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The Bayeux Tapestry, a British Masterpiece, Returns to England After 900 Years

The embroidered work, depicting the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, is a loan from France. For the first time, it will be on exhibit in London.

© Kamil Zihnioglu/Associated Press

The Bayeux Tapestry, a large embroidery that chronicles the Norman Conquest of England, on display in Bayeux, France. It will be shown at the British Museum in London from September 2026 to July 2027.

Trump and Netanyahu meet for a second time amid Gaza ceasefire talks

Watch: The BBC asks about the Trump administration's vision for Gaza

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday evening for the second time in as many days to discuss the ongoing war in Gaza.

The meeting came after Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff suggested Israel and Hamas had one remaining issue to agree on for a 60-day ceasefire deal.

Netanyahu arrived at the White House shortly after 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT) on Tuesday for the meeting, which was not open to members of the press.

Earlier on Tuesday, Netanyahu met with vice-president JD Vance. He also met with Trump for several hours during a dinner at the White House on Monday.

It marks Netanyahu's third state visit to the US since Trump's second term.

The meeting of the two leaders lasted around two hours.

Netanyahu also met with the Republican House of Representative Speaker Mike Johnson.

After that meeting, the Israeli Prime Minister said he did not believe Israel's military campaign in Gaza was done, but that negotiators are "certainly working" on a ceasefire.

"We still have to finish the job in Gaza, release all our hostages, eliminate and destroy Hamas' military and government capabilities," Netanyahu said.

Witkoff later said that Israel and Hamas were closing the gap on issues that previously prevented them from reaching a deal, and that he hoped a temporary, 60-day ceasefire will be agreed on this week.

"We had four issues and now we're down to one", Witkoff said of the sticking points in negotiations.

He added that the draft deal would also include the release of 10 hostages who are alive, and the bodies of nine who are deceased.

Before the Israeli Prime Minister's meeting with Trump on Monday, a Qatari delegation arrived at the White House and spoke with officials for several hours, Axios reported, citing a source with knowledge of the talks.

Trump told reporters on Monday evening that ceasefire talks are "going very well". But Qatar, which has played a mediator role in negotiations, said on Tuesday morning that more time was needed for negotiations.

"I don't think that I can give any timeline at the moment, but I can say right now that we will need time for this," Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari said.

Before discussions resumed on Tuesday, a Palestinian source familiar with the talks told the BBC they have not made any headway.

The latest round of negotiations between Hamas and Israel began on Sunday.

The ongoing Gaza war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 57,500 in Gaza according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Gemma Collins weight-loss drug advert banned

Getty Images Gemma Collins stands in a kitchen holding a cup of tea and smilingGetty Images

An Instagram post by TV personality Gemma Collins which advertised a weight-loss drug and app has been banned.

The star posted: "I'm starting this year two sizes down, thanks to Yazen's weight loss app and medication".

It is illegal to advertise prescription-only weight loss drugs and Ms Collins' was one of nine adverts banned in a crackdown by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Ms Collins told the ASA's investigation she accepted her posts had promoted the Yazen weight-loss service and app and she would follow guidance in future.

Yazen is a Swedish digital healthcare brand that offers users a doctor-supervised weight-loss programme combining prescription medications with lifestyle coaching.

Ms Collins posted a video advert for the brand to her Instagram on 6 January this year.

In the now-banned advert, Ms Collins describes how Yazen has helped her and stated: "I'm not telling anyone to go on this medication, but it is prescribed on the NHS."

Although the advert didn't name a specific weight-loss medication, the ASA said it made references that breached its code.

The ASA said it sought advice from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which expressed concern that consumers were likely to be led to request a prescription weight-loss medication.

Therefore, the advert was deemed as promoting those medications to the public, breaching ASA rules.

The eight other adverts banned for promoting prescription only weight-loss medications to the public were:

  • A paid-for Meta ad for CheqUp Health, which stated "Take the first step to sustainable weight loss with CheqUp".
  • A paid-for Meta ad for HealthExpress.co.uk, which included an image of a partially visible injection pen and code breaching text
  • A paid-for Google search ad for Juniper UK, which stated "GLP-1 Weekly Weight Loss Injection" and featured an image of an injection pen.
  • A paid-for Google search ad for Phlo Clinic, including text that stated, "Get 35% off Weight Loss Order Weight Loss Treatments Online".
  • A paid-for Google ad for SemaPen, which stated "SemaPen Makes Weight Loss Easier."
  • A paid-for Meta ad for Cloud Pharmacy featuring texts messages between two friends discussing new weight-loss medications you can order online.
  • A paid-for Google search ad for pharmacyonline.co.uk, which featured text stating "Obesity Treatment Jab" and an image of a box containing a vial of liquid.
  • A paid-for Google search ad for Phlo Clinic, seen on 2 December 2024, which included text that stated "Weight loss Injections".

The ASA has ruled that none of these adverts can appear again in their current form.

After Diddy: Why hip-hop is still struggling to have its own 'MeToo' moment

BBC A treated image showing Sean 'Diddy' Combs in black and white as he performs on stage, with smoke coming across the image BBC

One day in 2010, Sean "Diddy" Combs was in the kitchen of his Beverly Hills estate with his assistant Capricorn Clark. "Let me show you something," he said, summoning his girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, into the room.

Turning to her, he issued a string of commands: "Sit down, stand up, turn around, walk over there, hand me that. Now go back." His girlfriend obeyed his every word.

"Did you see that?" said Combs to his assistant. "You won't do that. That's why you don't have a man like me."

This account, shared by Ms Clark (also known as Cassie) in her testimony during Combs' recent eight-week trial, gave a glimpse into his dynamic with his partner - and a sense of what was happening behind closed doors.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images Sean "Diddy" Combs attending a gala with Cassie. Both wear formal black outfits and look serious
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Ms Ventura's lawyer said that by coming forward, she had "brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit"

Ms Ventura, an R&B singer who was previously signed to his record label, testified that throughout their long-term relationship, Combs – who was 17 years her senior – beat her, blackmailed her and coerced her into drug-fuelled sex sessions with escorts. He had, she continued, controlled her life.

Central to the trial was the claim that Combs, 55, a multimillionaire music mogul once credited with bringing rap into the mainstream, forced his partners to engage in elaborate sexual performances, known as "freak-offs", that he directed, often filmed and arranged with the help of his staff.

Last week, he was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He was acquitted on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

After the verdict was announced, Ms Ventura's lawyer, Doug Wigdor, said that by coming forward, she had "brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion".

But now, campaigners, survivors of sexual violence and insiders within the music industry are asking: Why did it take so long to hold Combs accountable?

And, in light of Hollywood's MeToo movement that uncovered and helped root out sexual harassment and abuse in the film industry, and which began nearly a decade ago - is it now time that the music industry, or more specifically, hip-hop, had a MeToo movement of its own?

'A playbook that shields predators'

Cristalle Bowen is a rapper from Chicago who was part of an all-female trio called RapperChicks. "The Diddy trial only highlights what many of us already know," she says, referring to the struggle to hold powerful people to account.

In 2022 she wrote a book about misogyny in the industry. The tagline is: Navigating Hip-Hop and Relationships in a Culture of Misogyny. "Being the token women on labels and in crews leaves you susceptible to, at the very least, name calling," she claims. "At the most… you've been abused in some way.

"When there is money involved, it becomes tricky. From hush money to stalled careers to the way we all see survivors treated… It's a difficult task."

Campaigners and industry insiders who spoke to the BBC say that sexual abuse and harassment exists across all genres in the music business, not only hip-hop. They point to a culture of silence, where they claim that predators are protected and victims risk being blacklisted, sued or fired.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Sean "Diddy" Combs holding up a drink in celebration
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Combs' label, Bad Boy Records, was praised for creating jobs and making hip-hop more mainstream. He's said to be worth around $400m (£293m)

Caroline Heldman, an academic and activist, agrees. She is co-founder of the US-based Sound Off Coalition, which advocates for the elimination of sexual violence in music, and argues that there is a history of using "threats to push out women artists who are targets of abuse by men".

"The music industry has followed a playbook for dealing with sexual abuse that shields predators, including musicians, producers, managers, executives, and other behind-the-scenes players, from liability," she claims.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) – legal contracts that stop people from sharing certain agreed-upon private information – are used legitimately in the industry, for example to help protect commercial secrets. But some argue that these are being misused and can contribute to a culture of silence in cases of abuse.

"[It] makes for a very difficult decision for a lot of victims," says Arick Fudali, a New York-based lawyer. One of his clients is Dawn Richard, a singer who testified against Combs at the federal trial and has an ongoing lawsuit against him.

"I've had clients who have declined that and chosen to file their lawsuit publicly," he adds. "They can receive less money than if they had just settled privately and confidentially."

Ms Bowen argues that she has seen this happen first-hand. "Moguls write the cheques and artists need the cheques - there's usually no checks and balances when mogul money is involved."

But, there may be other reasons for not speaking out.

And in hip-hop specifically, some survivors of abuse and experts we spoke to argue that this culture of silence is exacerbated by the combined forces of racism and misogyny, and a desire to fiercely protect a genre that has created rare avenues to stardom and financial success.

A mouthpiece for liberation and resistance

Originating in the African-American and Latino communities of New York City in the 1970s, hip-hop became a mouthpiece for liberation and resistance against the authorities and social injustice.

