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EU optimistic over approval of €90bn loan for Ukraine following Orbán defeat – Europe live

Brussels correspondent The EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming prime minister Péter Magyar’s government when it takes power next month. In a wide-ranging judgment, the European court of justice said the 2021 law that bans content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV was at odds with a society based on pluralism and fundamental rights such as prohibition of discrimination and freedom of expression. Magyar won a landslide election victory last week after promising to root out corruption and improve living standards, but he has so far been muted on whether he will roll back the anti-LGBTQ+ policies introduced by Viktor Orbán, who was defeated after 16 years in power. He has vowed to “bring home” EU funds intended to help Hungary develop its economy, some of which were frozen over the anti-LGBTQ+ law. A larger part was suspended over risks to academic freedom, breaches of the right to asylum and concerns about corruption and lack of judicial independence. The ruling marks the first time the ECJ has found a member state guilty of breaking EU law based exclusively on breaching the bloc’s fundamental values described in article 2 of its treaty. These include respect for human dignity, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, including those of minorities. As a result, the judgment paves the way for future cases against EU member states that systematically flout basic values on democracy and the rule of law. Hungary passed the so-called child protection law in 2021, imposing restrictions on schools and media companies in depicting LGBTQ+ people. Previously likened to Russia’s notorious “gay propaganda” law, the Hungarian legislation means gay and transgender people or themes cannot feature in school educational material or in any TV show, film or advert shown before 10pm. The court said in a statement that the Hungarian law was “contrary to the very identity of the union as a common legal order in a society in which pluralism prevails”, and that Hungary could not “validly rely on its national identity” as justification for a law that breached fundamental values. It said it expected Hungary to comply without delay and it ordered Budapest to pay its costs and those incurred by the European Commission, which brought the case. The Hungarian government has been contacted for comment.

EU’s top court finds Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law in breach of key values

The EU’s highest court has found Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ+ law to be discriminatory, stigmatising and in breach of basic democratic values, setting up an early test for the incoming prime minister Péter Magyar’s government when it takes power next month. In a wide-ranging judgment, the European court of justice said the 2021 law that bans content about LGBTQ+ people from schools and primetime TV was at odds with a society based on pluralism and fundamental rights such as prohibition of discrimination and freedom of expression. Magyar won a landslide election victory last week after promising to root out corruption and improve living standards, but he has so far been muted on whether he will roll back the anti-LGBTQ+ policies introduced by Viktor Orbán, who was defeated after 16 years in power. He has vowed to “bring home” EU funds intended to help Hungary develop its economy, some of which were frozen over the anti-LGBTQ+ law. A larger part was suspended over risks to academic freedom, breaches of the right to asylum and concerns about corruption and lack of judicial independence. The ruling marks the first time the ECJ has found a member state guilty of breaking EU law based exclusively on breaching the bloc’s fundamental values described in article 2 of its treaty. These include respect for human dignity, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights, including those of minorities. As a result, the judgment paves the way for future cases against EU member states that systematically flout basic values on democracy and the rule of law. Hungary passed the so-called child protection law in 2021, imposing restrictions on schools and media companies in depicting LGBTQ+ people. Previously likened to Russia’s notorious “gay propaganda” law, the Hungarian legislation means gay and transgender people or themes cannot feature in school educational material or in any TV show, film or advert shown before 10pm. The court said in a statement that the Hungarian law was “contrary to the very identity of the union as a common legal order in a society in which pluralism prevails”, and that Hungary could not “validly rely on its national identity” as justification for a law that breached fundamental values. It said it expected Hungary to comply without delay and it ordered Budapest to pay its costs and those incurred by the European Commission, which brought the case. The Hungarian government has been contacted for comment. Tineke Strik, a Dutch Green MEP who oversees the European parliament’s work on the rule of law in Hungary, said it was now up to the incoming Hungarian government to ensure “the full restoration of the rights of this community is front and centre in its plans to reinstate the rule of law. Anything less than that would render those reforms non-credible.” Eszter Polgári, of the Háttér Society in Hungary, described the judgment as “a milestone for protecting human rights in the European Union” and “a historic victory for LGBTQI people in Hungary”. She said: “The [court] was firm: no state can outcast LGBTI people through stigmatising, and if needed, the [ECJ] steps up to protect these values.” Katrin Hugendubel, the deputy director of ILGA Europe, an umbrella organisation of LGBTI rights groups, said: “Hungary cannot enter a post-Orbán era without repealing this legislation, including the Pride ban. If Péter Magyar truly aims to be pro-EU, he must place this at the top of his agenda for his first 100 days in office, as an essential part of his EU-facing reforms.” An unusually large number of 16 EU member states including Austria, France, Germany and Spain, as well as the European parliament, joined the commission’s case against Hungary. These member states, mostly western and northern European states, had previously raised concerns about the anti LGBTQ+ legislation, sometimes in heated debates with Orbán. Rejecting Hungary’s child protection argument, the court said the law “stigmatises and marginalises non-cisgender persons” by associating them with people convicted of paedophilia, an association “to encourage hateful conduct towards them”. It found Hungary in breach of the right to human dignity by treating LGBTQ+ people as a threat to society and enacting discriminatory measures that were “manifest and particularly serious”, and it said the law violated freedom of expression of children and also the general public and service providers wishing to publish adverts or run awareness-raising campaigns. It also found Hungary to have breached EU data protection laws by widening access to criminal records of people deemed to have committed offences against the sexual morality of children.

