Today’s rumours are upside down

Gianluigi Donnarumma would be most people’s pick as the best goalkeeper in the world, playing for the best team in the world (not now, Chelsea fans), the Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. So while the French club’s decision to sign a new goalkeeper – and a very good goalkeeper in Lucas Chevalier from Lille – is an eyebrow-raising one, it simply felt like an expensive exercise in keeping Donnarumma on his toes. Imagine the Mill’s surprise that Donnarumma is now being linked with an exit from PSG … to Manchester United! Just why an elite keeper would want to join a team that finished 15th in the Premier League, is not playing in Europe and has no serious ambition for a league title is beyond comprehension, particularly as the usual answer is money. Donnarumma already earns €12m per year after tax, and United have spent the last couple of years pleading poverty. But L’Équipe seem fairly convinced of the rumours and we are just here to translate.

Borussia Dortmund are light on wingers after Jamie Gittens left for Chelsea and Jadon Sancho has again been mooted as a potential replacement. The Englishman has twice signed for the German club – most recently on loan in January last year – and the 25-year-old could complete a permanent switch with Manchester United asking for just £20m. Any deal would be dependent on Sancho taking a substantial pay cut.

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© Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

Russian glide bombs and missiles struck a Ukrainian prison and a medical facility overnight, killing at least 21 people, officials said Tuesday, as Russia kept up its bombardment of civilian areas despite US President Donald Trump’s threat to soon punish Russia with sanctions and tariffs unless it stops.

Live, rolling coverage of business, economics and financial markets as US Treasury chief Scott Bessent attends negotiations in Sweden

Barclays has reported strong second quarter results this morning, allowing its chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan to announce another £1.4bn in returns for shareholders.

That includes a £1bn share buyback and an interim dividend worth 3p per share.

It came as second quarter profits rose 28% to £2.5bn, beating consensus estimates for £2.2bn, thanks to higher income from its investment bank, as well as hedging investments which are making up for falling interest rates.

The takeover of Tesco Bank proved to be a double edged sword this quarter, contributing to higher income for its UK business, as well as a 22% rise in credit impairment charges and 4% increase in costs.

Economic uncertainty in the US was also partly to blame for the rise in impairments to £469m – which is the money that the banks need to put aside to protect themselves and cover current and future defaults.

Its legal and conduct costs ballooned, rising to £76m from £7m last year, with a hefty chunk arising from a £42m FCA fine for historic failures in its anti-money laundering controls, as revelaed earlier this month.

Barclays is also in the midst of a number of legal battles, including a class action lawsuit in the US over claims that Barclays and its chairman Nigel Higgs defrauded and misled investors over Staley’s relationship with the child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Barclays CEO also sidestepped a number of questions during the media call this morning, including from the Guardian, which asked whether the bank was reviewing any of its banking relationships for exposure to Israeli forces in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which Israeli human rights organisations are now calling a genocide.

The CEO did not answer the question but said:

This is now coming upon two years. We’ve said many times that we feel great sadness for the loss of life, the suffering that’s taking place at an enormous scale, day by day. We wish for it to end, and we will do our best to provide comfort to those who are suffering.

We will consider the decision of the Supreme Court when it comes out. We should note that we are not a party to that case, so I really can’t comment on it any further at this time.

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© Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/EPA

© Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/EPA

© Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/EPA

Airdrops are not enough to avert the humanitarian catastrophe, says the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative

Donald Trump on Monday told Israel to allow “every ounce of food” into Gaza as he acknowledged for the first time that there is “real starvation” in the region.

During a visit to Britain, the US president contradicted Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli prime minister claimed it was a “bold-faced lie” to say Israel was causing hunger in Gaza.

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© Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA

© Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA

© Photograph: Haitham Imad/EPA

Technology secretary Peter Kyle says Reform UK leader’s latest comments demonstrate he is ‘not on the side of children’

One of the main arguments used by Reform UK yesterday to criticise the Online Safety Act highlighted the surge in people signing up with VPN providers. People are using VPNs to bypass age verification restrictions on websites.

In his Sky News interview this morning, Peter Kyle accepted that VPN use was increasing and that people were using VPNs to get round the new rules in the Online Safety Act.

Some people are finding their way round [the legislation]. Very few children will be going actively out there searching for harmful content.

Now, if we can take a step forward, which is 60, 70, 80, maybe even 90% forward when it comes to actually stopping harmful content getting into kids feeds, I’ll bank it. That’s a good day at work.

If you want to overturn the Online Safety Act you are on the side of predators. It is as simple as that.

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© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

The Louisiana Republican weighed in on the discourse shortly after a crazed gunman stormed a Midtown skyscraper before killing a brave NYPD officer and three others Monday.

Arturo Suárez and others deported in Trump’s anti-immigrant crackdown describe dire conditions at Cecot

Arturo Suárez struggles to pinpoint the worst moment of his incarceration inside a prison the warden boasted was “a cemetery of the living dead”.