"Hip-hop allowed young black people to tell their own stories on their own terms, it gave that generation a voice," explains Mark Anthony Neal, professor of African-American studies at Duke University, particularly when popular culture was offering a limited portrayal of black America.

It's now the most commercially successful music genre in the US, leading in album sales and streaming numbers. "Rappers are the new rock stars," says Thomas Hobbs, a writer and co-host of a hip-hop podcast, Exit the 36 Chambers. "They're the people now most likely to fill arenas."

WATCH: Video shared with BBC - Sean "Diddy" Combs holds pool parties at his Miami mansion

As an artist and businessman who ran an empire that encompassed fashion, alcohol and TV as well as his label, Bad Boy Records, Combs - who has an estimated net worth of about $400m (£293m) - has been championed not only for helping hip-hop become commercially viable but for creating jobs and opportunities, particularly for black men.

Throughout his career he has been vocal about "black excellence" – platforming achievements – as well as highlighting struggles within the black community.

This was something his legal defence raised in court, saying: "Sean Combs has become something that is very, very hard to be. Very hard to be. He is a self-made, successful, black entrepreneur."

Outside court during his trial, fans erupted in cheers after he was acquitted of the more serious charges and onlookers debated aloud whether he had been unfairly targeted. "Of course he was. He's a powerful black man," one said.

For weeks, others had been wearing and selling "Free Puff" T-shirts, after Combs' 90s stage name, next to a speaker blaring out his music.

Bryan Bedder/CP/Getty Images Sean "Diddy" Combs at a white partyBryan Bedder/CP/Getty Images
Combs, 55, a multimillionaire music mogul, was credited with bringing rap into the mainstream and hosted 'White Parties'

Sociologist Katheryn Russell-Brown has described a phenomenon she calls "black protectionism".

"Those who have managed to obtain large-scale prosperity, in spite of legal, political, economic, educational and social barriers, are given the status of racial pioneers," she wrote in her book, Protecting Our Own: Race, Crime, and African Americans, which was inspired by the OJ Simpson case.

"It is, therefore, predictable that black people as a group are suspicious when criminal charges are brought against members of its elite, protected class."

Black women in particular carry the fear that speaking out could reinforce harmful stereotypes about their community, argues Treva Lindsey, a professor in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at Ohio State University who researches misogyny in hip-hop.

"When we portray hip-hop as uniquely sexist, or sexually violent, or harmful, that has repercussions for black people of all genders," she says.

The start of a reckoning?

And yet across the entertainment industry more broadly, a retrospective focus is slowly happening now, in part because of shifts in attitudes.

Recent changes to law in some US states have also enabled people to take action over alleged historic misconduct.

New York and California passed laws in 2022 called the Adult Survivors Act that for one-year only allowed people to file sexual abuse claims, regardless of when the alleged incidents took place.

Ms Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, accusing him of physical and sexual abuse. It was settled the following day, and Combs denied the claims.

Reuters Casandra "Cassie" Ventura cries on the stand in this courtroom sketch.Reuters
When Cassie Ventura filed her lawsuit, she faced online abuse and criticism from some within the hip-hop world
Reuters Sean "Diddy" Combs and his defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo in this courtroom sketch
Reuters
Combs faces more than 60 civil cases from men and women accusing him of drugging or assault. He denies all allegations

He now faces more than 60 civil cases from men and women accusing him of drugging or assault, spanning his entire three-decade career.

In a statement, Combs' team has said: "No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won't change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone - man or woman, adult or minor."

He is, however, one of several hip-hop titans of the 90s and 00s to have been accused in a relatively recent wave of allegations.

Music executive and producer Antonio LA Reid, who worked with artists including Usher, Kanye West (now known as Ye) and Rihanna, was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in 2023. He denies all claims against him.

Meanwhile, Russell Simmons, co-founder of hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, has faced allegations of violent sexual behaviour by more than 20 women since 2017, all of which he has denied.

Getty Images Close up of Russell Simmons Getty Images
Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam, has been accused of sexual violence by more than 20 women since 2017. He denies all allegations

Drew Dixon, who is former vice president of Artists and Repertoire (A&R) at Arista Records, is among them. She has claimed she was abused by both Mr Simmons and Mr Reid when she worked in the music industry in the 1990s and 2000s.

She told The New York Times: "You're not just going up against the person who assaulted you," she said. "You are going against everyone who benefits from their brand and revenue stream.

"Those forces will mobilise against any accuser. It's daunting."

Backlash after speaking out

Sil Lai Abrams, who is a writer and gender violence activist, began working as an executive assistant at the Def Jam music label in 1992. She is one of the women who accused Mr Simmons of sexual assault. He has denied all allegations.

"It's harder for women of colour to speak out against abuse in the music industry," she argues - something that she believes still applies today. "[Women have] been conditioned to see abuse of power and sexual harassment as the price one pays to work in the industry."

Then there is the question of the response from the public if people do speak out. When Ms Ventura first filed her lawsuit against Combs, she faced widespread abuse. Memes on social media accused her of being a gold-digger. Some in the hip-hop industry criticised her too.

Mark Mainz/Getty Images Sean "Diddy" Combs in a suit and sunglasses, with a cigar in his mouth 
Mark Mainz/Getty Images
Combs still awaits sentencing following his recent trial

"Quit trying to expose people for money," US rapper Slim Thug said in a video shared with his two million followers on Instagram in 2023.

Only when CNN broadcast security camera footage dating back to 2016 which showed Combs grabbing, dragging and kicking Ms Ventura in the hallway of a hotel did the sentiment towards her change.

Slim Thug publicly apologised for his comments.

Combs responded in a video statement posted on Instagram, saying: "My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility… I'm committed to be a better man each and every day… I'm truly sorry."

"Before the video of Combs beating her came out and people couldn't deny the evidence, people said Cassie was a liar," says Dr Nikki Lane, assistant professor in Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies at Duke University.

Getty Images Megan Thee Stallion wearing white stole pictured from behind on a red carpetGetty Images
Rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who was shot in the foot in 2020, pictured at the Met Gala

Yet Dr Lane argues that more still needs to change. "Black women's bodies are constantly traded upon within the culture of hip-hop as tropes to be ridiculed".

Dr Lane points to the example of rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who was shot in the foot in 2020.

Fellow rapper Tory Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the assault, but after the incident, the artist Drake was criticised for lyrics in his 2022 song Circo Loco - "This b- lie 'bout gettin' shots, but she still a stallion" - which seemed to refer to the incident.

'Some people look the other way'

There remains the question of what happens to the art – and indeed the music – when an idol is convicted of serious crimes.

R&B singer R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2022 for sex trafficking, racketeering and sexually abusing women and children, but years later, his music remains popular. It generated about 780 million audio streams in the US since January 2019. On Spotify, he has around 5.2 million monthly listeners.

"There are still people [who] defend R Kelly," says Mr Hobbs. "I won't be surprised if Diddy's streams, just like R Kelly's, stay high."

"There's a kind of cognitive dissonance" from fans, he argues. "These songs become so embedded in people's lives that they find it very difficult to get rid of them… [they're] part of people's DNA.

"So, I think some people are able to look the other way."

Reuters Diddy wears sunglasses, necklaces and a black top with wide collarsReuters
The Combs verdict in itself is unlikely to lead to wider changes, according to Prof Lindsey

The bigger question, perhaps, is how should the industry react? After the MeToo movement began in 2017, at least 200 prominent men accused of sexual harassment lost their jobs, and changes were made to workplace policies.

However, the Combs verdict in itself is unlikely to lead to wider changes, according to Prof Lindsey. "I think what happens in this moment is Diddy, kind of like R Kelly in the R&B black music pantheon, is seen as exceptional… and not indicative of something else," she says.

"There isn't a cultural reset where we look inward and ask: 'How does this happen?'"

But that is exactly what is missing, argue some others in the industry, including Ms Abrams. "What is lacking is a political environment against which survivors can count on to change the material conditions that allowed someone like Combs to act with impunity," she says.

Following MeToo in Hollywood, certain changes were introduced, including making intimacy coordinators more of a standard practice when filming sex scenes. Some music insiders now hope that migrates over to music video sets.

The Sound Off Coalition is calling for new company rules that require people in positions of power in music to report accusations of sexual assault.

Tangible measures are what matter, argues Dr Lane. "The only way for me to believe that there's been a reckoning would be to see changes in laws, policies, and actual business practices of the industry… [Ones] that are not based on how long Diddy goes down for."

For all the latest reaction and analysis on the verdict, you can listen to the Diddy on Trial podcast available on BBC Sounds.

Additional reporting by Florence Freeman and Fiona Macdonald

Top picture credit: Rich Polk/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.

