He bowed out with a massive gig at his beloved Villa Park this weekend but pals reckon Ozzy won’t stop making music amid fears he’ll die if he retires
Ozzy Osbourne could make it back to the stage, despite bowing out on Saturday, according to a close pal
Ozzy Osbourne is plotting to continue working despite his huge Birmingham gig being declared his farewell night, a pal has revealed. The Black Sabbath frontman has told friends he sees a future for him in the music industry even though the Back To The Beginning gig at Villa Park was promoted as the Brummie’s career finale.
The 76-year-old cannot see himself retiring despite his neck, back and Parkinson’s issues – because of what happened to his dad when he retired.
One friend – who has known Ozzy for several decades – said he “always thinks about his dad when it comes to retirement” because his father died just a few days after giving up work.
Ozzy Osbourne performed on Saturday from a throne-style chair adorned with bats
Already, Ozzy is said to be secretly plotting a new album for later in the year and is hoping to reunite with award-winning producer Andrew Watt. His old friend teased: “I would not be surprised if, knowing Ozzy, he would do something around a stage to promote that.
“Oz has made it clear many many times that he doesn’t want to simply retire and stop making music or feeling the love from live audiences.
“He feels that he will wither away and pass if he stops altogether. His biggest worry – and he has said this often – is that the same thing happens to him as his father. That haunts him.
Ozzy Osbourne performed sitting down, for insurance purposes because of his ill health(Image: Getty Images)
Black Sabbath, seen here in 2011, were playing together with all the original members for the first time in 20 years(Image: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
“He has told us many times about how his father told him, ‘I have always wanted to dig the garden’. Ozzy then revealed he dug up the garden and died. Working is what keeps Ozzy going.
“There is a sense that he needs to be in the spotlight no matter how challenging his medical conditions. He loves the buzz of getting love from his fans – it’s in his DNA.”
That insight comes as the self-styled Prince Of Darkness wowed fans after reuniting with the original Black Sabbath members for the first time in 20 years at the weekend, also performing five solo songs during his star-studded Back To The Beginning.
The supershow included sets from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer and Tool. Ozzy belted out solo hits including Mr Crowley, Mama I’m Coming Home and Crazy Train plus War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid with Black Sabbath, as the fans went wild.
He was sent a video message from Sir Elton John, played out on the giant screens, in which he told Ozzy: “You are one of the most remarkable singers of our time. You are the king, you are the legend. You’ve been through so much crap in the last few years – I hope this is the best day of your life so far.”
Fans saw the reality of Ozzy’s medical woes as he performed on stage while seated on a winged throne. He had spent months working with physios and trainers to be able to stand fully, but “just could not make it.”
Speaking a few months ago, the rocker said he was struggling to walk more than a few feet unaided, explaining: “I am 70 f***ing six and even being over 70 is f***ing doing my brains in.”
The Los Angeles sports world mourned the loss of one of its most beloved voices, Rolando “El Veloz” Gonzalez, the longtime Galaxy broadcaster and a pioneer of Spanish-language sports radio, who died June 25.
His legacy transcends generations on the microphone.
Gonzalez’s career began almost accidentally. Although his dream was to play soccer, life had other plans for him and turned him into a storyteller.
“One day on March 6, 1962, I was playing soccer in the local league and the radio play-by-play broadcaster who was assigned that game of my team Escuintla against Universidad, Dr. Otorrino Ríos Paredes, had a car accident,” Gonzalez recalled in 2017. “The owner of the station ran to tell me, ‘[get dressed, get dressed]’ and I replied, ‘Who are you to tell me to get dressed? Let the trainer tell me.’ He said, ‘I need you because they told me that you narrate soccer.’ I replied that I do that there among the guys.”
He later moved to Los Angeles, where former Dodgers announcer Jaime Jarrín gave him his big break during the 1984 Olympics.
“I met him, I think in 1984, shortly before the Olympics. I needed sportswriters for Spanish-language coverage and I was impressed with his stability, his knowledge, his diction and his voice time for soccer,” Jarrín told L.A. Times en Español. “He worked with me for three weeks, and that opened a lot of doors for him in Los Angeles.”
Jarrín’s call surprised him.
Friends and colleagues join Rolando “El Veloz” González, center, in a broadcast booth during a Galaxy match. He called his last game on May 31.
(Armando Aguayo)
“It was Jaime Jarrín,” González recalled. “He asked me if I narrated soccer and if I had experience in programs. He told me that a narrator for the Olympics was coming from Ecuador and he wanted to have [González ] from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on a program. I was leaving the factory at 4:30 p.m. all dirty with paint, and I couldn’t miss that opportunity.”
Jarrín highlights González’s commitment to ESPN Deportes Radio 1330 AM’s coverage of the Galaxy, a team González covered in two long stints in which the team won five of the six MLS Cup titles. The last game González called a game was on May 31, when the Galaxy won their first game of this season against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park.
“He gave his all to the team, as I did to the Dodgers,” Jarrín said. “His legacy is an example for young people. He defined what he wanted to be, and he did it with his heart, with 110% effort.”
Along with Hipolito Gamboa, González marked an era in radio with their “Hablando de Deportes” show on KTNQ-AM (1020) and eventually on KWKW-AM (1330). The show focused mostly on soccer and easily overshadowed other sports programs that tried to copy the format with a more aggressive touch in their conversations.
The González and Gamboa duo presented a more complete analysis without being dependent on fireworks.
“I always had something that made you laugh in the booths of ‘Hablando de Deportes,’” Gamboa said. “It was not all good all the time, because there were moments of tension. That’s a reality, but we always ended well.”
Gamboa described González as someone out of the ordinary.
“He was one of the first to broadcast soccer in the United States. His unique style, his energy, his speed … no one has equaled him,” Gamboa said. “That’s why they called him ‘El Veloz’ [‘The Swift’].”
They worked together broadcasting Gold Cups, Liga MX matches and international matches. Despite his serious voice, Gamboa highlighted González’s cheerful character.
“He narrated with impressive clarity at an amazing speed. People recognized him by his voice,” Gamboa said. “At a party, my little daughter, just 1 year old at the time, heard him speak and said, ‘Goal!’ because we grew up hearing him narrate at the Rose Bowl, at Azteca Stadium, in so many booths.”
Armando Aguayo, who became González’s boss, said he was more than a colleague.
“He was my teacher. What I know about narration, I learned from him,” Aguayo said. “He taught me how to get into the narrator’s rhythm, not to interrupt, to adapt to his speed. He was demanding, but formative.”
Aguayo fondly recalls the two stages he shared with González, first as his producer at “Deportes en Acción 1330” and then as teammates in the second golden era of the Galaxy under Bruce Arena.
