Google

Project Hail Mary is one of the most talked about upcoming blockbusters for next year, but there’s another gripping science fiction thriller you should check out first

Science fiction fans can stream this critically acclaimed blockbuster right now ahead of the new Ryan Gosling-led thriller, Project Hail Mary.

The upcoming space epic will be hitting cinemas next March and a recent trailer has teased a high-octane thrill ride beyond the solar system.

Starring Gosling as school science teacher Ryland Grace, he’s plunged headfirst into a dangerous outer space mission to protect the Earth from catastrophe – but can he save his own life in the process?

Helmed by the genius directors behind 21 Jump Street and Into the Spider-Verse, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this jaw-dropping adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel is guaranteed to be a must-watch cinematic experience.

Sci-fi readers will already be well-acquainted with Weir as the author of the equally gripping novel The Martian, which was adapted into a major film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon back in 2015.

10 years later, this nail-biting space survival thriller remains one of the most beloved sci-fi films of the century so far – and fans can stream it right now.

Whether you’ve already experienced this riveting space adventure or it’s somehow passed you by, make sure you stream The Martian on Disney+ at some point before March to get yourself well-prepared for Project Hail Mary.

One five-star Google review calls it: “An Absolute Masterpiece of Sci-Fi Cinema.”

They went on: “Adapted from Andy Weir’s equally captivating novel, this film takes you on an exhilarating journey to the red planet, Mars.

“From the very first scene to the closing credits, The Martian is a thrilling and suspenseful rollercoaster of human ingenuity, resilience, and survival.

“Matt Damon’s portrayal of Mark Watney, an astronaut stranded on Mars, is brilliant. His charismatic and witty performance keeps you engaged throughout the film.”

Someone else raved: “What makes The Martian so rewatchable is its tone. It’s intense when it needs to be, but never loses that touch of optimism and wit that makes it so enjoyable.

Grab Disney Plus’ £1.99 membership right now

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

£4.99

£1.99

DISNEY

GET DEAL

Disney Plus is offering its membership for £1.99 a month for the next four months. You can enjoy classic Disney shows, Marvel and much more.

“The soundtrack fits perfectly, the pacing keeps you engaged, and the visuals of Mars are stunning without ever feeling overwhelming.

“It’s a film that makes space feel both terrifying and oddly comforting, a rare mix. Whether you’re into science fiction, survival stories, or just well-made cinema, The Martian is the kind of film you’ll gladly watch more than once.”

The accolades continued over on Letterboxd, where yet another five-star review says: “An effortlessly engrossing and excellently rendered science fiction epic of survival, Ridley Scott’s Martian immediately ranks as one of the director’s most satisfying works.

“A love letter to the power of science, problem solving, and human will, the film provides a smart and soaring experience that rivets as much as it satisfies.

“Scott and company tell a story that is buoyant, nail-biting, and life affirming.”

This modern masterpiece isn’t leaving Disney+ any time soon, so there’s plenty of time and absolutely no excuse not to stream one of Damon’s best blockbusters before the torch is passed to Gosling next year.

The Martian is available to stream on Disney+.

July 4 (UPI) — A major power outage on Friday struck the Czech Republic, including the capital Prague, which disrupted public transportation and hospitals.

Also affected were regions of Ústi, Liberec and Hradec Králove, Euro News reported, citing CEPS power grid operator and domestic media.

Czech Republic has a population of 10 million and borders Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland, which didn’t report outages. Weather was nice Friday with highs in the mid-70s, contrasting with highs in the mid-80s earlier in the week.

In late April, a power grid failure led to the blackout of the entire Iberian Peninsula in Spain and Portugal.

The Czech blackout, shortly after noon, was triggered by the failure phase conductor on line V411, cutting power to eight major substations. Five were restored by the afternoon.

“It was an issue in the upper-level transmission grid,” Karel Hanzelka, spokesperson for Prague’s power provider PRE, told Czech Radio. “To put it simply, electricity stopped flowing into Prague from the outside.”

The cause of the outage remains under investigation.

There was no evidence of a cyberattack, National Cyber and Information Security Agency and counterterrorism unit confirmed.

In Prague, trams and metro lines stopped, traffic lights were inoperable and people were trapped in elevators.

Metro lines A, B, and C were temporarily out of service, Prague Morning reported.

In a reflection of how service outages varied, most trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted but those on the left bank weren’t affected.

Firefighters evacuated three trains on the Prague Kolin section.

“This is a serious and disruptive situation. Everyone is working intensively to restore power,” Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in a video post on X.

He later activated the Central Crisis Staff.

“This isn’t something that can be fixed in minutes,” Industry Minister Luka Vlceksaid. “It will take hours. The outage has affected a significant portion of the country.”

Fire brigades were swamped with calls.

“The power outage is generating a high number of incidents — rescues from elevators, reported fires caused by diesel backup generators starting up,” Miroslav Rezac, a spokesman for Prague’s firefighters, said.

By 2 p.m., firefighters had responded to 215 elevator rescues nationwide.

In Kutna Hora, the entire hospital ran on a backup generator with an eight-hour fuel reserve. “We’re looking for a gas station to refill,” a hospital receptionist told Prague Radio.

Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media.

Whitby in North Yorkshire has been named one of the UK’s best seaside entertainment spots, and it’s easy to see why with its sandy beaches, historic landmarks and top-rated restaurants

Recognised as one of the UK’s top seaside amusement locations, this charming coastal town has long been a hit with those yearning for a traditional beach holiday. Nestled at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby in North Yorkshire is steeped in a rich history rooted in maritime, mineral and tourism trades.