美国农业部称将禁止中国买家购买美国农田

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美国农业部称将禁止中国买家购买美国农田

LINDA QIU
目前有26个州禁止或限制非美国人在其境内购买或投资农业用地。
目前有26个州禁止或限制非美国人在其境内购买或投资农业用地。 Loren Elliott for The New York Times
特朗普政府周二表示,鉴于对国家安全构成的威胁,将设法限制中国和外国购买美国农田。
一个包含七项内容的国家安全计划中,农业部表示将加强对外国持有美国农田情况的公开披露,对虚假申报实施更严厉的惩罚,并与国会和各州合作,禁止外国对手购买农田。
农业部长布鲁克·罗林斯在周二的新闻发布会上表示,美国农业“面临犯罪分子、政治对手和敌对政权的威胁,这些政权将我们的生活方式视为对他们自身生死攸关的严重威胁”。
此举凸显了近年来人们对外国(尤其是中国)拥有美国农田的日益关注。2023年,在一家中国公司试图在北达科他州一个军事基地附近购买农田建造玉米加工厂后,参议院以91票对7票阻止中国企业购买美国农田。2024年,拜登政府提出新规,大大增加了外国企业在具有重要国家安全意义的地点附近购买土地的难度。
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目前有26个州禁止或限制非美国人在其境内购买或投资农业用地。虽然没有联邦法律禁止这种做法,但1978年的一项法律要求外国所有者报告其持有情况——尽管存在批评意见,认为披露要求过于宽松政府的数据收集速度缓慢且容易出错。
在2023年,也就是有最新数据可查的一年,外国人拥有近1800万公顷的农田和森林。这相当于美国所有农业用地的3.5%,但比十年前增加了70%以上。加拿大人拥有的土地最多——约619万公顷,约占三分之一,而中国拥有约10万公顷。
罗林斯在新闻发布会上表示,特朗普政府也在探索如何“收回”现有的外国购买农田。
农业部计划的其他内容包括:确定并重新调整国内关键农资投入(如化肥)的生产;打击食品券等营养援助项目中的欺诈行为;加强农业科研安全;重新评估该部对外支持项目;预防动植物疾病;并帮助私营食品和农业公司保护其业务免受网络攻击。
出席发布会的还有十余名特朗普政府官员和共和党议员。

Linda Qiu是一位专门针对政治人物和公众人物言论进行事实核查的记者。她从事报道和核查公众人物言论已有近十年。

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More than 100 injured as wildfire rages near Marseille

Getty Images A fire currently burning in the hills north of Marseille, in the area of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, is producing thick smoke visible from the Vieux-Port. A large grey smoke cloud can be seen above orange-roofed buildings by the waterside, with small boats in the foreground.Getty Images
Smoke from the fire in the hills north of Marseille was visible from the city's Vieux-Port

A rapidly spreading wildfire has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France's second largest city.

"The marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand," said the city's Mayor Benoît Payan, referring to Marseille's fire and rescue service.

The prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône area, Georges-François Leclerc, urged local residents to remain indoors and said firefighters were "defending" the city.

He said that while the situation was not static, it was "under control".

Marseille Provence airport has been closed for the rest of Tuesday.

Some residents have been advised to stay inside, close shutters and doors, and keep roads clear for emergency services.

The fire, which broke out earlier on Tuesday near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille, is said to have covered about 700 hectares (7 sq km).

Local authorities said the blaze was sparked by a car that caught fire on the motorway, and that it could continue to spread as strong winds are set to blow until late this evening.

"It's very striking - apocalyptic even," Monique Baillard, a resident of the town, told Reuters news agency. She said many of her neighbours had already left.

The local fire service said 168 firefighters had been deployed to fight the blaze, as well as fire engines and helicopters.

Marseille's mayor, Benoit Payan, asked residents to remain "extremely vigilant" and to limit their movements. Locals told French TV of dense traffic jams as people tried to evacuate the city.

Footage posted online showed huge plumes of smoke above Marseille as fire raged in a hilly area to its north.

The Bouches-du-Rhône area has not recorded a single drop of rain since 19 May, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Elsewhere in France, another wildfire that started near Narbonne on Monday remains active, fanned by winds of 60km (38mph) per hour. Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, local officials said.

Wildfires were also reported in other parts of Europe, including Spain's Catalonia region, where more than 18,000 people were ordered to stay at home because of a wildfire in the eastern province of Tarragona.

Emergency units were deployed alongside 300 firefighters as high winds overnight fanned the flames, which have spread across nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land.

Several other parts of Spain - which experienced its hottest June on record - were on high alert for wildfires.

In Greece, some 41 wildfires broke out across the country on Monday. Of those, 34 were contained early while seven remained active into Monday evening, according to the fire service.

Much of western and southern Europe was hit by a scorching early summer heatwave, sparking fires that saw thousands evacuated from their homes.

Jota's car was probably speeding before fatal crash, Spanish police say

EPA/Shutterstock A Spanish worker wearing fluorescent yellow stands at the scene of the crash in Spain where Diogo Jota was killedEPA/Shutterstock
Tyre marks were analysed some distance from where the Lamborghini's tyre blew out

All the evidence so far suggests Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was driving when his car crashed on a Spanish motorway, and he was likely speeding, say police.

The 28-year-old Liverpool player was killed with his brother André Silva, 25, when their Lamborghini car had a suspected tyre blowout in northwestern Zamora province early last Thursday.

Spain's Guardia Civil police force said at the time the car had apparently been overtaking on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria when it left the road and burst into flames.

"Everything also points to a possible excessive speed beyond the speed limit of the road [highway]," said Zamora's local traffic police.

Police said they had studied the marks left by one of the Lamborghini's tyres and that "all the tests carried out so far indicate that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota".

The expert report is being prepared for the courts on the accident, and their investigation is understood to have been made more complex by the intensity of the fire that almost completely destroyed the car.

The accident happened 11 days after Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. The couple had three children.

The brothers had been heading to the Spanish port of Santander so Jota could return to Liverpool for pre-season training.

Their funeral took place in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto at the weekend.

Tyre marks were reportedly visible about 100m (330ft) from the moment of impact.

Although there had been suggestions that the asphalt on the road was uneven where the crash took place, police told Spanish media it was not an accident "black spot" and the road should have been driveable beyond the speed limit of 120km/h (75mph).

King and Macron toast 'ever closer' UK-France ties at state banquet

EPA King Charles and President Macron of FranceEPA
King Charles will be hosting President Macron in Windsor during the state visit

King Charles III will say the UK and France must stand together in the face of a "multitude of complex threats", when he speaks at a state banquet for French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron and his wife Brigitte will be welcomed by the King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they arrive for a three-day state visit.

The state banquet will be a highlight of the trip, with famous faces, a showcase menu and a message from the King about the "shared history and culture between our two peoples".

This is the first state visit by the leader of an EU country since Brexit and the King will emphasise the need to work together on issues from military threats to climate change.

"For centuries our citizens have admired each other, amused each other, and imitated each other," the King will say at Tuesday evening's banquet, which will be held at Windsor Castle, as Buckingham Palace is being renovated.

He will warn of modern threats "emanating from multiple directions" and challenges that "know no borders" from which "no fortress can protect us".

"Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world," the state banquet speech will say.

A state visit is a "soft power" opportunity to strengthen partnerships, with the French visit set to reinforce links with the UK in trade, diplomacy and defence, at a time of uncertainty about the US stance on issues such as military backing for Ukraine.

A UK-France summit at Downing Street on Thursday, hosted by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is also likely to discuss ways of stopping illegal migration on small boats across the Channel.

The start of the visit on Tuesday will see ceremonial spectacles, with senior members of the Royal Family ready to greet the French visitors and to celebrate the "entente cordiale", in the first French state visit since 2008.

Prince William and Catherine will greet the French president and his wife when their plane touches down at RAF Northolt, with King Charles and Queen Camilla then welcoming them at Windsor.

There will be horses, as well as political horse-trading, with a carriage procession through Windsor, ahead of a royal salute and military parade at Windsor Castle.

On Wednesday, Macron will see a horse that he gave to the late Queen Elizabeth II, to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

The French president and his wife are also set to visit the tomb of the late Queen, during their stay in Windsor.

The UK government has spoken of wanting to "re-set" post-Brexit relations with European neighbours and Macron's visit will be a public endorsement of the longstanding alliance with France.

MPs and peers will be able to hear Macron when he gives a speech to the Houses of Parliament.

Advances in science will highlighted during the visit, with examples of artificial intelligence and innovative technology being shown to the French visitors at Imperial College London.

King Charles and Queen Camilla carried out a state visit to France in 2023, where he received a standing ovation for his speech to the French Senate.

He had given a strongly worded message of support for Ukraine after Russia's "horrifying" invasion. The King had also highlighted the "existential challenge" of climate change.

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Ex-Bangladesh leader authorised deadly crackdown, leaked audio suggests

AFP Students clash with the police during a protest in Dhaka on July 18, 2024AFP

A deadly crackdown on student-led protests in Bangladesh last year was authorised by then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, according to audio of one of her phone calls verified by BBC Eye.

In the audio, which was leaked online in March, Hasina says she authorised her security forces to "use lethal weapons" against protesters and that "wherever they find [them], they will shoot".

Prosecutors in Bangladesh plan to use the recording as crucial evidence against Hasina, who is being tried in absentia at a special tribunal for crimes against humanity.

Up to 1,400 people died in last summer's unrest, according to UN investigators. Hasina, who fled to India, and her party reject all charges against her.

A spokesperson for her Awami League party denied the tape showed any "unlawful intention" of "disproportionate response".

Listen: Sheikh Hasina's leaked phone call recording

The leaked audio of Hasina's conversation with an unidentified senior government official is the most significant evidence yet that she gave direct authorisation to shoot anti-government protesters, tens of thousands of whom had taken to the streets by last summer.

The protests began against civil service job quotas for relatives of those who fought in the 1971 war of independence and escalated into a mass movement that ousted Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years. It the worst violence Bangladesh had seen since the 1971 war.