Sam Neill says New Zealand goldmine supporters have threatened him with violence

The actor Sam Neill says he has received threats of violence from supporters of a controversial goldmine that could be opened several kilometres away from his farm in New Zealand’s Central Otago district, after he publicly objected to the New Zealand government’s plans to fast-track the mine. The Australian mining company Santana Minerals is pushing to expedite a 85-hectare (210-acre) open-cast goldmine, called Bendigo-Ophir, in the Dunstan mountains, an area dubbed “outstanding natural landscape” by the Central Otago district council. Santana has called the mine the country’s most significant gold discovery in 40 years, but it has sparked fierce opposition, including from Neill, who has joined forces with the environmental group Sustainable Tarras. They say the mine could be a fast track to environmental destruction and a threat to tourism in one of New Zealand’s best wine-producing regions. “I stand by those views, and I’m glad I voiced them. What I wasn’t prepared for was the personal abuse I would come in for,” Neill said in a now viral video posted to his Instagram account. Sustainable Tarras confirmed that members of the group had also received threats, some of which have been reported to the police. In March, Neill told the Guardian how he believed “one of the most beautiful and remote places in the world” would be destroyed if Bendigo-Ophir wins fast-track approval. The Bendigo-Ophir goldmine is among hundreds of applications being considered under the coalition government’s controversial fast-track law, which ignited protests in 2024 and nearly 30,000 public submissions on the bill. Speaking to the Guardian, Neill said: “When I started to express misgivings about this mine and the potential damage it could do, I was completely blown away by the toxicity of the opposition that I met.” Some of those personal attacks came from the resources minister Shane Jones, a self-avowed disciple of the Trumpian “drill, baby, drill” mantra, who described Neill in an interview last year with New Zealand’s the Post as “anti-Kiwi”. Environmental disasters from poorly stored waste in tailings dams has long plagued the mining industry. A tailings dam will also be built for Bendigo-Ophir where poisonous waste, including arsenic, will be stored permanently. “Central Otago is flourishing economically right now,” Neill said, referring to the region’s unemployment rate, the lowest in the country. “The last thing we need is a toxic mine upstream. It’s important to remember through all this what will be lost if a mine is allowed, not least being all those jobs, hospitality, viticulture, fruit growing.” Neill has run a pinot noir vineyard in New Zealand’s most southerly wine region for 30 years. He added: “One of the great responsibilities we have in life is we should leave the planet better than we found it.” Responding to Neill, Jones said in an interview by phone: “My focus is on households, opportunity, community growth, export, and jobs. Not unlike the UK, we have regions that have atrophied. Fortunately, a lot of the regions in New Zealand have the potential for mining.” “The scale of mining in New Zealand is minuscule,” Jones claimed. “It’s akin to a beauty spot on the face of an attractive woman. “There is a big difference between standing as a parliamentarian advocating for economic growth, and a Hollywood actor. The world I occupy is the real world. It’s not make believe Hollywood, thespian antics.”