Its appeal as a tourist hotspot is further amplified by its close proximity to the North York Moors national park and the heritage coastline, not to mention its eerie link to the horror novel Dracula. The town’s most iconic landmark is undoubtedly the ruined abbey perched on the East Cliff.

READ MORE: FatFace’s ‘cool’ summer dress that ‘doesn’t crease’ and will ‘pack well for holidays’

Other notable features include the swing bridge spanning the river and the harbour, safeguarded by the grade II listed East and West piers.

Whitby’s nautical history is honoured through statues of explorer Captain Cook and whaler and scientist William Scoresby, as well as the whalebone arch that graces the West Cliff, reports the Express.

The town also boasts a robust literary tradition, having been featured in numerous works, television programmes and films, most notably Bram Stoker’s renowned novel, according to Yorkshire Live. If Whitby doesn’t tickle your fancy, you might consider this stunning town on the Welsh coast.

A recent survey ranked Whitby seventh on the list of the UK’s top holiday entertainment destinations.

The survey considers factors such as the number of pubs, restaurants, museums, parks, zoos and aquariums, water and amusement parks, arcades, beach review scores, hotel prices, Google searches, average temperature, average rainfall and local train stations.

Whitby boasts a variety of highly-rated dining establishments, ranging from cosy coffee shops to gastropubs and sea-view restaurants. There are three five-star rated eateries on TripAdvisor, ideal for those seeking a delicious meal.

First up is Lush Coffee on Silver Street, which earned the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice award for 2023.

Promising a ‘warm welcome’, this coffee shop offers freshly brewed coffee, quintessential Yorkshire Tea, hearty full English breakfasts, hot and cold sandwiches, toasties, burgers, and an array of homemade cakes and treats.

They also provide outdoor seating and welcome dogs. For those in search of a more upscale dining experience, Ditto, another five-star rated establishment and recipient of the TripAdvisor Travellers Choice award for 2023, could be just the ticket.

Situated a mere stone’s throw from the beach on Skinner Street, this family-run restaurant is the perfect spot for food enthusiasts looking to indulge in a special meal while visiting the town.

Just around the corner, Beckett’s has scooped up the bronze for top-notch dining in Whitby, with an impressive 875 TripAdvisor reviews lauding its selection of hot beverages, savoury treats, breakfasts, brunches, and cakes, all acclaimed for their “excellent quality”.

Make sure your itinerary includes Cranberry Swamp – a firm favourite among breakfast aficionados, Al Taco for some Mexican flair, and The Postgate Country Inn for a slice of British tradition.

No coastal getaway is complete without sipping on a cold beer, a glass of prosecco, a sophisticated cocktail or a refreshing mocktail under the warmth of the sunshine.

Whether you’re seeking a serene spot to relax or a lively evening filled with karaoke entertainment, Whitby’s varied pubs and bars cater to all tastes.

Whitby is dotted with hotels and B&Bs suitable for every budget, some with stunning sea views that are truly unrivalled.

TripAdvisor heralds Hillcrest as the crème de la crème of hospitality, ideally situated close to the bustling town centre and easily accessible from a treasure trove of local shops, eateries, pubs, and attractions.

The establishment is not only bike-friendly, offering secure storage, but with their insider knowledge, they’re ready to point you towards exceptional spots for cycling, rambling, and watersports such as paddle-boarding and surfing. On top of that, their luxurious rooms offer ample space for families.

Other establishments in Whitby receiving high praise include The Stables, The Penny Hedge Lodge, and The Belfry.

Whitby is home to one of Yorkshire’s most pristine and secure beaches, recently honoured with a Blue Flag. This international recognition is bestowed upon well-kept beaches boasting superior water quality.

There’s an array of other beaches to explore as well. Whitby West Cliff Beach, a favoured sandy location interspersed with rocky patches, is supervised by lifeguards from May through September.

The beach extends from Upgang Beach to the River Esk’s mouth and is conveniently situated on Whitby town’s northern fringe, just a brief stroll from the town centre.

Access points to the beach are scattered along Cleveland Way, North Terrace, and North Promenade. On sun-drenched days, families gather on the sandy stretch between Upgang Beach and West Pier.

A line of colourful beach huts are available for hire, and deckchairs and windbreaks can be found near the slipway at West Pier.

From May to September, a seasonal dog ban is enforced on Whitby West Cliff Beach. However, dogs are permitted all year round on the nearby Tate Hill Beach.

Other popular beaches in Whitby include Sandsend Beach and Runswick Bay.

July 1 (UPI) — Cloudflare announced it will begin blocking AI web crawlers to prevent them from “accessing content without permission or compensation,” from all of its clients beginning on Tuesday.

Cloudflare blocking AI crawler bots builds off the tool launched in September last year that allowed publishers the ability to block crawlers with one click but announced Tuesday the option to block them will be implemented by default for all of its clients.

“AI crawlers have been scraping content without limits. Our goal is to put the power back in the hands of creators, while still helping AI companies innovate,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “This is about safeguarding the future of a free and vibrant Internet with a new model that works for everyone.”

Cloudflare is a content delivery network which helps businesses and applications by caching the data closer to end users and it estimated that 16% of global internet traffic goes directly through it’s service in a 2023 report.

The company also announced it will implement a Pay Per Crawl program that will allow some publishers to set a price that can be viewed by companies to decide whether they want to pay the fee for its content.

AI crawlers are automated bots with the intent to extract large amounts of data from websites, to train large language models from companies such as OpenAI and Google.

AI crawlers are typically seen as more invasive and selective when it comes to the data they consumer. They have been accused of overwhelming websites and significantly impacting user experience,” Matthew Holman, a partner at U.K. law firm Cripps, said.

