⚽️ Kick-off time: 12pm local/1pm EDT/6pm BST/3am AEST
⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email Scott
The prize on offer today is a quarter-final against either Paraguay or France. There’s a cheap strikethrough gag begging to be made there, and goodness knows we’re cheap and jaded enough to usually do it. But nobody’s taking anything for granted after Argentina’s scrape with disaster against the heroic and inspired Cape Verde. Here’s how last night’s instant-classic antics went down in Rotterdam, where six of the Blue Sharks were born.
It’s the big pennant showdown … and it’s as good as a walkover for Morocco. Achraf Hakimi will hand over this uniquely shaped artefact that almost literally drips with beauty. The Arabic script translates as Royal Moroccan Football Federation, so there’s no detail anywhere of today’s fixture and opponent; unfortunately that’s one point docked. However two bonus points are awarded for the sheer elegance of Arabic script. Total score: 11 out of 10.
Continue reading...Members and supporters of the LGBTQ+ community gather to celebrate the annual parade in London
Continue reading...Guardian analysis of X feed shows how keen world’s richest person was to air his views and ‘interfere’ in British politics
Elon Musk posted about race and immigration in the UK on his social media network X twice as often as he did about SpaceX, which he also owns, in the run-up to the aerospace and AI company’s initial public offering.
A Guardian analysis of Musk’s posts, replies and reposts between 31 May and 12 June has shown the extent to which the social media activity of the world’s richest person, who lives primarily in the US, has focused on UK politics.
Continue reading...Guardian analysis of X feed shows how keen world’s richest person was to air his views and ‘interfere’ in British politics
Elon Musk posted about race and immigration in the UK on his social media network X twice as often as he did about SpaceX, which he also owns, in the run-up to the aerospace and AI company’s initial public offering.
A Guardian analysis of Musk’s posts, replies and reposts between 31 May and 12 June has shown the extent to which the social media activity of the world’s richest person, who lives primarily in the US, has focused on UK politics.
Continue reading...Heat health alerts in place in most regions of England from Sunday to Saturday with mercury also rising in Wales
Another heatwave is on the way across parts of the UK with peak temperatures of 34C forecast.
Temperatures in the south of England could reach 28C on Saturday, according to the Met Office.
Continue reading... Live updates from Ellis Park, kick-off at 4.40pm BST
Australia 31-33 Ireland | NZ 34-32 France | Email Daniel
‘The final countdown’ blasts around Ellis Park.
Decent crowd in as James Doleman blows his whistle and we’re under way with Libbok kicking us off!
Continue reading...Heat health alerts in place in most regions of England from Sunday to Saturday with mercury also rising in Wales
Another heatwave is on the way across parts of the UK with peak temperatures of 34C forecast.
Temperatures in the south of England could reach 28C on Saturday, according to the Met Office.
Continue reading...♂️ Visma-Lease a Bike win opening test in Barcelona
♂️ Stage-by-stage guide | Team guide | Email Andy
The team time-trial route wends around Barcelona, taking in several landmarks.
The Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s Parc Guell, the Camp Nou footballl stadium, La Rambla and the Tour Glories. Who knows, maybe some punters will be tempted to visit this charming, off-the-tourist-trail place…
Continue reading...Pardons issued to nine people charged with violating Clean Air Act as extreme heat smothers much of US
Donald Trump on Friday issued pardons to 11 men – two convicted fraudsters and nine charged with having violated the federal Clean Air Act by disabling or otherwise modifying trucks’ emissions controls.
Those executive pardons – coming amid US semiquincentennial celebrations blanketed in extreme heat exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions – were among a broader wave of acts of clemency from Trump during his second presidency, chiefly for those he considers to be aligned with him.
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The shake-up is believed to be an effort to ensure the military's loyalty to the Communist Party and its leader, Xi Jinping.
(Image credit: Li Gang)

Скопления галактик могут содержать тысячи отдельных галактик и являются крупнейшими гравитационно связанными структурами, известными нам во Вселенной. Они настолько массивны, что их получается использовать в качестве гравитационных линз.
Одно из таких древних скоплений называется XLSSC 122, и оно удачно расположено на одной линии с более удалёнными отдельными галактиками. Это превращает скопление в гравитационную линзу, которая искривляет и усиливает свет от далёких галактик. Астрономы использовали телескоп «Уэбб» для изучения скопления, и искажённое изображение фоновой галактики позволило им более точно измерить массу XLSSC 122.
Десять миллиардов лет назад большинство скоплений галактик только начинали формироваться. Однако текущие наблюдения показывают, что XLSSC 122 отличается от других скоплений галактик, существовавших во Вселенной в то же время. Напротив, оно более массивно, компактно и упорядоченно — в общем, напоминает более современные скопления.
Читать далееThis summer, Yosemite national park has been rife with traffic jams and throngs of visitors. Can these popular national treasures withstand a future of strained resources?
On a crisp, sunny morning at the end of June, dappled light filtered through the canopy of an ancient grove of giant sequoias, casting a tranquil backdrop for a mule deer as it ambled across the trail. Families from around the world gazed up at the towering trees in awe, speaking in hushed tones and different languages.
Experiences like these draw more than 4 million people to Yosemite national park each year. But as an increasing number of visitors come to take in the dramatic vistas, camp under the stars or feel the mist cascading off its thundering waterfalls, Yosemite’s landscapes are being pushed to their limits.
Continue reading...In coup for Dior, couple wear French haute couture designed by Northern Irish creative director, Jonathan Anderson
Your English teacher and your gym teacher wore Dior: Jonathan Anderson, the Northern Irish creative director of Dior, has been revealed as the designer of haute couture wedding looks for Taylor Swift and her new husband, Travis Kelce.
Photographs have not yet been released, with Swift’s team in charge of timing, but a Dior statement confirmed that Swift is the first bride for whom Anderson, who joined Dior last year, has created an haute couture gown.
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