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Pupils missed 15m hours of school time during UK’s June heatwave, study finds

At least 760,000 children in England and Wales missed lessons as more than 1,700 schools closed or finished early The gruelling heatwave that hit the UK in June caused pupils to miss more than 15m hours of lesson time as soaring temperatures forced hundreds of schools to close, according to a study. The research found that at least 760,000 schoolchildren in England and Wales missed lessons owing to closures during the heatwave – one of five to batter the UK this summer – as temperatures inside some classrooms topped 40C, leaving pupils and staff suffering from heat stress, nausea and headaches. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianMatthew Taylor11 Sept

We must pause risky AI research while we still have the power to do so | Gaby Hinsliff

Warnings of AI’s existential threat to humanity are piling up – it’s time to listen and take them deadly seriously Another day, another horseman of the apocalypse galloping over the horizon. Lately we have heard from so many AI doomers – tech whistleblowers popping up to warn that their work is probably going to kill us – that we’re becoming almost blase about it. Humanity wiped out within a decade? Well, only if another world war or the climate crisis doesn’t get us first. Since it’s never clear whether the tech threat is real, or just a twisted form of hype from an industry that drums up investment by making their products sound more powerful than they really are, most of us settle for trying not to think about it too hard. But something about the AI researcher Jacob Coxon’s very public resignation from the cutting-edge American lab Anthropic, via a post on X arguing that he can’t keep working for companies “gambling with our lives”, has cut through where bigger names have not. Most chillingly, he claimed that colleagues still at Anthropic aren’t staying because they think he’s wrong about the dangers of pursuing self-improving super intelligence – the holy grail of machines that are not just smarter than humans but capable of building their own even more powerful successors, evolving independently of humans – but because they’re afraid of ceding the field to people with fewer scruples. His colleagues, Coxon said, talk routinely about the “endgame” or the “ crunch time ”, meaning that what they do in the next year or two will decide the fate of humanity. Whether that’s true or simply self-aggrandising techbro delusion, what he describes is an industry now practically begging to be saved from itself. Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianGaby Hinsliff11 Sept

Missouri UPS worker two weeks from retirement fatally struck by company vehicle

Paul Roberts, who was employed by UPS for 44 years, was working at a customer care center when he was struck A longtime United Parcel Service (UPS) employee less than two weeks away from retiring was struck and killed by one of the company’s vehicles while he was at work in St Louis, triggering a federal labor investigation along with an intense outpouring of grief from his family and colleagues. Paul Roberts, 63, was on duty at the UPS customer care center in Earth City, Missouri , on the night of 4 September when a company vehicle hit him, authorities said. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRamon Antonio Vargas11 Sept

9/11 families to gather at World Trade Center and Pentagon to remember victims on 25th anniversary – US politics live

Victims of those killed in September 11 attacks honored at memorials across the US Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog. It is the 25th anniversary of 9/11, as Americans come together to remember and commemorate the devastating effects of the attacks, which claimed the lives of 2,977 victims. Donald Trump doubled down on his pledge to pay all US adults $5,000 if Republicans hold on to control of Congress in the midterm elections. He’s one of the few people to actually mention the pledge tonight, as many lawmakers and officials – including his vice-president, JD Vance – avoided mentioning the so-called “dividend” altogether. Trump defended his plan: “We can do that because our country has never done better. We’re taking in trillions, trillions of dollars.” In a shorter address to voters than his nearly two-hour speech on Wednesday, Trump again pleaded with voters to “pretend I’m on the ticket” in November. In an improvised pledge of allegiance to himself, Trump directed the audience to commit to voting in the midterm elections at all costs. The president asked Republicans in the arena to repeat: “I don’t care if I’m registered or not. I’m going to try. And cheat like hell like they do.” Trump also told those gathered in Dallas that they would “go to hell” if they didn’t vote. Earlier, JD Vance urged Republicans who may oppose parts of the Trump administration’s agenda not to abandon the party in November’s congressional races. The vice-president pointed to Charlie Kirk – the conservative activist killed a year ago today – to argue that voters shouldn’t “throw the baby out with the bathwater” over “a policy issue here or there”, an apparent nod to dissent over the Iran war that he avoided naming. Vance’s speech, in many ways, was an audition for a possible 2028 presidential run. He spent much of his time on stage setting out the threats of the so-called “far left”, listing the administration’s greatest hits and slamming Joe Biden’s tenure in office. Meanwhile, dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the arena to protest Trump’s policy agenda. Dallas police said that two people were taken into custody after an alleged assault involving a counter-protester and for blocking a roadway. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianTom Ambrose11 Sept