Some of the bloodiest scenes occurred on 5 August, the day Hasina fled by helicopter before crowds stormed her residence in Dhaka.

The BBC World Service investigation established previously unreported details about a police massacre of protesters in the capital - including a much higher death toll.

A protester holding a stick faces police lines in Dhaka in July 2024

Hasina was at her residence in Dhaka, known as the Ganabhaban, for the duration of the call which took place on 18 July, a source with knowledge of the leaked audio told the BBC.

It was a crucial moment in the demonstrations. Security officials were responding to public outrage at police killings of protesters captured on video and shared across social media. In the days following the call, military-grade rifles were deployed and used across Dhaka, according to police documents seen by the BBC.

The recording the BBC examined is one of numerous calls involving Sheikh Hasina that were made by the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), a Bangladeshi government body responsible for monitoring communications.

The audio of the call was leaked in early March this year - it's unclear by whom. Since the protests, numerous clips of Hasina's calls have appeared online, many of them unverified.

The leaked 18 July recording was voice matched by the Criminal Investigation Department in the Bangladesh Police with known audio of Sheikh Hasina's voice.

The BBC conducted its own independent verification by sharing the recording with audio forensics experts Earshot, who found no evidence the speech had been edited or manipulated and said it was highly unlikely to have been synthetically generated.

Earshot said the leaked recording was likely to have been taken in a room with the phone call played back on a speaker, due to the presence of distinctive telephonic frequencies and background sounds. Earshot identified Electric Network Frequency (ENF) throughout the recording, a frequency that's often present in audio recordings due to interference between a recording device and mains-powered equipment, an indicator that the audio has not been manipulated.

Earshot also analysed Sheikh Hasina's speech – the rhythm, intonation and breath sounds - and identified consistent noise floor levels, finding no evidence of synthetic artefacts in the audio.

"The recordings are critical for establishing her role, they are clear and have been properly authenticated, and are supported by other evidence," British international human rights barrister Toby Cadman told the BBC. He is advising Bangladesh's International Criminal Tribunal (ICT), the court hearing cases against Hasina and others.

An Awami League spokesperson said: "We cannot confirm whether the tape recording referenced by the BBC is authentic."

Alongside Sheikh Hasina, former government and police officials have been implicated in the killings of protesters. A total of 203 individuals have been indicted by the ICT, of whom 73 are in custody.

BBC Eye analysed and verified hundreds of videos, images and documents detailing police attacks against demonstrators across 36 days.

The investigation found that in one incident on 5 August in Jatrabari, a busy Dhaka neighbourhood, at least 52 people were killed by police, making it one of the worst incidents of police violence in Bangladesh's history. Initial reports at the time suggested 30 dead in Jatrabari on that day.

Outside the UK, watch on YouTube

The BBC investigation uncovered new details about how the massacre started and ended.

Gathering eyewitness footage, CCTV and drone imagery, BBC Eye established that police opened fire indiscriminately on protesters immediately after army personnel, who were separating the police from the protesters, vacated the area.

For more than 30 minutes the police shot at fleeing protesters as they tried to escape down alleyways and on the highway, before the police officers sought shelter in a nearby army camp. At least six police officers were also killed as protesters retaliated hours later, setting fire to the Jatrabari police station.

A spokesperson for the Bangladesh Police told the BBC that 60 police officers had been arrested for their role in the violence in July and August last year.

"There were regrettable incidents in which certain members of the then police force engaged in excessive use of force," said the spokesperson. "Bangladesh Police has launched thorough and impartial investigations."

AFP People gather to see burnt Jatrabari police station as anti-government protestors set fire in Dhaka on August 6, 2024AFP
People gather to see burnt Jatrabari police station after anti-government protesters set fire to it last August

Sheikh Hasina's trial began last month. She has been charged with committing crimes against humanity, including issuing orders that led to mass killings and targeted violence against civilians, as well as incitement, conspiracy and failure to prevent mass murder.

India has so far failed to comply with a Bangladeshi request for her extradition. It is unlikely that Hasina will return to the country for the trial, Mr Cadman said.

The Awami League maintains that its leaders are not liable for the force used against protesters.

"The Awami League categorically denies and rejects claims that some of its senior leaders, including the prime minister herself, were personally responsible for or directed the use of lethal force against crowds," a spokesperson for the party said.

"The decisions made by senior government officials were proportionate in nature, made in good faith and intended to minimise the loss of life."

The party has rejected the findings of United Nations investigators, who said they had found reasonable grounds to believe the actions of Hasina and her government could amount to crimes against humanity.

The BBC approached the Bangladesh army for comment but did not receive a response.

Since Hasina's fall, Bangladesh has been ruled by an interim government led by Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.

His government is preparing for national elections. It's unclear if the Awami League will be allowed to contest the vote.

Jury-free trials recommended to save courts from 'collapse'

Getty Images Sir Brian Leveson wearing a periwig in his former role as Lord Justice Leveson in 2013Getty Images
Sir Brian Leveson, pictured wearing a periwig in his former role as Lord Justice Leveson in 2013, says the current "situation is simply unacceptable"

Thousands of cases that would normally be heard in front of a jury should be decided by judges alone, according to recommendations made by a former senior judge.

Sir Brian Leveson was asked by the Lord Chancellor to come up with a series of proposals to reduce the backlog of cases in the criminal courts.

There are almost 77,000 cases waiting for trial in the Crown Court in England and Wales - meaning some defendants and victims are waiting years for justice.

After reviewing the state of the criminal courts, Sir Brian suggested "fundamental" reforms to "reduce the risk of total system collapse." But some barristers argue juries are essential for fair justice - and scrapping them is wrong.

To fix what he calls a broken system, Sir Brian has suggested having judge-only trials for certain cases such as fraud and bribery.

Another recommendation involves having more out of court resolutions like cautions.

He wants a new division of the Crown Court with two magistrates and a judge to handle less serious offences, and to increase the number of sentence reductions for guilty pleas at the first opportunity offered.

This is all about shortening the process in the hope of cutting the big backlog.

"Our criminal justice system stands at a critical juncture," said Sir Brian who was requested to look into the matter in December last year.

"It is well recognised that justice delayed is justice denied but the record and rising court backlog means victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting months, sometimes years, for cases to come to trial - unable to move on with their lives," he added.

Sir Brian noted the proposed changes are designed "to transform our courts into a system that provides appropriate and fair decision-making."

He continued: "It also takes a proportionate approach to trial processes while maintaining the fundamental right to a fair trial.

"These are not small tweaks but fundamental changes that will seek to make the system fit for the 21st century."

The proposals would mean more cases will be heard in the magistrates' courts, with jury trials reserved for the most serious cases.

Either way, offences with a maximum custodial sentence of two years or less, such as possession of drugs, bike theft and voyeurism, could face lower penalties of 12 months imprisonment or less.

Defendants in cases for offences including assault of an emergency worker, stalking and possessing an indecent photograph of a child would also no longer be able to choose a jury trial.

'Radical change'

Not all lawyers agree with the suggested changes, however.

And in response, Mary Prior KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: "Any fundamental change is going to require the criminal barristers who prosecute and defend in the Crown Court to believe that this is the best way forward.

"As this is such a radical change to the criminal justice system we will be listening to what our members say. There is a lot to digest."

Manisha Knights, Solicitor Advocate with MK Law, said: "Our jury system is central and pivotal to our justice system.

"With juries comes diversity whereas the judiciary still very much lacks it. The right to be tried by one's peers should not be removed or be diluted in any way, shape or form."

But the Magistrates' Association welcomed the review, saying it will speed up justice for thousands.

"Magistrates are ready and willing to support these and other initiatives aimed at reducing the pressure on Crown Courts," said Mark Beattie, national chair of the Magistrates' Association.

"We urge the government to implement Leveson's recommendations as soon as possible. Every day that they aren't in place, is a day when victims, witnesses and defendants have to wait for justice."

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "As Sir Brian rightly identifies, criminal justice in this country runs the risk of "total system collapse" unless we take the radical steps needed to reverse years of decline.

"It cannot be right that in London more than 100 trials listed are for 2029. This is intolerable for victims and all parties who rely on a properly functioning court system to provide closure from what are often traumatic experiences, made worse by persistent delays."

He added: "I welcome this report and look forward to working with partners across government to deliver the bold reforms that are now a necessity, not an option."

Among the recommendations are:

  • A reclassification of certain offences
  • The creation of a new division of the Crown Court with two magistrates and a judge to handle "less serious offences", which would include some theft, burglary, and fraud offences
  • Greater use of out of court resolutions - which would allow the police to deal quickly with lower level, often first time offending - including increased use of cautions and conditional cautions
  • Removal of the right to elect trial in cases where the maximum sentence is two years' imprisonment with reclassification of some offences to "summary only" (meaning they will only be heard in a magistrates' court)
  • The threshold for criminal damage being dealt with as a summary only offence to be increased from £5,000 to £10,000.
  • Maximum sentence reduction increased to 40% for guilty pleas at first opportunity, encouraging quicker case resolution
  • Judge-alone trials introduced either by election on the part of the defendant or for the most complex cases

The review recommended the immediate implementation of key reforms but acknowledged that many of the changes will take time to introduce, and "must be managed carefully to ensure the public is never put at risk".