Armando Aguayo, who became Rolando González’s boss, said he was more than a colleague: “He taught me how to get into the narrator’s rhythm, not to interrupt, to adapt to his speed. He was demanding, but formative.”
(Armando Aguayo)
“We narrated together the finals, the titles, the big games,” Aguayo said. “And off the air, we talked about family, about the future of radio, about life.”
According to Aguayo, who calls LAFC and Clippers games, González had admirable discipline.
“He would arrive an hour early, prepare, make lists with lineups,” Aguayo said.
During his career González, called World Cups, Olympic Games, Pan American Games, games of his beloved Guatemala national team, as well as the U.S. national team. He covered soccer, baseball, basketball and football.
“The only thing he didn’t narrate was golf, because he said it bored him,” Aguayo said, laughing. “But he even narrated a marbles contest in Guatemala.”
González was known as a great storyteller.
“He would always say, ‘Let me tell you, in such-and-such a year … and he would give you exact dates.’ He was a historian with a storyteller’s voice,” Aguayo said.
Beyond professionalism, Gonzalez left a deep human imprint.
“We called him ‘Don Rolis’ [and] ‘Papa Smurf.’ He was like everybody’s dad. Always with a kind comment, always concerned about others,” Aguayo recalled.
Rolando González, left, joins Armando Aguayo while calling a Galaxy game.
(Armando Aguayo)
González was still active until a few weeks ago. He called the Galaxy’s last game against Real Salt Lake.
“He arrived two hours early, prepared his tecito, sat down to narrate and when he finished, he got up and left, as usual,” Aguayo said. “That was Rolando. Professional, punctual and simple.”
Aguayo spoke with González shortly before hearing the news of his death. Although González recently had a heart attack, he was still answering calls, his voice tired but upbeat.
“He told me, ‘I’m fine. Thank you for your call. It’s very helpful to me. You’re one of the few who called me.’ He told me about the future, about his family,” Aguayo said. “Even in his last days, he was thinking of others.”
For Jarrín, González represented the image of the hard-working immigrant, the passionate communicator, the dedicated professional.
“He never caused problems. He always served the Hispanic community in Southern California with interest. His voice will remain engraved in our memories, and his legacy will live on in every young person who wants to dedicate themselves to sports broadcasting,” Jarrín said.
González’s voice will no longer resonate in the stadiums, but his echo will live on in the memories of his colleagues and in the passion of those who listened to him.
“I was deeply hurt by his passing, because we were great friends,” Jarrín said. “We had a lot of mutual respect, and I liked him very much from the beginning because of his simplicity and his responsibility in everything. So I think that sports fans, and particularly soccer fans, will miss him very much. … He served the Hispanic community in Southern California with a lot of interest, with a lot of enthusiasm. And I will miss him very, very much indeed.”
July 6 (UPI) — Tariffs are set to return to previous levels on the first of August for countries that haven’t agreed on new deals, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.
Bessent said on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, just three days prior to the Trump administration’s July 9 deadline for tariffs to return, that it would be notifying 100 smaller countries that “if you don’t move things along, then on August 1, you will boomerang back to your April 2 tariff level.”
The tariffs were originally set to take effect in April but were pushed back to this Wednesday while countries worked with the Trump administration to reach new deals on products from their countries, a window that allowed dozens of countries to work out the details of between 10% and 50%.
The Trump administration has said reaching deals with some countries has been increasingly difficult.
August 1st is not a new deadline, Bessent said Sunday, but an opportunity to arrive at new tariff deals.
“We are saying this is when it’s happening,” Bessent said Sunday. “If you want to speed things up, have at it. If you want to go back to the old rate, that’s your choice.”
The administration has signaled that there may be some flexibility around the new timeline for key trading partners, but National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” President Donald Trump would make the ultimate decision.
“There are deadlines, and there are things that are close, and so maybe things will push back the dead, past the deadline,” Hassett said. “In the end the president’s going to make that judgment.”
The administration did not name the 12 countries that it would be communicating with this week about the tariff negotiations.
That leads nicely to England’s pace bowlers. Having opted to pick an unchanged side for Edgbaston, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue have now bowled 82, 77 and 81 overs respectively.
Mohammed Siraj is the only India quick to have bowled more than 62.
All three of England’s pacemen struggled at times in Birmingham. Woakes was not as threatening after his new-ball spell while Tongue has been played well by India’s top order and was not as successful against the tail as in the first Test.
Change will surely come at Lord’s given three days off is little time to recover and Jofra Archer is waiting in the wings.
Could England conceivably leave out all three?
Gus Atkinson, who has not played since May because of a hamstring injury, is back in the squad but it would be a risk to play Atkinson and Archer, who has bowled in two innings in a match once in four years, in the same XI.
Woakes, 36, may need a rest but England like variety in their attack and he averages 12.9 at Lord’s – the best of any bowler in Test history.
England would also need to replace his batting at number eight if he is left out – even more so if Carse, an able batter, was also absent at number nine.
Sam Cook is the Woakes replacement in England’s squad but does not offer that same batting depth.
Do not rule out bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton adding to his one Test cap, which was earned in 2022.
Love Island fans think they’ve cracked Dejon’s ‘petty’ Casa Amor strategy, claiming he’s deliberately stirring the pot and setting the other boys up to take the fall for drama he’s quietly orchestrating
Love Island fans work out Dejon’s ‘petty’ gameplan as he sets other boys up(Image: ITV/Love Island)
Love Island fans have worked out Dejon’s ‘petty’ gameplan in Casa Amor to make him look better than all of the other boys. Since the show kicked off at beginning of June, Dejon has been coupled-up with Meg as they remain the strongest couple in the villa.
Just days before Casa Amor kicked off, the smitten pair proved that they were stronger than ever after Dejon shot down Irish bombshell Billykiss after she confronted him for not exploring any other options in the villa and sticking with Meg the whole time.
Dejon told Billykiss that he had zero interest in getting to know her or anyone else for that matter because Meg was the only one for him. And it looks as though Dejon is sticking to his guns as he set the other boys up for failure within minutes of entering Casa Amor.
He wasted no time in suggesting that the islanders play a cheeky game of truth or dare before daring the other boys to kiss the girls they fancy the most. The game even brought about a confession from the sweetest boy in the villa, Tommy, who revealed that he was interested in getting to know the new girls – despite the fact that he had shared his devotion to Emily hours before.
Dejon’s tactics didn’t go unnoticed by eagle-eyed viewers who called out his ‘sneaky’ actions on X. One viewer penned: “Dejon we all know your PETTY plan to make you look better and more loyal than all the rest of boys, but it ain’t working mate.”