Middle East crisis live: Iran claims it has ‘new cards for battlefield’, and weighs talks in Pakistan

China’s ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, has expressed his “full support” of Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the US and Iran. In a post on X, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said talks between the country’s deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar, who also serves as foreign minister, and Zaidong focused on the “latest regional developments”. “Amb Zaidong conveyed China’s full support for and appreciation of Pakistan’s continued efforts to facilitate engagement between US and Iran for sustained peace and stability in the region and beyond,” the ministry said. During a phone call with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that “normal traffic” through the strait of Hormuz “should be maintained” and, according to state media, said China “advocates for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire”. China is widely seen to have benefited from the US-Israel war on Iran as it has enabled Beijing to boost its diplomatic power and the country’s fossil fuel stockpiles and diversified energy mix insulated it from the worst of the oil shock, as my colleague notes in this analysis piece. The Chinese yuan has also been used by ships that have paid tolls to Iran for safe transit across the strait of Hormuz, according to reports.

US ‘restricts intelligence sharing with South Korea’ after minister identified suspected nuclear site

The US has partly restricted intelligence sharing with South Korea after the country’s unification minister publicly identified a suspected North Korean nuclear site, according to reports in South Korean media. Chung Dong-young told lawmakers in March that North Korea was operating uranium enrichment facilities in Kusong, a north-western area that had not previously been officially confirmed as a nuclear site alongside the known facilities at Yongbyon and Kangson. A senior military official told the state-funded Yonhap news agency on Tuesday that Washington had imposed partial restrictions on sharing satellite-gathered intelligence about North Korean technology since early this month, though surveillance of missile activity continued normally and military readiness remained unaffected. The restrictions followed what South Korean outlets described as multiple protests from US officials, who expressed concern that sensitive information had been disclosed without authorisation. No US agency has confirmed the restrictions on record. The Guardian contacted the US embassy in Seoul for comment. Chung has defended his remarks, saying they were based on publicly available research rather than classified intelligence. He told reporters on Monday it was “deeply regrettable” that his policy explanation had been characterised as an information leak. “This is open information,” Chung said, citing a 2016 report by a US thinktank and South Korean media coverage. He noted he had mentioned Kusong during his confirmation hearing last year without incident. Writing on Facebook, he said he was “bewildered” the issue had suddenly become a problem nine months later. President Lee Jae Myung, whose administration is pursuing a conciliatory approach towards North Korea, backed his minister. Writing on X, Lee said it was a “clear fact” that Kusong’s existence had been widely reported in academic papers and media before Chung’s remarks. “Any claims or actions premised on the assumption that minister Chung leaked classified information provided by the United States are wrong,” Lee wrote from Delhi during a state visit to India. “I must look closely into why such an absurd situation is unfolding.” The restrictions come amid broader tensions in the alliance, according to South Korean media reports. The progressive newspaper Hankyoreh reported that Washington had cited several grievances when notifying Seoul of the measures, including pending legislation that would grant Seoul authority over access to the demilitarised zone, an area currently managed exclusively by the US-led UN command. Conservative opposition politicians have called for Chung’s dismissal, describing his remarks as damaging to the alliance with Washington. In a statement, the People Power party called it a “clear security disaster”. The unification ministry maintains it had sufficiently explained the basis for Chung’s remarks to the US and that no classified information was involved. South Korea’s defence ministry declined to specify details about intelligence sharing arrangements but said close cooperation with the US continued. The 2016 report Chung later cited in his defence, by the Institute for Science and International Security, identified a suspected early centrifuge research facility near Panghyon airbase in the Kusong area but described it as a “preliminary site identification” requiring further confirmation. North Korea is believed to have significantly expanded its nuclear programme in recent years. Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said during a visit to Seoul last week that the agency had confirmed “a rapid increase in the operations” of the Yongbyon reactor. “All that points to a very serious increase in the capabilities of the DPRK in the area of nuclear weapons production, which is estimated at a few dozen warheads,” Grossi told reporters.

