基础设施的严重袭击，”联邦检察官表示，并补充说这对德国的外部和内部安全构成了威胁。莱比锡 / 哈勒机场是德国东部重要的货运和北约物流枢纽。昨天，一名德国高级政治人物表示，停放在携带爆炸物无人机被发现地点附近的乌克兰飞机并未装载军事物资，否认了媒体关于其中一架飞机携带弹药的报道。

环境

欧洲干旱引发绝望举措

在对未来的一个令人清醒的窥视中，各国采取果断行动以防止停电和用水短缺。作者：David Shukman

2003年，在夏季尘土飞扬的尾声，我步入塞尔维亚多瑙河畔一个破旧港口的反乌托邦场景。多瑙河通常是欧洲最强大的河流之一，但当时它萎缩得令人心惊：水位下降如此剧烈，以至于几十年来一直不见踪影的旧纳粹战舰残骸在缓慢的水流中若隐若现。在我身边，一排用于测量河深的标志杆高高地立在干涸之地；普拉霍沃（Prahovo）港口本身则一片寂静；往常从黑海运行到欧洲心脏地带的驳船船队陷入瘫痪，因为没有足够的水量让它们漂浮。在当时，这场干旱被认为极其严重，被描述为“历史性”的。

二十年后，我们进入了一个更加可怕且更不确定的领域，因为多瑙河的水位下降到了更低的水平，这是最近一个严酷夏季最严重的症状之一。这一切的根源在于反复出现的极端高温，而我们向大气中排放过量的碳使得这种情况更有可能发生。高温使土壤干涸，使植物处于易燃状态，导致今年的山火如此极端。它还导致溪流和河流减少或干涸。

欧洲干旱观测站（European Drought Observatory）的地图用红色标出了短缺最严重的地区。这样的地区很多。它展示了当前水危机令人震惊的规模。其影响深远，应对措施也日益绝望。

由于多瑙河和莱茵河现在太浅，无法容纳运输从化学品到谷物等各类物资的船只，整个欧洲大陆的企业都感受到了波及。欧洲最大的港口鹿特丹报告交通量下降了10%。货物可以转由卡车运输，但成本更高且污染更严重。根据一项估计，每个月的水位低谷会导致德国工业产值下降约1%。

电力供应也受到威胁，这正是最令各国政府不安的地方，因为热浪期间的停电会剥夺人们使用风扇和空调降温的机会，不可避免地增加死亡人数。但发电站——无论是煤电、气电还是核电——都需要大量的水进行冷却，如果无法获得足够的水，就必须降低产量甚至关闭。

这种情况现在正在发生。匈牙利近一半的电力来自帕克斯（Paks）核电站，但由于多瑙河水位大幅下降，该电站不得不关闭四个反应堆中的三个。第四个反应徒可能也必须关闭。电力可以从邻国购买，但价格高昂。在极端高温下（布达佩斯本周达到了39℃），被敦促尽可能关闭不必要电器的匈牙利公民和企业反应良好。

面对同样严峻局面的罗马尼亚采取了离奇的措施：进行一次水下爆破，以清除多瑙河的一处岩礁。其目的是改善流向其至关重要的核电站的水流，该电站已被迫关闭两个反应堆中的一个——如果冷却系统的水流无法维持，可能需要关闭第二个。罗马尼亚的汽车工厂目前正暂停生产两周，这应有助于降低对电力的需求。

在多瑙河上游的塞尔维亚，干旱导致的水流减少意味着其最大的水电站发电量远低于往常。而其一座名为科斯托拉茨（Kostolac）的燃煤电站已经削减了产量。几年前，在科斯托拉茨作为中国备受争议的“一带一路”倡议的一部分进行扩建时，我曾在那里拍摄。当时的负责人对他们的项目感到自豪，从未提到它可能会因为缺水而陷入窘境。

当前的干旱还有一个极其令人担忧的角度：粮食供应。在法国，玉米收成预计将是 50 年来的最低水平。该地在一年中的这个时节从未如此干燥。两年前的一项重大研究估计，水资源短缺每年可能给欧盟和英国的农业造成高达 650亿欧元 (560亿英镑) 的损失。每个人都会感受到其影响。当收成受损时，价格会飙升，冲击所有消费者——而最贫困的人受到的打击最严重。目前，在整个欧洲，供水商和政府不得不平衡需求，要么限制用水（例如实施软管禁令），要么鼓励人们节约用水。逻辑很明确：我们节省得越多，发生最糟糕情况（如供应配给甚至切断）的可能性就越小。否则，这将导致城市、工业和农民之间面临进一步的痛苦抉择。正如关于气候变化的警告在很大程度上被忽视一样，水资源问题也是如此。几十年来，专家们一直呼吁认真努力修复泄漏、建设更多水库，并向公众解释浪费的代价。为了窥见情况可能恶化到什么程度，在 2018 年的开普敦，人们每天的用水量被配给为 50 升。哥伦比亚首都波哥大在 2024 和 2025 年的水资源短缺如此严重，以至于实施了为期一年的轮流供水，每个区每九天会被切断供水 24 小时。这就是气候变化在英国及其他地区可能呈现的方式：水龙头干涸的残酷现实。这是对未来的一次令人清醒的窥视，而且突然感觉不再那么遥远。目前，才刚进入 8 月初，而对于欧洲大部分地区来说，短期内几乎没有降雨迹象。大卫·舒克曼（David Shukman）是前英国广播公司（BBC）新闻科学编辑，也是《响应：英国极端新世界中的火灾与洪水故事》（The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain's New World of Extremes）一书的作者。

匈牙利帕克斯（Paks）周围的干涸土地，由于多瑙河水位过低，该发电站不得不关闭反应堆。COPERNICUL SENTINELIAFP

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新闻 2-26 评论 16-22 电视 28-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 年 8 月 周五 15

正义 # 首相“紧急”处理提前释放漏洞

作者：Nina Lloyd

由于人们对系统内潜在漏洞表示担忧，政府正“紧急”核查仍可能符合提前出狱条件的任何诱导犯罪团伙（grooming gang）犯罪者。

一名发言人表示，首相安迪·伯纳姆（Andy Burnham）已“亲自干预”，以确保“采取一切可能措施，使那些卑劣的诱导者受到受害者应得的对待”。

在旨在解决监狱过度拥挤的量刑变更计划下，预计约有 5,000 人将被提前释放；此前，在部长们将强奸犯和“严重”儿童性犯罪者排除在计划之外后，该人数从 6,000 人下降。

但《泰晤士报》（The Times）报道称，一些因历史诱导团伙案件而被定罪的男性可能在计划释放的人员之列。部分犯罪行为发生在 2003 年性虐待法律修订之前，且犯罪者被指控的罪名包括猥亵袭击，而该罪名并不在计划的排除范围之内。

保守党党魁凯米·巴德诺克（Kemi Badenoch）昨日致信伯纳姆，要求就哪些罪行符合提前释放条件给出答案，并指责政府“再次背叛受害者”。

首相的一名发言人在一份声明中表示：“作为量刑审查的一部分，首相要求司法部对案件进行深入审查，以确保诱导案件被识别。”

政府拒绝了要求将安德鲁·哈珀（Andrew Harper）警员的两名凶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一项针对该计划的潜在法律挑战。

该计划可能使杰西·科尔（Jessie Cole）和阿尔伯特·鲍尔斯（Albert Bowers）在因 2019 年该警员死亡而被判处 13 年过失杀人罪的刑期过半时获释。

哈珀警员在伯克郡萨尔汉斯特德（Sulhamstead）的一起四轮摩托车盗窃案中，因被卷入系在汽车后部的带子并在凶手逃离现场时被拖行于乡村道路，导致致命伤。

车辆驾驶员亨利·隆（Henry Long）被判处 16 年监禁，将不符合该计划的释放条件。

希腊

拳击手因谋杀一名苏格兰女性出庭

作者：Nick Forbes

一名被指控在雅典杀害一名苏格兰援助工作者并处置其尸体的男子已出庭，被指控犯有蓄意杀人罪。这名 26 岁的男子被指控杀害了 38 岁的 Elisabeth-Jane Ross，她的尸体于 7 月 18 日由一名无家可归者在雅典 Kypseli 地区的一栋废弃建筑中发现。

希腊内部报告用缩写“SA”指代该嫌疑人，但现已确认其为 Sharif Ahmadzai，一名在青少年时期成为孤儿后离开家乡的阿富汗拳击手。

Ahmadzai 的律师 Christos Erdos 确认，其委托人在昨天雅典初级法院的听证会上没有发言，且没有对面临的三项指控提交辩护词。他最初因非法持有武器而被拘留，但现在面临蓄意杀人罪的指控，以及被指控从 Ross 女士的银行账户中窃取了超过 €10,000 (£8,500) 的资金。

据了解，蓄意杀人罪相当于苏格兰的谋杀罪。法官命令在进一步收集证据期间将 Ahmadzai 予以审前拘留，并在未来的日期举行另一次听证会。

法院综合体位于该市的 Evelpidon 街，距离发现 Ross 女士尸体的废弃建筑仅几步之遥。该建筑旁的地板上摆放着悼念物品，其中一张卡片上用希腊语写着“Elisabeth-Jane Ross。愿你安息”。

据了解来自爱丁堡的 Ross 女士于 6 月 26 日进入希腊，并住在雅典港口区比雷埃夫斯（Piraeus）的朋友家中。随后据称她前往希腊首都的另一个地区会见美国朋友，但目前尚不清楚此事是否发生。

当局正在等待组织分析结果，以确定她是否死于窒息，此前法医的初步评估给出了这一建议。

外交和联邦事务办公室早前表示：“在这个困难时刻，我们的心与 Elisabeth 的家人同在。”

苏格兰警方此前表示：“我们已知晓一名苏格兰女性在雅典去世的情况……警员正在为她在苏格兰的家人提供支持。”

葬礼车队在奥斯卡奖得主 Brenda Fricker 的葬礼后离开都柏林的圣凯瑟琳教堂。 DAMIEN EAGERS / PA

爱尔兰

Fricker 的“简朴”葬礼让她回归根源

作者：Gráinne Ní Aodha

演员 Brenda 的葬礼于昨天在都柏林的 The Liberties 举行——这里是她成长的地方。当她的棺材抵达位于 Meath 街的圣凯瑟琳教堂时，当地居民纷纷鼓掌。棺材上覆盖着一块绿布，上面印有金色竖琴和都柏林市徽。

81 岁的 于 7 月 16 日在都柏林的 Our Lady's Hospice 去世。她曾表示希望她的葬礼能够“简朴”且充满欢笑。

演员 Brendan Gleeson 和服装设计师 Joan Bergin 也在出席人员之列。

因在 1989 年的电影《我的左脚》（My Left Foot）中饰演 Bridget Fagan Brown 一角而获得奥斯卡最佳女配角奖。该片讲述了一名患有脑瘫、只能活动左脚的男子 Christy Brown 的故事。

人物

诺克斯的演出“将暴力琐碎化”

作者：Casey Cooper-Fiske

梅雷迪思·凯彻（Meredith Kercher）的姐姐表示，曾被判定谋杀凯彻女士后又被宣判无罪的阿曼达·诺克斯（Amanda Knox）的一场演出，“使针对女性的暴力常态化且琐碎化”。

这名英国交换生于2007年在意大利佩鲁贾被杀，她的美国室友诺克斯及其当时的男友拉法埃莱·索莱奇托（Raffaele Sollecito）于2009年被逮捕，随后被判定犯有谋杀罪和性侵罪。2015年，意大利最高法院最终判定两人性侵和谋杀罪名不成立。

诺克斯现在将在今年的爱丁堡艺穗节（Edinburgh Fringe）演出一部名为《侧手翻》（Cartwheel）的剧目，该剧引用了一个说法，称她在朋友去世后在警察局里做了侧手翻。

斯特凡妮·凯彻（Stephanie Kercher）告诉《BBC早餐》（BBC Breakfast）：“这在很大程度上使针对女性，尤其是针对梅雷迪思的暴力常态化且琐碎化。”

诺克斯和爱丁堡艺穗节已被联系以寻求评论。

军事

新兵指控在学院遭受虐待

作者：Mathilde Grandjean

陆军表示，关于一名青少年军事训练学院的女新兵涉嫌遭受强奸和性虐待的报道“极其令人不安”且“不可接受”。

四名年轻女性告诉英国广播公司，她们在北约克郡哈罗盖特的陆军基础学院（Army Foundation College）就读期间遭受了性虐待和骚扰。

陆军已呼吁该学院刑事行为的受害者和证人站出来。

一名陆军发言人表示：“不可接受且刑事的行为在我们的武装部队中绝对没有立足之地。”

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新闻 新 2-26 观点 16-22 电视 28-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 年 8 月 周五 17 医学

蘑菇中的致幻剂可缓解顽固性抑郁症

作者：Storm Newton

一项研究表明，单剂量地使用在“神奇蘑菇”中发现的天然致幻剂，可以显著缓解对其他治疗产生抗药性的抑郁症。在首个由公共资金资助的疗法试验中，10名患者中的4名症状进入缓解期，该试验在社区而非医院中进行。

一名参与者将此次治疗描述为有时“非常感性”，但表示这帮助他们更深入地理解了自己的抑郁症。该试验由伦敦国王学院领导并发表在《自然医学》（Nature Medicine）杂志上，共有60名对之前两种治疗方案均无反应的抑郁症患者参与。其中一半人被给予25mg的裸盖菇素（psilocybin），另一半人则被给予安慰剂。

在服用裸盖菇素的人群中，超过40%（43%）的人在三周后达到了治疗反应阈值，六周后这一比例上升至56%。相比之下，安慰剂组的患者仅为3%。同时，裸盖菇素帮助40%的患者进入缓解期，这意味着他们的抑郁症状下降到不再

该研究使用了在所谓的神奇蘑菇中发现的裸盖菇素。裸盖菇素被归类为A类管制药物。无论是新鲜还是干燥的神奇蘑菇，严禁持有、栽培、供应或销售，但可用于科学和临床研究。符合临床标准，而安慰剂组仅为3%。试验发现，缓解状态在六周时得以维持。

南伦敦和莫兹利NHS基金会信托基金（South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust）的顾问精神科医生詹姆斯·鲁克（James Rucker）教授表示：“在这里，我们证明了在经常尝试过多种不同类型治疗且失败的参与者中，将裸盖菇素与真实安慰剂进行随机对照试验设计是可行的。”

“被随机分配接受25mg裸盖菇素剂量的人，在长达六周的随访中，其改善的可能性远高于被随机分配到安慰剂组的人。”

“正如临床抑郁症中经常出现的情况，个体反应差异很大，组间观察到的一部分差异将归因于非药物因素。”

“公共资助的临床试验是新干预措施在现实世界中占据一席之地所需证据拼图的重要组成部分。”

“与此同时，关于裸盖菇素疗法的更广泛证据库正在迅速增长，且看起来前景日益光明。”

一名患者表示：“有两三次感觉非常强烈……其中一个让我非常感性的部分是，我觉得自己像是在某种肋骨笼里，在那里我看到我父亲抱着我的妹妹，那个画面一直留在我的脑海中。”

“我觉得那是他们表达‘我们在这里’的一种方式，这绝对是一个情感释放的点。”

狗狗们参与涂色 昨日，国家彩票得主利比·埃利奥特（Libby Elliot，左）与她的女儿贝蒂·简·麦克雷（Betty Jean McRae）在法夫（Fife）的苏格兰复古巴士博物馆参加了导盲犬志愿服务日。参与者与服务犬见面并为筹款雕塑涂色，最佳作品将获得奖品。 DJAN CHERRY / PA SCIENCE

脑癌治疗取得进展

作者：Ella Pickover 科学家们发现了一个利用化疗攻击侵袭性脑癌的机会窗口。早期研究表明，在切除胶质母细胞瘤的手术后几分钟到几天内进行治疗，其效果可能最为显著，而不是像以往那样在手术后等待数周才开始化疗。专家表示，这些发现可能会重塑胶质母细胞瘤患者的护理方式，并补充说，手术与化疗及放疗开始之间四到六周的延迟“在很大程度上被认为是确保手术完全康复的必要条件”。但这些发现可以帮助医生决定何时“利用”这些机会窗口，以攻击手术后残留的癌细胞。Christie NHS基金会荣誉顾问肿瘤学家Gerben Borst博士表示：“这些发现表明，更好地理解身体对手术的反应可以帮助我们更有效地递送抗癌药物。” 健康

减肥药关联死亡病例

数据显示，卫生官员已收到超过200例疑似与减肥注射药相关的死亡报告。关于以Mesunjaro品牌销售的替尔ゼ帕肽（tirzepatide），共报告了106,189例不良反应和120例死亡。而关于司美格鲁肽（semaglutide，Wegovy以及糖尿病治疗药物Ozempic和Rybelsus的活性成分）的报告则为48,089例反应和59例疑似相关死亡。 社会

过度自信被发现是进化问题

作者：Laura Butler 一项研究表明，人类尽管会产生后果但依然过度自信，这是由进化决定的。巴斯大学和伦敦政治经济学院的研究人员认为，过度自信是人类行为中的“孔雀尾巴”，因为其代价揭示了谁能够承受这种行为。在自然界中，孔雀的尾巴是耗能巨大的负担，使其极易被捕食者发现。但结果是，这种羽毛仅向配偶传递出最健康的信号。他们认为，人类的过度自信运作方式与之相同。巴斯大学的行为经济学家Chris Dawson教授表示：“过度自信极其普遍且往往代价高昂。”研究表明，过高的自我意识会导致过度冒险并可能导致代价高昂的错误，但具有更强潜在能力的人在拥有更高自信时，往往会犯更少且损害更小的错误。这意味着只有最有能力的人才能在不面临后果的情况下，维持一致的自信水平。

五线索隐喻填字游戏 第4901号

答案见第49页 横向 3 希望在纸面上拥有 (7) 5 / 6 关于Ron好奇地，他不是那只猴子 (5-7) 纵向 1 关注某种薄膜的法国电影导演 (6) 2 易受骗的人在容器下喝酒 (7) 4 私人的表达了苦涩 (6)

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18 @theipaper facebook.com / theipaper @theipaper.com 所有信函请附上联系地址

观点矩阵

国内外评论

观点

巴登诺克 VS 净零排放

保守党领袖必须证明她是真诚的

《金融时报》

凯米·巴登诺克（Kemi Badenoch）关于净零排放的论点是她正在寻求可行的解决方案。但这意味着她必须确保自己在应对气候变化的愿望上显得真诚而非冷漠。她的核心立场必须是她拥有一个更好的计划，证明她支持的是有效方案而非看似高尚的方案。（Robert Shrimsley）

《赫克瑟姆法院报》

发现即使是那些支持温和净零目标的人，在保守党中似乎也不再有立足之地，这确实令人悲哀。这是一个向改革英国党（Reform UK）缴械投降的政党。（国会议员Joe Morris）

伯纳姆的新远程办公

首相可能会后悔他的工作假期

《旁观者》（The Spectator）

WFH——也就是在假期中工作——是违背直觉的，这两个词互不相容，因为在度假时不可能交付同样质量的工作。海风、泳池或昨晚西班牙海鲜饭的味道，很难让大脑处于能够集中精力处理电子邮件的最佳状态。(Angela Epstein)

《每日快报》（Daily Express）

这位新登基的首相在英国处于危机之中时，却在假期中晒太阳。斯塔默与伯纳姆之间并没有本质区别。安迪会带着古铜色的皮肤和一段视频回来。与此同时，他的国家在煎熬。(Jonathan Sands)

联合国

尽管有缺陷，但依然有用

《经济学人》（The Economist）

为什么联合国依然存在？因为它有用。这是一个罕见的论坛，美国、俄罗斯和中国的官员们每天仍在此会面。无论是令人恐惧还是温和的政府，都需要共同应对全球灾难。(社论)

《犹太纪事报》（Jewish Chronicle）

英国广播公司（BBC）经常在报道联合国的主张时，将其视为一个无可指责的中立权威机构，而不是一个由政治团体、官僚机构和代理机构组成的集合体，而这些机构提供的证据、假设和利益本身必须经过检验。(Leah Benoz)

杰森·阿尔代辞职

争端预示着多样性、公平与包容（DEI）政策的麻烦

多样性、公平与包容（DEI）在我们的社会中所扮演的角色，是让人们放弃对抗不平等，转而追求发现不平等所带来的进步主义多巴胺快感。(Ike Ijeh)

《卫报》（The Guardian）

这位剑桥大学的学者现在辞职是正确的。但这不会结束对黑人高级人物的针对，也不会结束机构以懒惰的方式推行伪平等。(Jason Okundeye)

《广岛，8:15》回忆录

令人震惊且深受感动

《泰晤士报》（The Times）

对于西方人的感触来说，令人震惊的是谷本清（Kiyoshi Tanimoto）从未对美国表达过自怜或愤恨。当一名美国记者问他广岛人民是否憎恨美国人时，他感到很惊讶。“如果我们感到愤恨，那是针对日本领导人的，”他回答道。(Francesca Angelini)

《爱尔兰独立报》（Irish Independent）

为什么谷本对那段时期的叙述此前从未发表，这是一个谜。这是一本关于人类能给彼此带来何种恐怖的、令人震惊且深受感动的书。(Ellis O'Hanlon)

RAVYN LENAE 的《BLUE ISLAND》

犹豫不决的专辑不属于任何流派

《Slant Magazine》

不幸的是，犹豫不决的主题延伸到了音乐本身。《Blue Island》似乎不知道自己想成为什么流派。是R&B，是受80年代启发的流行乐，还是新浪潮。然而，在《Blue Island》的大部分内容中，莱内（Lenae）将模棱两可误认为存在主义深度，将风格多样性误认为艺术身份。(Jon Negroni)

《The Line of Best Fit》

贯穿整张专辑的莱内的影响，像是一份声明：她正在加入过去那些具有开创性的黑人艺术家的行列——珍妮特·杰克逊（Janet Jackson）、Santigold、Resso。(Marie Nascoet)

今日金句

我知道有些人正与一个聊天实体谈恋爱。这种情况正在发生，而且他们很幸福。 塔伊加·维迪提（Taika Waititi） 这位奥斯卡获奖导演谈论爱情的未来

简明人生 霍拉姆勋爵 政治家

约翰·霍拉姆（John Horam）在 15 岁时受休·盖茨凯尔（Hugh Gaitskell）的启发加入了工党。他随后在吉姆·卡拉汉（Jim Callaghan）政府中担任部长，并加入 1981 年脱离工党并创建社会民主党（SDP）的“四人帮”，之后又在约翰·梅杰（John Major）领导下担任保守党部长。在为三个政党担任国会议员的过程中，霍拉姆取得了战后独特的成就。

约翰·罗兹·霍拉姆出生于兰开夏郡的普雷斯顿，父亲是一名英国利兰（British Leyland）的装配工，母亲是一名零售业员。他通过奖学金进入剑桥大学学习经济学。他的第一份工作是为朗特里（Rowntree）公司开发 After Eight 薄荷巧克力，随后在《金融时报》和《经济学人》从事新闻工作。

然而，政治在召唤他。“你不能在成为政治家的同时，还做一个客观的记者，”他说。在 1966 年一次议会竞选失败后，他从 1970 年到 1983 年担任盖茨黑德西区（Gateshead West）的工党（后为社会民主党）国会议员。他在卡拉汉政府中担任交通部长，并支持强制佩戴安全带。

1983 年，由于盖茨黑德西选区被撤销，他代表社会民主党在纽卡斯尔中心区竞选，但未能当选。他回到了咨询工作，但被撒切尔主义吸引，在 1987 年大选前不久加入了保守党。他后来将自己在社会民主党的经历描述为“我政治发展的一个阶段，当时我正在排斥工党”。

从 1992 年到 2010 年，他担任肯特郡奥平顿（Orpington）的保守党国会议员，在约翰·梅杰领导下担任卫生部长，并担任后座议员 1922 委员会主席。并非所有人都高兴看到他披着不同政党的色彩重新回到发言席。工党左翼反叛议员团体之一的丹尼斯·斯金纳（Dennis Skinner）斥责他是一个“肮脏的双重叛徒”。

但霍拉姆以精力充沛且充满激情地拥抱保守主义。“正如温斯顿·丘吉尔所说，改变主意比一直错误要好，”他曾在提到这位战时首相在自由党和保守党之间转换阵营时这样说道，“随着年龄增长和经验增加，我们都会改变主意。我已经改变了主意。”

霍拉姆还曾担任环境审计委员会主席，后来在外交事务委员会任职。2013 年，他被封为格里姆萨格的霍拉姆男爵，成为一名工作贵族。在脱欧公投活动期间，他支持留在欧盟。

除政治外，他热爱园艺和歌剧。这位贵族在 7 月 2 日于上议院工作一天回家的路上不慎跌倒，随后在伦敦的一家医院去世，享年 87 岁。霍拉姆于 1987 年与记者朱迪思·杰克逊（Judith Jackson）结婚。他的妻子和两个继子在世。

出生于 1939 年 3 月 7 日 逝世于 2026 年 7 月 25 日

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新闻 2-25 观点 16-22 电视 26-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 快速浏览 49-56 2026 年 8 月 7 日 周五 19

我的观点 哈米什·麦克雷（Hamish McRae）

如何让你的假期更有意义

应对成本压力上升的技巧——以及如何拥有一次令人难忘的旅行

对于许多人来说，今年是一个格外艰难的旅行季节，中东战争关闭了许多心仪的目的地，而欧洲各地的山火和极端高温也打乱了计划。当然，在任何人类价值尺度上，已经发生的破坏和生命损失远比一些被毁掉的假期更令人不安。人们报告称假期难以成行或不再那么令人愉悦，还有一些长期原因。智能手机让人无法真正断联。旅行的机制变得更加艰巨，尤其是在欧洲。西班牙及欧洲其他地区出现了严重的反旅游抗议。财务压力在攀升，而旅游业擅长在困难时期榨取利润。

根据汇丰银行（HSBC）的数据，自2019年以来，假期成本大幅增加，上涨了30%，远快于通货膨胀率。为了控制成本，我们正在调整今年夏天的旅行方式。根据YouGov的研究，最常见的变化包括：选择国内假期而非国际旅行（19%）、减少旅途中的支出（18%）、选择更便宜的目的地（17%）以及缩短行程（16%）。

我们每个人对脱离日常生活的需求各不相同。暑假仍应该是重建和更新的机会，而不应成为这段艰难时期的提醒。以下是六项原则，旨在帮助应对这些不断上升的压力：

理想情况下，假期应该是对我们个人、家庭或朋友圈来说具有特殊意义的事情。这正是假期的意义所在。这并不意味着必须出国，近五分之一的英国人正选择国内假期。如果你只想带着一本书瘫在沙滩上，那没问题，但如果假期是围绕一个想法构建的，它更有可能成为真正令人难忘的经历。这可以是任何事情：一项活动或运动，一个具有特殊共鸣的地方，一个愿望清单项目，任何事情都可以。

活动类假期在年轻人中蓬勃发展，在游客最看重的前10项因素中，有4项与他们遇到的体验有关，此外还包括安全和成本等基本问题。一个好的假期可以是我们在非假期时刻所经历的最佳状态的延伸，因为当你回到家时，你可以重温其中的部分内容。

举两个较为小众的例子。如果你对欧洲的大教堂有浓厚兴趣，并在罗马的圣彼得大教堂结束了一次旅行，那么下次在伦敦时，你可以通过将其与圣保罗大教堂进行对比来为这次旅行收尾。或者，如果你曾在爱尔兰西部进行飞钓，你可以尝试在当地鱼类资源丰富的河流或水库中使用同样的诱饵，尽管成功率可能会降低。

也许最令人难忘的假期是那些只能在特定时间点完成的旅行。这可以是任何事情，从1989年底柏林墙倒塌后立即访问柏林，到上个月前往美国观看世界杯。实际上，下周有一个日食的特殊日子，尽管现在去葡萄牙或西班牙观看全食已经有点晚了，我们可能不得不满足于在英国可见的偏食。

然而，巧合的是，明年8月还有一次日食，它将横跨西班牙，然后向埃及和中东方向移动。明年在埃及观看日食几乎肯定比在西班牙便宜，而且你可能会获得更好的视野。如果你计划为了某个特定活动而旅行，不用说，提前规划并提前数月预订将为你节省

“一个好的假期应该帮助人们决定什么能让他们获得持久的幸福” 资金。此外，还有几种其他方法可以降低出国度假的成本。其中包括一些小细节，例如使用银行卡支付账单时选择当地货币而非英镑，这样你几乎总是能获得更好的汇率。还有一些影响更大的选择，比如选择在淡季出行，或者住在二线城市而非著名城市——例如选择荷兰的鹿特丹而非阿姆斯特丹。旅游业的一个大趋势是健康旅游（wellness）——每年增长 16.6%。其核心理念是，通过维持健康的生活方式和减轻压力，你可以使整体健康状况获得持续提升，而选择正确的度假地可以启动这一进程。这可以是任何形式，从在赞比亚徒步到在芬兰洗桑拿，或者如果你感兴趣的话，可以尝试加勒比海的健康巡航。这里的关键点在于，这并非一次结束即完结的单次假期。其目的是帮助你过上更健康、更快乐的生活。最后，还有一些假期能帮助你迈向下一步。对于年轻人来说，这可能是关于如何在澳大利亚等地寻找第一份工作。假期的目的将是，如果你在考虑移民，那么可以衡量在何处尝试建立生活。那里的生活是否真的更好？对于任何接近退休的人来说，情况则相反：目标是弄清楚你是否真的会在西班牙或佛罗里达感到快乐，还是会被那里搞得发疯。政府建议任何计划在国外退休的人先在那里长期居住一段时间。所有这些观点的共同主线是，在理想世界中，假期应该减轻人们生活中的压力。它们应该帮助人们就自己真正想要什么以及什么能让他们获得持久的幸福做出更好的决定。i@theipaper.com --- 20 @theipaper facebook.com / theipaper @@theipaper.com 请在所有信函中附上联系地址

您的观点

推文、电子邮件及信件请寄至编辑部，The iPaper, 9 Derry Street, London W8 9HY

解决三重锁困境

如果提高个人免税额，三重锁（triple lock）就可以被废除。这无疑将是最公平的选择，而且早就该这么做了？ LORNA WILLIAMS 威尔特郡，马姆斯伯里

给 GHIC 卡用户的建议

我很有兴趣地阅读了那篇关于一名女性保险理赔被拒的文章（《未在旅行保险中申报激素替代疗法如何导致巨额费用》，8月6日）。该女性表示她持有 GHIC（全球健康保险卡），但将其遗忘在家里。如果读者因此产生 GHIC 从而失效的印象，那就太遗憾了。在这种情况下，持卡人可以在线申请 PRC（临时替代证明），该证明立即提供与 GHIC 相同的保障。 BRYAN TABRAH 多塞特郡，温博恩

安迪·伯纳姆，我绝对支持

朱迪思·丹尼尔斯的来信（您的观点，8月5日）引起了我的共鸣。新任首相安迪·伯纳姆在就工党对加沙局势的反应道歉后，立即赢回了我的选票。随后，当他说工党在过去走错了方向时，对我来说简直是天籁之音，因为在我看来，他们早已失去了对“公共利益”的关注，并且对公众的担忧和意见充耳不闻。但伯纳姆的乐观和热情具有感染力，让我对未来的美好时光充满希望。即便只是换个口味听听地区口音都让人感到耳目一新，尽管我更倾向于约克郡口音（像哈罗德·威尔逊那样）而非兰开夏郡口音。但没办法，你不能要求拥有所有的一切。 ANITA WOOLLETT 利兹

气候危机是非政治问题

只要我们继续从中国、印度和其他似乎完全不关心碳排放的国家购买大量商品，我们自己的努力就只不过是尴尬且昂贵的美德信号（virtue signalling）。如果人类想要生存，我们就必须适应。我们近期政府的失败在很大程度上与对可实现目标的不切实际的预期，以及无法兑现的愚蠢承诺有关。重要的不是右翼还是左翼倾向，而仅仅是常识——一种经过亿万年验证的先天智慧，再加上对技术专业知识的智能应用。 DAPHNE P C SMITH 剑桥郡，戈德曼彻斯特

还有其他罪犯可用

到底是什么样的笨蛋在管理这个国家？肯定还有很多、很多其他可以提前释放的囚犯，而不是那些谋杀年轻警察的暴徒？ JO REES 格洛斯特郡，温奇科姆

让我们在北约克郡生产

关于你们的报道（《英国农民苦苦支撑，购买必需肥料填满俄罗斯金库》，8月5日），在北约克郡海岸线有一座最初由一家英国公司建立的钾镁多晶石（polyhalite）矿。一些读者坚信他们知道自己的狗狗在梦见什么。GETTY 钾镁多晶石是一种天然的多营养肥料。该公司被跨国企业英美资源公司（Anglo-American）收购后不久实际上就被封存了，大概是为了保护他们的其他企业。为什么不能重新开放？ PETER BERNARD

犬类梦境之谜

关于“清单”（《犬类天堂：狗狗梦见什么》，8月5日），我那只15岁的梗类混血犬戴维（Davey）同意你们的清单，但想补充一点：“把狐狸从花园里赶走，即使在牵绳时也要追逐它们。”戴维目前接受兽医的姑息治疗，但没有表现出衰退的迹象，并且非常享受每一天。汪，汪！ BRENDA GUTBERLET 埃塞克斯郡，坎维岛

为罗德·利德尔（Rod Liddle）送上恰当的悼词

我同意西蒙·凯尔纳（Simon Kelner）对已故的罗德·利德尔的评价（见《我在威尼斯与罗德·利德尔的一次灾难性午餐》，8月5日）。虽然我的日报当然是《i报》，但我和妻子也订阅《星期日泰晤士报》，在没有《星期日i报》的情况下，它为我提供了理性的阅读内容，尽管对我个人而言，它大部分时间都过于右翼了。罗德·利德尔的每周专栏总是让我愤怒，但他经常幽默、有趣且发人深省。我会想念每周对着他的专栏在内心吐槽的感觉。 本·库什纳（BEN KUSHNER） 布里斯托

西蒙·凯尔纳写了一篇多么出色且令人耳目一新的坦诚文章。通常一个人的去世会导致大量被美化的陈词滥调涌现，而很少真正向那个具有独特个性和古怪特质的真实的人致敬。西蒙的故事既风趣又尊重，同时没有偏离对罗德·利德尔的刻画，正如他（以及毫无疑问其他人）所看到的那样。 史蒂夫·罗斯（STEVE ROSE） 伯明翰

有苍蝇？养蜘蛛吧（我就是这么做的）

一篇关于苍蝇的精彩文章（《今年夏天苍蝇真的在困扰我们——而且它们不会轻易飞走》，8月6日）。我对它们没有问题，因为我这里有一群非常健康的蜘蛛，能将苍蝇拒之门外。夜晚一只吵闹的苍蝇到早晨就消失了。照顾好你们的蜘蛛吧！ G·科坦（G KORTAN） 奇平诺顿，牛津郡

未被跟进的学校研究

几年前，我在教育部资助下，就学校出勤率低的原因进行了一年的研究。我研究了记录出勤的方法、缺勤的原因以及应对策略。我发现，每周告知每个班级的出勤百分比会产生影响。这很简单，但它引入了竞争元素，这对学生很有吸引力。我们一年的工作没有产生任何结果。那份冗长的报告及其统计数据消失在虚无之中。整件事是浪费钱，但我度过了有趣的一年。而且那些全部匿名记录的缺勤原因确实令人启发。 吉尔·里德（JILL READ） 奥尔德姆，大曼彻斯特

好主意……但适用于上个世纪

尽管我非常赞同提供“离家更近”的心理健康服务的计划，但把它们放在图书馆和银行里？首先，你得先找到一个仍然有银行或图书馆的城镇！ 米里亚姆·布朗（MIRIAM BROWN） 斯特雷瑟姆，剑桥郡

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一分钟 Wijuko

玩法 在网格中将 1 – 9 各放置一次，并遵守方格对之间的求和结果。 答案：第 49 页

周一，在《i报》旅行版

徒步法国阿尔卑斯山……完美的避暑之选

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乔·威尔金森（Joe Wilkinson）

论英国对情景喜剧的深厚热爱——以及他最喜爱的剧集及其最令人难忘的台词汇总

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新内容？ 2-35 观点 18-22 周二 26-31 周五 莫奈 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 48-56 2026年8月21日，星期五

“轮椅勇士”让我觉得自己很糟糕 健康 朱莉·伯奇尔 (Julie Burchill)

从表面上看，我的一天与我残疾之前非常相似。我依然和百灵鸟一样早起，喝黑咖啡，躺在笔记本电脑前，准备面对新的一天和截稿日期。当写够了字数，我可能会洗个澡，浏览一份菜单，然后去喝几杯鸡尾酒。

不同之处在于，我再也不能行走。我的肠道、膀胱和褥疮始终占据着我脑海中的某个角落；我要么在恐惧它们即将需要的关注，要么在从它们反复无常的需求中恢复。仅仅为了把自己打扮成我认为的“半个人”，就要花两倍的时间。

面对这一切，当我审视那些我认为的“轮椅勇士”时，我感到一种近乎惊讶的情绪。他们追求着截然不同的目标，并将他们的轮椅视为发射台，以此将自己推向卓越的新高度。

有无敌游戏（Invictus Games）的运动员。有演员兼制片人露丝·马德利（Ruth Madeley），目前在《狂喜》（The Rapture）中出演。还有迷人的女性洛林·麦克（Lorraine Mack），她在夜总会的一场事故中幸存，成为了我们这些脊髓损伤者的倡导者。

人们说，你必须先看到榜样才能成为榜样——但面对所有这些截然不同的轮椅战友，我只觉得自己更像个“轮椅懦夫”，因为我使用轮椅仅仅是为了在医院式床铺、便桶和沙发之间进行单调的穿梭。

他们怎么能看起来那么干净？那么干练？那么得体？而且除此之外，他们还做了那么多事情！

我能把这种缺乏成为榜样欲望的心态归咎于我的高龄吗？运动员们往往很年轻；马德利在三十多岁，麦克在五十多岁；而我是一个领取养老金的老人。

虽然我钦佩她们的美貌，但我也禁不住看到让自己颓废下去的吸引力。我内心的一部分认为，把凯瑟琳·泰特（Catherine Tate）那个咯咯笑的“奶奶”当作榜样会有趣得多。

我想，我的很多困扰源于我同时变得残疾且年老。在脊髓手术之前，我的行为不像一个六十多岁的人通常那样。我的朋友和丈夫都比我年轻；我可以努力工作，尽情玩乐；我从未计划停止写作。

当我看到出院小结时，“退休——独居”这几个字像物理打击一样猛烈地跳入我的眼帘。在感觉自己是由钛和钨制成的一辈子之后，变得“脆弱”感觉很奇怪。

这就是为什么我对这些“轮椅勇士”充实到快要溢出的生活感到如此无法理解。仅仅是试图弄清楚发生了什么，就占据了我大脑中本该用于开拓的部分。

麦克尝试过跳伞；而我最接近跳伞的经历就是喝醉后从轮椅上掉下来。

是否有一天，我能在轮椅上的胆量像我曾经在那双修长、昂首阔步的双腿上时一样大？还是说我已经耗尽了所有的活力？

“我的其他部分在哪里？”

当我听到年轻的罗纳德·里根在电影《国王街》（Kings Row）中说出这句台词——在发现一个邪恶的医生截断了他的双腿时——我和许多其他傲慢的健全人是如何大笑的。

我的腿还在，为此我感到幸运。但那个敢于冒险、追求改变并拥抱不确定性的我似乎已经离去了，可能永远离去了。

失去的是我的勇气——所以我永远不会成为一名“轮椅勇士”。

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大卫·奥卢索加对 OBE 的看法完全错误

社会 亚斯敏·阿里拜-布朗

大卫·奥卢索加（David Olusoga）勇敢且才华横溢。他关于历代英国黑人的巨著以及关于帝国的节目，揭示了大多数在他之前的人所掩埋或忽视的公众真相。我认识奥卢索加（插图）超过 20 年，我对他的钦佩一如既往。这篇批评性的专栏并不会改变这一点。

这篇文字是由奥卢索加本周在《广播时报》（Radio Times）接受罗西·米拉德（Rosie Millard）采访而引发的。采访中有人向他提出，尽管他是一位对帝国持批判态度的思想家，但他却在 2019 年接受了 OBE（大英帝国官佐勋章）。“经常有特权阶层、白人中产阶级告诉我，黑人接受 OBE 是一件可怕的事情，我认为他们低估了这意味着什么，”他解释道。“对于一个移民来说，拒绝一项国家荣誉，与一个在这里出生的人拒绝它是不同的……我小时候从尼日利亚来到这里，这个国家在我的母亲的大力帮助下对我进行了投资。拒绝一项荣誉将是一种轻视。”

他的感受，他的选择。令人恼火的是那种哗众取宠的态度。首先，是对那些认为这些荣誉是可耻的“特权阶层、白人中产阶级”随口抛出的侮辱。其次，是那种暗示所有移民都渴望这种认可的智力懒惰和厚颜无耻。我们并不渴望。其他有色人种作家同样反对此类荣誉。我深爱并信任的诗人本杰明·泽法尼亚（Benjamin Zephaniah）曾在第四频道（Channel 4）因我接受 MBE（大英帝国成员勋章）而让我感到羞愧。我把它退回去了。

而这是诗人乔治（George the Poet）在 2019 年的说法：“我拒绝了 MBE。我当时看到了我父母的脸，没经过思考就说了‘好’，然后我花了一分钟反思，我感到胸口有一股灼热感……你们的祖先抢夺了我的祖国，将她按在地上轮番蹂躏。他们两百多年来每天如此，然后让她自己处理那些灼伤。”

更令人失望的是，奥卢索加对一个在我看来容易滋生腐败的制度表现出的明显冷漠。所有首相都用亲近的富裕贵族填满上议院，并将荣誉授予大额捐赠者、政治策划者和操盘手。英国广播公司（BBC）对内阁办公室关于 2025 年荣誉名单的数据分析发现，只有 6% 的高级奖项授予了北方人，只有 4% 授予了出身工人阶级的人。获得 CBE（大英帝国司令勋章）以及爵位（knighthoods and damehoods）等“高级”奖项的受益者中，有超过 60% 居住在伦敦和英格兰东南部。较低级别的荣誉中多样性更高。

不仅有太多品行可疑的男女被授予奖章，而且这些仪式还肯定了君主制，并赋予了温莎家族他们从未赢得的尊重。目前不存在任何常规机制可以剥夺像彼得·曼德尔森（Peter Mandelson）这样的终身贵族头衔。

右翼媒体对奥卢索加的话反应热烈。他有一档新节目即将开播。也许这是短期利益。但这是否值得拿他一块砖一块砖建立起来的尊重去冒险？

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社会 莎拉·卡森

掐灭这根卷烟的回归

当我还是个孩子的时候，我被引导去相信，那个巨大的、恶魔般的诱惑——“抽烟”，会在我放学回家的路上出现。这可能涉及同伴压力，而我对此的反应将决定我未来的走向，以及我被归类为好人还是坏人。这看起来并不难做到。我成长在一个认为抽烟是坏事的世界里。而现在，我们生活在一个抽烟是好事的世界里。或者说是坏事——但是以一种很酷的方式。颠覆性的、无忧无虑的、有趣的，是旧式优雅美学的一部分，或者是享乐主义，或者两者兼有。两年前宣布“一包烟和一个Bic打火机”是其“brat”时代核心的 Charli xcx；博学多才的 Dua Lipa；美丽的巴勒斯坦活动人士 Bella Hadid；以及目光纯真的 Gracie Abrams。污名已经消散。

但我们应该对抽烟这种潜移默化的可接受性感到深切不安。我们谴责社交媒体和技术的弊端。但我认为，对于网络上卷烟悄然盛行的现象，公众的愤怒程度远远不够。无论 2009 年之后出生的人是否永远无法合法购买一包烟，无论自 2001 年起广告宣传烟草产品是否已违法，或者无论任何有良知的人是否绝不会协助该行业的推广：他们不再需要这样做。Instagram 正在免费地为他们完成这一切。

关于抽烟为何“回归”，人们提出了各种理由。尽管整体吸烟人数比以往任何时候都少，但在包括英格兰南部在内的某些地区，吸烟人数在二十年来首次出现增长。无论理由如何，抽烟的回归不仅令人担忧，而且令人尴尬。我们都知道，我们在网上看到的图像会影响我们的思维。这是一种无声的同伴压力。它让我们潜移默化地认为每个人都在抽烟，认为这是一种向往的生活方式，甚至更糟——认为这已常态化。被动导致了可接受性——正是这一点，使得在经历了数十年的公共卫生运动后，“性感烟民”的形象如此强势地回归。Instagram 比小巷里的诱惑者强大得多，它让大烟草公司的梦想成为了现实。

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新闻 新内容！ 2-26 评论 16-22 电视 28-31 周日 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56

2026 年 8 月 23 日，星期五

技术

AI 预测人格测试回答

作者：Stephen Beech

一个 AI 聊天机器人可以生成人格测试，并在人们参加测试之前预测他们的回答。科学家们开发出一种方法，可以使用 ChatGPT 从任何源文本中生成人格评估问卷。为了测试该方法，他们将其应用于美国精神医学学会用于分类和诊断精神障碍的手册第五版（DSM-5），以及作为一个刻意选择的非传统示例——一本占星学教科书。

发表在《iScience》杂志上的研究结果显示，ChatGPT 不仅可以被用来创建和验证问卷，而且在调查实施之前，它还能准确预测回答的范围。研究首席作者 Rotem Monsa 表示：“大语言模型（LLMs）可能在训练过程中，自然而然地学习到了人类人格的结构。”

美国

毫无遮掩的土拨鼠：科学家求助于 OnlyFans 为野外研究筹款

作者：劳拉·巴特勒（Laura Butler）

美国的科研人员在面临严重的资金削减，威胁到一项已有 64 年历史的土拨鼠研究后，转向了 OnlyFans。这个名为“OnlyMarms”的账号发布的是土拨鼠在自然栖息地中适合全家观看的视频和照片。

科罗拉多州落基山生物实验室的研究人员自 1962. 年以来一直在持续研究黄腹土拨鼠。但联邦政府对大学的大规模资金削减使该研究的财务前景陷入危机。

总部位于科罗拉多州的生物学家丹尼尔·布鲁姆斯坦（Daniel Blumstein）博士想出了一个创意解决方案——在 OnlyFans 上开设账号。他告诉英国广播公司（BBC），该平台以露骨的性内容著称，但他的账号仅包含“毫无遮掩的土拨鼠内容”。

该账号目前已筹集了超过 $5,000（£3,712），在扣除 OnlyFans 的分成后，为该研究带来了 $4,000。但这仍低于维持这项由加州大学洛杉矶分校（UCLA）运行的研究所需的数万美元。

布鲁姆斯坦在草地上观察土拨鼠时想到了这个主意。他最近看了剧集《玛姬的财务危机》（Marge's Got Money Troubles），其中艾丽·范宁（Elle Fanning）饰演的角色为了维持单身母亲的生活而创建了一个 OnlyFans 账号。

这位教授寻求实验室学生的帮助，学生们想出了“OnlyMarms”这个名字并协助开设了账号。但在创建账号并提交身份证照片（OnlyFans 的规定）时，由于他的面孔与头像照片中的土拨鼠不符，该账号被标记。通过与平台进行简短的邮件沟通，这个问题得到了解决。

这种非常规的方法旨在通过捐赠换取可爱的土拨鼠内容，从而创造现金流。这笔资金将用于资助布鲁姆斯坦及其团队开展的野外研究，追踪土拨鼠的行为和血统。

“土拨鼠项目”是全球第二长久的个体识别哺乳动物研究，仅次于简·古道利（Jane Goodall）在坦桑尼亚进行的黑猩猩研究。它帮助科学家了解驱动种群变化和动物行为的因素。

在布鲁姆斯坦及其团队未能获得替代资金后，OnlyFans 页面成了挽救该项目的最后尝试。尽管 OnlyMarms 逐渐获得关注，但布鲁姆斯坦表示，获得的资金可能不足。他怀疑花在页面上的时间是否不如花在野外调研中更有价值。

如需向该基金捐款（无需加入 OnlyFans），请访问 tinyurl.com / marmotfund。

音乐

作曲家失传乐谱将在航空展首演

作者：劳拉·巴特勒（Laura Butler）

一段新发现的詹姆斯·霍纳（James Horner）乐谱已由皇家苏格兰国家管弦乐团录制——并将于下个月在国际艾尔航空展（International Ayr Show）上首演，距离这位作曲家去世已近 11 年。

这首名为《天空之灵》（"Skyward Spirit"）的作品将为特技飞行队“空中烟火”（Airborne Pyrotechnics）提供配乐。

曾为《勇敢的心》（Braveheart）和《泰坦尼克号》（Titanic）创作配乐的霍纳是一位狂热的飞行员，于 2015. 年死于一场飞机失事。他最初为美国空军的“雷鸟”特技飞行表演队创作了这首曲子。

直到最近，人们一直认为这部作品从未完成。但霍纳的飞行队友埃德·希普利（Ed Shipley）发现了一张作曲家拿着手稿的照片。霍纳的朋友西蒙·罗兹（Simon Rhodes）完成了《天空之灵》的创作并进行了编曲。

酒店业

酒吧警告反对限制站立饮酒

作者：Tom Jeffreys

一家市议会正在就一项计划进行咨询，该计划可能会限制伦敦市中心酒吧内的站立行为，旨在解决“过度醉酒”问题。

威斯敏斯特市议会因一项旨在抑制苏豪区（Soho）和西区（West End）“垂直饮酒”并鼓励桌边服务的执照政策草案，而遭到企业和伦敦市长萨迪克·汗爵士（Sir Sadiq Khan）的抨击。

该政策指出，市议会希望“抑制过度醉酒，并鼓励在提供酒精的场所提供更多座位，让人们坐下来享受饮品并通过桌边服务点餐，以取代那些为大量垂直饮酒提供服务的开放式酒吧空间”。

苏豪区酒吧兼餐厅 The French House 的业主 Lesley Lewis 表示，这可能会导致店铺关闭、裁员和业务损失。她说道：“这真的会彻底毁了我们。在承受着如此高昂的租金和税率的情况下，我们依赖于那些站着喝酒的人。”

汗市长即将获得新权力，允许他介入某些具有战略重要性的执照申请。市长的一位发言人表示：“在场所比以往任何时候都更需要我们支持的时候，执照规则却在针对他们。”

市议会表示，其希望“推广更多平衡的场所类型，减少由酒精主导的活动”。此外，人们拥挤在酒吧附近人行道上的现象也引起了关注。

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--- 新闻 新闻 2-35 观点 18-22 电视 26-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 年 8 月 25 日 周五 健康

鲜为人知的器官可能掌握衰老秘密

克莱尔·威尔逊（Clare Wilson）写道，核桃大小的胸腺可能比它看起来更为重要。

如果你曾思考过身体的哪些部分受衰老影响最深，你可能会想到心脏、大脑或者肌肉。而你可能不会想到的是胸腺——一个位于胸腔上部、核桃大小的器官。

长期以来，人们已知胸腺能帮助子宫内的婴儿形成免疫系统，但在成年人中，它被认为基本没有用处，并随着年龄增长而萎缩。（出生时，它的长度约为 1.5 到 2.5 英寸，重量约为 25 克。它一直生长到青春期，达到 35 到 50 克的峰值重量，随后萎缩并转化为脂肪组织。）

然而，最近的研究揭示，胸腺在维持我们终身免疫系统中发挥着重要作用。更广泛地说，胸腺功能可能是健康衰老的一个主要因素，决定了我们对多种疾病的抵抗力——不仅是感染，还包括癌症和心脏病。

在子宫内和幼儿时期，这里是免疫细胞发育并“学习”攻击有害微生物，以及识别并不对人体自身细胞发起攻击的地方。

“它就像一所学校或训练场，”伦敦弗朗西斯·克里克研究所（Francis Crick Institute）的干细胞研究员保拉·邦凡蒂（Paola Bonfanti）教授说，“在细胞面对真实世界之前，它们在这里接触到人体世界的微缩代表。”

T细胞（T-cells）中的“T”代表的就是胸腺（Thymus），它是免疫系统的一个主要分支，其职责包括杀死被病毒感染的细胞和癌细胞。

胸腺的作用是在新生小鼠在胸腺被移除后迅速死于感染时被发现的。但在这一发现后的数十年里，人们仍然认为胸腺在成年期没有太大作用。这是因为该器官确实在萎缩。

我们低估了胸腺的首批迹象之一是 2023, 年的一项研究，该研究观察了接受心脏手术的人群，在这些手术中，胸腺有时会被简单地移除并丢弃。

如果胸腺如此没用，它的存在与否不应对健康产生任何影响。但事实上，与胸腺被保留的人相比，胸腺被移除的人在随后五年内的死亡风险高出三倍。

失去胸腺的人更有可能死亡，不仅死于癌症，还死于心脏病。

今年，两项研究表明，随着年龄增长胸腺萎缩程度更严重的人，健康状况更差，且在特定时期内更有可能死亡。

胸腺腺体位于胸骨后方，曾被认为是不必要的，因为它随年龄增长而萎缩。但现在科学家们正在重新评估它。

目前尚不清楚究竟是什么导致某些人的胸腺萎缩得更快。一些众所周知的不健康生活方式标志，如吸烟和肥胖，与较小的胸腺尺寸相关。

邦凡蒂表示，胸腺远非退化器官，它在健康衰老中发挥重要作用的可能性正变得越来越大。

好消息是，自然界提供了一些暗示，表明减缓甚至逆转胸腺衰退可能是可能的，因为这种情况有时会自发发生。

在怀孕期间，该器官会萎缩，随后在产后重新生长。在癌症的化学治疗或放射治疗期间，它也会萎缩，随后可能会再次生长，这种扩张可能有助于杀死癌细胞。

根据《自然》（Nature）杂志最近的一篇文章，胸腺再生是抗衰老研究中最热门的话题之一，文章称“在过去三年中，胸腺研究出现了爆发式增长”。

邦凡蒂告诉我，她已经收到几位抗衰老研究私人投资者的接触，希望讨论资助她的工作。

电视指南 周五 8月7日

评论员推荐 杰拉德·吉尔伯特 (GERARD GILBERT)

今日精选

《我们的生活》(Our Lives)

7.30pm, BBC One

还记得萨莉·温赖特 (Sally Wainwright) 执导的关于五个绝经期女性组建朋克乐队的剧集《暴动女性》(Riot Women) 吗？这部2025年的BBC剧集被一些人认为不切实际，但这部纪录片则持有不同看法，它介绍了一支来自南威尔士、由六名50岁以上女性组成的名为 Nahlaz 的朋克乐队（包括左侧的安妮-玛丽·博伦 [Anne-Marie Bollen]）。她们探讨养老金不平等和护理院费用等社会问题，并于近期发行了首张迷你专辑《NoNefesto》。在社区工作坊相遇之前，她们曾担任护士、寄养照顾者和冰淇淋车司机，而现在她们在繁忙的生活与巡演之间寻找平衡。镜头记录了她们为在纽约的首场国际演出做准备的过程。

《查拉图斯特拉如是说》(Also Sprach Zarathustra)

促型音乐会 (At The Proms)

7pm, BBC Four

凯蒂·德汉姆 (Katie Derham) 将主持一场特别策划的节目，其中包含三首受天空奇观启发的作品。节目以BBC爱乐乐团演奏的理查德·施特劳斯 (Richard Strauss) 的交响诗《查拉图斯特拉如是说》开场。随后是朱迪思·威尔 (Judith Weir) 的《月亮与星星》(Moon And Star)，最后以西班牙国家管弦乐团首演的拉威尔 (Ravel) 的《俏皮人的晨曲》(Alborado Del Gracioso) 结束。

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英格兰足球联赛杯 (EFL Cup) 直播

7.30pm, ITV1

从世界杯决赛到英联杯第一轮，对所有人来说似乎都是一次令人眩晕的跌落，但对于足球痴迷者，或者今晚两支球队——米德尔斯堡 (Middlesbrough) 和雷克瑟姆 (Wrexham) 的球迷来说并非如此（8.00pm开球）。在面对名气颇大的雷克瑟姆队时，米德尔斯堡将力求避免重复上赛季这一阶段的惨剧——当时他们在里弗赛德体育场被唐卡斯特罗弗斯 (Doncaster Rovers) 以 4-0 击败。

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《花岗岩港口》(Granite Harbour)

8pm, BBC One

随着这部以阿伯丁为背景的程序剧接近尾声，马蒂 (Matty) 丢失的手机成为了调查的中心。随着怀疑转向意想不到的方向，深埋的秘密和隐藏的关系浮出水面，迫使林多 (Lindo) 和巴特 (Bart)（由拉马诺·辛普森 [Ramano Simpson] 和汉娜·唐纳森 [Hannah Donaldson] 饰演）质疑他们认为自己所知道的一切。

超富阶层的

整容秘密

8pm, Channel 4

准新娘汉娜 (Hannah) 准备通过非手术液态隆鼻和面部线雕来迎接她的盛大日子，这是现代新娘转向美容微调 (tweakments) 这一日益增长趋势的一部分。与此同时，来自柴郡的房地产投资者纳比尔 (Nabeel) 代表了新一代高端客户，他每月投入超过 £1,000 用于长期的微调计划，包括射频微针和外泌体治疗，以维持其外貌。

及时行乐 (Carpe Diem)

[年份序列已省略],

[年份序列已省略] / 6.00 Backyard Builds (S) 6.30 Dress To Impress (S) 7.30 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 8.20 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S) 9.20 The Only Way to Essex (S) 10.20 Deweers Crivok (S) 11.20 Charmed (S) 12.15 Deal Or No Deal (S) 1.15 Supermarket Sweep (S) 2.15 The Floor USA (S) 3.10 The Only Way to Essex (S) 4.10 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 5.00 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S) / 晚上7点 / 7.30 The One Show (S) 7.30 Our Lives 摄像机跟随南威尔士朋克乐队 the Nahlaz (S) / 7.30 Newnight (S) / 10.25 ITV News At Ten: Weather (S) 10.55 ITV Regional News: Weather (S) / 10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Beat Bits 问答赛终极胜利集锦 (S) / 10.30 Piers Morgan: Uncensored 由 Piers Morgan 主持的观点导向新闻与辩论节目 (S) / 10.45 Tony Bennett Sings - Songs From The Movies (S) / 11.50 电影：《末夜在苏豪》（Edgar Wright 2023）悬疑恐怖片：由 Thomasin McKenzie 主演 (S) / 11.05 Family Guy (Brian 开始与一名年长女性约会 (S) 11.35 Family Guy 独自留在左侧家中 (S) / 晚上8点 / 8.00 Granite Harbour: Lindo 和 Bart 与时间赛跑以寻找真正的凶手 系列最后一集 (S) / 8.00 Gardeners' World: Frances Tophill 回到巴斯的 Damson Farm (S) / 8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich: 一位准 Lindo 进行了液态隆鼻手术 (S) / 12.20 Tony Bennett Sings - Sisters Sings (S) 12.55 Tony Bennett Sings - Song Stories (S) 1.25 Tony Bennett Sings - Tin Pan Alley (S) 1.55 Tony Bennett's New York (S) 3.20 TOTP: 2000 (S) / 12.05 电影：《厌倦自己》（Bradley Borg 2023）挪威剧集，由 Kristine Kjærn Thorp 主演 (S) 4.00 Close / 12.05 American Dad! (S) 12.35 American Dad! (S) 1.05 Bob's Burgers (S) 4.30 Bob's Burgers (S) 1.55 Deal Or No Deal: Banker's Best Battles (S) 2.00 Unwind With ITV (S) 3.00 Teleshopping / 晚上9点 / 9.00 Would I Lie To You? (R) (S) 9.30 Ann Droid Sue 邀请 Michael 和 Renee 共进美好的家庭晚餐 (S) / 9.00 Bergerac Chloe 发现了证明存在

约翰·布莱克利（John Blakely）的指控中包含部分事实 (S) 9.45 QI XL (R) (S) | 9.00 《8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown》，嘉宾为卡塔里娜·瑞安（Katharina Ryan）、法蒂亚·埃尔-格里（Fathea El-Gherri）和杰克·兰伯特（Jake Lambert） (S) | | | | | | 晚上 10点 | 10.00 BBC 十点新闻 (S) 10.30 BBC 地区新闻 (S) 10.45 电影：《28天后》丹尼·博伊尔 2002 (S) | 10.30 《新闻之夜》(Newsnight) (S) | 11.15 电影：《杰克·里彻：永不回头》（爱德华·兹威克 2016）动作惊悚片，汤姆·克鲁斯主演 (R) | 11.05 莎拉·米利坎（Sarah Millican）：《Home Bird》现场脱口秀 (R) (S) | | 11.15 托尼·班奈特演唱 - 个人热门曲集 (S) 11.50 托尼·班奈特演唱 - 百老汇之歌 (S) | 11.50 电影：《霓虹灯夜》（埃德加·赖特 2023）悬疑恐怖片，托马辛·麦肯齐（Thomasin McKenzie）主演 (S) | | | 晚上 11点 | 11.35 BBC 新闻 (S) | 1.00 手语区 (英国西蒙斯学校 - 朴次茅斯) (S) 1.30 手语区 - 拉面 (R) (S) 2.30 这是 BBC Two (S) | 1.10 电视购物 1.00 《自然之力》(Force Of Nature) (R) (S) 1.20 《失散多年的家人》(Long Lost Family) (R) (S) 1.45 ITV 放松时刻 (S) | 12.10 格雷格·戴维斯（Greg Davies）：《我妈的后脑勺》(The Back Of My Mom's Head) (R) (S) 1.05 电视与挚爱书籍 (R) (S) 1.25 《40位全科医生：闭门之后》(40 GPs: Behind Closed Doors) (R) (S) 2.50 《城堡》(Castle) (R) (S) 3.40 《老友记》(Friends) (R) (S) | 12.00 《逃税者：与法律抗争》(Fars Dodgers: At War With The Law) (R) (S) 1.00 巡航电视与挚爱书籍 (R) (S) 1.25 《40位全科医生：闭门之后》(40 GPs: Behind Closed Doors) (R) (S) 2.50 《城堡》(Castle) (R) (S) 3.40 《老友记》(Friends) (R) (S) | 12.20 托尼·班奈特演唱 - 酒馆之歌 (S) 12.55 托尼·班奈特演唱 - 歌曲故事 (S) 1.25 托尼·班奈特演唱 - 锡盘巷 (S) 1.55 托尼·班奈特的纽约 (S) 3.20 《流行之顶》(TOTP): 2000 (S) | 2.05 电影：《厌倦自己》（布拉德利·博格 2023）挪威剧情片，克里斯汀·凯恩·索普（Kristine Kjærn Thorp）主演 (S) 4.00 结束 | 12.05 《美国爸爸！》(American Dad!) (S) 12.35 《美国爸爸！》(American Dad!) (S) 1.05 《鲍勃的大汉堡》(Bob's Burgers) (S) 4.30 《鲍勃的大汉堡》(Bob's Burgers) (S) 1.55 《交易或不交易：银行家的最佳对决》(Deal Or No Deal: Banker's Best Battles) (S) 2.00 ITV 放松时刻 (S) 3.00 电视购物 |

如何游玩

将梯子顶端的单词转换为底端的单词，仅使用中间的五个横杆。在每个横杆上，你必须填入一个有效的四个字母单词，该单词与上方的单词相同，仅有一个字母不同。实现这一目标可能有多种方法。

MATT
SASH

PUCE
HARE

idoku

《i报》独家 如何游玩 红色字母 i 组成的方格中，1 到 9 的每个数字必须出现（且仅出现一次）。

1 / 6

8 / 4 / 5 / 7 2 / 9 / 4 / 9 | | | | | | | | | | 7 / 8 / 3 / 4 | | | | | | | | | | 6 / 3 / 6 / 9 7 / 5 / 9 / 6 7 / 3

Sudoku 简单 / 6 / 1 / 4 / 3

8 / 1 / 3 / 2 9 / 5 / 6 / 4 7 / 1 / 5 / 8 / 9 6 / 7 / 2 / 4 8 / 9 / 3 / 6 8 / 2 / 3 1 / 6 / 2 9 / 7 | | | | | | | | | 3 |

明天：更难

ABC Logic

如何游玩 在每行和每列中，字母 A、B 和 C 仅能出现一次。每行和每列有两个空格。行 / 列边缘的字母表示该行 / 列中第一个 / 最后一个出现的字母。

Word Wheel

利用轮盘中的字母，你能找到多少个单词？我们找到了 59 个，其中包括一个九字母单词。每个单词必须使用中心字母以及至少另外三个字母。字母仅能使用一次。不得使用外来词、专有名词或复数形式，但可以使用以 'i' 结尾的动词形式。

条款与条件

使用《i报》的文本服务，即表示您同意接收来自 DMG Media 的偶尔发送的短信。接收这些短信无需付费，您可以随时通过向原号码发送 STOP 来退出。本页面的短信服务由 BBA Digital Ltd. KT18 5AD 提供。帮助热线：0333 335 3351。本页面的电话服务由 Spoke AL 10 9NA 提供。帮助热线：0333 202 3390。以及由 Advanced Telecom Services. EC1M 4BH 提供。帮助热线：0330 333 6946。

精简纵横字谜 No 4901

横向

• 1 视觉器官 (3)
• 3 浸在腌料中 (5)
• 7 最好的 (4)
• 8 削弱的 (8)
• 9 短暂的 (9)
• 12 花式蛋糕 (6)
• 13 抢救 (6)
• 15 投降的象征 (5,4)
• 18 铅笔“芯” (8)
• 20 两栖动物 (4)
• 21 练习 (3-2)
• 22 母鹿 (3)

纵向

• 1 大水罐 (4)
• 2 取得资格 (7)
• 3 贿赂 (3)
• 4 连接在一起 (5)
• 5 充满波折的 (8)
• 6 外科手术用线 (8)
• 10 婴儿车 (美国用法) (8)
• 11 例如杜莎夫人蜡像馆 (8)
• 14 能看见的 (7)
• 16 贡献 (5)
• 17 长而粗的毛 (4)
• 19 小恶魔 (3)

在精简纵横字谜上卡住了？

获取今日答案，请致电 0902 789 3590。通话费用为每分钟 80p 加上您的网络接入费。如果您在拨打此号码时遇到困难，请致电我们的服务台 0333 202 3390。

益智书

我们的益智书系列包括：纵横字谜、代码字谜、数独拼图、儿童游戏、数独等。亚马逊售价每本 £799。请在 miniURL.co.uk / ibooks 查看完整系列。

昨日精简纵横字谜答案

横向 1 Dice, 3 Duff (Dyestuff), 8 Pompeius, 9 Torso, 10 Tenet, 11 Apricot, 13 Snow leopard, 15 Meeting, 17 Other, 19 State, 21 Neutron, 22 Nest, 23 Were. 纵向 1 Dominance, 2 Choctaw, 3 Deler, 4 Fur, 5 Spit, 6 Estate agent, 7 Host, 12 Carthorse, 14 Produce, 15 Mast, 16 Inept, 18 Rung, 20 Age.

