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Today — 18 July 2025News

Trump’s Plan to Reopen Alcatraz Appears to Move Forward With Officials’ Visit

18 July 2025 at 06:28
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited the site on Thursday to study whether reopening it as a federal prison could work.

© Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press

Attorney General Pam Bondi, center, after visiting Alcatraz Island on Thursday.

Citizen Kane sled saved from destruction sells for nearly $15m

18 July 2025 at 04:57
Getty Images Rosebud the sled from the movie Citizen Kane on display at the new Academy Museum in Los Angeles, CA Tuesday, September 21, 2021Getty Images
One Rosebud sled was bought by legendary director Steven Spielberg, which he later donated to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

A prop central to the celebrated opening scene of Citizen Kane - widely regarded as one of the best films ever made - has sold at auction for $14.75m (£11m).

The wooden Rosebud sled, one of at least three known to have survived, was long thought to have been lost until it was given to director Joe Dante in 1984, saving it from destruction.

He went on to use it as a reference for fans (known as an Easter egg) in films he directed, including Gremlins 2: The New Batch.

It is now the second most expensive piece of memorabilia to have ever been sold - a pair of ruby slippers used in The Wizard of Oz sold for $32m (£23.9) in December.

"Along with Dorothy's ruby slippers, the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane is one of the most iconic objects in Hollywood history," Joe Maddalena, executive vice president at Heritage Auctions, which held the action, told its magazine the Intelligent Collector.

The identity of the sled's buyer was not revealed.

Getty Images Young Charles Foster Kane (Buddy Swan) shakes hands with Walter Parks Thatcher (George Coulouris) as his parents (Harry Shannon and Agnes Moorehead) watch in Citizen KaneGetty Images
The secret of the name Rosebud is pivotal to the plot of Citizen Kane, which was released in 1941

Other Rosebuds made for the film have been sold in the past, including one to legendary director Steven Spielberg, who later donated it to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.

However, the version sold on Thursday had not been seen for many years until it ended up in the hands of Dante.

He told Heritage auctions how he was making the film Explorers in 1984 on the same studio that was formerly owned by RKO Radio Pictures, which produced Citizen Kane.

Dante said crews were on site clearing out storage areas when one worker, who knew he liked vintage films, asked if he wanted it.

"I was astonished...Since I am a huge fan of the movie, I said, 'Yeah, I'll be glad to take it."

"Citizen Kane may be the greatest film ever made, and Rosebud is the linchpin of the story – the whole heart of the plot and the focal point of the mysterious drama in Kane's life.

"As a director, to own the prop that represents such a vital element of a cinema treasure is particularly meaningful."

5 Charged in U.C. Berkeley Professor’s Killing in Greece, Including His Ex-Wife

Przemyslaw Jeziorski, who taught quantitative marketing at the Haas School of Business, was shot several times on July 4 outside Athens, the authorities said.

© Reuters TV/Reuters

An image from video showing police officers arresting five people over the killing of a University of California, Berkeley, professor in a suburb of Athens.

Justice Dept. Asks California Sheriffs for Names of Undocumented Inmates

18 July 2025 at 05:33
An A.C.L.U. lawyer said it was possible that any sheriff who complied with the request could be in violation of California’s so-called sanctuary state law.

© Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

Sheriff Robert Luna of Los Angeles County, third from right, with deputies in Altadena, Calif., in January. His agency signaled it would not honor a request the Justice Department’s request for the names of noncitizen inmates.

Archery Club Used to ‘Nasty Storms’ Reels From Fatal Lightning Strike

The bolt struck local archers and a boy scout troop in New Jersey, killing one man and injuring at least 13 other people. Friends of the victims said the strike had come out of nowhere.

© Rachel Wisniewski for The New York Times

Sun speckled the range at the Black Knight Bowbenders Archery Club in Jackson, N.J., on Thursday, the day after a rogue bolt of lightning there struck at least 14 people, killing one.