Crossword editor’s desk: when a theme is literally a theme

EastEnders hides in a Guardian crossword and Guardian crosswords hide in a thriller One way to ensure a novel gets my attention is a foreword that mentions crosswords, specifically the Guardian’s. I admit that this does not happen often, but it has just happened. Tony White’s Phantom at the Feast opens with this claim: Words emboldened in the text of this novel are the solutions to successive Guardian ‘Quick Crosswords’ that appeared through sixty days in 1985 from 3 April to 1 June Am glad you’ve posted this. The ‘created by AI’ comments, often supported by zero evidence, have become quite tedious to read. It’s OK to fail, or just not get into the groove on a particular day, but just accept that’s a you problem. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianAlan Connor11 Sept

Emma Bonino, radical Italian politician who stood up to Vatican, dies aged 78

Militant feminist led campaigns to legalise abortion and divorce and went on to become foreign minister Emma Bonino, the radical Italian politician who led campaigns to legalise abortion and divorce against the objections of the Vatican, has died aged 78. “Today we lose not only our leader but also one of the most clear-sighted, courageous and free figures in the political history of our country,” the small party she founded, More Europe, said on Facebook on Friday. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianGuardian staff and agencies in Rome11 Sept

Our Eyes Looking for God review – exploring the Black British experience in rap, reggae and arias

The Pit, Barbican, London Renell Shaw and TD Moyo’s new opera, with libretto by April Koyejo-Audiger, tells a tragic story of two cousins. Gamba Cole shines as Adjani ‘There’s no ocean big enough to hold these black boys’ tears,” a young man sings. But what about a genre big enough? Our Eyes Looking for God – a show that aims to explore the “Black British experience” – finds a framework for the extravagant, baroque emotions, intensities and stories of its subject matter in opera. In many ways it’s a natural fit – or could be. Created in 2020 by writer, director and activist TD Moyo and award-wining composer Renell Shaw , the piece grows out of Moyo’s personal grief for a brother murdered in south London and the global race rage after George Floyd’s death. Moyo weaves both threads into the story of Liverpool cousins Adjani and Kamal. Adjani’s decision to leave for London sparks a final night of reminiscences, celebrations, farewells and violent tragedy for two boys who – spoiler alert – may already be dead before the action begins. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianAlexandra Coghlan11 Sept

Want Mr Whippy on tap? I put the viral Ninja Creami Scoop and Swirl ice-cream maker to the test

Whether it’s soft serve or sorbet, gelato or fro-yo, the Ninja Creami Scoop and Swirl is a faff-free way of making all your favourite frozen treats • The best ice-cream makers for your home For me, ice-cream isn’t only for summer. It’s my dessert of choice all year round, and a good ice-cream maker ensures it’s always readily available. When I put more than a dozen models through their paces earlier this year, one thing became clear: the most important feature in any machine is ease of use. On that front, the Ninja Creami really scored highly for me. I’ve used the original NC300 model for a few years, and I like its simplicity and that it’s easy to clean. Nowadays, though, we expect our appliances to do a little more – and when it comes to ice-cream, the current craze is soft serve. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianDanielle Amato11 Sept