“If effective, the development would hinder AI chatbots’ ability to harvest data for training and search purposes,” he added. “This is likely to lead to a short term impact on AI model training and could, over the long term, affect the viability of models.”

June 30 (UPI) — Ottawa announced late Sunday that it was rescinding a tax on technology firms generating revenue from Canadians just hours before it was to take effect, in an effort to move forward trade negotiations with the United States.

Ottawa’s Department of Finance announced in a statement that because they were scrapping the Digital Services Tax, Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to resume trade negotiations with the goal of signing a deal by July 21.

“Rescinding the digital services tax will allow the negotiations of a new economic and security relationship with the United States to make vital progress and reinforce our work to create jobs and build prosperity for all Canadians,” Minister of Finance and National Revenue Francois-Philippe Champagne said.

Announced in 2020, the Digital Services Tax sought to ensure domestic and foreign companies profiting off Canadians online were paying taxes on that revenue. According to Ottawa, it levied a 3% tax on revenue earned from certain digital services that rely on the engagement data and content of Canadian users as well as certain sales of Canadian user data.

Companies to be affected were online market place and advertising services as well as social media companies, including Google, Apple, Amazon and Meta.

The tax was to take effect Monday, amid ongoing trade negotiations between Canada and the United States.

However, Trump on Friday unilaterally called the talks off after being informed American technology companies would be hit with the 3% tax, which he described as “a direct and blatant attack on our Country.”

“Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform, while stating he will inform Ottawa within seven days of “the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America.”

Trump has yet to comment on the latest announcement.

To rescind the tax, it will require legislative approval, so in the meantime Ottawa said it will halt collection.

Relations between the United States and Canada have deteriorated under the second Trump administration due to Trump’s trade war.

Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports not subjected to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, as well as a 10% tariff on energy products, a 25% tariff on all cars and trucks built north of the border and a 50% tariff on aluminum and steel imports.

Canada has responded with a slew of tariffs of its own, including a 25% levy on certain goods from the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose Liberal Party won a minority government in Parliament in late April, campaigned on standing up against Trump, while referring to the Ottawa-Washington relationship as having been changed and the U.S. tariffs as a “betrayal.”

Amid the tariff fight, Carney has sought to strengthen other relationships while lessening Canada’s trade and security dependence on the United States.

Earlier this month, Canada and the European Union agreed to deepen their security and defense relationship as they launch negotiations across multiple areas, from digital policy to climate.

June 28 (UPI) — President Donald Trump cited potential Canadian taxes on U.S. tech companies as his reason for ending trade talks with Canada on Friday.

The tech taxes on Amazon, Google, Meta and other U.S. tech firms are due on Monday, and Trump said it is a deal-breaker.

“We have just been informed that Canada … has just announced that they are putting a Digital Services Tax on our American technology companies,” Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday.

He called the tax a “direct and blatant attack on our country” and accused Canada of “copying the European Union, which has done the same thing.”

“We are hereby terminating all discussions on trade with Canada, effective immediately,” Trump said.

His administration in the coming week will notify Canadian officials of the tariff that it will have to pay to do business in the United States, Trump added.

Trump last week attended the G7 economic trade summit hosted by Canada and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and sought common ground on trade talks, The Washington Post reported.

Officials at U.S. tech firms oppose the Canadian tax, the amount of which is based on the revenues generated by Canadians’ use of e-commerce sites, social media and the sales of data.

All tech companies that generate more than $14.59 million from such services would be subject to the new 3% Digital Services Tax.

The tax is retroactive to 2022 and could cost U.S.-based tech firms up to $3 billion, NBC News reported.

Upon learning of Trump halting trade talks, Canadian officials on Friday limited U.S. steel imports and placed a 50% surcharge on steel imports that surpass the quota.

Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said the surcharge will help to protect Canadian steel against what he called “unjust U.S. tariffs.”

He said the Canadian government is prepared to take additional actions, if necessary.

June 27 (UPI) — German officials on Friday raised the alarm over the spying capabilities of Hangzhou DeepSeek Artificial Intelligence Basic Technology Research Company, calling on Apple and Google to consider blocking access to the app.

Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information Meike Kamp said in a statement, the watchdog believes DeepSeek is illegally sending user data to China.

Germany is the latest country to raise concerns over DeepSeek’s data practices, after Italian officials earlier this year called on that country’s government to block the Chinese AI company’s access to Italy.

Italy opened an investigation after DeepSeek officials did not supply required documentation to regulators.

In February, South Korea took similar steps, banning downloads of DeepSkeek over data privacy concerns.

“DeepSeek’s transfer of user data to China is unlawful. DeepSeek has not been able to convincingly demonstrate to my authority that German users’ data in China is protected to a level equivalent to that of the European Union.” Kamp said in the agency’s statement Friday.

“Chinese authorities have far-reaching rights of access to personal data within the sphere of influence of Chinese companies. Furthermore, DeepSeek users in China do not have the enforceable rights and effective legal remedies guaranteed in the European Union. I have therefore informed Google and Apple, as operators of the largest app platforms, of the violations and expect a timely consideration of a blocking.”

DeepSeek does not have an office located inside the European Union, while the app itself is available for download from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.

The watchdog said the company is required to abide by the European General Data Protection Regulation, adding Google and Apple “must now promptly review the report and decide whether to block it.”

Kamp said after notifying Google and Apple, he expects “a timely consideration of a blocking” of DeepSeek from both of the American tech giants.

DeepSeek gained prominence when it began using less-advanced microprocessing chips produced by American tech firm Nvidia to produce its AI platform at a much cheaper price point than competitors.

June 21 (UPI) — Leaders of many European nations say they need to do more to develop technological infrastructure to ensure digital sovereignty instead of relying on services from global tech firms.