White House says Trump diagnosed with vein condition after questions about bruises

18 July 2025 at 03:32
Watch: White House says Trump has a chronic venous insufficiency

US President Donald Trump is suffering from a chronic vein condition, the White House announced on Thursday, after days of speculation regarding photographs showing bruising on the president's hand.

After recently experiencing swelling in his legs, Trump underwent a "comprehensive exam" including a diagnostic vascular study, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Leavitt said Trump's bruised hand was consistent with "tissue damage from frequent handshaking" while taking aspirin, which she said is "part of a standard cardio-vascular prevention regimen".

Trump, 79, has regularly touted his good health and once described himself as "the healthiest president that's ever lived".

The vein condition discovered in the recent exam is called chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that occurs when leg veins fail to pump blood to the heart, causing it to pool in the lower limbs, which can then become swollen.

The condition is considered common, particularly in people over the age of 70, Leavitt said, adding that there was "no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease" and that all results from the test were "within normal limits".

The full medical report will be released to reporters, the White House said.

Photographers captured what appeared to be Trump's swollen legs during the Fifa Club World Cup final in New Jersey on 13 July, with subsequent photos taken earlier this week showing his bruised hands during a meet with Bahraini Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the White House.

A bruised hand on the president had previously been photographed during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in February.

The swollen legs and bruising prompted online speculation and rumours that the president may have been experiencing an illness he hadn't made public.

Following an annual physical exam in April, White House physician Sean Barbabella wrote that Trump "exhibits cognitive and physical health".

Trump was 78 years and seven months old when he was inaugurated for his second term in January, making him the oldest president to ever be inaugurated as US leader.

Met Police to close half its front desks following budget cuts

18 July 2025 at 02:58
PA Media Part of the Palace of Westminster is seen between two Metropolitan Police officers in Parliament Square, London. PA Media

The Metropolitan Police plans to close half the front desks at its stations to save money, the BBC has learned.

The move would reduce the number across London from 37 to 19, and break a pledge to have a counter staffed 24/7 in each of the capital's 32 boroughs.

A Met Police spokesperson said the plan was subject to consultation and no changes would be made until later this year.

"Given the Met's budget shortfall and shrinking size, it is no longer sustainable to keep all front counters open," they said.

The Met covers all parts of London apart from the Square Mile covered by the City of London Police.

Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley last month took the unusual step of warning Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer that police forces would face "stark choices" about which crimes to investigate if their budgets were cut.

Concern about funding was such that Home Secretary Yvette Cooper took negotiations with Treasury to the wire, ending up as the last cabinet minister to agree her department's spending.

Labour made manifesto commitments to halve violence against women and girls as well as knife crime.

At the same time, the Met has been struggling with a widespread loss of trust in its officers, particularly among women, following the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer.

There were further revelations about entrenched misogyny and racism, leading to the force attempting to rebuild trust with Londoners with a two-year plan making fresh commitments on community policing, in its A New Met for London strategy.

A key commitment was to have at least one 24/7 front counter in each of London's 32 boroughs to make it easier for people to report crime.

But the BBC has seen leaked plans for the Met Police that show only eight counters will remain open 24/7, and there will also be reduced hours at 11 front counters, closing at 10pm weekdays and 7pm weekends.

A Met Police spokesperson defended the plans, saying: "That's why we have taken the tough choice to pursue some closures and a reduction in hours – allowing us to focus resources relentlessly on tackling crime and putting more officers into neighbourhoods across London."

The spokesperson added that 5% of crimes were reported at front counters in the last year, "with the vast majority of Londoners doing it over the phone, online, or in person with officers elsewhere".

With nearly a million crimes (948,241) reported to the Met in 2024 excluding fraud according to the latest government figures, that adds up to just under 50,000 crimes (47,412) reported at existing front counters.

The Home Office and the Mayor of London have been contacted for comment.

