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OpenAI releases latest ChatGPT model after delay over White House cybersecurity concerns
Staggered release of ChatGPT 5.6 follows similar restrictions on rival firm Anthropic’s latest AI models OpenAI released its latest advanced AI model, called ChatGPT 5.6, on Thursday after earlier delaying the public rollout over US government concerns about cybersecurity. The Trump administration had requested last month that OpenAI limit the release to a small group of government-approved users. OpenAI complied with the White House’s request last month. The company stated in a blogpost that it had briefed government officials on ChatGPT 5.6’s capabilities and restricted the model to trusted partners at their behest. The product’s wider release came after additional testing by the government’s Center for AI Standards and Innovation agency, according to Axios . Continue reading...
Graham Linehan gets £25,000 compensation and an apology from Met police after arrest
Father Ted co-creator detained by armed officers at Heathrow airport last year over gender-critical posts on X The Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been paid £25,000 in compensation by the Metropolitan police and received an apology after his arrest over his gender-critical social media posts. Linehan, 57, was detained by armed officers at Heathrow airport last September after a 10-hour flight from Arizona. Continue reading...
Mexico investigates whether US lied about role in capture of drug lord
Reporting suggests FBI involved in seizure of Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García from Mexican territory in 2024 Mexico has launched an investigation into whether the US lied about its involvement in the capture and secretive transfer of a top Sinaloa cartel member in 2024, in what would be a potential violation of the country’s sovereignty. The US has long denied it played any role in the operation to detain the drug lord Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García, a founder of the Sinaloa cartel, inside Mexico. Recent reporting by the local media outlet Pie de Nota , however, suggested that the FBI was involved in his capture. Continue reading...
Daphne Caruana Galizia screamed in panic before explosion that killed her, court hears
Businessman stands trial over death of Maltese journalist killed by bomb in her car after she reported on corruption Moments before the explosion that killed Daphne Caruana Galizia , the journalist screamed in panic, a witness has told the trial of the man accused of ordering her murder . Caruana Galizia was killed in 2017 by a remotely detonated bomb placed under the driver’s seat of her car, after writing a series of reports on political and financial corruption in Malta. The government’s handling of the investigation led to mass protests and ultimately to the resignation of the Maltese prime minister, Joseph Muscat. Continue reading...
IDF accused of ‘field execution’ of Palestinian driver bringing aid into Gaza
The local truckers association has said it may suspend operations, after several eyewitnesses decried the murder of Ahmad Esleem A Palestinian driver bringing food aid from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) into Gaza has been killed by an Israeli soldier, according to eyewitnesses and the local truckers association, which said it may suspend operations in protest. Ahmad Esleem was shot in the head on Wednesday when an aid convoy stopped because of a breakdown to one truck soon after entering Gaza, according to three accounts. Israeli soldiers ordered the drivers to dismount and one of them shot Esleem in the head when his hands were raised. Continue reading...
UK swelters in third heatwave of the year as western Europe counts cost of hottest-ever June
Britain expands heat alerts while estimates suggest June’s death toll could surpass 20,000 across continent The UK is sweltering through the peak of its third heatwave of the year as countries around Europe struggle to recover from an early onslaught of baking summer heat. Punishing temperatures pushed higher by fossil fuel pollution have broken records across the continent in recent weeks. Western Europe experienced its hottest June on record , scientists confirmed on Thursday, accompanied by high global ocean temperatures that could cause “mass-mortality events” for some species. Continue reading...