“Dejon just gives f**kboy energy to the core. I don’t believe for a second that he actually likes Meg! Nobody likes Meg,” another quipped. Someone else echoed: “I just do not trust Dejon one bit. I don’t think he really is who he’s making out to be on TV.”
After suggesting the game of Truth or Dare, things quickly heated up fast as Ben dived in with a bold three-way kiss, including Harry’s ex, Emma.
Harry then soon came face to face with his ex girlfriend Emma, who greeted him with a cheeky: “Surprise!” He later confirmed the ‘E’ tattoo on his wrist is, indeed, for her.
As the Islanders chatted about their types, Yaz said she needs emotional depth in a partner. Emma didn’t miss a beat, leaning toward Harry and saying: “Well that’s you out.”
After the shock of her entrance, Harry and his ex Emma finally caught up, and he said: “I don’t need you to come and tell me off.” But Emma has no plans to stay quiet as she called him out on his bad behaviour with Helena.
“It’s disgraceful though… like, how are you still doing the same thing?” she said. “The way you’ve been moving with Helena honestly… you two deserve each other… two snakes.”
Thousands are being forced to go back to Afghanistan as Tehran tightens controls on immigration.
For decades, tens of thousands of Afghans – who have fled war and poverty and sought a better future – have crossed into neighbouring Iran.
Tehran has largely been lenient towards members of this community. But in recent years, Iranians seem to have grown tired of hosting them – and sentiment towards foreign nationals has hardened.
The Iranian government has responded by expelling undocumented people. Those being forced out have no choice but to return to the country they escaped from.
While the Taliban government is welcoming returning Afghans, what kind of life awaits them, and what can the international community do to help?
Presenter:
James Bays
Guests:
Arafat Jamal – Afghanistan representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Orzala Nemat – Activist for the rights of Afghan women and director of the Development Research Group, a UK-based consultancy
Hassan Ahmadian – Assistant professor of West Asian Studies at the University of Tehran
Had the ball been called out, Pavlyuchenkova would have won the point and taken the game.
Instead, it was replayed, Kartal won the point and went on to break for a 5-4 lead.
Pavlyuchenkova had seen the ball was out – and a TV replay showed that was the case by some distance.
Addressing the crowd, Helwerth said: “We’re just going to check if the system was up and running, because there was no audio call.”
After a telephone call, he announced the electronic system “was unfortunately unable to track the last point” and ordered the point to be replayed.
The rulebook states that if the electronic line calling system fails to make a call, “the call shall be made by the chair umpire”.
It adds: “If the chair umpire is unable to determine if the ball was in or out, then the point shall be replayed. This protocol applies only to point-ending shots or in the case when a player stops play.”
The fact Pavlyuchenkova went on to win the match meant the malfunction was not as costly as it could have been, although she still questioned why the umpire did not call it out.
“That’s why he’s there,” she said. “He also saw it out, he told me after the match.
“I thought he would do that, but he didn’t. Instead they just said replay.
“I don’t know if it’s something to do [with Kartal being] local.
“I think it’s also difficult for him. He probably was scared to take such a big decision.”
July 6 (UPI) — The 14th Dalai Lama, the head of Tibetan Buddhism, marked his 90th birthday Sunday with a celebration attended by thousands in the city of Dharamshala in India. The event included politically charged remarks subtly referencing China from U.S. and foreign officials.
The website for the Dalai Lama said in a statement that the celebration was organized by the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government-in-exile, formed after the Dalai Lama fled the 1959 failed uprising against Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama did not lead the uprising, but rumors of Chinese plans to kidnap him fueled the resistance, and he was forced to flee to India for his safety — where he established the CTA. Tibet remains tightly controlled by Beijing despite its classification as an “autonomous region,” as does the majority of the population following Tibetan Buddhism.
Since his exile in 1959, the Dalai Lama’s relationship with China has been marked by decades of tension as Beijing condemned him as a separatist while he advocates for Tibetan autonomy through nonviolence and dialogue.
Last week, the aging Dalai Lama signaled that China should refrain from interfering in the process for his succession, while China has increasingly begun to warn off what it views as interference by India and reinforce its position that the succession of the spiritual leader should be held in accordance with Chinese law.
Bethany Nelson, Deputy Secretary of State for India and Bhutan, read a statement on behalf of Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the birthday festivities.
“The United States remains firmly committed to promoting respect for the human rights and the fundamental freedoms of the Tibetan people,” Nelson said. “We respect efforts to preserve their distinct linguistic, cultural and religious heritage, including their ability to freely choose and venerate their religious leaders without interference.”
Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama also delivered video messages that were shown during the celebrations, praising the Nobel Laureate as a voice for peace. The CTA particularly noted that Lai Ching-te, the president of Taiwan, which China views as a wayward province, had extended birthday wishes to the Dalai Lama.
The birthday celebration also comes days after the administration of President Donald Trump decided to walk back cuts to aid for Tibetans in exile. Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or, political leader, of the CTA, addressed the cancellation of those cuts in a statement from the celebrations.
He mentioned that a “substantial delegation” from the U.S. State Department and staff from the U.S. Embassy in Delhi worked diligently with the CTA to restore some of the funds.
Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz produced an impressive fightback to overcome Andrey Rublev and set up a Wimbledon quarter-final against Britain’s Cameron Norrie.
Alcaraz edged a step closer to becoming only the fifth man in the Open era to win three consecutive Wimbledon titles with a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over the Russian 14th seed under the Centre Court roof.
The 22-year-old Spaniard clinched his only break point in both the second and third sets to turn the match around, before a single break of serve again proved enough to end Rublev’s admirable resistance in the fourth.
Alcaraz will face Norrie for a semi-final place after the British number three withstood a fightback from Chilean qualifier Nicolas Jarry to win in five sets.
A Doctor Who showrunner has cast doubt on whether the beloved show will return for season 16 as they ‘don’t know what’s happening’ on the future of the show yet
Jessica Clarke Digital Reporter
19:10, 06 Jul 2025Updated 19:10, 06 Jul 2025
Doctor Who showrunner casts more uncertainty over future of show(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/Dan Fearon)
As Ncuti Gatwa’s second season as The Doctor came to a close in an exciting two-part finale, a showrunner has cast more uncertainty on the future of the beloved show. The latest series saw The Doctor become trapped in a dystopian world which is controlled by the Time Lady and the future is left up in the air.
Doctor Who usually returns to the TV, no matter the amount of time between series, however, rumours about the show have cast doubt on whether it will return for season 16, as a showrunner said they ‘don’t know’ the future of the show yet.
Both the BBC and Disney will have a say in the show’s future as they made a deal which allows the show to be available on the streaming platform Disney+, making it available internationally.