今日其他益智游戏 隐喻纵横字谜，第 25 页 五线索隐喻字谜，第 17 页 一分钟 Wipako，第 20 页 益智游戏答案 见第 49 页 --- 30 游戏与益智

Calcudoku 玩法 在每一行和每一列中各填入一次数字 1-6，并遵守粗线区域内的求和规则。每个区域中的数字表示该区域的总和，符号则显示应对数字执行的操作类型：加法、减法、除法或乘法。数字在粗线区域内可以重复。进行减法时，始终用该区域中的最高数字减去较低数字；进行除法时，用最高数字除以较低数字。

5+ / 7+ / 9+ / 10+ / 12+

13+ / 15+ | | 40+ | | | | 2+ / 7+ / 2+ 3+ / 2+ / 5+ 6+ / 8+ / 20+ | | | 8+ | | |

Hexalex 玩法 将下列每个字母填入空白六边形中各一次，填入后将其划掉。填入字母的方式必须使得通过从一个六边形移动到相邻六边形来拼写，能够找到网格旁列出的所有单词。

A B C G I J L M N O R S U V X Y

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萨缪尔·勒·比汉（Samuel Le Bihan）曾被冤狱 17 年，现在他成为一名律师，为其他被错误指控的人辩护。他的第一个案件涉及一家豪华海滨酒店一名富有的女性被谋杀案——谋杀嫌疑落在了一个兼任富裕客房男宠的代客泊车员身上。

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Ann Droid

9. 晚上 9.30。BBC One 摩根（Morgan）这部情景喜剧的主题是愤怒带来的不堪，今晚，苏（Sue）邀请迈克尔（Michael）和蕾妮（Renee）来参加一次温馨的家庭晚餐，试图营造幸福家庭的假象。这对夫妇接受邀请的真实动机很快就揭晓了。幸运的是，琳达（Linda）在场化解了悲剧，随后揭露了当晚最大的震惊。

电影选择

劳伦斯·费兰（LAURENCE PHELAN）

今日电影

《事件地平线》（Event Horizon）

10. 晚上 10.15。Sky Cinema 科幻 / 恐怖 吉哈德·威尔·安德森（Jihad Will Anderson），1997 已故的萨姆·尼尔（Sam Neill）与劳伦斯·菲什本（Laurence Fishburne，左）共同出演了这部有趣的科幻恐怖片，他贡献了其标志性的狂热且痴迷的表演。该片具有类似《异形》（Alien）的太空鬼屋氛围、《索拉里斯》（Solaris）的幻觉诡谲感以及《阴狱神差》（Hellraiser）的跨维度恶魔主义。尼尔饰演一名科学家，他加入了一支军事打捞队，旨在回收他设计并送入虫洞的宇宙飞船。这艘船曾处于“我们宇宙的边界之外”。在已知的科学现实中，“谁知道它去过哪里？”它看到了什么——以及它带回了什么。“那些金属撞击声和回响都经过专业的调色处理。”

《疾速追杀》（John Wick）

晚上 9点。ITV2 （查德·斯塔赫尔斯基，大卫·雷奇，2014） 基努·里维斯（Keanu Reeves）饰演一名名声显赫的杀手，一心想要为爱犬之死报仇。这部电影毫无实质内容，但风格十足，且意识到自身的荒诞，并拥有三位数的尸体计数。

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《火星救援》（The Martian）

晚上 9点。Film4 （雷德利·斯科特，2015） 这部引人入胜且非常推崇科学的剧情片基本上就是火星版的《鲁滨逊漂流记》。马特·达蒙（Matt Damon）饰演一名受困的宇航员，依靠他的聪明才智和工程技能艰难度日，直到美国国家航空航天局（Nasa）能够发起救援行动。

点播

《巷猫》（Alley Cats）

Netflix

瑞奇·热维斯（Ricky Gervais）的成人动画喜剧，讲述一群口无遮拦的野猫的故事。

《霍华德》（Howard）

Disney+

讲述了《阿拉丁》及更多作品背后才华横溢的词作者霍华德·阿什曼（Howard Ashman）的故事。

邦妮·泰勒在（Bonnie Tyler At）

BBC

BBC iPlayer

这位已故威尔士歌手热门歌曲的 7-9bute 汇编。

iDv3

6.00 《乔治与米尔德里德》(S) 6.35 《乔治与米尔德里德》(S) 7.95 《经典艾默代尔》(S) 7.35 《经典艾默代尔》(S) 8.10 《经典加冕街》(S) 8.40 《经典加冕街》(S) 9.10 《阿加莎·克里斯蒂的父母》(S) 10.20 《阿加莎·克里斯蒂的父母》(S) 11.20 《心跳》(S) 12.20 《心跳》(S) 1.35 《中途谋杀案》(S) 2.35 《经典艾默代尔》(S) 4.40 《经典加冕街》(S) 5.10 《经典加冕街》(S) 5.20 《心跳》(S)

6.00 《摩登家庭》(S) 6.55 《罗德里克管线海岸》(S) 7.00 《考格拉斯：来我家吃饭》(S) 8.00 《拉姆齐的厨房噩梦美国版》(S) 9.00 《拉姆齐的厨房噩梦美国版》(S) 10.00 《美国最搞笑家庭录像》(S) 11.00 《地中海之下》(S) 1.00 《地中海之下》(S) 12.00 《辛普森一家》(S) 12.20 《辛普森一家》(S) 1.00 《辛普森一家》(S) 1.20 《辛普森一家》(S) 2.00 《布鲁克林九九》(S) 2.20 《布鲁克林九九》(S) 3.00 《摩登家庭》(S) 3.30 《摩登家庭》(S) 4.00 《摩登家庭》(S) 4.30 《摩登家庭》(S) 5.00 《辛普森一家》(S) 5.20 《辛普森一家》(S)

8.95 《发型猎手》(S) 10.00 《床上的恐惧》(S) 10.25 《床上的恐惧》(S) 11.05 《床上的恐惧》(S) 11.25 《床上的恐惧》(S) 12.10 《床上的恐惧》(S) 12.40 《来我家吃饭》(S) 1.10 《来我家吃饭》(S) 1.40 《来我家吃饭》(S) 2.05 《来我家吃饭》(S) 2.50 《来我家吃饭》(S) 3.00 《床上的恐惧》(S) 3.20 《床上的恐惧》(S) 4.00 《床上的恐惧》(S) 5.20 《床上的恐惧》(S) 5.50 《汽车与B S》(S)

6.00 《琼斯与墨尔本的早晨》(R) 6.20 《琼斯与墨尔本的早晨》(R) 7.00 《琼斯与墨尔本的早晨》(S) 7.20 《琼斯与墨尔本的早晨》(S) 8.00 《斯特吉斯 SS-4》(R) (S) 9.00 《NCSL 洛杉矶》(R) (S) 10.00 《威尔与格蕾丝》(R) (S) 10.20 《威尔与格蕾丝》(R) (S) 11.00 《辛普森一家》(R) (S) 11.10 《辛普森一家》(R) (S) 12.00 电影：《自然的秘密力量》(R) (S) 1.00 《夏威夷五勇士-6》(R) (S) 2.00 《夏威夷五勇士-6》(R) (S) 3.00 《特警》(S.W.A.T.)(R) (S) 4.00 《特警》(S.W.A.T.)(R) (S) 5.00 《辛普森一家》(R) (S) 5.20 《辛普森一家》(R) (S)

6.00 《理查德与格林的酒店秘密》(R) (S) 7.00 《理查德与格林的酒店秘密》(R) (S) 8.00 《亿万》(R) (S) 9.10 《亿万》(R) (S) 10.20 《激烈的竞争》(R) (S) 11.15 《激烈的竞争》(R) (S) 12.20 《街头谋杀案》(R) (S) 1.20 《街头谋杀案》(R) (S) 2.20 《亿万》(R) (S) 3.35 《亿万》(R) (S) 4.00 《最后生还者》(R) (S)

6.55 《心跳》特里夏和迈克让爱加倍 (S)

6.00 《辛普森一家》丽莎算命 (S) 6.30 《辛普森一家》小助手萨缪尔赢得赞誉 (S)

6.50 《汽车 S.O.S》蒂姆和法兹将挑战他们的第100辆车，以及他们的第一辆电动车 (S)

6.00 《动物控制》(R) (S) 6.30 《动物控制》帕特尔主持一场筹款活动 (R) (S)

6.05 《最后生还者》乔斯特和泰丝就艾丽的命运产生分歧 (R) (S)

7.00 《辛普森一家》荷马转向即兴喜剧以增强自信 (S) 7.30 《辛普森一家》(S)

7.05 《宏伟设计》凯文回顾在德文郡建造一座装饰艺术风格灯塔塔楼的过程 (S)

7.35 《宏伟设计》凯文回顾在德文郡建造一座装饰艺术风格灯塔塔楼的过程 (S)

7.00 《辛普森一家》荷马和玛姬试图挽救他们的婚姻 (R) (S) 7.30 《辛普森一家》(R) (S)

7.00 《企鹅人》索菲亚努力为自己建立新的传承 (R) (S)

8.00 《马丁医生》合伙人决定举办警察开放日以提高社区意识 (S)

8.00 《范德庞普规则》丽莎给马库斯提供在首映派对上担任 DJ 的机会 (S)

8.00 《海外白痴 2》卡特·普拉纳根沿着美国 66 号公路旅行 (R) (S)

8.00 《企鹅人》维克多选择与前对手同行 (R) (S)

9.00 《马丁医生》这是年度波特温对阵波特卡兰的赛船比赛 (S)

9.00 《名人脱口秀：为抗癌而站》(S)

9.00 《及时行乐》新剧，法国法律剧，由萨缪尔·勒比汉主演 (S)

9.00 《米基·弗拉纳根：如果我们需要它》喜剧演员的单口喜剧表演 (R) (S)

9.00 《第十一站》伊丽莎白·泰勒和克拉克面对更加不确定的未来 (S)

10.00 《大切斯特》维克的健身房一场慈善拳击赛中出现了意想不到的转折 (S)

10.00 电影：《美国派：婚礼》 (American Pie: The Wedding) 2009年喜剧续集，由杰森·比格斯主演 (S)

10.05 24 《24小时急诊室》(24 Hours In A&E) 一名男孩在从树上掉下来后被送入院内 (S)

10.15 《格里姆斯堡》(Grimsburg) (S)

10.45 《格里姆斯堡》(Grimsburg) 警察局在婚礼上进行卧底行动 (S)

10.00 《 Station Eleven 》克斯汀离开巡回交响乐团去追踪先知 (S)

11.00 《格兰彻斯特》(Grandchester) 一名女性被发现死亡，尸体被摆成一副画的形状 (S)

11.55 《裸体吸引力》(Naked Attraction) 一名自认是约会灾难的人和一名自由奔放的艺术家参与其中 (S)

11.10 24 《24小时急诊室》(24 Hours In A&E) 一名退休建筑工在从女儿家的屋顶掉下来后接受治疗 (S)

11.15 《格里姆斯堡》(Grimsburg) 一名谋杀之谜派对的主持人被传唤 (S)

11.45 《动物控制》(Animal Control)

11.00 《最后生还者》(The Last Of Us) 乔尔和艾莉接近他们旅程的终点 (R) (S)

11.50 《审判与惩罚》(Trial & Retribution) (S)

11.50 《Goggialos》 (S)

8.00 《范德庞普法则》(Vanderpump Rules) (S)

2.55 《拉姆齐厨房噩梦美国版》(Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA) (S)

3.45 《戈德堡一家》(The Goldbergs) (S)

4.10 《戈德堡一家》(The Goldbergs) (S)

4.25 《布鲁克林九九》(Brooklyn Nine-Nine) (S)

12.15 《前线之歌》(gig On The Front Line) (S)

13.24 《24小时急诊室》(Hours In A&E) (S)

2.00 24 《24小时急诊室》(24 Hours In A&E) (S)

3.05 《阳光之所》(A Place In The Sun) (S)

3.55 《Close》

12.15 《动物控制》(Animal Control) (R) (S)

12.45 《新郎》(Groom) (R) (S)

4.10 《三方向》(The Three Directionist) (R) (S)

3.20 《阅读火星》(Read Mars) (R) (S)

3.00 《夏威夷五勇士-6》(Hawaii Five-6) (R) (S)

4.00 《特警》(S.W.A.T.R.) (S)

5.00 《特警》(S.W.A.T.R.) (S)

12.00 《真探：夜之国》(True Detective Night Country) (R) (S)

1.30 《亿万》(Billions) (R) (S)

2.10 《亿万》(Billions) (R) (S)

3.00 《亿万》(Billions) (R) (S)

5.00 《都市秘密》(Urban Secrets) (R)

广播

BBC Radio 1

上午 6.15 Newsbeat；7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Drug Genes；10.00 Radio 1 Anthems With Nat And Vicky；11.00 Radio 1's Group Chat With Nat And Vicky；下午 12.15 Newsbeat；1.00 Sam And Darrel；2.00 Radio 1 Dance Party Starters With Sam And Darrel；4.00 The Official Chart On Radio 1 With Ash Saunders；5.45 Newsbeat；6.00 Radio 1's Dance Party With Danny Howard；8.00 Radio 1's Future Dance With Sarah Stacy；10.00 Pete Tong；凌晨 12.00 Radio 1's Essential Mix；2.00 Radio 1 Dance Present；3.00 Danny Howard Club Mix；4.00 Radio 1 Dance Party Starters；5.00 Radio 1's Happy Anthems

BBC Radio 1Xtra

上午 6.30 Ultra Playlists；7.00 Ultra Breakfast With Nadia Jan；10.00 (S) Day Day；下午 12.15 Newsbeat；1.00 Kaylee Goldring；4.00 Remi Burgis；5.45 Newsbeat；6.00 Remi Burgis；7.00 Keith & Pharaoh G；8.00 Keith & Pharaoh G；9.00 Ultra Ray Show With Kenny Allstar；10.00 Kenny Allstar-Preet to Ake；11.00 Ultra's Friday Night Party With Sory Bovey；凌晨 12.30 Ultra's Friday Night Party With Sory Bovey；1.00 Ultra's Bane Show With Jeremiah Asimah；2.30 Jeremiah Asimah's Get to Me；3.00 Ultra's R&B Show With Charles；4.30 Ultra's R&B Show Jams Mix With Charles；5.00 Ultra's Salutes

BBC Radio 2

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[页码 32]

新闻

Panorama

十个故事环游世界

中东

犹太定居者因杀害活动人士被起诉

作者：Pesha Magid，发自 VINTAGE.COM

以色列检察官昨日起诉一名犹太定居者，指控其去年在约旦河西岸杀害了一名巴勒斯坦社区领袖。在被占领领土定居者暴力升级的背景下，这是七年多来首次出现此类起诉。

Yinon Levi 被指控过失杀人，导致 Owdeh Hathaleen 死亡。Hathaleen 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）。 在冲突中拍摄到了自己被枪击的瞬间。由以色列人权组织 B'Tselem 公布的视频显示，Levi 掏出武器并向 方向开火。随后可以听到 在倒地时发出呻吟声。

指控还包括武装侵入和恶意破坏财产。2025, 7 月，定居者在巴勒斯坦村庄 Umm al-Khair 操作挖掘机，引发了与居民的冲突。Levi（imot）因针对巴勒斯坦人的暴力行为已被英国和欧盟列入制裁名单，他此前否认开枪杀害 。

B'Tselem 表示，自 2023 年 10 月 7 日哈马斯袭击以色列并引发以色列在加沙的军事进攻，以及导致约旦河西岸定居者针对巴勒斯坦人的暴力行为急剧增加以来，这是首起起诉案。根据联合国数据，在此期间，以色列士兵和定居者已杀害 1,100 多名巴勒斯坦人，其中至少包括 240 名儿童。

数十万以色列人在以色列于 1967 年战争中夺取的土地上定居，那里居住着数百万巴勒斯坦人，而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，根据国际公约，这些定居点是非法的，且是和平的主要障碍。以色列则否认定居点非法，称犹太人在约旦河西岸已经存在了数千年。

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。路透社

喀麦隆总统已在国外停留两个月

作者：Nalova Akna，发自 VANTAGE.COM

昨日标志着总统保罗·比亚（Paul Biya）离开喀麦隆已满两个月。这种长期的缺席引发了人们对其健康的担忧，以及对可能出现权力真空的批评。

这位世界上最高龄的总统自 1982, 年起领导喀麦隆，在去年 11 月赢得一场争议巨大的选举后开始了他的第八个任期。但这位 93 岁的总统于 6 月 7 日离开该国，比亚的办公室将其描述为“在欧洲短暂的私人停留”。

由于总统在欧洲（包括法国和瑞士）花费大量时间，且经常在那里停留数周，将治理权交给党内关键官员和家庭成员，其健康状况长期以来一直是猜测的话题。

喀麦隆宪法并未明确禁止总统离开该国数月，但反对派将该国的运行状态描述为“自动驾驶”。反对派领导人 Issa Tchiroma Bakary 表示，喀麦隆普遍认为比亚的状况“不容乐观”。美联社

尼日利亚

300人从武装团体中获救

作者：Dyopkazah Shibayan，发自 ABCDA

尼日利亚北部在不同袭击中被绑架的至少308人已被救出。尼日利亚总统博拉·提努布（Bola Tinubu）表示，获救人员包括2月在夸拉州（Kwara state）凯亚马（Kaiama）地区沃罗（Woro）社区被绑架的163人，以及主要在尼日尔州（Niger state）被绑架的145人。

这次解救了300多名被囚禁数月之久的人员的行动细节并未披露，总统的声明仅提到他们是从一片森林中被救出，目前正在接受医疗护理。据提努布称，这次行动被描述为该国安保部队在单日内开展的“规模最大的救援行动”。

他说：“这次以情报为导向的行动成功执行，证明了我们安保部门之间日益增强的效率和协作。”

总统博拉·提努布赞扬了此次行动的规模和“效率”：“我赞扬我们身着制服的英勇男女，感谢他们的勇气以及在保护尼日利亚人民生命方面坚定不移的承诺。”

在尼日利亚，学校绑架事件十分普遍，各种武装团体将其作为目标以索要巨额赎金。在尼日利亚被称为“土匪”（bandits）的武装团体经常在国家西北部和中北部地区进行袭击并绑架勒索。当局表示，这些土匪团体主要由前牧民组成，他们在因资源日益紧张而与农民社区发生冲突后拿起武器。

此外，该国东北部还存在一场持续十多年的伊斯兰领导的叛乱。AP

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HPRT 2-25 观点 11-22 电视 26-31 周五 17-23 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026年8月周五 33

新西兰

总理对新选举制度持开放态度

新西兰总理表示，他对于是否更改该国选举制度的全民公投持开放态度，这在通用选举前几个月揭露了其中右翼联盟内部的又一次分歧。

新西兰在一次调查发现之前的“领先者当选”（first-past-the-post）制度将小党排除在议会之外后，于1996年采用了德国式的混合成员比例代表制（MMP）。

昨天，克里斯托弗·卢克森（Christopher Luxon，见插图）表示，全民公投是“我们应该考虑的事情”，如果他在定于11月7日的通用选举后重新掌权，公投最早可在2027年举行。他没有说明任何公投是否具有约束力。

卢克森的言论引发了其联盟伙伴的批评，而这些伙伴在经济和少数群体问题上已经存在分歧。

在MMP制度下，选民投两票：一票给当地候选人，一票给政党。MMP因允许小党在政府中拥有发言权而受到称赞，但因其复杂性以及经常需要组建联合政府而受到批评。新西兰最近一次在2011年的全民公投中投票决定保留该制度。路透社

刚果民主共和国

埃博拉护理人员因薪资问题罢工

在刚果埃博拉疫情中心工作的数十名卫生工作者昨天举行抗议，要求支付工资。尽管援助官员警告该疾病正以惊人的速度传播，但这些工作人员仍离开了数家医疗设施。

卫生工作者聚集在伊图里省（Ituri province）首府布尼亚（Bunia）的省长办公室，该省占该国埃博拉病例的近90%。

包括护士在内的抗议者表示，自5月中旬宣布疫情爆发以来，他们一直没有收到工作工资和奖金。

这是历史上第二次最大规模的埃博拉疫情，发生在刚果最脆弱的地区之一。

世界卫生组织总干事特德罗斯·阿德哈诺姆·格布雷叶苏斯（Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus）在周三访问刚果期间，敦促当局优先支持一线响应人员。AP

明信片来自…… 广岛

昨日，广岛纪念了美国对这座日本西部城市进行原子弹轰炸的81周年。该市市长批评大国发动战争，并敦促它们停止将拥有核武器作为一种威慑手段正当化。

“淡化核武器的非人性，并接受使用武力来追求自身的繁荣，可能会引发暴力报复的循环，最终导致另一个广岛或长崎，”松井一美（Kazumi Matsui）表示。

包括来自美国和伊朗在内的120个国家和地区的代表在内的约50,000人参加了仪式。上午8.15分，当美国B-29轰炸机向该市投下炸弹的时间点，在和平之钟的鸣响中，人们举行了一分钟的默哀。

首相高市早苗（Sanae Takaichi）表示，她将采取“现实的方法”来实现一个核武器永不被使用的世界。但有猜测认为，高市的鹰派政府可能会放宽日本战后的非核原则，包括不允许将核武器带入该国。

1945年8月6日的广岛轰炸摧毁了这座城市，造成至少140,000人死亡。三天后投向长崎的第二枚炸弹造成70,000人死亡。日本于8月15日投降，结束了第二次世界大战以及日本在亚洲近半个世纪的侵略。

幸存者的数量已下降至91,105人，约为最初人数的四分之一。美联社 Mari Yamaguchi

菲律宾

美国寻求引渡“上帝之子”电视传道师以进行虐待审判

吉姆·戈麦斯（Jim Gomez）发自马尼拉

美国已要求菲律宾政府引渡一名菲律宾教会领袖，此人曾是前总统罗德里戈·杜特尔特的有影响力顾问。他将面临包括儿童性贩卖和欺诈在内的指控，这些指控使他被列入联邦调查局（FBI）的最 wanted 名单。

美国关于引渡阿波罗·卡雷昂·基博洛伊（Apollo Carreon Quiboloy）的请求于7月通过菲律宾外交部发送至马尼拉的司法部。该请求需要两家菲律宾法院的批准，这两家法院一直在审理这名被拘留的前电视传道师的人口贩卖和虐待儿童指控。

76岁的基博洛伊领导着耶稣基督王国教会，该教会于1985年在南部达沃市成立，声称在菲律宾及包括美国在内的海外地区拥有广泛的追随者。

在鼎盛时期，基博洛伊（插图）是菲律宾最有影响力的宗教领袖之一。他曾担任同样充满争议的杜特尔特的精神顾问，后者于2016年6月就职。杜特尔特目前在荷兰等待国际刑事法院对其在任期间与杀害毒品嫌疑人相关的涉嫌反人类罪的审判。

基博洛伊自称是“被任命的上帝之子”，并发表了一些令人震惊的言论，引发了对其人格的质疑。

2024年，在法院下令将其及其他几人因涉嫌儿童性虐待和人口贩卖逮捕后，他开始潜逃。这位传道师否认了这些指控，但另外四人在2024年9月投案自首。

美国检察官在2021年也宣布了对基博洛伊的起诉书。基博洛伊是美国联邦大陪审团提交并于2021年11月解密的替代起诉书中点名的九个人之一。该起诉书包含一项指控清单，包括共谋、儿童性贩卖、强迫性贩卖、欺诈和胁迫。美联社

美国

与墨西哥辣椒相关的沙门氏菌疫情导致数百人感染

美国卫生官员正在调查一起与墨西哥辣椒（jalapeño peppers）相关的沙门氏菌疫情，该疫情已导致 27 个州的 245 人患病。美国疾病控制与预防中心和食品药品监督管理局（FDA）均表示，目前已报告 36 例住院病例，调查仍在进行中。FDA 表示，病例出现时间在 6 月 19 日至 7 月 20 日之间。此次疫情已促使供应商 Coast Citrus Distributors 召回发送至 Chipotle Mexican Grill 和 QDOBA 等餐厅的辣椒。沙门氏菌感染可引起腹泻、发烧和胃痉挛，对于幼儿、老年人以及免疫系统较弱的人群可能尤为严重。此次疫情发生之际，餐饮业的食品安全正受到严密审查，此前美国发生的一起环孢子虫病疫情引发了卫生当局的调查，并再次引起人们对农产品供应链的担忧。路透社

乌干达

足球队长遭袭击身亡

乌干达国家队成员、该国最大足球俱乐部之一的队长大卫·奥沃尔（David Oworl）在首都坎帕拉遭袭击后身亡。一名警方发言人表示，28 岁的 SC Villa 队长奥沃尔周二在坎帕拉郊区被不明身份的袭击者严重伤害。在此之前，橄榄球运动员悉尼·贡戈迪奥（Sydney Gongodyo）于 6 月去世；据警方称，他当时在坎帕拉被一群暴徒袭击，显然是被误认为小偷。美联社

--- 34 新闻

就业

部分英国员工在居家办公周五究竟在做什么

并非所有人都会在周五收尾时埋头苦干。梅贝尔·莫根（Maybelle Morgan）为您带来详细报道

由于疫情的催化，居家办公（WFH）的人数达到了前所未有的规模。如今，据估计英国有 41% 的员工在部分时间内远程办公，人数高达 2320 万（2320万），而 10 年前仅为 150 万（150万）。其中 13% 的人完全居家办公，28% 的人采用混合模式。

尽管一些大型雇主正推动员工五天全部回到办公室——这引起了部分员工的不满甚至导致辞职——但大多数工作场所仍保留了某种程度的灵活性，其中周五居家办公是疫情后最常见的做法之一。

虽然许多老板已经接受远程办公的某种形式已成为职场环境的永久组成部分，但这并不能阻止管理层对团队将笔记本电脑带回家后究竟在做什么产生不信任感。最糟糕的担忧包括员工整天在酒吧里，从事第二份工作，甚至提前去度假。此外，周五的工作方式可能更加随性——生产力下降、响应延迟或离开办公桌。

《i报》采访了五个人，了解他们在居家办公周五究竟在做什么。

我偷偷打两份工

Naomi，30岁，广告业 我是自由职业者，但从三月份起就在目前这份工作中。我是完全远程办公，每天都在家。我通常在床上喝杯茶开始早晨，和伴侣聊聊天，然后准备就绪，吃早餐，使用我的LED面罩，在面罩工作时阅读书籍，然后冥想。我通常在上午9点检查Slack消息，但直到9点30分左右才会真正开始做事。我喜欢在第一时间完成需要做的工作，因为那时通常是我效率最高的时候。然后我会奖励自己，在阳台上晒太阳时看Hayu上的节目——最好是最新一集的《真实主妇》。

据估计，英国有4.5%的员工在部分时间居家办公。

我喜欢在午餐时间参加健身课，因为这样不会占用我一天的其他时间，所以我大约在12点或12.30出门参加一小时的课程，回来后做午餐。下午3点到4点左右是我可能会有工作电话的时间，所以我会检查是否有人需要什么。我很快就要结婚了，所以节奏缓慢的周五是处理大量行政事务的完美时机。这些大概全是在沙发上完成的。我会留意消息，但在下午5点之前就早已下班了。

有时我会同时做两份工作，因为我目前的职位不需要占用整天的时间。起初这是出于经济上的必要，但现在成了我无法拒绝的事情，因为我想确保与客户维持关系，并担心如果我长时间消失（即使我的档期已满），他们会忘记我。作为一名自由职业者，你不能依赖单一的收入来源。我不觉得愧疚。我仍然在完成所有需要做的工作，而且通常更多。这就是我的工作方式，一直如此——通过高强度的专注爆发完成大量工作，然后进入休息时间。我已经开始将这种协调时间的能力视为一种超能力。

我的经理非常随和，不进行微观管理——他们信任我能把工作做好，而且我过去一直能交付成果，所以他们不会检查。我也处于相当高级的职位，在创意方面负责统筹，所以不需要太多指导。如果我同时打两份工且有两个会议冲突——这种情况有时会发生——我会告诉其中一方我有预约，或者找个借口说某个时间对我更合适。不过，这意味着我经历了很多倦怠，这很难应对，所以我觉得我的周五让我找回了一点时间。

我周五早晨在床上工作

Aimee，29岁，市场营销 我在目前的全职市场营销岗位上工作了一年，每周在办公室三天，两天居家办公。我处于一个快节奏的创意行业，在活动期间我们被要求加班很多，所以有时把周五过得慢一点，感觉像是夺回了那些没有拿到报酬的时间。我会利用这段时间洗头，参加早晨或午餐时间的健身课，并且我喜欢在下午6点离开家去执行周五晚上的计划。我会在下午开始准备或处理需要做的事情。

我总是确保我的待办事项清单已完成，但我倾向于在周一到周四完成更多工作——周五更多是用于行政事务或最后一刻的请求。我是“周五早晨在床上工作”的忠实拥趸——当然，内部会议时会关闭摄像头。我觉得周五一直以来都比较轻松，但自疫情以来，我确实注意到了转变。大多数时候，我的团队成员似乎都没有在线，也没有邮件发出——从总监级别一直到实习生都是如此。

我绝对是一个资深的“鼠标移动器”使用者，所以看起来我一直在线，但我也确保周五手机上安装了Teams应用或邮件，这样如果我在外面走动，就不会因为错过某些事情而被抓个正着。此外，为了应对紧急情况，我也绝不会离家太远。

当你有一个年幼的家庭时，居家办公压力极大 本，42岁，技术人员 对我来说，居家办公压力极大。我觉得大多数有年幼孩子的人们在内心深处会同意这一点。强制居家办公恶化了我生活中的许多方面。我觉得自己没能成为一个陪伴在侧的父亲，且总是关着门，这让我感到愧疚；但与此同时，我也分心了，无法在工作中投入100%的注意力。我的通话中经常被哭声、尖叫声或孩子跑进房间的声音所打断。而且我觉得我的家庭生活质量也在下降，因为我压力很大，所以并不是一个相处起来最愉快的人。我周五怎么做？尝试进行与在办公室时一样专注的工作，但同时感到巨大的我的通话中经常被哭声、尖叫声或孩子跑进房间的声音所打断。这非常令人分心愧疚，因为我把孩子们锁在房间外。每个人都把居家办公描绘成一种理想场景——如果你单身且独居，这几乎肯定确实如此——但一旦你与年幼的孩子共处一个家，我真的不知道人们是如何能够享受其中的。

周五，我工作更努力，为下周做好准备

Rachel，25岁，大学研究员

在周五，我实际上会工作更多，以便为接下来的这一周做好准备——我讨厌那种认为我们 Z 世代无所事事的刻板印象。我担任这个职位一年半了，在一家大学工作。我们的工作时间相当灵活；虽然是朝九晚五，但每周进办公室的天数在 1 到 3 天之间。周五我可能会提前约半小时下班，所以我通常在午休时间工作。我还兼职从事一份完全远程的研究工作。在伦敦这样一个昂贵的城市，有额外的收入绝对有帮助。周五是我规划下周的日子。我会列好下周的待办事项清单，--- 新闻 2-26 观点 15-22 电视 26-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026年8月7日 周五 35，这样我就不会在周一早上手忙脚乱。我不会说我工作量减少了，但我会说我的工作时间更紧凑，或者我在周五的工作方式更具策略性。如果我真的少做了工作，我会感到愧疚，因为这可能会导致其他人负担加重。我不喜欢那种人们在周五工作量减少的说法，因为这只是惩罚员工的一种方式，而且非常不公平。只要你在工作周或规定时间内完成工作，我认为不应该有问题。我二十多岁，这是我的第三或第四份全职工作。我想当我进入职场之初，最初想成为一名事业女性，但随着时间的推移——即便只是在过去的几年里——我对工作变得有些厌倦。能够居家办公让我能够完成所有职责，同时也确保工作不会占据我生活的每一个方面。

我打扫公寓，在 Vinted 上卖东西，去上芭蕾把杆课，然后在下午 3 点感到愧疚 Sara，29岁，时尚行业

我从二月起就在这家公司工作，每周在办公室工作四天，周五居家办公。为了以防万一，我的手机上装了 Black，但在早上我会出门去上芭蕾把杆课，买杯咖啡和点心，然后在 9.00am 回到家。然后我会洗衣服、吸尘、上传一些 Vinted 的商品列表、检查电子邮件，时不时地晃动一下鼠标。通常我在下午 3 点左右开始感到愧疚，所以在那时我会进入专注状态，戴上耳机，完成工作。其他时候，我可能在 3pm 之前就已经下线，并在 4.15pm 的路上前往健身课。在 Vinted 和 eBay 上转卖商品是我的副业，所以我投入了很多时间。如果没有这些，我很难靠工资生活。我的年假很少，所以很辛苦，而且到了夏天我很难集中注意力。我只想在我的面包店外面享受阳光——你没法在面前放着一台笔记本电脑的情况下真正做到这一点。我还认为我的注意力持续时间很短，所以我很难集中注意力，尤其是在家里注意到公寓不整洁的时候。我绝对认为在工作中感到被赏识与居家办公时的行为之间存在相关性。

生活方式

我曾戒酒四年——现在我无法抗拒饮酒

服用 Mounjaro 意味着我对不健康零食的渴望已经消退。但酒精取代了它，Anniki Sommerville 写道。

我已经服用 Mounjaro 10 周了。总体而言，我没有出现副作用，并且减轻了 2. 英石（1lkg）。在多年体重增加之后，我需要减轻这些重量。我的计划是继续服用，直到恢复到健康体重。Mounjaro 意味着持续的“食物噪音”消失了——我的弱点是不健康地吃零食——现在我在饮食中优先考虑蛋白质和蔬菜。这不像过去节食那样让人感到痛苦。到目前为止，一切都很好。

然而，出现了一个问题：我饮酒增加了。在过去的几个月里，我的饮酒量悄悄上升。这不是我预料之中的。从传闻来看，我听过一些注射该药物的朋友说，他们饮酒的欲望减轻了，而不是增加。然而，有一位同样在使用 Mounjaro 的朋友分享了不同的经历，这引起了我的共鸣。“我在一天结束时需要用某种东西来奖励自己，所以当奖励不是巧克力时，很可能就是一杯葡萄酒或一杯啤酒，”她告诉我。

我同意。起初，我对喝任何东西都没有太大兴趣。我必须提醒自己保持水分。但随后，我突然非常、非常想喝一杯。一两杯葡萄酒。周二晚上喝一罐鸡尾酒。这算不上是极端的享乐主义，但我能感觉到它在悄悄增加。

更令人惊讶的是，直到几个月前，我一直戒酒四年。这是我的选择，因为如果我喝超过 2. 杯酒，我无法忍受那种坦白说令人作呕的宿醉感。如果你和任何四十岁后期或五十岁初期的女性聊天，她都会告诉你随着年龄增长，宿醉会变得多么糟糕。所以我放弃了饮酒。我觉得自己很纯洁，有点自命不凡。我加入了一些戒酒社区论坛，听关于戒酒的播客。我感觉很棒，头脑清醒，能高效完成很多事情。第二天我不会感到那种令人尴尬的偏执——担心自己分享了太多。我对孩子也不那么暴躁了。我注意到了健康方面的益处。

但社交场合变得乏味了。我发现自己无法放松，经常在心里倒计时直到可以回家。我提前离开派对。我不再是一个有趣的人。生活变得像在跑步机上一样单调。我知道很多人享受清醒的状态，所以这是我个人的感受。我告诉自己我在做一件伟大的事情，我在照顾自己的长期健康，但当我进入第四年时……我真的很无聊。我要么在工作，要么在育儿，要么在收拾屋子，或者在睡觉。我发现如果没有一杯葡萄酒的辅助，对话会变得很困难。而且我认为自己从未有过酒精问题，所以这更像是一次实验——于是我决定尝试够了。

我重新开始饮酒。在服用 Mounjaro（插图）期间，我的饮酒模式确实发生了变化。白天我感觉很好。我吃健康的餐食，喝水，锻炼。因为我不觉得饿，所以我必须提醒自己进食。我使用的是最低剂量——2.5mg——并且不打算增加剂量。

到了晚上，我感到空虚，无聊。我 58 岁，我的生活有时相当常规，有工作，两个孩子和四只猫。所以我感觉我需要某种奖励，一种不是奶油蛋糕的款待。在孩子们暑假在家期间，这一点尤为明显。在过去的几周里，这种奖励变成了酒精。

“我们最终会变得瘦削但酗酒，”当我告诉朋友我饮酒增加了，而且肯定比注射减肥药之前更多时，她在电话里开玩笑说。她也有同样的经历——“我想我已经忘了酒精是有热量的。而且我渴望，真的非常渴望一杯啤酒，”她说。

我也处于这种情绪中——忘记了酒精含有热量，而且当你注射药物时，应该追求良好的营养。

金尼·庞斯福德（Dr Ginny Ponsford）博士是女性激素诊所（The Women's Hormone Clinic）和伦敦国王学院的激素专家，她告诉我：“GLP-1 受体激动剂能减少许多人的酒精渴求和摄入量，这可能是因为它们影响了大脑的奖励和动力通路。然而，根据个案经验，我有几位患者报告了相反的效果，他们发现自己更渴望酒精且更享受饮酒。”她表示，这并非药物本身的副作用，而可能是因为我们倾向于寻求奖励和快感。“从理论上讲，如果食物带来的奖励感降低，一个此前依赖饮食来获得安慰或缓解压力的人，可能会从其他活动中寻求奖励，包括饮酒。这可能反映了应对行为的改变，而非药物本身的直接作用。”

在缺乏食物奖励的情况下，我们可能会转向酒精奖励。而这似乎正是我和几个朋友所经历的情况。问题在于，剧烈的焦虑感和宿醉感依然如故。因此，我感到更加担忧、疲惫且思虑过多，这抵消了减轻体重的积极益处。我尽量不去为此责备自己，因为这并非失控的酗酒，但这确实让我思考起过去的禁酒状态，以及我是否需要回归那种状态。

庞斯福德表示，在使用这些注射药物时，这种情况并不常见：“总体而言，证据表明 GLP-1 药物更有可能减少而非增加对酒精的渴求，尽管个体体验可能有所不同。”

今天早晨醒来时，我又一次感到轻微的宿醉，对即将到来的一天没什么热情，觉得必须想办法摆脱焦虑，我开始相信禁酒其实感觉相当不错。而且，也许就像我母亲在我抱怨感到无精打采时常对我说的：“只有无趣的人才会感到无聊。”

安妮基·索默维尔（Anniki Sommerville）认为，她可能重新开始饮酒，是将此作为应对“枯燥、常规生活”的一种奖励。

汤姆·皮尔斯顿（TOM PILSTON）

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“我宁愿穿皮鞋，也不愿穿塑料运动鞋”

探索——这种探索在舞台上的象征是：看起来像个不苟言笑的普通人的 Meighan，与身材瘦削、留着漆黑胡须且衣着华丽、像个宇宙海盗般的皮佐诺（Pizzorno）并肩而立。皮佐诺不仅在知名度上至少与 Meighan 持平，而且还是乐队的主要词曲作者，因此在 Meighan 因被指控家庭暴力而被开除后，皮佐诺转型为主唱成了显而易见的下一步。事实上，皮佐诺在从家乡莱斯特通过 Zoom 电话表示，这是一个令人生畏的前景——他之所以接手，主要是因为唯一其他可行的选择就是乐队解散。“绝不能那样结束，”他反思道，“所以你跳出飞机，祈祷降落伞能打开。当你进入那个空间时，那种感觉是压倒性的，因为你面对着如此巨大的能量——你自己的能量，以及观众中数千人的能量，因为本质上，那是能量，我们的意识全部融合在一起。”

在与皮佐诺的交谈中，这类精神层面的离题经常出现。在 2022 年带有电子舞曲色彩的《炼金术士的欣快》（The Alchemist's Euphoria）和 2024 年的《发生》（Happenings）之后，卡萨比安乐队（Kasabian）即将发行他担任歌手后的第三张专辑。后者是一次部分成功的尝试，旨在制作一张风格类似于披头士乐队的《萨格彭特孤独的心情俱乐部》（The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band）或滚石乐队的《他们的撒旦陛下请求》（The Rolling Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request）的迷幻流行唱片。这张最新的专辑名为《第三幕》（Act III），意指这个后 Meighan 时期新组合的第三章，仿佛在表达这些唱片是一个整体，都是乐队重新配置为皮佐诺“疯狂科学家”式音乐奇思妙想载体的一部分。

他似乎在这最新的调制作品中倾注了一切。像 Charli xcx 一样，他理解音乐、电影和时尚之间的汇流，阿尔弗雷德·希区柯克（Alfred Hitchcock）在主题上产生了影响，而专辑的封面艺术则基于香奈儿购物袋的极简主义。这张专辑触及了卡萨比安乐队的每一个时代，从《超级力量》（'Superpowers'）的灵魂律动和《银苹果之眼》（'Silver Apple Eyes'）的迪斯科步法，到《伟大的伪装者》（'Great Pretender'）那轻快、直接的独立摇滚。它还引入了新的声音，其中嘻哈节拍受到了皮佐诺对 Nas 和武当帮（Wu-Tang Clan）的热爱影响。

“在两张唱片之间，我会收集东西，”他解释道。“我在巡演期间不写作，但我会看很多电影，听很多音乐，参观很多艺术馆。等到我回到录音室时，那就是纯粹的表达，不再犹豫。我认为其中一些歌曲具有极美的霍克尼（Hockney）风格；它们通过遵循优秀歌曲创作在结构、旋律和歌词方面的规则来捕捉细节。而另一些则是我感受的原始表达。抽象，像杰克逊·波洛克（Jackson Pollock）那样。”

在经历了九张专辑和 20 多年之后，皮佐诺仍然知道，无论他涉猎多少种风格或引用多少前卫影响，总有一群人会将卡萨比安乐队简单地定义为“男孩摇滚”（lad rock）：过去，他曾向从情境主义者到激进的智利裔法国电影制作人亚历杭德罗·佐杜洛夫斯基（Alejandro Jodorowsky）的所有人都表达过致敬。

“我的意思是，我们最成功的专辑名字就叫《西赖德普珀精神病院》（West Ryder Pouper Lunatic Asylum），”他疲惫地笑了笑，提到的是 2009 年那张产生了包括《火》（'Fire'）、《下属》（'Underdog'）和《弗拉德 the Impaler》（'Vlad the Impaler'）在内的多首热门单曲的长篇专辑。“你会认为最终人们会说：‘实际上，这可能值得更深入地研究。也许我们不能直接把这些家伙归类为男孩乐队。’对我来说这毫无道理，但我认为每个艺术家在某种程度上都会说自己被误解了。你只需要闭上嘴，让作品自己说话。如果说有什么影响的话，那就是它给了我们变得更加古怪和奇妙的许可。”

果不其然，皮佐诺这次在歌词中所涵盖的范围比以往任何时候都更广。《第三幕》（Act III）并非一张具有明显政治色彩的专辑，但他对网络骗子以及大科技公司掌权者的警觉，为专辑提供了一条主题主线。在解释其中一首表面看来是开场曲的歌曲时，他说道：“‘嬉皮阳光’（Hippie Sunshine）是关于硅谷的，以及科技亿万富翁们在尝试DMT和酸类药物这一事实——而这些人正是那些在做出塑造世界之决定的人。”

首张专辑阵容：2004年（从左起）克里斯·爱德华兹、汤姆·梅根、塞尔日·皮佐诺和克里斯托弗·卡洛夫

电视

杰维斯的最新作就像猫砂

艾米莉·贝克（Emily Baker） 撰文：这位喜剧演员充满攻击性的谩骂简直是垃圾——即便在他在 Netflix 的新动画片中，这些话是由猫说出来的。

我对瑞奇·杰维斯（Ricky Gervais）在 Netflix 的新剧《巷猫》（Alley Cats）寄予了很高期望。虽然我并没有太多理由这么想——这个家伙上次让我笑还是在 2007 年。我是那种认为嘲讽残疾人、艾滋病患者或跨性别女性一点也不好笑的“雪花”。不过，这部新剧涉及我生命中最大的热情之一：猫。它肯定会很不错。而且，你能让一只猫变得多么具有攻击性？我本该早点意识到问题的。

你听说过“男性圈”（manosphere）吗？嗯，不知怎么地，通过一群在废弃房屋里 lounging 看着电视的卡通猫这一媒介，杰维斯创造了“猫性圈”（catosphere），这要归功于一群痛苦、冒犯且有毒的猫，它们整天无所事事，除了发表谩骂之外别无他求。

杰维斯本人为这群猫的头目古斯（Gus）配音（真令人震惊），古斯是一只喧闹的虎斑猫，最喜欢挑衅他的伙伴。他们包括：负责武力的方格（Fang，安德鲁·布鲁克 配音），他参与古斯的侮辱；疥癣满身且色情成痴的呕吐（Puke，大卫·埃尔 配音）；以及奥利夫（Olive，戴安·摩根 配音），她是唯一的女性，因此——当然——很笨。加入他们的是家猫庞斯（Ponce，汤姆·巴斯登 配音），他那个带有恐同歧视色彩的名字直接与他被阉割的事实挂钩。

说得委婉点，剧情非常单薄。当一只小猫出现在这些猫的藏身处时，它们承诺帮她找到回家的路。但在六集内容中，这仅仅成了让这些猫上街的工具，在那里它们继续不停地谩骂。而且这些猫的攻击没有底线：甘地、肥胖儿童、对坚果过敏的人、艾滋病患者和蜜蜂，只是杰维斯攻击的众多目标中的一小部分。

而且——没有更委婉的说法了——这部剧痴迷于肛交（且经常涉及肛门强奸）。当然，这都只是个玩笑，一点乐子！该死的，现在人们什么都不能说了，对吧？当然，你其实可以——《巷猫》就是杰维斯用两个小时时间精准地说出他想说的一切。但这一次他并没有站在

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2026年8月7日 星期五 39

唱片中最流行且最欢快的曲目。“他们处于决定社会走向的算法背后，而且他们正在疯狂派对——我觉得这不可思议。”

《大师与加密时间机器》（The Guru and the Crypto Time Machine）可能是《第三幕》（Act III）中最失控的曲目，这是一次混乱的心理说唱尝试，放在 Gorillaz 的专辑里也不违和。

“影响力人物（Influencers）是现代的大师，”皮佐诺说，“看到这些强悍的角色谈论健康和个人提升，然后下一秒就要求你每月支付 £10 才能继续听他们说话，这很有趣。这太迷人了。我不是说我有答案。我只是在对我所看到的现象照镜子。”

尽管如此，这种思考也渗透到了他的个人生活中。《第三幕》包含了对他妻子艾米（Amy）的赞歌（《灵魂伴侣》），以及对他两个青春期儿子的赞歌（《没有什么比这更好的》），他称儿子们是他“最伟大的成就”。

“在这样一个疯狂的时代抚养男孩，”他说，“并不容易。我和妻子尽力抚养出优秀的男孩，让他们走向世界，以男人和男孩应有的方式为人处世。拥有他们是我生命中一个巨大的、决定性的时刻。在乐队中为了成功而苦干，你可能会迷失在那个世界里。我想，组建家庭让我保持了脚踏实地。还有就是留在莱斯特。”

皮佐诺继续主要在家庭工作室工作。他说，写歌仍然是让他早晨起床的动力——“这是我在乐队中最喜欢的部分”。

流媒体将音乐简化成了一场数字游戏。一切都变成了量产。

因此，他对流媒体服务影响艺术家的决策方式持怀疑态度，并且对人工智能创作音乐的进展感到既震惊又觉得有趣。“流媒体将其简化成了一场数字游戏；一切都变成了为了商业利益而大量产出曲目，为了规模扩大。”“我认为最终会出现两个阵营：一类是对此感到满意的人群，另一类则是看重定制化、真正经过精心打磨和劳作的作品的人群。”“我宁愿要皮鞋也不要塑料运动鞋。给我一件在意大利山丘中制作、由一个从事该行业 40 年的人缝制的东西。”他认为，AI 是词曲作者的克星。“AI 生成的音乐竟然存在，这就是流媒体服务发展方向的逻辑结论。”“那些试图从中获利的人现在将音乐称为‘内容’——我觉得这太冒犯了，用这种方式来谈论如此神圣、如此美丽的事物。”“你真的可以研究音乐如何改变人的脑电波。从我们围坐在篝火旁，敲击鼓并吟唱的时代起，音乐就是某种深具人性之物。有些歌曲只要播放，我就知道它们能瞬间改变我的心情。音乐具有超越性，能带我们去往不同的地方。我不知道计算机该如何复制这一点。”他补充道，现场音乐的集体体验是另一种技术无法模拟的东西。12 月，卡萨比安乐队（Kasabian）将开启最新的体育馆巡演，上个月他们刚在伦敦芬斯伯里公园（Finsbury Park）举行了规模最大的主场演出——这证明了如今已跨越多代粉丝群体的持久影响力。担任乐队主唱对皮佐诺（Pizzorno）来说是一个真正具有变革性的过程，且不仅仅是在音乐方面；他用自律取代了颓废，以应对演出的严苛要求，现在他接受《Romer's World》采访的次数与《滚石》（Rolling Stone）一样多。“我是一个极端的人，”他反思道，“我经历过两端的极端。我现在四十多岁了，在某个时刻我意识到，我可以带着最后几枚筹码离开赌场。我现在比以往任何时候都健康，每天早晨醒来都对接下来的事情感到兴奋：更多的探索，更多的冒险。混乱与痛苦中产生了一些美好的东西。”《Act III》将于 9 月发行。卡萨比安乐队将从 12 月 11 日起在英国举行五场演出。

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猫类毒舌 从左起，由大卫·厄尔（David Earl）配音的 Puke、Kitten（乔·哈特利）、Olive（戴安娜·摩根）、Gus（瑞奇·热维斯）、Fang（安德鲁·布鲁克斯）和 Ponce（汤姆·巴斯蒂安）在数千名粉丝面前的舞台上——而他正在 Netflix 这个更大的平台上为一只猫配音。如果你在寻找证明“取消文化”并不真实的证据，看看热维斯（Gervais）就知道了——他是地球上最具冒犯性的喜剧演员之一，却拿着 Netflix 的薪水，并即将开启一场全球脱口秀巡演（该巡演最终也将登陆 Netflix）。很难不对热维斯通过他的卡通猫进行业余心理分析。这些猫对世界的看法极其阴暗——人类是糟糕且邪恶的，他们自私，而且在 Gus 看来，他们都应该死掉。从一只流浪猫的角度来看，这很合理——他见过猫被主人抛弃、被带去安乐死以及被车撞死（《Alley Cats》延续了热维斯对死亡的痴迷）。

但这种厌世的世界观，与格尔维斯让加斯在每集结尾对小猫发表的那些陈词滥调般的对生活的热爱宣言并不相符。“生命是一份礼物，”他告诉她，此外还有各种你在 Etsy 上能找到的陈腐 platitudes。我们看到他爱上了一只由凯莉·戈德利曼配音的猫（这是对《后世生活》的回呼，她在该剧中饰演他角色的亡妻），而且在某个时刻，尽管格尔维斯始终坚持且坚定地奉行无神论，加斯甚至向上帝祈祷。这个“更柔软”的灵魂才是真实的格尔维斯吗？毕竟，当被问及加斯是否像他时，他说：“是的，绝对像……他嘴碎，固执，谈论一些他并不真正了解或在意的东西。这些全都是典型的男人特质。”但如果格尔维斯试图揭开那些令人厌恶的虚张声势之下的真相，那么这一切都被所有的恶意所掩盖了。在卡通猫的喜剧色彩保护下，格尔维斯本可以改变他那种“老头对着云朵大吼”的叙事方式——然而，《巷猫》（Alley Cats）依然是同样陈旧的挑衅垃圾，它带来的不是一声怒吼，而是一声喵叫。

假期由 Rivera Travel 运营并受其预订条件约束，ABTA V4744，ATOL 3400 受保护，该公司独立于 Associated Newspapers Ltd 和 i Travel Office。价格基于两人同房。单人入住需补差价。价格基于 2026年10月23日 从伦敦标准出发。在 McNairights 的天数仅包含床位和早餐。选定的最近出发行程可节省 £200bp。2026年9月至11月30日，适用于 2026年5月7日 起的新预订。显示价格包含折扣。Rivera Travel 保留随时撤回或修改此优惠的权利。价格在印刷时正确。--- 40^{}[] 星期五 视觉艺术

在26岁选择退役，在镜头前袒露心声（以及更多）的职业足球运动员

阿尔菲·怀特曼（Alfie Whiteman）从10岁起就在热刺队效力了16年。这位前门将告诉伊齐·蒂瑟灵顿（Izzy Titherington），一次租借经历如何改变了他的关注点。

阿尔菲·怀特曼本可以在足球场上花费更多年岁追求荣耀。他在2009年10岁时加入了托特纳姆热刺的青训学院，2019年与俱乐部签署了职业合同续约，并且是2025年欧联杯冠军阵容的一员——但这位门将仅在2020年对阵保加利亚卢多戈雷茨队时为一线队出场过一次。而且，他甚至不再确定自己是否还想要这份事业。

因此，就在获得欧联杯奖杯几个月后，怀特曼决定脱掉手套，拿起相机。一年后，这位27岁的青年正在举办他的首次展览。

怀特曼的处女展《租借》（A Loan）在OOF画廊展出，该画廊恰如其分地位于热刺球场范围内，为他职业生涯的一个艰难时期提供了亲密的肖像记录。通过自画像、日记条目，甚至是对他曾花费数小时反思的桑拿房的等比例重建，这次展览记录了怀特曼在2021年至2022年期间在瑞典球队德格福什（Degerfors IF）租借的时光——这是一个塑造他人格的时期，他大部分时间独自生活在一个小型工业城镇，在球场内外为未来的问题而苦恼。