A recent forum discussion on the market dominance of global corporations assessed the “blurring of the boundaries between economic and political control” among European nations by tech firms.

A consensus of attendees at the ongoing Berlin Summit 2025 agreed European nations need to coordinate their efforts to develop infrastructures to “avoid path dependencies and long-term dependence on global platform players,” Forum New Economy reported on Friday.

“European countries are highly dependent on companies from the USA and China in a variety of technological infrastructures, from cloud services and social media to generative artificial intelligence,” Forum New Economy reported.

Such companies dominate European markets and are increasing their control of digital infrastructures, innovation networks, supply chains, data flows and research agendas.

An example is Microsoft earlier this year suspending the business email account for International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan.

The action occurred within months of the ICC issuing a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although the tech firm suspended Khan’s ICC email account, Microsoft officials said it still is providing services for the ICC.

The company also announced their intent to support the digital sovereignty of European nations.

“We’ve operated in Europe for more than 40 years, and we have been and always will be a steadfast partner to Europe,” Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said in a social media post on Friday.

Microsoft is supporting European sovereignty and that of its respective nations with several existing and new tech offerings, Nadella said.

The services include Microsoft Sovereign Cloud, Data Guardian, External Key Management and Sovereign Private Cloud.

The existing and new offerings “bring digital sovereignty to all European organizations” and”unlock new sovereign ways to run private sovereign clouds,” Nadella said.

“These new offerings build on decades of pioneering work in sovereign cloud solutions by ourselves and to our partners,” he added.

It’s cheaper than Barcelona and Madrid, but with all of the history and charm of the more better known cities. Immensely walkable, and full of delicious food and drink – I would argue Seville is Spain’s best weekend city break.

There’s nothing quite like checking the weather app to see an unrelenting downpour back home as you bask in the sunshine, sipping a refreshing Tinto de Verano while waiting for your tapas.

Just 2 hours and 50 minutes from Gatwick, with return Easyjet flights for as little as £35 per person, Seville is compact and walkable, making this vibrant city the perfect choice for a short break. It’s noticeably cheaper than Barcelona and Madrid, a bit less busy, but just as full of historic charm, and on balance I’d go as far as to argue it’s Spain’s best weekend getaway. We set off early one Friday morning, having roped in the grandparents to babysit, and by 11am were wandering the atmospheric cobbled streets, picking out the perfect spot for our first meal.

Dine like a King

Keen to avoid tourist traps and discover authentic tapas, we joined the Seville Tapas, Taverns and History Tour by Devour Tours (£58 per person). This small-group tour took us to five historic tapas bars, where we sampled local dishes and drinks.

Guided by a knowledgeable university history Professor, we learned how to identify quality Iberian ham (look for the black label) and left with new favourites and a dining action plan for the rest of our trip.

Dance the night away

For a cultural experience, flamenco in Seville is a must. Forget cheesy holiday-resort performances, the birthplace of flamenco offers something completely different. We first attended a 60-minute show at Teatro Flamenco Sevilla (£21 per person), which more than impressed. But locals then recommended the more intimate experience of a Peña Flamenca – a flamenco club dedicated to preserving the tradition.

Following their advice, we queued outside Torres Macarena, on Calle Torrijjiano, before it opened (8pm Wednesday to Sunday) and as advised secured our seats by leaving a jacket over the back. With simple tapas and great local wine at a very affordable price, we enjoyed a raw, passionate flamenco performance, a world away from the tourist shows. The guitarists, dancers, singers and emotional audience – many of whom joined the performers on stage at times – created an unforgettable atmosphere.

Worth the early start

Seville’s architecture reflects its layered history, influenced by the Roman, Muslim, and Christian civilisations who have ruled over the centuries. For us, we knew that the Royal Alcazar of Seville, an 11th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site which doubled as the kingdom of Dorne in Game Of Thrones, was a must-visit.

To beat the infamously long lines, we splurged on the Alone in the Alcazar tour (£58 per person) on Takewalks.com, which is the only tour group allowed early entry. Walking through the palace’s empty rooms and peaceful gardens before the hordes arrived, we learned its rich history from an expert guide. Standing on the walls overlooking the sweeping gardens listening as the city awoke is a memory I’ll forever cherish.

Don’t Miss

While the vibrant nightlife of flamenco, tapas and drink will keep you full and happy of an evening, there is plenty to do on a sunny Seville day. One highlight is the ultramodern Setas de Sevilla, the mushroom, an ultramodern wooden sculpture with panoramic city views. A daytime visit for £13 a person includes free access to the sunset light show later.

If you have time, below this are Roman ruins uncovered during it’s construction, showing the city as it would have looked many centuries ago. Across the river, the ceramics district of Triana is a charming spot to browse colourful pottery shops before enjoying fresh seafood and plates heaving with mouth-watering tomatoes, potato salads, and delicious cheeses at the vibrant Triana Market.

Wandering back to the center of Seville, we visited the grand Plaza de España, located in Maria Luisa Park. Floating along it’s emerald green canal in a rowboat makes for the perfect photo – a must for the Instagram grid.

Splurge on a memorable hotel

With beautiful sunshine and a dry climate, we found it infinitely preferable to stick to exploring Seville on foot – not least because a quick Google maps comparison showed walking times to generally be far quicker than driving. To make the most of this we stayed in the heart of Seville, at the newly opened four-star Ocean Drive, from £85 a night.

This small but well planned hotel was the perfect bolthole, with our bedroom balcony offering jaw-dropping views of Las Setas and the stunning nighttime light show. Inside restful Mudéjar tiles and contemporary wooden decor created the perfect space to relax, while a co-working space was on offer for those fitting in a spot of work between the tapas. We very much enjoyed the a la carte breakfast, and left with stomachs filled with delicious delicacies, while the in-house restaurant also offers a full lunch and dinner menu.