The government says it will now consider all of Sir Brian's recommendations, and will respond in full ahead of legislation in the autumn.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement: "I have already lifted courts funding to record levels, funding 4,000 more court sitting days than under my predecessors.

"But swifter justice requires bold reform, and that is what I asked Sir Brian Leveson to propose."

She added: "As part of our Plan for Change, I will do whatever it takes to bring down the backlog and deliver swifter justice for victims."

A second review focusing on court efficiency will be published later this year.

More than 100 injured as wildfire rages near Marseille

Getty Images A fire currently burning in the hills north of Marseille, in the area of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, is producing thick smoke visible from the Vieux-Port. A large grey smoke cloud can be seen above orange-roofed buildings by the waterside, with small boats in the foreground.Getty Images
Smoke from the fire in the hills north of Marseille was visible from the city's Vieux-Port

A rapidly spreading wildfire has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France's second largest city.

"The marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand," said the city's Mayor Benoît Payan, referring to Marseille's fire and rescue service.

The prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône area, Georges-François Leclerc, urged local residents to remain indoors and said firefighters were "defending" the city.

He said that while the situation was not static, it was "under control".

Marseille Provence airport has been closed for the rest of Tuesday.

Some residents have been advised to stay inside, close shutters and doors, and keep roads clear for emergency services.

The fire, which broke out earlier on Tuesday near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille, is said to have covered about 700 hectares (7 sq km).

Local authorities said the blaze was sparked by a car that caught fire on the motorway, and that it could continue to spread as strong winds are set to blow until late this evening.

"It's very striking - apocalyptic even," Monique Baillard, a resident of the town, told Reuters news agency. She said many of her neighbours had already left.

The local fire service said 168 firefighters had been deployed to fight the blaze, as well as fire engines and helicopters.

Marseille's mayor, Benoit Payan, asked residents to remain "extremely vigilant" and to limit their movements. Locals told French TV of dense traffic jams as people tried to evacuate the city.

Footage posted online showed huge plumes of smoke above Marseille as fire raged in a hilly area to its north.

The Bouches-du-Rhône area has not recorded a single drop of rain since 19 May, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Elsewhere in France, another wildfire that started near Narbonne on Monday remains active, fanned by winds of 60km (38mph) per hour. Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, local officials said.

Wildfires were also reported in other parts of Europe, including Spain's Catalonia region, where more than 18,000 people were ordered to stay at home because of a wildfire in the eastern province of Tarragona.

Emergency units were deployed alongside 300 firefighters as high winds overnight fanned the flames, which have spread across nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land.

Several other parts of Spain - which experienced its hottest June on record - were on high alert for wildfires.

In Greece, some 41 wildfires broke out across the country on Monday. Of those, 34 were contained early while seven remained active into Monday evening, according to the fire service.

Much of western and southern Europe was hit by a scorching early summer heatwave, sparking fires that saw thousands evacuated from their homes.

Grok, Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot, Shares Antisemitic Posts on X

The artificial intelligence chatbot, which has a dedicated account on X, praised Hitler after fielding a query about a user’s comments on the Texas flood.

© Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Elon Musk has said Grok, a chatbot that was developed by xAI and that has its own account on X, should not adhere to standards of political correctness.

欧洲的困境:全球贸易体系剧变,深陷中美两国夹击

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欧洲的困境:全球贸易体系剧变,深陷中美两国夹击

JEANNA SMIALEK, KEITH BRADSHER
德国汉堡港平板火车上的集装箱,摄于今年4月。欧盟仍向中国出口大量产品,尤其是德国。
德国汉堡港平板火车上的集装箱,摄于今年4月。欧盟仍向中国出口大量产品,尤其是德国。 Sean Gallup/Getty Images
曾几何时,许多人以为美国总统特朗普或许能成为欧洲与中国拉近经济关系的理由。他打算加征的关税几乎没有把美国的长期盟友欧盟与美国霸权的主要挑战者中国区别对待。
情况没有像人们指望的那样发展。
欧盟反而发现自己处于世界两个最大经济体之间的地缘政治夹缝中。
在布鲁塞尔,欧盟官员正试图赶在特朗普对欧盟征收可能会重创欧洲经济的高额全面关税之前,与美国方面敲定一个贸易协议的粗略框架。与此同时,欧盟的政策制定者们正试图敦促中国政府停止支持俄罗斯,停止用大笔的国家资金扶持本国工业,并放慢廉价商品流入欧盟的速度。
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但在全球贸易体系剧烈变动的时刻,欧盟也需要与中国保持相对稳定的关系,它是世界上最重要的制造业超级大国。
欧盟的领导人原定于7月底前往北京参加峰会,但有关计划一直处于变动中。各方对此次会晤的期望很低。虽然中国推动的说法是,特朗普反对多边贸易的做法正在将欧洲推入中国的怀抱,但欧洲对中国做法的不满有增无减。
“欧洲没有中国牌,”美国外交关系委员会欧洲问题研究员莉安娜·菲克斯说。
欧盟委员会副主席卡雅·卡拉斯和中国外交部长王毅上周在布鲁塞尔。
欧盟委员会副主席卡雅·卡拉斯和中国外交部长王毅上周在布鲁塞尔。 Yves Herman/Reuters
上周,中国外交部长王毅在布鲁塞尔与欧盟领导人举行会晤,为峰会做准备时,双方的紧张关系展露无疑。中国称会晤富有成效,否认双方之间存在冲突。欧盟官员则强调了一些挥之不去的痛点,包括贸易失衡。
分歧在刚过去的这个周末变得更加明显。欧盟最近采取行动限制政府采购中国医疗器械,称中国的政府部门一直不公平地对待欧洲企业,有必要创造公平的竞争环境。中国在周日宣布将采取反制措施。
但欧盟仍与中国保持着微妙的互动。这两个经济体之间的联系广泛。欧盟的许多国家仍严重依赖中国提供的工业原材料。欧盟对华出口依然可观,尤其是长期以来与中国保持密切贸易关系的德国。
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然而,就在中国对欧盟的出口激增的时候,欧盟向中国的出口却一直在减少。随着来自快时尚零售商Shein和Temu的廉价产品涌入欧洲市场,政策制定者们已在努力加强对此类进口的限制。欧盟领导人经常抱怨说,中国的国有银行提供给本国制造商的补贴如此之高,以至于欧洲企业无力与之竞争。
欧洲的抱怨并不仅限于贸易领域。欧盟官员对中国在俄乌战争中支持俄罗斯的行为感到愤怒,中国为俄罗斯提供了燃料和其他产品的市场,削弱了欧盟的制裁效力。
俄罗斯导弹袭击了乌克兰斯洛维扬斯克,摄于上个月。欧盟官员对中国在俄乌战争中支持俄罗斯感到愤怒。
俄罗斯导弹袭击了乌克兰斯洛维扬斯克,摄于上个月。欧盟官员对中国在俄乌战争中支持俄罗斯感到愤怒。 David Guttenfelder/The New York Times
欧盟的目标不可能是切断与中国的关系,丹麦外交大臣拉尔斯·勒克·拉斯穆森说。“目标是在更平等的基础上进行接触,把我们的做法变得更具交易性,”他上周五在记者会上说。
随着美国为了缩小贸易逆差、增加政府收入并推动制造业回流而颠覆了全球贸易体系,欧盟发现自己处于孤立的境地。由27个成员国组成的欧盟是世界第三大经济体,其创立初衷是促进跨境贸易,至今它仍是自由贸易的坚定捍卫者。
欧洲要“向世界展示,在基于规则的基础上与众多国家进行自由贸易是可能的”,欧盟委员会主席乌尔苏拉·冯德莱恩上个月在新闻发布会上说。
欧盟已经深化了与瑞士和加拿大等志同道合国家的贸易关系。冯德莱恩暗示,欧盟可能更进一步。欧盟可能会寻求与一个由11个国家组成的贸易集团建立新的合作关系,该集团包括日本、越南以及澳大利亚,但显著排除了美中两国。
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但就在冯德莱恩试图采取攻势的时候,欧盟官员们数月来却始终疲于防守。
究其根源,欧盟在质疑美国和中国的政策时,也深陷两国夹击的撕裂困境。
零售商Shein的包裹在中国广州的一家服装厂等待发货,摄于今年2月。
零售商Shein的包裹在中国广州的一家服装厂等待发货,摄于今年2月。 Gilles Sabrie for The New York Times
无论欧盟与特朗普政府的贸易谈判结果如何,欧盟对美出口关税必将高于年初水平。美国官员已多次表示,目前征收的10%全面关税没有商量的余地。
欧盟官员们也可能为达成协议被迫做出让步,包括承诺对华采取更强硬的立场。
欧盟同意特朗普关于中国一直在采取不公平贸易做法的观点。但鉴于双方在经济上的紧密联系,欧盟的施压力度有限。
中国最近已以极具痛感的现实给欧盟上了一课。
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作为对美国关税的回应,中国对稀土磁铁的出口进行了限制,这种磁铁对生产一系列产品至关重要,从汽车、无人机,到工厂用的机器人以及导弹。
由于中国主导着稀土生产,它能用这种限制重创贸易伙伴。
欧洲的政策制定者们最初曾希望,中国的限制措施主要冲击的是美企。但欧洲的企业在获得中国批准以购买稀土产品时,也面临着长时间的拖延。
拖延不仅是由于中国在处理大量申请时需要解决组织工作的问题,而是似乎与欧盟与中国之间长期存在的一个贸易争端有关。
多年来,中国政府一直将技术转让或共享作为外资企业进入中国市场的准入条件。最近,欧洲的汽车制造商和其他公司发现,它们已远远落后于中国竞争对手,中国企业已引领了电动汽车、太阳能电池板,以及其他技术的发展。
上海汽车工业集团有限公司与大众汽车合资企业在上海的一个汽车存放场,摄于今年4月。
上海汽车工业集团有限公司与大众汽车合资企业在上海的一个汽车存放场,摄于今年4月。 Qilai Shen for The New York Times
鉴于此,欧盟官员正要求中国企业以技术转让作为进入欧洲市场的交换条件。
欧盟还追随美国,限制向中国出口先进制程半导体设备,这种半导体既能军用,也能民用。
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此举引发中国强烈不满。中国商务部部长王文涛要求欧盟取消对中国高技术产品出口的管制,作为恢复稀土产品供货谈判的一部分。
“王文涛部长提出,希望欧方相向而行,采取有效措施,便利、保障和促进高技术产品对华合规贸易,”中国商务部在上个月的一份新闻发布中写道
欧洲官员可能会在本月的北京峰会上继续向中国官员施压,让他们提供更为稳定的稀土供应渠道。
中国欧盟商会主席彦辞(Jens Eskelund)表示,商会也希望此次会议能够聚焦于说服中方官员推动更加透明和可预期的监管制度,并解决外国公司在中国经商日益困难的问题。
但发生有意义的变化,或出现任何能让欧盟与中国拉近关系的可能性并不大。欧盟的态度不乐观。
冯德莱恩上个月在加拿大出席七国集团峰会时发表讲话称,中国采取的是“主导—依赖—胁迫”的循环。