这些照片感觉与职业足球完全是两个世界。在一张照片中，怀特曼趴在洗衣机上，对着相机露屁股。在另一张照片中，他（再次赤裸）坐在俯瞰默克尔湖（Lake Möckeln）的码头上。这些作品俏皮且脆弱，不像是一个在精英足球俱乐部高度结构化环境中度过大部分生活的年轻人会拍出的图像。

但事实上，怀特曼从来不是一个典型的足球运动员。这位深思熟虑、内省的摄影师在谈到身份和自我表达时充满激情，他由在艺术领域学习和工作的父母抚养长大，一直被文化和创意所吸引。

怀特曼在孩童时期加入热刺，当时他从父母家就能看到这家北伦敦俱乐部的球场，随后他发现自己在日益严苛的晋升阶梯中攀升。然而，一直以来，“我的胃里总有一种灼热的感觉，”他告诉我。“就像：‘天呐，生活不应该只有这些。’我开始大量绘画并拍摄更多照片。”

这种感觉很难与精英体育的要求相调和——“考虑到[体育]的强度以及为了职业足球需要做出的牺牲。竞争如此激烈且残酷，而我当时想：‘好吧，我为了这个付出了这么多努力，我不能停止。’”

住在伦敦让他得以窥见另一个世界。通过社交圈，他开始结识导演、制片人和创意工作者。

此时，与许多回避退休想法的运动员不同，怀特曼开始为足球之后的生活做准备。“从我大约20岁起，我就开始和人们喝咖啡，跟班学习，在任何可能的地方担任助手，”他说。“我试图为我想开始其他事情的那一天打下基础。”

为了在比赛之外塑造自己的身份，他主持了一个广播节目——使用他母亲的娘家姓，以保持一定程度的匿名——并出演了一部戏剧。“我一直非常在意，而且有点不安，担心被定义为一个足球运动员，”他解释道。

这些经历给了他一种可能性感，但正是瑞典之行催化了他的愿景。独自生活在一个被森林和宁静湖泊环绕的小镇，“那是极其自由的：宁静、孤独，每天观看日落，慢下来并真正审视内心”。

脱掉手套的时间

怀特曼代表热刺对阵卢多戈雷茨（左），之后他被租借到瑞典的一支球队并开始从事摄影（上及右）

--- 周五 2026年8月7日 41

在明天的周末版中

英国各地适合家庭出行的游乐设施 今夏最适合品尝西德尔酒的地点 本月值得阅读的新惊悚小说

这些自画像几乎是偶然产生的。“世界上已经有足够多该死的日落照片了，”他开玩笑说。“我唯一能控制的就是我自己。我从未真正将其视为在拍摄我自己。我对构建图像和讲述故事感兴趣。”在亚历克斯·普拉格（Alex Prager）和杰夫·沃尔（Jeff Wall）等摄影师的影响下，他开始创作在幽默、忧郁和超现实主义之间取得平衡的场景。该系列最早的一批图像之一——可以说也是展览的主打图像——是他赤裸着身体从滚筒洗衣机中挂出来的照片。“那是我最早拍的几张之一，”他笑着说。“我没有过多思考。我看着它，心想：‘这很有趣。’”后来的图像变得更加复杂。在其中一张照片中，怀特曼（Whiteman）独自在森林中庆祝生日。他坐着吃蛋糕，头上戴着圆锥形派对帽，周围环绕着气球。他将这些照片描述为对周围环境和情感的本能反应，而非明确的象征性陈述。“我并没有把它看得太严肃，”他说。“很多时候是在嘲笑我自己的荒诞。”

很多时候是在嘲笑我自己的荒诞，但我心想：我不能展示这些——我简直是全裸的

赋予这些作品力量的不仅仅是孤独，而是它对一种熟悉的迷茫感的描绘：即当你意识到某些事情不再奏效，却对接下来会发生什么没有清晰认知的那段时期。从瑞典回国后，怀特曼打算将他拍摄的——超过 600 张——图像大部分私藏。“我不能把这些给人们看，”他心想。“我在里面简直是全裸的。”朋友们鼓励他分享，但在仍作为职业球员期间，他对于公开如此私人的作品感到挣扎。但最终，在接触了艺术界人士后，这个项目开始产生势头。随后出现的是一种出乎意料的肯定，即照片中记录的情感在远超他个人境遇的范围内引起了共鸣。与此同时，关于足球的内心争论也接近尾声。离开托特纳姆热刺后，怀特曼探索了与其他俱乐部合作的机会，但很快意识到他的心已不在比赛中。“我只是知道我不想再这么做了，”他说。“它不能让我获得满足感。”足球自童年起就是他的生活，而他希望进入的创意产业竞争之激烈是出了名的。然而，另一种选择感觉更糟。“如果你不喜欢你所做的事情，生活还有什么意义？”他说。如果说瑞典代表了他创意生活的第一个章节，那么此后的几年则是关于信任他在那里做出的决定：倾听处于停滞状态时的心声并做出改变。展望未来，怀特曼谈论的不再是具体职业目标，而是保持对各种可能性的开放态度。当年引导他在瑞典一个小镇拿起相机的同样的好奇心，现在继续引导着他。

《贷款》（'A Loan'）在伦敦 OOF 画廊展出，直到 9 月 27 日 --- 42 周五 书籍

书架之爱 ALAN JUDD 谈史上最佳间谍惊悚小说

Alan Judd 出生于第二次世界大战结束次年，在成为全职作家之前曾在军队服役并在外交部工作。他在作品中汲取了军事和外交经验，其中包括查尔斯·瑟罗古德（Charles Thoroughgood）系列间谍小说，讲述了主人公在军队和冷战时期情报部门的经历。Judd 同时也是一名传记作家，其撰写对象包括 MI6 创始人曼斯菲尔德·卡明（Mansfield Cumming）。他的最新小说《圣詹姆斯公园 1 号》（No 1 St James's Park）是其艾米莉·格雷（Emily Grey）系列的第二部，围绕一名在第一次世界大战期间被初创时期的 MI6 招募的剑桥大学毕业生展开。在此，他分享了塑造该类型——以及他个人阅读习惯——的五部经典间谍故事，其中最……

《秘密特工》（THE SECRET AGENT）

约瑟夫·康拉德（Penguin Classics，£9.99） “受 1894 年一次无政府主义者炸弹袭击的启发，约瑟夫·康拉德的小说为早期的间谍类型注入了在主流文学小说中才能见到的内省与道德模棱两可。” “阿道夫·维洛克（Adolf Verloc）是一个衣着破旧的店主兼色情刊物出版商，他是一名挑衅特工，代表俄罗斯大使馆渗透进一个无政府主义组织。” “在被指派挑唆无政府主义者炸毁格林威治天文台时，他引发了一连串致命且意想不到的后果。” “一部极具黑暗色彩且洞察深刻的书。”

《阿申登：或英国特工》（ASHENDEN: OR THE BRITISH AGENT）

W·萨默塞特·毛姆（Vintage Classics，£9.99） “基于他在第一次世界大战期间为英国情报部门在瑞士和俄罗斯工作的经验，萨默塞特·毛姆的故事准确地将很大一部分间谍活动描绘成试图诱使他人背叛秘密或按你意愿行事的过程。” “在其中一个案例中，毛姆让他的角色阿申登与一对定居在中立国瑞士的英国夫妇交友。该男子是一名德国特工，而阿申登的任务是说服他越境进入法国，以便在那里被逮捕并枪决。通过聚焦于案件主管与特工（或目标）之间的关系，毛姆创作出了早期最写实的间谍小说。”

《皇家赌场》（CASINO ROYALE）

伊恩·弗莱明（Ian Fleming Publications，£9.99） “弗莱明的詹姆斯·邦德系列小说可以说是间谍写作中英雄冒险传统的巅峰。在这部首作中，凭借成为了弗莱明标志性的迷人背景和细节描写，邦德被派往赌桌前让俄罗斯特工‘数字’（Le Chiffre）破产。他成功了，但结果却并非他或他的上级 M 所预期的。” “在整部系列小说中，作为 MI6 官员的邦德实际上很少进行间谍活动；他更像是一名杀手或刺客，其行动更多地借鉴了弗莱明在战争时期的情报背景，而这一点往往被人们所忽略。”

《我们在哈瓦那的人》（OUR MAN IN HAVANA）

格雷厄姆·格林（Vintage Classics，£9.99） “格林对间谍活动以及怀特霍尔（Whitehall）MI6 高官们轻信之态的讽刺，为间谍小说引入了一种极为罕见的幽默元素。” “一名在哈瓦那经济拮据的英国吸尘器推销员被 MI6 招募，负责汇报古巴的情况。由于没有重要情况可报，他最终通过虚构一个由所谓下级特工和秘密武器组成的网络，欺骗了他的新雇主。” “事实上，格林的剧本是基于第二次世界大战期间 MI6 在里斯本针对德国人开展的一次极其成功的欺骗行动，格林在 MI6 的里斯本办公桌工作期间对此有所了解。他发现将这一行动反过来对付他的前雇主是一件充满虚构乐趣的事。”

从寒冷中回来的间谍

约翰·勒卡雷 (Penguin, £10.99) “约翰·勒卡雷的第三部小说可以说是20世纪后期最著名的冷战间谍小说。” “其MI6主角亚历克·利马斯假装堕落，以便被东德情报部门招募，目的是说服他们相信其首脑是一名英国间谍。但在随之而来的复杂博弈中，利马斯既是棋子也是演员。” “这部小说还让利马斯的上级乔治·史迈利走上了成为虚构文学中最著名间谍之一的道路。” 《圣詹姆斯公园1号》(Simon & Schuster, £20) 现已出版

14 哈尔的移动城堡

戴安娜·温妮·琼斯 (1986) 许多人通过吉卜力工作室的动画改编版而熟悉这部作品，但温妮·琼斯的原著小说本身就值得庆祝。它对经典童话进行了尖锐且诙谐的诠释，讲述了一个被邪恶女巫变成老妇人的年轻女孩，在一名虚荣巫师的移动城堡中寻求庇护的故事。这是一部关于成长艰辛以及人们并非表面那样简单的非常有趣的小说。

13 玉城

朗达·李 (2007) 在李的“绿骨”系列第一卷中，那种认为伟大的奇幻作品必须包含巫师、骑士和尖耳朵精灵生物的观念，被狠狠地击碎在一名时髦黑帮的软呢帽下。故事背景是70年代香港的幻想版本，由相互战争的犯罪王朝主导。魔法是真实的。但那些像三合会一样的家族为了争夺詹昆（Jankoun）的霸权而展开的野心同样真实，詹昆是一个“丝绸公园”巨型都市，珍贵的矿物玉石为一套复杂的魔法系统提供动力。

12 夜巡马戏团

艾琳·莫根斯特恩 (2001) 在这本关于一个仅在天黑后运行的巡回马戏团的极具感染力的书中，奇幻变成了狂热的梦境，两名年轻的魔术师在这里争夺霸权。书中氛围浓郁，充满了令人难忘的意象，从无法融化的冰花园到由云朵雕刻而成的迷宫，以及能够挑战物理定律的杂技演员。

11 织梦世界

克莱夫·巴克 (1987) 设定在现实世界中的当代都市奇幻小说拥有庞大的追随者。巴克最著名的身份是恐怖小说作家和《地狱之门》系列的创作者。但在这一神奇的作品中，他全身心地投入到了奇幻创作中，讲述了一块图案中包含整个世界的魔法地毯——它不知怎么地来到了80年代的利物浦，在那里散播着恶作剧和混乱。

10 橙树修道院

萨曼莎·香农 (2009) 这部巨著被标榜为对圣乔治与巨龙传说的女性主义重述，它构思了一个托尔金式的宇宙，由西方风格的巨龙（破坏性的，会喷火）及其亚洲对应物（蛇形的，神秘的且对人类友善）主导。再加上宫廷阴谋、一名机智的女主角和波澜壮阔的战争，其结果便是对经典英雄奇幻的一次21世纪式的改编。

我们现在可能生活在一个每个猫主人都用没完没了的宠物照片轰炸其Instagram粉丝的时代，但在80年多的时间里，新泽西州摄影师沃尔特·钱达定义了猫类肖像画的视觉词汇。《家庭猫》(Damiani, £16) 策划了他的黑白肖像集，其中许多作品已有半个世纪未曾发表，它们揭示了我们对这些毛茸茸伙伴的共识：它们是尽可能迷人、凶猛、好奇、冷漠、深情、淘气、懒惰且爱玩的“喵”类生物。

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让我成为你的幻想

没有什么比一本优秀的奇幻小说更能让人从日常生活的压力和紧张中解脱出来了。从托尔金的经典戒指系列到当代关于魔法混乱的都市故事，埃德·鲍尔列举了14部他最喜爱的该类型作品。

5 《琥珀九王子》（NINE PRINCES IN AMBER）罗杰·泽拉兹尼 (1970)

美国纸浆小说作家泽拉兹尼采用了老派犯罪小说家的硬汉风格写作，他的维度跳跃类书籍读起来就像是《神秘博士》遇到了菲利普·马洛。他的代表作是“琥珀”系列——该系列以第一卷惊艳开场，讲述了一位口才流畅的叙述者在纽约的一家医院中醒来，正遭受着严重的失忆症。。他漫长的回家之旅是一场惊险刺激的冒险。

8 《权力之游戏：利剑风暴》（A STORM OF SWORDS）乔治·R.R.马丁 (2000)

《权力的游戏》让奇幻小说进入了主流读者的视野——直到马丁开始在他计划的七本书系列结局上拖延。由于仅出版了五卷，许多人质疑这位 77 岁的作家能否完成他的毕生之作。即便他不能，该系列中至少包含一部经典之作，即这部第三部作品。马丁在其中为读者设下陷阱，通过宿命般的“血色婚礼”场景——迟到的剧透警告——让我们许多最喜爱的角色迎来了最惨烈的结局。

7 《死屋之门》（DEADHOUSE GATES）史蒂文·埃里克森 (2000)

在谈到奇幻小说时，“史诗”是一个被频繁使用的词。然而，这是描述埃里克森那令人脑洞大开的《马拉赞落帝国》（Malazan Book of the Fallen）10 部小说系列（外加续集、前传和衍生作）的唯一方式。每一卷都释放出大量的角色、地点、魔法系统和古老预言，需要读者自行理清。不过，这一切都是值得的，因为埃里克森讲述了古神与敌对恶魔在广袤大陆上激烈冲突的故事。寒意与快感绝对保证。

6 《迷失街车站》（PERDIDO STREET STATION）查伊纳·米耶维尔 (2000)

米耶维尔这部 800 多页的“怪诞奇幻”杰作像砖头一样厚重且具有同样的冲击力，其背景设定在一个反乌托邦的大都市，这里融合了维多利亚时代的伦敦和《2000AD》漫画中的超级城市一号（Mega-City One）。这是一个充满恐怖与奇迹的地方，书中的科学家英雄艾萨克·丹·德·格里姆内布林向民众释放了一场致命的心理暴力瘟疫。米耶维尔还加入了林奇式的超现实主义元素，以及一个足以媲美詹姆斯·埃尔罗伊畅销小说的复杂谋杀谜团——并且不知怎么地，让整部作品像女高音一样和谐共鸣。

5 《刺客学徒》（ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE）罗宾·霍布 (1986)

90 年代是奇幻小说发生巨大变革的时期，作家们为这个曾经保守的类型引入了更高程度的残酷感和露骨描写。霍布写作时毫不退缩，描绘的奇幻领域中，最大的威胁并非横冲直撞的巨龙，而是权力至上的贵族。她的巅峰之作是《恩宠》（Favour）三部曲。作为开篇之作的本书讲述了菲茨的故事，他是一位英俊王子的私生子，接受训练成为国王的私人刺客。这是底层且残酷的奇幻故事，其中魔法与其说是现实，不如说是神话——但其中的角色是刻画丰满的人类，充满缺陷，也因此更具吸引力。

4 《第五季》（THE FIFTH SEASON）N.K. 杰米辛 (1985)

在这部阴森的后末日杰作中，背景设定在一个被地震摧毁的星球，能够控制地震事件的魔法使用者受到恐吓。小说还讲述了一个极具人性力量的故事：一名中年妇女在丈夫发现他们的孩子属于这个魔法底层阶级后，出发寻找丈夫。杰米辛透露，这部小说借鉴了她的家族在吉姆·克劳法（Jim Crow）时期的美国南部所经历的代际创伤——这种传承赋予了本书一种从页面中迸发出的真实感，如同闪电击中一般令人震撼。

3 《乔纳森·斯特兰奇与诺瑞尔先生》萨曼莎·克拉克 (2004)

克拉克这部非凡的处女作背景设定在摄政时期的伦敦，当时英国与拿破仑的冲突正处于顶峰。在这个平行宇宙中，魔法真实存在，而两位最伟大的魔法实践者从竞争对手变成了朋友。但这个宇宙中存在着比他们之间权力之争更黑暗的力量——例如来自仙灵世界的恶意生物。这部超过 1,000 页的小说之乐趣之一在于克拉克极具美感的散文笔触：她巧妙地呼应了摄政时期标志性人物简·奥斯汀那种尖刻且洞察世事的风格，而又不显得矫揉造作。

2 《指环王》JRR 托尔金 (1964)

尽管在托尔金发表其最伟大的作品之前奇幻文学就已经存在，但它理所当然地定义了整个类型。它讲述了一个关于勇敢的霍比特人对抗黑暗之主的扣人心弦的故事——没有任何一个世界像中土世界那样让人感到如此生动真实，那是一个兼具美丽与深沉忧郁的地方，在那里，奇迹与魔法正像秋日首日的落叶一般逐渐消逝。

1 《地海巫师》厄休拉·勒古恩 (1968)

勒古恩讲述了一个男孩巫师因为骄傲而干涉其认知之外的力量，这个惊险且令人难忘的故事是一部极具吸引力的精彩之作，虽为儿童而写，却深受各年龄段读者的喜爱。但其真正的力量源于勒古恩对地海海洋世界的描绘，在那里，人类散布在无尽的群岛之上，魔法既可用于高尚之举，也可用于阴险目的。此外，还有在道德上充满矛盾的反英雄盖德——一个梦想成就伟业的野心青年，他渴望摆脱省级出身的渴望，证明了这既是他的毁灭之源，也是他的救赎之途。这本书读起来也很轻松，篇幅精简，仅 250 页——因此无需与挚爱告别或取消所有预约。

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Wizz 1989 & 商业 每日金句

这具有一个冒险性股票博弈的所有特征，几乎没有具体的信心基础。执行风险非常巨大。 希尔亚德法官在批准 TG Jones 的重组计划后，对其未来表示怀疑 @theipaper business@theipaper.com 美食与饮品

数千个工作岗位面临风险，帝亚吉欧启动 7.43 亿英镑 成本削减计划

作者：Henry Baker-Clark

健力士（Guinness）制造商帝亚吉欧（Diageo）的目标是在未来三年内削减 7.43 亿英镑 的成本，这是在老板戴夫·刘易斯（Dave Lewis）领导下进行的一项重大改革，旨在帮助公司重振局面。该计划于昨日公布，此前这家同时生产尊尼获加（Johnnie Walker）威士忌、戈登（Gordon's）金酒和百利（Baileys）的饮料集团披露了过去一年销售额和利润下滑的情况。

这位前乐购（Tesco）首席执行官此前因其削减成本的方法而被戏称为“果断的戴夫”（Drastic Dave），他表示公司“前方仍有艰巨任务”，尤其是在北美市场。刘易斯表示，约 6.3 亿英镑 的节省将来自运营，另有 1.1 亿英镑 将从其供应链中收回。

帝亚吉欧表示，整体重组将使公司花费约 8.9 亿英镑。公司未披露对就业的影响，但预计在其 30,000 人的员工队伍中，将有 3,000 至 5,000 个岗位受到影响。苏格兰的工会已经发出警告，172 名蒸馏厂工人面临裁员风险。

此次削减成本计划高于此前设定的三年 4.65 亿英镑 的目标。在前任首席执行官德博拉·克鲁（Debra Crew）任期内出现下滑后，刘易斯正寻求让帝亚吉欧恢复利润和收入增长。其年度净销售额同比下降 3% 至 145亿英镑，其中北美地区下降 9.1%，原因是美国价格下跌以及龙舌兰市场表现“疲软”。

当戴夫·刘易斯在年初接管帝亚吉欧时，他成为了该集团三年内的第三任首席执行官。帝亚吉欧表示，欧洲 5.7 的销售增长和英国 6.8 的增长部分抵消了这一影响，其中英国销售的强劲增长是由健力士的“两位数”增长驱动的。

收入下降 2 至 196亿美元 (146亿英镑)，而营业利润因重组成本及其土耳其业务 15亿美元 的减值损失而骤降 27 至 32亿美元。

帝亚吉欧还将拟向股东支付的股息较去年削减了一半以上，但刘易斯表示，他“有信心”在利润不“进一步后退”的情况下实现改善。

他表示：“这一新战略通过执行一个全新的、更灵活、更具竞争力和成本效益的运营模式，让我们有信心能让帝亚吉欧回归到一家能持续为股东创造价值的企业。”

该计划包括将健力士

推向全球，投资于被忽视且价格实惠的品牌（如斯米诺夫 Smirnoff 和摩根船长 Captain Morgan），并向美国消费者提供更小、更便宜的瓶装尺寸。

“这些是非常大且非常重要的品牌，坦率地说，我们之前做得不够好，”刘易斯说道，同时承认帝亚吉欧在挖掘蓬勃发展的罐装鸡尾酒市场方面也反应迟缓。

他表示：“我们将为所有核心烈酒品牌推出罐装鸡尾酒产品。”

“至于健力士，将进行大量的地理扩张。它的增长非常惊人，但投资于支持这种增长的产能至关重要。”

此次重组将使这家健力士制造商在三年内总共花费 8.9 亿英镑。

罗莱（Raleigh）作为自行车历史上最标志性且最具历史意义的品牌之一，于 2012 年被 Accell 以 7400 万英镑 收购。GETTY MANUFACTURING

Raleigh自行车面临裁减，母公司崩溃

作者：Anna Wise

总部位于诺丁汉郡的自行车制造商Raleigh成立于139年前，其背后的公司已申请任命接管人。随着其更广泛的集团进入破产程序，Accell英国和爱尔兰公司采取了这一行动。该公司表示，它已“不遗余力地探索了所有可能的途径”以确保其自行车业务的未来——包括在2月份寻求股东和贷款人的额外资金。

这家在2012年以7400 万英镑m收购Raleigh的公司表示，在与潜在买家的谈判未能达成出价后，这是一个“深感悲哀且令人沮丧的局面”，这意味着该业务无法继续运营。Raleigh是自行车历史上最标志性的品牌之一，在Accell的所有权下已转向销售电动自行车。

首席执行官Jonas Nilsson表示：“对于我们的员工、债权人、客户、供应商和合作伙伴来说，这是一个格外困难的时刻。我们曾如此努力地重组Accell的运营和财务状况。”

“我们现在的当务之急是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。”

航空

Wizz因季度亏损警告航空燃料价格

作者：Anna Wise

在由于中东冲突导致燃料成本飙升的“极其波动”的三个月期间，Wizz Air陷入亏损。这家低成本航空公司昨天警告称，该行业在“今年剩余时间”内正面临挑战，其4月至6月期间记录的营业亏损为1.57 亿英镑，而去年同期利润为2360 万英镑。

Wizz表示，这主要归因于其航空燃料支出，该支出同比增长39%至5.238 亿英镑，反映了市场价格上涨87%，而该公司通过削减成本部分缓解了这一影响。

航空燃料成本的飙升给整个行业带来了混乱，easyJet、英国航空的所有者IAG以及Ryanair在最近几周均报告利润下降。

Wizz此前表示，在3月份不得不取消飞往以色列特拉维夫以及其他飞往中东和塞浦路斯的航线后，伊朗战争给其造成了4290 万英镑m的损失。

首席执行官Jozsef Varadi表示：“我们不得不将飞行资源从长途的中东航线重新分配到较短的欧洲市场。”

“我们继续看到预订量的增加，但今年剩余的时间将同时带来行业挑战和战略机遇。”

尽管Wizz在三个月期间的乘客人数飙升四分之一至2120 万，但收益更新情况依然疲软。总收入也同比增长5.5%至129.8 万英镑。

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NEWY 2-20 观点 18-22 电视 26-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 8 2026年8月7日 周五 45 生活方式

“关于金钱，我学到了一件所有女性都应该知道的事”

凯蒂·派珀（Katie Piper）表示，2008年的一场残酷袭击改变了她的人生，以及她对待财务的方式。

谈论金钱的女性可能会被指责为贪婪，但你永远不会这样评价一个男人。我经营着一家慈善机构，习惯于一直谈论金钱；这在我们所有的董事会和受托人会议中都是核心议题——但这没关系，因为那不是我们的钱，而是用于慈善的钱。然而，房间里的许多女性永远不敢谈论她们自己的财务状况。在朋友和家人之间，到处都能看到同样的情况。即使我在 Instagram 上，我也看到女性在谈论饮食、衰老、健康、关系和工作——但绝不谈论金钱。为什么我们如此擅长沟通，却不愿谈论自己的薪水或自身的价值？

关于金钱，我希望自己能比现在更早知道的一件事就是：我们需要停止对此窃窃私语，并开始感到拥有掌控力。当我想到年轻时的自己，我不会告诉她要尽早开始缴纳养老金或开始投资——我会告诉她要奋斗，不是为了金钱，而是为了财务独立。

在 2008, 年的袭击之后，我失去了一切。我陷入昏迷，我的房东以为我逃跑了且没有支付房租，于是我所有的财物都被装进垃圾袋扔掉了。几个月后我醒来，没有工作，没有容貌，也没有收入。那时还没有 ChatGPT，所以我必须去就业中心（Jobcentre）领取真实的传单，以弄清楚如何申请残疾津贴。但这对我来说成了真正的动力，并完全改变了我对金钱的看法。

我在 20 世纪 80 年代和 90 年代长大，当时男方是养家糊口的人，女方抚养家庭，这是常态。这就是我小时候在看到的每一本书、每一部电影和每一个电视节目中的样子。我一直认为我想拥有一栋房子、一辆车、两个孩子，也许还有一只猫——但我认为我需要一个男人来提供这些东西。突然之间，我意识到我可以拥有所有我想要的东西，但我必须亲自去争取。

对于女性来说，通常只有在达到危机点时我们才开始谈论这些事情。对我来说绝对是这种情况。也许是因为害怕被评判，担心被视为贪婪，或者不想被认为具有威胁性。

袭击后的接下来的几年是一个陡峭的学习曲线。除了了解到聘请大律师、进行为期两年的法庭斗争以及接受手术多么昂贵之外，我还学到了赚钱并不等同于守钱，你需要多样化你的收入来源，并且需要增加你的财富。

但这并不是在追逐金钱。拥有金钱本身不应该是你的目标；而在于它能给你自由并拓宽你的选择。金钱买不到幸福，但它确实能给你带来内心的平静。

金钱买不到幸福，但它可以给你带来内心的平静并拓宽你的选择

年轻时，我认为只要想要某样东西，一切都会水到渠成，但事实并非如此——你需要具备财务敏锐度。为了做到这一点，我们需要更多地了解金钱——并更多地谈论它。你做得越多，就越能意识到围绕财务知识进行对话实际上是非常能赋予力量的。

我完全支持活在当下并享受此刻，但涉及到金钱时，我们需要看得更远。我会告诉年轻时的自己，花在自己身上的钱永远不会被浪费。这并不意味着购买手袋或 £1,000 的鞋子——而是意味着投资于你的教育、你的心理和身体健康，以及通过提升技能来发展或创办一项事业。

就在不久前，女性甚至不能以自己的名义申请抵押贷款，但情况正在缓慢地发生改变。

我希望我的两个女儿（分别是8岁和12岁）在成长过程中，能看到一个人在做出明智、有意识且具战略性的财务决策，并且深知自己的价值。我希望她们看到一个人并非在追逐金钱，而是通过由热情驱动的项目开辟道路——这些项目今天可能没有回报，但能让你感到兴奋，并引导至未来的机遇。女性很擅长讨论月经、围绝经期或如何减肥——这是因为人们仍然认为我们需要保持美丽和年轻。但富有呢？女性不需要富有，所以我们没有理由讨论这件事。凯蒂·派珀（Katie Piper）是一位广播员、媒体名人、畅销书作家和企业家 CONSTRUCTION

行业走出18个月低谷的迹象

作者：Anna Wise

数据显示，尽管建筑活动处于自2008年金融危机以来最长时间的下滑期，但英国建筑业在经历剧烈衰退后已开始“企稳”。

标准普尔全球（S&P Global）的月度调查发现，建筑公司的信心在上个月有所提升。其7月份的英国建筑采购经理人指数（PMI）读数为44.7，高于6月份的38.4；任何高于50的读数均表示活动在增加。

自2025年1月以来，建筑业每个月的业务活动均记录到下降——这场衰退影响了房屋建筑、土木工程和商业建筑，且自美国与伊朗的冲突开始以来，近几个月的情况进一步恶化。

然而，调查发现，由于新的商业开发、住宅项目和交通基础设施，房屋建筑部门上个月记录到了自去年10月以来的最高活动水平。

标准普尔全球市场情报（S&P Global Market Intelligence）经济总监蒂姆·摩尔（Tim Moore）表示：“尽管市场环境低迷，但客户需求出现好转，新招标机会有所复苏的迹象。”

“这使得对未来一年的业务活动预期更加乐观，信心水平达到了2月以来的最高点。”

零售

消费者 ### PZ Cussons 利润飙升实现业绩增长

Carex 和 Imperial Leather 的制造商 PZ Cussons 将年度销售额和利润的激增归功于精简产品组合、投资 AI 以及专注于其最畅销的类别。该公司在 Carex 洗手液标签上使用了动画角色 The Gruffalo 和 Zog，其公布的营收为 5410 万英镑（比 2025 年增长 5.8%），税前利润为 5000 万英镑（增长 22%）。

食品与饮料 ### Time Out 将在英国开设美食市场

Time Out 将于 2028 年在伦敦西区 The Crown Estate 的 10 Piccadilly 开发项目中开设其在英国的首个市场，包含约 15 家餐厅和酒吧，以及一套完整的现场活动计划。Time Out 从 1968 年到 2022 年一直是一本印刷杂志，但于 2014 年在葡萄牙里斯本推出了其 13 个美食市场中的第一个。

房地产 ### Peel 意欲以 5.83 亿英镑 收购 Harworth

Peel Group 已提出 5.83 亿英镑 的报价以收购竞争对手房地产开发商 Harworth。每股 £72.5p 的报价较 周三收盘的 FTSE 100 股价溢价 20.1%。Peel 已持有 约 30% 的股份，如果交易达成， 将被除名。

化学品 ### Ineos 加倍押注欧洲反弹

吉姆·拉特克利夫爵士（Sir Jim Ratcliffe）领导的 Ineos 集团将其在“被低估”的欧洲化学公司中的股权持仓增加了一倍。尽管欠投资者 140亿英镑 且其债券以折扣价交易，但 Ineos 在 5 月份的一笔 2亿欧元 股权投资之外，又向这个已连续四年衰退的行业注入了 2亿欧元 (1.74 亿英镑)。大股东也采取了同样的行动。

建筑 ### Persimmon 顶住“困难市场”压力

Persimmon 表示，尽管“市场困难”，其今年的房屋竣工量将处于 12,500 套目标的“高端”。这家建筑公司还透露，半年期税前利润同比增长 15% 至 1.68 亿英镑，期间新房竣工量增长 13% 至 5,189 套。营收增长 15% 至 17.3亿英镑。

金融 ### Quilter 受益于咨询需求

随着更多人寻求财务建议，财富管理公司 Quilter 公布的半年期净流入资金创纪录，达到 60亿英镑 —— 同比增长 32%。期间其管理和行政的总资产增长 25% 至 3574亿英镑，营收增长 5% 至 3.79 亿英镑，税前利润达到 1.12 亿英镑。

技术 ### Google DeepMind 董事会重组

Google 位于英国的 AI 研究实验室 DeepMind 的创始人丹尼斯·哈萨比斯爵士（Sir Denis Hassabis）将卸任首席执行官，出任董事长。他还将担任 Google 母公司 Alphabet 的首席科学家，而 DeepMind 首席技术官 Koray Kavukcuoglu 将升任高级副总裁以填补空缺。

广告 ### WPP 在动荡一年后飙升

在第二季度业绩好于预期后，WPP 股价昨日上涨近 30%。该集团在过去一年中削减了 8% 的员工（8,500 个岗位）以投资 AI，并扩大了与 Google 和 Meta 等公司的合作伙伴关系。期间税前利润为 2.77 亿英镑，营收为 25亿英镑。

市场行情

富时 100 指数（FTSE 100）昨日收盘下跌 20.41 点，即 0.19%，报 10,867.89。涨幅最大的是饮料集团帝亚吉欧（Diageo），上涨 91.5p 至 1,731.5p，以及保险公司 Admiral Group，上涨 194.0 至 3,900p。跌幅最大的是房地产保险信托 Tritax Big Box，下跌 72p 至 186.5p，以及分析公司 Reix，下跌 112p 至 2,603p。在法国，CAC40 下跌 0.35%，而德国 DAX 收盘下跌 0.05%。布伦特原油价格上涨至每桶 $81.79。

***

在伦敦收盘时，英镑兑加元下跌 0.07 美分，至 $1.34 / 4，但兑欧元上涨 0.15 美分，至 €1.167 / 1。

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最多 2-20 观点 16-22 电视 26-31 星期五 37-43 莫奈 44-47 体育 49-56 8 星期五 8 7 2026 47 养老金危机 教练

“我 62 岁了——我有 £270,000 的储蓄，三年后能退休吗？”在我们的“养老金危机教练”系列中，我们旨在帮助缓解您的退休忧虑。如果您担心晚年储蓄不足，请发送电子邮件至 money@thepaper.com，我们将寻求业内顶尖的财务专家和顾问的帮助，为您指明正确方向。安迪写道……我 62 岁了，想在身体还足够健康的时候去旅行，充分享受退休生活。您能告诉我我在 65 岁时是否处于一个适合退休的状态吗？我有 £270,000 的 ISA（个人储蓄账户）和养老金储蓄。

《i报》理财教练记者 Alina Khan 回复道……您有 £210,000 投资于养老金储蓄基金，以及 £60,000 的现金 ISA。您在 2011 年被裁员并获得一笔赔偿金后，将这些资金放入了 ISA 税收包装账户中。但您还有其他值得考虑的资金。在那份工作中，您一直在缴纳公共部门的确定给付（DB）养老金。这类养老金不涉及资金进入储蓄池——因此不能像您的其他养老金那样简单地量化。相反，您在退休后每年会收到一笔保证给付，在您的情况下，如果您在 67 岁退休，这笔钱每年将价值 £10,000。当您达到 67 岁时，您还将获得全额的新国家养老金——目前每年为 £12,548。您还有 £21,000 投资于股票和股份 ISA，那么让我们来看看您是否有足够的资金来实现退休目标。

Realise Wealth Management 的合伙人 Alex Henry 表示：“在财富积累的主要阶段已经结束之后，我认为您每年 £10,000 的确定给付养老金加上全额国家养老金，为您提供了坚实的基础。保证的收入流在规划从您的投资组合中提取资金时可以提供灵活性，尽管提取的水平和时机仍需仔细考虑。”

由于您想在 65 岁退休，您需要能够在开始领取国家养老金之前的两年里在财务上填补缺口。Henry 补充道：“您的 ISA 和另一个养老金池将提供大部分所需的收入，但同样至关重要的是，您要明确自己的总需求，无论是在退休早期较为活跃的阶段，还是在晚年。”

为了衡量旅行需要多少资金，Pension UK 的“退休生活标准”估计，每年在地中海度两周假以及在英国进行三次长周末度假，需要一对夫妇拥有 £62,700 的年度税后退休收入。这些数字仅作为指南，但能让您大致了解实现旅行目标可能需要多少资金。

您提到您的支出每月为 £800 且没有房贷，这非常有帮助，因为 Henry 补充道：“随着人们普遍寿命延长，退休计划通常需要提供长达 30 年的收入。您的基本支出似乎已由随通货膨胀而增长的保证收入流覆盖。”

然而，考虑退休后可能出现的偶尔可预见的成本也同样重要。在考虑每月可能需要提取多少收入时，需要将更换汽车或进行房屋维护纳入考虑。Henry 补充道：“您大量的 ISA 持仓可用于资助这些较大的一次性支出，而不会增加您的税单。”

一旦您退休，在领取福利的方式上您有多种选择。Henry 解释说：“您的养老金中免税部分可以在开始时全部取出，也可以逐渐取出，或留在池中以备将来使用。”

留在账户中的资金会随市场情况而波动，有些人会购买年金，将储蓄转化为年度养老金。它能提供终身保证的收入，并增加退休后的确定性。亨利建议检查你的确定给付制养老金文件，因为你可能有权在接受降低年度付款额的情况下，获得一笔一次性款项。他补充道：“健康的现金储备可以减少在市场低迷期间出售投资的需求，给你的投资组合留出恢复时间。但长期持有过多现金可能会面临输给通胀压力的风险。你的每项资产在整体计划中扮演着不同的角色，应当进行适当的平衡。”亨利表示，你的资产范围和收入来源意味着在 65 岁退休似乎是可能的。他说，多年来你在储蓄方面一直非常务实，因此你应该能够享受你想要的退休生活。我希望你在退休到来时能乐在其中。

探索夏季

凭借斯堪的纳维亚设计和先进的悬挂系统，它能在任何地形上平稳滑行。鲜红色的外观使其不仅是一款助行器 —— 更是对独立、健康与时尚的先锋宣言。从碎石遍布的公园小径到鹅卵石铺就的城市街道，12er 与你同行 —— 并在沿途吸引注目。TRIONIC --- 48 Weath

概况 今日，英国天气模式多样。苏格兰西北部和东北部天空多云并有雨。苏格兰西南部和北部岛屿面临阵雨，而西部岛屿则有持续降雨。其他地区，如中部地区和伦敦等南部地区天气晴朗且阳光充足。北爱尔兰和英格兰西北部大部分时间多云，伴有短暂阳光，全天保持干燥。伦敦、英格兰东南部、东安格利亚、海峡群岛：白天开始时天气晴朗，阳光充足，气温温和。随着下午的推进，阳光持续，温暖宜人。到晚上，天空晴朗，尤其是在最西部的地区，将持续有微风。全天没有降雨威胁。最高气温：25℃。今晚，可能轻微降雨，有风。最低气温：9℃。英格兰中南部、英格兰西南部、中部地区、南威尔士、北威尔士：白天开始时多云伴有阳光，全天保持干燥。进入下午，最南部地区的天空可能更加晴朗且阳光充足，而最北部地区则依然较为阴沉。到晚上，预计云层持续，但气温普遍温和，预计无雨。最高气温：24℃。今晚，晴。最低气温：15℃。苏格兰东南部、英格兰东北部、英格兰东部：白天开始时大部分时间多云，偶尔有阳光。进入下午，预计云量增加，最北部地区保持阴天。最东部地区将享有偶尔的阳光。全天有轻微至中度的西南风。最高气温：20℃。今晚，有晴朗时段。最低气温：15℃。英格兰西北部、苏格兰西南部、北爱尔兰、爱尔兰共和国、马恩岛：预计早晨大部分时间多云，偶尔有阳光。下午最北部地区将有更多降雨，而最西部地区保持晴朗且阳光充足。到晚上，天气温和，全天有微风。最高气温：25℃。今晚，轻微降雨，有风。最低气温：15℃。苏格兰西北部、苏格兰东北部、西部岛屿、北部岛屿：早晨以多云天气为主，空气寒冷。下午将有轻微降雨，尤其是在最西部地区，那里风力更强。临近晚上，雨势将减弱但云层依然存在。全天持续温和气温，伴有轻微的西南风。最高气温：20℃。今晚，有风，可能伴有阵雨。最低气温：12℃。

图例：等压线：气压单位为百万 W 温带锋 C 冷锋 C 闭塞锋

天气形势 气压低中心位于西部岛屿，带来持续降雨，并缓慢向东南方向移动。英格兰西南部的弱高压将晴朗天气延伸至南部地区。与低压相关的锋面系统影响苏格兰西北部和东北部，导致天空多云并伴有偶尔降雨。

最高温与最低温（周三，截至晚上11点）

最高温：14mths, Essex, 25℃ 最低温：Abayne No 2 Aberdeenshire, 9℃ 最湿润：Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire 12.8Omm 日照：12.4than, 威尔士, 10.4hrs

黑夜时长

城市 / 时段

阿伯丁 / 21.10-05.20 伯明翰 / 24.48-05.38 布里斯托 / 29.47-05.44 加的夫 / 20.50-05.48 格拉斯哥 / 21.11-05.34 赫尔 / 20.47-05.27 因弗内斯 / 21.19-05.24 利物浦 / 20.56-05.39 伦敦 / 20.38-05.35 曼彻斯特 / 20.53-05.36 斯托诺韦 / 21.32-05.32 斯旺西 / 20.53-05.49 约克 / 20.51-05.29

五日天气预报 周六：北部和西部地区将有雨，而南部和东部地区将享有晴朗阳光的天气。 周日：北部地区将有雨，但南部将晴朗阳光。东部地区将温暖且阳光充足，西部云量较多且有零星阳光。 周一：南部地区享有晴朗阳光的天气，而北部地区大部分时间多云，并有分散的阵雨。 周二：南部地区大部分时间干燥且有阳光，而北部地区大部分时间多云，可能下雨。 周三：南部地区保持阳光和温暖，北部地区面临阴云和降雨。东部地区快速，西部地区预计有阵雨。

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体育 SPORT 2-25 观点 OPINION 16-22 电视 TV 26-31 土耳其 TURKEY 37-43 HOMAT 44-47 体育 SPORT 49-56 2026年8月7日 星期五 49

体育矩阵

今日赛事概览 毛里求斯的 Kimberley Le Court 在一次缩短的冲刺中脱颖而出，赢得了环法女子自行车赛第六赛段的冠军，瑞士车手 Marlen Reusser 在还剩三个赛段的情况下继续保持总成绩领先。Le Court 在距离终点 km 处加入了一个小型突围小组，在距离终点 300 米时发起冲刺，并在终点线前击败了法国车手 Cédrine Kerbaol，荷兰的 Puck Pieterse 位列第三。

赛车运动

Formula E 设有应急计划但充满信心 Formula E 对下赛季将于 12 月在沙特阿拉伯开赛充满信心，但 Jeff Dodds 表示，如果该地区的情况如此要求，这一全电动赛车系列的负责人可以将其揭幕战推迟到 1 月在墨西哥举行。 由 Liberty Global 控制的该锦标赛预计将开启新的 Gen4 时代，于 12 月 18-19 日在吉达举行两场比赛，随后于 1 月 16 日在墨西哥城举行。 一级方程式（Formula One）和世界拉力锦标赛（World Rally Championship）预计将于 11 月和 12 月在中东结束赛季，后者在沙特阿拉伯，但出于物流原因，他们表示将在 9 月中旬做出决定。 “我们非常定期地与该王国沟通，显然我们正在监测发生的情况，”Dodds 说道。

橄榄球联盟

卡斯尔福德主帅 Carr 将缺席与 Rovers 的对决

卡斯尔福德主教练 Ryan Carr 将因为“个人原因”缺席今晚超级联赛与 Hull KR 的对决。 老虎队确认，橄榄球运营总监 Chris Chester 以及教练组 Rob Nickolay 和 Scott Murrell 将在 OneBore 体育场监督球队。 Adrian Vowles 将支持这三人，他是 1999 年首位获得“钢铁之男”奖的卡斯尔福德球员，本周他回到俱乐部参加一项活动。 Carr（上图）在本赛季前被任命，合同期三年，他执教期间取得了 7 场胜利和 14 场失败——尽管他们在最近 6 场比赛中输掉了 5 场。

冰壶 奥运偶像 Muirhead 计划在阿尔卑斯山赛场回归

Eve Muirhead 宣布，在北京冬奥会退役四年后，她将重返赛场。这位曾四次参加奥运会并在北京获得金牌的英国队冰壶运动员，将与两届奥运银牌得主 Bobby Lammie 搭档参加混双比赛，目标锁定在 2000 年阿尔卑斯山运动会。两人曾在 2022 年获得混双世界冠军。“远离赛场的时间给了我所需的空间，”Muirhead（上图）表示，“这让我能够重新发现训练和比赛的乐趣，而不再承受我多年来给自己施加的压力。”

谜题答案

多米诺骨牌 旅程寻找者 追踪 数字方格 Idoku Kakuro Wijuko 二进制 ABC 逻辑 Zygolox 从左至右：plod: colt: toy: flee: ploy: bolt: trick: kick: boot: truck: hoot: lorry: host: luck: honk 每日测验 1. 《1984》 2. 缠绕在他的小腿上 3. 七年的除草 4. 《飞机》 文字阶梯 数独 拼图数独 数字六边形 周四代码字 4578

单词轮

九字母单词 BOTHERING 包含的其他单词 begin, begot, being, benight, bent, berg, berth, berthing, beth, bier, bighorn, bight, bigot, bing, binge, bingo, biont, birth, bite, biter, bogie, bone, boner, bong, bonier, bore, boring, born, borne, bornite, bort, both, bother, brent, brig, bright, brighten, brine, bring, brio, brit, brith, broth, sbon, gibe, giber, henbit, herb, neighbor, obit, obiter, orbing, orbit, robe, robin, robing, throb, tribe. 杀手数独 扫雷 数字金字塔 Calcudoku 文字方格 骑士巡游 路径寻找者 链式链接 Futoshiki Hexalex 文字填充 Cells 战舰 桥梁 单词搜索 五星级加密十字谜题 横向： 3 RE=quire, 5 / 6 Organ=grinder* 纵向： 1 RE=noir, 2 Mug=gins, 4 Ranker (rancour)

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50 体育 9 # 拳击

沃伦对里夫斯表示乐观

作者：George Sessions

Queensberry 推广人弗兰克·沃伦（Frank Warren）提供了关于李·里夫斯（Lee Reeves）的积极进展，并与英国拳击手雷文·查普曼（Raven Chapman）的家人保持联系。

爱尔兰左撇子拳手里夫斯在周六于都柏林输给加里·库利（Gary Cully）后被送往医院，其病情随后被描述为“危急但稳定”，但沃伦透露，这位 33 岁的人员已取得“进展”。

沃伦还与前 Queensberry 拳手查普曼保持联系，查普曼在上周五在丹麦进行一次实战训练后因脑出血不得不接受紧急手术。

“我的团队一直与李·里夫斯的团队保持联系，他正在好转。这就是我们听到的消息，感谢上帝，”沃伦说道。“对于李和雷文来说，关键在于时间。希望时间能成为治愈的良药。我已经了解到雷文发生的情况，她两年前在我们的旗下，我一直与她的家人保持联系。”

查普曼在接受旨在止血并减轻脑肿胀的手术后，被置于医疗诱导昏迷状态。一个 GoFundMe 页面已经启动，旨在为查普曼筹集资金。她目前已停止使用镇静剂，正在等待在医疗监督下被遣返回英国的医院。

弗兰克·沃伦一直与里夫斯的团队和查普曼的家人保持联系。

泰森·富里（Tyson Fury）和安东尼·约书亚（Anthony Joshua）在四月进行言语交锋。

关于是否可以获得温布利球场当前宵禁的豁免，以确保比赛能在纽约时间晚上 9 点开始，双方进行了讨论。

但沃伦表示：“我当然[同情英国球迷]，但他们联系了温布利，不是吗。Sela，并询问他们是否能推迟时间，据我所知，这件事并没有发生。”

沃伦回避了关于富里合同以及合同是否规定比赛必须在英国举行的问题；根据其推广人埃迪·赫恩（Eddie Hearn）的说法，约书亚的情况确实如此。

上个月，约书亚在第一回合被阿尔巴尼亚旅拳手克里斯蒂安·普伦加（Kristian Prenga）两次击倒，这引发了人们对其抗击打能力的质疑，以及在输给富里之前是否可以再进行一场热身赛。

然而，沃伦否认了这一建议。

“他在过去，大概七个月里，打了两场比赛？杰克·保罗（Jake Paul）和普伦加，这就是他打过的两场比赛，”沃伦指出。“他正在与[奥列克桑德尔]·乌西克（Oleksandr Usyk）一起进行训练营，所以如果不比赛他能做什么？他将继续训练，训练，再训练，他会变老，泰森也会，那么意义何在？赶紧开始吧。”

“我知道的是，当他击中你时，他是个危险的人物。在进攻时他会挥出重拳，如果他认为自己能击中泰森，认为能伤害他，那么他会很期待这场比赛。”

“他给自己制造的问题是，一旦被击中，他就会倒下。回顾普伦加的那场比赛，如果对方是泰森，那比赛早就结束了。”

“我们有两个报酬极高的选手，但更重要的是，他们都渴望以一种轰烈的方式赢得比赛。谁都不想成为输家。”

“在某些拳手的职业生涯中，会出现这样一个时刻，人们认为他们可能不再处于巅峰，但他们会深挖潜力去寻找另一种突破。”

“这两个人在交手时都必须深挖潜力，因为他们都渴望胜利。”

“我？我整天都在说会是泰森，但当第一回合的地狱降临之时，我们就会知道答案。”

观众对富里与约书亚的比赛场地仍不得而知

作者：George Sessions

泰森·富里的推广人拒绝确认其拳手与安东尼·约书亚的重量级对决是否将在美国举行，但他仍预计比赛将在11.月举行。

关于这场备受期待的“英国之战”将在何处举行，猜测一直很多。温布利球场最初是首选，直到出现关于开始时间的问题。由于沙特拳击主管图尔基·阿拉尔希克（Turki Alalshikh）渴望在能够吸引全球观众的时间点举办比赛，美国已成为举办这场全英国对决的首选国家，纽约的麦迪逊广场花园已准备就绪。

这两人在对决时必须全力以赴，因为他们都渴望胜利

当被问及纽约和 20 November 是否正确时，富里的推广人弗兰克·沃伦（Frank Warren）表示：“关于这一点，目前我无法评论。”

“这将由阁下（阿拉尔希克）在准备好宣布时予以公布。”

“没有（截止日期）。拳手们只需要在9月的某个时间开始训练，所以这就是9月初会发生的事情。”

“我相信他们目前应该在维持状态。我只能代表泰森发言，他现在和家人在一起。”

“一旦日期公布，他将进入严肃的准备阶段，请来陪练伙伴并为比赛做准备。我相信比赛将在11.月进行。”

一旦阿拉尔希克明确比赛必须适合美国观众——

电视体育节目

高尔夫：温亚姆锦标赛 Sky Sports Golf: 11.45am 和 6pm 高尔夫：伦敦锦标赛 Sky Sports Golf: 2.pm 自行车：环法女子赛 TNT 1.2. 35pm 板球：Phoenix 对阵 Sunrisers (女) Cricket: 2.45pm 网球：多伦多、蒙特利尔 Tennis: 4pm 板球：Phoenix 对阵 Sunrisers (男) Cricket: 6pm 足球：Partick 对阵 Livingston BBC Scotland 7. 25pm 足球：Middlesbro 对阵 Wrexham (电视), 7.30pm 橄榄球联盟：Wakefield 对阵 Leeds Action: 7.30pm 橄榄球联盟：Castleford 对阵 Hull KR : 8pm

赛果服务

BFL杯 第一轮 布里斯托尔城 (1) 0 沃尔索尔 (1) 1 Presbyterian (1) 1

欧足联欧洲联赛 第三轮资格赛 首回合 LES / Blalystock (1) 2 流浪者 (1) 5 Farnsworth (4, 5 / 8) 雷克瑟姆 (2 / 8) 格拉斯哥 (2) 6 Heart (1) 5 巴伐利亚 (3) 6 Heart (1) 5 Rally (3) 6 Rally (3) 6 Pavlovsk (4, 5 / 8) Ransford (3) 5 Pavlovsk (4, 5 / 8) 普雷斯顿 (6) 邓迪 (8) Schpitzburg (2 / 8 / 8)

欧足联欧洲协会联赛 第三轮资格赛 首回合 LES HJK (1) 2 马瑟韦尔 (1) 1 Pale (7) 3 曼彻斯特 (4, 5 / 8 / 8) Apex (1) 2 谢尔本 (1) 1 Apex (1) 2 谢尔本 (1) 1 Lindsey (2) 6 Kelly (4) Lindsey (2) Belvedere (1) 0 Belvedere (1) 0 Mollyland (1) 2 Pontecchia (6) Andrews (7) 希伯尼安 (1) 2 希伯尼安 (1) 2 Stroud (1) 1 Stroud (1) 1 里昂 (2) 1 里昂 (2) 1 切尔西 (4)

CHICAGO THE HUNDRED 伦敦体育：9 / 8 伦敦，Lords，周一，伦敦体育：9 / 8 伦敦，Lords，周一，伦敦

橄榄球联盟 BETFRED超级联赛 圣海伦斯 (1) 1 / 8 赫尔 (1) 1 / 8 圣海伦斯：Triad：Sturley, Stowby, Waterburn, Gaala Hastings (3) 赫尔：Triad：Barrow (3) Martin, Cash, Bell Hastings (3) 赫尔：Triad：Barrow (3) Martin, Cash, Bell Gaala：Turnstoke (1)

今日赛程（除非另有说明，否则均为下午1 / 2点）

足球 BFL杯 第一轮 米德尔斯堡 v 雷克瑟姆 (8) 伍尔弗汉普顿 (7 / 8 / 8) 伍尔弗汉普顿 (7 / 8 / 8)

WILLIAM HILL 苏格兰冠军联赛 帕特里克 v 利文斯顿 (7 / 8 / 8)

CHICAGO一日杯 - A组： 兰开夏 v 格洛斯特郡 (2 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 11.15am 莱斯特郡 v 华威郡 (2 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 11.15am 2 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8 WORTHAMPTONSHIRE (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 11.15am 萨默塞特 v 萨里 (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 11.15am GLOVE & DORHAM v 米德尔塞克斯 (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1.30pm CLAMORGAN v DODGE (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1.30pm 萨塞克斯 v 伍斯特郡 (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1.30pm 约克郡 v 伍斯特郡 (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1.30pm

网球 ATP & WTA 罗杰斯国家银行公开赛 (1 / 4 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1.30pm

橄榄球联盟 BETFRED超级联赛 (6-1 / 2 / 7 / 8 / 8) 1 / 4 / 7 / 8 Ruggles v York, 韦克菲尔德 v 利兹

穆塞尔堡 (MUSSELBURGH) 2020 2.20 英国纯血马工作室 EBF 新手赛 (2级赛) 1 / 10 £42,000 附加 1F 1 1 1 BARNABY RUDGE (25) / Farmbewe 9 12 ... D Meansh 11 3 2 2 MINUTES BARN (1) Grand 5 6 ... P Muthersham 5 3 3 3 MY MATS PTE 1: Ryan 5 4 ... T Eaves 4 4 4 SOD HALL LANE (1) Grand 3 4 ... Z Wheeling 1 5 5 5 PATRIUM FLORENCE (8PF) / Walker 9 11 ... K Bonnerich 1 6 6 6 投注 8-1 / 2-7 / 投注 8-1 / 2-7 / 2.50 COFFER BLOSSOM 女装日苗圃销售让磅赛 (2级赛) 1 / 10 £42,000 附加 1F 1 1 1 EXTENDED ORDERS (1) / Houghton 3 5 ... D Meansh 3 2 2 2 3 3 3 投注 7-1 / 2-7 / 投注 7-1 / 2-7 / 2.50 香槟宝美 CUVEE LOUISE 金杯让磅赛 (2级赛) £42,000 附加 1F 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 投注 8-1 / 2-7 / --- WEST 2-20 奥兰多 (ORLANDO) 18-22 TX 26-31 星期五 37-43 星期一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 51年8月7日 星期五 # CHICKET

劳伦斯回归表明与 Bazball 时代已彻底决裂

丹·拉姆伦斯（DAN LAMRENCE）报道

如果英格兰队参加对阵巴基斯坦前两场测试赛的阵容具有代表性，那么在乔·鲁特（Joe Root）队长领导下的新时代将更加强调郡级板球，并旨在通过增加投球手数量来填补本·斯托克斯（Ben Stokes）退役后留下的空白。

从为 19 August 开始在海丁利（Headingley）以及八天后在勋爵板球场（Lord's）举行的前两场比赛选出的 16 人名单来看，最主要的新闻是雅各布·贝塞尔（Jacob Bethell）的缺席。这位 22 岁的球员未能从上个月对阵印度的一日赛系列赛中受到的膝盖伤势中恢复，在英格兰队的击球阵容中，3 号位将由乔丹·考克斯（Jordan Cox）取代。在如此关键的位置上选择一名仅有一次测试赛出场记录的球员是一个大胆的决定。但英格兰队非常看好这位埃塞克斯队的击球手，鉴于贝塞尔在整个系列赛中缺席，他面对巴基斯坦队将拥有巨大的机会。

同样大胆的是让丹·劳伦斯（Dan Lawrence）回归 6 号位；这位萨里队的击球手在距离上次测试赛出场两年后回归。劳伦斯是郡冠军赛第一组的第二高得分者，以 65. 的平均分获得了 788 分。劳伦斯的兼职旋转球是一个信号，表明尽管肖艾布·巴希尔（Shoaib Bashir）在阵容中，但除非面对一个看起来会剧烈旋转的球场，否则英格兰队可能会采用全快球攻击阵容。

我们相信他拥有合适的经验、成熟度和技巧水平

在没有斯托克斯这种全能天才的情况下，有效地平衡球队始终是一项艰巨的任务。通过这种方式，英格兰队希望在没有削弱击球能力的同时，在投球部门提供足够的深度，以弥补失去斯托克斯的损失。

对郡级板球的显著认可体现在奥利·波普（Ollie Pope）——表面上是作为接球手杰米·史密斯（Jamie Smith）的替补，以及考克斯在 3 号位的回归——这是他自去年冬天灰烬杯（Ashes）以来首次回归，此外还有埃塞克斯快球手萨姆·库克（Sam Cook）。

该阵容由鲁特、板球总监罗布·基（Rob Key）和国家选拔员马库斯·诺斯（Marcus North）共同选定。新任测试赛教练斯蒂芬·弗莱明（Stephen Fleming）虽然直到冬季南非之旅才会正式上任，但也参与了讨论。

这似乎与 Bazball era, 形成了显著的决裂，在那个时代，球员经常由前测试赛教练布伦登·麦卡勒姆（Brendon McCullum）和队长斯托克斯凭直觉选拔。旋转全能球员雷汉·艾哈迈德（Rehan Ahmed）和威尔·杰克斯（Will Jacks）这两位显著的缺席者说明了这一转变，他们两人原本都希望能在 6 号位击球而非劳伦斯。

布赖登·卡斯（Brydon Carse）在因手伤错过夏季前半段后回归，将竞争四个快球投球位置之一。然而，看起来身体完全健康的奥利·罗宾逊（Ollie Robinson）——他在英格兰队在勋爵板球场击败新西兰队的比赛中获得全场最佳——将与乔德拉·阿彻（Jodra Archer）、古斯·阿特金森（Gus Atkinson）和乔什·汤格（Josh Tongue）一起占据攻击线的位置。

诺斯在谈到阵容时表示：“我们为前两场测试赛选出了一支平衡了新兴天才与面对高质量巴基斯坦队所需经验的队伍。丹·劳伦斯在经历了一个卓越的赛季后回归，我们相信他拥有合适的经验、成熟度和技巧水平来补充我们的中场阵容。”

“乔丹·考克斯被认为是英格兰板球界最令人兴奋的天才之一。”

英格兰队名单

对阵巴基斯坦前两场测试赛：

J Root (队长), J Archer, G Atkinson, S Bashir, H Brook, B Carse, S Cook, J Cox, B Duckett, M Fisher, E Gay, D Lawrence, O Pope, O Robinson, J Smith, J Tongue.

克里斯·斯托克斯（Chris Stocks）预测的海丁利首发阵容：

Duckett, Gay, Cox, Root (队长), Brook, Lawrence, Smith (门将-接球手), Atkinson, Robinson, Archer, Tongue.