Verdict

Seville offers an irresistible mix of culture, history, and gastronomy, making it the perfect destination to escape winter blues. Whether it’s the vibrant flamenco, delicious tapas, or breathtaking landmarks, this sunny city will leave you longing for a return visit.

Book the holiday

June 19 (UPI) — Paramount has pulled back on a $35 million settlement with President Donald Trump after he sued the media company over a segment on CBS’ News’ “60 Minutes.”

The lawsuit alleges that the program edited an interview with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election to change how she would appear to viewers.

The stalled settlement is holding up a potential $8 billion takeover of Paramount by Skydance, a deal that the two companies negotiated over a year ago.

Despite the legal wrangling, Trump has said he is encouraged by the proposed merger in its current form, and endorsed the deal proposed by Skydance’s David Ellison.

“Ellison is great,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn Wednesday. He’ll do a great job with it.”

Trump seemed to have connected the delay in the deal to his Paramount lawsuit.

The internal debate over the Trump lawsuit and the way it was being handled prompted CBS News President Wendy McMahon to resign in May, saying in a memo that she and the company could not agree on a path forward.

The Paramount-Skydance deal has been pending review by the Federal Communications Commission since last fall.

Like the other Silicon Valley monopolies, Google habitually takes the side of Israeli occupation and war crimes in Palestine – the very term Palestine is not used by their highly influential maps app.

A new report by a Palestinian human rights group last month exposed the depths of Google’s dedication to the Israeli occupation.

With a known history documented back more than 3,200 years, the name “Palestine” is the only term continuously used for the entire territory of the country lying between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.

Palestine is the most historically accurate term. But since 1948, when Zionist militias expelled the majority of the Palestinian population from the country by force, a new state, “Israel”, was established.

That state has never declared its borders.

Consequentially, when speaking about “Israel” it is unclear exactly what territory is being referred to. But Zionists of both the right and the “left” commonly claim the entire historic territory of Palestine as the “Land of Israel.”

The new report, by 7amleh (Hamleh), a Palestinian organisation advocating online rights, details how Google seems to almost go out of its way to eradicate the reality of Palestinian life.

In 2016, Google came under fire from Palestinians on social media when the terms “West Bank” and “Gaza” disappeared from Google Maps. Google said that the removal of these terms was down to a glitch and that they had never used the word Palestine in the first place.

(The West Bank and Gaza Strip are regions of Palestine that are important, since they represent the remaining Palestinian territories which Israel failed to occupy in 1948. In 1967, however, Israel took over those too.)

“Through its mapping and labelling,” the 7amleh report explains, “one can deduce that Google Maps recognises the existence of Israel, with Jerusalem as its capital, but not Palestine.”

There are further aspects of the way Google has wiped Palestinian life off the map though. As the 7amleh report maps in some detail, Palestinian villages in the Naqab (Negev desert) deemed “unrecognised” by Israel (inside of what is sometimes termed “Israel proper” – the territories of Palestine occupied in 1948) are not properly mapped by Google.

These villages are only visible in Google Maps “when zooming in very closely,” the report explains, “but otherwise appear to be non-existent. This means that when looking at Google Maps, these villages appear to be not there.”

The report details how small Israeli villages are “displayed even when zoomed-out, while unrecognised Palestinian Bedouin villages, regardless of their size are only visible when zooming in very closely.”

Israel demolishes Al-Araqeeb for 135th time, arrests residents

This is despite the fact that there “are in total 46 Bedouin villages in the Naqab, the majority of which existed before Israel’s creation in 1948. Some claim to have existed since the 7th century.”

Israel has repeatedly attempted to physically remove these villages, but has repeatedly failed, thanks to the resistance of the Palestinians who live there, and thanks also to national and international solidarity shown to those villages.

Their Israeli (lack of) status as “unrecognised” also means that the state refuses to connect the villages to basic services like water and electricity – despite the fact that nearby Israeli-Jewish settlements are given all the support possible.

As Basma Abu-Qwaider, one Palestinian Naqab villager, explains in the report:

Google Maps acts in a discriminatory manner towards the unrecognised village the same [way] as the Israeli government does. Google ignores the existence of these villages just like Israel and for me if you do not exist on the map it means that you are invisible and that’s exactly what Israel wants us to be.

This solidarity with Israeli racism expressed by Google’s helpful attitude towards Israel’s wiping of Palestinians quite literally off the map extends across the 1967 “Green Line” ceasefire boundary.

Palestinian villages even within the “West Bank” area of the Jordan Valley are not properly mapped by Google either. The report documents that while Israeli settlements “can be seen when looking at the larger area of the map” some Palestinian villages are only visible when zoomed in – and even that only as a result of pressure being put on by a human rights organisation.

Google also refuses to recognise or map the reality of Israel’s apartheid roads system for Palestinians.

Khan Al-Ahmar resident: ‘We are imprisoned here’

As part of Israel’s ongoing settler-colonisation of Palestine, large parts of the West Bank – which is ruled by Israeli military decree – are prohibited access for Palestinians. Many roads are reserved for the use of Jews only.

Despite the illegality of these practices under international law, Google’s route-planning apps do not designate Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal.

7amleh’s report concludes: “Google Maps, as the largest global mapping and route planning service, has the power to influence global public opinion and therefore bears the responsibility to abide by international human rights standards and to offer a service that reflects the Palestinian reality.”

Google should be compelled to end its complicity with Israeli racism and apartheid.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.