Jeanna Smialek是《纽约时报》布鲁塞尔分社社长。

Keith Bradsher是《纽约时报》北京分社社长,此前曾任上海分社社长、香港分社社长、底特律分社社长,以及华盛顿记者。他在新冠疫情期间常驻中国进行报道。

翻译:纽约时报中文网

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深水财经社|牛约堡“塌房”,怎么官方账号都不见了?

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这个创立仅5年的品牌已在全国155城开出超1800家门店,年销汉堡4700万+个。

作者 | 深水财经社 韩峻   

据福建电视台第一帮帮团7月2日报道,知名汉堡连锁品牌“牛约堡”厦门两家门店后厨卫生状况触目惊心,蟑螂成群爬行,食材裸露存放。

7月2日晚,厦门市市场监督管理局发布情况通报:思明区和湖里区市场监管局立即行动,对“牛约堡”禾祥西店、林后店开展现场检查。

执法人员重点对食品原料储存、加工制作环境等进行检查,对发现的食品安全相关违法行为当场立案。

值得注意的是,这不是牛约堡首次被曝出食品安全问题。此前,该品牌曾因“老鼠遍地跑”等问题被多次曝光。

这个一直再扩张路上“狂飙”的快餐品牌正在脱轨。

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涉事门店是牛约堡厦门林后店,外卖单量超2000单。

记者探访后厨时注意到,满装着牛肉饼的铁桶就敞口放在地面上、面包胚裸露放在烤箱上晾晒,地面上不少蟑螂爬动。

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在门店过道处,记者发现了两箱尚未开封的面包胚。箱体标签显示,这批面包胚生产日期为2025年6月1日,标注“常温保质期10天”,而当日已为6月13日

牛约堡禾祥西路店在多个外卖平台月销量均超1000单,号称“堂食餐厅”,但记者在现场仅注意到一个极小的桌台和两张椅子。

记者在该门店后厨的冰箱中发现,几片火腿与一块牛肉饼竟裸露放置在内,经提醒后,店员才将其装入袋子。

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在操作区,记者发现汉堡烤台及设备表面油污和食物残渣遍布,部分区域污垢已凝结成块。

罐头架上,四五只蟑螂在爬行,甚至装调料的碗中也有一只蟑螂。

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后厨工作人员辩称:“有做消杀,但蟑螂繁殖太快。”

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当你看见一只蟑螂时,说明他已经遍布各个角落了。

CDT 档案卡
标题:深水财经社|牛约堡“塌房”,怎么官方账号都不见了?
作者:深水财经社
发表日期:2025.7.8
来源:微信公众号“深水财经社”
主题归类:食品安全
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

店员解释称有做消杀,但想想这样的卫生环境,已经不是消杀和蟑螂本身繁衍的问题了。

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深扒牛约堡就会发现,这并不是牛约堡第一次被爆出食品卫生问题。

去年8月底9月初,据红星新闻报道,有网友嫌弃配送费太贵,选择自己去一家牛约堡门店取餐,结果在厨房云监控平台看到了老鼠穿行。

同年9月5日,牛约堡通过官方微博承认问题所在,并表示已在改进。

同时表示,将对门店形象进行全面升级。合同即将到期且从未进行过形象升级的老加盟商,在合同到期前,按照其最新版的标准形象进行统一升级。

若未能在合同到期前完成品牌形象升级,牛约堡将依据相关规定采取处罚措施,包括但不限于停业整顿,直至取消后续的免费续签政策。

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牛约堡官方声明

然而不到一年,全面升级的牛约堡蟑螂窝再现,暴露出其整改承诺的空洞。

就在小编查询牛约堡官方账号,看看这次是作何解释的,发现微博已经查询不到牛约堡官方账号,只剩下一个久不经营的非官方账号,微信查询也只有加盟账号。

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目前,在各个社交平台上牛约堡都只有加盟信息。

那在哪可以找到牛约堡呢?在闭塞的巷子里。

此前,居南方都市报记者探访,发现不少牛约堡门店都藏在巷子深处,环境昏暗简陋,与外卖平台的牛约堡形成强烈反差。

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与肮脏后厨形成鲜明反差的,是牛约堡亮眼的商业版图。

这个创立仅5年的品牌已在全国155城开出超1800家门店,年销汉堡4700万+个,俨然成为西式快餐赛道的一匹黑马。

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不仅如此,其单店盈利能力更是惊人,上海大柏树商圈门店日均订单200-400单,月营业额达15-25万元;旺季单日订单峰值近500单,月营收突破27万元。

北京丰味居店月订单量达10742单,营收近30万元,数据碾压传统汉堡店。

创始人王京海在2025年战略会上豪言门店将破2000家,年营业额冲刺16亿。

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看看其频繁爆出的食品安全问题和其门店的地理位置,也不难理解,资本狂飙之下,食品安全是可以被抛诸脑后。

牛约堡事件绝非偶然,而是加盟模式“重扩张、轻管理”的必然恶果。当然,牛约堡的卫生危机绝非孤例。

华莱士门店店长面对卫生质疑直言:“总部每天追业绩,卫生检查应付一下就行。”杨国福麻辣烫曝出“鼠患”后解释为“隔壁装修导致老鼠窜入”,但其在黑猫投诉平台位列2024年餐饮黑榜榜首,6193家加盟店的管理链条已然失控。

食品安全从来不是成本,而是品牌的生命线。然后,部分餐饮品牌已然陷入“整改-重开-再犯”的恶性循环。

大何崛起|虽然我们撞了车,但表扬了自己,还教育了你

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文|大 何

铁路官方终于就K1373列车上小伙子砸窗的事发了个通报。

字有点多,这里放个原文的截图,嫌字小的可以点链接看原文。【CDT编者按:原文此处跳转微信官媒链接,为安全起见已移除】《列车停运乘客砸窗通风,官方通报》

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通报写得挺长,但是内容却是写的一言难尽。

首先,通报轻描淡写地提了事故的起因:

7月2日20时28分许,金温地方铁路公司一货物列车在金华市境内沪昆线东孝站停车不及,侵入下行正线,致我段值乘的K1373次客车机车脱线。

你看,这话说得就很有水平。

“脱线”这个词,听着跟掉了个电线似的,但实际上,这不就是一起火车相撞事故吗?

这才是整个事件的根源和最危险的地方。

如果不是运气好,后果不堪设想,哪还有后面砸窗户这点事儿上热搜的机会。

可通报里呢?

货车为啥没刹住?谁该为这次调度失误负责?后续怎么防止类似事故?

一个字没提。

仿佛这就是天灾,是不可抗力,连句“我们将深刻反思、引以为戒”的客套话都省了。

接着,通报开始表扬自己了。

事发后,我段在车上的添乘干部立即召集列车所有工作人员启动紧急处置,加强全车巡查。

首先按照铁路的说法,在列车出了事故之后,员工们立刻行动了起来。

将各车厢乘务间、厕所、洗脸间、车厢内80余个能够开窗通气的气窗全部打开,进行通风降温,将班组自带的40余瓶矿泉水发给旅客。

后续又紧急协调送来900余罐八宝粥、1300余瓶矿泉水,安排工作人员上车接力式传送给旅客,联系10辆120救护车在东孝站做好了应急准备。

看上去好像做了很多工作,各种统计数据罗列,但是我又有个疑问,最关键的数据,车内乘客有多少人呢?

连3个工作人员、40瓶矿泉水都写得清清楚楚,为什么偏偏不提乘客总数?