THE HUNDRED

梅莉·克尔（Mellie Kerr）击出了关键的半个世纪，压制了伦敦精神队（London Spirit）

马修斯和克尔为 MI 锁定胜局

梅莉·克尔（Mellie Kerr）顽强的半个世纪得分以及海莉·马修斯（Hayley Matthews）在关键时刻的决定性投球，帮助 MI 伦敦在对阵首都对手伦敦精神队（London Spirit）的比赛中，终于取得了本赛季的首场胜利。在两队此前的一次德比战战平之后，客队在勋爵板球场（Lord's）凭借 122 分之 9 的成绩，以仅 3 分的微弱优势险胜。丽莎·凯特利（Lisa Keightley）的球队在得分跌至 64 分之 8 时，似乎又要经历艰难的一天，但新西兰球星克尔维持了局面。她用 41 个球拿到了 69 分（未出局），击出 5 个四分球和 4 个六分球，而希内尔·亨利（Chinelle Henry，22 分）是队中唯一一名得分达到两位数的队友。英格兰副队长查理·迪恩（Charlie Dean）拿到了 3 分之 26。精神队在开局失去前 3 个球门时仅得 36 分，而 MI 则在投球环节发起反击。南非组合卡普（Kapp）和纳丁·德克勒克（Nadine de Klerk）通过 42 分的合作发起反攻，但马修斯在倒数第二个五球组中解决了问题，在仅允许对方得 3 分的情况下，将查里斯·帕夫利（Charis Pavely）和德克勒克出局，确保了一场艰难的客场胜利。英格兰和汉普郡的快球手约翰·特纳（John Turner）宣布在 25 岁时从所有形式的板球运动中退役。出生于南非的特纳因背部压力性骨折已缺阵一年多。

田径

西汉姆联就 2029 年世界锦标赛伦敦申办达成协议

作者：Rachel Steinberg

在组织者与西汉姆联足球俱乐部（West Ham United FC）就伦敦体育场的使用达成协议后，伦敦申办 2029 年世界田径锦标赛获得了巨大的助力。此前人们担心，这项得到英国政府和伦敦市长萨迪克·汗（Sadiq Khan）支持的申办计划可能会因为足球场的使用问题而受挫——甚至在西汉姆联降级至英冠联赛之前就存在此担忧。该足球俱乐部坚持认为“最高优先级始终是西汉姆联的支持者”，并且在经过“详细谈判”后，双方达成了一项协议，以确保对他们的赛季活动产生“最小影响”。

西汉姆联的一份声明称：“西汉姆联可以确认，已与伦敦体育场有限责任合伙公司（London Stadium LLP）及田径风险投资公司（Athletics Ventures）达成协议，将伦敦体育场纳入作为英国政府支持的 2029 年世界田径锦标赛伦敦申办计划的主办场馆。”

“在整个过程中，俱乐部的最高优先级始终是西汉姆联的支持者，确保任何达成的计划对足球赛程的影响最小，并尊重特许协议中详述的俱乐部首要优先级原则。”

俱乐部透露，作为协议的一部分，将采取“一系列新举措”以“增强体育场及支持者的比赛日体验”。声明补充道：“一旦确定西汉姆联在 2029-30 赛季将参加哪个级别联赛及其他赛事，任何对足球赛程的影响都将予以确认。”

伦敦上一次举办门票售罄的世界田径锦标赛是在 2017 年，包括奥运会 800 米冠军基莉·霍奇金森（Keely Hodgkinson，左）在内的运动员一直呼吁解决体育场问题。去年提交了意向书的组织者现已提交最终申办书。

英国田径协会（UK Athletics）首席执行官杰克·巴克纳（Jack Buckner）俱乐部的最高优先级始终是西汉姆联的支持者表示：“申办在 2012 年伦敦奥运会标志性场馆——伦敦体育场举办世界田径锦标赛，一直处于英国奥运遗产计划的核心。我们非常感谢政府、文化媒体和体育部、伦敦市长以及英国体育局（UK Sport）的极大力支持。”

“我们很高兴能与伦敦体育场和西汉姆联就使用伦敦体育场达成协议，并对他们为实现这一目标所做出的承诺表示由衷感谢。”

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52 体育 2014 # 足球简讯 # 西班牙

维尼修斯新合同终结枪手希望

维尼修斯·儒尼尔昨晚续签了皇家马德里的合同，终结了阿森纳对这位巴西前锋的追求。马德里方面与维尼修斯在周三会面讨论续约事宜，《The Athletic》报道称，拟定的一套新方案体现了他在这家西班牙俱乐部的重要性，以及在何塞·穆里尼奥领导下的新计划。阿森纳曾准备开出一笔极具野心的交易，但这家西班牙巨头就一份有效期至2012年夏季的合同协商了更好的条款，从而终结了英超冠军的追求，以及维尼修斯在下次召唤时成为自由球员的可能性。马德里确认签下了来自RB莱比锡的边锋扬·迪奥曼德，转会费在£1 / 3m左右。

女子超级联赛

海鸥军团签下联队后卫乔治

布赖顿和霍夫阿尔比恩签下了来自曼彻斯特联的后卫加比·乔治，转会费未公开。这位29岁（见上文）的球员在联队效力三个赛季后加盟布赖顿，期间她在2024年赢得了足协杯。“她在防守端的多功能性为我们提供了极佳的选择，而她出色的控球技术将有助于提升我们想要的比赛方式，”布赖顿女足一线队主教练达里奥·维多维奇表示。乔治于2014年在埃弗顿开始其职业生涯，并先后经历英格兰U-17到U-23级别的青年队，随后在2018年完成成年队首秀。她曾三次代表英格兰女足国家队出场。

曼彻斯特城

塞门约期待平稳过渡

曼彻斯特城边锋安托万·塞门约预计，尽管恩佐·马雷斯卡接任主教练标志着佩普·瓜迪奥拉那个奖杯累累时代的结束，但俱乐部内部几乎不会有太大变化。瓜迪奥拉在伊蒂哈德球场执教10年后于5月卸任，期间他带领俱乐部夺得六次英超冠军；而马雷斯卡（见上文）在担任过这位西班牙人助理教练一个赛季后回到了曼城。“我认为现在与马雷斯卡的过渡期，他显然之前就在城市集团工作过，所以他对他们并不陌生，”塞门约说道。“每个人只需要适应。每个人都必须认同他的哲学，而这与佩普上赛季所做的事情相差不远。”

足球

努涅斯被传将在雄心勃勃的特拉布宗体育与萨拉赫重聚

凯瑟琳·卢卡斯 足球新闻编辑

穆罕默德·萨拉将作为超级联赛历史上最重磅的签约抵达土耳其。在合同到期离开利物浦后，萨拉似乎几乎肯定会前往沙特阿拉伯——这在很大程度上是因为没有欧洲俱乐部能够负担得起这位 34 岁球员的薪水。然而，这位前锋最终与特拉布宗体育签署了一份为期两年的合同——随着该俱乐部向加拉塔萨雷和费内巴切发起挑战，预计未来还会有更多高知名度的球员加盟。《i报》获悉，萨拉在利物浦的前队友达尔文·努涅斯也是一个目标，因为特拉布宗体育旨在进一步加强目前拥有萨拉以及其他新签球员阿拉尔·西姆希尔和欧内斯特·穆奇的进攻线。

努涅斯此前一直受到托特纳姆热刺的关注，而里沙利松的未来仍存在一些不确定性。罗伯托·德泽比对多米尼克·索兰克印象深刻，马蒂斯·特尔也可以出任 No 9，但在兰德尔·科洛·穆阿尼的租借期结束后，热刺的选择仍然相对匮乏。德泽比的主要

达尔文·努涅斯也引起了热刺的关注 GETTY 努涅斯可能会被一家在土耳其排名第三的俱乐部的计划所吸引 重点是一名边锋，萨维尼奥（下方）是一个长期目标。托特纳姆热刺尚未对努涅斯提出任何正式报价，这位乌拉圭国脚目前效力于沙特职业联赛的希拉尔俱乐部。他的身价约为 1700 万英镑。

努涅斯可能会被特拉布宗一个极具野心的计划所诱惑。他们上赛季排名第三，领先于贝西克塔斯，但在其他伊斯坦布尔大俱乐部的身后奋起直追。特拉布宗体育向萨拉提供了一份为期两年、年薪 1700 万英镑 (1500 万英镑)，外加与表现挂钩的奖金的合同——《i报》被告知，他还有一项肖像权条款，使他有权获得以其名义销售的任何俱乐部商品收入的 20% 份额。尽管沙特俱乐部能够提供类似的资金，但他被推销的是一个土耳其的计划——特拉布宗体育获得了欧联杯资格，并能提供一个更具竞争力的环境。沙特职业联赛仍难以吸引球迷，季前赛中出现了大量空场地的画面。

努涅斯将符合土耳其的模式，特拉布宗体育旨在签下一批大名鼎鼎的“世界级”球员，与具有“高潜力”的年轻球员并肩作战。正如一位消息人士所言，他们的目标不仅是通过投入更多资金，而且是通过“更好的规划”和“更明智的招募”来缩小与巨头之间的差距。

热刺在市场上的动作尚未结束，他们在桑德罗·托纳利、马特乌斯·费尔南德斯和扬-保罗·范赫克身上花费了超过 2 亿英镑。马丁·杜布拉夫卡、安迪·罗伯逊和马科斯·塞内西以自由身加盟。预计克里斯蒂安·罗梅罗（下方）将在未来几天加盟马德里竞技，古列尔莫·维卡里奥正受到意甲俱乐部的关注。马诺尔·所罗门尽管在季前赛经历了小幅复苏，但仍将离开，西汉姆联和赫尔城是感兴趣的俱乐部。杰德·斯彭斯是利物浦的目标，由于德泽比无法保证他本赛季在首发阵容中占据一席之地，他可能会被允许离开。萨维尼奥并不是唯一被关注的目标，托特纳姆热刺尚未与曼城就转会费达成一致。

全球足球

格拉斯古游侠为失误付出双倍代价

格拉斯古游侠（Rangers）因为防守疏忽付出了代价，在波兰以 2-1 负于比亚韦斯托克贾盖隆尼亚。卡耶坦·什米特在第 13 分钟进球，并在 8 分钟后再次击败了游侠新门将伊沃尔·潘杜尔（上方）。

吉安卢卡·普雷斯蒂宁尼和约翰·杜兰进球，本菲卡以 6-1 击败之心脏俱乐部。沃伦·奥哈拉的绝杀进球足以让希伯尼安以 2-1 击败什肯迪亚，而马瑟韦尔则以 1-1 平局战平 HJK 赫尔辛基。

利兹联

特拉福德完成俱乐部纪录转会

利兹联已从曼彻斯特城签下门将詹姆斯·特拉福德，合同期五年，转会费为未公开的俱乐部纪录金额。据报道，该交易价值 400 万英镑 加上奖金，使这位 23 岁的球员成为历史上最昂贵的英国门将。特拉福德（见上图）曾入选托马斯·图赫尔的英格兰世界杯大名单，他出身于曼彻斯特城的青训营，在 2023 年永久加盟伯恩利之前，曾先后在阿克灵顿斯坦利和博尔顿流浪者租借效力。他去年回到了曼城，但由于吉安路易吉·多纳鲁马成为了佩普·瓜迪奥拉的首选门将，他难以获得常规出场机会。

西汉姆联

自由球员费尔特曼加盟铁锤帮

西汉姆联已以自由球员身份签下前布莱顿后卫乔尔·费尔特曼。这位 34 岁的球员（见上图）在 2013 年至 2021 年间为荷兰国家队出战 28 场，他签署了一份为期一年的合同，并拥有延长 13 个月的选项。费尔特曼在为“海鸥军团”效力六个赛季并出场 191 次后，加盟了目前在英冠联赛的铁锤帮。他于 2020 年从阿贾克斯来到英格兰足球联赛。这位右后卫在俱乐部网站上表示：“我们知道西汉姆联需要回到英超联赛，这无疑是我们本赛季的目标。”西汉姆联将于下周日客场对阵伯恩利，开启新的英冠赛季。

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新闻 2-26 观点 18-22 电视 26-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 体育 49-56 2026 年 8 月 7 日 周五 53 英超联赛

我曾为纽卡斯尔感到担忧，直到我见到了新主帅

赢得转会窗口可能被高估了。据各方说法，12个月前的是利物浦——他们打破了两项转会纪录以构建一条金灿灿的前锋线——但结果他们却在英超冠军保卫战中表现得极其乏力。布伦特福德和伯恩茅斯卖掉了最好的球员，被预测会陷入苦战，但凭借巧妙的招募反而繁荣了起来。今年，阿森纳在签下布鲁诺·吉马良斯后，认为自己有机会被冠以最佳买家之名。最糟糕的窗口？共识似乎正集中在纽卡斯尔联身上。关键目标的失利、卖掉三名最佳球员以及失去一名长期执教的经理，意味着质疑者越来越多。我曾是其中之一。一周前的这个时候，我写道 PIF 项目正处于最严重的危机时刻，而且我并非孤身一人。艾伦·希雷尔警告称未来将面临“挑战性的时期”，而纽卡斯尔被降级的赔率也大幅缩减。

将此观点告知俱乐部内部人士，换来的是一阵阵大笑。从高层到基层，他们相信在泰恩赛德（Tyneside）有一些东西正在酝酿——一个被首席执行官大卫·霍普金森称为“纽卡斯尔 2.0”的“真正计划”——在拉曼加（La Manga）炽热的阳光下与球队共度 48 小时后，我明白了。这种不确定性中有一种令人陶醉的东西。新任主教练马蒂亚斯·雅斯莱被霍普金森赞誉为“摇滚明星”，后者还称他为“MJ”。但我们在西班牙看到的他，比起魅力更多的是沉稳。他偶尔会流露出个性——一个关于他据称在后移的发际线的自嘲玩笑，对一名记者的俏皮话发出的轻笑——球员们也对他产生了好感。他 38 岁，身材极其魁梧。

雅斯莱的个性在训练场上得到了充分体现，他在那里跑得如此之多，以至于纽卡斯尔的内部人士开玩笑说他的胸前应该绑一个 GPS 追踪带。他在场边将是一个充满活力的存在。绩效总监詹姆斯·邦斯透露，本周的冲刺强度统计数据是四年来的最佳水平。雅斯莱的足球将是“前倾的、侵略性的、纵向的、高能量的、激烈的且不懈的”，而本周的训练课也与之相匹配。双练课程旨在让纽卡斯尔回到那个难以对付的阶段。

刘易斯·迈利给新任经理马蒂亚斯·雅斯莱留下了深刻印象，而简短的视频课程旨在向球员展示对他们的期望。这里有一种感觉，认为英超的大门是敞开的。为什么纽卡斯尔的新群体不能再次闯入顶尖球队之列？一个感觉已经陈旧的阵容被按下了重启键，热情重新燃起。一个新的领导小组正在形成。斯文·博特曼和马利克·蒂亚（一个被视为新队长的外部热门人选）承担了更多的领导角色。约安·维萨在参加完一场表现出色的世界杯回归后，其身体数据显然“爆表”，他正发挥着关键作用，将不同的群体凝聚在一起。他的权威正在增长，而刘易斯·迈利——他将从中场球员的离队中获益最多——显然给雅斯莱留下了深刻印象。此外，人们对肖恩·斯图尔充满热情，他在场上的能力与场下的态度相匹配。

现在很大程度上将取决于下一阶段的招募。消息人士提到了一项新计划，在已经引进的五名球员基础上再增加“三到四”张新面孔，并且希望在布鲁诺·吉马良斯的接替者问题上取得快速进展。高调的出售也已结束，刘易斯·霍尔被认为是不可触碰的。这种新旧交替的感觉被雅斯莱（左）敏锐地察觉到了。他多次重复“过渡”这个词，并避免做出大胆的预测。在失去球员后，面对关于降级的讨论，他显得从容不迫。

“这就是挑战，”他说。“目前有太多的转型，很多球员离开了，非常非常出色的球员，俱乐部的传奇人物。但我们需要将其视为一个机会，而不是现在[寻找]借口。”在埃迪·豪离任七天后，乐观情绪回来了。

Sky Sports, Sky TV & Netflix 每月 £35 价格在 24 个月最低合约期内可能会有变动。搜索 “Essential TV” £15 Essential 包含精选频道。新电视是一项商业功能，包含 Essential 的 24 小时免费娱乐屏幕。如果月份已设定，则为 Sports Complete。如果月份低于条款，请申请其他当前项。如果已设定，则为一个月。Essential 包含电影、SkyNews、Sports Pro 和 Sports Racing。Netflix 标准版包含调整后的 Discovery Entertainment – 账户可准备就绪。建议使用极速广播速度 (30Mps)。所有内容自 10 月 30 – 30 日起提供。频道详情及大量新住宅客户专属。免费申请。 --- 54 体育 国际足联

该声明加剧了总统反对者的愤怒 ■ 接后页及因凡蒂诺关于一项计划的处理方式，该计划旨在引入私人投资者参与一家将运营世界杯及其他赛事的公司。威尔士足球协会已公开撤回支持，塞尔维亚、瑞典和芬兰的足协也采取了同样行动。消息人士称，国际足联的声明仅是火上浇油，加剧了其反对者对他产生的愤怒，并预测世界足球高层现在将陷入“公开战争”。甚至在周三的声明发布之前，据了解，国际足联理事会成员正致力于争取 19 票的多数票，以要求因凡蒂诺召开会议，以便就私人投资者计划和 Folarin Balogun 案件追究其责任。据了解，如果他们无法获得多数票，或者因凡蒂诺在获得必要多数票后仍拒绝会议请求，成员们准备对理事会会议进行“治理抵制”——这将实际上使国际足联瘫痪。国际足联的声明称，因凡蒂诺得到了周三在摩洛哥拉巴特会议上出席的管理委员会成员的“全力支持”，这位瑞士人显然意在继续掌权。声明称，关于国际足联前行企业（FFE）提案的处理方式，“承认存在错误”，且其“意图并非”让国际足联理事会或成员协会在过程中“感到被排除”。国际足联承诺将对 FFE 提案的处理进行审查，尽管声明称“所有采取的行动均完全符合国际足联的监管框架”。声明还表示，国际足联“将不再容忍任何对其诚信、良好治理和正当程序的攻击，并将采取一切必要措施来保护和维护其名称与声誉”。《卫报》周三的一篇报道指称，国际足联在 2020 年开发欧洲超级联赛的谈判中扮演了关键角色，以至于该联赛在某一阶段曾被拟定为“国际足联超级联赛”。国际足联指出，在 2021 年 4 月该项目启动时，因凡蒂诺曾表示“强烈反对”。对于《泰晤士报》周三的一篇报道，国际足联发布了否认声明，该报道称因凡蒂诺曾向摩洛哥承诺其拥有举办 2030 年世界杯决赛的权利，国际足联表示决定将在适当时候做出。摩洛哥是三个主要共同主办国之一，另外两个是西班牙和葡萄牙。

遭遇敲诈指控后约旦获得款项

作者：Robith Nair

在约旦足球协会主席阿里·本·侯赛因王子（Prince Ali bin Hussein）指责国际足联敲诈两天后，约旦的球员和工作人员收到了参加 2025 年阿拉伯杯的欠付奖金。阿里王子在国际足联主席因凡蒂诺在撤回出售世界杯股份的提案并面临各联合会和国家协会的压力后，对其提出了批评，称国际足联提出帮助解决该王国的困难，以换取他的支持。他列举的问题之一是，该协会自 12 月以来一直在等待进入卡塔尔阿拉伯杯决赛的奖金。

“感谢国际足联管理层今天早晨突然交付了欠我们球员和教练组的款项，这是由于约旦国家队在去年 12 月进入国际足联卡塔尔阿拉伯杯决赛而获得的，”阿里王子在 X 上表示。“这笔资金本应在八个月前收到。”

阿里王子指称，国际足联在世界杯期间口头传达，支持总统“将对帮助我们的足协大有裨益”。国际足联未就这些指控回应置评请求。

国际足联力挺因凡蒂诺，却对大火焚屋视而不见

因凡蒂诺正在拉巴特观看女子非洲国家杯的马拉维对阵赞比亚之战，巧合的是，在这里他可能会被拍到面带微笑，表现得仿佛什么都没发生过一样。在他身边的是马蒂亚斯·格拉夫斯特伦，他曾公开谴责因凡蒂诺粗暴的世界杯出售计划。而现在，统一战线出现了。

周三晚些时候，一份维持现状的指令被公布。国际足联确认因凡蒂诺将继续担任主席，他们已向所有 211 个成员协会发出了类似“哈哈，抱歉”的信函，且因凡蒂诺得到了领导团队的全力支持。

“国际足联的高层管理人员充分相信，今天会议的结果将加强国际足联的治理，有助于恢复对该组织的信心，并使我们能够以统一且透明的方式为未来的重大赛事和挑战做好准备，”国际足联的声明中这样写道。

如果你在每项主张之后向所有听众眨眨眼，效果会更好。这些人是认为我们很蠢，还是根本不在乎我们怎么看他们？只能是这两者之一。

国际足联主席在似乎没有咨询周围许多工作人员，且肯定没有咨询任何成员协会的情况下，刚刚试图达成一项协议来出售世界杯，并让自己在巨大的薪水下成为这个新组织的领导者。请告诉我们更多关于“统一且透明的方式”的事。关于国际足联治理的强度，请不要遗漏任何细节。

至于恢复对组织的信心，这只能是一种心理暗示：大声且频繁地对自己重复某件事，关闭所有反馈的门窗，也许你真的能相信自己可以挺过这场风暴。

嘿，你还记得几年前，那些所谓的足球守护者支持那个试图偷偷出售这项运动的人吗？不，我也没记得。肯定没发生过。

“双方达成一致，国际足联理事会和国际足联成员协会并非被排除在过程之外，且该过程本应以不同的方式处理，”这是声明中我个人最喜欢的一行——你可能也有自己喜欢的一行。当他完全可以直接告诉他们却没这么做时，怎么能说这不是因凡蒂诺的意图？这就好比说，我滑倒了，从梯子上掉下来正好砸在番茄酱瓶子上，真的。

直到现在，这在很大程度上还是一个因凡蒂诺个人问题。他策划了该计划。他被泄密抓住了把柄。他被迫妥协。他必须在支持者周围集结以维持权力。他不得不看着成员协会和政治领导人谴责他阴森的贪婪。

但不要误会：这也是一场深化中的国际足联危机。如果他们能迅速与领导者的行为撇清关系，在承诺更好的、更透明的、更严肃的领导层之前将因凡蒂诺扔给狮子，我们本可以支持。人们对大型管理机构总会有潜在的不信任，但我们至少可以接受采取了适当的行动。

如果这还不够糟糕，因凡蒂诺的分心技巧还威胁到要让足球界倾覆。据报道，他承诺将世界杯决赛交给摩洛哥而非西班牙，在本周关于休达（Ceuta）的政治紧张局势升级之际，让这两个国家互相竞争；以及扩军至 64 支球队，这将需要另一个大洲共同主办。

为什么我们还在随着一个人的节拍起舞？

--- 新闻 2-20 评论 15-22 电视 28-31 周五 37-43 周一 44-47 二月 49-56 周五 7 AUGUST 2026 55

因凡蒂诺的持续在位，即便是在短期内，也是国际足联（Fifa）屋顶上的一个漏洞：起初只是稳定的滴水，很快就会导致永久性的污渍和水损，直到天花板最终坍塌。对于该管理委员会中的任何人来说，站在他身边都是一种“肆意的自我毁灭”。这是一种长期且严重的对局势的误判。国际足联需要一次结构性的彻底改革。这场危机是一个双头怪兽：它由一个人的私利引发，但之所以成为可能，是因为权力在组织顶端——最终集中在主席之手——的过度集中。牵涉的利益实在太多，不能让一个人监管所有事情。权力不必非要炮制腐败，但它确实买齐了所有原材料。现在的任务已经扩大了。因凡蒂诺必须离开——不能允许抗议和抵制浪潮平息。必须战胜愤怒疲劳。而且：让他们全部走人。清除所有认为一句简单的“抱歉，我们不太清楚那里发生了什么”就足够的人。剔除所有认为“原谅并忘记”在这里是一个选项的人。任何理智的人都永远无法信任因凡蒂诺。任何理智的人也永远无法再次信任任何信任因凡蒂诺的人。当这个世界管理机构中的某些人在为他们的主席而战时，他们正忽视那场将烧毁他们房屋的大火。

欧足联提高筹码并重申抵制赛事的威胁

作者：Katherine Lucas 足球新闻编辑

欧足联坚持认为，由于因凡蒂诺拒绝辞职，抵制国际足联赛事的威胁依然有效。在本周于摩洛哥举行的会议上，面对对因凡蒂诺日益增加的压力，国际足联领导层表现出极强的支持，力挺其主席。

作为对现已失效的出售世界杯计划所引发的日益剧烈的抵制行动的一部分，欧足联誓言在争议解决之前，将让欧洲国家退出各项赛事。这使得明年的女足世界杯陷入不确定之中，而预选赛定于10月举行。在此之前，U-20女足世界杯计划于9月初在波兰开赛。

欧足联在一份声明中表示，其协会“对于不参加国际足联赛事的附加条件非常明确。‘首先，必须撤回出售重大赛事的提案；其次，必须保证绝不再尝试以这种方式破坏这项运动。’这些条件尚未达成。”

此外，欧足联在周六的声明中明确表示，它已对因凡蒂诺的主席之职失去信心。这一立场依然不变。“（周三）关于一些由国际足联主席雇佣（且其职业生涯依赖于他的青睐）的人员同意他观点地公告，改变不了任何事情。”

因凡蒂诺计划在明年竞选连任，他需要国际足联211个成员国中的106票——欧足联代表55个国家。他原定在没有竞争对手的情况下竞选第四任主席，但在要求更换他的呼声日益高涨的情况下，预计将有替代候选人向他发起挑战。

因凡蒂诺的支持者坚持认为，尽管在他执掌期间发生了一系列争议，但他将“继续留任”。因凡蒂诺在让沙特阿拉伯在没有竞争对手的情况下获得2034年世界杯、授予美国总统唐纳德·特朗普国际足联和平奖，以及在2026年世界杯期间暂停福法林·巴洛根（Fofarin Balogun）的禁赛方面发挥了关键作用。

在将世界杯规模从32支球队扩大到48支球队之后，目前正在进行进一步讨论，以在2030年起将其进一步扩大到64个国家。

欧足联主席亚历山大·切费林在因凡蒂诺担任这项运动世界管理机构负责人期间，长期对其持批评态度。上个月，由于国际足联在赛事期间做出的决定，包括在特朗普总统的明显干预下，取消美国前锋巴洛根的禁赛，使其能够在16, 强赛中对阵比利时，切费林抵制了西班牙与阿根廷之间的世界杯决赛。

亚历山大·切费林（左）长期以来一直是因凡蒂诺的批评者

批评者拉穆尔“未被邀请”参加在拉巴特举行的董事会会议

国际足联首席运营官凯文·拉穆尔在周三的会议上明显缺席，而在这场会议中，因凡蒂诺为其出售赛事股份的计划道歉。在本周于摩洛哥拉巴特举行的会议上，因凡蒂诺得到了国际足联管理委员会的支持，从而排除了他立即辞职的可能性。据了解，拉穆尔（右）是唯一未被邀请参加会议的董事会成员。其他未出席的成员，包括国际足联全球足球发展主管温格和首席足球官吉尔·埃利斯，此前虽受邀但选择不前往。据了解，成员们在会议前 24 小时才收到通知，且没有远程参会的选项。

拉穆尔对因凡蒂诺的计划提出了猛烈批评，他上周写道，员工们被主席缺乏透明度的行为“欺骗”了。“这是一个人的项目，”曾在国际足联和欧足联共同工作多年的因凡蒂诺同事拉穆尔写道，“这个项目不仅不能推进，而且现在足球政治领导人们应该扪心自问，并做出正确的决定。”他补充说，如果在反对上司后失去了工作，那么“就这样吧。至少我今晚能睡个好觉”。

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体育 《i报》 theipaper.com 7 AUGUST 2026 theipaper.com / sport 《i报》体育 @TheiPaperSport

拳击 粉丝对富里-约书亚的比赛场地仍一无所知

板球 劳伦斯的回归标志着与 Bazball 时代的彻底决裂

马蒂亚斯·雅斯莱在纽卡斯尔于西班牙进行季前训练营期间向记者发表讲话 GETTY IMAGES

新帅雅斯莱：纽卡斯尔没有悲观情绪

作者：Mark Douglas 发自 LA MARCA

马蒂亚斯·雅斯莱表示，他很享受重塑纽卡斯尔联的“挑战”——与此同时，布鲁诺·吉马良斯含泪告别俱乐部。在达成一笔 7500 万英镑 的交易后，吉马良斯将于今日由阿森纳正式公布。

而纽卡斯尔新帅雅斯莱表示，尽管有多名知名球员被出售，他不会接受任何“借口”。雅斯莱回避了关于本赛季预期的问题，称他还没有足够地了解自己的球队，但纽卡斯尔在西班牙季前训练营的氛围一直很积极，“喜鹊”计划在接下来的三周内增加更多签约。

“在所有变动之后，我们本赛季能排在什么位置？在正式担任经理一天之后，这是一个很难回答的问题，”这位德国人说道。“我们失去了一些非常重要的球员，但我将其视为一个积极的挑战。我们可以寻找借口，但这不是我们的想法。”

“给我一点时间去了解球员。我想先了解他们，看看他们能否表现出来。我想给他们机会。我们可以等待。但我们在转会市场上具备操作能力。我们的体育总监对此很清楚，所以我确信赛季开始时我们会看到一些新面孔。”

雅斯莱在周三被确认担任主帅后主持了高强度的训练课，他表示俱乐部应该享受证明他人错误的过程。“控制可控因素，我们确信会有进步。”

*‘纽卡斯尔 2.0’，第53页

因凡蒂诺仍必须离职 - 英格兰足球协会

国际足联主席为世界杯闹剧道歉，但这并未打动英格兰的管理机构 作者：Jamie Gardner

尽管国际足联自身组织在周三晚上对他表示“全力支持”，但英格兰足球协会仍然认为因凡蒂诺不再是领导国际足联的合适人选。

英足协的消息人士本周早些时候表示，该协会正向国际足联发送一封信，确认其不再支持他在明年大会上的连任竞选。据了解，国际足联向各国家协会表达的道歉并未改变这一立场。

*续见第54页

THE i PAPER

IMPARTIAL NEWS + INTELLIGENT DEBATE

£1.10

Friday 7 August 2026

No. 4,901

theipaper.com

CONSUMER

The one thing I want every woman to know about money

Katie Piper

CULTURE

The 14 best fantasy novels

P42

POLITICS

Reform UK's income surges by £21m in a year

» Farage's party earnings outstrip Poxies figures reveal - with further donations set to boost next year's accounts

P6

LIFESTYLE

'I secretly work two jobs'

The truth about WFH Fridays

P34

INTERVIEW

I'm a man of extremes - I've lived at both ends

Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno

P37

Every river and

lake in England polluted with toxic chemicals

• » All rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals in England polluted with forever chemicals, microplastics, ammonia and phosphates, according to a landmark report
• » First evaluation in six years reveals only 14% are in 'good' ecological health, with many poisoned by sewage, revealing no progress has been made since 2019
• » The Environment Agency has pledged that 75% of England's 4,658 bodies of water will be safe by 2027 - but campaigners warn this will not happen
• » The i Paper's Save Britain's Rivers campaign calls on the Government to set road map for achieving its legal targets

P9

OPINION

Wheelchair warriors make me feel bad about myself by Julie Burchill

P21

EDUCATION

'I gambled and lost': University dropouts now owe £6bn in student loans

P7

SPORT

Infantino's colossal ego has put the World Cup in danger by Daniel Storey

P54

OPINION - WHAT CAMBRIDGE GOT SO WRONG WITH JASON ARDAY P10 | HOW NOT TO SPEND A FORTUNE ON HOLIDAY P19

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FRIDAY

7

AUGUST

Quote of the day

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names JOHN F KENNEDY

Birthdays

Chartize Theron, actress, 51, David Duchovny, actor, 66, Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, 60, Alexei Sayle (below), comedian, 74, Greg Chappell, ex-cricketer, 78, Bruce Dickinson, musician, 68

Anniversaries

Wednesday 7 August 1420 Construction begins on Filippo Brunelleschi's revolutionary dome for Florence Cathedral. The ambitious project, which solved major architectural challenges and became a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering, was completed in 1436.

index

Crossword	25
TV & Radio	26
Puzzles	27
Books	42
Money	44
Weather	48

The News Matrix

The day at a glance

CRIME

Charities affected by data breach

Charities have been hit by a data breach involving a software provider commonly used to manage donor information. Beacon CRM said an unauthorised third party had gained access through a "compromised access key", adding "copies of database back-up had been made and likely downloaded".

POLICE

Facial recognition being used at festival

Police are using Live Facial Recognition cameras (LFR) to scan the crowd outside Boardmasters festival in Cornwall to stop drug dealers. LFR works by comparing a live camera feed to a pre-determined watchlist. This includes people who are wanted by police in connection with criminal investigations.

IRELAND

Trump's golf visit remains uncertain

Irish premier Micheál Martin has said there is "nothing confirmed" in relation to the possible visit of US President Donald Trump to Ireland for the Irish Open. The Trump International Golf Links and Hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare, is hosting the Irish Open next month. In a Fourth of July speech Trump said he would like to attend the golf tournament.

INQUEST

Widow wins fight for death notice in Welsh

The widow of a former BBC editor has successfully campaigned to receive his death certificate in the Welsh language, more than three years after he died.

Aled Glyzne Davies, 65, drowned after accidentally falling into a river in Cardiff, an inquest into his death first heard in September 2024.

His wife, Afryl Davies, has since pushed for bilingual recognition of his death, having received his death certificate in English only.

A re-hearing was held at Pontypridd corner's court yesterday and it was confirmed the previous inquest had been quashed by the High Court so a new certificate could be produced.

HERITAGE

Trafalgar flag is saved for the nation

A Royal Navy flag that was flown at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 has been saved for the nation after it was bought for £450,000. It will be displayed at Discovery Museum in Newcastle. The flag was flown from HMS Royal Sovereign, flagship of Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, second-in-command to Lord Nelson.

The List

Leeds crowned capital of snoring

When it comes to snoring, some cities fare considerably better than others, with Leeds, Newcastle and Leicester named among the worst culprits in the UK. Research by Zeus Sleep found that people in the East Midlands lose an average of 732 hours to snorers. The cities ranked highest for snoring are:

• 1 Leeds
• 2 Newcastle
• 3 Leicester
• 4 Nottingham
• 5 Glasgow
• 6 London
• 7 Manchester
• 8 Plymouth
• 9 Birmingham
• 10 Bristol

COURTS

Man charged over death of boy, 12

A man has been extradited to the UK from Latvia and charged over the death of a schoolboy killed in an alleged hit-and-run more than two years ago. Keaton Slater, 12, died after he was struck by a black BMW on Radford Road, Coventry, in June 2024. Dolara Aleksanders, 22, has been remanded in custody.

PEOPLE

Actress Driver 'in shock' after car crash

Actress Minnie Driver said she has a sprained neck and is "in shock" after being involved in "a really bad car accident" during a trip to Paris. The 56-year-old, known for Good Will Hunting, shared a video to Instagram with her wearing a neck brace as she spoke about the crash, which happened "on a country road".

NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang tests ballistic missile

North Korea launched a short-range ballistic missile towards the sea yesterday, according to South Korea's military. Pyongyang's weapons test comes days before the US and South Korea begin annual military drills that North Korea regards as an invasion rehearsal. Japan also said North Korea had test-fired a possible ballistic missile.

COURTS

Ex-police officer 'too close' to criminals

A former police sergeant who arrested police records to "snoop" on information about criminal associates has received a suspended one-year jail sentence.

Daniel Hughes, 40, became "far too close" to people involved in serious criminality, socialising with them and going on holidays abroad, Manchester Crown Court heard yesterday.

The Merseyside Police officer was convicted by a jury earlier this year of eight counts of unauthorised access to computer material and three counts of disclosing personal data on various dates between 2016 and 2021.

The Page 3 Profile

EVE MUIRHEAD, ICE TO SEE HER BACK

Broom, broom...ready to go.

The Winter Olympics gold medallist Eve Muirhead has reversed her retirement after serving as Team GB's chef de mission at this year's Games.

Muirhead will return to curling after four years away from the sport, teaming up with two-time Olympic silver medallist Bobby Lammie in mixed doubles this season. The pair, who won the world title in 2022, aim to reach the Alpes 2030 Winter Games.

Another golden shot.

The four-time Olympian, 36, stopped away from competing after winning gold in Beijing four years ago.

Since then, Muirhead has spoken about the mental health challenges she experienced during her 15-year struggle to win gold.

She said the time away from curling gave her the chance to try new things and enjoy the sport "without the pressure I had placed on myself for so many years".

The Scot's role as chef de mission at the Milan-Cortina Games in February left her eager for more after the role "brought back emotions that I had not felt for a long time".

It's set in stone.

Muirhead said "The competitive side of me never disappeared," adding "The more time I spent around elite sport and curling, the more I began to wonder whether I still had something to give on the ice."

Muirhead is ready to face the demanding road ahead, this time coming from a different place.

"I feel refreshed, physically strong and excited by the challenge. I would not be coming back unless I believed I could perform at that level again," she said.

Laura Butler

UNITED STATES

Trump bids to block financial disclosures

Donald Trump is seeking to block the release of his financial records in his $10bn (£7.5bn) defamation case against the BBC.

The US President's legal team has secured an emergency suspension of a judge's ruling that he must turn over documents sought by the broadcaster, pending the outcome of a bid to change his complaint and so limit disclosure.

Enforcement of the order is now on hold as Trump moves to narrow his claim to reputational injury rather than broader harm to his brand and businesses, as initially alleged. The staying motion had been opposed by the BBC, court documents show.

Newspapers support recycling. The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2024 was 37.2%.

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NEWS 2-25 OPINION 18-22 TV 26-31 FRIDAY 37-43 MONDAY 44-47 SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

3

MUSIC

Reggae rumours for Rihanna's new LP

Rapper ASAP Rocky has confirmed that his wife Rihanna is working on new music. The 28-year-old Barbadian singer's last album was the critically acclaimed Anti in 2016. Since then, Rihanna has given birth to two sons and a daughter. There have been rumours that her ninth LP will be a reggae record.

CULTURE

Blue Note jazz club to open in London

New York City's renowned Blue Note jazz club will open its first UK venue in London's West End. Located in the basement of St Martin's Lane hotel in Covent Garden it is due to open next month, bringing together the best of British jazz alongside world-class international artists across jazz and adjacent genres.

PEOPLE

Pretenders' Hynde in plea for missing dog

Singer Chrissie Hynde said she is "absolutely heartbroken" as she searches for her "very dear" dog, who went missing over two weeks ago. The Pretenders frontwoman, 74, has issued multiple appeals on social media for the return of her Jack Russell-cross Nico, last seen in Silkstream Park in north London.

TELEVISION

'Emmerdale' star dances into 'Strictly'

Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb will take part in the new series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. Glasgow-born Robb portrays Mackenzie "Mack" Boyd on the ITV soap, a member of the Dingle family. He previously starred in Legally Blonde: The Musical in the West End. Strictly begins on 19 September.

Letter from the Environment

Correspondent

Lucie Heath

x@theipaper.com

Waterways report makes grim reading

Every six years the Environment Agency takes on the mammoth task of classifying the health of the 4,658 inland water bodies in England.

Fish and invertebrate populations are measured, as well as the levels of pollutants and toxic chemicals.

The latest results are in and they are not good.

Just 14.3 per cent of our rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater are in good ecological health and not a single river is in good chemical health.

From these results it is almost certain the Government will miss its target of 77 per cent of water bodies being in good health by the end of next year.

As long-term environmental campaigner Feargal Sharkey told me yesterday, these figures are 'possibly the most decrepit end of term report card anyone's ever seen'.

What is most notable is the lack of progress from 2019 when these classifications were last published.

The Environment Agency claims an updated methodology is partly to blame for the low figures, however the classifications also show how far England has to go until its rivers can be considered safe and thriving.

The public's awareness of our rivers has changed dramatically in the past six years. The i Paper's Save Britain's River campaign has been calling for change for more than half of that time.

Small wins can be found across the country; restoration projects are bringing wildlife back to our waterways and new wild swim spots are being cleaned up.

But full system change is still a long way away.

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---

4

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Warner Bros takeover cleared by UK regulators

By Ben Sutherland

The UK Government has given its clearance to the takeover of Warner Bros Discovery by Paramount for $81bn (£60.2bn).

The Competition and Markets Authority and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) both wanted to assess the merger as it could potentially have an effect on a substantial section of

the film and TV industry in the UK.

As well as Warner Bros intellectual property like Harry Potter, assets involved include Paramount-owned Channel 5, localised Nickelodeon programming and Warner's British arm of TNT Sports.

But both government bodies have cleared the deal to go ahead.

The DCMS said that it had received several "legally binding commitments" from Paramount

related to its footprint in UK broadcasting companies.

It said that includes maintaining independence at Channel 5, with an "entirely separate" editorial direction from CBS and CNN.

Paramount also agreed to not combine its linear channels with on-demand services in the UK, and that children's channels like Nickelodeon and Warner Bros' Cartoon Network will remain distinct.

HEALTH

This summer could have the highest ever number of heat-associated deaths PA

NHS must plan for heatwaves 'as it does for winter'

By Ella Pickover

The NHS has been ordered to prepare for the effects of heatwaves each year in the same way that it plans for winter.

Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said there had been a "big increase" in people attending A&E departments because of the effects of hot weather.

And she called on the public to look out for elderly people and other people vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.

"I spoke to A&E staff who were telling me that they've had a big increase in patients coming in linked with the heat in a way that you would normally only see in the winter," she told LBC Radio.

"So I've been clear: the NHS has to make sure we are preparing for summer pressures now in the same way we prepare for winter.

"What it means is making sure that you've got plans in place to respond to higher numbers of people coming in to A&E – for example, those vulnerable because of the heat; that you've got the arrangements in

place to make sure people can then be returned from hospital as swiftly as possible; and arrangements in place to manage the conditions.

"But it also needs much stronger prevention – we know that it's the elderly and vulnerable who are at risk when you have these heatwaves."

Cooper also told Times Radio: "Heat does have an impact. Heat health warnings have been issued in different times in different areas, exactly because of the impact it can have on those who are frail and elderly and vulnerable, but also on the very youngest children as well."

Researchers from Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated that there were 2,700 excess deaths in England and Wales over the two heatwaves this summer.

The UK Health Security Agency said last month that it was "likely that 2026 could see the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record", surpassing the number in 2022 when the agency started studying them.

WEATHER

Heat health alerts issued in England

By Mathilde Grandjean

Heat health alerts have been issued for large parts of England as temperatures are expected to climb back up over the weekend, potentially reaching 33°C next week.

Temperatures had dropped down closer to averages for this time of year from Wednesday, but they are expected to rise again from tomorrow, according to the Met Office.

Next Tuesday, central and southern England as well as parts of Wales are set for highs of 30°C to 33°C.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued yellow heat health alerts for the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.

They will come into force at 9am tomorrow and end at 9pm on Tuesday 11 August.

Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland can expect to have cloud and outbreaks of rain tomorrow.

News, page 13 Forecast, page 48

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NEWS 2-20

OPINION 18-22

TV 28-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SCOUT 49-54

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

5

COVER STORY

It's official: Every river and lake in England is polluted by toxic chemicals

By Lucie Heath

ENVIRONMENT / STANDIDROMENT

Less than 15 per cent of water bodies in England are in a good ecological state, despite a legally binding target that 75 per cent should meet this standard by next year.

The latest classification of water bodies, which is published every six years by the Environment Agency (EA), has revealed the dire state of England's rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater.

Just 14.3 per cent are assessed as having at least a "good" ecological health, an assessment that takes into consideration the levels of pollutants in a waterway as well as the number of fish and invertebrates.

Not a single river or lake is in good chemical health due to the high levels of toxic substances found in England's waterways.

The EA assessed all 4,658 surface water bodies against a range of standards.

Under the rules the UK has a legal target that 75 per cent of water bodies must have a good ecological status by 2027, but the latest classifications from the EA confirm the target is likely to be widely missed.

The campaigner and former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey called the latest classifications "possibly the most decrepit end of term report card anyone's ever seen" and called on the Environment Agency's board to resign.

"These dire figures highlight not only the worrying state of our rivers, but also just how far the Government is from meeting its own targets," said Justin Neal, head of legal at the charity WildFish.

Grammire in the Lake District. Not a single river or lake in England is in good chemical health, the figures show GETTY

14.3%

Proportion of England's rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater with at least a "good" ecological health.

A water body is assessed as being in good ecological health if it has clean water and supports a range of thriving wildlife.

To assess this, the EA tests for a range of pollutants, including microplastics, ammonia and phosphates, as well as looking at wildlife populations.

If a water body performs poorly on just one of these elements it cannot be assessed as being in "good" ecological health.

75%

UK's legally binding target for the proportion of water bodies to have a good ecological status by 2027.

As a result just 14.3 per cent achieved this standard, compared to 16.3 per cent in 2019.

Phosphate pollution was identified as one of the leading reasons why water bodies failed to achieve a good ecological status.

The pollutant makes its way into rivers via sewage discharges or from agricultural runoff. When found in excess levels phosphates deprive rivers of oxygen and cause toxic algal blooms.

16.3%

Proportion of England's rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater in 2019 that had at least a "good" rating.

"You can see the degradation," said Sharkey.

Chief executive of River Action James Wallace said the latest classifications showed England's rivers are "poisoned by sewage from polluting, profit-driven water companies and by industrial-scale agriculture".

The i Paper's Save Britain's Rivers campaign has been shining a light on the state of Britain's waterways and calling on the Government to do more to protect them.

ENVIRONMENT

No waterways classified as being 'in good chemical health'

By Lucie Heath

There are no rivers, lakes, canals or reservoirs in England classified as being in "good chemical health", according to the latest classification.

The result is the same as 2019, showing there has been no improvement since then.

The result has been driven almost entirely by a small group of chemicals, including perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) - a "forever chemical" that was widely used as a stain repellant and in firefighting - and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which were formerly used as flame retardants.

Both chemicals are associated with a range of health issues in both wildlife and humans.

PFOS have been linked to developmental problems, reduced fertility and cancer risk.

A 2002 study about the potential health risks of PBDEs found that there were concerns their presence in the environment could cause thyroid hormone disruption, neurodevelopmental deficits and cancer.

There is also a positive association between taking PBDEs into the body through diet and the risk of weight gain and obesity.

These substances are now banned or heavily restricted, but they break down very slowly in the environment, meaning they continue to pollute rivers.

Mercury contamination is another persistent issue for England's rivers.

In deep water Scale of pollution laid bare

Precious chalk streams and rivers polluted by mining are among the water bodies that have been branded the worst in England following six years of extensive research by the Environment Agency (EA).

Yesterday the EA published its latest classifications for England's 4,658 surface water bodies, which includes rivers, lakes, estuaries and groundwater.

These are split into five categories: high, good, moderate, poor or bad.

Just 14.3 per cent were found to be in at least good ecological health. None of them were found to be good.

These classifications are published

every six years and are based on a range of factors, including fish and invertebrate populations, as well as nutrient and chemical pollution.

Rivers are broken down into individual sections based on physical factors, for example when they are joined by a large tributary.

Of the 3,772 river sections classified by the EA, 132 (three per cent) were found to be in the worst possible condition, meaning its ecosystems are severely damaged and fail to support biodiversity.

A number of chalk streams are on the list, including the Gypssy Race in the Yorkshire Wolds. Chalk Beck in

Cumbria and Devils Brook in Dorset. Chalk streams are a rare type of river that rise from underground springs in landscapes with chalk bedrock. There are only 210 chalk streams globally and 85 per cent of them are in England.

Chalk acts as a punifer, meaning the water should be exceptionally clean, but many are badly polluted.

Many of the rivers classified as bad will be suffering due to sewage pollution, such as the River Wandle, a tributary of the Thames in south London.

However, others are failing due to other reasons such as

The water in the River Wandle is badly affected by sewage pollution

the Ashfieldshide Beck in North Yorkshire, which is badly polluted with heavy metals due to historic lead mining.

The East and West Fen Drains in Lincolnshire are also on the list, artificial waterways that are heavily polluted due to agriculture.

Just four sections of river achieved the highest possible ecological standard, including Barrow Burn and Ridless Burn, two streams within Northumberland National Park.

A stretch of the River Tees at its source in the North Pennines was also classified as high, as well as a stretch of the River Till from its source in Northumberland.

Water from reservoirs is safe because it is treated to remove pollution and contaminants before it goes into households.

Lucie Heath

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6

NEWS

POLITICS

Reform UK takes pole position as best-funded political party

By Sanya Burgess

INVESTIGATIONS CORRESPONDENT

Reform UK's income surged by £20m last year, transforming it into the best-funded political party in the UK and outstripping the Tory party in money raised.

Punled by staggering donations from a handful of donors including Thai-based crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, Reform ended 2025 with £10.2m in the bank – more than any other political party.

Party accounts published by the Electoral Commission showed that Reform raised £31,862,420 in the 2025 calendar year.

This is more than the £30,942,000 raised by the Tories. And while less than Labour's mammoth £45,012,000, Reform spent less, leaving it with £10m in the bank while Labour was £2m in debt.

Increases in fundraising, merchandise sales and membership fees also contributed to Reform's reported income boost, up from £10.8m in 2024.

Reform is facing a test at the polls later this month, after Nigel Farage triggered a by-election in his constituency of Clacton as both he and his party face mounting scrutiny over donations and support.

The party leader is the subject of a parliamentary standards inquiry over a £5m gift from Harborne, which he said was a private donation to pay for his security.

A criminal investigation has also been launched into undeclared donations to the party.

Questions have also been raised over loans by Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice, in 2024, and donations by Fiona Cottrell, the mother of Farage aide and convicted fraudster George Cottrell, with allegations he was the source of the money.

A key factor in Reform's newly deep pockets was a spike in donations, with the party enjoying £22.9m of declared donated funds, a £17m rise on the previous year. More than half of this money came from just three individuals.

Harborne donated £12m, split into a £9m donation in August 2025 and £3m in November last year.

This will appear in next year's accounts, with another £3m donation logged in January this year. DonationWatch reported that he has gifted £25.2m to Reform over the years.

Two other major donations stand out in the Electoral Commission register.

The first is £250,000 from Fiona Cottrell, the mother of crypto businessman George Cottrell, who has funded Farage's office and security staff.

Scotland Yard launched an inquiry in January last year, after a referral from the Electoral Commission, into two donations amounting to £500,000 from the aristocrat's mother.

Its investigation is focused on alleged evasion of restrictions on donations at the 2024 election. Reform has denied any wrongdoing.

The third notable donor is Nick Candy, Party treasurer, who gave a total of £990,000 across the year.

While Reform's donations rose by 290 per cent from £5.9m the year before, the other main parties experienced a significant drop.

Donations declared by the Conservatives dropped from £28.1m to £15m, while Labour's fell from £39.4m to £6.5m.

As 2024 was an election year, where parties would expect a boost in fundraising and donations, a drop in funding for 2025 is not unusual.

POLITICS

Greens narrow membership gap

By Harry Taylor

The Green Party may be close to overtaking Labour's membership after Labour suffered a more than 20 per cent drop in 2025, according to its latest accounts.

The Labour Party's accounts show membership fell from 333,235 at the end of 2024 to 264,754 at the end of 2025.

In May, the Green Party claimed its membership total was 230,000, which would put it about 35,000

members behind Labour. A spokesperson said membership had "quadrupled" in the last year since Zack Polanski became leader.

The party's membership stood at 186,441 at the end of December.

Labour's fall could also bolster Reform UK's claim that it is the largest party in the UK by membership. Its website says it has more than 370,000 members.

Liberal Democrat membership fell by nearly 3,000 in the 2025 calendar year.

POLITICS

UK could have cap of 1,000 vape shops under Reform

By George Lithgow and Christopher McKeon

Reform UK has said it would cap the number of vape shops across the country to 1,000 in an effort to "reclaim our high streets".

The party's home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, claimed that limiting operating licences would "instantly reduce" the number of vape shops by 70 per cent. Any unlicensed shops would be shut down by police and trading standards.

Nigel Farage's party said criminal cash is being laundered through high street shops such as vape stores, nail bars and barbers, which are also accused of employing illegal workers.

Yusuf said Reform UK "will execute a comprehensive strategy to reclaim our high streets", which would mean vape shops "no longer dominate our shopping parades".

As many as half of convenience stores and vape retailers in some areas are estimated to have links with organized crime, according to a Trading Standards report from earlier this year.

Yusuf's other announcements in-

Vape shops would be capped in an effort to 'reclaim our high streets'

clude a policy to illegalise using a vehicle for business purposes without holding a full British licence.

He said a Reform government would create a "tip line" for people to report illegal working or gang activity on their high street, with the potential for a cash reward.

Reform also announced that it will fine firms 10 per cent of their global

revenues and make chief executives personally and criminally liable for illegal working, under a so-called "Deliveroo Law".

"Britain will have the harshest penalties in the world for those employing illegal migrants," he said. "We will introduce the toughest penalties anywhere in the world for illegal working."

Deliveroo said: "We run right-to-work checks on all riders, conduct multiple daily identity checks and use cutting-edge fraud-detection technology, and we'd encourage other industries affected by illegal working to do the same."

The Home Office said: "We are already closing the loopholes that allow illegal migrants to work in the UK by extending right to work checks to the gig economy and delivery sector."

The chair of the Labour Party, Bridget Phillipson, said: "This is Reform's latest desperate attempt to deflect attention from the ever-growing catalogue of scandals engulfing Nigel Farage and his party.

"This Government is already cracking down on illegal working."

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NEWS 2-26

OPINION 16-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 17-23

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

7

SCOTLAND

SNP writes off motorhome in Murrell scandal

By Craig Paton

The SNP has written off the value of the motorhome bought by former chief executive Peter Murrell with party funds from its accounts, documents show.

The party's balance sheet, published yesterday by the Electoral Commission, showed the value of the £100,000 vehicle has been removed from its books.

Murrell (inset) - the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon

• pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP earlier this year and was sentenced to more than five years in prison.

It also emerged in the accounts that Murrell is still owed £60,000 from a loan he gave the party in 2021.

The figure remains on the balance sheet, but the party said Murrell has not "formally requested" the sum back and it is unsure if it will have to be repaid.

CRIME

Police officer bitten during Thetford riot

By Sam Hall

A female police officer was "seriously bitten" and crowds attempted to storm homes linked to asylum seekers during a second night of disorder in a market town this week.

Two men were arrested after two police officers were taken to hospital in Thetford, Norfolk, after anti-immigration protests on Wednesday.

It was the second night of disorder following incidents on Tuesday night.

Police said windows were smashed and fences broken, and people attempted to break into a residential property.

A video posted on social media appeared to show five men being escorted from a property by police as an angry crowd booed, shouted "get out" and made comments opposing asylum seekers being housed in the area.

The town's MP, Terry Jermy, said the "ugly scenes in Thetford over the past few days have been difficult to watch and are deeply concerning".

EDUCATION

Thousands of former students still paying off unfinished degrees

Exclusive

By Eleanor Langford

POLITICAL REPORTER

Young people need better careers guidance and more flexibility over their study choices, campaigners have said, after figures revealed tens of thousands of former students are still repaying loans for courses they never finished.

The data, shared exclusively with The i Paper, reveals that 191,500 people are repaying student loans despite never having finished a degree.

The data covers those who took out a loan after 2021 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Between them, they owe more than £5.9bn - and that figure is set to grow as interest on their loans bites, the data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Teneo International School has shown.

First-year dropouts from 2020- 21 now owe an average of around £30,000, compared with about £26,100 for those who left in 2024-25.

The Department for Education has argued it is "only fair" that courses are paid for, whether they are completed or not.

But others said the figures point to a "rigidity" in the system, poor options for students, and the unfairness of interest rates that mean debt keeps growing "despite" regular repayments.

One student, James - who dropped out of his architecture degree in Manchester partway through his third year - left owing

191,500

The number of people repaying student loans despite never having finished a degree

£5.9bn

The amount owed collectively by people who took out a loan after 2021 who never finished a degree

£47,000 and, due to interest, now owes £62,000. He said he felt "pretty angry at the system" and that he "gambled and lost".

Many thousands of dropouts are still repaying loans for degrees they never finished. These figures only include students that did not subsequently re-enrol in a course.

Separate figures obtained by The i Paper earlier this year show that all students who dropped out at some point in their higher education journey owe a total of £125m.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has made overhauling education a defining project of his early premiership - pledging to end "dead ends" for young people and unveiling plans to expand technical routes as an alternative to university.

The findings come as pressure grows on Labour to act on what the new Education Secretary, Lucy Powell, has called an "egregious" student loans system.

More than 120 MPs and peers have written to Chancellor John Healey calling for an "urgent review."

Lewis Wilson, vice president for higher education at the National Union of Students, pointed out that the £5.9bn owed "pales in comparison" to the £30.0bn total national student debt, and accused the Treasury of "making a profit out of debt."

Rather than a case against university, he said, the figures were a case for "whole-scale student loan reform".

Powell has said she wants to look at the interest rates on Plan 2 loans - taken out by English students who started university between 2012 and 2023, and still used in Wales - currently capped at 6 per cent, under which graduates repay 9 per cent of earnings above the threshold.

Recent scrutiny began after Rachel Reeves, in her last Budget as chancellor, froze that threshold at £29,585, dragging more graduates into repayment as wages rise.

A Department for Education spokesperson said "around 9 in 10 undergraduates complete their course" and that it is "only fair" for those who take out a loan to repay it.

But the spokesperson added: "It is clear that young people need to be given real choices from the start."

A Student Loans Company spokesperson added that students agree to loan terms and conditions when they apply for finance, and that if they withdraw from study, they will enter repayment the following April "in accordance with those terms".

LEGAL

Starmer was asked to 'object' to No 10 repairs

Exclusive

By Laura Butler

Sir Keir Starmer was sent a letter asking if he wanted to object to renovation plans at No 10 Downing Street.

The former prime minister, who lived in a flat at No 11 Downing Street, received the notice as a result of plans to renovate steps at neighbouring No 10, his official residence. A letter from Westminster Council did not directly address Starmer.

No 10 sent a planning application in November last year, requesting consent for the work under listed- building rules.

This triggered official notices to be sent to neighbours, including Starmer at No 11. The address is officially the residence of the Chancellor.

Rachel Reeves, who was chancellor under Starmer, lived in a flat above No 10.

The neighbourhood notification letter was sent on 24 February this

Larry the Cat on the steps at the front of 10 Downing Street

year. It briefly described the plans as an "application for external works to steps," asking residents if they wanted to "make a comment".

It is not clear whether the steps in question were those leading up to No 10's famous black door, or belonged to a different entrance.

The layout of No 10 is not disclosed for security reasons.

The letter detailed instructions for raising concerns online, advising

ing the recipient to understand the "likely impact of the proposal".

Westminster Council sent the same letter to 12 Downing Street, an office for No 10 staff. Posters with a link to add comments were put up along the street, which is not open to anyone without official clearance, a press pass or an invitation.

The application was approved on 31 March but the exact nature of the renovations remains unclear. Drawings of the plans are confidential, which is unusual for planning applications but thought to the result of No 10's security status.

Neighbourhood notification letters are sent to properties next to or near a proposed development by local planning authorities.

They are a requirement of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Westminster Council, No 10 and the Treasury have been contacted.

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8

NEWS

COMMENT

Badenoch's plan to reclaim the right is laden with risk

Kitty Donaldson

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's decision to allow a former (albeit reformed) neo-Nazi to stand as a Conservative councillor hasn't just raised questions about her judgement; it's prompted wider concerns about her political strategy.

After a day of outrage, Joshua Bonehill-Paine saw the writing on the wall and stepped back. He's the creator of the Crewkerne Gazette, a satirical online AI video account with a cult following.

Bonehill-Paine was convicted of racially harassing Jewish former Labour MP Luciana Berger in 2016, while already serving a separate jail sentence of more than three years for sharing antisemitic posts. He has since described his past views as "indefensible" and says he has spent years opposing antisemitism since leaving prison in 2018.

Leaving aside Badenoch's verbal gymnastics – she managed to offend leaflet-delivering Tories by saying that, unlike MPs, councillors only deal with bins and parking – the row reignited concerns from the last remaining centrists in her party that Badenoch is wooing too narrow a tranche of voters.

The Crewkerne row comes shortly after she rejected centrist former Tory MPs as candidates for the next election. Centre-left Tories, who loosely group under the One Nation banner, worry she is sidelining both them and politically homeless voters who could be persuaded to vote Tory.