June 18 (UPI) — President Donald Trump extended a pause on legislation banning TikTok from operating in the United States a third time, extending it for a further 90 days to allow time for a deal to split the firm’s U.S. business from its Chinese parent company.

The White House said Tuesday that Trump would sign a fresh executive order this week instructing the Justice Department not to take measures or impose fines on TikTok or tech providers such as Google and Apple for allowing the video-sharing app to remain on their platforms.

“As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark. This extension will last 90 days, which the Administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure,” said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

The previous 75-day extension from April, which was due to expire on Thursday, came after his administration agreed a deal, according to CBS News, to spin off TikTok’s American operation into a majority U.S.-owned entity.

However, that deal was derailed by Trump’s imposition of severe tariffs on China with parent ByteDance saying Beijing would not authorize the sale while the dispute over tariffs and trade was ongoing — although TikTok maintained the deal was not finalized and approval from Beijing was a given.

Trump said Tuesday that he was confident that Beijing would give its blessing.

“I think President Xi [Jinping] will ultimately approve it.”

A convert to TikTok after trying to ban it in his first 2017- 2021 term, Trump acknowledges security concerns over the personal data of American users ending up in the hands of the Chinese Communist Party that prompted Democrats to join in passing a Republican bill requiring TikTok to sell by Jan. 19 this year, or be shutdown.

The latest extension takes that deadline to mid-September, almost 18 months after the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act was signed into law by then-President Joe Biden in April 2024.

June 15 (UPI) — Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that Los Angeles does not need National Guard troops to bolster city police amid protests against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, despite the gatherings turning violent in recent days.

“We don’t want them here,” Bass said on CNN’s State of the Union. “They don’t need to be here. Our local law enforcement have complete control of this situation.”

President Donald Trump deployed thousands of U.S. National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles to assist ICE with immigration raids of locations that were suspected of employing or harboring undocumented migrants.

Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer ruled that Trump must return control of the situation to the Los Angeles Police Department, and that Trump’s deployment of the troops was unconstitutional.

But hours later, a federal appeals court panel lifted Breyer’s order, allowing the soldiers to continue to assist in the immigration raids.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has also been critical of Trump’s troop deployment and said the president overstepped his bounds without first seeking input from state or local officials.

Newsom called Trump a “stone cold liar” in response to the president’s comments that he consulted the California governor before deploying the soldiers.

Immigration raids continue. However, Trump has appeared to be moderating on targeting some workplaces, including some farms, meatpacking plants, hotels and restaurants.

Amid the backdrop of the raids and protests, thousands of people rallied in the streets Saturday to protest Trump’s policies that his critics have called authoritarian. The “No Kings” rallies took place in cities across the country at the same time that the U.S. paraded high0end military equipment through the streets of Washington in an event that was estimated to cost as much as $45 million. Saturday was also Trump’s 79th birthday.

June 13 (UPI) — Tech giant Meta is investing more than $14 billion to acquire a 49% stake in artificial intelligence firm Scale AI, the San Francisco-based company’s CEO confirmed on X.

“As you’ve probably gathered from recent news, opportunities of this magnitude often come at a cost. In this instance, that cost is my departure. It has been the absolute greatest pleasure of my life to serve as you CEO,” co-founder Alexandr Wang wrote on X earlier this week.

Scale Chief Strategy Officer will take over as chief executive, while Wang will move to Meta as part of the deal, which is reportedly worth $14.3 billion.

“As to what’s next for me, I will be leaving Scale to join Meta to work on Meta’s AI efforts along with a few other Scaliens. While it is bittersweet to depart as CEO, I would never leave Scale behind. I’ll stay on as a director on the Board, continuing to support Scale’s mission and long-term vision,” the outgoing CEO wrote on X.

Wang helped co-found Scale AI in 2016.

Meta also confirmed the transaction, which values the data labeling and model evaluation AI company at $29 billion.

“Meta has finalized our strategic partnership and investment in Scale AI. As part of this, we will deepen the work we do together producing data for AI models and Alexandr Wang will join Meta to work on our superintelligence efforts. We will share more about this effort and the great people joining this team in the coming weeks,” Meta said in a statement to TechCrunch.

Meta will not have voting rights, despite its 49% stake in Scale, NBC News reported.

Last year, Scale raised $1 billion from investors, giving the company a $13.8 billion valuation at the time.

Scale has previously provided its training data to Meta, as well as other competitors in the AI space like OpenAI, Microsoft and Google.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Defense awarded the tech firm a multi-million-dollar contract for one of its flagship military programs.

The company’s shares remained unchanged on Friday, trading at $18.50.

June 14 (UPI) — U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles to help temper unrest in that city, stopped and detained an American citizen trying to enter a federal building.

The man was trying to enter a Veterans Affairs office inside the Wilshire Federal Building in the city’s Sawtelle neighborhood when he was stopped earlier this week by Marines sent to protect the property amid protests over immigration raids.

This marks the first time during the current unrest that military troops have detained a U.S citizen.

The 27-year-old U.S. Army veteran was released after a short time.

“They treated me very fairly,” Marcos Leao told the New York Times following the incident, adding headphones at first prohibited him from hearing the Marines giving him verbal commands to stop.

U.S. Northern Command confirmed to The Hill, the Marines “temporarily detained a civilian earlier today” under Title 10 of the United States Code governing detention by the armed forces.

Around 200 Marines moved into Los Angeles on Friday, joining thousands of California National Guard troops to help protect federal assets and agents sent to the city to carry out arrests on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

President Donald Trump sent around 700 Marines to the area Monday, but they have thus far been staged outside the city. Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., has opposed the move.