Raiding the past: Lara Croft relives her first adventure in Legacy of Atlantis

We have a first play of the forthcoming Tomb Raider remake and speak with its developers. Can they improve on the gameplay without losing what made the 1996 original such a classic? We join Lara Croft in St Francis’ Folly – inspired by the Unesco-listed monasteries of Meteora in Greece – as the light shines through the cracked ceiling and a flock of bats glide across the vast ruins below. When Lara leaps down to the monastery’s crumbling pillared courtyard, it becomes clear that these screeching, leathery creatures aren’t just set dressing. As they lurch towards her with unpredictable movements, she dispatches the swarm with a flurry of gun fire and panicked punches. It’s a suitably cinematic reintroduction to our heroine and her very first adventure. Co-developed by longtime Lara custodians Crystal Dynamics and Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the classic 1996 game Tomb Raider, and this familiar cliffside location is now brimming with new life and believable detail. Yet while our reunion gets off to an auspicious start, I have my concerns. It feels like reconnecting with an old friend at the pub, only for them to begin spouting conspiracy theories two pints in. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianTom Regan11 Sept

Raiding the past: Lara Croft relives her first adventure in Legacy of Atlantis

We have a first play of the forthcoming Tomb Raider remake and speak with its developers. Can they improve on the gameplay without losing what made the 1996 original such a classic? We join Lara Croft in St Francis’ Folly – inspired by the Unesco-listed monasteries of Meteora in Greece – as the light shines through the cracked ceiling and a flock of bats glide across the vast ruins below. When Lara leaps down to the monastery’s crumbling pillared courtyard, it becomes clear that these screeching, leathery creatures aren’t just set dressing. As they lurch towards her with unpredictable movements, she dispatches the swarm with a flurry of gun fire and panicked punches. It’s a suitably cinematic reintroduction to our heroine and her very first adventure. Co-developed by longtime Lara custodians Crystal Dynamics and Polish studio Flying Wild Hog, Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the classic 1996 game Tomb Raider, and this familiar cliffside location is now brimming with new life and believable detail. Yet while our reunion gets off to an auspicious start, I have my concerns. It feels like reconnecting with an old friend at the pub, only for them to begin spouting conspiracy theories two pints in. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianTom Regan11 Sept

England v Pakistan: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live

Updates from Friday’s play at Edgbaston, 11am BST start Ashes legal dispute led to lack of 2027 Test in the north A day at the Knight-Stokes Cup | Sign up for The Spin Weather watch The sun is out at Edgbaston and play should start on time. The forecast is pretty good all day, so England should have plenty of time to get the job done and begin their end-of-series celebrations. Lime cordials all round. Day two report Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianRob Smyth (now) and James Wallace (later)11 Sept

Pochettino’s ‘different’ vow to the US invites unwelcome speculation

The US manager’s relationship with the international job has changed with a full World Cup cycle beginning I hope, in this lifetime, you find someone who loves you the way Mauricio Pochettino loves Tottenham Hotspur. The grip Spurs have on his heart seems the stuff of a literary classic: his imperfect partner who called things off at the first sign of trouble must merely check in on him occasionally to rekindle hopes of a reunion. Perhaps a bit extreme, but this week’s revelation – that he’d return to Tottenham even if they were relegated and chalking his absence up to imperfect timing, not the part about handing the club a decade-old title – has implicity laid out the terms of his return as United States manager. Others may always have interest in his services, and a certain North London suitor will never get the door slammed in their face outright. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianJeff Rueter11 Sept

‘Fresh from the roof’: the supermarket growing salad a few metres above the tills

Customers seeking greens at one Berlin outlet are dealing with some very local supply chains indeed Walking into the Felix Thomas REWE supermarket in Lankwitz, Berlin, customers are immediately presented with a choice of greens: romaine, rocket, iceberg. But last month, a new option joined the selection: Lankwitz loose-leaf lettuce. A combination of head lettuce, romaine lettuce, Lollo Rosso, and dark green easy leaf lettuce, its yellow packaging makes it stand out in a row of green. But it’s not just the flashy packaging that makes it distinct. Unlike its neighbouring lettuces, which come from regional farms or all the way from Italy, these greens were grown just a few metres away – or rather, a few metres up. “Frisch Vom REWE Dach” or “Fresh from the REWE roof”, the bags read. Rooftop farms are nothing new: in cities such as Paris , Hong Kong , Copenhagen and New York , similar farms supply food to adjacent food retailers or even restaurants. This model has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (and its associated costs), minimise the urban heat effect, make use of dead space and perhaps even improve the relationship between buyers and their food. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianHannah Docter-Loeb11 Sept