CDT 档案卡
标题:大何崛起|虽然我们撞了车,但表扬了自己,还教育了你
作者:大何崛起
发表日期:2025.7.8
来源:微信公众号“大何崛起”
主题归类:词条名
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

没有这个数字,我们怎么知道你准备的这些物资够不够?怎么判断你的应急措施是不是真的到位了?

这种选择性披露信息的方式,很难不让人怀疑是在避重就轻。

然后,通报试图告诉大家“情况并不严重”:

21时20分,车内温度为31度左右,3号车厢一名50多岁女性旅客反映头晕,列车工作人员将其安排在4号乘务间休息。

这话的潜台词就是:你看,温度不算高,大部分人都没事,我们处理得很好,局面完全在控制之中。

但常识告诉我们,在那个像铁皮罐头一样的车厢里,闷了将近三个小时,怎么可能只有一个乘客感到不适?

从现场流出的视频里,连列车员自己都热得满身大汗,衣服湿透。

在那种密闭、缺氧、闷热的环境里,老人、孩子或者有基础病的乘客,随时都可能出现危险。

工作人员采取了措施,但依然有人晕倒,这恰恰说明现有措施根本不够,应该立刻升级方案。可他们不这么认为。

而最让人无法接受的,是他们的“专业研判”:

期间,列车工作人员对车内闷热和旅客耐受情况跟踪研判…..车内虽闷热但没有达到马上开启车门和破窗应急预案的紧急程度。

我就想问问,现在运猪的车,天热了都知道要洒水降温,怎么到了人这儿,满满一车人被当成沙丁鱼罐头闷了三个小时,已经有人晕倒了,居然还“未达到紧急程度”?

他们给出的理由是:车停的地方没站台,车门离地1.5米多,天又黑,怕大家下车出危险。

这个逻辑就更奇怪了。

一方面,你们认为情况还没到需要破窗的程度;

另一方面,你们却在外面准备了10辆救护车。这不矛盾吗?

到底是急还是不急?你们自己先商量好行不行?

到底什么情况才算“紧急”?要等到有人休克、有人死亡才算吗?

你们的“研判”,标准到底是什么?

有没有一个客观的指标?比如车厢里温度多少度、二氧化碳浓度多高,就必须开门?

什么都没有!全凭你们“觉得”。

乘客的感受不重要,乘客的意见不采纳,我不要你觉得,我要我觉得。

这种高高在上的傲慢,简直让人无力吐槽。

而下次遇到还是无法妥善应对,乘客们还是要再次期盼有勇士挺身而出、舍己为人……

只是,这个通告一出,以后就更没有人愿意承担责任了。

但是这个责任到底应该谁来承担呢?

整篇通报看下来,你会发现一个奇特的现象。

明明是你们铁路系统自己的调度失误引发了这场事故,结果在通报里一笔带过。

反倒是把焦点全对准了那个砸窗的乘客,还对他进行了“批评教育”。

通报就像一篇自我表扬稿,絮絮叨叨地讲自己多么辛苦、多么用心良苦,连自己发了40瓶水这种细节都记得一清二楚,

唯独忘了最重要的两个字:道歉。

总结一下这篇通报的核心思想就是:“我没错,都是为你们好。这次砸窗的事,我大人有大量,批评教育一下就算了。”

所以,当这篇通报最后还呼吁大家要听从工作人员安排时,我只说觉得非常好笑。

朋友,你必须要明白一个朴素的道理,对你的人生绝对有好处:

在危险的情况下,无视规则紧急避险正当防卫以人命为本应该是每个人的权力。

哪怕是规则再完善、演练再频繁、措施再精准,你都不能把自己的生命安全寄托在别人遵守规则和不出错误之上,你靠得住的只有自己。

要命的时刻不砸窗,等死了就不用砸了。

所以我觉得当时同一车厢的人,都欠那个砸窗的小伙子一声“谢谢”。

往小了说,他为大家争来了一口救命的新鲜空气;

往大了说,在那个所有人不知所措的时刻,他比谁都更勇敢。

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温克坚|隐者傅国涌开窗归去

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文/温克坚

2025年7月7日早上7点半左右,看到有朋友在某个群里求证傅国涌病逝的消息,大为震惊!我立刻打开傅国涌的朋友圈,看到他前一天晚上还在转发那个破窗自救的视频(只加了简短有力的两字按语:开窗),我心想,或许只是误传!

但很快就看到更多朋友转发的讣告:傅国涌先生今日凌晨突发心脏病去世,享年五十九岁!

世事无常,这些年来很多朋友遽然离世,包括天津的Mr Lee,金华的沈阳,杭州的阮景弘,无锡华春晖,江西葛小智等等,都给我带来极大的心理震荡,而那一年老XIA病逝更是让我长期心理阴郁……没想到,这些年来疏于联系的老友傅国涌,也会以这种让人猝不及防的方式忽然离开!

疫政三年朋友间甚少走动,疫情之后,那种“冷漠”状态似乎变成了一种心理惯性,所以我已经超过5年没有和傅国涌见面。当然,走动不多还有一个原因,我知道疫情后他移居日本,在杭州逗留时间不多。此外,看他朋友圈,除了这些年他专心投入的语文教育,偶尔他也会晒西湖边带孙子的照片,这种含饴弄孙的天伦之乐,对傅国涌来说,太不容易,我觉得“不去打扰”似乎是最好的选择。

我查看和他的微信互动记录,两年多前他发给我的最后几句话是:“真快,我们这一代的时间消磨得差不多了”。“大家都已尽力而为,虽有遗憾,但也坦然。”现在去体悟这些话,其中似乎也隐含着某种直面死亡的乐观心态,我知道,傅国涌多年前已经皈依主,愿上帝怜悯,愿他在天堂喜乐。

不过情绪和记忆涌动,我觉得还是得写一点悼念傅国涌的文字。

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2002年前后,我厌倦了原来的生活轨道,借助于互联网所打开的公共空间,和一些原本不可能有任何交集的朋友有了频繁的互动,而很多北京来杭州游玩的朋友,都会提到杭州有个傅国涌,于是我们设法相约一起聚聚,一来二去,我们就熟悉起来,不定期会聚在一起畅谈一番,傅国涌博闻强记,口才滔滔,听他讲述,颇有画面感,很多朋友都甚为佩服。他夫人曹老师偶尔也会参与小聚,傅国涌和曹老师相识于那个特殊历史时刻,他们走过的那段时光想必非常艰辛……曹老师毕业于北师大,但因为傅国涌的牵连,无法找到一个正经中学的教职,只能在一个聋哑学校谋份工作。在那些动荡飘零的岁月,是她给傅国涌带来一些安定感。

回首往事,有几段记忆特别鲜明。北京江老师夫妇是傅国涌故旧,2003年他们来杭州歇个脚,有一天,我和傅国涌陪他们在西湖边散步,路过一公园,我们就在边上驻足旁听。那个年代,一公园被誉为杭州的“海德公园”,每天都有数十甚至数百人在那里聚集,慷慨激昂纵论天下事。记得那天有位老先生说了一句:“5000年来我们都没享受过人的尊严”!饱经命运风霜的江老师和傅国涌也不禁动容。

CDT 档案卡
标题:温克坚|隐者傅国涌开窗归去
作者:温克坚
发表日期:2025.7.8
来源:微信公众号“新新默存”
主题归类:傅国涌
CDS收藏:公民馆
版权说明:该作品版权归原作者所有。中国数字时代仅对原作进行存档,以对抗中国的网络审查。详细版权说明

还有一次,因为耶稣堂弄的旧居拆迁补偿问题,傅国涌和地方政府对簿公堂,开庭那天我和老费等几个朋友前往围观,庭审完毕之后,我们都觉得当时请的律师言不及义水准欠佳,我说这种案子应该请宁波袁裕来辩护,说话间,袁裕来从走廊另一端走过来,原来他刚结束另一个庭审,我们皆感叹缘分神奇,后来我们一起吃午饭畅聊。

正如丁东/邢小群老师的悼念文章里提到的,20世纪末的傅国涌已经经历了人生的至暗时刻,承受了厄运,在人生际遇上,实际上我们有明显的代差。2003年前后,我内心充斥的是对公共事务的莫名兴奋,而傅国涌却已历经沧海,或许基于对历史更深厚的洞察,他对集体激情有着隔阂,有一份冷淡,甚至有一分警惕。在很多事件中,我可以明显感受到他有意选择保持距离。

比如当时的Chinese Pen,那个年代很多独立写作者纷纷加入,我也是早期活跃成员之一,而傅国涌则是最早的一批成员之一,但无论我怎样劝说,他都不再参与其中活动,而只是选择作为一个沉默会员。吊诡的是,若干年之后,我自己也变成了一个沉默会员,不再参与其中的任何事务。

那些年,我们很习惯参与到集体表达,无论是李慎之先生的仙逝,还是孙志刚事件,不锈钢老鼠事件、李思怡饿死等事件,都有一波波的集体表达,傅国涌关注这些事件,但他往往选择以自己的方式表达,而婉拒集体参与。

傅国涌的这种选择,既基于他理念层面的保留,更主要的是他必须面对现实的生活压力。从那些热点公共事件中退后一步,傅国涌有了时间和空间,通过写作换取一些收入,他曾经告诉过我,每天他都要至少写几千字,否则心理不安。从丁东/邢小群的文章中可以看到,在这个过程中,很多朋友给予了他帮助,他也影响了大量的朋友。