As Ncuti Gatwa’s second season as The Doctor came to a close in an exciting two-part finale, a showrunner has cast more uncertainty on the future (Image: BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
Russell T Davies for Doctor Who Magazine recently shared: “We don’t know what’s happening yet, and while everyone works that out, I’ll take a pause on this page… Hopefully, we’ll have news soon”.
Disney is labelling season 16 as season three online, with a BBC spokesperson saying: “As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs and any other claims are just pure speculation. The deal with Disney Plus was for 26 episodes – and we still have an entire spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, to air.”
Showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed to Radio Times that he already has ideas mapped out for up to three more seasons, demonstrating his strong commitment to keeping Doctor Who thriving. However, exactly when the series will return to our screens remains uncertain.
Showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed to Radio Times that he already has ideas mapped out for up to three more seasons(Image: AP)
The lack of updates about the show’s future has left fans feeling uneasy. That said, a recent announcement offered some consolation as a new children’s series is in development for CBeebies which is set within the Doctor Who universe.
Ncuti Gatwa has concluded his time as the Fifteenth Doctor after only two seasons. The exact reasons for his departure remain unclear, but he shared a statement on Instagram alongside two costars.
He said: “Three queens of the sky. Twas an experience like no other and thank God we were by eachothers side. There aren’t quite the words for how much you both mean to me but I am so grateful I got the opportunity to work, learn from and laugh with you both everyday.
The lack of updates about the show’s future has left fans feeling uneasy(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)
“You’re both just simply incredible and it has been nothing short of a blessing to share this journey with both of you. Ruby Sunday and Belinda Chandra will live in mine and the Whoniverse hearts forever. Also shout out to the CAPTAIN of all 15’s companions. Captain Poppy. Ultimate top dog of this season! (lil Sienna brought so much life and magic to us all on set ) I love you guys. We did it”.
Fans were sad to see him leave the iconic role as one person penned: “Best doctor since David Tennant, we wanted more time with you”, while another added: “You’ll be so missed”.
Israel launched a surprise attack on Iran’s military, nuclear and civilian sites, killing at least 935 people.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned that if Israel is not held accountable for its attack on Iran, “the whole region and beyond will suffer”.
“The US-Israeli attacks on our nuclear facilities were in stark violation of NPT [the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] and the UNSC Resolution 2231 that has endorsed Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme in 2015 by consensus,” Araghchi said in a speech at the BRICS summit in Brazil, cited by state-run Press TV.
“The US’s subsequent involvement in this aggression by targeting Iran’s peaceful nuclear installations has left no doubt as to the full complicity of the American government in Israel’s war of aggression against Iran.”
Iran won the support of fellow BRICS+ nations meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, with the bloc condemning the recent Israeli and US air strikes that hit military, nuclear and other targets.
The 11-nation grouping said the attacks “constitute a violation of international law”.
“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since 13 June 2025,” leaders said in a summit statement, without naming the United States or Israel.
“We further express serious concern over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear facilities,” the bloc added.
The declaration is a diplomatic victory for Tehran, which has received limited regional or global support after a 12-day bombing campaign by the Israeli military that culminated in US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.
Israel launched the surprise attack on Iran’s military, nuclear, and civilian sites on June 13, killing at least 935 people. The Iranian Health Ministry said 5,332 people were wounded.
Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Israel, killing at least 29 people and wounding more than 3,400, according to figures released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
The fighting ended with a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24 and continues to hold.
ATLANTA — President Trump and other Republicans have long criticized states that take weeks to count their ballots after election day. This year has seen a flurry of activity to address it.
Part of Trump’s executive order on elections, signed in March but held up by lawsuits, takes aim at one of the main reasons for late vote counts: Many states allow mailed ballots to be counted even if they arrive after election day.
The U.S. Supreme Court last month said it would consider whether a challenge in Illinois can proceed in a case that is among several Republican-backed lawsuits seeking to impose an election day deadline for mail ballots.
At least three states — Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — passed legislation this year that eliminated a grace period for receiving mailed ballots, saying they now need to be in by election day.
Even in California, where weekslong vote counting is a frequent source of frustration and a target of Republican criticism, a bill attempting to speed up the process is moving through the Democratic-controlled Legislature.
Order asserts federal law prohibits counting late ballots
The ballot deadline section of Trump’s wide-ranging executive order relies on an interpretation of federal law that establishes election day for federal elections. He argues this means all ballots must be received by that date.
“This is like allowing persons who arrive 3 days after Election Day, perhaps after a winner has been declared, to vote in person at a former voting precinct, which would be absurd,” the executive order states.
It follows a pattern for the president, who has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of such ballots even though there is no evidence they are the source of widespread fraud. The issue is tied closely to his complaints about how long it takes to count ballots, his desire for results on election night and his false claims that overnight “dumps” of vote counts point to a rigged election in 2020, when he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
But ballots received after election day, in addition to being signed and dated by the voter, must be postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service indicating they were completed and dropped off on or before the final day of voting.
Accepting late-arriving ballots has not been a partisan issue historically. States as different as California and Mississippi allow them, while Colorado and Indiana do not.
“There is nothing unreliable or insecure about a ballot that comes back after election day,” said Steve Simon, the chief election official in Minnesota, which has an election day deadline.
In his executive order, most of which is paused by the courts, Trump directs the attorney general to “take all necessary action” to enforce federal law against states that include late-arriving ballots in their final counts for federal elections. He also directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to condition federal funding on compliance.
Trump’s rhetoric motivates Republican states
Republicans in five states have passed legislation since the 2020 election moving the mail ballot deadline to election day, according to the Voting Rights Lab, which tracks election legislation.
Earlier this year, GOP lawmakers in Kansas ended the state’s practice of accepting mail ballots up to three days after election day, a change that will take effect for next year’s midterms. Problems with mail delivery had prompted Kansas to add the grace period in 2017.
Kansas state Sen. Mike Thompson, a Republican who chairs the committee that handles election legislation, compared the grace period to giving a football team extra chances to score after the game clock expires.
“We need this uniform end to the election just so that we know that all voters are operating on the same time frame,” he said.
A history of complaints in California
California has long been a source of complaints about the amount of time it takes for ballots to be counted and winners declared.
“The rest of the country shouldn’t have to wait on California to know the results of the elections,” U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican who chairs the Committee on House Administration, said during an April hearing.
He said California’s “lax election laws” were to blame for the delays.
The nation’s most populous state has the largest number of registered voters in the country, some 22.9 million, which is roughly equivalent to the number of voters in Florida and Georgia combined.
California also has embraced universal mail voting, which means every registered voter automatically receives a ballot in the mail for each election. The deadline for election offices to receive completed ballots is seven days after election day as long as they are postmarked by election day.