The electoral logic for Badenoch's current strategy rests on the assumption most switchers to Reform UK since 2024 are on the right. The theory is that the Tories' existential threat isn't the Liberal Democrats eating into moderate territory in the South West, it's Nigel Farage eating into their base.

Is this correct? Labour is losing fewer of its 2024 voters to Reform. But the same is true of the Tories.

For Robert Ford, professor of political science at Manchester University, the current strategy makes it likely Badenoch would at best – and if a fair wind delivers a Labour decline – limit herself to a post-election coalition with Reform or forming a minority government.

Ford argues she can't win an outright majority on her current path and instead needs to make inroads into yellow-branded Liberal Democrat-held areas.

"That great big yellow blotch on the map is a big problem. It's all former Tory seats. It's really hard to win a lot of those without winning at least some One Nation Tory-type voters back, and if you don't win at least some of that big yellow blotch back, where are your 325 seats coming from exactly?" he said.

Centrist Tories are worried. "My conversations with those who are close to the inner circle means they genuinely don't think the Lib Dems are a threat and they are wrong about that," one Tory complained.

"You can win an election without the Red Wall because we didn't win any of them in 2017 and still had a sort of majority. Whereas, if you're not winning half of Kent, half of Surrey, Hertfordshire and

That great big yellow blotch on the map is a big problem. It's all former Tory seats

The Conservative leader championed a reformed neo-Nazi candidate

Oxfordshire, then it's hard to see where you construct a Tory majority from," they added.

Allies of Badenoch argue it's relatively early days in re-establishing the Tory brand: "Only time will allow voters to forgive us," as one Shadow Cabinet minister puts it. Party sources point to new policies on scrapping business rates for shops and pubs, abolishing stamp duty and leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). All those policies are aimed at reassuring right-leasing voters that the Tories, not Reform, are the competent vehicle for their instincts.

They also say the divisions of left and right are outdated, that voters are so sick of small boats that the idea of leaving the ECHR, shocking even a few years ago, is now mainstream. The Government's pursuit of net zero targets delivered the party the Aberdeen South by election, they say.

Nonetheless, the right of British politics is overcrowded, with the Tories, Reform and Restore Britain all jostling for votes. Badenoch has rejected all ideas of electoral pacts.

But this week, Restore Britain's leader Rupert Lowe, a former Reform MP who spectacularly fell out with Farage, offered his former colleague an olive branch. That has worried some Tories who think Badenoch was playing with fire by allocating Lowe a party seat on the House of Commons Public Accounts Select Committee. At the time, the Tories defended it as a cross-party effort to reduce waste in public spending. Farage claims there is a "deal" between them.

"The thing that worries me about her playing nice with Lowe is I tell myself that Kemi had bought into the idea he wants to destroy Farage and now he doesn't. Where does that leave us?" a Tory MP questioned.

Badenoch says she believes in rehabilitation. That's why she offered Bonehill-Paine a role of adviser to the party's culture and integration commission, where he will specifically focus on how young men become radicalised.

Her critics say it is a fundamental lack of strategy and judgement. Her allies hope the politically homeless will recognise she is right on this and take another look.

WELFARE

Tories would limit social housing for foreigners

By Rhiannon James

Foreign nationals would lose their right to social housing in the UK under a Conservative government, the party has said.

The Tories claim that about 230,000 homes would become available as a result of their plan to limit social housing entitlements.

Tenants who do not qualify would be expected to move out of their homes within six months.

Any single person already living in social housing who is not a UK, Irish or EU citizen would lose their social home. This includes those with children. Anyone with EU settled status – which lets EU, European Econom-

ic Area and Swiss citizens live and work in the UK indefinitely due to five years of continuous residence – would not be evicted.

When it comes to future tenancies, those with EU settled status would be eligible, but EU citizens without such status would not be.

Couples – where neither of them are UK or EU citizens and do not have EU settled status – will lose their entitlement.

The shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Helen Whately, said: "Making Britain your home...should not come with a free ride on the benefits system."

Labour called it an "unserious, unworkable proposal".

POLITICS

Leader rules out deal with 'woke' Reform

By Christopher McKeon

Kemi Badenoch described Reform UK as "woke" as she again ruled out a deal with Nigel Farage's party.

The Conservative leader told the Political Currency podcast that she would make no pact with Reform either before or after the next election.

She said she did not want the pub-

lic to be "confused about what this Conservative Party stands for".

She added: "Reform are a woke party...but when I talk about woke, I talk about people who...it's all grievance, it's victim narratives, people are doing this to us, oppressor narratives, this is the oppressor class.

"It's all moaning and whingeing and not proper solutions. It's about

power dynamics and how to get power, not...how to fix things."

Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said Badenoch had started "calling us names" because she had not had "the best few days".

"She said we're a party that has grievances. We do. We have a grievance of the fact that [they] spent 14 years lying to the British public."

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WEST 2-35

OPINION 18-22

TV 28-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

9

Ways to stay in touch

The Health Secretary, Yvette Cooper, visits a community-based mental health centre in Sheffield yesterday. Up to 159 of the NHS centres will open across England from this autumn – in libraries, banks and other high street locations – to get people ‘support earlier closer to home’, the Government has announced. ANNABEL LEE-ELLISIPA

SOCIETY

Most teens will opt out of social media curfews

By Christopher McKeon

Most teenagers intend to opt out of the Government’s planned social media curfews, polling has suggested.

Sir Keir Starmer unveiled plans for a voluntary curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds in his final weeks in office.

The curfew would prevent teenagers accessing social media sites between midnight and 6am by default, but could be turned off.

The poll by Censuswide found 84.6 per cent of 16- to 18-year-olds said they would opt out of the proposed curfews.

And 45.2 per cent of teenagers said they would turn the curfew off to allow them to speak to friends or family, while another 37.2 per cent would turn it off to watch online content.

84.6%

The percentage of 16- to 18-year-olds that would opt out of social media curfews

Leanne Proctor, regulatory lead at the Online Responsibility Network, said the research suggests a curfew is “unlikely to be enough on its own to prevent online harms”.

“Rather than

relying on service-level restrictions, greater focus should be placed on design feature-level protections and robust age assurance” she said.

TRAVEL

Power cut causes rail disruption in northern England

By Pat Allingham

A power cut brought trains to a standstill across the Midlands and North West England at rush hour yesterday.

The electricity supply failure happened shortly before 2pm yesterday in Manchester, affecting signalling and communications.

CrossCountry, TransPennine Express, Northern, and Transport for Wales all advised passengers not to travel.

TransPennine Express said its trains were “unable to run safely” because of the failure.

Passengers were stranded at stations across the country.

One, Bradley Black, was stuck at Birmingham’s New Street station after travelling from the north for business.

“I’d just finished, trying to get off at 3pm and get back to get my daughter from nursery,” he told the BBC.

“I’ve got to New Street and all trains north are cancelled. It’s definitely not ideal.”

Network Rail was working to fix the problem as The i Paper went to print last night, but disruption is not expected to continue today, although officials have not ruled it out.

Chris Wright, Network Rail North West route director, yesterday said: “We’re sorry to passengers impacted by a power issue in Manchester which is causing significant delays to trains through the city.”

The power cut was reportedly prolonged by a delay connecting back-up supply. All trains on the affected lines had to stop immediately because of the signalling fault.

The electricity supply failure happened yesterday in Manchester

A wartime bomb discovered near the railway between Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent also added to the disruption, with all lines blocked.

Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary, said she was “receiving regular updates” while Network Rail worked to resolve the issue.

Alexander said: “Disruption is expected during the rest of the day, so please check before you travel.”

The power cut happened at Manchester Rail Operating Centre, near Ashburys station.

It is one of 12 operating centres built to manage the entire British rail network.

The facilities replaced 800 signal boxes and other installations previously used to control trains.

Manchester Rail Operating Centre will control all of the railway in north-west England by 2034, according to official blueprints.

Alex Campbell, of the independent watchdog Transport Focus, reminded those affected to claim Delay Repay compensation if they are eligible.

AVIATION

Holyrood assigns £1m to restore flights to islands

By Rachel Keenan

The Scottish Government has confirmed flights from Inverness to the islands will be restored later this year.

Loganair reduced services last month due to sustainability concerns, but said they could return to normal in October if funding of £1.3m was made available.

The Scottish Government has now announced it will provide more than £1m to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial) for the full restoration of island air services operating from Inverness.

The funding will reinstate the frequency of air services connect-

ing Inverness to Lewis, Orkney and Shetland and will start from 26 October.

Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “I am pleased the Scottish Government has confirmed over £1m of funding to support the full recommencement of air services connecting Inverness to Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.

“Hial and Loganair have worked collaboratively through commercial discussions to restart these services, providing greater certainty to passengers.

“Transport Scotland will now work with Hial and industry stakeholders to discuss next steps for a sustainable, long-term solution.”

BUSINESS

Private equity firm snaps up easyJet in £5.7bn deal

By Henry Saker-Clark

EasyJet is to be bought by private equity firm Apollo in a £5.7bn deal, after rival suitor Castlelake walked away from a bidding war for the budget airline.

Castlelake had previously made a £5.5bn offer to buy the airline but this was surpassed by Apollo last month.

Ahead of a deadline of today, Castlelake confirmed that it did not intend to make a formal takeover offer, allowing Apollo to progress with its deal.

The US firm, which also owns Wagamama-owner The Restaurant Group, will pay shareholders 715p per share for the business.

The deal, which will require approval at a shareholder vote, is expected to complete in the first quarter of next year.

EasyJet was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995 as a low-cost alternative to British Airways and it has since become one of the largest networks across Europe.

Haji-Ioannou and his family, who own around 15 per cent of the business, have given the takeover their support.

“I am pleased with Apollo’s strategic intentions for the easyJet business, which aim to create more growth,” Haji-Ioannou said.

“My family and I intend to remain invested as long term major shareholders for the next chapter in the company’s journey.”

Sir Stephen Hester, non-executive chairman of easyJet, said: “The easyJet board has carefully evaluated the proposal from Apollo alongside easyJet’s standalone prospects.

“While we remain confident in the strength of our business and the opportunities ahead, we believe this offer appropriately recognises the quality of the business we have built and delivers immediate, certain and attractive value for shareholders.”

Bosses at Apollo said they believed the airline is “one of the most attractive businesses” in the global aviation sector.

Alex van Hoek, a partner and European private equity lead at the firm, said: “We are proud to be trusted to play a lead role supporting the easyJet Group in this next phase of its growth and furthering its important contribution to the European and UK aviation sector.”

EasyJet was founded as a low-cost alternative to British Airways

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10

NEWS

EDUCATION

Green leader leads defence of Cambridge professor who quit over plagiarism row

By Ellie Ng

The Green Party leader Zack Polanski has defended the former University of Cambridge professor who resigned amid allegations of plagiarism.

Jason Arday quit on Wednesday evening after Cambridge said it was investigating him “following new information about Professor Arday’s academic qualifications and honorary appointments”.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley yesterday said the force had “dropped the ball” by opening a harassment investigation into a journalist who emailed Arday with questions.

Arday, a sociologist, faced allegations last week that he had plagiarised parts of his PhD thesis at Liverpool John Moores University.

He also faced questions over claims about his sporting and fund-raising achievements, including that he had run 600 miles in six days and raised £5.5m for charity.

Arday was 37 when he became Cambridge’s youngest black professor in 2023.

Scotland Yard was also drawn into the row after it emerged the force had investigated a Times Higher Education journalist who emailed Arday with questions.

Jack Grove, the journalist, only found out about the investigation into alleged harassment after the Met told him the case would be shut.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, yesterday admitted the

Jason Arday, pictured with the Olympic torch in 2012, resigned from his Cambridge post. JOE GUDENSA, OCGGIPA

force “dropped the ball on that one” and said the harassment claim should have been “screened out earlier as not requiring investigation”.

Polanski, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, defended his decision to sign a letter criticising “sustained and malicious attacks” on Arday’s integrity.

The letter was also signed by

other left-wing figures, including Labour MPs John McDonnell, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Clive Lewis, Nadia Whitmore and Apsana Begum.

Polanski told LBC: “The university had already done, I think, two investigations and found there was no problem here or that the allegations were unfounded.”

A previous investigation at Liver-

Liverpool John Moores University cleared Arday of wrongdoing.

Arday said in his resignation letter that the “only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away”.

He said: “This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me.”

Memoir set to be published this month

Jason Arday’s memoir will still be published later this month despite the scandal which has embroiled him.

Simon & Schuster said it was planning to go ahead with the publication of Great and Unfortunate Things on 11 August in the US, and 27 August in the UK.

Arday previously told The Guardian that he had been offered “14m” for the book, without specifying whether the figure was in sterling or dollars.

Pre-order listings for the book describe it as a “powerful and intensely moving memoir” which “tells the improbable true story behind the viral news sensation that inspired readers worldwide”.

Benjamin Ryan, a journalist, said that comparisons between leaked copies of the US and UK proofs of the books suggested it had been edited ahead of publication in Britain.

It is thought that Simon & Schuster has already printed the book.

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.

“It is told through his own recollections and those of the people closest to him.”

Perspectives

The Arday affair exposes some questionable thinking

Spotlight must fall on Cambridge

Melanie McDonagh

COLUMBIAST AND AUTHOR

It’s not hard to know whom to blame for the Jason Arday affair, and the clue is, it’s not Jason Arday. If you’re surfing a wave of plaudits and uncritical adulation from academics competing to promote you, well, it’s hard to blame you for not wanting to get down. You might as well blame Perkin Warbeck for being set up as one of the “Princes in the Tower”; he wasn’t the prime mover.

Nope, it was the University of Cambridge, my own university, which looks careless and weasely at best, in its conduct of this wretched affair. First there was the rush to deny the all too credible claims about Arday’s plagiarism and fantastical sporting achievements. (Undergraduates could be thrown out for this kind of stuff.) Then

Arday’s supporters went out of their way to accuse the sceptics of racism rather than address the evidence – not just one individual, but anyone who saw that there was a problem.

The real problem here is not so much fantastic credulity about Arday’s literally incredible achievements but the larger problem, the lowering of academic standards at Cambridge.

Arday was a professor of the sociology of education at the university’s faculty of education. Certainly new, less traditional subjects appropriate for universities emerge over time, but some simply don’t have the same rigour as others. Just read the nonsense language in Arday’s own words in the abstract for one of his papers.

More to the point, Cambridge expanding its education department to a faculty within the university debases the brand. It isn’t a credible faculty and education isn’t a credible academic subject – it’s not on a par with classics or mathematics. Just watch

Hilary Cremin, a professor at the faculty, calling Arday the best of the best.

But having gone along with the fantasy, it’s new for Cambridge to explain just why the bar was set so very low for Arday. The only explanation that covers it is that his was a story lots of people really wanted to be true.

Not good enough, is it?

University lit the first match on this tale

Albie Amankona

BROADCASTER AND ACTIVIST

The scandal has every ingredient a bored commentariat could pray for: Cambridge University, high-stakes plagiarism allegations and the holy grail of clickbait – critical race theory. Throw in a young, handsome, working-class, neurodivergent black professor

appointed in the aftermath of Black Lives Matter, with a forthcoming memoir. With a backstory of ultra-marathons, millions raised for charity and knife-wielding racists allegedly stalking his Cantabrigian office, it is a story tailored to drive algorithms and newscwams wild.

But did the commentariat accidentally orchestrate a witch hunt?

Post-BLM, the establishment forgot that true equality means equal, not special, treatment. But it is equally true that the way this story was seeded turned into a blood sport.

The immediate causes can be traced to Arday’s extraordinary background and the Substack of Nathan Colnas (leser), a former Cambridge academic who theorised that under a true meritocracy, black people would vanish from high-profile positions outside sports and entertainment. This summer, he posted allegations about plagiarism in Arday’s

PhD thesis. What followed was a frenzy. Revelation after revelation from The Daily Telegraph on the right to The Guardian on the left, amplified by the BBC at home and The New York Times abroad. It became a wall of noise so deafening that Arday resigned.

The media has done its job in exposing potential dishonesty and institutional failure.

But a man’s professional life has been torn down in the most public way. Is that a proportionate outcome? The ground was kinder-dry. Cambridge, by making such a song and dance about Arday – and then punchily defending him – gave first matches. The way it set up Arday and then handled the story gave his pursuers everything they needed.

As we pick over this sorry tale – was it fair game or a legitimate commercial pursuit that turned controversy into pound coins? Cambridge has many questions to answer.

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NEWS 2-20

OPINION 16-22

TV 28-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

11

Shades on for 'Sunny'

From left, Ruby Stokes, Jasmine Elcock, Conrad Khan, Bella Ramsey, Earl Cave and Daniel Quinn-Toys attending the London premiere of 'Sunny Dancer' at the Genesis Cinema in London last night.

Ramsey, who featured in 'Game of Thrones', plays Ivy, a 57-year-old who recovers from cancer before her parents sign her up for a summer at what she calls 'chemo camp', where she manages to find unexpected friends among a group of misfits.

The British comedy film also stars the 'How I Met Your Mother' star Neil Patrick Harris and James Norton of 'Happy Valley' LIA TOBHEETTY

SPORT

European football chiefs double down on World Cup boycott threat

By Barry Goodwin

European teams have renewed their threat to boycott the World Cup after Gianni Infantino vowed to stay on as Fifa's president.

Fifa, football's governing body, said Infantino still had its 'full support' despite huge pressure for him to resign after abandoning plans to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup.

Uefa, the European football federation, said last week that its 55 members would boycott Fifa competitions including the World Cup if the plans went ahead. The threat forced Infantino to scrap the proposal, which would have involved private investors buying stakes in Fifa's tournaments.

An alliance of football associations across the world, led by Uefa, aims to oust Infantino. But Fifa's board gave its backing to the Swiss-Italian at a special meeting in Morocco on Wednesday night.

Uefa said yesterday that Fifa's support for Infantino 'changes nothing' and that it stood by its threat to boycott the World Cup.

'Our associations were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in Fifa competitions,' Uefa 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.'

Infantino had intended to create a

Gianni Infantino appears determined to stay as head of Fifa

company, Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE), which would manage its competitions, including the men's and women's World Cups and Club World Cups.

The most controversial detail was Infantino's plan to sell a 20 per cent stake of the company to private in-

vestors led by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Uefa officials feared that private investors would push to hold the World Cup more frequently, affecting club competitions and the Euros.

The European federation has now commissioned an investigation into whether Fifa's $20bn (£15bn) valuation of FFE was under market rate, The Guardian reported yesterday.

England's Football Association, which is part of Uefa, has also withdrawn its support for Infantino's reelection campaign next year, as have the associations of Wales, Serbia, Sweden, Croatia and Finland.

Fifa's backing for Infantino has, if anything, heightened the anger of his opponents, sources said. They predicted 'open warfare' at the top of world football.

Uefa and the football associations of Asia and the Americas have reportedly threatened a 'governance boycott' bringing Fifa to a halt.

But Infantino is clearly intent on holding on. He has reportedly promised Morocco that it will host the World Cup final in 2030 if it backs him to stay on as Fifa's president.

Sport, page 56

Prince Ali Bin Hussein, president of Jordan's football association, said that his position on Infantino remained unchanged and he would not vote for him.

CRIME

Woman charged over Covent Garden attacks

By Ellie Crabbe

A woman has been charged after four men were injured in a stabbing attack in central London.

Officers were called on Wednesday to reports of a stabbing on Endell Street in Covent Garden, a busy tourist area filled with hars, theatres and restaurants.

The Metropolitan Police said Stella Golovena, 47, of no fixed address, was charged yesterday with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

She was remanded in custody to appear at Highbury Corner magistrates' court.

An air ambulance helicopter landed in a packed Trafalgar Square on Wednesday afternoon, but London Ambulance Service later said it had 'treated four patients at the scene and took them all to a major trauma centre as a priority by road'.

The Met said the four men – aged 34, 39, 42 and 56 – had stab wounds but have since been discharged from hospital as their injuries were not deemed life-threatening or life-changing.

SECURITY

Prevent scheme referrals reach record high

By Lizzie Doarden

A record number of people have been referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism scheme, figures have shown - with children aged between 11 and 15 accounting for the largest group.

There were 10,293 referrals to the programme, which aims to provide opportunities for intervention before people are drawn into terrorism, in the year to September 2025.

A report published by the Home Office said that while the figure was an all-time high, it may be linked to 'increased awareness of Prevent' following the Southport attack in July 2024.

Axel Rudakubana had been referred to Prevent three times since 2019, after researching school shootings, and his attacks but his case was repeatedly closed because he appeared to lack any ideological motivation.

Counter-terror police said that the Prevent system, and its focus on ideology, was 'not equipped to deal with emerging risks' and a review sparked a series of reforms.

They included recording a new category of referral covering a 'fascination with extreme violence', which is now one of the largest types of concern recorded.

Fifa power struggle Infantino's global allies may yet save his Fifa presidency

Gianni Infantino still has plenty of allies, particularly among football associations in developing countries, which rely on Fifa's largesse.

Africa's football federation, CAF, 'unanimously' backed Infantino last night, thanking him for his support for African football over the years.

The executive committee of the smallest and least wealthy regional confederation, Oceania, will meet next Wednesday to discuss their approach. Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Sri

Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines have all declared their loyalty to Infantino despite the Asian football federation's critical stance.

Under Fifa rules, the vote of every nation counts as much as that of World Cup winners like Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain.

Countries which have rarely if ever appeared at the World Cup tend to support Infantino, who has promised to expand the tournament.

One clear advantage for Infantino

as he looks to extend his presidency until 2031 is that no clear candidate has yet emerged to stand against him in next March's election.

But Infantino can no longer count on one key backer – US President Donald Trump. Infantino repeatedly tried and failed to call Trump last week.

The pair had previously been close allies, with Infantino awarding the President the inaugural 'Fifa Peace Prize' last year.

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12

NEWS

LEBANON

Israel retaliates as explosion kills two of its soldiers

By Abby Sewell and Korzi Saeed

Two Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Lebanon, the military said yesterday, the first Israeli deaths since a shaky truce with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah began nearly two months ago.

Four other soldiers were seriously wounded.

An Israeli military official said “an explosion was detonated” when the soldiers entered a site in the village of Majdal Zoun and that the nature of the explosive was under review.

The two soldiers killed were named as company commander Harel Birenstock, 34, and combat soldier Tamir Vaknin, 33, both of whom were reservists.

The Israeli army launched strikes yesterday in southern Lebanon (inset) in response to what it described as Hezbollah’s violation of the ceasefire and called on residents of the village of Mansouri to flee – the first such warning Israel has issued in Lebanon for weeks.

Lebanon’s health ministry said one person was killed and 12 were wounded in an Israeli strike in the town of Tehmine. Another eight were injured in overnight strikes on the village of Burj al-Shemali.

There was no statement from the

Iran-backed Hezbollah. The latest war erupted on 2 March, when Hezbollah fired rockets across the border two days after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

More than 4,000 people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon since then, including hundreds of civilians.

About 40 soldiers and three civilians have been killed on the Israeli side.

A precarious truce between Israel and Hezbollah has largely held since 20 June, but Israeli forces have continued to occupy swathes of southern Lebanon and carry out periodic air strikes and shelling.

Until, the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, said it had recorded 113 projectiles launched by the Israeli military on Wednesday.

The latest escalation came as Lebanese and Israeli negotiators met in Rome to discuss the implementation of a deal reached on 26 June between Israel and the Lebanese government.

Under the agreement, Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw from occupied areas in southern Lebanon to allow the Lebanese army to take control, in exchange for Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Hezbollah has refused to disarm.

UNITED STATES

Trump denies munitions shortage and backs Hegseth

By Laura Butler

Donald Trump has backed his Defence Secretary despite reports of a row over munitions shortages affecting the war with Iran.

The US President yesterday denied that the US faces a weapons shortage after dropping thousands of missiles and bombs on Iran, many of them redeployed from US bases in other parts of the world.

Trump and his Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, have reportedly clashed over the shortage.

But Trump said he was “extremely happy with the job that Pete Hegseth is doing”.

It comes as talks between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz are said to have reached final stages.

The narrow waterway has been effectively closed since the start of the war in February, shutting off about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply.

Posting on his Truth Social plat-

Australia Iranian footballers get citizenship

Two members of the Iranian women’s football team who claimed asylum in Australia in March have been granted citizenship.

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement that immigration minister Tony Burke (oil pictured) swore them in at a citizenship ceremony in their new home city of Brisbane.

“Yesterday was a truly special and unforgettable day I feel proud and deeply grateful to become an Australian,” Ramezanisadeh said.

The Refugee Council of Australia, a non-profit umbrella organisation representing asylum seekers, said refugees usually must live in

form yesterday, Trump said: “The US has massive amounts of ‘munitions,’ especially of certain types.

“Additionally, large amounts are

Australia on a visa for four years before they can apply for citizenship. Their citizenship could potentially have been fast-tracked under Australian law to make them eligible to play football for Australia.

being manufactured and shipped to the US as needed.”

Trump confronted Hegseth at a cabinet summit over the weekend,

demanding an explanation for the weapons shortfall, the Washington Post reported.

The shortage is thought to be part of the reason Trump has not launched more strikes against Iran.

In his post, Trump called press reports about his confrontation with Hegseth as “fake news”.

Trump added: “The ‘leakers’ of these treasonous statements are being hunted down.”

Questions are mounting over the state of America’s arsenal as the war with Iran reaches its sixth month.

The shortage was first revealed by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a national security think tank.

Using publicly available data, it estimated that by the end of July the US had between 759 and 827 Patriot air-defence missiles left, having started the conflict with 2,330, but precise information over the US missile stock is classified.

Reporters’ access to information from the Pentagon has been restricted since Hegseth took charge.

The Pentagon continues to deny a shortfall in munitions, citing new production agreements, but the weapons themselves can take up to two years to produce, meaning that any shortage will not be easily fixed.

RUSSIA

Ukraine hits oil facilities 800 miles from border

By Ilia Novikov

Ukraine hit more oil facilities deep inside Russia in overnight attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday, as Kyiv kept up its campaign to undermine Moscow’s wartime economy and embarrass the Kremlin.

It came as the Kyiv region observed an official day of mourning yesterday after a Russian missile and drone hits killed 17 people the previous day, prompting an increasingly urgent scramble by Ukraine and its partner countries to find new air defence supplies.

In the first six months of this year 1,396 civilians were killed and 7,978 injured in Ukraine, the United Nations office in Kyiv said on Wednesday.

That was a 37 per cent increase from the same period last year and a 114 per cent jump over 2024, it said,

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13

GERMANY

Drone at airport was fitted with explosives

By Ludwig Burger and Friederike Heine

attributing the rise to more long-range aerial attacks by Russia.

Zelensky said he met senior officials to plan how to accelerate the development of Ukraine's own ballistic weaponry, similar to its swift wartime innovation in drone technology.

Ukrainian forces hit an oil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan region, more than 800 miles from the front line, as well as a refinery in the Yaroslavl region, well over 400 miles from the border, Zelensky said.

Yaroslavl Governor Mikhail Yevrayev confirmed an attack on a refinery, saying in a Telegram post that drone debris hit the facility's oil reservoirs, sparking a fire.

Three private houses also caught fire, and several residential buildings were damaged, he added.

Ukrainian forces also hit two Russian military patrol boats in the Black Sea, Zelensky said, along with vessels belonging to Moscow's so-called shadow fleet.

Meanwhile, drone and glide bomb attacks across Ukraine overnight killed at least three civilians and wounded 22 others, authorities said.

Moscow's forces have in recent weeks pummelled Ukraine with ballistic missiles that Kyiv officials say only the US-made Patriot air defence system can stop.

A drone discovered on the grounds of a German airport was fitted with professional explosives and a detonator, Germany's federal prosecutor said yesterday, adding that it was launching an investigation into what it called a 'serious attack'.

The drone was discovered at Leipzig/Halle airport on Tuesday night.

'This constitutes a serious attack on the transportation and logistics infrastructure in Germany,' the federal prosecutor said, adding that it had posed a threat to Germany's external and internal security.

Leipzig/Halle airport is an important cargo and Nato logistics hub in eastern Germany.

Yesterday, a senior German politician said that Ukrainian aircraft parked near where the explosives-laden drone was discovered were not loaded with military material, denying media reports that one of them was carrying ammunition.

ENVIRONMENT

Drought in Europe sparks desperate measures

In a sobering glimpse into the future, nations take drastic action to prevent blackouts and water shortages. By David Shukman

It was the dusty tail-end of summer when I stepped into a dystopian scene at a scruffy port on the Danube in Serbia in 2003.

Usually one of Europe's mightiest rivers, it was eerily shrunk: its level lowered so dramatically that the wrecks of old Nazi warships, unseen for decades, were poking above the sluggish waters.

A line of tall marker poles, set up to measure the river's depth, stood high and dry beside me, and the port itself, at Prahovo, was quiet; the normal convoys of barges that run from the Black Sea to the heart of Europe were paralysed because there wasn't enough water to keep them afloat.

At the time, the drought was considered so severe that it was described as 'historic'.

Two decades later, we're in an even scarier and more uncertain territory, as the Danube has dropped to an even lower level, one of the most consequential symptoms of the latest punishing summer.

At the root of it all are the repeated blasts of extreme heat, made for more likely by our overloading of the atmosphere with carbon. The heat has dried the soils and primed plants to burn, helping to make this year's wildfires so extreme. It's also left streams and rivers diminished or dead.

The European Drought Observatory's map marks areas with the most serious shortages in rod. There are a lot of them. It shows the jaw-dropping scale of the current water crisis. The effects of this are far-reaching and the responses increasingly desperate.

With the Danube and the Rhine now too shallow to handle the vessels that haul everything from chemicals to grain, the ripples are being felt by businesses across the continent. Europe's largest port, Rotterdam, has reported a 10 per

cent drop in traffic. Loads can be switched to trucks, but they're more expensive and more polluting.

According to one estimate, every month of low water knocks around 1 per cent off Germany's industrial production.

Electricity supplies are threatened, too, and this is what most unnerves governments, because blackouts in a heatwave deprive people of the chance to stay cool with fans and aircon, and inevitably increase the death toll.

But power stations - whether run by coal, gas or nuclear fuel - depend on vast quantities of water for cooling and have to reduce their output or even shut down if they can't get enough of it. This is happening right now.

Nearly half of Hungary's electricity comes from its Paks nuclear power station, but it has had to close three of its four reactors because the Danube is so reduced. The fourth may have to be switched off as well.

Power can be bought from neighbouring countries, but prices are high. Hungarian citizens and businesses, urged to switch off where they can, have responded well despite the extreme heat: Budapest reached 39°C this week.

Romania, facing a similarly drastic scenario, has turned to outlandish measures: setting off a underwater explosion to clear the Danube of an outcrop of rocks.

The aim was to improve the water flow to its vital nuclear power station, which has been forced to shut one of its two reactors - and may need to close the second if the water flow to its cooling systems can't be maintained.

Car factories in Romania are now pausing production for a fortnight, which should help cut demand for electricity.

Further up the Danube, in Serbia, the reduced water flow caused by the drought means its biggest hydro-electric plant is generating far less power than usual. And one of its coal-burning power stations, Kostolac, has scaled back output.

I filmed at Kostolac a few years ago while it was being expanded as part of China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative. The directors were proud of their project and never mentioned that it could be humbled by a shortage of water.

There's another desperately worrying angle to the current droughts: food supplies. In France, the maize harvest is set to be the lowest for 50 years.

The soil there has never been so dry at this time of year. A major study two years ago estimated that water shortages could damage EU and British agriculture to the tune of up to €65bn (£56bn) a year.

Everyone will feel the effect of that. When harvests are had, prices surge, hitting all consumers - but the least privileged are hit the hardest.

Right now, across Europe water providers and governments are having to balance demands, either limiting the use of water, for example with hosepipe bans, or encouraging people to be sparing. The logic is clear: the more we save, the less likely it is that the worst will happen, with supplies rationed or even cut off.

That would lead to further agonising choices between cities, industries and farmers.

Just as the warnings about climate change have largely gone unheeded, so too with water. For decades, experts have called for a serious effort to fix leaks, to build more reservoirs and to publicly explain the costs of waste.

For a glimpse of how bad it could get, in Cape Town in 2018 people were rationed to 50 litres a day. The Colombian capital, Bogota, was so short of water in 2024 and 2025 that it imposed a year-long rotation in which each district had its supply cut off for 24 hours every nine days.

This is how climate change could play out, in the UK and beyond: in the gritty reality of taps running dry. It's a sobering glimpse into the future and one that suddenly feels far less unreal. For now, it's only early August and, for much of Europe, there's little rain in sight.

David Shukman is a former BBC News science editor and author of The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain's New World of Extremes

Dry land around Paks in Hungary, where the power station has had to shut down reactors because the Danube is so low COPERNICUL SENTINELIAFP

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15

JUSTICE

PM 'urgently' addressing early release loopholes

By Nina Lloyd

The Government is "urgently" identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release as concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has "personally intervened" to ensure that "everything possible is being done so that vile groomers are dealt with in the way their victims deserve", a spokesperson said.

About 5,000 people are expected

to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after ministers excluded rapists and "serious" child sex offenders from the scheme designed to tackle overcrowding in jails.

But The Times reported that some men convicted in relation to historical grooming gang cases could be among those freed under the plans.

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.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch wrote to Burnham yesterday demanding answers over which offences would be eligible for early release and accusing the Gov-

ernment of "yet another betrayal of the victims".

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister 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."

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.

The scheme could enable Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers to be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences for manslaughter following the officer's death in 2019.

PC 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 the killers fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Sulhamstead, Berkshire.

The driver of the vehicle, Henry Long, received a 16-year sentence and will not be eligible for release under the scheme.

GREECE

Boxer in court over murder of Scottish woman

By Nick Forbes

A man accused of killing a Scottish aid worker in Athens and disposing of her body has appeared in court charged with homicide with intent.

The 26-year-old is accused of killing Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, who was discovered by a homeless man in a derelict building in the Kypseli area of Athens on 18 July.

Internal Greek reports refer to the suspect by the initials "SA", but it has been established he is Sharif Ahmadzai, an Afghan boxer who left his home country after being orphaned as a teenager.

Ahmadzai's lawyer Christos Erdos confirmed his client did not speak during yesterday's hearing at the Court of First Instance in Athens, and that he did not submit a plea for any of the three charges he faces.

He was initially detained on illegal weapons possession charges but is now facing a charge of homicide with intent, as well as allegations that he stole more than €10,000 (£8,500) from Ms Ross's bank accounts.

Homicide with intent is understood to be equivalent to a murder charge in Scotland.

The judge ordered Ahmadzai to

be kept in pre-trial detention while further evidence is compiled, ahead of another hearing at a future date.

The court complex is located on the city's Evelpidon Street, a short walk from the derelict building where Ms Ross's body was found.

Tributes have been placed on the ground next to the structure, with one card containing the words "Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Rest in peace" written in Greek.

Ms Ross (insat), who is understood to be from Edinburgh, entered Greece on 26 June and was staying with friends in Piraeus, a port area of Athens. She is then said to have gone to meet American friends in another part of the Greek capital, but it is unclear if this happened.

Authorities are awaiting the results of tissue analysis to determine whether she died from suffocation, as suggested by a preliminary assessment by the medical examiner.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said earlier: "Our thoughts are with Elisabeth's family during this difficult time."

Police Scotland previously said: "We are aware of the death of a Scottish woman in Athens... Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland."

The cartage leaves St Catherine's Church in Dublin after the funeral of Oscar-winner Brenda Fricker DAMIEN EAGERS/PA

IRELAND

Fricker's 'no fuss' funeral takes her back to her roots

By Gráinne Ní Aodha

The funeral of actress Brenda Fricker took place in The Liberties in Dublin yesterday - the area where she grew up.

Locals applauded as her coffin arrived at St Catherine's Church on Meath Street, adorned with a green cloth bearing a gold harp and a coat of arms of Dublin city.

Fricker, 81, died in Our Lady's Hospice in Dublin on 16 July.

She said she wanted her funeral to be "no fuss" and full of laughter.

Actor Brendan Gleeson (insat) and costume designer Joan Bergin were among those in attendance. Fricker won a best supporting actress Oscar for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in 1989's My Left Foot, which tells the story of a man with cerebral palsy, Christy Brown, who could only move his left foot.

PEOPLE

Knox show 'trivialises violence'

By Casey Cooper-Fiske

The sister of Meredith Kercher has said a show by Amanda Knox, who was convicted of murdering Ms Kercher and later acquitted, "normalises and trivialises violence against women".

The British exchange student

was killed in Perugia, Italy, in 2007, and her American room-mate Knox was arrested and later convicted of murder and sexual assault in 2009 alongside her then boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito.

The pair were finally acquitted of sexual assault and murder by Italy's highest court in 2015.

Knox will now perform in a show named Cartwheel, which references a story that claimed she had performed cartwheels in the police station after her friend's death, at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

Stephanie Kercher told BBC Breakfast: "It very much normalises and trivialises violence against women and Meredith in particular."

Knox and Edinburgh Fringe were contacted for comment.

MILITARY

Recruits allege abuse at college

By Mathilde Grandjean

Reports of rape and sexual abuse allegedly suffered by female recruits at a military training college for teenagers are "extremely distressing" and "unacceptable", the Army has said.

Four young women told the BBC they had suffered sexual abuse and harassment while attending the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in North Yorkshire.

The Army has called for victims and witnesses of criminal behaviour at the college to come forward.

"Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces," a spokesperson for the Army said.

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17

MEDICINE

Psychedelic in mushrooms can ease stubborn depression

By Storm Newton

A single dose of the natural psychedelic found in magic mushrooms could significantly ease depression that is resistant to other treatments, according to a study.

Symptoms went into remission in four in 10 patients taking part in the first publicly funded trial of the therapy, which took place in the community rather than a hospital.

One person described the treatment as "very emotional" at times, but said it helped them to understand their depression more.

The trial, led by King's College London and published in Nature Medicine, included 60 people with depression that had not responded to two previous treatments.

Half were given 25mg of psilocybin, while the other half were given a placebo.

More than four in 10 people (43 per cent) taking psilocybin met the threshold for treatment response after three weeks, rising to 56 per cent after six weeks.

This is compared to 3 per cent of patients in the placebo group.

Meanwhile, psilocybin helped 40 per cent of patients enter remission, meaning their symptoms of depression fell low enough to no longer

The study used psilocybin, found in so-called magic mushrooms

Psilocybin is classified as a Class A controlled substance Both fresh and dried magic mushrooms are strictly illegal to possess, cultivate, supply, or sell, although they can be used for scientific and clinical research

meet clinical criteria, within three weeks compared to 3 per cent in the placebo group.

Remission was sustained at six weeks, the trial found.

Professor James Rucker, consultant psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Here, we show that a randomised trial design of psilocybin compared to a true placebo was feasible in participants who had often failed many different types of treatment.

"People who were randomised to receive a dose of 25mg of psilocybin were much more likely to improve than those who were randomised to placebo up to six weeks of follow-up.

"As is often the case in clinical depression, individual responses were very variable and some of the difference seen between groups will be due to non-drug factors.

"Publicly funded clinical trials are an important part of the jigsaw of evidence needed for a new intervention to find its place in the real world.

"Meanwhile, the wider evidence base for psilocybin therapy is growing rapidly, and it looks increasingly promising."

One patient said: "It got very intense two or three times... one part that got very emotional for me I felt like I was in a ribcage of some sort and in that I saw my dad holding my sister and that image stays with me.

"I felt like it was a way of them saying we are here and that was definitely a point of emotional release."

Dogs get a lick of paint

Libby Elliot (left), National Lottery winner, with her daughter Betty Jean McRae, taking part in a Guide Dogs volunteering day at the Scottish

Vintage Bus Museum in Fife yesterday. Participants met service dogs and painted fundraising sculptures, with the best earning a prize. DJAN CHERRY/PA

SCIENCE

Brain cancer therapy advance

By Ella Pickover

A window of opportunity to attack aggressive brain cancer with chemotherapy has been found by scientists.

Instead of waiting for a few weeks after surgery to start chemotherapy, early research suggests that the treatment could be most impactful in the minutes and days after an operation to remove a glioblastoma.

The findings could potentially reshape care for glioblastoma patients, experts said, adding that the delay of four to six weeks between surgery

and the start of chemotherapy and radiotherapy has "largely been regarded as a necessity to ensure complete recovery from surgery".

But the findings could help medics when to "exploit" these windows of opportunity to attack the cancerous cells left behind after surgery.

Dr Gerben Borst, honorary consultant oncologist at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: "These findings suggest a better understanding of the body's response to surgery could help us deliver anti-cancer drugs more effectively."

HEALTH

Deaths linked to weight-loss drugs

Health officials have received reports of more than 200 deaths suspected of being linked to weight-loss jabs, figures have suggested.

A total of 106,189 adverse reactions and 120 deaths have been reported regarding tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mesunjaro.

And 48,089 reactions and 59 deaths have been reported as being suspected as being linked to semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and in diabetes treatments Ozempic and Rybelsus.

SOCIETY

Overconfidence found to be a problem of evolution

By Laura Butler

Humans being overconfident despite the consequences is down to evolution, a study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Bath and the London School of Economics argue that overconfidence is the "peacock's tail" of human behaviour as its costs reveal who can afford to sustain it.

In nature, a peacock's tail is an energy intensive burden, making them

highly visible to predators. But, as a result, the plumage signals only the healthiest mates.

Overconfidence in humans functions in the same way, they argue.

"Overconfidence is strikingly common and often costly," said Professor Chris Dawson, behavioural economist at the University of Bath.

The study suggests having an inflated sense of self leads to excessive risk-taking and can lead to costly errors, but people with greater un-

Researchers used the analogy of a peacock's tail, which signals health but also attracts predators

derlying abilities tend to make fewer, less damaging mistakes when they have higher self-belief.

This means only the most capable people are able to sustain consistent levels of self-belief without facing repercussions.

The Five-Clue Cryptic Crossword No 4901

Solution, page 49

Across

3 Wish to have on paper (7) 5/6 Regarding Ron curiously, he's not the monkey (5-7)

Down

1 French film director concerned with a sort of film (6) 2 Gullible person getting drinks under vessel (7) 4 Private expressed bitterness (6)

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The Opinion Matrix

COMMENT FROM HOME AND ABROAD

OPINION

BADENOCH VS NET ZERO

Tory leader must prove she is sincere

Financial Times

Kemi Badenoch's argument on net zero is that she is seeking viable solutions. But that means she must ensure she appears sincere rather than indifferent in her desire to tackle climate change. Her headline position must be that she has a better plan, proof that she backs what works rather than what seems virtuous. (Robert Shrimsley)

Hexham Courant

To find that even those who support moderate net zero targets seemingly no longer have a place in the Conservative Party is genuinely sad. It is a party that has thrown in the towel to Reform. (Joe Morris MP)

BURNHAM'S NEW WFH

PM may rue his working holiday

The Spectator

WFH – working from holiday, that is – is counterintuitive, the terms mutually exclusive since it's impossible to deliver the same quality of work on vacation. The sea air, the pool or the feel of last night's paella hardly conspire to ensure the brain is match fit for focusing on emails. (Angela Epstein)

Daily Express

The newly coronated PM is sunning himself on holiday while Britain burns. Starmer to Burnham is a distinction without a difference. Andy will come back with a tan and a video. Meanwhile his nation cooks. (Jonathan Sands)

UNITED NATIONS

Though flawed, it is still useful

The Economist

Why does the UN still exist? Because it can be useful. It is a rare forum where officials from America, Russia and China still meet every day. Governments both scary and benign need to work on global scourges. (Editorial)

Jewish Chronicle

The BBC frequently reports UN claims as though the organisation were a neutral authority beyond reproach rather than a collection of political bodies, bureaucracies and agencies whose evidence, assumptions and interests must themselves be tested. (Leah Benoz)

JASON ARDAY RESIGNATION

Row spells trouble for DEI policies

City AM

Arday's elastic relationship with the truth has been the subject of much mirth but it has also spawned serious questions about the potentially corrosive role that diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) plays in our society, which has given up fighting inequality in favour of the progressive dopamine rush of finding it instead. (Ike Ijeh)

The Guardian

The Cambridge academic has rightly now resigned. But that won't end the targeting of senior black figures or the lazy way institutions promote faux equality. (Jason Okundeye)

'HIROSHIMA, 8:15' MEMOIR

Astonishing and deeply moving

The Times

To a Western sensibility it's astonishing how Kiyoshi Tanimoto never expressed self-pity or bitterness towards the US. When an American reporter asked him whether the people of Hiroshima hated the Americans, he was taken aback. 'If we feel resentment, it is against the Japanese leaders,' he replied. (Francesca Angelini)

Irish Independent

Why Tanimoto's account of that time has never before been published is a mystery. This is an astonishing, deeply moving book on the horrors that humans can inflict on each other. (Ellis O'Hanlon)

RAVYN LENAE 'BLUE ISLAND'

Indecisive album fits no genre

Slant Magazine

Unfortunately, the theme of indecision extends to the music itself. Blue Island doesn't seem to know what genre it wants to be. R&B, 80s-inspired pop, or new wave. Too much of Blue Island, though, finds Lenae mistaking ambivalence for existential depth and stylistic variety for an artistic identity. (Jon Negroni)

The Line of Best Fit

Lenae's influences, disseminated throughout this album, works as a statement: she is joining the lineage of groundbreaking black artists of the past – Janet Jackson, Santigold, Resso. (Marie Nascoet)

Quote of the day

I know some people who are in relationships with a chat entity. It's happening and they're happy

Taika Waititi The Oscar-winning director on the future of love

Life In Brief

LORD HORAM POLITICIAN

John Horam joined the Labour Party aged 15, inspired by Hugh Gaitskell. He would go on to serve as a minister in Jim Callaghan's government, join the 'Gang of Four' who broke away from the Labour Party to launch the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1981, and then serve as a Conservative minister under John Major.

In serving as an MP for three parties, Horam's was a unique postwar achievement.

John Rhodes Horam was born in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a British Leyland fitter and a retail worker. He won an exhibition to Cambridge, where he read economics.

His first job was working on developing the After Eight mint for Rowntree before a stint in journalism at the Financial Times and then The Economist.

However, politics was calling. 'You

can't be a politician and an objective journalist at the same time,' he said.

After one failed parliamentary bid in 1966, he became the Labour – and later SDP – MP for Gateshead West from 1970 to 1983.

He was transport minister in the Callaghan government, and supported compulsory seat belts.

In 1983, the Gateshead West constituency having been abolished, he stood for the SDP in Newcastle Central but was not elected. He returned to consultancy work but was seduced by Thatcherism, joining the Conservative Party shortly before the 1987 election.

He later described his experience in the SDP as 'a stage in my political development when I was rejecting Labour'.

He became Conservative MP for Orpington, Kent, from 1992 to 2010, serving as health minister under John

Major and chair of the backbench 1922 Committee.

Not everyone was pleased to see him return to the dispatch box under a different party stripe. Dennis Skinner, one of the leftist group of rebel Labour MPs, decried him a 'dirty, double rat'.

But Horam embraced Conservatism with energy and passion.

'As Winston Churchill said, it is better to change your mind than be wrong all the time,' he once said, referencing the wartime prime minister's Liberal-Conservative switch.

'We all change our minds as we get older and more experienced. I have changed my mind.'

Horam also served as chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and later served on the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was created a working life peer as Baron Horam of Grimsargh in 2013. During the Brexit referendum

campaign, he supported membership of the European Union. Aside from politics, he enjoyed gardening and opera.

The peer died aged 87 in hospital in London after falling on the way home from a day working at the House of Lords on 2 July.

Horam married Judith Jackson, a journalist, in 1987. She and two stepsons survive him.

Born 7 March 1939 Died 25 July 2026

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NEWS 2-25

OPINION 16-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SCOOT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

19

My View Hamish McRae

How to make your holidays count

Tips for coping with rising cost pressures - and having a trip to remember

This year has been a particularly difficult season to travel for many people, with the war in the Middle East shutting off many cherished destinations, and wildfires and extreme heat across Europe disrupting plans. Of course, on any human scale of values, the devastation and loss of life that has taken place is vastly more troubling than some wrecked holidays.

There are also longer-term reasons why people report that holidays are either difficult to go on or no longer so enjoyable. Smartphones make it impossible to disconnect. The mechanics of travel have become tougher, particularly in Europe. There have been severe anti-tourism protests in Spain and elsewhere in Europe. Financial pressures have climbed, and the tourist industry is adept at extracting its profits in difficult times.

According to HSBC, holidays have become much more expensive since 2019, rising by 30 per cent, far faster than inflation. To manage costs we are adjusting how we travel this summer.

The most common changes, according to research from YouGov, include choosing domestic holidays instead of international travel (19 per cent), reducing spending during the trip itself (18 per cent), selecting cheaper destinations (17 per cent) and taking shorter trips (16 per cent).

We all need different things from the break from day-to-day life. A summer break should still be a chance to rebuild and renew, not a reminder that these are tough times. Here are half a dozen principles to help cope with these rising pressures:

A holiday should ideally be something special to us as individuals, as families, or as groups of friends. That's the whole point.

That does not mean it has to be abroad, and nearly one in five Britons are opting for domestic holidays instead.

If you just want to flop on a beach with a book that's fine, but it's more likely for the break to become something truly memorable if it is built around an idea.

That could be anything: an activity or sport, a place that has particular resonance, a bucket-list project, whatever. Activity holidays, particularly among young people, have boomed and four of the top 10 things tourists value relates

The best holidays offer far more than escape - they can change how we live afterwards as well as our overall perception of the world GETTY

to experiences they encounter, alongside basic issues such as safety and cost.

A good holiday can be an extension of the best that is happening in our non-holiday moments, because you can relive parts of it when you get back home.

Take two rather rarefied examples. If you are passionately interested in, say, cathedrals in Europe, and have finished a trip at St Peter's in Rome, you round it off by comparing it with St Paul's when you are next in London.

Or if you were fly-fishing in the west of Ireland, you try out the same flies in a well-stocked local river or reservoir, though probably with less success.

Maybe the most memorable holidays of all are those that can only be done at a particular moment in time. That could be anything from a visit to Berlin at the end of 1989 just after the wall came down, to one to the US last month for the World Cup.

There's actually a special day next week with the solar eclipse,

though it's a bit late to go to Portugal or Spain for the total version and we may have to make do with the partial eclipse visible in the UK. As it happens, however, there's another total eclipse in August next year which sweeps right across Spain before heading towards Egypt and the Middle East.

It will almost certainly be cheaper to see the eclipse next year from Egypt rather than Spain, and you'll probably get a better view.

If you are planning to travel for a certain event, it goes without saying that planning ahead and booking months in advance will save you

“A good holiday should help people make decisions about what makes them lastingly happy”

money. There are also several other ways to hold down the costs of a foreign holiday. They include small things such as paying a bill on your card in local currency rather than paying in sterling. You almost always get a better rate.

And there are bigger ones such as choosing to go off-season, and staying in a secondary city rather than a famous one - so Rotterdam in the Netherlands, rather than Amsterdam.

One of the big trends in travel and tourism is wellness - rising by 16.6 per cent a year.

The idea here is that you can make sustained advances in your general wellbeing by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing stress, and that you can set this progress off by choosing the right place to go on holiday. It could be anything from walking in Zambia to a sauna in Finland, or if you are so inclined, a wellness cruise in the Caribbean.

The key point here is that this is not a one-shot holiday that's over and done with.

The purpose is to help you live a healthier and happier life.

Finally, there are holidays that help you along the next step. For young people, this could be how to get a first job in, for example, Australia.

The purpose of the holiday would be to gauge where to try to build your life if you were considering emigrating. Is the grass really greener?

For anyone approaching retirement, it's the other way round: the aim would be to work out whether you would really be happy in Spain or Florida, or whether it would drive you nuts. The Government advises anyone planning to retire abroad to have a long stay there first.

The common thread in all these points is that in an ideal world holidays should reduce stress in people's lives. They should help them make better decisions about what they really want and what makes them lastingly happy.

i@theipaper.com

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20

@theipaper facebook.com/theipaper @@theipaper.com Please include a contact address with all correspondence

Your View

Tweets, emails and letters to The Editor, The iPaper, 9 Derry Street, London W8 9HY

Solving triple lock dilemma

The triple lock could be scrapped if the personal tax allowance was raised. Surely this would be the fairest option and is long overdue?

LORNA WILLIAMS MALMESBURY, WILTSHIRE

A word on GHIC cards for users

I was interested to read the article ('How not declaring HRT on travel insurance can lead to heavy costs', 6 August) about the woman who had an insurance claim refused.

The woman states that she held a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) but had left it at home. It would be unfortunate if readers gained the impression that this makes the GHIC invalid.

In such a case, card holders can apply online for a PRC (Provisional Replacement Certificate) which immediately grants the same cover as the GHIC.

BRYAN TABRAH WIMBORNE, DORSET

Andy Burnham, I say hell yeah

Judith Daniels's letter (Your view, 5 August) resonated with me.

The new Prime Minister Andy Burnham regained my vote as soon as he apologised for Labour's response to the situation in Gaza.

Then, when he said Labour had taken a wrong turn in the past, it was music to my ears, as in my view they have long lost sight of the 'common good', and have been deaf to public concerns and opinions. But Burnham's optimism and passion is infectious and gives me hope of better times to come.

Even hearing a regional accent for a change feels refreshing, although I would

prefer Yorkshire (like Harold Wilson) rather than Lancashire. But there you go, you can't have everything. ANITA WOOLLETT LEEDS

Climate crisis is apolitical issue

So long as we continue to buy large quantities of goods from China, India and other countries that do not seem to have any concern about carbon emissions, our own efforts amount to little more than awkward and expensive virtue signalling.

If the human race is to survive, we have to adapt. The failures of our recent governments have much to do with unrealistic expectations of what can be achieved, and silly promises that cannot be honoured.

It is neither right-nor-left-wing leanings that matter, but simply common sense, a body of innate wisdom tried and tested over aeons, coupled with intelligent application of technical expertise. DAPHNE P C SMITH GODMANCHESTER, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

Other criminals are available

Whatever kind of muppets are running the country? Surely there are many, many other prisoners that could be released early, not thugs who murdered a young copper?

JO REES WINCHCOMBE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Let's make it in North Yorkshire

Regarding your story ('Struggling UK farmers fill Russian coffers buying essential fertiliser', 5 August), there is a polyhalite mine originally established by a British company on the North Yorkshire coast.

Some readers are convinced they know what their pooches dream of GETTY

Polyhalite is a natural multi-nutrient fertiliser. The company was taken over by the conglomerate Anglo-American and effectively mothballed soon after, presumably to protect their other enterprises. Why can't it be re-opened?

PETER BERNARD

The mystery of canine dreams

Regarding The List ('Canine heaven. What dogs dream of', 5 August), my 15-year-old dog Davey, a terrier-type cross-breed agrees with your list but wants to add. 'Chasing foxes out of garden and pursuing them even when on lead.'

Davey is on palliative care from the vet but shows no sign of decline and thoroughly enjoys every day.

Woof, woof! BRENDA GUTBERLET CANVEY ISLAND, ESSEX

Fitting tributes for Rod Liddle

I agree with Simon Kelner's assessment of the late Rod Liddle

('My disastrous lunch in Venice with Rod Liddle', 5 August)

Whilst my daily paper is of course The i, my wife and I also take the Sunday Times, which in the absence of a Sunday i gives me an intelligent read, albeit it is far too right-wing most of the time for my own taste.

Rod Liddle's weekly column invariably made my hackles rise, but he was often humorous, entertaining and thought provoking.

I'll miss having an inner rant at his column every week.

BEN KUSHNER BRISTOL

What an excellent and refreshingly honest article by Simon Kelner.

So often an individual's death results

in an outpouring of rose-tinted platitudes that pay little homage to the real person, with their unique personalities and idiosyncrasies.

Simon's story was amusing and respectful, whilst not straying away from capturing Rod Liddle as he (and no doubt others) saw him.

STEVE ROSE BIRMINGHAM

Got flies? Adopt spiders (I did)

A lovely article about flies ('Flies are really bugging us this summer – and they won't easily just buzz off', 6 August)

I don't have a problem with them, as I have a very healthy population of spiders that keep the flies at bay.

One noisy fly at night

has disappeared by morning. Look after your spiders! G KORTAN CHIPPING NORTON, OXFORDSHIRE

School research not followed up

Some years ago, I undertook a year's research into the causes of low attendance in schools, funded by the Department for Education.

I looked into methods of recording attendance, reasons for absence and strategies to combat it. I found that telling each form every week their percentage attendance had an impact. It was simple but it introduced an element of competition, which is attractive to pupils.

Nothing came of our year's work. The lengthy report and its statistics disappeared into nothingness.

The whole thing was a waste of money but I spent an interesting year. And the causes of non-attendance, which were all recorded anonymously, were truly enlightening. JILL READ OLDHAM, GREATER MANCHESTER

Nice idea... for last century

Much as I applaud plans to provide 'closer to home' mental health services, placing them in libraries and banks?

First, you have to find a town which still has a bank or a library!

MIRIAM BROWN STRETHAM, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

MORE COMMENT on theipaper.com

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TRAVEL Hiking the French Alps... the perfect heatwave escape

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CULTURE

Joe Wilkinson

On Britain's deep love for sitcoms – and a run-down of his favourites and their most memorable lines

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NEW? 2-35

OPINION 18-22

TU 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONET 44-47

SPORT 48-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

21

Wheelchair Warriors make me feel bad about myself

HEALTH

Julie Burchill

My day, on paper, has many similarities to the way it was before I became disabled. I'm still up with the lark, drink black coffee and lie with my laptop, ready to face the day and the deadline. When sufficient words have been wielded, there may well be a bathing, a menu to peruse and cocktails to pursue.

The difference is that I can't walk any more. My bowels, bladder and bedsores are constantly in some corner of my mind; I'm either dreading the attention they will soon require or recovering from their capricious demands. It takes twice as long just to fashion myself into what I think of as half a person.

In the face of this, I feel something approaching astonishment when I survey what I think of as the Wheelchair Warriors, who pursue very different goals but who see their chariots as launching pads from which to project themselves to new heights of excellence.

There are the athletes of the Invictus Games. There is the actress and producer Ruth Madeley, currently to be seen in The Rapture. There is the glamorous woman Lorraine Mack, who survived an accident in a nightclub to become an advocate for those of us with spinal injuries. They say you've got to see it to be it – but regarding all of these disparate comrades in wheels, I only feel even more of a Wheelchair Wimp, as I use mine solely for humdrum scootings between hospital-style bed, commode and couch.

How do they look so clean? So smart? So put-together? And then there's what they do on top of that!

Can I blame my advanced age for this lack of desire to make a role model out of myself? The athletes tend to be young; Madeley is in her thirties, Mack in her fifties; I'm an OAP.

While I admire their good looks,

Ruth Madeley is propelling herself to new heights of excellence DAVE BENNETT

I can't help seeing the attraction in letting oneself go to seed. A part of me believes that it would be a lot more fun to take Catherine Tate's cackling "Nan" as my role model.

I suppose a lot of my trouble stems from the fact that I became disabled and old at the same time. Before my spinal surgery, I didn't behave like someone in their sixties might generally behave. My friends and husband were younger than me; I could work hard and play hard; I had no plans to stop writing, ever.

When I saw my hospital release summary, the words "retired – lives alone" leapt out at me with the force of a physical blow. After a lifetime of feeling as if I was made of titanium and tungsten, it's strange to be "vulnerable".

That's why I feel such incomprehension regarding the full-to-bursting lives of these Wheelchair Warriors. Just getting my head around what has happened to me takes up the part of my brain that should be

How do they look so clean? So smart? And then there's what they do on top of that!

branching out. Mack has been skydiving; the nearest I get to that is falling out of my wheelchair when I'm drunk.

Will there ever come a day when I can become as bold in my wheelchair as I was on my long, swaggering legs? Or have I used up all my oomph?

"Where's the rest of me?" How I and many other arrogant Ableds laughed when we heard a young Ronald Reagan speak that line in the film Kings Row, on finding out that an evil doctor had amputated his legs.

My legs are still there, and I feel lucky for that. But the part of me that took chances, chased change and embraced uncertainty appears to have departed, probably for ever. It's my nerve which has gone – so I'll never be a Wheelchair Warrior.

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22

David Olusoga couldn't be more wrong about OBEs

SOCIETY

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

David Olusoga is brave and brilliant. His tomes on black Britons through the ages and programmes on empire made public truths that most who came before him had buried or neglected.

I have known Olusoga (inset) for over 20 years and I admire him as much as ever. This critical column does not change that.