JD Vance to lead US delegation in Pakistan if Iran agrees to talks

JD Vance is expected to fly to Islamabad at the head of a US diplomatic delegation on Tuesday if Iran agrees to further talks in the Pakistani capital as the deadline for the current ceasefire looms. The US vice-president will travel with Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law – though Iran’s president warned there remained a “deep historical mistrust” of the US. Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was concerned about “unconstructive and contradictory signals from American officials” and concluded they amounted to an effort to seek the country’s surrender. “Iranians do not submit to force,” he said. However, one senior Iranian official told the Reuters news agency that Tehran was “positively reviewing” its participation, amid reports that its delegation would again be headed by parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf if Vance attends. Ghalibaf said later that Iran would not accept negotiations with the US while under threat, adding in the post on X early on Tuesday that “we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield”. He also accused Trump of seeking to “turn this negotiating table – in his own imagination – into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering.” Tehran called for an end to the US blockade of the strait of Hormuz, while Trump repeated a demand that Iran should never be allowed to build a nuclear weapon and even said he would be willing to meet Iranian leaders himself. Earlier, the US president had confused the situation by telling the New York Post that Vance and his team were “heading over now” and he expected them to be arriving in Islamabad that evening. That was quickly corrected by US officials who said while there had been a discussion about Vance leaving on Monday, the vice-president was in fact expected to depart on Tuesday morning if the talks were taking place. A second round of high-stakes discussions to end a war begun by US and Israeli bombing at the end of February could – if they go ahead – take place on Wednesday, with the threat of renewed outbreak of fighting in the background. Trump said he now considers the two-week ceasefire with Iran ends “Wednesday evening Washington time”, extending the pause for an extra 24 hours to allow the critical meeting in Islamabad to take place. In an interview with Bloomberg, he added it was “highly unlikely that I’d extend it” further and indicating bombing could restart shortly after – though in the same conversation the president also insisted that “I’m not going to be rushed into making a bad deal. We’ve got all the time in the world.” Vance led the US team during 21 hours of failed discussions with Iran earlier in the month, which collapsed after Iran would not agree to US demands to end nuclear enrichment and hand over its 440kg of highly enriched uranium. The Iranians had said there remained a deficit of trust with the US, and wanted assurances they would not be attacked again if a final agreement was reached. Though Iran was intensively bombed during the five-week US-Israel joint campaign, Tehran’s leadership does not believe it has been defeated. Pakistan has been preparing for possible negotiations since Sunday, setting up a security lockdown and suspending public transport in the capital. Islamabad’s electricity board also promised that power cuts would be suspended in the city while negotiations continue. Power cuts lasting six to seven hours a day have become typical in cities across Pakistan as the country grapples with oil and gas shortages caused by the double closure of the strait of Hormuz by Iran and the US. Trump had imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Iran’s decision to charge tolls on merchant shipping crossing the strategic waterway, and on Sunday the US military seized an Iranian-flagged container ship trying to cross, raising concerns an escalation of hostilities would prevent peace talks resuming. US central command said the Touska had been seized after its crew had ignored six hours of warnings. Its engines were disabled by fire from a US destroyer and it was then captured by marines from the USS Tripoli, arriving by helicopter and roping down on to the merchant vessel. Though Iran had briefly lifted its own blockade on Friday, it reimposed it again on Saturday because the US would not lift its counter-blockade. One tanker in the region was attacked by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Saturday and a second container ship was struck by an unknown projectile. Commercial shipping was once again at a near standstill in the strait. Three tankers made the crossing on Monday – after 18 ships had transited on Saturday – and the price of Brent crude oil was up by $5 to more than $95 on Monday, reflecting the renewed maritime danger. Israel and Lebanon are due to hold a second round of ambassador level talks in Washington on Thursday, the US state department said, the first discussions between the two countries since a 10-day ceasefire in the theatre was announced last week. Israel also told residents of southern Lebanon to stay out of a zone of territory next to the border, and warned people not to approach the area of the Litani River, as it sought to consolidate its military grip on the area while the ceasefire is ongoing. A map posted by the country’s military on social media marked a red line through 21 villages across the south, covering an area 5km to 10km from the border.