A survey of some 35,000 Los Angeles County voters during last fall’s election found that 40% waited until election day to return their ballot.
Election officials say the exhaustive process for reviewing and counting mail ballots combined with a large percentage of voters waiting until the last minute makes it impossible for all results to be available on election night.
California Democrats consider changes to speed the count
Under state law, election officials in California have 30 days to count ballots, conduct a post-election review and certify the results.
Dean Logan, Los Angeles County’s chief election official, told Congress in May that his team counted nearly 97% of the 3.8 million ballots cast within a week of election day in 2024. Jesse Salinas, president of the state clerks’ association, said his staff in Yolo County, near Sacramento, already works 16-hour days, seven days a week before and after an election.
Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) introduced legislation that would keep the state’s 30-day certification period but require county election officials to finish counting most ballots within 13 days after the election. They would be required to notify the state if they weren’t going to meet that deadline and give a reason.
“I don’t think that we can stick our heads in the sand and pretend like these conspiracies aren’t out there and that this lack of confidence doesn’t exist, in particular among Republican voters in California,” said Berman. “There are certain good government things that we can do to strengthen our election system.”
He acknowledged that many counties already meet the 13-day deadline in his bill, which awaits consideration in the state Senate.
“My hope is that this will strengthen people’s confidence in their election system and their democracy by having some of those benchmarks and just making it very clear for folks when different results will be available,” Berman said.
Cassidy writes for the Associated Press. AP writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
The GAA has admitted there was “confusion” over the final score of Tipperary’s All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final win over Kilkenny.
The full-score at Croke Park has been confirmed as a 4-20 to 0-30 victory for Tipp, but it had been recorded as a 4-21 to 0-30 win.
The confusion came after Tipperary midfielder Noel McGrath’s effort in the 70th minute was waved wide but was registered as a point on the scoreboard in the stadium – which left the eventual winners with 4-21.
That left Kilkenny chasing a goal in the closing stages thinking they were four points behind, when in theory they could have taken points to draw level in additional time as there were three points between the sides.
“The GAA can confirm that the official score at the end of the Tipperary v Kilkenny GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final was 4-20 to 0-30,” the statement read.
“The GAA acknowledges there was confusion over the final score.
“The CCCC is awaiting the full referees report in order to establish how the initial mistake occurred.”
Speaking on the GAA Social podcast, two-time All-Ireland winner Jamesie O’Connor said: “This type of thing shouldn’t happen, especially at Croke Park.
“If it’s three points with four minutes left you are more inclined to tap it over the bar. With the time that was there Kilkenny have every right to feel aggrieved.
“It shouldn’t take away from Tipp’s win, which was merited, but this type of controversy, in a game of this magnitude and at headquarters with the technology that is available to us, it shouldn’t have happened.”
When asked if he would go off the scoreboard in the stadium if he was playing at Croke Park, Limerick’s five-time All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan said: “100%”.
“It has a massive bearing on the game, it really does,” he added.
Tropical Storm Chantal moved onshore in the Carolinas early Sunday, and is expected to dump as much as 5 inches of rain on the region as it moves inland through the day on Monday. Photo courtesy of the National Weather Service
July 6 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Chantal dumped heavy rain on South Carolina early Sunday before weakening to a depression as it came ashore.
The third named storm of the year, Chantal came ashore near Litchfield, S.C., about 3 a.m. before being downgraded. The National Weather Service said the center of the storm was hard to determine as it began to diffuse after arriving onshore.
Winds peaked at 60 mph before coming ashore, the National Hurricane Center said. The storm had moved inland about 80 miles west of Wilmington, N.C., moving north at about 9 mph. Its sustained winds, however, had fallen off to about 35 mph.
Flash flooding remained a concern and prompted local areas to take precautions as forecasters predicted that as much as four inches of rain could drench the region into the day Monday.
“1-3 inches of rain has already fallen in isolated locations across Eastern NC,” the Newport/Morehead City office of the NWS said in a social media post. “Expect 1-1.5 additional inches through Monday, with locally higher amounts of 3+ possible. This could lead to localized flash flooding.”
Heavy rain forced the closure of some lanes of Interstate 95 as it moved inland, forcing travelers to take alternate routes to reach their destinations.
The storm prompted isolated tornado threats, but the storm was not expected to threaten North Carolina’s popular Outer Banks area. The risk is, however, high for a dangerous rip current across eastern North Carolina through Sunday night.
Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ camp perched on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Texas, was a place of laughter, prayer and adventure just days ago.
Among the girls at the camp was eight-year-old Renee Smajstrla, smiling ear-to-ear in a picture taken on one of those days – “having the time of her life” with her friends.
But the next day, the camp she and so many other young girls loved turned into the site of one of the deadliest flood disasters in recent Texas history.
Renee was among those killed.
“She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic,” her uncle Shawn Salta wrote on Facebook.
Photos show the eerie aftermath: the bunk beds mud-caked and toppled, the detritus of a summer camp cut tragically short.
Destroyed personal belongings are scattered across soaked interiors where children once gathered for Bible study and campfire songs.
Eleven of its campers and one camp counsellor are missing. Many of the unaccounted-for girls were reportedly sleeping in low-lying cabins less than 500ft (150m) from the riverbank.
On Sunday, the rain was pouring down as the BBC reached Camp Mystic.
The entrance was cordoned off by police and the rubble of what might have been some kind of gatehouse was strewn across the ground.
More rain is forecast, which will make the rescue effort even harder.
Three days after the deluge, hope is fading and this is rapidly becoming a recovery exercise more than a rescue mission.
Getty Images
Camp Mystic has been operated by the same family for generations, offering girls a chance to grow “spiritually” in a “wholesome” Christian atmosphere, according to its website.
Families from all across Texas and the US send their daughters each summer to swim, canoe, ride horses and form lifelong friendships.
But the beauty of the Guadalupe River, which draws so many to the area, also proved deadly.
The floodwaters arrived with little warning, ripping through the picturesque riverfront area that is home to nearly 20 youth camps.
Though Camp Mystic suffered the greatest losses, officials say the scale of the disaster is far-reaching.
Nearby, the all-girls camp Heart O’ the Hills also faced flooding.
Its co-owner and director, Jane Ragsdale, was among the dead. Fortunately, the camp was out of session at the time.
A statement from the camp said, “Most of those who were on camp at the time have been accounted for and are on high ground… We are mourning the loss of a woman who influenced countless lives and was the definition of strong and powerful.”
An unknown number of other campers were in the area for the holiday weekend.
Getty Images
Questions are mounting over why so many camps were situated so close to the river, and why more was not done to evacuate the children in time.