Was it the day inmates became so exasperated at being beaten by guards that they threatened to hang themselves with their sheets? “The only weapon we had was our own lives,” recalled the Venezuelan former detainee.

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© Photograph: Andrea Hernández Briceño/The Guardian

© Photograph: Andrea Hernández Briceño/The Guardian

© Photograph: Andrea Hernández Briceño/The Guardian

Maxwell's legal team petitions Supreme Court claiming a prior Epstein deal should shield her from prosecution, while a former cellmate shares insights about her composed prison behavior.

Japan’s deployment of kamikaze pilots to bomb US ships in the Pacific during the second world war killed almost 4,000 Japanese and 7,000 American soldiers. This powerful documentary tells the story of these shocking missions

Going by the raw numbers, Japan’s use of kamikaze pilots in the dying days of the second world war was an effective military action. While the country lost almost 4,000 of its men by asking them to fly planes laden with explosives into enemy ships – a task that entailed certain death – the losses on the other side were closer to 7,000. But it was a bewildering act of collective desperation that still has the ability to shock, and tells us a lot about the futility of modern warfare and the power of mass hysteria in times of conflict.

Kamikaze: An Untold History is a documentary by the Japanese public broadcaster NHK that could have been a very powerful film at 60 minutes but is still impactful at an exhaustive hour and a half. It starts with the first suicide pilots who flew in October 1944, as the Americans advanced inexorably across the Pacific towards mainland Japan. The programme is determined to commemorate individuals who perished, beginning with 20-year-old Hirota Yukinobu. There is clear footage of his plane hitting an aircraft carrier and creating a large explosion on deck, having taken a hit to the wing on its descent: we can well imagine the last moments of a young man’s life being filled with fear of failure and perhaps the physical pain of fire in the cockpit, followed by a final split-second of realisation that his mission had been accomplished.

Kamikaze: An Untold History aired on BBC Four and is available on iPlayer.

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© Photograph: PHOTOGRAPHER:/CREDIT LINE:BBC/NHK

© Photograph: PHOTOGRAPHER:/CREDIT LINE:BBC/NHK

© Photograph: PHOTOGRAPHER:/CREDIT LINE:BBC/NHK

Two fortysomething Glaswegians from either side of the tracks form an unlikely friendship in this comic melodrama

They’re an unlikely duo. Jada is a petty criminal who lives hand to mouth in a cramped 60s tower block and can’t remember how many children he has. Dan is a TV producer with a Tesla outside his mansion and who – after five years of trying and six rounds of IVF – is about to meet his first child.

The pair encounter each other outside the sliding doors of Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University hospital, where Dan takes sips of cold air while he comes to terms with the wonder and terror of first-time parenthood and Jada sneaks a quick fag. Dan examines Jada’s vigilant eyes and seasonally inappropriate sportswear; Jada clocks Dan’s Rolex and works out how quickly he could take him in a fight. They bump into each other again in the lift a few days later, laying the seeds for a relationship that will reveal what divides them and what they share, building to a climax of kinship and betrayal.

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© Photograph: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

© Photograph: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

© Photograph: Nicky J Sims/Getty Images

Prince George, now 12, faces royal protocol requiring him to fly separately from Prince William to preserve the line of succession, a tradition that has sparked debate among royal experts.

Pollution incidents reported between 2014 and 2019 were compared against scientific study that used satellite imagery to count slicks

Just 474 out of more than 90,000 oil slicks from ships around the world were reported to authorities over a five-year period, it can be revealed, and barely any resulted in any punishment or sanctions.

The figure, obtained from Lloyd’s List by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations, shows the pollution incidents reported between 2014 and 2019, compared against a scientific study using satellite imagery that counted the number of slicks from ships over the same period.

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© Photograph: Reunion Region Handout/EPA

© Photograph: Reunion Region Handout/EPA

© Photograph: Reunion Region Handout/EPA

Nostalgic reflections about flying as a prestigious luxury with real food served on real plates in decades past are occurring on social media as travel experts weigh in on the experiences.

The dolphin calf was first spotted entangled in the fishing net in mid-June.

The bonding of players through highly personal stories, and access to home comforts, helped power them to Euro 2025 glory

The gold confetti may have been swept away but it will take some time for the dust to settle on the most remarkable of tournaments. England are European champions. Again. Writing a new chapter in the history book of English football. Leah Williamson, the first England captain to lift two major trophies. Michelle Agyemang, the 19-year-old wonderkid. Jess Carter and her remarkable performance amid the most difficult of times. Hannah Hampton, defying the odds to become England’s saviour on penalties, twice. Chloe Kelly almost quitting football in January and becoming a European champion for club and country by the end of July. Lucy Bronze playing with a leg fracture.

Each one of the 23 has a tale to tell. The people are remarkable and their stories are remarkable.