‘Fresh from the roof’: the supermarket growing salad a few metres above the tills

Customers seeking greens at one Berlin outlet are dealing with some very local supply chains indeed Walking into the Felix Thomas REWE supermarket in Lankwitz, Berlin, customers are immediately presented with a choice of greens: romaine, rocket, iceberg. But last month, a new option joined the selection: Lankwitz loose-leaf lettuce. A combination of head lettuce, romaine lettuce, Lollo Rosso, and dark green easy leaf lettuce, its yellow packaging makes it stand out in a row of green. But it’s not just the flashy packaging that makes it distinct. Unlike its neighbouring lettuces, which come from regional farms or all the way from Italy, these greens were grown just a few metres away – or rather, a few metres up. “Frisch Vom REWE Dach” or “Fresh from the REWE roof”, the bags read. Rooftop farms are nothing new: in cities such as Paris , Hong Kong , Copenhagen and New York , similar farms supply food to adjacent food retailers or even restaurants. This model has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation (and its associated costs), minimise the urban heat effect, make use of dead space and perhaps even improve the relationship between buyers and their food. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianHannah Docter-Loeb11 Sept

Springboks v All Blacks a US World Cup preview in Baltimore as thrilling series goes down to the wire

‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ will culminate on US soil on Saturday, a staging post on the road to America hosting the World Cup in 2031 When New Zealand and South Africa kick off at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday, there will be more at stake than victory in “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry”, the four-Test series the Springboks lead 2-1 . For World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, the game is a key staging post on the road to the 2031 World Cup, which the US will host – a journey that could include Six Nations games on American soil . “We’ve been in a long process with venues and cities, over the last two years,” Gilpin said, of the build to World Cup kick-off. “We’ve still got 25-plus cities involved in that process, which is fantastic in terms of engagement and enthusiasm. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianMartin Pengelly11 Sept

‘Just worry upon worry’: Europe faces a bleak winter as supply shock pushes factories to the brink

From Shropshire to Hamburg, depleting reserves and spiralling costs are spawning a continent-wide energy crisis Bridgnorth Aluminium has faced down Brexit, Covid and repeated energy shocks in recent years. But this winter is bringing extra “stress and pressure”, says its head of sales, Adrian Musgrave. Musgrave’s company makes rolled aluminium, used in packaging, construction and the manufacture of items such as cars and batteries. Like many stretched industrial businesses across Europe, Bridgnorth Aluminium faces a looming threat of soaring energy bills, which Musgrave describes as “just worry upon worry”. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianAlex Daniel and Lisa O’Carroll11 Sept

‘Danny Boyle, please make another film about drugs’: Venice film festival’s feedback wall delivers home truths

The written forum allows members of the public to vent their fury at the movies they’ve seen – and the festival organisers In an industry that is reliant on the fickle vagaries of taste, film festivals exist to establish facts. The reason why film-makers still go through the rigmarole of ferrying their cast to the red carpets of Venice, Cannes or Sundance is the need for empirical evidence of unambiguous quality: a solid-gold prize, a top score on the critics’ grid, a record-timed standing ovation that will convince every doubter that this is a great film . Film festivals, in turn, need beautiful A-listers to attract coverage and sponsorship, and hence there is a constant risk that these annual events become gigantic hype machines, in which every turkey is a classic and every half-hearted performance a masterclass. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianPhilip Oltermann in Venice11 Sept

Nottinghamshire face crunch day against Hampshire after rivals’ wins: county cricket, day four – live

Latest updates from around the county grounds Mail Tanya or comment BTL | Sign up for The Spin A heart-warming read and lovely pics from Billy Munday and Tom Jenkins at yesterday’s Knight-Stokes Cup. In a round of staggering collapses, batting sides continued to strap on their roller skates and head to the ice rink. At Grace Road, Leicestershire were rumbled for 145, a 377 run-victory that puts Somerset back on the top of the table, that longed-for first title still in reach. Continue reading...

The GuardianThe GuardianTanya Aldred at Old Trafford11 Sept