Congressman Chip Roy, who represents the area, acknowledged the devastation while urging caution against premature blame.
“The response is going to be, ‘We’ve gotta move all these camps – why would you have camps down here by the water?'” Roy said.
“Well, you have camps by the water because it’s by the water. You have camps near the river because it’s a beautiful and wonderful place to be.”
Families of the missing meanwhile face an agonising wait for news. Search and rescue teams – some navigating by boat, others combing through debris – are working round the clock.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said on Sunday the search for survivors continued.
“Until we can get them reunited families, we are not going to stop,” City Manager Dalton Rice said.
Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of emergency, and officials warn the final toll may rise in the days to come.
Dinosaurs ruled the box office once again this weekend as “Jurassic World Rebirth” hauled in a strong $147.3 domestically over the five-day Fourth of July period to kick off what industry insiders hope will be an impressive month at movie theaters.
The holiday total for “Jurassic World” in the U.S. and Canada exceeded industry expectations. Universal Pictures’ “Jurassic World” reboot was expected to gross $120 million to $130 million during its long opening weekend, according to analyst and studio projections.
The movie unseated Apple’s Brad Pitt racing film “F1 The Movie,” which landed in second place with $26.1 million domestically, bringing its total to $109.5 million in North America, according to distributor Warner Bros.
“Rebirth’s” 2022 predecessor, “Jurassic World: Dominion,” debuted with $145 million from its first three days of release and went on to collect $1 billion globally. The new movie carries an estimated production budget of $180 million, not counting marketing costs.
Big-budget creature features have global appeal, as the numbers showed. Opening in 82 countries outside the U.S. and Canada, “Rebirth” grossed $171 million internationally. That included $41.5 million from China, proving that Hollywood movies can still do well in the Middle Kingdom despite the dominance of local production in the populous country.
The global total for “Rebirth’s” opening was $318.3 million.
Directed by Gareth Edwards (“The Creator,” “Rogue One”) and starring Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, “Rebirth” earned unenthusiastic reviews from critics, notching a 52% approval rating on aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
The “Jurassic” franchise has seen multiple iterations since Steven Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster “Jurassic Park,” based on the popular Michael Crichton science fiction novel, wowed audiences with its combination of practical and computer-generated effects that gave the T. rex and other killer dinos their stunning realism. That film spawned not only sequels but toys, theme park attractions, animated series and video games.
Although the sequels, starting with Spielberg’s own “The Lost World,” never achieved the acclaim of the original, they continued to mint money for Universal and Spielberg’s production company, Amblin.
Prior to “Rebirth,” the “Jurassic” movies had grossed a total of roughly $6 billion worldwide, not adjusting for inflation, according to box office website The Numbers. The first “Jurassic Park” grossed $978 million worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, which is equal to $1.86 billion in today’s dollars.
The latest “Jurassic” movie did not get a slot at Imax theaters, since those were taken up by “F1.” Next week, the valuable Imax real estate will be taken up by Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ “Superman.” Films shown on Imax often reap bigger box office numbers, aided in part by the higher ticket prices at those theaters, and because they’re viewed as more of a must-see event.
“Jurassic World” is the first of three big tentpole films arriving this month in theaters. In addition to “Superman,” Walt Disney Co. and Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” opens in a few weeks.
July has historically been one of the strongest summer months at the box office, putting more pressure on these three films to deliver.
Despite big box office gains in April and May, June saw a string of underperforming films such as Lionsgate’s “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina,” Sony Pictures’ “Karate Kid: Legends” and Disney and Pixar’s original animated effort “Elio.”
Theatrical business in June was 25% lower compared to the pre-pandemic average of June 2017, 2018 and 2019, according to David A. Gross’s FranchiseRe movie industry newsletter. It was also down 5.3% compared to last June, which saw big hits like Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Sony’s “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.”
“We see this ebb and flow,” said Shawn Robbins, founder of the website Box Office Theory. “These next four to five weeks will certainly give us a sense of how to grade the summer overall.”
Tadej Pogacar (centre) is aiming to win his fourth Tour de France
Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist
The 112th edition of the Tour de France gets under way in Lille on Saturday with the three-week race ending on the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Sunday, 27 July.
The riders will tackle six mountain stages including trips to the Pyrenees and Alps during the gruelling 3,320km (2,063-mile) race.
There will also be two individual time trials, with the second featuring the steep climb up to the Altiport in Peyragudes.
BBC Sport looks at all 21 stages of La Grande Boucle analysing where it could be won and lost.
This page will be updated throughout the Tour with the winner and a brief report following each stage.
Saturday, 5 July – stage one: Lille Metropole – Lille Metropole, 184.9km
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
Jasper Philipsen became the first sprinter to claim the yellow jersey on the opening day since 2020
Jasper Philipsen was the first rider to wear the yellow jersey this year – claiming the maillot jaune for the first time in his career.
A sprint finish was expected after a flat stage beginning and ending in Lille, and Alpecin-Deceuninck’s lead-out train delivered the 27-year-old in the perfect position to claim his 10th stage win.
Crosswinds contributed to a chaotic opening day, which saw the peloton split about 17km from the finish, with most of Philipsen’s team-mates in the lead group.
Sunday, 6 July – stage two: Lauwin-Planque – Boulogne-sur-Mer, 209.1km
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Mathieu van der Poel won his second ever stage at the Tour de France
Mathieu van der Poel edges out Tadej Pogacar in a sprint finish to win stage two of the Tour de France and claim the leader’s yellow jersey.
The Dutch rider, who also won the same stage in 2021, holds off the three-time Tour champion on the line after surging to the front with 500 metres to go on the longest stage in this year’s race, a rolling 209.1km route from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Monday, 7 July – stage three: Valenciennes – Dunkirk, 178.3km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Dunkirk hosted the Grand Depart in 2001
This should be another good chance for the Tour’s fast men to shine.
However, a late cobbled climb to Cassel and the potential for crosswinds and echelons to form in the final 35km could spoil their day.
Tuesday, 8 July – stage four: Amiens Metropole -Rouen, 174.2km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Jules Verne wrote Around the World in 80 Days in Amiens
Both Amiens and Rouen have been the preserve of sprinters in previous editions of the Tour but that will not be the case this time around.
The trip into Normandy comes with a relentless up-and-down stretch in the final 50km where explosive climbing and skilful descending will likely come to the fore and allow the specialists over that terrain to target victory.
Wednesday, 9 July – stage five: Caen – Caen, 33km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Caen is also known as ‘the city of a hundred bell towers’
The first of two individual time trials arrives on wide and completely flat roads of Caen.
The strongest rouleurs should be in their element on a stage designed for time-trial specialists like Remco Evenepoel.