On Friday, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., sent a written letter to Trump, signed by all U.S. Senate Democrats demanding the president remove military troops from Los Angeles.

A U.S. District Court Judge in San Francisco on Thursday ruled the president’s National Guard troop deployment was illegal. An appeals court later reversed that decision.

Los Angeles officials on Tuesday instituted a local curfew in parts of the city, following over 100 arrests that day amid protesters clashing with police.

On Saturday, millions of people are expected to take part in at least 1,500 protests across the United States. The “No Kings” demonstrations are scheduled to coincide with a major Flag Day military parade in Washington, D.C. and Trump’s 70th birthday.

The movement describes itself as “rejecting authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarization of our democracy.”

June 13 (UPI) — Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Friday formally pleaded not-guilty to federal human trafficking and conspiracy charges.

Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, also said a court appearance this week was the first time she was able to see her husband since he was arrested and detained in March.

The Salvadorian migrant was returned to the United States earlier this month after being deported to a prison in El Salvador.

“Even though it was through a video screen, I was finally able to see Kilmar,” Vasquez Sura, who is a U.S. citizen, told supporters at a rally in Nashville.

“I’m grateful for everyone who has been fighting for this milestone, in this fight to bring my husband back home with our children.”

The couple were living in Maryland with their young children at the time Abrego Garcia was arrested.

Lawyers will now argue in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes whether the 29-year-old should be granted bail before trial.

Prosecutors have argued he “would have enormous reason to flee” if released.

Abrego Garcia was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in March and eventually deported to El Salvador.

Supporters argued Abrego Garcia was denied due process in the deportation proceedings

A U.S. District Court judge later ordered the federal government to “facilitate” his return, after the Justice Department later acknowledged Abrego Garcia’s deportation was made in error.

President Donald Trump‘s administration pushed back against efforts to bring Abrego Garcia back to the United States.

In 2019, a federal judge ruled in 2019 that Abrego Garcia could be deported, but not back to his home country of El Salvador.

He was indicted on two federal charges last month before his return to the United States. Abrego Garcia is accused of playing a “significant role in an alien smuggling ring,” dating back as far as 2016, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of the indictment.

Bondi said if Abrego Garcia is found guilty, he will be returned to El Salvador.

Police stopped the vehicle he was driving in Tennessee in 2002 and found several Hispanic men with no identification.

After he was returned to the United States, Abrego Garcia was immediately sent to Tennessee to face the federal charges.

Federal officials also contend Abrego Garcia was a member of the El Salvadoran MS-13 gang, accusations he and his family deny. They argue Abrego Garcia fled El Salvador because of the threat of gang violence.

June 12 (UPI) — A cyberattack has crippled distribution channels for one of the nation’s top organic food distributors, leading to empty shelves at grocery stores nationwide.

Rhode-Island-based United Natural Foods Inc., a major supplier to Whole Foods, became aware of the attack on June 5th, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. UNFI said the breach affected its ability to fulfill customer orders.

“It’s affecting operations in a very, very significant way,” an employee at a Sacramento Whole Foods told NBC News. “Shelves don’t even have products in some places. The shipments we receive are not what we need, or we did need it but it’s too much of one product because UNFI can’t communicate with stores to get proper orders.”

A spokesperson for Whole Foods apologized and said the company is working to restock the shelves as quickly as it can. In a statement, UNFI acknowledged the ransomware attack.

“We have identified unauthorized activity in our systems and have proactively taken some systems offline while we investigate,” UNFI said in the statement. “As soon as we discovered the activity, an investigation was initiated with the help of leading forensics experts and we have notified law enforcement. We are assessing the unauthorized activity and working to restore our systems to safely barring them back online.”

UNFI said it is working closely to keep its customers updated amid the confusion and distribution disruptions.

At a quarterly earnings meeting Tuesday, UNFI CEO Sandy Douglas told investors that it is supplying customers on a “limited basis.”

“We are partnering with customers across the country and across our formats in various short term modes to serve their needs as best we possibly can,” he said. “Any way that we can help them with their needs, we’re doing.”

Douglas said the company is working with the FBI and other authorities to track the source of the breach and why UNFI’s security systems failed.

The UNFI security breach comes amid a series of cyberattacks on retailers in recent weeks that have crippled the operations of several high profile retailers with ransomware.

A “MANDATORY” update is going out to some mobiles after reports of fires breaking out when charging.

While the update is important for safety, affected users will notice a knock to their battery’s capacity as a result.

2

2

Google has confirmed to The Sun that a “subset” of Pixel 6a devices will receive it “to reduce the risk of potential battery overheating”.

It comes as a number of unverified reports online that the phone caught fire when on charge.

One user shared pictures of his destroyed Pixel 6a which they say began to “shoot out hot gas” in the middle of the night as it was on charge.

“Luckily, I was able to smother the fire, then throw the still-smoking phone into the toilet before the fire spread,” Reddit user zaliver claimed.

“My wife and I are pretty shook up about it.”

A small number of other users have reported similar issues.

“The update will enable battery management features that will reduce capacity and charging performance after the battery reaches 400 charge cycles,” Google said.

“We’ll contact impacted customers next month, with all the information they need to address the issue.”

It comes only a few months after another update impacted the batteries on the Pixel 4A, though this incident affected all models and wasn’t a result of safety concerns.

Owners were offered a free replacement battery to solve the problem.

Must-know Android tips to boost your phone

Get the most out of your Android smartphone with these little-known hacks:

This powerful hit drama is leaving Netflix later this month

Joe Wright’s cinematic masterpiece Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, has made an indelible impact with its seven Oscar nominations and a box office return that quadrupled its budget.