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Slushies unsafe for children under 7, UK watchdog warns

18 July 2025 at 02:54
Getty Images A boy pours a slushy from one of a row of slushy machines into a plastic cup. He wears a blue shirt.Getty Images

Children under seven years old should not have shop-bought slushies over health concerns about a chemical they contain, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said.

The government watchdog said slushed ice drinks containing glycerol - a type of sweetener - were unsafe for young children, and consumption of them should be limited for children aged between seven and 10.

Most slushies contain naturally occurring glycerol instead of sugar to stop them freezing solid, giving them the slushy effect.

The FSA said consuming large amounts of it can cause side-effects, including headaches and sickness, low blood sugar levels, shock, and loss of consciousness in children.

Prof Robin May, the FSA's chief scientific advisor, said: "While these drinks may seem harmless and side effects are generally mild, they can, especially when consumed in large quantities over a short time, pose serious health risks to young children."

The fresh FSA guidance comes following research indicating children under eight should completely avoid drinking slushies.

It studied the cases of 21 two- to seven-year-olds in the UK and Ireland who needed A&E treatment after becoming acutely ill within an hour of having the drinks, mostly between 2018 and 2024.

The children all recovered and were discharged from hospital.

Dr Duane Mellor from the British Dietetic Association told the BBC that it was "relatively rare" for children to suffer ill side-effects after drinking slushies containing glycerol.

The registered dietician said the "heat of the day", dehydration and a child being excited could "exacerbate" symptoms linked to consuming the drink.

He recommended that children have water or cold milk as alternatives to slushies - or if they want a sweet drink, fruit flavoured water with ice cubes, a diet drink or a low-sugar ice lolly.

The FSA's updated guidance is stricter than its previous advice, which said that under-fives should avoid slushies.

It now also says children aged seven to 10 should have no more than one 350ml slushy drink - "roughly the size of a fizzy drink can" - a day.

"We are asking parents and carers to take extra care when buying drinks for young children, particularly during warmer months when consumption of 'slushies' typically increases," said Prof May.

This guidance also applies to ready-to-drink slushy pouches and make-at-home kits of slushy concentrates.

The FSA says its guidance should be on a "written warning at [the] point of sale" and that producers should make the drinks with the "minimum quantity" of glycerol "technically necessary to achieve the required 'slush' drink effect".

It also recommends against vendors offering free slushy refills in venues where children under the age of 10 would likely consume them.

Rate the players in Sweden v England

18 July 2025 at 03:33

Rate the players in Sweden v England

Lucy Bronze, Lauren James and Alessia RussoImage source, Getty Images
  • Published

England's Euro 2025 quarter-final against Sweden - which you can follow here - is under way.

You can rate the players out of 10 below and come back 30 minutes after full-time to see the final ratings.

The Player Rater cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable JavaScript or try another browser.

How to play

Rate players out of 10 for this game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle. You must be signed in to a BBC account to play.

1 Give it up
10 Pure perfection

Number: 12 J. Falk
Number: 2 J. Andersson
Number: 6 M. Eriksson
Number: 14 N. Björn
Number: 4 H. Lundkvist
Number: 15 J. Zigiotti Olme
Number: 16 F. Angeldahl
Number: 18 F. Rolfö
Number: 9 K. Asllani
Number: 19 J. Rytting Kaneryd
Number: 11 S. Blackstenius

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After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

Crypto Industry Reaches Milestone With Passage of Genius Act

After a week of squabbling in Washington, the cryptocurrency industry secured one of its primary legislative objectives and made progress toward a second one.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The rapid succession of House votes showed the industry’s growing influence in Washington, where lawmakers had declared it “crypto week” on Capitol Hill.

What to Know About the Three Crypto Regulation Bills in Congress

18 July 2025 at 04:24
The House this week took up a trio of bills that would establish a federal framework for regulating the cryptocurrency industry. One of the measures cleared Congress and is on its way to enactment.

© Mario Tama/Getty Images

A sign advertises a Bitcoin A.T.M. at a gas station this week near Pasadena, Calif.