Thursday 10 July – stage six: Bayeux – Vire Normandie, 201.5 km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
This is the sixth time Vire will have featured on the Tour de France route
Six categorised climbs and more than 3,400m of vertical gain mean this is regarded as the most challenging flat stage in the Tour’s recent history.
A difficult day in the saddle concludes with a 700m-long 10% ascent to the finish line.
Friday, 11 July – stage seven: Saint-Malo – Mur-de-Bretagne Guerledan, 197 km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Mathieu van der Poel won his first Tour stage on the Mur-de-Bretagne in 2021
The race passes through the home village of five-time winner Bernard Hinault during a relatively tame opening 175km of stage seven.
However, expect bedlam as the finishing line approaches with a closing circuit that mirrors the 2021 stage.
The Mur-de-Bretagne, which ramps up above 10% features twice and explosiveness and tactical nous will determine how things play out.
Saturday, 12 July – stage eight: Saint-Meen-le-Grand – Laval Espace Mayenne, 171.4 km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Laval is the birthplace of three-time Tour stage winner Jacky Durand
A largely flat stage with an occasional gentle rise plus a relatively straight final three kilometres in towards the finishing line marks this as a day for the sprinters.
Sunday, 13 July – stage nine: Chinon – Chateauroux, 174.1km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Mark Cavendish won three of his 35 stages in Chateauroux
When you think of Chateauroux one rider immediately springs to mind – Mark Cavendish.
The first of the Manx Missile’s record 35 stage wins arrived in the city in 2008 and he repeated that success on the Avenue de la Chatre in 2011 and 2021.
And with a relatively simple parcours a bunch sprint will almost certainly be on the menu when the peloton embarks from the historic town of Chinon which is known for its wine.
Monday, 14 July – stage 10: Ennezat – Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy, 165.3 km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
The last French rider to win on Bastille Day was Warren Barguil in 2017
While the 4,400m of elevation gain across seven category-two climbs and a category-three ascent is likely to put the sprinters in trouble almost from the start, the general classification contenders are likely to keep their powder dry on a stage that looks made for the breakaway specialists.
There will likely be a strong posse of home riders trying to get in any group heading up the road with the objective of becoming the first French stage winner on Bastille Day since Warren Barguil in 2017.
The first trip into the mountains should provide a decent shake up of the GC standings although it unlikely to cause any of the main favourites issues.
Wednesday, 16 July – stage 11: Toulouse – Toulouse, 156.8km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Caleb Ewan won the stage last time the Tour visited Toulouse in 2019
Following a rest day, stage 11 offers a gentle return to racing although the concluding 16km contains two kickers that could alter the composition of any fast finish to the line on Boulevard Lascrosses.
Thursday, 17 July – stage 12: Auch – Hautacam, 180.6km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Six stage finishes have taken place at Hautacam
The first real big day in the mountains could see fireworks in the GC race.
The route up to the ski resort at Hautacam on the roads above Lourdes takes the peloton on the route where five-time champion Miguel Indurain tore the race (and his rivals) apart in 1994.
More recently, Jonas Vingegaard rode away from Tadej Pogacar in 2022 on his way to his first overall Tour victory.
Friday, 18 July – stage 13: Loudenvielle – Peyragudes 10.9km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
The airport runway in Peyragudes was used in a scene in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies
An individual time trial takes the riders from the valley floor up to the runway of Altiport 007 in Peyragudes.
After a flat start, there will be over 8km uphill and no hiding place for the GC favourites in the race of truth.
A gradient of 7.8% ramps up to a punishing 13% in the final kilometre and it could provide a strong indicator of who will be wearing the yellow jersey in Paris.
Saturday, 19 July – stage 14: Pau – Luchon-Superbagneres, 182.6 km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Superbagneres hasn’t hosted the Tour for 36 years
A classic and mouth-watering mountain stage in the Pyrenees arrives at the end of week two.
Nearly 5,000m of elevation gain is packed into climbs up the mighty hors-categorie Tourmalet followed by the Col d’Aspin and Col de Peyresourde.
On a day when the GC riders will be need to be at their very best, the strongest climbers will have their focus on the fight for the King of the Mountains jersey and hope to contest the stage on the pull up to the ski resort of Luchon-Superbagneres.
The gruelling 12.4km slog at 7.3%, which rises up to 10% in a couple of sections, should be the scene for an epic battle in the race for yellow.
Sunday, 20 July – stage 15: Muret – Carcassonne 169.3km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Jasper Philipsen won the first of his eight Tour stage victories in Carcassonne in 2022
A transitional stage arrives as the race heads from the Pyrenees towards the Alps, which looks suited to the strongman sprinters who can cope with some climbing.
The likes of Wout van Aert and Biniam Girmay should view this a potential chance triumph in the medieval finishing town of Carcassonne.
Tuesday, 22 July – stage 16: Montpellier – Mont Ventoux, 171.5km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Chris Froome is the only British rider to have won a stage on Mont Ventoux in the Tour de France
Stage 16 is a flat route until one of the most legendary mountains in Tour history comes into view at the end with the potential to turn the race on its head.
With no categorised climbs all day before Mont Ventoux, and the intermediate sprint featuring 112km into the stage, it would be no surprise if the peloton remains largely intact until then.
Wednesday, 23 July – stage 17: Bollene – Valence, 160.4km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
The Tour is stopping in Valence for the fourth time in 10 years
With two big Alpine tests still to come the GC teams will probably play second fiddle to the sprint teams when it comes to trying to rein in any breakaways.
The last three winners of a Tour stage in Valence were Mark Cavendish (2021), Peter Sagan (2018), and Andre Greipel (2015) and the only thing likely to prevent a bunch sprint is the mistral winds that can be fierce in the Rhone Valley.
Thursday, 24 July – stage 18: Vif – Courchevel Col de la Loze, 171.5km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
In 2023 Austria’s Felix Gall won the stage into Courchevel
This year’s queen stage comes with more than 5,500m of elevation across 171.5km of racing and three legendary climbs which makes it arguably the toughest run of the entire Tour.
All three ascents fall under the hors categorie, with the Col du Glandon, a 21.7km drag with with sections at double digits just for starters.
The Col de la Madeleine, is shorter but steeper and the while there is a rapid descent and the rises in the road come sharply again on the monstrous Col de la Loze, a climb of over 26km with gradients hitting 11% as the Tour reaches it’s highest point.
Friday, 25 July – stage 19: Albertville – La Plagne, 129.9km
Image source, ASO
Image caption,
Albertville was the host city of the 1992 Winter Olympics
The last real mountain stage represents the final opportunity for those high in the GC standings to make a play for the yellow jersey.