It was triggered by an interview Olusoga did with Rosie Millard in the Radio Times this week. It was put to him that despite being a thinker critical of empire, he had accepted an OBE in 2019.

"I'm often told by privileged, white, middle-class people that it's a terrible thing for a black person to accept an OBE, and I think they underestimate what it means," he

explained. "It's a different thing for somebody who is an immigrant to turn down a national honour than it is for someone who was born here... I arrived as a little boy from Nigeria and this country, with a lot of help from my mother, invested in me. Turning an honour down would be a snub."

His feelings, his choice. It's the grandstanding that irks.

First, the casual insults chucked at "privileged white, middle-class people", who believe these honours are ignominious. Then, the intellectual laziness and effrontery to imply immigrants all crave this validation. We do not.

Other writers of colour are similarly against such honours. The poet Benjamin Zephaniah, whom I loved and confided in, shamed me on Channel 4 for accepting an MBE. I sent it back.

And here is George the Poet in 2019: "I turned down an MBE. I just saw my parents' faces and without thinking I said 'yes' and then I took a minute and reflected, and I felt a burning sensation in my chest... Your forefathers grabbed my motherland, pinned her down and took turns. They did that every day for a couple hundred years and then left her to treat her own burns."

Even more disappointing is Olusoga's apparent apathy towards a system that to me looks open to corruption. All prime ministers stuff the Lords with friendly, rich peers and hand out honours to big donors, political plotters and movers.

Analysis of Cabinet Office data by the BBC of the 2025 honours list found only 6 per cent of higher awards went to Northerners and only 4 per cent to people from working-class backgrounds.

More than 60 per cent of beneficiaries of the "higher" awards, such as Commander of the Order of the British

Empire (CBE) and knighthoods and damehoods, lived in London and south-east England.

There was more diversity in the lower honours.

Not only are too many men and women of dubious character given medals, the ceremonies affirm the monarchy and confer on the Windsors respect they have never earned. No ordinary mechanism exists to strip the titles from life peers like Peter Mandelson.

The right-wing media has responded enthusiastically to Olusoga's words. He has a new show starting. Short-term gain, perhaps. But was it worth risking the respect he has built up, brick by brick?

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SOCIETY

Sarah Carson

Stub out this

cigarette comeback

When I was a child I was led to believe the great diabolical temptation "smoking" would present itself to me on the way home from school.

It would probably involve peer pressure, and how I responded to it would determine both the course of my future and my classification as either a good or bad person. It did not seem difficult to do. I had grown up in a world where smoking was bad.

Now we live in a world where smoking is good. Or bad - but in the cool way. Subversive, carefree, fun, part of an aesthetic of old-school elegance, or hedonism, or both.

Charli xcx, who declared "pack of cigs and a Bic lighter" central to her "brat" era two years ago; well-read Dua Lipa; beautiful Palestine activist Bella Hadid; and doe-eyed Gracie Abrams.

The stigma has lifted. But we should be deeply alarmed by smoking's insidious acceptability. We rail against the ills of social media and technology. I don't see anywhere near enough outrage about the creeping prevalence of cigarettes online.

It doesn't matter that no one born after 2009 will ever legally buy a packet of cigarettes, that it has been illegal to advertise tobacco products since 2001 or that nobody with a conscience would ever assist the industry's promotion: they no longer need to. Instagram is doing it for free.

There are all sorts of reasons posited for why smoking is "back". Despite fewer smokers overall than ever, there has been an increase for the first time in two decades in certain areas, including the south of England.

Whatever the justification, smoking's return isn't just alarming - it's embarrassing.

We all know that the images we see online affect our thinking. It is peer pressure of a silent kind. It allows us to absorb the impression that everybody is at it, that it is aspirational and even worse, normalised.

Passivity leads to acceptability - it is what has allowed the image of the sexy smoker to return so aggressively, after decades of public health campaigns. Instagram is much more powerful than the temptress down an alley, and it has allowed Big Tobacco's dream to come true.

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NEWS

NEW! 2-26

OPINION 16-22

TV 28-31

SUNDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

23

TECHNOLOGY

Personality test responses predicted by AI

By Stephen Beech

An AI chatbot can generate personality tests and predict people's responses before they take them.

Scientists have developed a method for generating personality assessment questionnaires with ChatGPT from any source text.

To test the method, they applied it to both the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association's manual used to classify and diagnose mental disorders (DSM-5) and, as a deliberately unconventional example, an astrology textbook.

The findings, published in the journal iScience, showed that not only could ChatGPT be used to create and validate the questionnaires, but it could also accurately predict the range of responses before the surveys were administered.

Study lead author Rotem Monsa said: "LLMs may have learned the structure of human personality as a natural by-product of their training."

UNITED STATES

Marmots uncensored: scientists resort to OnlyFans to fund their wild study

By Laura Butler

Researchers in the United States have turned to OnlyFans after significant funding cuts threatened their 64-year-old marmot study.

The account, called "OnlyMarms", features family-friendly videos and photographs of marmots in their natural habitat.

Researchers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado have been studying yellow-bellied marmots continuously since 1962. But widespread federal funding cuts to universities put the studies financial future in question.

Colorado-based biologist Dr Daniel Blumstein came up with a creative solution – launching an account on OnlyFans.

The platform is known for sexually explicit content, but Blumstein's account features only "uncensored marmot content", he told the BBC.

The account has so far generated more than $5,000 (£3,712), making $4,000 for the study after OnlyFans' cut was deducted.

This falls short of the tens of thousands needed to keep the study, run by UCLA, alive.

The idea came to Blumstein as he sat in a meadow watching marmots. He had recently watched the show Marge's Got Money Troubles, in which Elle Fanning's character creates an OnlyFans account to support herself as a single mother.

The professor turned to his lab students for support, who came up with the name "OnlyMarms" and

helped set up the account. But when making the account and submitting his ID picture – an OnlyFans regulation – the account was flagged after his face did not match the marmot in the profile picture. A quick email exchange with the platform solved this issue.

This unconventional method aims to create cash flow through donations in exchange for endearing marmot content.

The money will fund the field studies conducted by Blumstein and his team, tracking marmot behaviour and lineages.

The Marmot Project is the second-longest study of individually identified mammals in the world, second to Jane Goodall's chimpanzee study in Tanzania.

It helps scientists understand factors driving population change and animal behaviour.

The OnlyFans page is a last-ditch attempt to save the project, after Blumstein and his team failed to secure alternative funding.

While OnlyMarms has been gaining traction, Blumstein says the money gained is not likely to be sufficient. He wonders if the time spent on the page may be better spent in the field.

To donate to the fund – without having to join OnlyFans – visit tinyurl.com/marmotfund.

MUSIC

Composer's lost score set for air show premiere

By Laura Butler

A newly discovered James Horner score has been recorded by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra – and will premiere at the International Ayr Show next month, nearly 11 years after the composer's death.

The piece, "Skyward Spirit", will provide the soundtrack for the aerobatic flight team Airborne Pyrotechnics.

Horner, who composed scores for Bruceheart and Titanic, was an avid aviator who died in a plane crash in 2015. He originally wrote the piece for the US air force's Thunderbirds aerobatic squadron.

Until recently, it had been assumed the work never came to fruition. But Horner's flying teammate Ed Shipley found a photo of the composer holding the manuscript.

Horner's friend Simon Rhodes completed and arranged "Skyward Spirit".

HOSPITALITY

Pubs warn against restrictions on standing drinkers

By Tom Jeffreys

A council is consulting on plans that could restrict standing in central London bars as it seeks to tackle "excessive drunkenness".

Westminster City Council has come under fire from businesses and the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq

Khan, over a draft licensing policy that seeks to discourage "vertical drinking" and encourage table service in Soho and the West End.

The policy says the council wants to "discourage excessive drunkenness and encourage the provision of more seating in premises that serve alcohol for people to sit and enjoy a

drink and order food by table service in place of open bar space that caters for high-volume vertical drinking".

Lesley Lewis, owner of The French House pub, a Soho pub and dining room, said it could lead to closures, redundancies and loss of business.

She said: "It will really finish us

off. We rely on those people standing up with the rents and the rates put upon us."

Khan is set to gain new powers that will allow him to call in certain licensing applications of strategic importance.

A spokesperson for the Mayor said: "At a time when venues need

our support more than ever, the rules on licensing are stacked against them."

The council said it wished to "promote a more balanced range of venues that are less dominated by alcohol-led activities".

People spilling on to pavements near pubs was also noted.

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Subject to the availability, the information required for a purchase extension from U.S. Federal Register will be 30 days of receipt of goods at Ryooh Tools Co., Ltd. Printed in Newark, Newark, NJ OR October 24, 2011. Under this delivery, you are not to be able to purchase 30% of U.S. 2011 RYOOH TOOLS FOR THE ONE-THAT'S SHARE OF THE SAME. If you are not to be able to purchase 30% of U.S. 2011 RYOOH TOOLS FOR THE ONE-THAT'S SHARE OF THE SAME. If you are not to be able to purchase 30% of U.S. 2011 RYOOH TOOLS FOR THE ONE-THAT'S SHARE OF THE SAME. If you are not to be able to purchase 30% of U.S. 2011 RYOOH TOOLS FOR THE ONE-THAT'S SHARE OF THE SAME.

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NEWS

NEWS 2-35

OPINION 18-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

25

HEALTH

Obscure organ could hold ageing secrets

Walnut-size thymus might be a bigger deal than it seems, writes Clare Wilson

If you ever muse about which parts of your body are most affected by getting older, your heart, brain or perhaps your muscles may come to mind.

One that you probably wouldn't think of is the thymus, a walnut-sized organ in your upper chest.

The thymus has long been known to help form the immune system in babies in the womb, but in adults, it was thought to be mostly useless, shrinking as we age. (At birth, it is about 1.5 to 2.5 inches long and weighs roughly 25 grams. It grows until puberty to reach a peak weight of 35 to 50 grams, then shrinks and turns into fat tissue.)

Recent research, though, has revealed the thymus plays a major role in maintaining the immune system all our lives.

More broadly, thymus function could be a major factor in healthy ageing, governing our resilience to a host of ailments – not just infections, but also cancer and heart disease.

In the womb and early childhood, it is where immune cells develop and “learn” to attack harmful microbes, as well as to recognise and to leave alone cells that are part of the person’s own body.

“It’s like a school or training place,” said Professor Paola Bonfanti, a stem cell researcher at the Francis Crick Institute in London. “It is where the cells are

exposed to a mini-representation of the world of our body before they face the real world.”

Thymus is what the “T” stands for in T-cells, a major branch of the immune system, whose jobs include killing virus-infected cells and cancer cells.

The thymus’s role was discovered when newborn mice quickly succumbed to infections after having theirs removed.

But for decades after this discovery, it was still thought that the thymus didn’t do much in adulthood. That’s because the organ literally shrivels.

One of the first signs that we had been underestimating the thymus was a study in 2023, which looked at people who’d had heart operations, when the thymus is sometimes simply removed and thrown away.

If the thymus is so useless, its presence or absence shouldn’t make any difference to health. But in fact, people who’d had it removed had three times the risk of dying over the next five years, compared with those where it was left alone.

People who had lost their thymus were more likely to die, not just from cancer but also heart disease.

This year, two studies showed that people whose thymus has shrunk more with age have worse health and are more likely to die within a certain period.

The thymus gland sits behind the breastbone and was once thought to be unnecessary, as its shrivels with age. But now scientists are re-evaluating it

It is unclear exactly what causes some people’s thymus to shrink faster. Some well-known markers of unhealthy lifestyles, like smoking and obesity, correlate with smaller thymus size.

It looks increasingly likely that, far from being vestigial, the thymus plays a major role in healthy ageing, said Bonfanti.

The good news is there are hints

from nature that it may be possible to slow or even reverse the thymus’s decline, because this sometimes happens spontaneously.

In pregnancy, the organ shrinks and then regrows afterwards. It also shrinks during chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer and may then grow again, with the expansion probably helpful in killing cancer cells.

Thymus rejuvenation is one of the hottest topics in anti-ageing research, according to a recent article in the journal Nature, which said an “explosion of thymus research has taken place over the past three years”.

Bonfanti told me she has had several approaches from private investors in anti-ageing research, wanting to discuss funding her work.

She thinks the field is seen as having such potential because the thymus seems to be involved in so many different areas of medicine – heart disease, infections, response to vaccines, autoimmune disease – and perhaps longevity too. “Everyone wants to live for a long time, and some want to live forever,” she said.

Research strategies can be put into three broad categories. Some aim to mimic thymus function, by supplying the body with substances that help immune cells mature, which are normally produced by the organ itself, such as one called thymulin.

Others are designed to rejuvenate the thymus from within, by supplying the organ with substances that encourage cell growth, such as one called KGF (keratinocyte growth factor).

Perhaps most futuristic are strategies for growing thymus cells in the lab, before transplanting them into the body.

It is too soon to say which has the most potential, as all are in their early stages.

Nevertheless, even if the thymus’s role in longevity is being overblown, it is at least intriguing that research into healthy ageing has a new avenue to explore.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD No 4837 BY NIMROD

ACROSS

1 Force special lock (6) 4 Surely being led astray must have fines halved? (2.6) 10 It’s unfortunate only the last of fliers is accepted, in truth (9) 11/21 Dragoons describing Rob Ray and An Elegy to listeners? (5.5) 12 One takes walk around Italian city (5) 13 Scanty pants? Predictable response in rule-following order (9) 15 Broadcast NHS open secret, do you? (3.6.6) 17 With one off-beam wit in US dividing country, the best possible outcome? (3-3.9) 18 This will be getting nasty with local canvassing (9) 20 In language, e.g. writing in past tense (5) 21 See 11 22 Anagram letters written like this for solving clique, say? (2.1.6)

23 Warm beer, this Yorkshire Terrier (8) 24 Rolling preserves verges of couch grass (6)

DOWN

1 Why, we hear, divers won’t put into Portsmouth region? Poor areas (11) 2 Might you get e.g. Abba B or Leffie to make a copy like this? (7-8) 3 Greene novel in the ascendant it’s plain (9) 5 KLM captain still not cleared for landing? (6.8) 6 Is about to appear in big adaptation’s opening or musical (5) 7 Enough in snug for whip-round? (4.2.5.1.3) 8 At printer’s, measures editor’s initial written submission (3) 9 So employee stepping up must grow a pair? (3.5.2.4)

14 One seen in the canteen exercising ___? (6.5) 16 Person at the top you shouldn’t have to call over issue (9) 19 Made a check of tea-leaves in a box? (5) 21 OK for head to leave part of India (3)

Solution to yesterday’s Cryptic

COMMA	IN	RE	LA	TIED
O	L	T	N	A
O	L	W	A	R
O	L	W	A	R
A	S	E	C	Y
A	S	E	C	Y
E	S	A	I	B
O	L	W	A	R
O	L	W	A	R
S	L	W	A	R
S	L	W	A	R
S	L	W	A	R
T	L	W	A	R
E	N	E	M	A
S	M	A	L	L
S	M	A	L	L
R	S	P	R	O

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
			9
10					11
12			13				14
15					16
17
18		19			20
21			22
23					24

Stuck on the cryptic crossword? For today’s solutions, call 0905 789 3580. Calls cost 9kgs per minute plus your network access charge. If you are having trouble accessing this number, please call our helpdesk on 0333 202 3390.

Full terms and conditions can be found on page 29

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Television Friday 7 August

CRITIC'S CHOICE

GERARD GILBERT

PICK OF THE DAY

Our Lives

7.30pm, BBC One

Remember Riot Women, Sally Wainwright's drama about five menopausal women who form a punk band? The 2025 BBC show was dismissed as unrealistic by some, but this documentary begs to differ as it meets a six-women, over-50s punk band from south Wales called Nahlaz (including Anne-Marie Bollen, left). They tackle social issues like pension inequality and care home fees and have recently released their debut EP, NoNefesto. Before meeting at a community workshop, they had worked as nurses, foster carers and ice-cream van drivers, and now juggle busy lives with touring. Cameras meet them as they prepare for their first international gig in New York.

Also Sprach Zarathustra

At The Proms

7pm, BBC Four

Katie Derham introduces a specially curated programme featuring a trio of pieces inspired by the wonders of the sky. It opens with the BBC Philharmonic performing Richard Strauss's tone poem Also Sprach Zarathustra. Judith Weir's Moon And Star follows, while the evening finishes with a debut performance by the Spanish National Orchestra in Ravel's Alborado Del Gracioso.

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EFL Cup Live

7.30pm, ITV1

From the World Cup finals to the first-round of the EFL Cup may seem a dizzying descent for all, but the

football obsessed or, of course, fans of tonight's two teams: Middlesbrough and Wrexham (kick-off 8.00pm). Boro will be looking to avoid a repeat of this stage last season, when they were beaten. 4-0 here at the Riverside Stadium by Doncaster Rovers, as they face glamour club Wrexham.

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Granite Harbour

8pm, BBC One

As the Aberdeen-set procedural draws to a conclusion, Matty's missing phone becomes the centre of the investigation. As suspicion shifts in unexpected directions, long-buried secrets and hidden relationships come to light, forcing Lindo and Bart (Ramano Simpson and Hannah Donaldson) to question everything they thought they knew.

Surgery Secrets of

the Super Rich

8pm, Channel 4

Bride-to-be Hannah prepares for her big day with a non-surgical liquid nose job and facial thread lift, part of a growing trend where modern brides turn to cosmetic tweakments. Cheshire-based property investor Nabeel meanwhile represents a new breed of high-end client, investing over £1,000 a-month in a long-term programme of tweakments, including radiofrequency microneedling and exosomes to maintain his appearance.

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Carpe Diem

9pm, More4

An above-par new French-language legal drama set in Nice and starring

	ONE	TWO	itv1	4	5	FOUR	6	itv2
Daytime	6.00 Breakfast (S) 9.30 Animal Park (R) (S) 10.15 Treas, Thick, Gel My Car Beds (R) (S) 10.45 Expert Witness (R) (S) 11.15 Homes Under The Hammer (R) (S) 12.15 Bargain Hour: 30 Years Of The One Show (S) 1.00 BBC News At One, Weather (S) 1.35 BBC Regional News, Weather (R) 1.45 BBC News At One, Weather (S) 2.00 The Hairdresser Mysteries (S) 2.15 Escape To The Country (R) (S) 3.45 The Bidding Room (S) 4.30 The Answer Run (S) 5.15 Paintless (R) (S)	6.30 Money For Nothing (R) (S) 7.15 The Bidding Room (R) (S) 8.00 Sign Zone: Marisa Warning, Simply Presence (R) (S) 9.00 BBC News (S) 1.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) (S) 1.30 The Finish Line (R) (S) 2.15 Do You Know Your Place? (R) (S) 2.45 The Hairy Bloor: Balsation (R) (S) 3.45 The Armour Country Showdown (R) (S) 4.30 Vintage Antiques Readstow (R) (S) 5.15 Frog M (R) (S)	6.00 Good Morning Britain (S) 10.00 This Morning (R) 1.30 ITV News, Weather (S) 1.55 ITV Regional News, Weather (S) 2.00 Dickinson's Real Deal (R) (S) 3.00 Deal Or No Deal (R) (S) 3.55 ITV Regional Weather (S) 4.30 Tipping Point (R) (S) 5.00 The Dawn (R) (S)	6.30 The King Of Queens (R) (S) 7.15 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S) 8.10 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S) 8.10 Everybody Loves Raymond (R) (S) 9.10 Freaker (R) (S) 9.40 Freaker (R) (S) 10.10 Freaker (R) (S) 10.40 Freaker (R) (S) 11.10 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (R) (S) 12.15 Channel 4, News Summary (R) 12.10 Find It, Fix It, Flag It (R) (S) 1.10 The Great House Giveaway (R) (S) 2.10 Countdown (S) 3.00 A Place In The Sun (R) (S) 4.00 Saving Country Houses With Passalps Kettik (R) (S) 5.00 Chateau DIY (R) (S)	6.00 Milkshake! 9.15 Jeremy Vine (R) 11.30 Storm & Alasta (R) 12.45 5 News At Lunchtime (S) 12.50 Matt Allwright (S) 2.20 FILM: The Book Club Murders (Eugen Goos 2016) Mystery, starring Brittany Underwood (S) 4.00 Castle (R) (S) 4.55 Love Nature (R) (S) 5.00 5 News With Dan Walker (S)			6.00 Backyard Builds (S) 6.30 Dress To Impress (S) 7.30 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 8.20 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S) 9.20 The Only Way to Essex (R) 10.20 Deweers Crivok (S) 11.20 Charmed (S) 12.15 Deal Or No Deal (S) 1.15 Supermarket Sweep (S) 2.15 The Floor USA (S) 3.10 The Only Way to Essex (S) 4.10 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 5.00 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S)
6pm	6.00 BBC News At Six: Weather (S) 6.30 BBC Regional News: Weather (S)	6.00 Richard Osman's House Of Games (R) (S) 6.30 Just One Thing Last in the series (R) (S)	6.00 ITV Regional News: Weather (S) 6.30 ITV News: Weather (S)	6.00 American Pickers Mike Walsh and Frank Fritz find a rare Superman comic (R) (S)	6.00 Menorca: A Year In The Sun (R) (S) 6.55 5 News Update (S)	London's August 10, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035, 2036, 2037, 2038, 2039, 2040, 2041, 2042, 2043, 2044, 2045, 2046, 2047, 2048, 2049, 2050, 2051, 2052, 2053, 2054, 2055, 2056, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2060, 2061, 2062, 2063, 2064, 2065, 2066, 2067, 2068, 2069, 2070, 2071, 2072, 2073, 2074, 2075, 2076, 2077, 2078, 2079, 2080, 2081, 2082, 2083, 2084, 2085, 2086, 2087, 2088, 2089, 2090, 2091, 2092, 2093, 2094, 2095, 2096, 2097, 2098, 2099, 2100, 2101, 2102, 2103, 2104, 2105, 2106, 2107, 2108, 2109, 2110, 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2115, 2116, 2117, 2118, 2119, 2120, 2121, 2122, 2123, 2124, 2125, 2126, 2127, 2128, 2129, 2130, 2131, 2132, 2133, 2134, 2135, 2136, 2137, 2138, 2139, 2140, 2141, 2142, 2143, 2144, 2145, 2146, 2147, 2148, 2149, 2150, 2151, 2152, 2153, 2154, 2155, 2156, 2157, 2158, 2159, 2160, 2161, 2162, 2163, 2164, 2165, 2166, 2167, 2168, 2169, 2170, 2171, 2172, 2173, 2174, 2175, 2176, 2177, 2178, 2179, 2180, 2181, 2182, 2183, 2184, 2185, 2186, 2187, 2188, 2189, 2190, 2191, 2192, 2193, 2194, 2195, 2196, 2197, 2198, 2199, 2200, 2201, 2202, 2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 2207, 2208, 2209, 2210, 2211, 2212, 2213, 2214, 2215, 2216, 2217, 2218, 2219, 2220, 2221, 2222, 2223, 2224, 2225, 2226, 2227, 2228, 2229, 2230, 2231, 2232, 2233, 2234, 2235, 2236, 2237, 2238, 2239, 2240, 2241, 2242, 2243, 2244, 2245, 2246, 2247, 2248, 2249, 2250, 2251, 2252, 2253, 2254, 2255, 2256, 2257, 2258, 2259, 2260, 2261, 2262, 2263, 2264, 2265, 2266, 2267, 2268, 2269, 2270, 2271, 2272, 2273, 2274, 2275, 2276, 2277, 2278, 2279, 2280, 2281, 2282, 2283, 2284, 2285, 2286, 2287, 2288, 2289, 2290, 2291, 2292, 2293, 2294, 2295, 2296, 2297, 2298, 2299, 2300, 2301, 2302, 2303, 2304, 2305, 2306, 2307, 2308, 2309, 2310, 2311, 2312, 2313, 2314, 2315, 2316, 2317, 2318, 2319, 2320, 2321, 2322, 2323, 2324, 2325, 2326, 2327, 2328, 2329, 2330, 2331, 2332, 2333, 2334, 2335, 2336, 2337, 2338, 2339, 2340, 2341, 2342, 2343, 2344, 2345, 2346, 2347, 2348, 2349, 2350, 2351, 2352, 2353, 2354, 2355, 2356, 2357, 2358, 2359, 2360, 2361, 2362, 2363, 2364, 2365, 2366, 2367, 2368, 2369, 2370, 2371, 2372, 2373, 2374, 2375, 2376, 2377, 2378, 2379, 2380, 2381, 2382, 2383, 2384, 2385, 2386, 2387, 2388, 2389, 2390, 2391, 2392, 2393, 2394, 2395, 2396, 2397, 2398, 2399, 2400, 2401, 2402, 2403, 2404, 2405, 2406, 2407, 2408, 2409, 2410, 2411, 2412, 2413, 2414, 2415, 2416, 2417, 2418, 2419, 2420, 2421, 2422, 2423, 2424, 2425, 2426, 2427, 2428, 2429, 2430, 2431, 2432, 2433, 2434, 2435, 2436, 2437, 2438, 2439, 2440, 2441, 2442, 2443, 2444, 2445, 2446, 2447, 2448, 2449, 2450, 2451, 2452, 2453, 2454, 2455, 2456, 2457, 2458, 2459, 2460, 2461, 2462, 2463, 2464, 2465, 2466, 2467, 2468, 2469, 2470, 2471, 2472, 2473, 2474, 2475, 2476, 2477, 2478, 2479, 2480, 2481, 2482, 2483, 2484, 2485, 2486, 2487, 2488, 2489, 2490, 2491, 2492, 2493, 2494, 2495, 2496, 2497, 2498, 2499, 2500, 2501, 2502, 2503, 2504, 2505, 2506, 2507, 2508, 2509, 2510, 2511, 2512, 2513, 2514, 2515, 2516, 2517, 2518, 2519, 2520, 2521, 2522, 2523, 2524, 2525, 2526, 2527, 2528, 2529, 2530, 2531, 2532, 2533, 2534, 2535, 2536, 2537, 2538, 2539, 2540, 2541, 2542, 2543, 2544, 2545, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549, 2550, 2551, 2552, 2553, 2554, 2555, 2556, 2557, 2558, 2559, 2560, 2561, 2562, 2563, 2564, 2565, 2566, 2567, 2568, 2569, 2570, 2571, 2572, 2573, 2574, 2575, 2576, 2577, 2578, 2579, 2580, 2581, 2582, 2583, 2584, 2585, 2586, 2587, 2588, 2589, 2590, 2591, 2592, 2593, 2594, 2595, 2596, 2597, 2598, 2599, 2600, 2601, 2602, 2603, 2604, 2605, 2606, 2607, 2608, 2609, 2610, 2611, 2612, 2613, 2614, 2615, 2616, 2617, 2618, 2619, 2620, 2621, 2622, 2623, 2624, 2625, 2626, 2627, 2628, 2629, 2630, 2631, 2632, 2633, 2634, 2635, 2636, 2637, 2638, 2639, 2640, 2641, 2642, 2643, 2644, 2645, 2646, 2647, 2648, 2649, 2650, 2651, 2652, 2653, 2654, 2655, 2656, 2657, 2658, 2659, 2660, 2661, 2662, 2663, 2664, 2665, 2666, 2667, 2668, 2669, 2670, 2671, 2672, 2673, 2674, 2675, 2676, 2677, 2678, 2679, 2680, 2681, 2682, 2683, 2684, 2685, 2686, 2687, 2688, 2689, 2690, 2691, 2692, 2693, 2694, 2695, 2696, 2697, 2698, 2699, 2700, 2701, 2702, 2703, 2704, 2705, 2706, 2707, 2708, 2709, 2710, 2711, 2712, 2713, 2714, 2715, 2716, 2717, 2718, 2719, 2720, 2721, 2722, 2723, 2724, 2725, 2726, 2727, 2728, 2729, 2730, 2731, 2732, 2733, 2734, 2735, 2736, 2737, 2738, 2739, 2740, 2741, 2742, 2743, 2744, 2745, 2746, 2747, 2748, 2749, 2750, 2751, 2752, 2753, 2754, 2755, 2756, 2757, 2758, 2759, 2760, 2761, 2762, 2763, 2764, 2765, 2766, 2767, 2768, 2769, 2770, 2771, 2772, 2773, 2774, 2775, 2776, 2777, 2778, 2779, 2780, 2781, 2782, 2783, 2784, 2785, 2786, 2787, 2788, 2789, 2790, 2791, 2792, 2793, 2794, 2795, 2796, 2797, 2798, 2799, 2800, 2801, 2802, 2803, 2804, 2805, 2806, 2807, 2808, 2809, 2810, 2811, 2812, 2813, 2814, 2815, 2816, 2817, 2818, 2819, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2823, 2824, 2825, 2826, 2827, 2828, 2829, 2830, 2831, 2832, 2833, 2834, 2835, 2836, 2837, 2838, 2839, 2840, 2841, 2842, 2843, 2844, 2845, 2846, 2847, 2848, 2849, 2850, 2851, 2852, 2853, 2854, 2855, 2856, 2857, 2858, 2859, 2860, 2861, 2862, 2863, 2864, 2865, 2866, 2867, 2868, 2869, 2870, 2871, 2872, 2873, 2874, 2875, 2876, 2877, 2878, 2879, 2880, 2881, 2882, 2883, 2884, 2885, 2886, 2887, 2888, 2889, 2890, 2891, 2892, 2893, 2894, 2895, 2896, 2897, 2898, 2899, 2900, 2901, 2902, 2903, 2904, 2905, 2906, 2907, 2908, 2909, 2910, 2911, 2912, 2913, 2914, 2915, 2916, 2917, 2918, 2919, 2920, 2921, 2922, 2923, 2924, 2925, 2926, 2927, 2928, 2929, 2930, 2931, 2932, 2933, 2934, 2935, 2936, 2937, 2938, 2939, 2940, 2941, 2942, 2943, 2944, 2945, 2946, 2947, 2948, 2949, 2950, 2951, 2952, 2953, 2954, 2955, 2956, 2957, 2958, 2959, 2960, 2961, 2962, 2963, 2964, 2965, 2966, 2967, 2968, 2969, 2970, 2971, 2972, 2973, 2974, 2975, 2976, 2977, 2978, 2979, 2980, 2981, 2982, 2983, 2984, 2985, 2986, 2987, 2988, 2989, 2990, 2991, 2992, 2993, 2994, 2995, 2996, 2997, 2998, 2999, 3000	6.00 Backyard Builds (S) 6.30 Dress To Impress (S) 7.30 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 8.20 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S) 9.20 The Only Way to Essex (S) 10.20 Deweers Crivok (S) 11.20 Charmed (S) 12.15 Deal Or No Deal (S) 1.15 Supermarket Sweep (S) 2.15 The Floor USA (S) 3.10 The Only Way to Essex (S) 4.10 The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City (S) 5.00 The Real Housewives Of Orange County (S)
7pm	7.30 The One Show (S) 7.30 Our Lives Cameras follow south Wales punk band the Nahlaz (S)	7.30 Newnight (S)	10.25 ITV News At Ten: Weather (S) 10.55 ITV Regional News: Weather (S)	10.00 Big Fat Quiz: Beat Bits A compilation of the ultimate triumphs from the quiz (S)	10.30 Piers Morgan: Uncensored Opinion-led news and debate show reached by Piers Morgan (S)	10.45 Tony Bennett Sings - Songs From The Movies (S)	11.50 FILM: Last Night In Soho (Edgar Wright 2023) Mystery Horror: Starring Thomasin McKenzie (S)	11.05 Family Guy (Brian begins dating an older woman (S) 11.35 Family Guy Stands in left home alone (S)
8pm	8.00 Granite Harbour: Lindo and Bart face a race against time to find the real killer Last in the series (S)	8.00 Gardeners' World: Frances Tophill returned to Damson Farm in Bath (S)		8.00 Surgery Secrets Of The Super Rich: A Lindo-to-be has a liquid nose job (S)		12.20 Tony Bennett Sings - Sisters Sings (S) 12.55 Tony Bennett Sings - Song Stories (S) 1.25 Tony Bennett Sings - Tin Pan Alley (S) 1.55 Tony Bennett's New York (S) 3.20 TOTP: 2000 (S)	12.05 FILM: Sick Of Myself (Bradley Borg) 2023) Norwegian drama, starring Kristine Kjærn Thorp (S) 4.00 Close	12.05 American Dad! (S) 12.35 American Dad! (S) 1.05 Bob's Burgers (S) 4.30 Bob's Burgers (S) 1.55 Deal Or No Deal: Banker's Best Battles (S) 2.00 Unwind With ITV (S) 3.00 Teleshopping
9pm	9.00 Would I Lie To You? (R) (S) 9.30 Ann Droid Sue invites Michael and Renee to a nice family dinner (S)	9.00 Bergerac Chloe finds evidence proving there is some truth in John Blakely's accusations (S) 9.45 QI XL (R) (S)		9.00 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown With Katharina Ryan, Fathea El-Gherri, and Jake Lambert (S)
10pm	10.00 BBC News At Ten (S) 10.30 BBC Regional News (S) 10.45 FILM: 28 Days Later Danny Boyle 2002 (S)	10.30 Newsnight (S)	11.15 FILM: Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (Edward Zwick 2016) Action thriller, starring Tom Cruise (R)	11.05 Sarah Millican: Home Bird Live Stand-up show (R) (S)		11.15 Tony Bennett Sings - His Personal Hit Songbook (S) 11.50 Tony Bennett Sings - Songs Of Broadway (S)	11.50 FILM: Last Night In Soho (Edgar Wright 2023) Mystery Horror, starring Thomasin McKenzie (S)
11pm	11.35 BBC News (S)	1.00 Sign Zone (Britain's Simmons Schools - Portsmouth) (S) 1.30 Sign Zone - The Ramen (R) (S) 2.30 This is BBC Two (S)	1.10 Shop On TV 1.00 Force Of Nature (R) (S) 1.20 Long Lost Family (R) (S) 1.45 Unwind With ITV (S)	12.10 Greg Davies: The Back Of My Mom's Head (R) (S) 1.05 Some TV With Loved Books (R) (S) 1.25 40 GPs: Behind Closed Doors (R) (S) 2.50 Castle (R) (S) 3.40 Friends (R) (S)	12.00 Fars Dodgers: At War With The Law (R) (S) 1.00 Cruise TV With Loved Books (R) (S) 1.25 40 GPs: Behind Closed Doors (R) (S) 2.50 Castle (R) (S) 3.40 Friends (R) (S)	12.20 Tony Bennett Sings - Saloon Songs (S) 12.55 Tony Bennett Sings - Song Stories (S) 1.25 Tony Bennett Sings - Tin Pan Alley (S) 1.55 Tony Bennett's New York (S) 3.20 TOTP: 2000 (S)	2.05 FILM: Sick Of Myself (Bradley Borg) 2023) Norwegian drama, starring Kristine Kjærn Thorp (S) 4.00 Close	12.05 American Dad! (S) 12.35 American Dad! (S) 1.05 Bob's Burgers (S) 4.30 Bob's Burgers (S) 1.55 Deal Or No Deal: Banker's Best Battles (S) 2.00 Unwind With ITV (S) 3.00 Teleshopping

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Games&Puzzles

Dominoes

How to play All of the 28 domino pieces from 0-0 through to 6-6 have been placed once into the grid. Can you work out where each of them is placed?

4	6	6	4	0	4	4	3
5	2	0	5	6	0	6	3
1	1	6	2	1	3	4	1
2	3	2	5	5	0	0	5
2	5	4	3	6	1	5	2
6	1	3	1	0	2	0	4
0	3	2	4	3	5	1	6

	0	1	2	3	4	5	6
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

Journey Finder

How to play Move between the numbers in order 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 and so on, starting with the grey 1 and ending with the grey 4. On each step you may move one square in any direction (including diagonally). You must form a continuous path that visits every square exactly once.

1	3	2	4	3	2
4	2	4	1	1	4
1	3	2	1	2	3
3	2	4	3	1	4
4	3	1	4	1	3
2	1	2	3	4	2

Making Tracks

How to play

Numbers around the outside indicate how many squares in each row and column the track passes through between A and B. The track either passes straight through a square or turns at right angles in it.

Binary

How to play Complete the grid so that each row and column contains five 0s and five 1s. The same number cannot appear in more than two consecutive squares in any row or column. In the finished puzzle, each row must have a different sequence of 0s and 1s to any other row, and likewise for each column.

				0	1			0
0								0
		1			0
			1
1		0			1			1
		0		0	0		0	0
				0
					1			1
	1							0
		0					1

Number Hexagon

How to play Each hexagon is divided into six triangles. The sum of these six triangles is always 25. Place a number from 1-9 in each empty triangle to complete the puzzle: you cannot repeat a number within a hexagon.

Pathfinder

How to play Moving from letter to adjacent letter, can you create a continuous path that visits every square once and spells out all the words listed to the right of the grid? Start on the shaded square.

W	S	N	I	P	T	O	P	O	M
I	A	F	A	R	A	L	O	N	N
L	Y	V	V	I	H	Y	T	I	O
A	N	E	I	L	L	O	A	C	O
L	W	E	B	A	A	W	R	R	V
B	A	F	E	H	B	T	E	A	L
A	N	N	R	G	L	E	N	I	U
E	R	E	E	U	T	D	I	M	F
M	A	C	N	O	N	O	R	B	L
B	R	E	T	A	U	L	E	F	U

Allowable Banner Brimful Doleful Embrace Enough Hatpin Monopoly Safari Taunt Terrain Venal Vibe Vocation Wafer Wily

Battleships

How to play Locate the position of each of the ships listed below in the grid. Numbers around the edge tell you the number of ship segments in each row and column of the puzzle. Ships are surrounded on all sides by water, including diagonally.

Chain Link

How to play Place the numbers 1-6 in each row, column and along each series of squares linked by the chain.

Daily Quiz

1. George Orwell acknowledged that the Russian novel We by Yevgeny Zamyatin influenced which of his works?
2. In the First World War where would a soldier wear strips of cloth known as puttees?
3. According to the gardening adage, one year's seeding makes what?
4. Flight into Danger, a Canadian TV play and the 1957 film version of it, Zero Hour, inspired which 1980 classic comedy movie?

Answers, page 49

Jigsawdoku ● Zygolex ● Codeword ● Sudoku ● idoku ● Knight's Tour ● Word Wheel »

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Maple tomato miso aubergine

SERVES 2

• 1 large aubergine, halved lengthways
• 1 tbsp miso paste (white or red)
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp cooking oil
• Chopped chives or spring onions, to garnish
• Steamed broccoli and rice, to serve

Halve the aubergine lengthways and score the flesh in a criss-cross pattern without cutting through the skin.

Heat a dry frying pan or grill pan over medium-high heat. Place the aubergine halves cut-side down and cook for five to seven minutes, pressing occasionally, until the surface is blistered and slightly blackened. Add a drizzle of oil if it helps to cook better.

In a small bowl, whisk together miso paste, tomato paste, and maple syrup until smooth and glossy.

Transfer the charred aubergine to an oven-proof dish or pan, cut-side up. Generously spread the glaze over the top. Roast in the oven at 200°C/180°C fan/gas mark 6 for 20 to 25 minutes, until the aubergine is soft, caramelised, and jammy in the centre.

Top with finely chopped chives or spring onions, drizzle with oil, and serve with steamed broccoli and rice for a balanced, nourishing meal.

Recipe from maplefromconada.co.uk

Puzzles The country's best barred crossword every Saturday

Games & Puzzles

Kakuro

How to play Fill the white squares so that the total in each across or down run of cells matches the total at the start of that run. You must use the numbers from 1-9 only and cannot repeat a number in a run.

	3	40		23	3		36	27
4			11			15
			22			4
			3
	11				6
	8				7	16
	13				4	4
5			9		6
					7
12				10
				1				3
33						4
						3
8			3			3

Jigsawdoku

How to play Place the numbers 1-9 once in each row, column and bold-lined jigsaw region.

	8	7	1	6
	7			9
5		8	2		6
2		7			8
1					3
	1	9	4	7

Killer Sudoku

How to play Each row, column and 3 by 3 box must contain each number (1 to 9) only once. The sum of all numbers contained within grey lines must match the number printed in its top-left corner. No number can appear more than once in an area formed by grey lines.

18		12		15		17		16
	9			23			6
12		6						14
	13		23		16	13
10		18					6
9	8					7		6
	16		13		8		17
6		30	23		8			17

Zygolex® In The i Paper every day

Find the missing words by following the RHYME, LETTERS and MEANING links – eg, a word that rhymes with 'cheek', has one letter different from 'pear' and has the same meaning as mountain, would be 'peak'. Full rules at zygolex.com Solution, page 49

Futoshiki

How to play Place the numbers from 1-5 exactly once in each row and column. The greater than and less than signs ('x' and 'c') indicate where one cell is greater/less than the adjacent cell indicated.

4
✓
✓			2
				1

Minesweeper

How to play Find all the mines in the grid. Numbers in certain squares indicate how many mines there are in the neighbouring squares, including diagonally touching squares. Mines cannot be placed in squares with numbers.

					2		1	1
	4	4		5	4	2			3		2
0				4			0	2			2
			5			3	3		2	0
		2			6	5				0
	2		3	3				2			2
3	5	3		3	3	4	3			3
					0	1			2		5
			2	3			3			2
	2	0				3			0		3
	4	3	2			3	3
2					2				0	0	1

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WEST 2-20

ORINON 18-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONET 44-47

SPORT 48-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

29

Number Square

How to play Fill the empty squares with numbers that will make the across and down calculations produce the results shown in the grey squares. Each numeral from 1 to 9 must only appear once. The calculations should be performed from left to right and top to bottom, rather than in strict mathematical order.

Easier

	+		+		12
×		-		×
	-	8	×		-27
-		×		÷
6	×		-		16
-1		-3		18

Harder

	+		+		10
+		-		-
	+		-	4	7
-		+		×
	×		-		39
10		8		-18

Codeword No 4579

How to play The numbers in the grid correspond to the letters of the alphabet. Solve the puzzle and fill in the letters in the key as you discover them. Three letters are provided to give you a start. The solution will be printed in tomorrow's paper, the solution to Thursday's codeword is on page 4.0.

	20		18		13		25		14		21
23	18	17	26	20	22	10	12	18	11	8	2	8
	4		14		17		23		3		5
17	11	13	17	4	22	23	18		22	15	25	24
			25		24		26		5		11
4	2	12	24	4	4	17		3	5	22	10	16
	10				1		8				10
16	22	9	4	4		24	22	7	24	5	11	17
	14		14		22		23		25
7	22	5	8		24	17	22	25	10	22	19	11
	12		25		4		6		19		17
10	11	25	19	18	14	4	2	17	18	4	4	24
	24		11		11		11		26		7
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
	U	F		L
14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26

A B C D E G H I J K M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z

Need a little help getting started? Then call for up to four extra clue letters on 0901 202 5204. Calls cost £1 plus your telephone company's network access charge (if you are having trouble with the phone service, call the helpline: 0333 202 3390). Or text THE! CLUE to $2500 to receive your clues. Texts cost £1 plus your standard network charge (if you are having trouble with the text service, call the helpline: 0333 335 3351). Clues change each day at midnight.

Word Ladder

How to play

Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the five rungs in between. On each rung, you must put a valid four-letter word that is identical to the word above it, apart from a one-letter change. There may be more than one way of achieving this.

MATT
SASH
PUCE

HARE

idoku Exclusive to i

How to play Each numeral from 1 to 9 must appear (once only) in the squares forming the red letter i.

1		6
	8			4	5	7
		2	9			4
9
	7	8			3	4
						6
3			6		9
7		5	9			6
				7		3

Sudoku Easier

6	1		4		3
	8		1	3		2
9		5		6		4
		7		1		5
8	9		6	7		2
	4		8		9
	3		6		8
2			3			1
			6		2	9
						7
						3

Tomorrow: Harder

ABC Logic

How to play Place the letters A, B and C only once in each row and column. Each row and column has two blank cells. The letters at the edge of a row/column indicate which of the letters is the first/last to appear in that row/column.

Word Wheel

How to play How many words can you find using the letters in the wheel? We've found 59, including one nine-letter word. Each word must use the centre letter and at least three others. Letters may be used only once. You may not use foreign words, proper nouns or plurals, though you may use verb forms ending in 'i'.

Terms &

Conditions

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Concise Crossword No 4901

ACROSS

• 1 Organ of sight (3)
• 3 Steep in a marinade (5)
• 7 Finest (4)
• 8 Weakened (8)
• 9 Short-lived (9)
• 12 Fancy cake (6)
• 13 Salvage (6)
• 15 Symbol of surrender (5,4)
• 18 Pencil 'lead' (8)
• 20 Amphibian (4)
• 21 Exercise (3-2)
• 22 Female deer (3)

DOWN

• 1 Large jug (4)
• 2 Qualify (7)
• 3 Bribe (3)
• 4 Join together (5)
• 5 Full of incident (8)
• 6 Cord used in surgery (8)
• 10 Pushchair (US) (8)
• 11 Madame Tussauds, for example (8)
• 14 Able to see (7)
• 16 Contribution (5)
• 17 Long coarse hair (4)
• 19 Little devil (3)

Stuck on the concise crossword?

For today's solutions, call 0902 789 3590. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your network access charge. If you are having trouble accessing this number, please call our helpdesk on 0333 202 3390.

PUZZLE BOOKS

Our range of puzzle books includes: crosswords, codewords, jigsawdokus, children's games, sudokus and more. Available on Amazon for £799 each.

See the full range at miniURL.co.uk/ibooks

Solution to yesterday's Concise Crossword

ACROSS 1 Dice, 3 Duff (Dyestuff), 8 Pompeius, 9 Torso, 10 Tenet, 11 Apricot, 13 Snow leopard, 15 Meeting, 17 Other, 19 State, 21 Neutron, 22 Nest, 23 Were. DOWN 1 Dominance, 2 Choctaw, 3 Deler, 4 Fur, 5 Spit, 6 Estate agent, 7 Host, 12 Carthorse, 14 Produce, 15 Mast, 16 Inept, 18 Rung, 20 Age.

Today's other puzzles Cryptic Crossword, page 25

Five-Clue Cryptic, page 17. One-Minute Wipako, page 20

Puzzle solutions See page 49

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30

GAMES & PUZZLES

Children's Corner Number Pyramid

How to play The value of each square in the number pyramid is the sum of the two squares directly under it.

Knight's Tour

How to play A chess knight visits each square of the grid exactly once, starting at 1 and ending at 100 (these squares are shaded). Deduce the whole path of the knight – some of which is already given – and thus complete the grid. The knight moves either two squares horizontally followed by one square vertically, or two squares vertically followed by one square horizontally.

27				29	4	35			6
	95								9
59		97	86	93	62				32
		100		88	1		65
25		89					12
82	99	68	23			64	15	38
57		75	90		52	77	50		16
74	81				47	70		44
		79		19					42
			55

Cells

How to play Divide the grid into square or rectangular blocks, each containing one digit only. Every block must contain the number of cells indicated by the digit inside it.

2						2
2					4	4
	8		8
				7	4
	2	6

Word Fit

How to play Can you fit all the words into the grid to complete the puzzle? Some words may initially fit in more than one place, but there is only one way to fit all the words together to complete the grid.

Bridges

How to play Connect every island (represented by circles) into a single interconnected group. To do this draw bridges between islands. The number in each circle states how many bridges must be connected to that island. Bridges cannot cross each other, can only be drawn horizontally or vertically, and there can be a maximum of two bridges between any pair of islands.

Word Search

How to play The classic word-search puzzle, find all the words in the grid. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and in either a forwards or backwards direction.

S	O	V	S	E	D	I	S	I	V	A	E	H	S	X
D	O	W	A	S	R	O	T	C	E	H	C	E	R	R
E	S	S	B	W	H	I	T	E	B	E	A	K	E	D
H	Q	T	S	A	H	U	M	P	B	A	C	K	S	F
T	I	O	R	I	I	S	O	E	L	Q	D	K	A	O
O	E	I	S	I	R	J	P	N	I	G	E	D	R	C
O	H	N	R	G	P	T	I	I	G	D	S	U	F	O
T	V	O	R	R	U	E	N	G	N	J	O	S	F	M
H	W	T	U	C	A	O	D	I	F	N	N	K	F	M
G	I	P	U	R	M	W	S	P	S	I	E	Y	K	E
U	I	X	E	M	G	X	A	T	C	P	L	R	R	R
O	I	A	O	A	D	L	D	D	E	T	T	O	P	S
R	H	C	H	I	L	E	A	N	D	Q	T	L	F	O
K	M	J	H	L	M	E	C	S	N	Y	O	B	U	N
Q	P	O	P	X	M	E	S	E	S	V	B	S	T	S

BAUI	HUMPBACK
BOTTLENOSE	IRRAWADDY
CHILEAN	PEALE'S
COMMERSON'S	RISSO'S
COMMON	ROUGH-TOOTHED
DUSKY	SPINNER
FRASER'S	SPOTTED
HEAVISIDE'S	STRIPED
HECTOR'S	TUCUXI
HOURGLASS	WHITE-BEAKED

Word Square

How to play Simply answer the clues alongside the grid, writing the answers in the respective rows. The solution must read the same horizontally in each row as it does vertically in each column.

				Male deer
				Mexican snack
				Served a winner
				Deities

Calcudoku

How to play Place the numbers 1-6 once in each row and column, obeying sums in bold-lined regions. The number in each region indicates the total for the region, and the symbol shows which type of operation should be applied to the numbers: addition, subtraction, division or multiplication. Numbers may repeat within bold-lined regions. With subtraction always take the lower numbers away from the highest number in a region, and with division divide the highest number by the lower numbers.

5+	7+	9+	10+	12+
		13+	15+
40+				2+
7+		2+	3+
2+	5+	6+	8+	20+
		8+

Hexalex

How to play Place each of the letters below once into the empty hexagons, crossing them off as you do so. Enter the letters in such a way that it is possible to find all the words listed alongside the grid by moving from hexagon to adjacent hexagon to spell out each word.

A B C G I J L M N O R S U V X Y

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Samuel Le Bihan as a man who was falsely imprisoned for 17 years, and now works as a lawyer defending others who have been wrongfully accused. His first case involves the murder of a wealthy woman in a luxury seaforth hotel – the murder being joined on a parking valet who doubles as a gigolo for the rich guests.

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Ann Droid

9.30pm. BBC One

The subject of Morgan's sitcom is the indignity of raging, and tonight, Sue invites Michael and Renee around for a nice family dinner as a way to play happy families. The pair's real motive for accepting the invitation is soon revealed. Not fortunately, Linda is on hand to avert tragedy and then reveal the biggest shock of the night.

FILM CHOICE

LAURENCE PHELAN

FILM OF THE DAY

Event Horizon

10.15pm. Sky Cinema Sci-Fi/Horror

Jihad Will Anderson, 1997

The late Sam Neill gives one of his great wild-eyed-obsessive performances alongside Laurence Fishburne (left) in a fun sci-fi horror with the haunted-house-in-space vibes of Alien, the hallucinatory eerness of Solaris and the inter-dimensional demonism of Hellraiser. Neill plays a scientist who joins up with a military salvage crew to recover the spaceship he designed and sent through a wormhole. A ship that has been 'beyond the boundaries of our universe.' Of known scientific reality 'Who knows where it's been?' What it's seen – and what it's brought back with it. 'The clanks and echos are all expertly tinted.'

John Wick

9pm. ITV2

(Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, 2014) Keanu Reeves is an assassin of great repute, hell bent on avenging the death of his dog, in a film with zero substance but a good amount of style, an awareness of its own silliness and a triple-figure body count.

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The Martian

9pm. Film4

(Ridley Scott, 2015)

This engaging and very science-positive drama is basically Robinson Crusoe on Mars. Matt Damon plays a stranded astronaut depending on his ingenuity and engineering skills to eke out a lonely existence until Nasa can mount a rescue mission.

ON DEMAND

Alley Cats

Netflix

Ricky Gervais's adult animated comedy following foul-mouthed, feral cats

Howard

Disney+

The story of Howard Ashman, the brilliant lyricist behind Aladdin and more

Bonnie Tyler At

The BBC

BBC iPlayer

7-9bute compilation of the late Welsh singer's hits.

iDv3

6.00 George And Mildred (S) 6.35 George And Mildred (S) 7.95 Classic Emmerdale (S) 7.35 Classic Emmerdale (S) 8.10 Classic Coronation Street (S) 8.40 Classic Coronation Street (S) 9.10 Agatha Christie's Parent (S) 10.20 Agatha Christie's Parent (S) 11.20 Heartbeat (S) 12.20 Heartbeat (S) 1.35 Midcomer Murders (S) 2.35 Classic Emmerdale (S) 4.40 Classic Coronation Street (S) 5.10 Classic Coronation Street (S) 5.20 Heartbeat (S)

6.00 Modern Family (S) 6.55 Rodelick's Tube Shores (S) 7.00 Cauglas Come Dine With Me (S) 8.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 9.00 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 10.00 America's Funniest Home Videos (S) 11.00 Below 1.00 Mediterranean (S) 12.00 The Simpsons (S) 12.20 The Simpsons (S) 1.00 The Simpsons (S) 1.20 The Simpsons (S) 2.00 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 2.20 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S) 3.00 Modern Family (S) 3.30 Modern Family (S) 4.00 Modern Family (S) 4.30 Modern Family (S) 5.00 The Simpsons (S) 5.20 The Simpsons (S)

8.95 Hair Hunters (S) 10.00 Fear In A Bed (S) 10.25 Fear In A Bed (S) 11.05 Fear In A Bed (S) 11.25 Fear In A Bed (S) 12.10 Fear In A Bed (S) 12.40 Come Dine With Me (S) 1.10 Come Dine With Me (S) 1.40 Come Dine With Me (S) 2.05 Come Dine With Me (S) 2.50 Come Dine With Me (S) 3.00 Fear In A Bed (S) 3.20 Fear In A Bed (S) 4.00 Fear In A Bed (S) 5.20 Fear In A Bed (S) 5.50 Car & B S (S)

6.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 6.20 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (R) 7.00 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (S) 7.20 Mornings With Jones And Melbourne (S) 8.00 Sturges SS-4 (R) (S) 9.00 NCSL Los Angeles (R) (S) 10.00 Will & Grace (R) (S) 10.20 Will & Grace (R) (S) 11.00 The Simpsons (R) (S) 11.10 The Simpsons (R) (S) 12.00 Movie: Nature's Secret Force (R) (S) 1.00 Hawaii Five-6 (R) (S) 2.00 Hawaii Five-6 (R) (S) 3.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T. (R) (S) 5.00 The Simpsons (R) (S) 5.20 The Simpsons (R) (S)

6.00 Richard & Green's Hotel Secrets (R) (S) 7.00 Richard & Green's Hotel Secrets (R) (S) 8.00 Billions (R) (S) 9.10 Billions (R) (S) 10.20 Heated Rivalry (R) (S) 11.15 Heated Rivalry (R) (S) 12.20 Homicide Life On The Street (R) (S) 1.20 Homicide Life On The Street (R) (S) 2.20 Billions (R) (S) 3.35 Billions (R) (S) 4.00 The Last Of Us (R) (S)

6.55 Heartbeat Tricia and Mike double their love (S)

6.00 The Simpsons Lisa has her fortune told (S) 6.30 The Simpsons Samuel Little Helper sires praises (S)

6.50 Car S.O.S Tim and Fuzz are taking on their 100th car and their first electric rorierson (S)

6.00 Animal Control (R) (S) 6.30 Animal Control Patel hosts a fundraising event (R) (S)

6.05 The Last Of Us Jost and Tess clash over Elize's fate (R) (S)

7.00 The Simpsons Homer turns to improvisational comedy to gain confidence (S) 7.30 The Simpsons (S)

7.05 Grand Designs Kevin revisits the building of an art deco lighthouse tower in Devon (S)

7.35 Grand Designs Kevin revisits the building of an art deco lighthouse tower in Devon (S)

7.00 The Simpsons Homer and Marge try to save their marriage (R) (S) 7.30 The Simpsons (R) (S)

7.00 The Penguin Sofia strives to build a new legacy for herself (R) (S)

8.00 Doc Martin Partners decides to have a Police Open day to raise community awareness (S)

8.00 Vanderpump Rules Lisa offers Marcus the chance to DJ at a premiere party (S)

8.00 An Idiot Abroad 2 Kart Planagon travels along America's Route 66 (R) (S)

8.00 The Penguin Victor chooses paths with a former adversary (R) (S)

9.00 Doc Martin It is the annual Portweon versus Port Carran gig race (S)

9.00 Celebrity Goggialos For Stand Up To Cancer (S)

9.00 Carpe Diem New series French legal drama, starring Samuel Le Bihan (S)

9.00 Micky Flanagan: If Ever We Needed It A stand-up show by the comedian (R) (S)

9.00 Station Eleven Elizabeth Tyler on Clark confront an even more uncertain future (S)

10.00 Grandchester An unexpected twist lies in store at a charity boxing match at Vic's gym (S)

10.00 FILM: American Pie: The Wedding Desse Stylie 2009 Comedy sequel, starring Jason Biggs (S)

10.05 24 Hours In A&E A saves-year-old boy is brought in after falling from a tree (S)

10.15 Grimsburg (S) 10.45 Grimsburg The police department goes undercover at a wedding (S)

10.00 Station Eleven Kirsten leaves the Traveling Symphony behind to track down the Prophet (S)

11.00 Grandchester woman is found dead laid out in the shape of a picture (S)

11.55 Naked Attraction A self-confessed Yabing disaster and a free-spirited artist take part (S)

11.10 24 Hours In A&E A retired builder is treated after falling from his daughter's roof (S)

11.15 Grimsburg The host of a murder mystery party is called (S) 11.45 Animal Control

11.00 The Last Of Us Jost and Elize near the end of their journey (R) (S)

11.50 Trial & Retribution (S)

11.50 Goggialos (S) 8.00 Vanderpump Rules (S) 2.55 Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA (S) 3.45 The Goldbergs (S) 4.10 The Goldbergs (S) 4.25 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (S)

12.15 gig On The Front Line (S) 13.24 Hours In A&E (S) 2.00 24 Hours In A&E (S) 3.05 A Place In The Sun (S) 3.55 Close

12.15 Animal Control (R) (S) 12.45 Groom (R) (S) 4.10 The Three Directionist (R) (S) 3.20 Read Mars (R) (S) 3.00 Hawaii Five-6 (R) (S) 4.00 S.W.A.T.R. (S) 5.00 S.W.A.T.R. (S)

12.00 True Detective Night Country (R) (S) 1.30 Billions (R) (S) 2.10 Billions (R) (S) 3.00 Billions (R) (S) 5.00 Urban Secrets (R)

Radio

BBC Radio 1

6.15am Newsbeat 7.00 Radio 1 Breakfast With Drug Genes 10.00 Radio 1 Anthems With Nat And Vicky 11.00 Radio 1's Group Chat With Nat And Vicky 12.15pm Newsbeat 1.00 Sam And Darrel 2.00 Radio 1 Dance Party Starters With Sam And Darrel 4.00 The Official Chart On Radio 1 With Ash Saunders 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Radio 1's Dance Party With Danny Howard 8.00 Radio 1's Future Dance With Sarah Stacy 10.00 Pete Tong 12.00in Radio 1's Essential Mix 2.00 Radio 1 Dance Present 3.00 Danny Howard Club Mix 4.00 Radio 1 Dance Party Starters 5.00 Radio 1's Happy Anthems

BBC Radio 1Xtra

6.30am Ultra Playlists 7.00 Ultra Breakfast With Nadia Jan 10.00 (S) Day Day 12.15pm Newsbeat 1.00 Kaylee Goldring 4.00 Remi Burgis 5.45 Newsbeat 6.00 Remi Burgis 7.00 Keith & Pharaoh G 8.00 Keith & Pharaoh G 9.00 Ultra Ray Show With Kenny Allstar 10.00 Kenny Allstar-Preet to Ake 11.00 Ultra's Friday Night Party With Sory Bovey 12.30am Ultra's Friday Night Party With Sory Bovey 1.00 Ultra's Bane Show With Jeremiah Asimah 2.30 Jeremiah Asimah's Get to Me 3.00 Ultra's R&B Show With Charles 4.30 Ultra's R&B Show Jams Mix With Charles 5.00 Ultra's Salutes

BBC Radio 2

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32

NEWS

Panorama

Around the world in 10 stories

MIDDLE EAST

Jewish settler charged over killing of activist

By Pesha Magid

IN VINTAGE.COM

Israeli prosecutors yesterday charged a Jewish settler over the killing of a Palestinian community leader last year in the West Bank, the first such indictment in more than seven years amid a rise in settler violence in the occupied territory.