Tuesday briefing: What it might take for lasting peace between the US and Iran

Good morning. The Gulf is stuck in limbo between war and peace. Despite a ceasefire deal between the US and Iran, both sides have ramped up threats once again. A lasting end to the violence feels possible, but so does a renewed round of fighting – and more death, destruction and economic pain. JD Vance, the US vice-president, is expected to fly to Pakistan today if Iran agrees to further talks on ending the conflict. Tehran has given mixed signals about whether they will attend and, at time of writing, it remainds unclear. Meanwhile, time is ticking away on the current two-week ceasefire, which runs out in less than 48 hours. For today’s First Edition, I spoke with Patrick Wintour, the Guardian’s diplomatic editor, to understand if a permanent peace is possible – or whether it is time to brace for a new escalation in the conflict. Five big stories Iran war | JD Vance was expected to fly to Islamabad at the head of a US diplomatic delegation on Tuesday if Iran agrees to further talks in the Pakistani capital as the deadline for the current ceasefire looms. UK politics | Keir Starmer has accused Olly Robbins of deliberately and repeatedly obstructing the truth about the Peter Mandelson vetting scandal before a high-jeopardy appearance of the sacked top official before MPs on Tuesday. Health | Changes to microbes that live in the gut can identify people at greater risk of Parkinson’s disease long before symptoms develop, according to work that also raises hopes for new therapies. Economy | A quarter of a million people could lose their jobs by the middle of next year as Britain “flirts with recession”, analysis suggests, after business confidence was shattered by the US-Israel war on Iran. Technology | Apple announced on Monday that it had named a replacement for Tim Cook as CEO after nearly 15 years, with head of hardware engineering John Ternus succeeding him on 1 September. Cook will stay at the company in the role of executive chair. In depth: ‘People really need to focus on how dangerous this situation is’ The ceasefire between the US and Iran expires tomorrow. Each country appears to think they have the upper hand, which is fuelling mutual intransigence. Donald Trump has, once again, threatened to destroy civilian infrastructure in Iran if Tehran does not accept US demands to give up its nuclear programme and reopen the strait of Hormuz. The American military will wipe out “every single power plant” and “every single bridge” unless they back down, Trump says, despite many experts warning such an attack would be a war crime. To declare victory, Trump needs a deal that is better than the 2015 nuclear deal reached under Barack Obama, Patrick Wintour tells me. (The same deal that the US, under Donald Trump, exited in 2018.) On the Iranian side, there is a deep mistrust of American claims of a desire for peace. The US has launched attacks during previous negotiations, and Tehran is bracing for more this time. On Monday, Esmail Baghaei, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said the US demands were “unserious”. “Iran thinks it’s winning,” says Patrick. “They’ve realised, and proven, that the strait of Hormuz is, geographically, an incredible asset to have because it has seized up so much of the world economy. And the Iranians can’t stop looking at the price of oil – they love it when it’s over $100 a barrel. The war has shown that they can survive so far.” Early on Tuesday, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is expected to head the Iranian delegation if talks take place, said his country would not attend negotiations while under threat – and warned they were “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield”. If there is a change in the Iranian stance, Pakistan has been preparing since Sunday to host both sides again. The world will be watching. *** The two big talking points Patrick says two main issues need to be unlocked in talks, and they are unlikely to be resolved in a single round of negotiations. “The first is the longstanding nuclear dispute: what happens to Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium? And will Iran retain the right to enrich uranium on its own soil?” he says. “There’s a debate over how long there should be a suspension of that – mainly whether it would be for five years, or more like 20.” The majority of Iran’s enrichment facilities have been destroyed by the US and Israel, but Iran is still believed to possess around 440kg of uranium enriched to about 60%. America would like Iran to hand it over as part of any deal, either to Washington DC or an agreed third party such as Russia, says Patrick. “The second relates to the consequences of this war. What to do about the strait of Hormuz? Should there be a long-term procedure whereby any ship that passes through would have to pay a toll or seek permission from Iran?” he says. But, as all recent American presidents have found, reaching a lasting agreement with the Iranian regime is not an easy task. *** ‘The scale of what could happen is immense’ A false sense of security has developed around the conflict. Bellicose discourse has quickly become