13 Law Enforcement Unions Endorse Eric Adams in N.Y.C. Mayor’s Race

Mr. Adams, who was elected on a law-and-order campaign message, is seeking to portray Zohran Mamdani, this year’s Democratic nominee, as weak on crime.

© José A. Alvarado Jr. for The New York Times

Mayor Eric Adams boasts of the city’s falling crime numbers, but his leadership of the Police Department has been turbulent.

Republicans on Senate Panel Vote to Advance Bove’s Nomination After Democrats Storm Out

18 July 2025 at 02:47
An even more intense battle is expected on the Senate floor over the nomination of a Trump immigration policy enforcer to a lifetime judicial post.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

Emil Bove III, President Trump’s nominee to the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, during his Senate confirmation hearing last month.

British spies and SAS named in Afghan data breach

18 July 2025 at 02:29
BBC A night vision view of a British solider manning a helicopter-mounted machinegun.BBC

The identities of more than 100 British officials, including members of the special forces and MI6, were compromised in a data breach that also put thousands of Afghans at risk of reprisal, it can be reported.

The latest fallout from the breach was kept secret by an injunction until Thursday, when the order was lifted in part by a High Court judge.

That allowed media organisations to reveal that detailed case notes in the database contained secret personal data of special forces and spies.

The government had already admitted on Tuesday the data of nearly 19,000 Afghans who had worked with the British during the 20-year war in Afghanistan and had applied to resettle in the UK had been inadvertently leaked.

Many were judged to be at risk of serious harm or even death as the Taliban sought retribution against those who had worked with the British government during the conflict.

This was part of the reason the information was protected by a so-called "super-injunction" - a kind of gagging order that prevents the reporting of even the existence of the injunction.

The BBC understands that the man had previously been rejected for resettlement, but was brought to the UK after posting names from the data on Facebook and indicating that he could release the rest.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) declined to comment on the actions of the individual but said that "anyone who comes to the UK under any Afghan relocation schemes" must go through "robust security checks in order to gain entry".

The discovery of the breach in 2023 forced the government to covertly set up the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) - a resettlement scheme for those affected, who were not told about the breach despite the risk to their security.

The scheme has already allowed 4,500 Afghans and family members to move to the UK and a further 2,400 people are expected, at an estimated cost of £850m.

The accidental leak was the result of someone working at UK Special Forces headquarters in London inadvertently emailing more than 30,000 resettlement applications to an individual outside of government, thinking that he was sending data on just 150 people.

After the lifting of the super-injunction on Tuesday, a secondary injunction had prevented the revelations about special forces and security services personal being compromised.

But that was also lifted on Thursday that barristers representing both the MoD and a group of media organisations reached a compromise that meant journalists could report the additional facts.

Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament on Tuesday that the breach was a "serious departmental error" and acknowledged that it was "just one of many data losses" relating to the Afghan relocation schemes.

The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, apologised on behalf of the former Conservative government, which was in power when the leak was discovered.

The MoD has refused to say how many people in Afghanistan may have been harmed as a result of the data breach. The Taliban government said on Thursday that it had not arrested or monitored Afghans affected by the leak.

But relatives of Afghans named in the leak told the BBC that they fear for their family still in the country, with one saying efforts by the Taliban to find their named relative intensified following the leak.

An MoD spokesperson said: "It's longstanding policy of successive governments to not comment on special forces.

"We take the security of our personnel very seriously, particularly of those in sensitive positions, and always have appropriate measures in place to protect their security."

Tomorrowland organisers plan to build new stage after fire destroys original

18 July 2025 at 01:48
Fire engulfs main stage of Tomorrowland music festival

Tens of thousands of campers have arrived at Tomorrowland in Belgium, a day after a fire destroyed the festival's main stage.

Festival organisers have insisted that the event in the town of Boom, south of Antwerp, will continue without the stage, adding that they are "focused on finding solutions".