Yinon Levi is charged with reckless manslaughter over the death of Owdeh Hathaleen, a prominent activist who was involved in the 2025 Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.

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.

The charges also include armed trespassing and malicious property damage when, in July 2025, settlers operated an excavator in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, causing a confrontation with residents.

Levi (imot), whom the UK and the European Union have placed under

sanctions over violence against Palestinians, has previously denied firing the shot that killed Hathaleen.

The indictment is the first since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel set off Israel's military assault in Gaza and led to a sharp rise in settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, B'Tselem said.

During that time, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed more than 1,100 Palestinians, among them at least 240 children, according to United Nations data.

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have settled among millions of Palestinians in land Israel captured in a 1967 war and which Palestinians seek as the core of an independent future state.

UN bodies, Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under international conventions, and a major obstacle to peace.

Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal, saying a Jewish presence has existed in the West Bank for thousands of years.

According to the UN, 18 Palestinians have been killed in incidents linked to settler attacks so far this year. REUTERS

CAMEROON

President has been abroad for two months

By Nalova Akna

IN VANTAGE.COM

Yesterday marked two months since President Paul Biya was last in Cameroon, a prolonged absence that has raised concerns about his health and criticism about a possible power vacuum.

The world's oldest president, who has led Cameroon since 1982, began his eighth term in office after winning a widely disputed election in November. But the

93-year-old left the country on 7 June for what Biya's office described as "a brief private stay in Europe".

The health of the President has long been a topic of speculation as he spends significant time in Europe, including France and Switzerland, where he often spends weeks while leaving governance to key party officials and family members.

Cameroon's constitution does not specifically prohibit a president from leaving the country for months, but the opposition has described the country as being run on "auto pilot." Opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary said there was a widespread perception in Cameroon that "all is not well" with Biya. AP

NIGERIA

300 people rescued from militant groups

By Dyopkazah Shibayan

IN ABCDA

At least 308 people abducted in different attacks in the northern part of Nigeria have been rescued.

Those rescued include 163 people abducted from Woro community in Kaiama area of Kwara state in February, and 145 people kidnapped mostly from Niger state, Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has said.

Details of the operation that freed more than 300 people who spent months in captivity were not disclosed, with the President's statement only saying they were rescued from a forest and are now receiving medical attention.

It was described as the "largest rescue operation ever" undertaken in the country on a single day by

security forces, according to Tinubu. "The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services, he said.

President Bola Tinubu credited the scale and 'efficiency' of the operation

"I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian lives."

Abductions at schools are common in Nigeria, where various militant groups target them to extract large ransoms.

Armed groups, known as bandits in Nigeria, regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the north-west and north-central parts of the country. Authorities have said the bandit groups include mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over increasingly strained resources.

There is also an Islamist-led insurgency in the country's north-east that has lasted more than a decade. AP

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OPINION 11-22 TV 26-31

FRIDAY 17-23

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY AUGUST 2026

33

NEW ZEALAND

PM open to a new electoral system

New Zealand's Prime Minister has said he is open to a referendum on whether to change the country's electoral system, exposing another split in his centre-right coalition months ahead of a general election.

New Zealand adopted the German-style mixed member proportional (MMP) system in 1996 after an inquiry found smaller parties were being shut out of parliament under the previous first-past-the-post system.

Yesterday Christopher Luxon (inset) said a referendum was "something we should consider," and could be held as early as 2027 if he returns to power following

a general election scheduled for 7 November.

He did not say whether any referendum would be binding.

Luxon's remarks led to criticism from his coalition partners, who are already split over economic and minority issues.

Under MMP, constituents cast two votes: one for a local candidate and one for a party.

MMP has been praised for allowing smaller parties a say in government, but criticised for its complexity and for often requiring coalition governments.

New Zealand last voted to retain the system in a 2011 referendum. REUTERS

DRC

Ebola nurses strike over pay

Dozens of health workers working at the epicentre of Congo's Ebola outbreak staged protests yesterday to demand payment for their wages.

The workers abandoned several health facilities even as aid officials warn that the disease is spreading at an alarming rate.

The health workers gathered at the governor's office in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the Ebola cases in the country.

The protesters, including nurses, said they have not received wages and bonuses for their work since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.

It is the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, unfolding in one of Congo's most vulnerable areas.

During his visit to Congo on Wednesday, World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged authorities to prioritise support for the responders. AP

Postcard From... Hiroshima

Yesterday Hiroshima marked the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of the western Japanese city, with its mayor criticising major powers for waging wars and urging them to stop justifying the possession of nuclear weapons as a method of deterrence.

"Downplaying the inhumanity of nuclear weapons and accepting the use of force to pursue one's own prosperity risk cycles of violent retaliation that could ultimately result in another Hiroshima or Nagasaki," Kazumi Matsui said.

About 50,000 people, including representatives from 120 countries and regions including the United States and Iran, attended the ceremony.

A minute's silence was held

while a peace bell rang out at 8.15am, the time when a US B-29 dropped the bomb on the city.

The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said she will take "a realistic approach" towards achieving a world where nuclear weapons are never used.

But there is speculation that Takaichi's hawkish government may ease Japan's postwar non-nuclear principles, including not allowing nuclear weapons to be brought in to the country.

The bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 destroyed the city and killed at least 140,000 people. A second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000. Japan surrendered on 15 August, ending the Second World War and Japan's nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.

The number of survivors has fallen to 91,105, about a quarter of the original number. AP

Mari Yamaguchi

PHILIPPINES

US seeks extradition of 'son of God' televangelist for abuse trial

By Jim Gomez IN MANILA

The United States has asked the Philippine government to extradite a Filipino church leader, who was once an influential adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte, to face trial on charges including child sex trafficking and fraud that landed him on the FBI's most wanted list.

The US request for Apollo Carreon Quiboloy's extradition was sent to the Department of Justice in Manila through the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department in July.

The request needs the approval of two Philippine courts, which have been trying the detained former televangelist for human trafficking and child abuse charges.

Quiboloy, 76, leads the Kingdom

of Jesus Christ church, which was founded in 1985 in southern Davao city and claims to have a wide following in the Philippines and abroad, including in the US.

In his heyday, Quiboloy (inset) was one of the most influential religious leaders in the Philippines.

He served as spiritual adviser to the equally controversial Duterte, who took office in June 2016.

Duterte is currently in the Netherlands awaiting trial at the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings of drug suspects while in office.

Quiboloy claims to be "the appointed son of God" and has made

outrageous claims that sparked questions about his character.

In 2024, he went into hiding after a court ordered his arrest along with several others for alleged child sexual abuse and human trafficking.

The preacher denied the allegations, but four others surrendered in September 2024.

US prosecutors in 2021 also announced an indictment of Quiboloy.

Quiboloy was among nine people named in a superseding indictment returned by a US federal grand jury and unsealed in November 2021.

It contained a roll of charges including conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion. AP

UNITED STATES

Jalapeño-linked salmonella outbreak hits hundreds

US health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to Mexican jalapeño peppers that has made 245 people in 27 states ill.

Both the Centros for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and the Drug Administration (FDA) said 36 hospital admissions have been reported, while the investigation remains ongoing.

The FDA said illnesses began between 19 June and 20 July.

The outbreak has prompted the supplier, Coast Citrus Distributors, to recall peppers sent to restaurants

including Chipotle Mexican Grill and QDOBA

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps, and can be particularly severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

The outbreak comes amid scrutiny of food safety in the restaurant industry following a recent US cyclosporiasis outbreak that prompted investigations by health authorities and renewed concerns about produce supply chains. REUTERS

UGANDA

Football captain dies after assault

Uganda international David Oworl, captain of one of the country's biggest football clubs, has died after an assault in the capital Kampala.

Oworl, 28, captain of SC Villa, was critically injured by unidentified assailants in a suburb of Kampala on Tuesday, a police spokesperson said.

His death follows that of rugby player Sydney Gongodyo in June, who died after he was assaulted by a mob in Kampala after he was apparently mistaken for a thief, according to police. AP

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34

NEWS

EMPLOYMENT

What some UK workers really get up to on their WFH Fridays

Not everyone has their nose to the grindstone as the week ends. Maybelle Morgan gets the lowdown

More people than ever are working from home (WFH), a change precipitated by the pandemic. Today, an estimated 41 per cent of workers in Britain work remotely at least some of the time, a staggering 23.2 million people compared with 1.5 million people 10 years ago. This includes 13 per cent who work exclusively from home, and 28 per cent who follow a hybrid model.

While some major employers are pushing for a five-day return to the office – to the dissatisfaction or even resignation of some workers – most workplaces have retained some degree of flexibility, with Fridays at home being one of the most common post-pandemic practices.

Although many bosses have accepted that some form of remote work is now a permanent fixture of the work landscape, it doesn't stop managers harbouring mistrust over exactly what happens when their team take their laptops home.

At worst, fears include staff spending all day in the pub, holding down second jobs or even going on holiday early. It may also be a more laissez-faire approach to work on Fridays – less productivity, delayed responses or time away from desks.

The iPaper spoke to five people about what they really get up to on their WFH Fridays.

I SECRETLY WORK TWO JOBS

Naomi, 30, advertising

I'm freelance, but I've been at my current job since March. I'm fully remote and all of my days are at home. I'll usually start the morning with a cup of tea in bed, chat to my partner, then I'll get ready, have breakfast, use my LED face mask and read my book while it's on, and then meditate.

I'll usually check my Slack messages at 9am, but won't really start doing anything until 9.30ish. I like to get any work I need to do done first thing so it's usually when I'm most productive. Then I'll treat myself by watching something on Hayu – preferably the latest Real Housewives episode – while sunbathing on my balcony.

An estimated 4.5 per cent of employees in Britain are working from home some of the time

I like a lunchtime workout class as it doesn't eat into the rest of my day, so I head out about 12 or 12.30 for a one-hour class, come back and make lunch. Around 3pm to 4pm is when I might have a work call, so I check if anyone needs anything.

I'm getting married soon, so a slow Friday is the perfect time to get a lot of admin done. This is all probably done from the sofa. I'll keep an eye out for messages, but I've clocked off well before 5pm.

I sometimes work on two jobs at the same time as my current role doesn't take up full days. It initially came out of a financial necessity, but now it's something that I can't say no to as I want to make sure I maintain relationships with my clients and worry that if I go dark for a long period of time (even if I am fully booked), they'll forget about me. As a freelancer, you can't rely on one income stream.

I don't feel guilty. I'm still doing all of the work I need to do, often more. It's just the way I work and always have done – intense bursts of focus equalling lots of work and then a rest time. I've started seeing it as a superpower to be able to juggle my time.

My manager is very laid-back and doesn't micromanage – they trust me to do a good job and I have always delivered in the past so they don't check in.

I'm also in quite a senior role and am in charge from a creative point of view, so I don't need much hand-holding. If I'm double working and I have two meetings that clash – which does sometimes happen – I'll tell one of them I have an appointment, or I'll make an excuse that a certain time works better for me.

It does mean, though, that I've experienced a lot of burnout which can be hard to navigate, so I feel like my Fridays give me a bit of time back.

I WORK FROM BED ON FRIDAY MORNINGS

Aimee, 29, marketing

I've been at my full-time marketing job for one year and I'm in the office three days a week, with two days working from home.

I'm in a fast-paced, creative industry where we're expected to work a lot of overtime at events, so sometimes taking a slower Friday feels like reclaiming time I'm not being paid for. I'll use it to wash my hair, go to a morning or lunch gym class and I like to leave my house at 6pm for my Friday evening plans. I'll start getting ready or doing what I need to do in the afternoon.

I always make sure my to-do list is finished, but I tend to get more work done from Monday to Thursday – Friday is more for admin or last-minute requests.

I'm a big "work-from-bed on Friday morning" fan – obviously cameras off for internal calls. I feel like Fridays have always been more relaxed, but I've definitely noticed a shift since the pandemic.

More often than not, none of my team seems to be online and there are no emails being sent – this is at director level all the way to interns.

I am definitely a big "mouse wiggler" so it looks like I'm online at all times, but I also make sure that I've got the Teams app or emails on my phone on a Friday so I'm not caught out for missing something

if I'm out and about. I also never stray too far from home in case of emergencies.

WORKING FROM HOME IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL WHEN YOU HAVE A YOUNG FAMILY

Ben, 42, tech

For me, working from home is extremely stressful. I feel like most people with young families will secretly agree. Mandated working at home has worsened a lot of the aspects of my life.

I feel guilty not being a present father and having a shut door, but then I am also distracted so not giving 100 per cent attention at work. My calls are punctuated with crying or screaming or kids running into the room. It also feels like the quality of my family life is worsening because I am stressed, so I'm not the most pleasant to be around.

What do I do on Fridays? Try to do the same focused work I would do in the office, but feeling immense

My calls are punctuated with crying or screaming or kids running into the room. It is very distracting

guilt that I'm locking the kids out of the room.

Working from home gets painted by everyone as this dream scenario – and it almost certainly is when you are single and live alone – but the second you share that home with young children, I really don't know how anyone manages to enjoy it.

ON FRIDAYS, I WORK HARDER TO SET MYSELF UP FOR NEXT WEEK

Rachel, 25, researcher working in a university On Fridays, I actually work a lot more to set myself up for the week ahead – I hate this trope that we Gen Zers do nothing.

I've been in this role for a year and a half and I work at a university. Our work schedule is pretty flexible; it's nine-to-five, but the number of days we go into the office is between one and three a week.

I'll probably get off work about half an hour early on Fridays so I'll usually work through lunch. I also work part-time in an entirely remote research-based position. Having extra money definitely helps in a city as expensive as London.

Fridays are my days to plan ahead for the week. I'll make my to-do list for the following week,

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NEWS 2-26

OPINION 15-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

35

so I'm not scrambling on Monday morning. I wouldn't say I do less work, but I would say that my hours are more compressed or I work a bit more strategically on Fridays.

If I ever do less work, I feel guilty that other people might be stretching themselves as a result. I don't like the narrative that people work less on Fridays, because it's just a way to punish workers and it's really unfair. As long as you get your work done within your work week or specified hours, I don't think there should be a problem.

I'm in my mid-twenties and this is my third or fourth full-time role. I think when I entered the workforce I initially wanted to be this career woman, and over time - even just in the past few years - I've become a bit jaded by work. Being able to work from home enables me to get all of my responsibilities done but also make sure that work doesn't encompass every aspect of my life.

I CLEAN MY FLAT SELL ON VINTED. GO TO A BARRE CLASS. THEN FEEL GUILTY AT 3PM Sara, 29, fashion industry I've been with my company since February and I do four days in the office and work from home on

Fridays. I have Black on my phone, just in case, but in the morning I'll head out to do a barre class, grab a coffee and a pastry and get back to the house at 9.00am. Then I'll do washing, vacuuming, upload some Vinted listings, check emails, give my mouse a wiggle.

Normally I start to feel guilty at around 3pm, so at that point I'll lock in, headphones on, and get work done.

Other times, I will have already logged off by 3pm and be on my way to an exercise class at 4.15pm. Reselling on Vinted and eBay are my side hustles, so I put a lot of time into them. Without it, I would really struggle to live on my salary.

I get minimal holiday leave, so it's hard, and when it's summer it's really difficult for me to concentrate. I just want to be outside on my bakery, enjoying the sun - you can't really do that with a laptop in front of you.

I also think I have a really bad attention span, so I struggle with paying attention, especially at home when I notice my flat isn't tidy. I definitely think there is a correlation between feeling appreciated at work and how you act when working at home.

LIFESTYLE

I was sober for four years - now I can't resist a drink

Taking Mounjaro means my weakness for unhealthy snacking has subsided. But booze has replaced it, writes Anniki Sommerville

I've been taking Mounjaro for 10 weeks. Overall, I've had no side effects and have lost two stone (1lkg). After years of growing heavier, I needed to lose this weight. My plan is to keep going until I'm back to a healthy weight.

Mounjaro means the constant food noise has gone - my weakness was unhealthy snacking - and I'm prioritising protein and vegetables in my meals. It doesn't feel like a drag like dieting has in the past. So far, so good. However, there is one hitch: I'm drinking more alcohol.

In the past few months, my drinking has crept up. This wasn't something I expected. Anecdotally, I'd heard from friends on the jabs that their desire to drink had lessened, not increased. However, there was one friend, also on Mounjaro, who shared a different experience that chimed with me. "I need to reward myself with something at the end of the day, so when it's not chocolate it's likely to be a glass of wine or a beer," she told me. I agree.

Initially, I didn't fancy drinking much of anything. I had to remind myself to stay hydrated. But then I suddenly really, really fancied a drink. A glass of wine or two. A cocktail in a tin on a Tuesday night. It was hardly hardcore hedonism, but I could feel it creeping up nonetheless.

What makes this even more remarkable is that until a few months ago, I'd been sober for four years. This was something I chose to do because I couldn't deal with the frankly gut-churning hangovers that I experienced if I had more than two drinks. If you talk to any woman in her late forties or early fifties, she'll tell you how bad hangovers become as you age.

So I'd given up drinking. I felt virtuous. A bit smag. I joined a

couple of sober community forums. I listened to podcasts about being sober. I felt great. Clear headed. I could get lots of shit done. I didn't feel the cringing paranoia the next day - the fear that I'd shared too much. I was also less snappy with my kids. I noticed the health benefits.

But social occasions became tedious. I found it impossible to switch off and would often count down the minutes until I could head home. I left parties early. I wasn't fun to be around. Life took on a treadmill quality. I know many people enjoy sobriety, so this was a personal thing. I told myself I was doing a great thing, that I was looking after my long-term health, but as I got into my fourth year... I was really bored.

I was either working, parenting, tidying or asleep. I found conversations difficult without the assistance that comes with a glass of wine. And I reasoned that I'd never had a problem with alcohol so it was more of an experiment - and I decided I'd had enough. I started drinking again.

On Mounjaro (inset), my drinking pattern has definitely changed. During the day, I feel fine. I have healthy meals. Drink water. I exercise. I have to remind myself to eat as often I'm not hungry. I'm on the lowest dose - 2.5mg - and don't plan to increase it.

Then it gets to the evening and I feel empty. Bored. I'm 58 and my life is pretty routine at times with work, two kids and four cats. So I feel like I need some sort of reward, a treat that isn't a cream cake. This has been especially true as the children are at home for summer.

Over the past couple of weeks,

this reward has become alcohol. "We'll end up skinny but addicted to booze," my friend joked on the phone when I told her I was drinking more, definitely more than before the weight-loss jabs.

She was having this experience, too - "I think I've forgotten that it's calories. And I crave, like really crave, a beer," she said. I was in this mood, too - forgetting that alcohol has calories and that when you're on jabs, you should be aiming for good nutrition.

Dr Ginny Ponsford, a hormone specialist at The Women's Hormone Clinic and King's College London, told me: "GLP-I receptor agonists have been found to reduce alcohol

cravings and consumption for many people, likely because they influence the brain's reward and motivation pathways. Anecdotally, however, I've had a couple of patients who report the opposite effect and have found themselves craving alcohol and enjoying it more."

She said that it isn't a side effect of the medication itself, but may be because we have a tendency to seek rewards and pleasure. "Theoretically, if food becomes less rewarding, a person who previously relied on eating for comfort or stress relief might seek reward from other activities, including alcohol. This may reflect a change in coping behaviour rather than a direct effect of the medication itself."

In the absence of food rewards, we may turn to booze rewards. And this seems to be what I and a couple of my friends have been experiencing. The problem is that the epic anxiety and hangovers remain the same. So I've been feeling worried, more tired and overthinking, which negates the positive benefits of losing weight.

I'm trying not to beat myself up about it, as it's not out-of-control drinking, but it is also making me think about my past sobriety and whether I need to return to that.

Ponsford said it is not a common experience on these jabs: "Overall, the evidence suggests that GLP-I medications are more likely to reduce, rather than increase, alcohol cravings, though individual experiences can vary."

After waking up this morning with another low-grade hangover, feeling not too pumped up about the day ahead and like I have to shake off my anxiety somehow, I'm starting to believe that sobriety actually felt quite good. And that maybe, like my mum used to say to me when I complained about feeling listless: "Only boring people get bored."

Anniki Sommerville believes that she may have gone back to drinking alcohol as a reward for her coping with a 'boring, routine life' TOM PILSTON

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07.08.2026

FRIDAY

Film Music Television Books

I'm a man

of extremes - I've lived at both ends

Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno holds forth on writing like Jackson Pollock, influencer 'gurus', tech bros on acid, and AI killing real music. By Joe Goggins

Some singers make for unlikely frontmen; Serge Pizzorno is not one of them. When he hounded on to the stage at Glasgow's TRNSMT festival in June for Kasabian's first UK show of the year, he looked every inch the rock star: the irrepressible energy, the palpable synergy with the crowd, the ludicrous fur coat straight from the Cruella de Vil collection.

In fact, there is nothing to suggest he ever harboured doubts about taking on the role from original singer Tom Meighan in 2020.

Pizzorno had always had an unusually high profile for a guitarist. Kasabian broke through in 2004, with a self-titled debut that paired Oasis's swagger with Primal Scream's penchant for neo-psychedelic

YVESL BEDFORD

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38

FRIDAY

MUSIC

'I'd rather have the leather shoe than the plastic trainer'

Continued from page 37

exploration – something symbolised on stage when Meighan, who had the look of the no-nonsense everyman about him, would stand alongside Pizzorno, who presented as a sort of cosmic pirate with his wiry frame, jet-black beard and flamboyant wardrobe.

In addition to being at least as recognisable as Meighan, Pizzorno was the band's primary songwriter, making his transition to frontman the obvious next step when Meighan was axed after being charged with domestic assault.

In truth, Pizzorno says via Zoom call from his native Leicester, it was a daunting prospect – one he took on chiefly because the only other feasible option was the band splitting up.

'There's just no way it could have ended like that,' he reflects, 'so you jump out of the plane, and you pray the parachute pulls. When you step into that space, it's overwhelming, because you're dealing with so much energy – your own energy, and the energy of thousands of people in the audience, because essentially, that's

of energy, our consciousness all moulding into one.'

Spiritual detours of this nature occur regularly in conversation with Pizzorno. Kasabian are about to release their third album since he became singer, after 2022's techno-inflected The Alchemist's Euphoria and 2024's Happenings, a partially successful attempt to make a psychedelic pop record in the style of The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or The Rolling Stones' Their Satanic Majesties Request.

This latest album is called Act III, as in the third chapter of this new, post-Meighan outfit, as if to express that these records are all of a piece, all a part of the band's reconfiguration as a vehicle for Pizzorno's mad-scientist musical whims.

He appears to have poured a little of everything into this latest concoction. Like Charli xcx, he understands the confluence between music, film and fashion, with Alfred Hitchcock a thematic influence and the album's artwork based on the minimalism of a Chanel shopping bag. It is an album that touches upon every era of Kasabian, from the soulful groove of 'Superpowers' and the disco strut of 'Silver Apple Eyes' to the breezy, straightforward indie rock of 'Great Pretender'.

It also introduces new sounds, with hip-hop beats influenced by Pizzorno's love of Nas and Wu-Tang Clan. 'Between records, I collect things,' he explains. 'I

don't write on tour, but what I will do is watch plenty of movies, listen to plenty of music, visit plenty of art galleries. By the time I'm back in the studio, it's pure expression, with no second guessing. Some of these songs, I think, are beautifully Hockney-esque; they capture the detail by following the rules of great songwriting, in terms of structure and melody and lyrics. Others are just a raw expression of how I'm feeling. Abstract, like Jackson Pollock.'

After nine albums and more than 20 years, Pizzorno still knows that a certain crowd will always write Kasabian off as lad rock, no matter how many genres he flirts with or avant-garde influences he cites: in the past, he has nodded to everybody from the Situationists to the radical Chilean-French film-maker Alejandro Jodorowsky.

'I mean, our most successful album is literally called West Ryder Pouper Lunatic Asylum,' he smiles wearily, referencing the 2009 LP that spawned massive singles including 'Fire', 'Underdog' and 'Vlad the Impaler'.

'You'd think eventually, people would go. 'Actually, this might deserve a deeper look. Maybe we can't just fold these guys off as a lad band.' It makes no sense to me, but I think every artist will say they're misunderstood on some level. You just keep your mouth shut and let the work speak for itself. If anything, it's given us license to be even more weird and wonderful.'

Sure enough, Pizzorno has cast his lyrical net wider than ever this time around. Act III is not an overtly political record, but his alarm at both online grifters and the custodians of big tech provides a thematic throughline.'

'Hippie Sunshine' is about Silicon Valley, and the fact that tech billionaires are going out and dabbling with DMT and acid – these are the people taking decisions that shape the world,' he explains of what is, on the surface, one of

Opening act The debut album line-up of (from left) Chris Edwards, Tom Meighan, Serge Pizzorno and Christopher Karloff in 2004

TELEVISION

Gervais's latest is kitty litter

The comic's offensive diatribes are trash – even when they are spouted by cats in his new Netflix animation, writes Emily Baker

I had high hopes for Ricky Gervais's new Netflix series, Alley Cats. Not that I had much cause – the last time the bloke made me laugh was in 2007. I'm one of those

snowflakes who thinks it isn't remotely funny to mock disabled people, Aids or trans women.

This new series, though, is concerned with one of my greatest passions in life: cats. Surely it would be good. And how offensive can you make a cat?

I should have known better. You've heard of the manosphere? Well, somehow, via the medium of cartoon cats lounging about in a derelict house watching TV, Gervais has created the catosphere, thanks to a gang of miserable, offensive, toxic cats with nothing better to do than spout their diatribe all day.

Gervais himself voices Gus, the leader of the gang (shock), a boisterous tabby who loves nothing more than to rile up his mates. They are Fang (Andrew Brooke), the muscle who joins in with Gus's insults; the mangy, sex-obsessed Puke (David Earl); and Olive (Diane Morgan), the only girl, who, therefore – of course – is thick.

They are joined by house cat Ponce (Tom Basden), whose homophobic slur of a name is directly tied to the fact that he has been castrated.

The plot is light, to say the least. When a kitten turns up at the cats' hideout, they promise to help her find her way home. But over the six episodes, that only serves as a vehicle to get the cats on to the street, where they just continue their incessant tirade.

And there is no limit to how far these cats will go: Gandhi, fat children, people with nut allergies, people with Aids and bees are just a handful of the subjects Gervais attacks. It is also – and there's no gentle way to say this – obsessed with anal sex (and often anal rape). Though it's all a joke, of course, a bit of a laugh! Bloody hell, you can't say anything these days, can you?

Except of course you can – Alley Cats is two hours of Gervais saying exactly what he wants. But this time he's not standing

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FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

39

the record's poppiest and most upbeat tracks. "They're behind the algorithms that are determining how society is moving, and they're mad partying – I find that incredible."

"The Guru and the Crypto Time Machine" might be Act III's most unhinged track, a chaotic exercise in psych-rap that wouldn't be out of place on a Gorillaz album.

"Influencers are the modern gurus," says Pizzorno, "and it's interesting to see these kind of hench characters talking about wellness and personal improvement, and then in the next breath charging you £10 a month if you want to keep listening to them. It's fascinating. I'm not saying I have the answers. I'm just holding a mirror up to what I see going on."

Still, it is something that has bled into his thinking about his personal life. Act III contains paeans to both his wife, Amy ("Soulmate"), and to his two teenage sons ("Nothing Better Than This"), who he calls his "best achievement."

"It's a mad time to be raising boys," he says. "It's not easy. Me and my wife have done our best to raise beautiful boys, who are going to go into the world and carry themselves in the way men and boys should. Having them was a huge, defining moment in my life. Being in a band and grinding for success, you can get lost in that world. Starting a family kept me grounded, I think. That, and staying in Leicester."

Pizzorno continues to work primarily from his home studio. Songwriting, he says, is still the thing that gets him up in the morning – "my favourite part about being in the band".

Music has been reduced to a numbers game by streaming. It's all about churning it out

Accordingly, he is dubious about the way in which streaming services are affecting the decisions artists take, and equal parts appalled and amused by the advance of music made by artificial intelligence.

"It's been reduced to a numbers game with streaming; it's all about churning out tunes for the sake of the commercial side of things, and becoming bigger.

"I think you're going to end up with two camps: the audience that's happy with that, and the one that values something bespoke, that's really been worked on and laboured over.

"I'd rather have the leather shoe than the plastic trainer. Give me something that's been made in the Italian hills, stitched by somebody who's been doing it for 40 years."

Al, he feels, is anathema to the songwriter. "The fact that Al-generated music even exists is the logical conclusion to the way streaming services have gone.

"The fact that music is now referred to as content by people who stand to make money from it – I find that so offensive, to talk that way about something so sacred, so beautiful.

"You can literally study how music changes people's brainwaves. Music has been something deeply human since the days we

were sitting around fires, hanging drums and chanting. There are certain songs I can put on that I know will change my mood instantly. Music transcends, and takes us somewhere different. I don't know how a computer is supposed to replicate that."

The communal experience of live music, he adds, is another thing that can't be approximated

by technology. In December, Kasabian will undertake their latest arena tour, having last month played their biggest-ever headline show at London's Finsbury Park – a testament to the staying power of what is now a multi-generational fan base.

Fronting the band has been a genuinely transformative process for Pizzorno, and not just as a musician; he has traded defunctery for discipline to keep up with the rigours of performance, and now does as many interviews with Romer's World as Rolling Stone.

"I'm a man of extremes," he reflects, "and I've lived the extremes at both ends. I'm in my mid-forties now, and there was a moment where I realised I could leave the casino with a few chips left. I'm fitter than I've ever been, and I wake up in the morning excited about what's next: more exploration, more adventure. Something good came out of the hart and the pain."

'Act III' is out on a September. Kasabian play five UK shows from 11 December

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Feline toxic From left, the David Earl-voiced Puke, Kitten (Jo Hartley), Olive (Diane Morgan), Gus (Ricky Gervais), Fang (Andrew Brooks) and Ponce (Tom Bastien)

on a stage in front of thousands of fans – he's voicing a cat on the even bigger platform of Netflix.

If you are searching for proof that canest culture isn't real, look no further than Gervais – one of the most offensive comedians on the planet, who enjoys a Netflix pay packet and is about to set off on a stand-up world tour (which will also end up on Netflix).

It is hard not to armchair-psychoanalyse Gervais through his cartoon cats. They have an extremely dim view of the world – humans are awful and evil, they are selfish, and as far as Gus is concerned, they should all die.

From a homeless cat's point of view, fair enough – he's seen cats replaced by their owners, taken to be euthanized, and ran over (Alley Cats continues Gervais's preoccupation with death).

But that misanthropic world view doesn't fit with the trite declarations of love of life that Gervais has Gus give to the kitten at the end of every episode.

"Life is a gift," he tells her, among various other crocheted platitudes that you'll find on Etsy.

We see him falling in love with a cat voiced by Kerry Godliman (a callback to After Life, in which she played his character's dead wife), and at one point Gus even prays to God, despite Gervais's consistent and insistent atheism.

Is this softer soul the real Gervais? After all, when asked whether Gus was anything like him, he said: "Yeah, definitely... he's mouthy, he's opinionated, he talks about stuff he doesn't really know about or care about. It's all these bloke traits." But if Gervais is trying to lift the lid on whatever is going on beneath the obnoxious bravado, it is overshadowed by all the nastiness.

Protected by the comicality of a cartoon cat, Gervais could have changed the narrative on his "old man yells at cloud" act – instead, Alley Cats is the same old provocative rubbish that arrives not with a roar, but a meow.

Holidays are operated by and subject to the booking conditions of Rivera Travel, ABTA V4744, ATOL 3400 protected, a company independent of Associated Newspapers Ltd and i Travel Office. Price based of two people sharing. Single supplements apply. From price based on October 23, 2026 from London Standard. Days at the McNairights are on a bed and breakfast basis only. Save £200bp on selected nearest tours departing. Sept to 30 Nov 2026, valid on new bookings from May 7, 2026. Price shown includes discount. Rivera Travel reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time. Price correct at the time of print.

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40^{}[] FRIDAY

VISUAL ARTS

The pro footballer who quit at 26 to bare his soul (and more) on camera

Alfie Whiteman spent 16 years on Spurs' books from the age of 10. The ex-goalkeeper tells Izzy Titherington how a loan spell changed his focus

Alfie Whiteman could have spent many more years chasing glory on the football pitch. He signed with Tottenham Hotspur's academy at the age of 10 in 2009, signed a professional contract extension with the club in 2019, and was a member of their Europa League-winning squad in 2025 – but the goalkeeper had only ever made one appearance for the first team, against Ludogorets of Bulgaria, in 2020. And he wasn't even sure he wanted it any more. So, just a few months after that Europa trophy, Whiteman decided to take off his gloves and picked up his camera.

A year on, the 27-year-old is having his first exhibition. Hung at OOF Gallery, fittingly located within the grounds of Tottenham's stadium, Whiteman's inaugural show, A Loan, offers an intimate portrait of a difficult point in his career.

Through self-portraits, diary entries and even a life-size reconstruction of the sauna where he spent hours reflecting the exhibition documents Whiteman's loan spell between 2021 and 2022 at the Swedish team Degerfors IF – a formative period, spent largely alone in a small industrial locality, grappling with questions about his future both on and off the pitch.

The photographs feel a world away from professional football. In one, Whiteman hangs out of a launderette machine, mooning the camera. In another, he sits (naked again) on a jetty overlooking Lake Möckeln. They are playful, vulnerable and not images one might expect from a young man who had spent most of his life in the

highly structured environment of an elite football club.

But then, Whiteman was never a typical footballer. The thoughtful, introspective photographer, who speaks animatedly about identity and self-expression, was raised by parents who studied and worked in the arts, and he always felt drawn towards culture and creativity.

After joining Spurs as a child who had grown up with a view of the north London club's stadium from his parents' house, Whiteman found himself climbing the increasingly demanding ranks.

All the while, though, "I kind of had this burning feeling in my stomach," he tells me. "Like: 'Oh, man, there's more to this life.' I started drawing a lot and taking more photographs."

This feeling was difficult to reconcile with the demands of elite sport – "with how intense [it is] and the sacrifices you need to make for professional football. It's so competitive and cut-throat, and I was like: 'Well, I'm working so hard towards this, I can't stop.''

Living in London offered him a glimpse of a different world. Through his social circles, he started meeting directors, producers and creatives.

At this point, unlike many athletes who avoid thoughts of retirement, Whiteman began preparing for life after football.

"Since I was about 20, I was having coffee with people, shadowing, assisting, wherever I could," he says. "I was trying to build foundations for the day I wanted to start something else."

Carving out an identity beyond the game, he hosted a radio show – under his mum's maiden name, to hold a level of anonymity – and acted in a play. "I was always very conscious, and a bit insecure, about being defined as a footballer," he explains.

Those experiences gave him a sense of possibility, but it was Sweden that catalysed his vision. Living alone in a small town surrounded by forests and a tranquil lake, "it was incredibly liberating: the peace, the solitude, watching sunsets every day, slowing down and really looking inward".

Time to take off the gloves Whiteman playing for Spurs against Ludogorets (left), after which he was loaned to a team in Sweden and took up photography (above and right)

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FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

41

In tomorrow's weekend

Family-friendly rides round the UK

Best spots for cider this summer

New thrillers to read this month

The self-portraits emerged almost accidentally. "The world's got enough flipping sunset pictures," he jokes. "The only thing I could control was myself. I never really looked at it as photographing myself. I was interested in constructed images and storytelling."

Influenced by photographers such as Alex Prager and Jeff Wall, he began creating scenes that balanced humour, melancholy and surrealism. One of the first images from the series – arguably the hero image of the show – is the one of him hanging, naked, out of a tumble dryer. "It was one of the first ones I did," he says, laughing. "I didn't overthink it. I just looked at it and thought: 'That's funny.'"

Later images became more elaborate. In one, Whiteman celebrates his birthday alone in the woods. He sits eating cake, cone party hat on head and surrounded by balloons. Rather than explicit symbolic statements, he describes the photographs as instinctive responses to his surroundings and emotions.

"I wasn't taking it too seriously," he says. "A lot of it was laughing at my own ridiculousness."

A lot of it was laughing at my own ridiculousness, but I thought: I can't show these – I'm bloody naked

What gives the work its force is not simply loneliness, but its portrayal of a familiar kind of uncertainty: the period when you know something is no longer working yet have no clear sense of what comes next.

Returning from Sweden, Whiteman intended to keep the images he took – more than 600 – largely private. "I can't show people these," he thought to himself. "I'm bloody naked in them."

Friends encouraged him to share them, but he struggled with the prospect of exposing such personal work while still playing professionally. But eventually, after he met people within the art world, the project began to gather momentum.

What followed was an unexpected affirmation that the feelings documented in the

photographs resonated far beyond his own circumstances. At the same time, the internal debate about football was reaching its conclusion. After leaving Tottenham, Whiteman explored opportunities with other clubs, but quickly realised his heart was no longer in the game.

"I just knew I didn't want to be doing it any more," he says. "It wasn't fulfilling me."

Football had been his life since childhood, and the creative industries he hoped to enter were notoriously competitive. Yet the alternative felt worse. "What's life worth living if you don't like what you're doing?" he says.

If Sweden represented the first chapter of his creative life, the years since have been about trusting the decision he made there: to listen to points of limbo and make changes.

Looking ahead, Whiteman speaks less about specific career goals than remaining open to possibilities. The same curiosity that led him to pick up a camera in a small Swedish town continues to guide him now.

'A Loan' is at OOF Gallery, London, until 27 September

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42 FRIDAY

BOOKS

SHELF LOVE ALAN JUDD on the best spy thrillers of all time

Born a year after the Second World War ended, Alan Judd served in the Army and worked in the Foreign Office before becoming a full-time writer. He draws on his military and diplomatic experience for his work, which includes the Charles Thoroughgood series of spy novels, following the protagonist through his experiences in the Army and the Cold War—era intelligence service. Judd is also a biographer, his subjects including MI6 founder Mansfield Cumming. His latest novel, 'No 1 St James's Park', is the second in his Emily Grey series, centring on a Cambridge graduate recruited by a fledgling MI6 during the First World War. Here, he shares the five classic spy stories that have shaped the genre – and his own reading – the most...

THE SECRET AGENT

Joseph Conrad (Penguin Classics, £9.99)

"Inspired by an 1894 anarchist bombing, Joseph Conrad's novel endows the early spy genre with the introspection and moral equivocation found in more mainstream literary novels.

"Adolf Verloc, shabby shopkeeper and pornographer, is an agent provocateur who penetrates an anarchist cell on behalf of the Russian embassy.

"Tasked with provoking the anarchists into blowing up the Greenwich Observatory,

he initiates a train of fatal unintended consequences. "A wonderfully dark and perceptive book."

ASHENDEN: OR THE BRITISH AGENT

W Somerset Maugham (Vintage Classics, £9.99)

"Based on his First World War experience of working for British Intelligence in Switzerland and Russia, Somerset Maugham's stories accurately portray much of spying as the attempt to get people to betray secrets or to do what you want.

"In one case, Maugham has his character Ashenden befriend a British married couple based in neutral Switzerland. The man is a German agent and Ashenden's task is to persuade him to cross the border into France, where he can be arrested and shot.

By focusing on the relationship between case officer and agent, or target, Maugham creates the most realistic early spy fiction."

CASINO ROYALE

Ian Fleming (Ian Fleming Publications, £9.99)

"Fleming's James Bond novels were arguably the pinnacle of the heroic adventure tradition in spy writing. In this, the first, with its glamorous background and detailing that became Fleming's trademark, Bond is sent to bankrupt the Russian agent Le Chiffre at the gaming tables. He succeeds, but the consequences were not what he or his controller, M, expected.

"Throughout the novels, Bond, an MI6 officer, in fact does very little spying; he is a hitman or assassin whose activities draw more on Fleming's wartime intelligence background than is often appreciated."

OUR MAN IN HAVANA

Graham Greene (Vintage Classics, £9.99)

"Greene's satire on spying and the credulity of Whitehall's MI6 mandarins introduces an all-too-rare element of humour into spy fiction.

"A hard-up British vacuum cleaner salesman in Havana is

recruited by MI6 to report on Cuba. Having nothing serious to report, he ends up hoodwinking his new employers by inventing a network of supposed sub-agents and secret weapons.

"In fact, Greene's scenario is based on a highly successful MI6 deception operation run in Second World War Lisbon against the Germans, which Greene knew of through having worked on MI6's Lisbon desk. He finds fictional fun in turning the operation against his old employer."

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD

John le Carré (Penguin, £10.99)

"John le Carré's third novel is arguably the best-known Cold War spy novel of the later 20th century.

"Its MI6 protagonist, Alec Leamas, pretends to go to seed in order to be recruited by East German Intelligence, with the aim of persuading them that their head is a British spy. But Leamas is as much pawn as actor in what becomes a complicated game.

"The novel also launches Leamas's controller, George Smiley, on the road to becoming one of the most famous spies in fiction."

'No. 1 St James's Park' (Simon & Schuster, £20) is out now

14 HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE

Diama Wynne Jones (1986)

Familiar to many from its Studio Ghibli animated adaptation, Wynne Jones's original novel is worth celebrating in its own right. It is a sharp, wry take on classic fairy tales, about a young girl turned into an old woman by a wicked witch, who seeks refuge in a wandering fortress belonging to a vain wizard. A very funny novel about the trials of growing up and how people are not what they might seem to be.

13 JADE CITY

Ronda Lee (2007)

The idea that a great fantasy has to feature wizards, knights and pointy-eared elf-like beings is knocked into a stylish gangster's fedora in the first volume of Lee's Green Bone saga. The setting is a fantastical version of 70s Hong Kong, dominated by warring criminal dynasties. Magic is real. But so too are the ambitions of the Triad-like families who battle for supremacy over Jankoun, a "silkpark" megapolis where the precious mineral jade fuels a complicated magical system.

12 THE NIGHT CIRCUS

Erin Morgenstern (2001)

Fantasy becomes fever dream in this evocative book about a travelling circus that operates only after dark, where two young magicians battle for supremacy. Heady with atmosphere, it is a book that overflows with memorable imagery, from ice gardens that cannot be melted to a maze carved out of clouds and acrobats who can defy physics.

11 WEAVEWORLD

Clive Barker (1987)

Contemporary urban fantasy set in the real world has a huge following. Barker is best known as a horror writer and the creator of the Hellraiser series. But he goes full-on fantasy in this magical book about an enchanted rug that contains an entire world within its patterns – and which has somehow ended up in 80s Liverpool, where it spreads mischief and mayhem.

10 THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE

Samantha Shannon (2009)

Billed as a feminist retelling of the legend of St George and the Dragon, this doorstepper imagines a Tolkien-esque universe dominated by Western-style dragons (destructive

We may now live in an age where every cat owner bombards their insta followers with incessant pictures of their pets, but for more than 80 years, New Jersey photographer Walter Chanda defined the visual vocabulary of feline

partraiture. 'Family Cats' (Damiani, £16) curates a collection of his black-and-white portraits, many of which have not been published for half a century, that reveal what we all know about these furry companions: they are as charming, fierce, curious, aloof, affectionate, mischievous, lazy and playful a 'mews' as can be.

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43

Let me be your fantasy

There is no better escape from the stresses and strains of everyday life than a good fantasy novel. From Tolkien's classic ring cycle to contemporary urban tales of magical mayhem, Ed Power counts down 14 of his genre favourites

and fire-breathing) and their Asian equivalent (serpentine, mysterious and sympathetic to humanity). Throw in court intrigue, a resourceful heroine and sweeping battles and the result is a 21st-century twist on classic heroic fantasy.

5 NINE PRINCES IN AMBER

Roger Zelazny (1970)

American pulp writer Zelazny wrote in the hardboiled style of an old-school crime novelist, his dimension-bopping books reading like Doctor Who meets Philip Marlowe. His stand-out work is the Amber saga – which opened in style with a first volume in which a fast-talking narrator wakes in a hospital in New York with a thumping bout of amnesia. He gradually discovers that he is a member of the ruling family of the world of Amber and that he has been the victim of a war of succession. His long journey home is a rip-roaring romp.

8 A STORM OF SWORDS

George R.R. Martin (2000)

Game of Thrones put fantasy on the radar of mainstream readers – until Martin started to dawdle over the ending of his

planned seven-book saga. With just five volumes published, many question whether the 77-year-old will complete his life's work. Even if he doesn't, the series contains at least one classic in the form of this, the third entry, as Martin springs a trap on his readers with the fateful Red Wedding scene where – belated spoiler warning – many of our favourite characters come to the stickiest of endings.

7 DEADHOUSE GATES

Steven Erikson (2000)

"Epic" is a word that gets chucked around a lot when it comes to fantasy. Yet it is the only way to describe Erikson's mind-bending Malazan Book of the Fallen sequence of 10 novels (plus sequels, prequels and spin-offs). Each volume unleashes a torrent of characters, locations, magic systems and ancient prophecies that it is up to the reader to untangle. It's worth it, however, as Erikson tells the story of ancient gods and feuding demons clashing across a vast continent. Chills and thrills are guaranteed.

6 PERDIDO STREET STATION

China Miéville (2000)

As big as a brick and just as hard-hitting, Miéville's 800-page-plus

"weird fantasy" masterpiece is set in a dystopian metropolis that is a mix of Victorian London and Mega-City One from the 2000AD comics. It is a place of horror and wonder, as the book's scientist hero, Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin, unleashes a deadly plague of psychological violence against the population. Miéville also throws in elements of Lynchian surrealism and a complicated murder mystery worthy of a James Ellroy potboiler – and somehow makes the whole thing sing like a soprano.

5 ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE

Robin Hobb (1986)

The 90s were a time of huge change in fantasy, as writers brought new levels of grittiness and explicitness to a genre that had been prudish. Hobb writes unflinchingly, depicting fantasy realms where the biggest threat isn't a rampaging dragon but a power-hungry nobility. Her crowning achievement is the Favour trilogy. This, the opening hook, tells the story of Fitz, the illegitimate offspring of a dashing prince who trains to become the king's personal assassin. This is down-and-dirty fantasy, where magic is more myth than reality – but with characters who are richly drawn human beings, full of flaws and all the more compelling for it.

4 THE FIFTH SEASON

N.K. Jemisin (1985)

In this eerie post-apocalyptic masterpiece, the setting is a planet devastated by earthquakes, where magic users with the ability to control seismic events are terrorised. The novel also tells the powerfully human story of a middle-aged woman who sets off in pursuit of her husband after he discovers that their children are members of this magical underclass. Jemisin has revealed that the novel draws on the intergenerational trauma experienced by her family in the Jim Crow-era American South – and that legacy gives the book an authenticity that crackles from the page, as electrifying as a lightning strike.

3 JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL

Samarma Clarke (2004)

Clarke's extraordinary debut is set in Regency London at the height of Britain's conflict with Napoleon. In this alternative universe, magic exists and two of its greatest practitioners are rivals who become friends. But there are darker forces in this universe than their warring egos – such as malevolent beings from the world of faerie. One of

the joys of this 1,000-plus-page novel is Clarke's delicious prose: she skilfully echoes Regency icon Jane Austen's tart, knowing style without being pretentious.

2 THE LORD OF THE RINGS

JRR Tolkien (1964)

Though fantasy existed long before Tolkien published his greatest work, it has rightly come to define the entire genre. It tells a gripping story of brave Hobbits fighting a dark lord – and no world has felt as vividly realised as Middle-earth, a place of both beauty and a deep melancholy, where wonder and magic are fading into nothingness, like leaves on the first day of autumn.

1 A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA

Ursula Le Guin (1968)

Le Guin's thrilling and haunting story of a boy wizard whose pride leads him to meddle with forces beyond his understanding is a brilliantly addictive yarn, written for children yet beloved by readers of all ages. But its true power comes from Le Guin's depiction of the ocean world of Earthsea, where humanity is scattered across an endless archipelago and magic can be used for both noble and sinister purposes. Then there is the morally conflicted antihero Ged – an ambitious youth who dreams of greatness and whose yearning to escape his provincial upbringing proves to be both his downfall and salvation. It is also an easy read, at an economical 250 pages – so no need to kiss your loved ones goodbye and cancel all appointments.

---

Wizz 1989 & Business

Quote of the day

This has all the hallmarks of an adventurous equity play with little concrete grounds for confidence. The execution risk is very considerable

Mr Justice Hildyard Judge casts doubt on future of TG Jones after approving its restructuring plan

@theipaper business@theipaper.com

FOOD & DRINK

Thousands of jobs at risk in £743m Diageo savings plan

By Henry Baker-Clark

Guinness maker Diageo is targeting cost-savings of £743m over the next three years as part of a major overhaul under boss Dave Lewis to help revive its fortunes.

The plan was revealed yesterday after the drinks group, which also makes Johnnie Walker whisky, Gordon's gin and Baileys, revealed weaker sales and profits for the past year.

The former Tesco chief executive, previously dubbed "Drastic Dave" for his cost-cutting approach, said there was "hard work ahead" for the business, particularly in North America.

Around £630m of the savings will come from operations, Lewis said, with £110m to be pulled back from its supply chain.

Overall, the restructure will cost the company around £890m, Diageo said.

It did not disclose the effect

on jobs but this is expected to be between 3,000 and 5,000 of its 30,000-strong workforce.

Unions in Scotland have already warned that 172 distillery workers are at risk of redundancy.

The cost-cutting plans, which are higher than a previous target of £465m over three years, come as Lewis seeks to return Diageo to growing profits and revenues after a downturn under previous chief executive Debra Crew.

Its annual net sales fell by 3 per cent year-on-year to £14.5bn, with a 9.1 per cent slide in North America amid a fall in prices in the US and "softness" in the tequila market.

When Dave Lewis took over at Diageo at the start of the year he became the group's third chief executive in three years

This was partly offset by 5.7 per cent sales growth in Europe and 6.8 per cent in the UK, Diageo said, with stronger British sales driven by "double-digit" gains for Guinness.

Revenues fell by 2 per cent to $19.6bn (£14.6bn), while operating profits plunged 27 per cent to $3.2bn due to restructuring costs and a $1.5bn impairment hit at its Turkish business.

Diageo also reduced its proposed dividend payment to shareholders by more than half from last year, but Lewis said he was "confident" he could deliver improvement without profits "taking a further step back".

He said: "This new strategy, executing with a new, more agile, competitive and cost-effective operating model, gives us confidence that we can return Diageo to a business consistently creating value for shareholders."

The plan involves taking Guinness

The restructure will cost the Guinness maker £890m overall over three years

global, investing in neglected, affordable brands such as Smirnoff and Captain Morgan and offering smaller, cheaper bottle sizes to US drinkers.

"These are very big, very important brands that, quite frankly, we've not done a great job with," Lewis said, while acknowledging that Diageo had also been slow to tap into in the booming canned cocktails market.

He said: "We will introduce canned cocktail products for all our core spirits brands.

"As for Guinness there will be a lot of geographical expansion. Its growth is fantastic, but it's critical to invest in the capacity to support that growth."

Raleigh, one of the most iconic and historic brands in the history of cycling, was bought by Accell in 2012 for £74m GETTY

MANUFACTURING

Raleigh bikes facing chop as owner collapses

By Anna Wise

The firm behind Nottinghamshire-based bikemaker Raleigh, which was founded 139 years ago, has filed to appoint administrators.

Accell UK and Ireland made its move as its wider group entered insolvency proceedings. It said it had "tirelessly explored every possible avenue" to secure the future of its cycling business - including securing additional

funding from shareholders and lenders in February.

The company, which bought Raleigh in 2012 for £74m, said it was a "deeply sad and frustrating situation" after talks with potential buyers failed to lead to a bid, meaning the business could not continue to operate.

Raleigh, one of the most iconic names in the history of cycling, has shifted to selling electric bikes under Accell's ownership.

Chief executive Jonas Nilsson said: "This is an especially difficult moment for our employees, creditors, customers, suppliers and partners. We had worked so hard to restructure Accell's operations and finances.

"Our immediate focus now is to work with the relevant court-appointed administrators to preserve viable activities and employment where circumstances allow."

AVIATION

Wizz warns on jet fuel prices as it swings to quarterly loss

By Anna Wise

Wizz Air has swung to a loss in an "extremely volatile" three-month period in which fuel costs have soared due to the conflict in the Middle East.

The low-cost airline warned yesterday that the industry was now facing challenges "for the rest of the year" as it recorded an operating loss of £157m between April and June, down from a profit of £23.6m for the same period last year.

Wizz said this was largely down to its jet fuel outlay, which had risen by 39 per cent year-on-year to £523.8m, reflecting an 87 per cent market price increase that it had partially mitigated through cost-cutting.

Soaring jet fuel costs have caused havoc across the industry, with easyJet, British Airways owner IAG and Ryanair all reporting a fall in profits in recent weeks.

Wizz previously said it had taken a £42.9m hit from the Iran war after having to cancel flights to Tel Aviv in Israel and other routes to the Middle East and Cyprus in March.

Chief executive Jozsef Varadi said: "We have had to reallocate flying from longer-haul Middle Eastern routes to shorter European markets.

"We continue to see a build-up of forward bookings, but the rest of the year will present both industry challenges and strategic opportunities."

The weaker earnings update came despite Wizz's passenger numbers soaring by a quarter to 21.2 million over the three-month period.

Total revenues also increased by 5.5 per cent year-on-year to £1.298m.

---

NEWY 2-20

OPINION 18-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

8 FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

45

LIFESTYLE

'I've learned one thing all women should know about their money'

A brutal attack in 2008 changed my life - and the way I think about my finances, says Katie Piper

Women who talk about money can be called greedy, but you'd never say that about a man.

I run a charity and am used to talking about money all the time; it's at the centre of all our board and trustee meetings - but that's OK, because it's not our money, it's for charity. Many of the women in the room would never dare talk about their own finances.

You see the same thing everywhere among friends and family. Even when I go on Instagram I see women talking about diets, ageing, health, relationships and work - but never about money.

Why is it that we are such good communicators but we won't talk about our salary or what we are worth?

The one thing I wish I'd known about money much earlier than I do now is that we need to stop whispering about it, and start feeling empowered.

When I think about my younger self, I wouldn't tell her to start a pension sooner or begin investing - I would tell her to strive, not for money, but for financial independence.

After my attack in 2008, I lost absolutely everything. I was in a coma and my landlord assumed I'd done a runner and not paid the rent, so all of my belongings were put into bin liners and thrown away. I woke up months later with no job, no face and no income.

There was no ChatGPT back then, so I had to go to the Jobcentre and get actual leaflets to work out how to apply for disability benefits.

But it was a real motivation for me and completely changed the way I thought about money.

When I grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, it was the norm that the man was the breadwinner and the woman raised the family. That's just what I saw in every book, film and TV programme I ever saw as a young girl.

I always thought I wanted to have a house, a car, two children and maybe a cat - but I assumed I needed a man to provide those things. Suddenly, I realised that I could have all those things I wanted, but that I would have to go and get them myself.

For women, it's often true that we only start talking about things when we reach a crisis point. It was

definitely the case for me. Maybe it's fear of judgement, worry about being seen as greedy, or not wanting to be perceived as intimidating.

The next few years after my attack were a steep learning curve. As well as learning about how expensive it is to hire a barrister, have a two-year court battle and undergo surgery, I learnt that earning money is not the same as keeping it, that you need to diversify your income streams, and that you need to grow your wealth.

But it's not about chasing money. Having money in and of itself is not what you should be aiming for; it is the fact that it gives you freedom and broadens your options.

Money can't buy you happiness, but it can certainly bring you peace of mind. When I was younger I

Money can't buy you happiness, but it can bring you peace of mind and broaden your options

thought it was enough to want something and everything would fall into place, but that's not how it happens - you need to be financially astute.

To do that we need to learn more about money - and talk more about it. The more you do it, the more you realise it's actually really empowering to have conversations around financial knowledge.

I'm all for being present and enjoying the moment, but when it comes to money we need to think further ahead.

I would tell my younger self that spending on yourself is never money wasted.

That doesn't mean buying handbags or £1,000 shoes - it means spending on your education, your mental and physical health, and on upskilling to grow or start a business.

It was not so long ago a woman couldn't even get a mortgage in her

own name but things are slowly starting to change.

I want my two daughters, who are eight and 12, to grow up seeing someone who makes sensible, intentional, strategic financial decisions and knows her own worth.

I want them to see someone who hasn't chased money, but has built a path with passion-led projects that might not pay today but are will excite you and lead to future opportunities.

Women are great at talking about our periods, perimesopause, or how to lose weight - and that's because there is still this idea that we need to be beautiful and youthful.

But wealthy? Women don't need to be wealthy, so there is no reason for us to talk about it.

Katie Piper is a broadcaster media personality, bestselling author and entrepreneur

CONSTRUCTION

Signs of sector emerging from 18-month hole

By Anna Wise

The UK's construction industry has begun to "stabilise" following a steep downturn, despite activity remaining in decline for the longest period since the 2008 financial crisis, figures show.

S&P Global's monthly survey found that construction firms' confidence improved last month.

Its UK construction PMI reading was 44.7 for July, up from 38.4 in June, with any reading above 50 indicating increasing activity.

The construction industry has recorded a decline in business activity every month since January 2025 - the slump has affected housebuilding, civil engineering and commercial construction with conditions worsening over recent months since the start of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

However, the housebuilding sector recorded its highest level of activity since October last month, due to new commercial developments, residential projects and transport infrastructure, the survey found.

Tim Moore, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: "There are signs of a turnaround in client demand and a revival in new tender opportunities, despite subdued market conditions.

"This contributed to more upbeat business activity expectations for the year ahead, with confidence levels the highest since February."

RETAIL

High street blows cold - it's too hot to shop

By Josie Clarke

Heatwave conditions continued to bear down on shopper footfall last month, with the high street particularly badly affected, figures suggest.

Total UK footfall was down by 2.1 per cent on a year earlier, but an improvement on June's 3.4 per cent drop, according to British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data.

High street footfall fell by 3.8 per cent year-on-year during the month, up from a 6.2 per cent decline in June. Shopping centre footfall was also down, by 1.4 per cent year-on-year, although this was better than June's 2.5 per cent.

England recorded the weakest performance of any UK nation with an overall footfall drop of 3 per cent, with London down 5.3 per cent, highlighting the continued challenges facing larger urban centres during periods of extreme heat.

Andy Sumpter, from Sensormatic, said six of the first seven months of this year had performed worse than the same period last year.

He said: "While the UK has yet another new Prime Minister, retail is yet to experience any meaningful 'Burnham bounce'."