The route from Albertville to La Plagne covers almost 130km, and includes five leg-sapping ascents.
Plenty of points will be up for grabs again in the race for the the polka-dot jersey points available but this is really a last-chance saloon in terms of the overall race.
Whoever is leading at end of the day will be confident, that barring an unforseen disaster, they will be stood atop the podium, draped in yellow on the Champs-Elysees.
The Tour will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its first finish on the Champs-Elysees
The Tour returns to it’s traditional Paris finish after relocating to Nice last year due to the Olympics.
However, it does so with a twist, given the cobbled climb up to the Sacre-Cœur Basilica features three times in a throwback to the road race in the 2024 Paris Games.
It’s a 1,1km ascent at a gradient of 5.9% added to the original finishing circuit in the French capital designed to whittle down the field before a high-speed finish albeit possibly without some of the pure sprinters.
Lando Norris becomes 13th British driver to win home Grand Prix while Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg makes his first podium after a record 239 races.
Lando Norris won his home British Grand Prix for the first time in a McLaren one-two with Formula One leader Oscar Piastri on a wet and chaotic race day littered with safety cars, crashes and incident.
“This is a dream, winning at home. It’s beautiful,” Norris told the team over the radio. “Thanks for the memory. I’ll remember this more than anything.”
Nico Hulkenberg took an astonishing third place for Sauber, the German veteran making up 16 places to shed his unwanted record of the most starts without a podium in Formula One history – Sunday being his first in 239 starts in an F1 career that began in 2010.
“I don’t think I can comprehend what we’ve just done,” said the stunned German before wild pitlane celebrations with his teammates.
“It feels good. It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it? But I always knew we had it in us, I have it in me, somewhere.”
Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty for a safety car infringement that ultimately cost him the win and allowed Norris to slash the Australian’s advantage to eight points at the midpoint of the season.
Piastri was unhappy with his penalty, signalling he believed it was a legal move.
Lando Norris celebrates on his way to parc ferme after the British Grand Prix [Clive Mason/Getty Images]
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished fourth with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fifth after starting on pole position.
Pierre Gasly was sixth for Alpine, Lance Stroll seventh for Aston Martin and Alex Albon eighth for Williams.
Fernando Alonso gave Aston Martin a double points finish in ninth at their home race and George Russell bagged the final point for Mercedes.
Hulkenberg’s podium for Sauber was the first for the Swiss-based team since 2012.
Norris’s victory at Silverstone was his eighth career GP win.
The Belgian Grand Prix is the next race on the F1 calendar on July 27.
Third-placed Nico Hulkenberg celebrates scoring the first podium of his 15-year Formula One career with a Sauber teammate [Clive Rose/Getty Images]
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports the vessel is taking on water after being targeted with gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades.
A commercial vessel in the Red Sea has come under attack after small boats fired rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons towards the ship.
According to the organisation United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident took place 94km (51 nautical miles) southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah.
“The vessel has been engaged by multiple small vessels who have opened fire with small arms and self-propelled grenades. [The] armed security team have returned fire and situation is ongoing,” said UKMTO, which is run by Britain’s Royal Navy.
The UKMTO said the attack resulted in a fire onboard and the vessel began taking on water Sunday night as its crew prepared to abandon ship.
“Authorities are investigating,” it said, adding later the ship was ablaze after being “struck by unknown projectiles”.
“UKMTO has had confirmation from the Company Security Officer that the vessel is taking on water and crew are preparing to abandon ship,” a statement said.
Maritime security sources added that the vessel was identified as the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier Magic Seas.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said in an advisory that the ship was attacked by four unmanned surface vehicles [USVs].
“Two of the USVs impacted the port side of the vessel, damaging the vessel’s cargo,” Ambrey added.
The Yemen-based armed group the Houthis began targeting vessels in the Red Sea shortly after Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, which the Houthis say is in defence of the Palestinians living in the besieged enclave.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched more than 100 attacks targeting commercial vessels, disrupting global shipping and forcing firms to reroute.
Their campaign has expanded to include vessels linked to the United States and the United Kingdom since the two countries initiated military strikes in January 2024.
In May, the Houthis and the US agreed on a ceasefire that would see the end of attacks on US ships. But the Houthis vowed to continue to target Israeli-linked vessels.
A renewed Houthi campaign against shipping could again draw in US and Western forces to the area.
This comes at a sensitive moment in the Middle East as a possible ceasefire in the war on Gaza hangs in the balance, and as Iran weighs whether to restart negotiations over its nuclear programme following US air strikes targeting its most sensitive atomic sites.
Netflix has added the romantic drama We Live In Time to trtheir streaming platform and viewers are not only obsessed by it but revealed they can’t stop ‘sobbing’
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield’s chemistry on screen has been praised by viewers
Netflix has once again done what is does best by adding gripping drama to its streaming platform. And this time, the romantic drama We Live In Time has gripped the nation by storm.
The British based TV show, starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh, follows the couple’s love story over a decade.
Alumut, played by Florence, who is a chef and former figure skater accidentally hits and knocks over Tobias, played by Andrew, with her car.
Viewers are then taken on their love journey as the pair navigate their way through ten years of different points in their lives.
The film was first released in cinemas across the nation in January this year before landing on Netflix. But it’s already fast become a huge hit among subscribers.
The official plot reads: “Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) are brought together in a surprise encounter that changes their lives. !”
Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh star in new Netflix romantic drama(Image: Peter Mountain)
It adds: “As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of the unconventional route their love story has taken, in filmmaker John Crowley’s decade-spanning, deeply moving romance.”
And viewers are loving it. One fan took to X and said that she could not sobbing after watching the highly acclaimed drama.
The fan said: “Finally watched we live in time and I’m so grateful I didn’t watch in the cinema I’ve not stopped sobbing.”
But that fan is by no means the only one. According to reports, the drama has received 79% on film website Rotten Tomatoes.
Those reviewing the drama on the site praised the believable chemistry between both lead characters.
After the show’s debut at at the Toronto Film Festival last year, the Guardian awarded it four stars and described it as “irresistible” and a “smart and sensitive crowd pleaser.”
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield’s chemistry on screen has been praised by viewers(Image: Peter Mountain)
It then added: “It’s such a joy to watch two such assured and natural performers allowed the room to exercise both movie star and actor muscles as well as showcase their ease with both comedy and drama.”
The review went on to add: “Their chemistry is just so electric that it would be hard to imagine how any of it could work quite so well without them.”
And in an interview with Radio Times, the director, John Crowley was asked about the chemistry between the two lead stars.
He explained: “I had an instinct that the two of them would work well together, and that’s not based on anything. That’s just a hunch, right? So it’s very unscientific.”