normal – and stock markets still appear relaxed about the state of the conflict. However, there are still major risks to a future escalation, says Patrick. “I find the American rhetoric repulsive. But it’s also quite dangerous, because it’s so apocalyptic and so repeated that you [might not] take it seriously. The US has the power to cause immense destruction, as they’ve shown. There are targets that they haven’t yet hit, including power stations, electricity stations and bridges that are largely intact. If they do attack, the Iranians will bomb desalination plants in the Gulf, which these states are really dependent. Within a matter of days, you could find countries literally running out of water,” he says. “The scale of what could happen is so immense and daunting that people really need to focus on how dangerous this situation is.” The spectre of a global hunger crisis is lurking, too. There are a growing number of warnings about the consequences to the ongoing collapse in fertiliser supplies for the Gulf, which could result in major food shortages around the world. *** ‘It’s all quite doable’ A lasting peace is possible, says Patrick. Allowing Iran to have a civilian nuclear programme in the future and rewarding de-escalation with economic development could become a virtuous circle as sanctions are lifted and the Iranian economy grows, he says. But it can only be achieved through dialogue. “The way Trump has conducted his relations with Iran has been very much influenced by what the Israelis said was possible, including regime change. Now that’s been proven not to work, he needs to go back to the slightly less dramatic but more important path of developing better relations with Iran, and changing them through contact and trade rather than confrontation,” Patrick explains. “I think it’s all quite doable. Iranian politicians would respond to that. Because there’s been so much against Iran, the hardliners are now in charge. That can be reversed if western policy is also reversed.” What else we’ve been reading Victoria Turk unpacks a recent attempt to catfish her with a job offer, and helpfully explains the recruitment scams to look out for. Martin I never miss The pet I’ll never forget our series. This week’s, about Benny the cat, is a heart-warmer. Patrick Philip Oltermann reviews an intriguing documentary about Peter Sichel – the so-called “Jewish James Bond” – in which, from beyond the grave, the CIA spymaster castigates US foreign policy. Martin The photographer Petra Collins is refreshingly candid about her need to make images the way we all need to breathe air, her difficult childhood and how her poor eyesight affects her work. Martin I really enjoyed Amy Fleming’s interview with the psychiatrist Amir Levine, an expert on types of attachment, about how we can all have healthier, happier relationships. Patrick Sport Football | A 0-0 draw between Crystal Palace and West Ham at Selhurst Park leaves Wolves with no way back and Tottenham two points adrift of safety. Snooker | Stan Moody blew his chance to become the first teenager to win a match at the World Snooker Championship since 2005 as he fell to a 10-7 defeat to the 2024 champion, Kyren Wilson. Rugby | State of Origin coaches Billy Slater and Laurie Daley have backed the NRL’s pursuit of a stake in the Super League. The front pages “Starmer on collision course with Robbins over Mandelson vetting” is the Guardian’s take on events. The Mail says “It’s everyone’s fault but his” and the Times has “PM ‘forced Foreign Office to approve Mandelson job’”. “They chose not to tell me” – that’s the Mirror while the Telegraph splashes on “I know many MPs will find these facts to be incredible”. Similarly the Express has “For once you are actually right PM … ‘It beggars belief!’” and the i paper picks up the same theme “Starmer: I know my story sounds ‘incredible’”. The Metro joins in: “Incredible? Yes, prime minister”. The Financial Times says “Starmer claims officials deliberately kept him in the dark over Mandelson”. Today in Focus Starmer addresses the Mandelson vetting saga Jonathan Freedland on what Keir Starmer said – and didn’t say – to the House of Commons about the Mandelson vetting failure. Cartoon of the day | Ben Jennings The Upside A bit of good news to remind you that the world’s not all bad Coventry City is returning to the Premier League after 25 years. The Sky Blues fell three divisions during that time and were forced to play “home” games at Northampton and Birmingham as a protracted stadium ownership saga almost killed the club. Jonny Weeks used to go regularly in the 1990s, and says: “I didn’t truly appreciate how lucky I was to be present for those salad days, and to be there with my dad.” His father’s hobby of collecting footballers’ autographs – a collection “so vast and so impressive, it belongs in a museum” – was something they bonded over. “Whatever happens next season, at least I can live off those precious memories we made together in the 90s – they’re more valuable to me than any autograph.” Sign up here for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday Bored at work? And finally, the Guardian’s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword Wordiply