Christian Pulisic suffered leg fracture in US loss to Belgium, out for several weeks
Milan forward was subbed out in a 4-1 loss Pulisic had been criticized for his lack of availability Christian Pulisic suffered a microfracture and bone bruise in his leg in the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, US Soccer announced. Pulisic suffered the injury in the second half in Seattle and was removed shortly afterward. He underwent X-ray and MRI scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, which is expected to keep Pulisic out for several weeks. US Soccer said the federation and Milan are working collaboratively on his rehab plan. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on Nigel Farage’s crypto cash: accountability is not a conspiracy | Editorial
Reform UK presents itself as the people’s voice while opaque digital wealth flows around it. That makes transparency a democratic necessity Twice now, the Guardian’s questions about Reform UK’s finances appear to have been pre-empted by stories friendly to the party. This paper revealed in April that Nigel Farage received £5m from the crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne – but an interview with Reform UK’s leader, claiming he needed the cash “for security”, was published hours earlier in the Telegraph. Then, Richard Tice’s suggestion that the National Crime Agency (NCA) had leaked the MP’s bank statements landed on the Telegraph site on Tuesday, just before the Guardian said bankers had reported the £5m donation to law enforcement over money-laundering concerns. A party serious about probity would have no issue answering questions about such cash. Instead, Reform uses a pliant media outlet to frame scrutiny as persecution. In Mr Farage’s world, the questions become the scandal , not the large undisclosed sums. That is a warning about how an authoritarian nationalist party that aspires to govern treats accountability: not as a democratic obligation, but as an attack. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
The Guardian view on the World Cup: the Dear England spirit is alive and kicking | Editorial
As in the Gareth Southgate era, a diverse and passionately committed national team is offering a counter-narrative to the forces of social division The identity of the worst performers at the men’s World Cup has come as no surprise. In the lead-up to the tournament, the world had seen more than enough of Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino in action to fear the worst once the games actually began. Mr Trump’s lobbying of Fifa to lift a one-match ban on the United States’ star striker confirmed that his bullying will-to-power extends to spheres that he neither cares about nor understands. Mr Infantino’s craven willingness to accommodate it has been an affront to sporting integrity. From prohibitive ticket prices to the introduction of advertiser-friendly hydration breaks – conveniently replicating the lucrative four-quarter format common in US sports – there have been plenty of other reasons to question Fifa’s overly commercialised stewardship of the beautiful game. But the World Cup still delivers a unique spectacle, as anyone who marvelled at the heroic exploits of Cape Verde, or witnessed Scottish fans’ good‑humoured invasion of Boston, can testify. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
What a week for Daddy Nige and his dysfunctional Reform family
From Posh George Cottrell to Honest Bob Jenrick and disciple-in-chief Dicky Tice, Farage really does know how to pick ’em We need to talk about Nigel. Again. Not so much about the £5m gift from a Thai crypto billionaire or the freebies he accepted from a convicted fraudster who called him Daddy. Nor the fact that he never thought to declare his good fortune on parliament’s register of members’ interests. There again, he was only a professional politician and the principal shareholder in Reform UK at the time. And why would anyone feel the need to account for a gift from someone who identified as his son? After all, it’s not as if Nige also tried to lobby the Bank of England to change its rules on crypto. Oh, scrub that. He did. Continue reading...
Reform byelection campaign risks a replay of the Johnson error
In triggering an entirely optional byelection, Nigel Farage has given opponents weeks to repeat the claims about his finances To some, Nigel Farage appears to be in a trap of his own making, fighting for re-election in single combat with a giant bin before potentially having to do it all again against the other political parties. But inside Reform UK, the mood is upbeat. As one insider said of the prospect of a double byelection: “Bring it on.” This is not just braggadocio. Farage is an enthusiastic and highly skilled campaigner, and is clearly relishing the idea of going to his electorate with a “Clacton versus the establishment” message, although doing so twice within weeks might test even his commitment – especially when the Reform UK leader is forced to argue that the establishment is embodied by an anthropomorphised bin. Continue reading...
Ben Jennings on Nigel Farage’s byelection announcement – cartoon
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Maine progressives race to find candidate to replace Graham Platner
Platner’s former backers are seeking ‘real progressive’ to prevent nomination going to establishment Democrat US politics live – latest updates Progressive groups and lawmakers who rallied behind Graham Platner’s insurgent bid for a US Senate seat are now racing to decide where to transfer their support after his withdrawal from the Maine race following yet another allegation of sexual assault. The scramble and apparent heartbreak underscores the uncertainty facing the coalition surrounding Platner’s anti-establishment message, and the response from more centrist Democrats to proceed with caution. Organizations, voters, volunteers and elected officials that once saw him as a vehicle for a more populist progressive agenda are now weighing whether to unite behind a successor, or hold back until the party’s replacement process plays out. Continue reading...
How Trump's yo-yo summit left Nato a little bit bruised – video
Donald Trump's erratic performance at the Nato summit in Turkey left his allies guessing. One moment he criticised fellow leaders for their contribution to defence spending, the next he praised the alliance's unity. From Ankara, Guardian defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh explains how Nato emerged from the chaos Continue reading...
'He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline': Son of man fatally shot by ICE speaks out – video
Ronaldo Salgado, the son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant who was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent on Tuesday in Texas called for an independent investigation into his killing. Salgado, 52, was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official on Tuesday morning while on his way to work at a construction site. He had lived in the US for more than 30 years and was in the process of obtaining his work permit, according to his family. Salgado’s family, including his wife and three sons, found out about his death from news reports. ‘He did not deserve to die’: family of man fatally shot by ICE agent speaks out Continue reading...
Fery-mania builds in advance of Wimbledon semi-final against Zverev
Tennis fans suggest Henman Hill should be renamed Arthur’s Seat if new British star continues his meteoric rise Tennis fans gathered on Wimbledon’s famous grass mound spent much of Thursday speculating how Henman Hill – more recently known as Murray Mound – might be renamed if the newest British star, Arthur Fery, continues his meteoric rise. As Fery-mania builds in SW19 and across the UK in advance of Fery’s hotly anticipated semi-final match against the German No 2 seed, Alexander Zverev, on Friday, they have eschewed suggestions such as Fery Field to alight on one name: Arthur’s Seat. Continue reading...