£1,000 An amount better than it's on our own, than on handbag, or on handbag, Katie Piper

---

46

BUSINESS

FTSE 100 down 0.19% at 10,867.89

Company	Price	Chg %	High	Low
SI Group	2871.0	-1.75%	4667.0	1825.0
Absorben Group	251.0	-1.10%	265.0	177.5
AB Foods	2117.0	+0.57%	2358.0	1729.5
Admiral	2600.0	+0.23%	3058.0	2624.0
Arctic Africa	312.0	+1.53%	436.2	206.0
Alliance Witan	1383.0	-0.22%	1291.0	1178.0
Anglo-Amer	3978.0	-1.12%	4239.0	2078.0
ArkinSports	3974.0	-1.88%	4479.0	2554.0
ArlindSeneca	11890.0	-1.55%	15732.0	9892.0
Automatier Group	511.8	-1.58%	844.4	428.6
Avion	710.2	+1.28%	714.0	550.8
Babneck Intl	11963.0	+0.58%	15277.0	902.4
B&B Systems	2390.0	+2.04%	2960.0	2539.0
Barrison	920.0	-3.42%	954.1	552.9
Barratt Redman	319.8	+1.46%	410.2	235.4
Beazley	5285.0	+0.28%	5296.0	750.0
BP	519.7	+0.93%	605.4	369.4
British Tobacco	6376.0	-0.05%	5526.0	3677.0
British Land	441.6	-1.38%	451.6	318.6
BT	2601.0	-0.60%	2421.1	1770.0
Belair	2632.0	+0.28%	2848.0	1881.0
Burberry	1190.0	-1.36%	1376.5	976.0
Catalina	553.8	+1.49%	220.3	151.4
Coca-Cola Europe	8065.0	+0.69%	8545.0	6240.0
Coca-Cola MBC	4510.0	-1.97%	5139.0	2170.0
Compass	1498.2	-2.02%	2581.1	2000.0
Compasscenter	4884.0	+1.50%	4962.0	2222.0
Convelec	226.8	+1.34%	259.3	193.0
Cross Int'l	5281.0	-0.24%	5351.0	2428.8
DCC Energy	6375.0	-0.16%	6740.0	4188.0
Diageo	1732.5	+5.58%	2142.0	1255.5
Diploma	7680.0	+0.07%	7733.0	4970.0
DuQuenne Mining	3888.0	+1.20%	5620.0	2390.0
Exxon	537.0	-1.00%	1022.0	500.4
Experian	2630.0	-0.74%	3987.0	2203.0
F&L Live Trust	343.4	-0.12%	1332.0	525.8
Fresno	2738.0	-0.33%	4472.0	1513.0

Company	Price	Chg %	High	Low
Kansas Mortis	18940.0	-0.37%	23540.0	10407.0
Elecomm	566.0	-1.27%	707.2	275.2
EDX	1936.9	+1.10%	2282.0	1288.6
Nabisco	793.8	+1.34%	418.1	274.4
Nabisco	3802.0	+0.05%	4902.0	3354.0
Nissan	1811.0	+1.12%	1904.0	1257.2
Newellon Delivery	3564.0	+0.12%	981.0	713.0
NIBC-Nhlgs	1512.2	-0.70%	1810.0	927.6
SKI	448.0	+0.54%	492.9	332.7
ICS	2028.0	-0.98%	2340.0	1424.9
IG Group	1312.0	-2.81%	1856.0	1016.0
J&I	1618.0	+1.44%	1142.0	2188.0
Imperial Brands	2703.0	+0.44%	2632.0	2626.0
Informal	605.2	-0.70%	1000.0	713.0
Int'l Ltd Wills	15789.4	-0.66%	15305.1	8556.0
InterNet	1848.0	-1.1%	1855.0	1018.4
Investex	672.0	-0.52%	1065.0	459.4
JD Sports Fashion	63.5	+0.75%	106.2	64.0
Kingfisher	325.1	+0.71%	372.3	240.3
Land Incrs	713.0	-1.25%	726.0	522.5
Logix & Son	312.0	+2.23%	312.0	237.2
Libra Finance	12170.0	+1.25%	12170.0	6908.0
Lipschitz Co	114.7	-2.05%	137.9	77.4
London Metric Prop	195.8	-1.11%	238.2	175.3
Lon Stock Ex	6750.0	+1.42%	10380.0	6884.0
M&I	364.1	-0.08%	368.1	247.0
M&I	406.4	-0.73%	418.3	301.1
Moltron Ind	477.2	-2.79%	689.0	409.9
Moltron Energy	4287.9	+1.50%	4984.7	2843.8
National Grid	5196.0	+0.72%	5428.5	3580.0
Nat Med Group	711.8	-0.26%	726.0	500.2
Next	15715.0	+2.35%	15300.0	10120.0
Pearson	1224.0	-0.61%	1337.0	879.6
Pending Square	7404.0	-0.96%	8590.0	3636.0
Pendomax	1101.4	+2.89%	1552.0	947.4
Polar CapTech	669.0	-1.62%	743.5	368.0
Prudential	1027.0	+0.20%	1238.0	565.2

Company	Price	Chg %	High	Low
Reddit Ben	5248.0	-1.76%	6522.9	3664.0
RSLX	2803.0	-4.13%	3821.0	1991.0
Reeland Initial	383.5	-1.52%	507.0	329.6
Rio Tinto	7457.0	-0.72%	9117.0	4436.5
Rolle Royce	1535.4	-2.36%	1580.0	990.0
Salonbury(2)	354.3	-0.48%	380.3	291.2
Schroders	5664.5	-0.45%	5364.5	2466.6
Scot short Inv Tot	1364.5	-1.09%	1563.0	1015.7
Segra	362.0	-1.01%	347.4	603.0
Severn Trust	3116.0	+1.10%	3595.0	2381.0
Shell	1015.0	+1.05%	1758.0	2051.8
SmithKingsh	1098.0	-0.95%	1441.5	1050.0
Smiths Cp	2677.0	-0.82%	2754.2	2088.0
Spirus Group	7375.0	+0.41%	8050.0	5950.0
SSS	2376.0	+1.45%	2767.5	1547.0
Stan Chart	2100.0	-0.77%	2378.0	1285.0
Standard Life	1056.0	+0.04%	942.0	615.0
St James's Place	1117.5	-1.59%	1577.5	1038.8
Tecro	475.7	-1.04%	510.4	400.9
The Sage Gra	1027.5	+1.45%	1290.0	771.7
Tritax Big Ben	354.5	-0.75%	379.0	131.2
Unilever	6700.0	-1.36%	9542.1	3644.0
United Utilities	5428.0	+0.78%	5497.0	1072.0
Weldstone	119.3	+4.28%	131.1	82.1
Wip Group	2698.0	+0.50%	3580.0	2254.0
Whitewood	2528.0	+0.26%	3362.0	2098.0

www.illinois.com/obdo For enquiries call +44 (0)20 7825 8300

Markets

FTSE 100	10867.89	-0.19%
FTSE 250	24695.4	+0.25%
FTSE All Share	5856.1	-0.14%
FTSE Eurofit v2300	2629.9	+0.14%
Dow Jones *	54022.5	-0.60%
S&P 500 *	7713.5	-0.13%
Nasdaq *	26413.57	+0.15%
DAX	26140.1	+0.05%
CAC 40	8699.7	+0.35%
Hong Song	25530.3	-1.49%
Nikkei	65683.3	-0.93%

CONSUMER

PZ Cussons cleans up as profits soar

Carex and Imperial Leather maker PZ Cussons has put an annual sales and profits surge down to trimming its portfolio, investing in AI and focusing on its best-selling categories. The firm, which uses animated characters The Gruffalo and Zog on Carex handwash labels, posted £54.1m in revenue (up 5.8 per cent on 2025) and a £50m pre-tax profit (up 22 per cent).

FOOD & DRINK

Time Out to open UK food market

Time Out will open its first UK market in 2028 around 15 restaurants and bars at The Crown Estate's 10 Piccadilly development in London's West End, including a full live programme of events. Time Out was a print magazine from 1968 until 2022 but launched the first of its 13 food markets in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2014.

PROPERTY

Peel eyes £583m Harworth buyout

The Peel Group has bid £583m offer to buy out rival property developer Harworth. The £72.5p a share offer represents a 20.1 per cent premium on Harworth's closing FTSE 100 share price on Wednesday. Peel already owns around 30 per cent of Harworth, which would be delisted if the sale goes through.

CHEMICALS

Ineos doubles bet on Europe bounce

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos group has doubled its equity holdings in "undervalued" European chemical firms. Despite owing investors £14bn and its bonds trading at a discount, Ineos has pumped €200m (£174m) into a sector that has had four years of decline, on top of a €200m equity bet from May. Majority shareholders have followed suit.

CONSTRUCTION

Persimmon defies 'difficult market'

Persimmon has said its home completion will be "at the upper end" of its 12,500 target this year, "despite a difficult market". The construction firm also revealed a 15 per cent year-on-year increase in half-yearly pre-tax profit to £168m, with new home completions up by 13 per cent to 5,189 over the period. Revenues lifted by 15 per cent to £1.73bn.

FINANCE

Quilter cashes in on advice demand

Wealth manager Quilter has posted record net half-yearly inflows of £6bn – up 32 per cent year-on-year – as more people seek financial advice. Its total assets under administration and management jumped by 25 per cent to £357.4bn over the period, with revenues up 5 per cent at £379m and pre-tax profit before tax reaching £112m.

TECHNOLOGY

Board reshuffle at Google DeepMind

Sir Denis Hassabis, founder of Google's UK-based AI research lab DeepMind, is stepping down as its chief executive to become its chairman. He will also take on the role of chief scientist at Google's owner, Alphabet, while DeepMind chief technology officer Koray Kavukcuoglu will fill the void by stepping up to being senior vice president.

ADVERTISING

WPP surges after year of turmoil

WPP shares rose by almost 30 per cent yesterday after better-than-expected second-quarter results. The group has slashed 8 per cent of its workforce – 8,500 jobs – in the past year to invest in AI as it has expanded partnerships with the likes of Google and Meta. Pre-tax profit was £277m and revenues were £2.5bn over the period.

the markets

The FTSE 100 closed down by 20.41 points yesterday, or 0.19 per cent, at 10,867.89. The biggest risers were drinks group Diageo, up 91.5p at 1,731.5p, and insurer Admiral Group, up 194.0 at 3,900p. The biggest fallers were real estate

insurance trust Tritax Big Box, down 72p at 186.5p, and analytics firm Reix, down 112p at 2,603p. In France, the CAC40 fell by 0.35 per cent, while the DAX ended 0.05 per cent lower in Germany. The price of Brent crude oil rose to $81.79 a barrel.

***

The pound fell against the dollar, down 0.07 cents at $1.34/4, but gained on the euro, up 0.15 cents at €1.167/1, at the close in London.

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MOST 2-20

OPINION 16-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONET 44-47

SPORT 49-56

8 FRIDAY 8 7 AUGUST 2026

47

PENSION CRISIS COACH

T'm 62 - can I retire in three years with £270,000 savings?'

In our Pensions Crisis Coach series, we aim to help ease your retirement worries. If you are concerned you're not saving enough for your later years email money@thepaper.com and we'll seek to get you on the right track with help from some of the best financial experts and advisers in the business.

Andy writes...

I'm 62 and would like to travel and make the most of retirement while still healthy enough. Can you tell me if I'm in a good place to retire at 65? I have £270,000 in ISAs and pension savings.

Alina Khan, 'The i Paper' money coach reporter responds...

You have £210,000 invested in a pension savings fund, as well as £60,000 in cash ISAs. You have put the ISAs into tax wrappers after you were made redundant in 2011 and received a payout.

But you also have other money that's worth taking account of. In

that job you were paying into a public sector defined benefit (DB) pension. These pensions don't involve money going into a savings pot - so can't be quantified as simply as your other pension.

Instead you receive a guaranteed payout each year in retirement, and in your case this will be worth £10,000 a year if you retire at 67.

You are also set to receive the full new state pension - currently £12,548 per year - when you hit 67.

You also have £21,000 invested in a stocks and shares ISA, so let's look at whether you have enough to achieve your retirement goals.

Alex Henry, partner at Realise Wealth Management, said: 'With the main period of wealth accumulation behind you, I can see your £10,000 a year from your defined benefit pension, alongside a full state pension, provides you with a solid foundation. Guaranteed income streams can offer flexibility when planning withdrawals from

People are keen to travel while they are still healthy in retirement

your investment portfolio, although the level and timing of withdrawals will still need careful consideration.'

As you want to retire at 65, you need to be able to bridge the gap financially in the two years before you start to receive a state pension.

Henry added: 'Your ISAs and your other pension pot will provide much of that required income, but it's also essential that you gain clarity on your total needs, both in

It is important to think about occasional unforeseen costs you may have in retirement

the earlier, more active phase of retirement and later in life.'

To get a good gauge of how much you would need to travel, Pension UK's Retirement Living Standards estimates that a two-week holiday in the Mediterranean each year, and three long weekend UK breaks, requires a couple to have a £62,700 annual post-tax retirement income.

These figures are simply a guide but do give you a good idea of how much you may need to fulfil your travelling goals.

You mentioned your expenses are £800 a month and you are mortgage-free, which is very helpful, because Henry adds: 'With people generally living longer, a retirement plan usually needs to provide an income for up to 30 years.

'Your essential expenditure appears to be covered by guaranteed income streams that will rise alongside inflation.'

However, it is also important to think about occasional foreseeable costs you may have in retirement.

Replacing cars or carrying out home maintenance needs to be taken into account when thinking about how much income a month you might need to take.

Henry added: 'Your significant ISA holdings could be used to fund these larger one-off expenses without increasing your tax bill.'

Once you do retire, you have options in how you can take your benefits. 'Your tax-free portion of your pension can be withdrawn entirely at outset, taken gradually or left in the pot for future use,' Henry explained.

Money left in your pot can rise and fall depending on market conditions and some buy an annuity, which converts savings into an annual pension. It provides a guaranteed income for life and greater certainty in retirement.

Henry suggested checking your defined benefit pension paperwork,

as you may be entitled to a lump sum payout in exchange for a reduced annual payment.

He added: 'A healthy cash reserve can reduce the need to sell investments during market downturns, giving your portfolio time to recover.

'But too much held in cash can risk losing out to inflationary pressures over the long term. Each of your assets plays a different role within your overall plan and should be balanced appropriately.'

Henry says your range of assets and income sources mean that retiring at 65 appears possible.

He says you have been really pragmatic over the years with your savings, so you should be able to enjoy the retirement you want.

I hope you enjoy it when it comes.

Explore Summer

With Scandinavian design and advanced suspension, it glides smoothly over any terrain. Finished in bold red, it's not just a walker — it's a fashion-forward statement of independence, wellness, and style. From gravel-filled park paths to cobblestone city streets, the 12er moves with you — and turns heads along the way.

TRIONIC

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48

Weath

Today's Weather

There will be cloudy skies and rain in Scotland. Northern Ireland and north-west England will have some sunny spells. It will be fair and sunny in the south.

Today's high

25°

Today's low

90°

Moon Phase

Sunrise

0533

Sunset

2038

Around Britain

City	Temp (s)	Cond (m)	Rain (m)	Sun (m)
Aberdeen	16	C	9.1	0.5
Aberporth	17	C	0.1	10.1
Aberystwyth	18	C	0.7	0.4
Anemore	14	C	14.7	2.9
Ballast	17	C	2.1	5.0
Birmingham	18	C	0.0	10.2
Buynamoorth	21	C	0.0	10.4
Bridlington	17	C	5.6	7.5
Bristol	19	C	0.0	11.7
Cardiff	20	C	0.0	10.8
Cromer	18	C	0.5	10.3
Durham	18	R	0.3	5.8
Castlecomte	20	C	0.0	14.0
Edinburgh	16	C	2.4	3.7
Gladderman	15	C	1.9	2.5
Glasgow	18	C	1.7	4.2
Holmead	16	C	0.7	8.5
Hove	21	C	0.0	13.7
Hull	18	C	0.0	8.3
Huntingdon	20	C	0.0	14.6
Ipswich	21	C	0.0	10.9
Isle of Man	14	C	1.2	5.7
Isle of Wight	20	C	0.0	10.4
Kirkcalves	15	C	2.9	2.5
Kirkwall	12	C	2.2	2.9
Leeds	17	C	1.1	6.5
Leneck	11	C	2.7	2.1
Lewisham	17	C	3.1	4.9
Lincoln	18	C	0.0	8.8
Liverpool	18	C	3.1	5.6
London	21	C	0.0	14.7
Manchester	18	C	0.7	5.2
Margate	20	S	0.4	12.5
Midland Haven	19	C	0.0	13.1
Monroeville	16	C	3.3	4.5
Newcastle	15	C	0.5	5.3
Norwich	20	C	0.1	11.7
Nottingham	18	C	0.0	8.0
Okehampton	18	C	0.3	9.7
Oxford	20	C	0.0	10.4
Plymouth	21	C	0.1	9.4
Portland	19	S	0.0	12.6
Portsmouth	22	C	0.0	12.4
Prestonch	16	C	3.0	3.4
Rhyl	16	C	2.8	8.4
Sheffield	16	C	0.5	7.3
Shrensbury	18	C	0.4	10.0
Shepness	19	C	0.0	10.8
Southend	21	C	0.1	12.5
Stoke	17	C	0.1	8.4
Stornoway	14	C	5.3	2.8
Swansea	19	C	0.0	12.1
Twice	14	C	4.2	2.0

Global

City	Temp (s)	Cond (m)	City	Temp (s)	Cond (m)
Abu Dhabi	18	S	Miami	31	TH
Abuja	26	C	Milan	34	S
Alcozate	32	F	Moscow	26	R
Amsterdam	20	S	Mumbai	29	SM
Athens	26	S	Munich	21	SM
Bangkok	32	C	New York	29	C
Barnabene	32	F	Nice	20	S
Beijing	36	F	Palma	33	F
Berlin	27	F	Paris	23	F
Bruxelles	22	F	Prague	27	R
Budapest	18	S	Rockpark	12	R
Chicago	27	C	Ria	31	S
Delhi	25	TH	Rome	32	S
Dulke	45	S	Stockholm	24	F
Dubai	18	C	Smolestorg	29	F
Friedfurt	27	S	Sydney	15	S
Geneva	29	F	Toronto	18	S
Helsinki	23	SR	Tokyo	29	C
Hong Kong	10	S	Toronto	28	S
Istanbul	31	S	Vancouver	20	S
Johannesburg	21	S	Vienna	24	S
Dublin	29	S	Vienna	31	S
Los Angeles	24	F	Washington	29	F
Madrid	34	S	Wellington	9	S

Key: C=Cloudy, SH=Strable.

F=Fair, FS=Fig. Initial, M=Max. Bottom.

S=Sunny, SH=Showers, SL=Slant, SN=Snow.

SS=Sandstorm, TH=Thunderstorm.

Air Pollution

Index

Air pollution levels

were 10 kerg high (tot

wk-on 6.6mighs wk

Region	Today	Tomorrow
Highlands	2	2
North East Scotland	2	2
Central Scotland	2	2
Scottish Borders	2	2
Northern Ireland	2	2
North West & Mersey	2	2
North East	2	2
Yorkshire & Humber	2	2
North Wales	2	2
West Midlands	2	2
East Midlands	2	2
South Wales	2	2
South West	2	2
South East	2	2
Eastern	2	2
Greater London	2	2

GENERAL SITUATION Today, the UK experiences varied weather patterns. North-west and north-east Scotland see cloudy skies with rain. South-west Scotland and the northern isles face rain showers, while the western isles have persistent rain. Elsewhere, southern parts like the Midlands and London enjoy fair and sunny conditions. Northern Ireland and north-west England are mostly cloudy with some sunny spells, remaining dry throughout the day. London, SE Eng, East Anglia, Channel Is: The day will start fair and sunny with mild temperatures. As the afternoon progresses, sunshine continues

with pleasant warmth. By evening, clear skies dominate, especially in the most western areas where a gentle breeze will persist. There is no threat of rain throughout the day. Max temp: 25°C. Tonight, possible light rain, breezy. Min temp: 9°C. Cen S England, SW England, Midlands, S Wales, N Wales: The day will begin cloudy with sunny spells, remaining dry throughout. Into the afternoon, the most southern areas may see clearer skies and sunshine, while the most northern parts remain more overcast. By evening, expect persistent cloud but generally mild temperatures with no rain expected.

Max temp: 24°C. Tonight, clear. Min temp: 15°C. SE Scotland, NE Eng, E Eng: The day will start mostly cloudy with some sunny spells breaking through. Into the afternoon, expect cloud cover to increase, with the most northern parts remaining overcast. The most eastern parts will enjoy occasional sunshine. Light to moderate south-westerly winds throughout. Max temp: 20°C. Tonight, clear spells. Min temp: 15°C. NW Eng, SW Scotland, N Ireland, Republic of Ireland, IsM: The morning is forecast to begin with mostly cloudy skies, with sunny spells breaking through at times. The afternoon will bring more rain

in the most northern parts, while the most western areas remain fair and sunny. By evening, conditions will be mild with gentle breezes throughout. Max temp: 25°C. Tonight, light rain, breezy. Min temp: 15°C. NW Scotland, NE Scotland, W Isles, N Isles: Cloudy conditions dominate the morning, with a chill in the air. The afternoon will bring some light rain, especially in the most western areas, where it will be breezer. Towards evening, rain will ease but clouds remain. Mild temperatures persist with a gentle south-west breeze throughout. Max temp: 20°C. Tonight, windy with possible showers. Min temp: 12°C.

Key:

Isolators: air pressure

in millions

W

Warm front

C

Cold front

C

Occluded front

SYNOPTIC PRESSURE Low pressure centred over the Western Isles brings persistent rain, moving slowly south-eastwards. A weakening high over south-west England extends fair conditions across southern areas. Frontal systems associated with the low affect north-west and north-east Scotland, causing cloudy skies and occasional rain.

HIGHS AND LOWS

(Wednesday, up to 11pm)

Warmest: 14mths, Essex, 25°C

Coldest: Abayne No 2 Aberdeenshire, 9°C

Wettest: Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire 12.8Omm

Sunnies: 12.4than, Wales, 10.4hrs

HOURS OF DARKNESS

Aberdeen	21.10-05.20
Birmingham	24.48-05.38
Bristol	29.47-05.44
Cardiff	20.50-05.48
Glasgow	21.11-05.34
Hull	20.47-05.27
Inverness	21.19-05.24
Liverpool	20.56-05.39
London	20.38-05.35
Manchester	20.53-05.36
Stornoway	21.32-05.32
Swansea	20.53-05.49
York	20.51-05.29

Five-day outlook

SATURDAY Northern and western areas will experience rain, while southern and eastern regions will enjoy fair and sunny weather

SUNDAY Northern regions will be rainy, but it will be fair and sunny in the south. Eastern regions will be warm and sunny, with more clouds and sporadic sun in the west

MONDAY Southern regions enjoy fair and sunny weather, while northern regions experience mostly cloudy skies and scattered rain showers.

TUESDAY Mostly dry with sunny spells across southern regions, while northern regions experience mostly cloudy skies with possible rain

WEDNESDAY Southern regions stay sunny and warm, northern areas face clouds and rain. Eastern areas are fast, with western parts expecting showers.

---

SPORT

SPORT 2-25

OPINION 16-22

TV 26-31

TURKEY 37-43

HOMAT 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

49

The Sport Matrix

The day's action at a glance

Kimberley Le Court of Mauritius

emerged victorious in a reduced sprint to win stage six of the Tour de France Femmes, au Swiss rider Marlen Reusser held on to the overall lead with three stages remaining. Le Court joined a small breakaway group to km from the finish, launched her sprint with 300 metres to go and held off French rider Cédrine Kerbaol on the line, with Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands third.

MOTOR SPORT

Formula E has contingency plan but is confident

Formula E is confident next season will start in Saudi Arabia in December but can push back the opening race to Mexico in January if events in the region dictate, the all-electric racing series' chief Jeff Dodds said.

The Liberty Global controlled championship is due to start a new Gen4 era with two races in Jeddah on 18-19 December, before Mexico City on 16 January.

Formula One and the World Rally Championship are due to end their seasons in the Middle East in November and December, the latter series in Saudi Arabi but have said they will take a decision in mid-September for logistical reasons.

"We talk to the kingdom on a very regular basis and obviously we're monitoring what's happening," Dodds said.

RUGBY LEAGUE

Castleford boss

Carr to miss Rovers clash

Castleford head coach Ryan Carr will be absent from tonight's Super League clash against Hull KR because of

"personal reasons".

The Tigers confirmed director of rugby operations Chris Chester and coaching pair Rob Nickolay and Scott Murrell will oversee the team at the OneBore Stadium.

Adrian Vowles, who became the first Castleford player to win the Man of Steel award in 1999, will sup- port the trio as he is back at the club this week for a function.

Carr (aboe) was appointed on a three-year contract ahead of this season and has presided over seven wins and 14 defeats - although they have been beaten in five of their last six matches.

CURLING

Olympic icon Muirhead plots Alpes comeback

Eve Muirhead has announced she is to return to competition four years after retiring following the

Beijing Winter Olympics.

The Team GB curler, a four-time Olympian and gold medallist in Beijing, is set to return to action in mixed doubles alongside two-time Olympic-silver medallist Bobby Lammie, with sights set on the 2000 Alpes Games.

The pair won the mixed doubles world championship in 2022. "The time away gave me the space I needed," said Muirhead (above). "It allowed me to rediscover the enjoyment of training and competing without the pressure I had placed on myself for so many years."

Puzzle solutions

Dominoes

Journey Finder

Making Tracks

Number Square

Idoku

Kakuro

Wijuko

Binary

ABC Logic

Zygolox

LEFT TO RIGHT: plod: colt: toy: flee: ploy: bolt: trick: kick: boot: truck: hoot: lorry: host: luck: honk

Daily Quiz

1. 'Nineteen Eighty-Four'
2. Wrapped round his lower leg
3. Seven years' weeding
4. 'Airplane'

Word Ladder

Sudoku

Jigsawdoku

Number Hexagon

Thursday's Codeword 4578

Word Wheel

NINE-LETTER WORD BOTHERING

OTHER WORDS begin, begot, being, benight, bent, berg, berth, berthing, beth, bier, bighorn, bight, bigot, bing, binge, bingo, biont, birth, bite, biter, bogie, bone, boner, bong, bonier, bore, boring, born, borne, bornite, bort, both, bother, brent, brig, bright, brighten, brine, bring, brio, brit, brith, broth, sbon, gibe, giber, henbit, herb, neighbor, obit, obiter, orbing, orbit, robe, robin, robing, throb, tribe.

Killer Sudoku

Minesweeper

Number Pyramid

Calcudoku

Word Square

Knight's Tour

Pathfinder

Chain Link

Futoshiki

Hexalex

Word Fit

Cells

Battleships

Bridges

Word Search

Five-Cine Cryptic Crossword

Across: 3 RE=quire, 5/6 Organ=grinder* Down: 1 RE=noir, 2 Mug=gins, 4 Ranker (rancour)

---

50

SPORT

9

BOXING

Warren positive on Reeves

By George Sessions

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has provided a positive update on Lee Reeves and been in contact with the family of British boxer Raven Chapman.

Irish southpaw Reeves was taken to hospital after he lost in Dublin on Saturday to Gary Cully and his condition was later described as “critical but stable”, but Warren has revealed “progress” has been made by the 33-year-old.

Warren has also remained in touch with former Queensberry fighter Chapman, who had to undergo emergency surgery last Friday for a bleed on the brain following a sparring session in Denmark.

“My team have been in touch with Lee Reeves team and he is making progress. That is what we’re hearing and thank the Lord for that,” Warren said. “With Lee and with Raven, it’s all about time. Time hopefully can be a healer. I’ve been made aware of what happened with Raven, she was with us two years ago and I have been in touch her family.”

Chapman was placed in a medically induced coma after undergoing surgery to stop the bleeding and reduce the swelling on her brain.

A GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money for Chapman, who has been taken off sedatives and is currently awaiting medically supervised repatriation to a UK hospital.

Frank Warren has been in touch with Reeves’ team and Chapman’s family

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua exchange words in April GETTY

ence, discussions took place over whether an exemption to Wembley’s current curfew may be obtained to ensure the bout could begin at Zam local time, 9pm in New York.

But Warren said: “Of course I do [sympathise with British fans] but they contacted Wembley, didn’t they. Sela, and asked if they would push the time back and as far as I understand that has not happened.”

Warren sidestepped questions about Fury’s contract and if it stipulated the fight must happen in the UK, which is the case for Joshua according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua was sent to the canvas twice in round one by Albanian journeyman Kristian Prenga last month, raising questions about his ability to take a punch and whether another warm-up contest could occur before he loses Fury. However, Warren rejected that suggestion.

“He has had two fights in, what, the last seven months? Jake Paul and Prenga, they are the two fights he has had,” Warren pointed out.

“He is doing a training camp with [Oleksandr] Usyk, so what does he do if he doesn’t fight? He will carry on training, training and training and he will be getting older, as will Tyson, so what is the point? Get on with it.

“What I do know is, he is a dangerous man when he catches you. Coming forward he throws big punches and if he thinks he can catch Tyson and if he thinks he can hurt him, then he will fancy the fight.

“The problem he has got for himself is that he gets caught and he goes over. Looking at the Prenga fight, if that had been Tyson in there, that would have been all over.

“We have two guys who are getting very well paid but, more importantly, they both want to win the fight in a big way. Neither wants to be the loser.

“There comes a time in some fighters’ careers where people think they are maybe not at their best but they go and dig deep to find something else.

“These two guys will have to dig deep when they fight each other because they both want it.

“Me? I say all day long it is Tyson but we’ll find out when that first hell goes.”

Fans remain in the dark over Fury Joshua fight venue

By George Sessions

Tyson Fury’s promoter has refused to confirm whether his fighter’s heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua will take place in America, but he still expects the bout to happen in November.

Speculation has been rife over where the eagerly anticipated “Battle of Britain” will take place, with

Wembley Stadium the initial front-runner until an issue over the start time emerged.

With Saudi boxing chef Turki Alalshikh eager to stage the fight at a time which would attract a global audience, the United States has become the favoured country to host the all-British affair, with Madison Square Garden in New York primed and ready.

These guys will have to dig deep when they fight each other because they both want it

Asked if New York and 20 November was correct, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said: “That, at this moment, I can’t comment on.

“That will be up to his Excellency [Alalshikh] to announce when he is ready to announce it.

“No [deadline]. The fighters will just need to get into training some time in September, so that is what will happen in early September.

“They will be ticking over at the moment, I’m sure. I can only speak for Tyson but he is with his family.

“And then as soon as the date’s announced, he will get down to the serious business and bring in sparring partners and prepare for the fight. I believe the fight will go on in November.”

Once Alalshikh made clear the fight must suit an American audi-

Sporton TV

Golf: Wyndham Championship

Sky Sports Golf: 11.45am and 6pm

Golf: London Championship

Sky Sports Golf: 2pm

Cycling: Tour de France Femmes

TNT Sports 1.2.35pm

Cricket: Phoenix v Sunrisers (w)

Sky Sports Cricket: 2.45pm

Tennis: Toronto, Montreal

Sky Sports Tennis: 4pm

Cricket: Phoenix v Sunrisers (m)

Sky Sports Cricket: 6pm

Football: Partick v Livingston

BBC Scotland 7.25pm

Football: Middlesbro v Wrexham

(TV), 7.30pm

Rugby league: Wakefield v Leeds

Sky Sports Action: 7.30pm

Rugby lge: Castleford v Hull KR

Sky Sports: 8pm

Results Service

BFL CUP FIRST ROUND

Bristol City (1) 0 Walsall (1) 1

Presbyterian (1) 1

UEFA EUROPE LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND

FIRST LES / Blalystock (1) 2 Rangers (1) 5

Farnsworth (4, 5/8) Wrexham (2/8)

Glasgow (2) 6 Heart (1) 5

Bavaria (3) 6 Heart (1) 5 Rally (3) 6

Rally (3) 6 Pavlovsk (4, 5/8) Ransford (3) 5

Pavlovsk (4, 5/8) Preston (6) Dundee (8)

Schpitzburg (2/8/8/8)

UEFA EUROPE CONFIDENCE LEAGUE THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LES

HJK (1) 2 Motherwell (1) 1

Pale (7) 3 Manchester (4, 5/8/8)

Apex (1) 2 Shelbourne (1) 1

Apex (1) 2 Shelbourne (1) 1 Lindsey (2) 6 Kelly (4)

Lindsey (2) Belvedere (1) 0

Belvedere (1) 0 Mollyland (1) 2

Pontecchia (6) Andrews (7)

Hibernian (1) 2

Hibernian (1) 2 Stroud (1) 1

Stroud (1) 1 Lyon (2) 1

Lyon (2) 1 Chelsea (4)

CHICAGO THE HUNDRED

London Sports: 9/8 London, Lords, Mon, London Sport: 9/8 London, Lords, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London, Mon, London

RUBBY LEAGUE

BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE

St Helens (1) 1/8 Hull (1) 1/8

St Helens: Triad: Sturley, Stowby, Waterburn, Gaala Hastings (3) Hull: Triad: Barrow (3) Martin, Cash, Bell

Hastings (3) Hull: Triad: Barrow (3) Martin, Cash, Bell Gaala: Turnstoke (1)

TODAY'S FIXTURES (1/2pm unless stated)

FOOTBALL

BFL CUP FIRST ROUND

Middlesbrough v Wrexham (8)

Wolverhampton (7/8/8/8) Wolverhampton (7/8/8/8)

WILLIAM HILL SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP

Partick v Livingston (7/8/8)

CHICAGO

ONE DAY CUP - GROUP A: LANCASHIRE V

GLOUCESTERSHIRE (2/4/7/8/8/8) 11.15am

LEICESTERSHIRE V WARWICKSHIRE (2/4/7/8/8/8) 11.15am

2/4/7/8/8/8 WORTHAMPTONSHIRE (1/4/7/8/8/8) 11.15am

SOMERSET V SURREY (1/4/7/8/8/8) 11.15am

GLOVE & DORHAM V MIDDLESEX (1/4/7/8/8/8) 1.30pm

CLAMORGAN V DODGE (1/4/7/8/8/8) 1.30pm

SUSSEX V WORCESTERSHIRE (1/4/7/8/8/8) 1.30pm

YORKSHIRE V WORCESTERSHIRE (1/4/7/8/8/8) 1.30pm

TENNIS

ATP & WTA NATIONAL BANK OPEN PRESENTED BY ROGERS (1/4/7/8/8/8) 1.30pm

RUBBY LEAGUE BETFRED SUPER LEAGUE (6-1/2/7/8/8/8) 1/4/7/8/8/8 Ruggles v York, Wakefield v Leeds

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

Barnaby Rudge

(2.20, Musselburgh)

MUSSELBURGH 2020

2.20 BRITISH STALLION STUDIO EBF NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 2) 1/10 £42,000 added 1F

1 1 1 BARNABY RUDGE (25) / Farmbewe 9 12 ... D Meansh 11 3 2 2 MINUTES BARN (1) Grand 5 6 ... P Muthersham 5 3 3 3 MY MATS PTE 1: Ryan 5 4 ... T Eaves 4 4 4 SOD HALL LANE (1) Grand 3 4 ... Z Wheeling 1 5 5 5 PATRIUM FLORENCE (8PF) / Walker 9 11 ... K Bonnerich 1 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

BETTING 8-1/2-7/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

BETTING 8-1/2-7/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

2.50 COFFER BLOSSOM LADIES DAY NURSERY SELLING HANDICAP (CLASS 2) 1/10 £42,000 added 1F

1 1 1 EXTENDED ORDERS (1) / Houghton 3 5 ... D Meansh 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

BETTING 7-1/2-7/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

BETTING 7-1/2-7/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

2.50 CHAMPAGNE POMMERY CUVEE LOUISE GOLD CUP HANDICAP (CLASS 2) £42,000 added 1F

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BETTING 8-1/2-7/8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8

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WEST 2-20

ORLANDO 18-22

TX 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

51

CHICKET

Lawrence recall shows there is a clean break from Bazball

DAN LAMRENCE RECALL

If England's squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan is anything to go by, then the new era under Joe Root's captaincy will place a greater emphasis on county cricket and aim to fill the void left by Ben Stokes' retirement by packing out the bowling.

The main headline from the 16-man party selected for the opening two matches at Headingley, starting on 19 August, and Lord's, eight days later, is the absence of Jacob Bethell.

The 22-year-old has failed to recover from a knee injury sustained during the one-day series against India last month and will be replaced at No 3 in England's batting line-up by Jordan Cox.

It's a bold call to pick a player with one Test appearance at such a pivotal position. But England rate the Essex batter and he has a huge opportunity against Pakistan given Bethell is out for the series.

Equally bold is going back to Dan Lawrence at No 6; the Surrey batter is back two years after his last Test appearance. Lawrence is the second-leading runscorer in Division One of the County Championship, with 788 at an average of 65. Lawrence's part-time spin is a sign that despite Shoaib

We believe he has the right level of experience, maturity and skill

Bashir being in the squad, England are likely to go with an all-seam attack unless they are presented with a pitch that looks like it is going to turn square.

Balancing the side effectively without the all-round talents of Stokes was always going to be a tricky task. This way, England hope they have not weakened the batting and have given themselves enough depth in the bowling department to cover for the loss of Stokes.

The significant nod to county

England squad

For first two Tests against Pakistan:

J Root (capt), J Archer, G Atkinson, S Bashir, H Brook, B Carse, S Cook, J Cox, B Duckett, M Fisher, E Gay, D Lawrence, O Pope, O Robinson, J Smith, J Tongue.

Chris Stocks' predicted XI for Headingley:

Duckett, Gay, Cox, Root (capt), Brook, Lawrence, Smith (w-k), Atkinson, Robinson, Archer, Tongue.

cricket is underlined by the recalls of Ollie Pope – ostensibly as cover for wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and Cox at No 3 – for the first time since last winter's Ashes, and Essex seamer Sam Cook.

The squad was picked by Root, director of cricket Rob Key and national selector Marcus North. New Test coach Stephen Fleming, who will not start until the winter tour of South Africa, also had a say.

It appears a significant break from the Bazball era, when players were often picked on hunches by former Test coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes.

Two notable absentees in spinning all-rounders Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, both of whom would have hoped to have batted at No 6 instead of Lawrence, illustrate this shift.

Brydon Carse, back from a hand injury that forced him to miss the first half of the summer, returns and will be competing for one of the four seam-bowling spots.

However, it seems likely that a fully fit Ollie Robinson, man-of-the-match in England's win against New Zealand at Lord's, will take his place in the attack with Jodra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.

North said of the squad: "We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team. Dan Lawrence returns following an exceptional season and we believe he has the right level of experience, maturity and skill to complement our middle order.

"Jordan Cox is well regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English cricket."

THE HUNDRED

Mellie Kerr hit a crucial half-century to subdue London Spirit

Matthews and Kerr get it done for MI

Mellie Kerr's defiant half-century and decisive death bowling from Hayley Matthews helped MI London to a belated first win of the season against capital rivals London Spirit.

After a tie in the previous derby between the sides, the visitors squeaked home by just three runs at Lord's as they defended 122 for 9.

Lisa Keightley's side looked to be in for another tough day as they slumped to 64 for 8, but Kiwi star Kerr kept the show on the road.

She made 69 not out from 41 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes, with Chinelle Henry (22) the only one of her team-mates to join her in double figures. England vice-captain Charlie Dean claimed 3 for 26.

Spirit lost their first three wickets for 36 as MI hit back with the ball. South African duo Kapp and Nadine de Klerk rallied with a stand of 42, but Matthews settled it in the penultimate five-ball set, dismissing Charis Pavely and De Klerk while allowing just three runs, ensuring a tight away win.

England and Hampshire fast bowler John Turner has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket aged 25, South Africa-born Turner has been out for over a year with a stress fracture in his back.

ATHLETICS

West Ham agree to London bid for 2029 world championships

By Rachel Steinberg

London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has been given a huge boost after organisers reached an agreement with West Ham United FC over use of the London Stadium.

There were concerns the bid, which has been backed by the UK Government and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, could be scuppered by the availability of the football stadium – even before West Ham's relegation to the Championship.

The football club maintain "the highest priority has always been the West Ham United supporters" and that after "detailed negotiations" a deal was struck to ensure there would be "minimal impact" on their campaign.

A West Ham statement read: "West Ham United can confirm it has reached an agreement with London Stadium LLP and Athletics Ventures for London Stadium to be included as a

host venue as part of a UK Government backed bid to hold the 2029 World Athletics Championships in London.

"Throughout the process the club's highest priority has always been the West Ham United supporters, ensuring any agreed programme has minimal impact on the football schedule and respects the club's overriding priority principle as detailed in the concession agreement."

As part of the agreement, the club revealed, "a number of new initiatives" will be undertaken to "enhance the stadium and match-day experience for supporters".

The statement added: "Any impact on the football schedule will be confirmed once it is known which division and other competitions West Ham United will be competing in during the 2029-30 season."

London last hosted a sold-out World Athletics Championships in 2017, and athletes including Olympic 800 metres champion Keely Hodgkinson (left) have been among those who have called for a solution to the stadium issue.

Organisers, who last year filed an expression of interest in the event, have now submitted their final bid.

UK Athletics CEO Jack Buckner

The club's highest priority has always been the West Ham United supporters

said: "Bidding to hold the World Athletics Championships in the London Stadium, the showpiece of London 2012, was always at the centre of the UK's Olympic legacy plans. We are very grateful to the Government, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and UK Sport for their fantastic support.

"We're delighted that we have reached agreement with the London Stadium and West Ham United for the use of the London Stadium and our sincere thanks for their commitment in making this happen."

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52

SPORT

2014

Football in brief

SPAIN

New Vinicius deals ends Gunners hopes

Vinicius Junior renewed his Real Madrid contract last night, ending Arsenal's pursuit of the Brazil forward.

Madrid and Vinicius met on Wednesday to discuss a renewal, with The Athletic reporting that a new package was proposed that reflects his importance to the Spanish club and the new project under Jose Mourinho.

Arsenal were prepared to make an ambitious deal, but the Spanish giants negotiated improved terms on a deal which runs until the summer of 2012, ending both the Premier League champions' pursuit and the possibility of Vinicius entering free agency next summons.

Madrid confirmed the signing of RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande for a fee in the region of £1/3m.

WOMEN'S SUPER LEAGUE

Seagulls sign United defender George

Brighton & Hove Albion have signed defender Gabby George from Manchester United

for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old (above) joins Brighton after three seasons at United, where she won the FA Cup in 2024.

"Her versatility in defence gives us fantastic options and her technical quality on the ball will help elevate how we want to play," Brighton women's first-team head coach Dario Vidovic said.

George began her senior career with Everton in 2014 and progressed through England's youth ranks from Under-17 to Under-23 level before making her senior debut in 2018. She has three senior caps for the Lionesses.

MANCHESTER CITY

Semenyo expects smooth transition

Manchester City winger Antoine Semenyo expects little to change at the club despite Enzo

Maresca's arrival as manager marking the end of a trophy-laden era under Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola stood down from the role in May after a 10-year reign at the Etihad Stadium in which he led the club to six Premier League titles, with Maresca (above) returning to City having worked for a season as the Spaniard's assistant.

"I think the transition now with Maresca, he's obviously been with the City Group before, so he's not unfamiliar with them," said Semenyo.

"Everyone just has to adjust. Everyone has to buy into what his philosophy is, and it's not far off what Pep was doing last season."

FOOTBALL

Nunez linked to Salah reunion at ambitious Trabzonspor

Katherine Lucas

FOOTBALL NEWS EDITOR

Mohamed Salah will arrive in Turkey as the most significant signing in the history of the Super Lig.

Salah looked almost certain to move to Saudi Arabia after leaving Liverpool at the end of his contract – not least because of the lack of European clubs able to afford the 34-year-old's wages.

Instead the forward joined Trabzonspor on a two-year contract – with more high-profile arrivals expected as the club takes on Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe.

The i Paper understands that Salah's former Liverpool teammate Darwin Nunez is also a target as Trabzonspor aim to further add to an attack now boasting Salah and other new signings Aral Simsir and Ernest Muci.

Nunez has previously been monitored by Tottenham Hotspur with some uncertainty remaining over Richarlison's future. Roberto De Zerbi has been impressed with Dominic Solanke, and Mathys Tel can play as a No 9, but that still leaves Spurs relatively light on options after Randal Kolo Muani's loan spell ended. De Zerbi's main

Darwin Nunez has also attracted interest from Spurs GETTY

Nunez could be attracted by a project from a club who finished third in Turkey

priority is a wide-forward, with Savinho (below) a long-term target.

Tottenham have not made any formal bid for Nunez, the Uruguayan international currently with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. He is valued at around £17m.

Nunez could be tempted by a highly ambitious project in Trabzon. They finished third last season, ahead of Besiktas but playing catch-up behind the other big Istanbul clubs.

Trabzonspor offered Salah a two-year contract on £17m (£15m), plus performance-related bonuses – The i Paper has been told he also

has an image rights clause which will entitle him to 20 per cent of revenue from any club merchandise sold under his name.

Despite Saudi clubs being able to offer similar money, he was sold a project in Turkey – Trabzonspor qualified for the Europa League and can offer a more competitive environment. The Saudi Pro League is still struggling to attract fans, with footage emerging in pre-season of largely empty grounds.

Nunez would fit the model in Turkey, where Trabzonspor aiming to sign a number of big name, "world-class" players to go alongside younger players with "high potential".

As one source put it, they are aiming to close the gap on the big boys not just by spending more money but by "better planning" and "smarter recruitment".

Spurs are not finished in the market just yet having spent upwards of £200m on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke. Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi have joined on frees.

Cristian Romero (below) is expected to join Atlético Madrid in the coming days and Guglielmo Vicario is being monitored by Serie A clubs. Manor Solomon is set to leave despite a mini pre-season revival, with West Ham and Hull the clubs interested.

Djed Spence is a Liverpool target and could be allowed to leave due to De Zerbi being unable to guarantee him a place in the starting XI this season.

Savinho is not the only target being looked at and Tottenham have not yet agreed a fee with Manchester City.

PLANET FOOTBALL

Gers pay double for mistakes

Rangers paid the price for sloppy defending as they lost 2-1 to Jagiellonia Białystok in Poland. Kajetan Szmyt scored in the 13th minute and beat new Gers keeper Ivor Pandur again (above) eight

minutes later. Gianluca Prestianini and Jhon Duran scored as Benfica beat Hearts 6-1. Warren O'Hara's late winner was enough for Hibs beat Shkendija 2-1 and Motherwell drew 1-1 with HJK Helsinki.

LEEDS UNITED

Trafford completes club-record transfer

Leeds United have signed goalkeeper James Trafford from Manchester City on a five-year contract for

an undisclosed club-record fee.

The deal is reported to worth £4.0m plus bonuses, making the 23-year-old the most expensive British goalkeeper in history.

Trafford (above), who was included in Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad, came through Manchester City's academy and had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers before joining Burnley on a permanent deal in 2023.

He returned to City last year but struggled to become a regular with Gianluigi Donnarumma becoming Pep Guardiola's first-choice keeper.

WEST HAM UNITED

Free-agent Veltman joins the Hammers

West Ham have signed former Brighton defender Joel Veltman as a free agent.

The 34-year-old (above), who won 28 caps for the Netherlands between 2013 and 2021, has signed a one-year contract with the option of a further 13 months.

Veltman joins the Hammers in the Championship after making 191 appearances during six seasons with the Seagulls. He arrived in English football from Ajax in 2020.

"We know that West Ham need to be in the Premier League, and for sure that is our goal for the season," the right-back told the club website.

West Ham begin the new Championship season away to Burnley on Sunday week.

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NEWS 2-26

ORINION 18-22

TV 26-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

SPORT 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

53

PREMIER LEAGUE

I feared for Newcastle,

then I met the new boss

Winning the transfer window can be overrated. By all accounts it was Liverpool – breaking two transfer records to construct a gold-plated forward line – who did it 12 months ago, only for them to mount the limpest of Premier League title defences. Brentford and Bournemouth flogged their best players, were tipped to struggle and yet prospered thanks to cute recruitment.

This year Arsenal fancy their chances of being crowned best buyers after signing Bruno Guimaraes. Worst window? Consensus seems to be forming around Newcastle United. Knockbacks for key targets, selling their three best players and losing a long-serving manager mean there is a growing hand of doubters.

I was one of them. This time last week I wrote the PIF project was at its moment of gravest peril, and I had company. Alan Shearer has

Mark Douglas

NORTHERN FOOTBALL CONSEER ORDERS IN LA MANGA

warned of “challenging times” ahead, and odds have narrowed sharply on Newcastle being relegated.

Put that to club insiders and there are peals of laughter. From the top down they believe there is something brewing on Tyneside – a “proper plan”, dubbed “Newcastle 2.0” by CEO David Hopkinson – and after 48 hours with the team in the baking La Manga sun I get it. There’s something about the uncertainty that is intoxicating.

New head coach Matthias Jaissle has been hailed as a “rock star” by Hopkinson, who has dubbed him

“MJ”. But the side we saw of him in Spain was more collected than charismatic. There were flashes of personality – a self-deprecating joke about his supposedly receding hairline, a giggle at one reporter’s gag – and the players have warmed to him. He’s 38 and an absolute unit.

Jaissle’s personality properly comes out on the training ground, where he runs so much that Newcastle insiders joke he should have a GPS band strapped to his chest. He will be an energetic presence on the touchline.

Performance director James Bunce revealed that sprint intensity statistics have been the best for four years this week. Jaissle’s football will be “front footed, aggressive, vertical, high-energy, intense and relentless” and the training sessions this week have matched that.

Double sessions have been designed to return Newcastle to the point where they were difficult

Lewis Miley has impressed new manager Matthias Jaissle

to play against and short video sessions have been designed to show the players what is expected of them. There’s a feeling here that the Premier League is wide open. Why can’t Newcastle’s new group barge their way into the best of the rest again?

The reset button on a squad that felt stale has been pushed and there’s renewed enthusiasm.

A new leadership group is emerging. Sven Botman and Malick Thiaw – an outside het to be the new skipper – have taken on more of a leadership role.

Yoanne Wissa, whose physical stats are apparently “off the charts” since returning from a World Cup where he thrived, is

Put relegation to club insiders and there are peals of laughter

playing a key role knitting together different groups. His authority is growing, while Lewis Miley – who is set to benefit the most from the midfield exits – has apparently seriously impressed Jaissle. And there’s real enthusiasm about Sean Steur, whose ability on the pitch is matched by his attitude off it.

Much will now depend on the next phase of recruitment. Sources speak of a new plan to add “three to four” new faces to the five they’ve already brought in and there is hope of swift progress on Bruno Guimaraes’ replacement. The high-profile sales are over, too, with Lewis Hall deemed untouchable.

That sense of a changing of the guard has been keenly felt by Jaissle (left). He repeated the word “transition” several times and avoided bold predictions.

He was unflustered by talk of relegation after losing players.

“This is the challenge,” he said. “There are so many transitions at the moment, many players left, big, big players, legends for the club. But we need to see it as a chance, not [to make] excuses now.”

Seven days on from Eddie Howe’s departure, optimism is back.

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54

SPORT

FIFA

Statement has elevated anger of president's opponents

■ Continued from back page

and Infantino over the handling of a plan to involve private investors in a company which would run the World Cup and other competitions.

The Football Association of Wales has publicly withdrawn its support, along with the federations of Serbia, Sweden and Finland.

Sources said that Fifa's statement had only stoked the fire of the anger his opponents felt towards him, predicting there would now be "open warfare" at the top of world football.

Even before Wednesday's statement, Fifa Council members were understood to be working to secure the 19-strong majority needed to request Infantino to call a meeting, where they could hold him to account over the private investor plan and the Folarin Balogun case.

Members are understood to remain prepared to carry out a "governance boycott" of Council meetings - which would effectively incapacitate Fifa - if they are unable to reach a majority, or if Infantino refuses the request for a meeting despite gaining the requisite majority.

Fifa's statement said Infantino had the "full support" of the members of its management board present at Wednesday's meeting in Rabat, Morocco, with the Swiss clearly intent

on remaining in charge. The statement said "mistakes were acknowledged" about the handling of the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal and that it was "not the intention" for the Fifa Council or member associations to "feel excluded" from the process.

A review into the handling of the FFE proposal was promised, though the statement said "everything that was done was done in full compliance with the Fifa regulatory framework".

The statement also said Fifa "will no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process and will take all necessary measures to protect and safeguard its name and reputation".

A report in The Guardian on Wednesday alleged Fifa was a key player in talks to develop the European Super League in 2020, to the extent the league was at one stage set to be called the "Fifa Super League". Fifa pointed out Infantino's "strong disapproval" of the project when it was launched in April 2021.

It did issue a denial to a report in The Times on Wednesday that Infantino had promised Morocco the right to host the 2030 World Cup final, saying that a decision would be made in due course. Morocco is one of three main co-hosts, along with Spain and Portugal.

Jordan get cash after blackmail allegation

By Robith Nair

Jordan's players and staff have received outstanding reward money for their participation in the 2025 Arab Cup, two days after their Football Association's President Prince Ali bin Hussein accused Fifa of blackmail.

Prince Ali criticised Fifa President Gianni Infantino after he backed out of his proposal to sell a stake in the World Cup and found himself under pressure from confederations and national associations, saying Fifa had offered to help solve the kingdom's problems in exchange for his endorsement.

One of the problems he listed was that the association had been

waiting since December for prize money for reaching the Arab Cup final in Qatar.

"Thank you to the Fifa administration for suddenly this morning 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," Prince Ali said on X.

"This was funding that should have been received eight months ago."

Prince Ali had alleged Fifa verbally communicated during the World Cup that backing the president "would go a long way to helping our FA out."

Fifa did not respond to requests for comment on the allegations.

Fifa fights for Infantino and ignores the fire burning house down

There is Gianni Infantino, watching Malawi v Zambia at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Rabat, coincidentally the place where he could be filmed smiling and acting as if nothing had happened. There is Mattias Grafstrom next to him, public denouncer of Infantino's gross World Cup sale plan. And now comes the united front.

Later on Wednesday night, the business-as-usual mandate was presented. Fifa confirmed that Infantino would stay as president, that they had written "Lol, soz" letters to each of the 211 member associations and that Infantino had the full support of the leadership team.

"Fifa's top management is fully confident that the outcomes of

Daniel Storey

CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER

today's meeting will strengthen Fifa's governance, help restore confidence in the organisation and enable us to prepare for the major events and challenges ahead in a united and transparent manner," read Fifa's statement. It works better if to everyone listening you do outlandish winks after each of the claims.

Do these people think that we are stupid or do they simply not care what we think of them? It can only be one of those two options.

The Fifa president, seemingly without consulting many of the individuals who work around him and certainly without consulting any member association, just tried to do a deal to sell off the World Cup, making himself leader of this new organisation on a vast salary. Please, tell us more about the "united and transparent manner". Spare us no detail on the strength of Fifa's governance.

As for restoring confidence in the organisation, this can be nothing but a mind trick: tell yourself something loud enough and often enough, close all the doors and windows to any feedback, and maybe you really can believe that you can ride through this storm. Hey, do

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NEWS 2-20

OPINION 15-22

TV 28-31

FRIDAY 37-43

MONDAY 44-47

FEBRUARY 49-56

FRIDAY 7 AUGUST 2026

55

you remember a few years ago, when the supposed guardians of the game backed the guy who tried to sell said game off on the sly? No, nor me. Must have never happened.

"It was agreed that it was not the intention for the Fifa council and Fifa member associations to feel excluded from the process and that the process should have been handled differently," is my personal favourite line from the statement - and you may well have your own. In what way was it not Infantino's intention, when he could literally have told them and didn't? You see, I slipped and fell off the ladder and landed right onto the tomato ketchup bottle, honest.

Until now, this has broadly been a Gianni Infantino problem. He masterminded the plan. He got caught out by the leaks. He was forced to climb down. He had to rally around his support base to cling to power. He had to watch on as member associations and political leaders damned his grim avarice.

But make no mistake: this is a deepening Fifa crisis too. Move swiftly to distance themselves from the actions of their leader and throw Infantino to the lions before promising better, more

transparent, more serious leadership, and we could have got on board. There will always be a latent mistrust of large governing bodies, but we could have at least accepted that appropriate action was taken.

If that wasn't bad enough, Infantino's distraction techniques also threaten to topple football over. The reported promise of the World Cup final to Morocco over Spain, playing the two countries off against each other at a time of heightening Ceuta-related political tension this week; the expansion to 64 teams that will require another continent to joint-host. Why are we all still dancing to one man's beat?

Infantino's continued presence, even in the short term, was a leak in the roof of Fifa's house: what starts as a steady drip quickly leads to permanent staining and water damage before the ceiling eventually caves in. For anyone in that management board to be standing by his side is an act of

“For anyone to be standing by his side is an act of wanton self-immolation.”

wanton self-immolation. It is a chronically thick reading of the room.

Fifa needs a structural overhaul. This crisis is a two-headed beast: it occurred through the self-interest of one man, but it became possible because of how power is concentrated at the very top of the organisation - ending in the chair of the president. There is simply too much at stake to make one person oversee it all. Power doesn't have to cook up corruption, but it certainly buys all the ingredients.

The task has now widened. Infantino must go - the campaigning and the backlash cannot be allowed to die down. Outrage fatigue must be beaten. But also: get them all out. Get rid of everyone who believes that a quick "sorry, we're not quite sure what happened there" is good enough. Cut out everyone who thinks forgive and forget is an option here. Nobody reasonable could ever trust Infantino. Nobody reasonable could ever trust anyone who trusts Infantino again. While some in the world governing body fight for their president, they're ignoring the fire that will burn down their house.

Uefa ups ante and reiterates threat to boycott competitions

By Katherine Lucas

FOOTBALL NEWS EDITOR

Uefa has insisted that threats to boycott Fifa competitions still stand, with Gianni Infantino refusing to resign.

In an extraordinary show of support and with pressure on Infantino mounting, Fifa leaders backed their president at this week's meeting in Morocco.

As part of a growing backlash against the now defunct plans to sell off the World Cup, Uefa has vowed it will pull European nations out of competitions until the row is resolved.

That has plunged next year's Women's World Cup into doubt, with the qualifiers set to take place in October. Before that, the Women's U-20 World Cup is scheduled to begin in Poland in early September.

In a statement, Uefa said its associations "were very clear about the conditions attached to the non-participation in Fifa competitions.

"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.

"[Wednesday's] announcement that some people employed by the Fifa president (and whose careers depend on his favour) agree with him changes nothing."

Infantino plans to fight for re-election next year and needs 106 votes from Fifa's 211 member nations - Uefa represents 55 countries.

He was originally set to run unopposed for a fourth term as president, but amid growing calls for him to be

replaced it is expected an alternative candidate will challenge him.

Supporters of Infantino insist he is "here to stay" despite a string of controversies during his time in charge.

Infantino was instrumental in handing the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia unopposed, awarding United States President Donald Trump a Fifa Peace Prize, and suspending Fofarin Balogun's ban at the 2026 World Cup. Having also expanded the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams, there are further talks underway to extend further to 64 nations from 2030 onwards.

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has long been a critic of Infantino during his reign as the head of the game's world governing body. He last month boycotted the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina over Fifa's decisions during the tournament, including the lifting of US striker Balogun's suspension, allowing him to face Belgium in the last 16, following a blatant intervention from President Trump.

Aleksander Ceferin (left) is a long-time critic of Gianni Infantino

Critic Lamour 'not invited' to board meeting in Rabat

Fifa's chief operating officer Kevin Lamour was conspicuous by his absence at Wednesday's meeting in which Gianni Infantino apologised for his plan to sell stakes in its competitions.

Infantino was given the support of the Fifa Management Board in this week's session in Rabat, Morocco, thus eliminating the immediate possibility of his resignation.

And it is understood that Lamour (right) was the only board member not to have been invited to the meeting. Other members who did not appear, including Arsène Wenger, Fifa's chief of global football development, and Jill Ellis, chief football officer, had been invited but opted not to travel.

It is understood that members had been given 24 hours' notice of the meeting and there was not an option to join remotely.

Lamour was fiercely critical of Infantino's plans and he wrote last week that staff had been "deceived" by the president's lack of transparency.

"It is the project of one person," Lamour, a long-time colleague of Infantino at both Fifa and Uefa, wrote, "Not only must this project not go ahead, but the time has now come for football political leaders to ask themselves the right questions and make the right decisions."

He added that if, after speaking against his superior, he loses his job, then "so he it. At least I will sleep well tonight".

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Matthias Jaissle speaks to reporters during Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain GETTY IMAGES

New boss

Jaissle: No doom and gloom in Toon

By Mark Douglas IN LA MARCA

Matthias Jaissle says he is relishing the "challenge" of reshaping Newcastle United - as Bruno Guimaraes bid a tearful farewell to the club. Guimaraes will be unveiled by Arsenal today after a £75m deal was struck this week.

And new Toon boss Jaissle said that he would not accept any "excuses" despite several high- profile sales.

Jaissle dodged questions on expectations for this season, saying he had not seen enough of his team, but the feeling at Newcastle's pre-season training camp in Spain has been positive, with the Magpies set to add more signings in the next three weeks.

"Where can we finish this season after all the changes? That's a tough question after one day of officially being the manager," the German said. "We lost a couple of really important players, but I can see it as a positive challenge. We can search for excuses but that's not our idea.

"Give me a bit of time to get to know the players. I want to get to know them first to see if they can show up. I want to give them a chance. We can wait. But we have the capacity to do something in the market. Our sporting director is aware of that, so I'm sure when the season starts we will see some new faces."

Jaissle - who has led intense training sessions after being confirmed as boss on Wednesday - said the club should relish proving people wrong.

"Control the controllables and we are sure there will be progress."

*Newcastle 2.0', p53

Infantino still

must go - FA

Fifa boss's apology for World Cup farce cuts no ice with England's governing body

By Jamie Gardner

The Football Association continues to believe Gianni Infantino is no longer the right man to lead Fifa despite his own organisation throwing its "full support" behind him on Wednesday night.

FA sources had indicated earlier this week it was sending a letter to Fifa confirming it no longer supports his candidacy for re-election at next year's Congress.

That position is understood not to have been altered by the apology offered to national associations by Fifa

*Continued on p54