Nobody was injured in Wednesday evening's blaze and experts are working to determine a cause.

The electronic dance music festival is due to start on Friday, with 400,000 people expected to attend over two weekends.

Hundreds of artists, including David Guetta, Lost Frequencies, Swedish House Mafia and Charlotte De Witte are expected to perform.

The local fire service has declared the site safe and a decision will now be made about whether to demolish the structure before the festival begins on Friday.

The campsite, known as DreamVille, has opened and so far organisers say this weekend's event will continue.

In its latest post on Instagram on Thursday, Tomorrowland said: "It is impossible to put into words what we're feeling."

It added that the Orbyz main stage "wasn't just a stage... it was was living breathing world."

Organisers said they had worked through the night to come up with solutions. A meeting was held with safety experts and members of local government on Thursday morning to discuss a contingency plan.

The mayor of Rumst, just north of Boom, told local media that another meeting discussing more ideas for an alternative to the main stage would be discussed in the afternoon.

"Cancelling the festival completely is the last thing we want to do," Jurgen Callaerts said.

There are 14 other stages at the festival, all much smaller than the main stage.

Getty Images The Tomorrowland main stage after the fire which broke out on Wednesday eveningGetty Images

The fire started around 18:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Videos posted on social media showed thick grey smoke engulfing the stage.

Some residents were evacuated as firefighters worked to stop the flames from reaching neighbouring homes and woodland.

One employee who had been working on the site described "an apocalyptic scene" as the fire broke out.

"We suddenly heard bangs and saw fire near the stage, a huge amount of fire," the unnamed individual told Het Nieuwsblad newspaper.

"We were just putting the finishing touches on it. One more day and it would be finished. Four weeks of work... gone in half an hour."

Tomorrowland began in 2005 and has become the biggest electronic dance festival in the world, attracting music fans from every continent.

In the Trump Administration, Watchdogs Are Watching Their Backs

18 July 2025 at 03:48
The president has fired or demoted over 20 inspectors general since he took office. Employees say they are demoralized and reluctant to pursue investigations that could prompt political blowback.

© Zach Gibson/Bloomberg

Mark Greenblatt, the former inspector general for the Interior Department, was fired by President Trump in January.

F.D.A. Approves Juul Vapes After Yearslong Delay

18 July 2025 at 03:18
The company was accused of marketing its products to teenagers, causing a surge in use.

© Bryan Anselm for The New York Times

Though concerns about the health effects of e-cigarettes are mounting, they are still widely seen as safer than cigarettes.

怎么不骂“监督你妈,滚”了?

18 July 2025 at 02:05
最近的舆论场,天水幼儿园的事情还没下文,大连工业大学李同学的热度下降,大同环卫工找儿童手表已经没人再提,黄杨钿甜天价耳环有了“定论”,宗庆后的塌坟正如火如荼。 在这些话题的缝隙里,河南平顶山鲁山县“715万元建牛郎织女雕塑”事件,显得那么微不足道。 然而我却非常想说说。 其实,这已经是两年前的旧闻了,但现在又翻出了浪花。 2023年8月,鲁山县花费715万,赶在七夕节前,建造了一个牛郎织女雕塑。 但,715万,却只建了一个丑玩意,网友发 …

欠薪、擦边、违约金,困在“团播”里的年轻人

18 July 2025 at 02:02
一边是渴望改变现状、获得更高收入的年轻人;另一边是以快速迭代为核心的团播系统,依靠不断更新的“面孔”维持新鲜感、热度和流水。**** ** 文丨**新京报记者 李聪 实习生 罗丽娟**** 编辑 丨陈晓舒 校对 丨李立军 **********►本文6206**************字 阅读10分钟 晚上11点,直播间的灯光依然刺眼。 有人打赏了10个小心心,价值1元,点播一支舞。橘子和另外四名女孩随即跟着音乐扭动。屏幕里,人的脸庞被滤 …
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