Tinubu under pressure as fake Nigerian government agency sparks political storm
President ordered investigation after fictitious federal body allocated funding and office space, triggering renewed scrutiny of corruption A fictitious federal entity that was allocated 1.3 billion naira (£705,248) in Nigeria’s 2026 budget has precipitated a political storm in Africa’s largest democracy in the run-up to January’s general election. The fake agency came to light last October when Femi Gbajabiamila, the president’s chief of staff, wrote to the police alleging that his signature, along with official seals and reference numbers, had been forged by Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who was claiming to have been appointed by the presidency to head the presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC). Continue reading...
Turkish president gives Nato leaders engraved guns and bullets at summit
Keir Starmer revealed Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s strange choice of gift on the flight back from Ankara What does a world leader do with a gun and six bullets? That was the conundrum Nato leaders faced after the Turkish president offered them each a revolver after the Ankara summit. Keir Starmer was the first to mention the highly unusual gift presented by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to his guests. On the flight back from Ankara, where Nato leaders had gathered for two days, the British prime minister said he and others had received a revolver engraved with their name. Continue reading...
Andy Burnham apologises for Labour’s stance on Gaza – podcast
Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s slow response in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. In an exclusive interview with Pippa Crerar, he says that more pressure should be put on the Israeli government, including a ban on trade in goods with illegal settlements. Burnham also says that there is increasing evidence that war crimes appear to have been committed, but that international courts must determine this, not politicians. Plus Pippa and Kiran discuss the fallout from Nigel Farage’s shock resignation on Tuesday You can read Pippa’s exclusive on Andy Burnham here You can read Anna Isaac’s investigation into Nigel Farage and Reform UK here You can read Josh Halliday’s article on Reform activists here Please keep sending your comments and questions to Pippa and Kiran at politicsweeklyuk@theguardian.com Please follow and subscribe to the Politics Weekly YouTube channel here Continue reading...
Andy Burnham says Labour ‘didn’t get it right’ as he apologises for its stance on Gaza
Exclusive: PM-in-waiting says party must ‘do better’ in approach to Middle East and he will put more pressure on Israel UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and needs to “do better” under his leadership, as he signalled a significant shift in the UK’s approach to the Middle East. The prime minister-in-waiting told the Guardian he would put more pressure on the Israeli government, including through further sanctions on individuals and entities, but also potentially by banning trade in goods with illegal settlements. Continue reading...
Capita expects to lose up to £40m over pension scheme fiasco
Outsourcing firm counts cost of failures that left retired UK civil servants without an income for months Capita has revealed that the bill for cleaning up its mess at the crisis-hit civil service pension scheme could wipe up to £40m off annual profits – a day after its chief executive apologised to MPs for a “very poor service”. The company had faced a grilling at a Commons committee hearing on Wednesday, with its chief executive, Adolfo Hernandez, repeatedly apologising for failures that have kept thousands of civil servants waiting for payments and retirement quotes. Continue reading...
Erika Kirk asks for all exhibits linked to husband’s killing to be made public
Widow of far-right activist Charlie Kirk asks judge for ‘transparency’ to head off conspiracy theories Erika Kirk, the widow of the far-right activist Charlie Kirk , has asked a judge in Utah to allow the open courtroom display of every exhibit relating to her husband’s killing, saying she fears the proliferation of conspiracy theories. Kirk’s motion came on the third day of a preliminary hearing in Provo at which the district judge Tony Graf will decide if there is sufficient evidence to move ahead with a trial for Kirk’s alleged murderer, Tyler Robinson, in a shooting at Utah Valley University last September. Continue reading...
‘We will never use them’: the California universities stockpiling AR-15s, grenades and submachine guns
A 2021 state law allows campus police to own military equipment for civilian safety – students fear it may be used to quash dissent For many public colleges and universities in California, keeping their campuses safe includes owning military-grade weaponry: AR-15s, stun grenades designed to cause temporary blindness and sonic weapons that resonate so loudly they are known in the armed forces as the voice of God. According to California state law, campus police can only own military equipment if the college believes there is no other way to uphold civilian safety. Continue reading...
Louise Haigh accuses ‘cabal of men’ around Keir Starmer of mistreating women in cabinet
Former transport secretary said she was one of several victims of ‘sexist and unpleasant’ press briefs Louise Haigh has accused Keir Starmer’s allies of briefing “consistently and viciously” against her after she resigned as transport secretary as she spoke openly about her departure from the cabinet in 2024 and her reasons for backing Andy Burnham. Talking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson, she said she had been a victim of a “cabal of men mistreating women”, who also targeted her cabinet colleagues Lisa Nandy, Bridget Phillipson and Angela Rayner, as well as Starmer’s former chief of staff Sue Gray. Continue reading...