傅国涌第一本有影响力的大作是《金庸传》,这本书因为披露了一些新的信息,引发了金庸的不满,公开指责作者从来没有采访过他。傅国涌认为,金庸的指责毫无道理,首先并非他不愿意采访金庸,而是多次联系未果,其次很多传记作者都不可能采访传主,比如那些历史人物传记。不过据说后来金庸认真看了这本传记,发现对他的评价相当高,因此也就释怀,后来还托人带话给傅国涌表达善意。其实傅国涌自己对这本传记并不满意,觉得假以时日,可以写得更好。不过因为这本书,他卖字为生的通道打开了,此后他笔耕不辍,陆续出版了多本著作,包括《历史深处的误会》《追寻失去的传统》等等。他写林昭,写卢作孚,写49年前那些律师,他的笔端饱含激情,他的历史叙事中价值张力拉满,细心的读者能感受到和现实相关的咏叹调。

傅国涌多年勤奋写作有了回报,那些著作给他带来了公共声誉,在那“公知”依然是一种赞许性称谓的年代,傅国涌也是其中重要的一员,他也可以在很多公开场合发言,他那滔滔不绝的表达能力给他带来了更多拥趸。

但在我眼里,傅国涌后来获得的这些声誉都是辅助性的,他早年的那些选择和担当才是独一无二的。时代浪潮之下,社会多重嬗变,而公共领域则是支离破碎,后来的傅国涌更像是一个隐者,隐身于历史和文化研究,这些当然是他热爱的领域,但其中有多少无奈,或许也不足与人道。前些年傅国涌亲力亲为,给学童办起了文化课堂,在小圈子内声誉鹊起,不少朋友都把小孩托付给他,对我来说,作为教育者的傅国涌已然有点陌生。如今他逝去,我再也没有机会和他交流这些年来他的心路历程了。

不过这些并不重要,有些闪亮的时刻可以对抗时间的侵蚀,犹记得2010年10月中旬,我、老莫和傅国涌一起吃饭,那天他慷慨激昂,言辞滔滔,眼里有光。

2025年7月8日

Jota's car was probably speeding before fatal crash, Spanish police say

EPA/Shutterstock A Spanish worker wearing fluorescent yellow stands at the scene of the crash in Spain where Diogo Jota was killedEPA/Shutterstock
Tyre marks were analysed some distance from where the Lamborghini's tyre blew out

All the evidence so far suggests Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was driving when his car crashed on a Spanish motorway, and he was likely speeding, say police.

The 28-year-old Liverpool player was killed with his brother André Silva, 25, when their Lamborghini car had a suspected tyre blowout in northwestern Zamora province early last Thursday.

Spain's Guardia Civil police force said at the time the car had apparently been overtaking on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria when it left the road and burst into flames.

"Everything also points to a possible excessive speed beyond the speed limit of the road [highway]," said Zamora's local traffic police.

Police said they had studied the marks left by one of the Lamborghini's tyres and that "all the tests carried out so far indicate that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota".

The expert report is being prepared for the courts on the accident, and their investigation is understood to have been made more complex by the intensity of the fire that almost completely destroyed the car.

The accident happened 11 days after Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. The couple had three children.

The brothers had been heading to the Spanish port of Santander so Jota could return to Liverpool for pre-season training.

Their funeral took place in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto at the weekend.

Tyre marks were reportedly visible about 100m (330ft) from the moment of impact.

Although there had been suggestions that the asphalt on the road was uneven where the crash took place, police told Spanish media it was not an accident "black spot" and the road should have been driveable beyond the speed limit of 120km/h (75mph).

Wildfire threatens Marseille as a thousand firefighters defend city

Getty Images A fire currently burning in the hills north of Marseille, in the area of Les Pennes-Mirabeau, is producing thick smoke visible from the Vieux-Port. A large grey smoke cloud can be seen above orange-roofed buildings by the waterside, with small boats in the foreground.Getty Images
Smoke from the fire in the hills north of Marseille was visible from the city's Vieux-Port

A rapidly spreading wildfire has reached the outer edge of Marseille, France's second largest city.

"The marine firefighter battalion is waging guerrilla warfare, hoses in hand," said the city's Mayor Benoît Payan, referring to Marseille's fire and rescue service.

The prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône area, Georges-François Leclerc, urged local residents to remain indoors and said firefighters were "defending" the city.

He said that while the situation was not static, it was "under control".

Marseille Provence airport has been closed for the rest of Tuesday.

Some residents have been advised to stay inside, close shutters and doors, and keep roads clear for emergency services.

The fire, which broke out earlier on Tuesday near Pennes-Mirabeau, north of Marseille, is said to have covered about 700 hectares (7 sq km).

Local authorities said the blaze was sparked by a car that caught fire on the motorway, and that it could continue to spread as strong winds are set to blow until late this evening.

"It's very striking - apocalyptic even," Monique Baillard, a resident of the town, told Reuters news agency. She said many of her neighbours had already left.

The local fire service said 168 firefighters had been deployed to fight the blaze, as well as fire engines and helicopters.

Marseille's mayor, Benoit Payan, asked residents to remain "extremely vigilant" and to limit their movements. Locals told French TV of dense traffic jams as people tried to evacuate the city.

Footage posted online showed huge plumes of smoke above Marseille as fire raged in a hilly area to its north.

The Bouches-du-Rhône area has not recorded a single drop of rain since 19 May, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Elsewhere in France, another wildfire that started near Narbonne on Monday remains active, fanned by winds of 60km (38mph) per hour. Some 2,000 hectares have burnt, local officials said.

Wildfires were also reported in other parts of Europe, including Spain's Catalonia region, where more than 18,000 people were ordered to stay at home because of a wildfire in the eastern province of Tarragona.

Emergency units were deployed alongside 300 firefighters as high winds overnight fanned the flames, which have spread across nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of land.

Several other parts of Spain - which experienced its hottest June on record - were on high alert for wildfires.

In Greece, some 41 wildfires broke out across the country on Monday. Of those, 34 were contained early while seven remained active into Monday evening, according to the fire service.

Much of western and southern Europe was hit by a scorching early summer heatwave, sparking fires that saw thousands evacuated from their homes.

France and UK to stop small boats together, Macron says

PA Media A French rescue boat with crew members in orange uniforms and life jackets escorts a small, overcrowded inflatable boat. The inflatable boat is filled with people wearing life jackets, believed to be migrants, as it moves away from the French coast.PA Media

Downing Street has said it expects to "make good progress" on tackling small boats crossing the Channel during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Britain.

The issue is a key point of discussion during Macron's state visit, and on Tuesday the government said it expects new powers allowing French police to act before boats reach open water to be "operationalised soon".

The prime minister's spokesperson refused to say if a "one in, one out" migrant returns deal would be agreed during the French president's visit.

But the spokesperson said months of negotiations between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Macron were "bearing fruit".

"We continually talk, and remain in constant contact with the French on how our joint action can go further to end the misery that these gangs are inflicting across our borders," the spokesperson added.

The prime minister is pressing to make a "one in, one out" deal the centrepiece of a new agreement with France.

The arrangement would allow Britain to return migrants who arrive by small boat to France in exchange for accepting asylum seekers with a family connection in the UK.

The purpose would be to demonstrate to those considering the perilous crossing that they could plausibly end up straight back in France, in the hope that this would deter them.

But any such exchanges would have to happen in large enough numbers to become an effective deterrent.

Getting a deal of this sort would be a big breakthrough as it would be the first clear sign of French willingness to take back migrants who have crossed the Channel.

But the optimism on the UK side of a deal being agreed this week is heavily qualified.

Downing Street is in separate talks with the European Commission to overcome opposition to the deal from a group of five Mediterranean countries who have complained they may be forced to accept people deported from the UK.

Sir Keir has also been pushing for France to revise its rules to allow police to intervene when boats are in shallow water, rather than requiring them still to be on land.

Last week the BBC witnessed French officers use a knife to puncture an inflatable boat after it had launched in an apparent change of tactics.

Asked about the tactics, a Downing Street spokesman said: "The French are now looking to bring in important new tactics to stop boats that are in the water, and we're expecting that to be operationalised soon.

"We are the first government to have secured agreement from the French to review their maritime tactics so their border enforcement teams can intervene in shallow waters.

"This is operationally and legally complex, but we're working closely with the French."

Since coming to power in July last year, Labour has announced a series of measures to tackle people-smuggling, including a new criminal offence of endangering the lives of others at sea.

Legislation going through Parliament sets out plans to use counter-terror powers against people smugglers - with suspects facing travel bans, social-media blackouts and phone restrictions.

But the latest figures show 2025 has already set a new record for small boat arrivals in the first six months of the year, since the data was first collected in 2018.

Between January and June nearly 20,000 people arrived in the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats - up 48% compared to the same period over 2024.

The UK has repeatedly pushed France to tighten patrols along its northern coast. Since 2018 the UK has pledged more than £700m to France to boost coastal patrols and buy surveillance gear.

The majority of this came from a 2023 deal struck under the previous Conservative government to give France almost £500m over three years to go towards extra officers to help stop migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

Asked whether the UK, as the Conservatives have suggested, should demand a refund, a Downing Street spokesperson said "under this government, we've secured a significant ramping up of the operational capabilities from French law enforcement".

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