Set against the backdrop of World War 2, Atonement is a riveting tale that unfolds over one sultry day in 1935, with consequences rippling through the decades. The film boasts an epic five-minute continuous shot featuring 1,000 extras that captures the Dunkirk evacuation chaos from McAvoy’s perspective.

For those intrigued, time is ticking to watch this war drama on Netflix, as it departs the service on 16th June.

The film enjoys an impressive 83% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critical consensus reads: “Atonement features strong performances, brilliant cinematography, and a unique score. Featuring deft performances from James MacAvoy and Keira Knightley, it’s a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel.”

Atonement clinched the Best Film accolade at the BAFTAs, took home the Best Original Score at the Oscars, and earned Saoirse Ronan an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actress at just 13 years old, reports the Express.

Launching both the 2007 Venice and Vancouver Film Festivals, the film also marked Wright as the youngest director ever to open the former at only 35.

Critic Andrew Collins gave the film a glowing five-star review in Radio Times, declaring: “Atonement transcends the expectations of its country-house setting, via the privations of war, to deliver a knockout twist that works better on the screen than it did on the page.”

Bruce Newman, another film critic, praised the first part of the movie, stating: “In its first 45 minutes, Atonement achieves a kind of perfection rare even for big Oscar-bait movies,” but he added a note of caution: “Every facet of the filmmaking is the equal of any picture released this year. The rest of the movie isn’t so bad.”

The film has stirred up quite the conversation among fans, with one standout review on Letterboxd proclaiming: “13 years old saoirse ronan was robbed of that oscar for her performance as THE DEVIL.”

On Google, a fervent admirer of the film compared it to Dunkirk (2017), expressing: “I deeply appreciate Atonement for other reasons and while the films are about 10 years apart I am utterly perplexed by how Nolan’s Dunkirk became the critical darling it is, especially since this film exists.

Get Netflix free with Sky

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

from £15

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles, including the £15 Essential TV plan.

This lets members watch live and on-demand TV content without a satellite dish or aerial and includes hit shows like The Last of Us and Black Mirror.

“This film isn’t about the evacuation of Dunkirk or WWII (those elements form the background for a fully realized troubled romance and family drama) and YET this film spends about 20 minutes on Dunkirk and it conveys the horror, defeat and dread of it it far sharper and more resonant than Nolan’s film does for its entire run time.”

Another popular opinion on Letterboxd, which attracted over 6,000 likes, succinctly put it: “the five-minute long take on the beach >>>>>>> dunkirk (2017)”.

Atonement is available to stream on Netflix until Monday, 16th June.

June 5 (UPI) — Israel said Thursday it had recovered the remains of two Israeli-American hostages in a military operation overnight in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X that the bodies of Gadi Haggai, 72, and Judy Weinstein-Haggai, 70, had been returned to their families in Israel 20 months after they were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel and taken back to Gaza.

He said the married couple were recovered in a special operation mounted by the Israeli Security Agency and Israel Defense Forces.

“I would like to thank, and express appreciation to, the fighters and commanders for this determined and successful operation. We will not rest, nor will we be silent, until we return home all of our hostages — the living and the deceased,” Netanyahu said.

The couple, who held U.S. citizenship, were out for a morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz when they were gunned down by Mujahideen Brigades fighters who joined the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7 in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds abducted.

“We welcome the closure and their return to a proper burial at home, in Israel,” a statement from the families of Haggai and Weinstein said.

Judy Weinstein-Haggai was born in New York but moved to Toronto, Canada, with her family at the age of 3. She married Gadi Haggai after meeting him while working as a volunteer on a kibbutz in the 1970s, according to a bio posted on social media.

Gadi Haggai was described as a retired chef, a passionate jazz musician, and a devoted father and grandfather.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said it was a painful time but also a moment of solace.

“We will continue to do everything in our power to bring our sisters and brothers back from hell — the living, for healing and rehabilitation, and the fallen, to be laid to rest in dignity. Every last one of them!” Herzog said on X.

The couple’s recovery means 54 out of the 251 people originally taken hostage remain in Gaza, of whom about 20 are believed to be still alive.

As of Wednesday, Gaza’s health ministry, which is run by Hamas, put the number of Palestinians killed since Israel launched its military response a day after the Oct. 7 attacks at 54,607 and 125,341 injured.

The “Bring Them Home Now” Hostages and Missing Families Forum said it wanted to stress that a grave was a basic human right and called for authorities to do whatever was necessary to reach an agreement that will see the return of the rest of the hostages, “the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial.”

“There is no need to wait another 608 agonizing days for this. The mission can be completed as early as tomorrow morning. This is what the majority of the Israeli people want.”

Thursday’s rescue came hours after the United States vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution for an “immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza.

The Slovenia-sponsored resolution, which also called for the unconditional release of all the hostages held by Hamas and other groups and the immediate lifting of all restrictions on aid going into Gaza, was defeated in a 14-1 vote on Wednesday evening in New York, the U.N. said in a news release.

Slovenia’s representative to the U.N. expressed disappointment at the vetoing of a measure motivated by humanitarian intentions, saying “starving civilians and inflicting immense suffering” was inhumane, in breach of international law and unwarranted by any war objective.

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Dorothy Shea said Washington could not support rewarding Hamas with a permanent cease-fire that would leave it with the ability to carry out further attacks and criticized the “false equivalence” drawn between Hamas and Israel in the text of the draft resolution.

She also argued that the draft did not make any mention of the failings of the system used operated by the U.N. and aid charities to distribute humanitarian assistance in Gaza, which she said had been exploited by Hamas for its own benefit.

“Performative actions designed to draw a veto” would only serve to undermine efforts to resolve matters through quiet diplomacy currently underway between the parties, said Shea.