Israeli soldiers using sexual assault to force Palestinians out of West Bank, report says

Israeli soldiers and settlers are using gendered violence and sexual assault and harassment to force Palestinians from their homes in the occupied West Bank, human rights and legal experts say. Palestinian women, men and children have reported attacks, forced nudity, invasive and painful body cavity searches, Israelis exposing their genitals, including to minors, and threats of sexual violence. Sixteen cases of conflict-related sexual violence were recorded by researchers for the West Bank Protection Consortium over the last three years, a figure that is likely an under-reporting because of the shame and stigma faced by survivors. “Sexualised violence is used to pressure communities, shape decisions about remaining or leaving their homes and land, and alter patterns of daily life,” the group of international humanitarian organisations said in a report. The study, “Sexual violence and forcible transfer in the West Bank”, details accounts of escalating sexualised attacks and humiliation of Palestinians in their communities and inside their homes since 2023. Other forms of reported violence include urinating on Palestinians, taking and distributing humiliating photographs of bound and stripped individuals, stalking women who are using latrines, and threatening sexual violence against women. The case studies are anonymised because of the stigma surrounding sexual violence. Sexualised attacks were hastening the displacement of Palestinians, according to the report. More than two-thirds of households surveyed identified rising violence against women and children, including sexual harassment targeting girls, as a tipping point in their decision to leave, the consortium said. “Participants described sexualised harassment as the moment when fear shifted from chronic to unbearable. They spoke of watching women and girls endure humiliation and of calculating what might happen next,” the report said. Israeli soldiers present during abuse had repeatedly failed to prevent it or prosecute those responsible. One woman was subjected to a painful internal search by two female soldiers who entered her home with settlers then ordered her to remove her clothes for a full body search. “She described being instructed to open her legs in a way that caused pain, and she described derogatory comments and touching of intimate areas,” the report said. Men and boys were also targets of sexual assault and harassment. Last month, Israeli settlers stripped 29-year old Qusai Abu al-Kebash, from the northern Jordan valley community of Khirbet Humsa, put a zip tie on his genitals and beat him in front of his community and international activists, witnesses said. In October 2023 settlers and soldiers stripped, handcuffed and beat Palestinians from the village of Wadi as-Seeq, urinated on them, attempted to rape one with a broom handle, and took photographs of them naked which they then distributed publicly. Sexual violence and harassment had severe impacts even when communities were not displaced, and women and girls were particularly badly affected. To limit the chance of coming into contact with Israelis who might assault or harass them, girls had quit school and women had stopped working. It had also led to a rise in early marriage, as parents desperate to protect their daughters sought ways to move them away from the threats. At least six families interviewed for the report arranged weddings for girls aged between 15 and 17. The Ramallah-based Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) has also documented the use of sexualised violence and harassment of Palestinian women and girls to fragment and displace communities. The WCLAC said women in the occupied West Bank had reported sexual assault, including forced penetration during searches, and abuse, including Israeli soldiers exposing themselves to girls at checkpoints and molesting them during searches. Humiliation had included the mocking of girls who were menstruating, she said. “Girls aren’t going to schools, and you see early, forced marriages. These are minors, but we know their mothers and fathers are trying to protect them by sending them out of the area,” said Kifaya Khraim, the advocacy unit manager at WCLAC. “Women lose their jobs because they can’t get to work because of the sexual violence and then deciding to stay at home.” Khraim said she believed her team knew about only a fraction of the cases of sexualised violence by Israeli soldiers and settlers. “This is maybe 1% of the cases, and we had to do a lot of research in local communities just to earn the trust for people to tell us about these cases.” Milena Ansari, the head of the occupied Palestinian territory department at Physicians for Human Rights – Israel, said the rise in sexualised violence and harassment in the occupied West Bank was happening amid a broader culture of impunity for attacks on Palestinians. A recent decision to drop charges against soldiers for the filmed rape of an inmate at the Sde Teiman centre sent a particularly clear message. “Israeli officials are effectively green-lighting the use of sexual violence, when they decide not to prosecute the most high-profile case, which is extremely well documented,” Ansari said. “There is a culture of accepting sexualised assault against Palestinians. “There was a discussion in the Knesset about whether or not it is OK to rape a Palestinian. Even the prime minister didn’t say that Israel opposes raping detainees.” Israel’s failure to prosecute settlers who attacked Palestinians in the West Bank led to the country’s former prime minister, Ehud Olmert, calling for the international criminal court to intervene to save Palestinians from “Jewish terrorists”, in an interview with the Guardian. The report on sexualised violence as a tool of forced displacement drew on 83 interviews with Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank, including those facing settler violence and movement restrictions. Participants included people at risk, those already forced to flee their homes, women, youth activists and community leaders. The findings are not meant to be a statistically representative sample of the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces did not respond to questions about allegations of sexual abuse by soldiers. • Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 802 9999. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html