-
Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI?
Independent second-hand booksellers are reporting unusually large bulk orders, prompting suspicion that the books are being bought to train artificial intelligence systems rather than for readers. The trend matters because some books may be digitised through “destructive scanning”, where their spines are removed and pages scanned before the remains are recycled. The speculation follows a…
-
Seven killed in Israeli strike on southern Lebanon, country’s PM says
An Israeli air strike on a house near Ansar in southern Lebanon killed seven people, including three children and two women, Lebanese authorities said. The attack is among the deadliest since a June framework intended to reduce hostilities, highlighting the fragility of the agreement and renewed pressure on US-led negotiations. Israel said it targeted Hezbollah…
-
Paul McCartney lets it be! Ex-Beatle lets grass on his 160-acre Sussex estate turn yellow as he respects hosepipe ban
Sir Paul McCartney’s 160-acre East Sussex estate has been pictured with yellowing lawns during a local hosepipe ban, suggesting he is allowing the grass to dry rather than watering it. The contrast with greener grounds at other celebrity homes has drawn attention because parts of the UK have experienced record-breaking heatwaves and water restrictions. McCartney,…
-
Varnish and vanish: Nail bar customer has £85 manicure and pedicure then ‘does a runner’ without paying
A nail salon owner in New Milton, Hampshire, says a customer left without paying after receiving an £85 manicure and pedicure. The incident matters because it has left a small business out of pocket after providing more than two hours of services. The customer reportedly had acrylic nail infills with coloured tips costing £35 and…
-
So much solar: Digging into the list of every US power plant that went online this year
US power-sector data show that 368 utility-scale plants began operating in the first half of 2026, with solar and battery projects dominating both the number of completions and much of the added capacity. The figures matter because they offer a concrete view of current construction trends, even as much larger natural-gas projects have been announced…
-
Women’s U20 World Cup boycott may hurt in short term but can send Fifa a vital message | Tom Garry
The article argues that a boycott of forthcoming women’s youth football tournaments could damage players in the short term but might be necessary to force meaningful reform at Fifa. It says the threat of teams withdrawing from the Women’s Under-20 World Cup, Under-17 World Cup and senior World Cup play-offs gives women’s football unusual leverage…
-
Top Dem operative brushes off latest scandal plaguing Maine Senate candidate as ‘salacious gossip’
Senior Democrats have continued to support Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson after reports that he fathered two children with his second cousin. Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile declined to comment directly, saying she did not know about the report and characterising it as “salacious gossip”. The controversy could complicate Jackson’s Senate campaign in…
-
‘The Odyssey’ reminds us of the nightmare we are leaving for American children
The article uses Christopher Nolan’s portrayal of “The Odyssey” to argue that America’s growing national debt is a burden being imposed on children and future generations. It compares the suitors consuming Odysseus’s estate while Telemachus watches helplessly with present-day political leaders spending money that younger Americans will ultimately have to repay. It frames the debt…