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© Photograph: Karwai Tang/WireImage

© Photograph: Karwai Tang/WireImage

© Photograph: Karwai Tang/WireImage

Dave Brailsford was hailed as a ‘not-so-secret-weapon’ on his return to the Tour de France but an investigation into a staff member has overshadowed the team’s modest successes

As Tadej Pojacar stood on the Champs-Élysées podium, celebrating his fourth victory in the Tour de France, the man who led British cyclists to multiple yellow jerseys and numerous Olympic gold medals had already flown home to Monaco.

Not that long ago, a Dave Brailsford-led success in the Tour de France was almost routine. From 2012 to 2019 when riders from Team Sky, and later Ineos, won seven titles in eight years, Brailsford was at the heart of it all.

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© Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

© Photograph: Tim de Waele/Getty Images

Host country provided a record attendance and a summer spectacle despite a relatively modest football infrastructure

Twelve hours before Euro 2025 reached its crescendo the Uefa executive director of football, Giorgio Marchetti, addressed a hall of delegates in Basel. The morning coffees were still taking hold as officials from clubs, federations and other stakeholders settled down for a forum designed partly to debrief the previous month. There was no mistaking the congratulatory mood and Marchetti was determined to see it last. The tournament would not be “like a butterfly, over in 24 hours”, he said; instead its reverberations would be felt far into a burgeoning sport’s future.

There was certainly little sign of any effects dulling as afterparties swung long into the night following England’s heist against Spain. The overwhelming sense was of euphoria, sprinkled with relief, that host and governing body had pulled off what some viewed as a high‑wire act. Switzerland’s relatively modest football infrastructure, not to mention its muted appreciation of the women’s game, had raised eyebrows but it staged an event that delivered to the last.

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© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

© Photograph: Martin Meissner/AP

After a long, slow buildup, everything is over in a flash. Changing positions doesn’t help, so what’s left?

I am a man in my 60s. When my wife and I have sex, I can keep it up (as it were) for 45 minutes, including about 20 minutes of coitus. All of which I enjoy very much. The problem in recent years is my orgasm. When it arrives, it is a bit of a letdown. It happens extremely quickly and feels like a premature ejaculation, even though it has taken a long time to get there. It makes no difference whether I am on top and in charge of the pace or whether my wife is. How can I make my orgasms more enjoyable?

Certain medications – whether prescription or over-the-counter – can change the nature of one’s orgasm, so consider whether the culprit could be in your medicine cabinet. If this is a possibility, you should consult with the prescribing physician to find out if there might be an alternative. Another element to investigate is whether your hormones might have something to do with it. For example, you might ask a doctor to look at your testosterone levels. Strong orgasms are fuelled partly by sex hormones such as testosterone, and an insufficiency could lead to the symptoms you are experiencing. Finally, I can tell that you are proud of your sexual prowess, but it might be a good idea to relax a bit on the expectations you set for yourself. A person usually has a better orgasm when they are able to let go of performance pressure. Try to focus simply on pleasure.

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© Composite: Guardian Design; Colin Hawkins/Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design; Colin Hawkins/Getty Images

© Composite: Guardian Design; Colin Hawkins/Getty Images

Dear Abby advises a woman who's husbands' kids can't be civil with each other.

• World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin says criticism of officials is unfair

• But Australia coach Joe Schmidt set to avoid official sanction for remarks

World Rugby officials have called for greater respect to be shown towards referees following the furore over the pivotal late call in Saturday’s second Test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions. Alan Gilpin, World Rugby’s chief executive, believes the mental health of match officials needs prioritising and has described the post-game outburst by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt as “disappointing”.

The call by Italian referee Andre Piardi to allow the Lions’ match-clinching late score was criticised by Schmidt, who was unhappy with the decision not to penalise Jac Morgan for a clear-out just prior to Hugo Keenan’s try. A routine post-match review of the officiating remains ongoing but Gilpin says public criticism of match officials is unfair on those at the sharp end.

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© Photograph: Billy Stickland/INPHO/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Billy Stickland/INPHO/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Billy Stickland/INPHO/Shutterstock

Central bank at centre of row after asking elected employee representatives to spend more time doing their day jobs

The England head coach’s laser focus, calm character and human touch have helped to elevate her team to greatness

“Who has got the ability to take us right to the top of Everest? That’s my job, to find that person for the players, they deserve the best.” Those were the words of Sue Campbell, the Football Association’s former head of women’s football, in the summer of 2020 as – alongside the chief executive, Mark Bullingham, and technical director, Kay Cossington – she sought to find a new England head coach to replace Phil Neville, who was to leave his role the following year.

The Lionesses had reached three consecutive major tournament semi-finals, but kept enduring heartbreak and missing out on an elusive final. The FA’s mission was simple: find someone with the knowhow to take the team to the next level. A total of 142 applied for the role, Baroness Campbell said at the time and it was Cossington who first suggested: “There’s this brilliant woman called Sarina Wiegman ... ”

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© Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock

The Lionesses overcame world champions Spain to defend their European title after Hannah Hampton’s saves and Chloe Kelly’s penalty secured glory in Basel

© Getty Images

The Lionesses will parade along The Mall to celebrate their Euro 2025 triumph

© Getty