An Israeli attack paralysed 3-year-old Amr al-Hams and killed his relatives. Now he can’t get proper care in hospital because of Israel’s assault on the health system, and he can’t leave for medical treatment because of Israeli border controls.
The royal box was first installed in the southern stand at Wimbledon’s Centre Court when the grounds originally opened in 1922.
Since then, the 74-seater segregated area has hosted celebrities, sportspeople, royalty, and other famous faces on each day of the tournament.
Those invited do not have to queue or pay for entry, and are also invited to lunch before play begins as well as tea and drinks following the close of play. Those events take place in the adjacent clubhouse.
Guests are sent invitations by the chairperson of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which since 2023 is former professional player Debbie Jevans.
Jevans takes into account suggestions from the the AELTC’S management committee, the Lawn Tennis Association, and other tennis bodies and prominent figures when selecting high profile guests.
Guests taking one of the dark green Lloyd Loom wicker chairs in the box can include less recognisable faces like commercial partners, delegates, dignitaries, and media professionals, as well as household names.
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Some of those who attend the royal box are given frequent invitations, and can be seen courtside most years. Regulars are often celebrities who are seen as serious tennis fans, and include the likes of Sir David Beckham and Sir David Attenborough.
Others are famous faces whose schedule allows them the rare opportunity to attend. This year, for example, pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo sat in the royal box just a few days after headlining Glastonbury while in the midst of her UK tour.
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The UN says almost half a million Afghans have left Iran in just a month, as Iranian authorities continue a mass deportation drive of undocumented migrants. Iranian authorities have accused some Afghans of spying for Israel and say undocumented migrants present a security threat.
Summer tour second Test: Japan v Wales
Venue: Noevir (Misaki Park) Stadium, Kobe Date: Saturday, 12 July Kick-off: 06:50 BST
Anybody who doubts the devastation players feel after losing for Wales just needs to spend a few minutes with scrum consultant and former prop Adam Jones.
The 24-19 loss to Japan was a record 18th consecutive defeat which has seen Wales slip to a lowest-ever 14th in the world rankings.
The losing streak stretches back to October 2023 and the players were visibly upset in Kitakyushu following yet another defeat, although they have a chance to level the series in Kobe on Saturday.
Jones represented Wales 95 times and endured lows as well as the highs of winning three Grand Slams and reaching a World Cup semi-final.
So he knows about the effects of playing for Wales.
“You’re representing your country, it’s the be-all and end-all,” said Jones.
“You put it before everything else. You put it before your friends and family.
Jones says the record sequence of defeats can not be attributed to a lack of effort.
“They care and want to play,” said Jones.
“A lot of history has gone into their jersey and they massively care about that and what it represents.
“There’s been times in the past when there’s been a few players coming through the international system who probably don’t care. They just wanted the Wales cap and accolades that go with it.”
Jones, however, is adamant the current group of players is not like that.
“They’ve done everything to win but unfortunately we’ve come up short.
“I know it’s easy to say they deserve a win from how they apply themselves they’re a good group of boys.
“They don’t deserve to be in this sort of rut and the criticism they’re getting.”
Jones believes the final quarter against Japan typified the tourists’ lack of confidence.
In hot and humid conditions, Wales led the hosts 19-7 before conceding 17 unanswered points in the second half.
Wales have made attempts to try and solve the lack of confidence.
Before they arrived in Japan, interim head coach Matt Sherratt invited guest speakers to address the squad and to try and instil some positivity.
Among them was Wales football manager Craig Bellamy who urged the players to use the inspiration of trying to be somebody who was going to stop the losing streak, rather than reflecting on previous defeats.
“There were a couple of things that resonated and that was one,” said Jones.
“He [Bellamy] said everyone knows Wales because of the Welsh rugby team. As much as it’s where we are now, Welsh rugby is still a big thing in world rugby. It’s what we’re known for.
“There’s a bit of pressure, but on the flipside, the people who turn it around, or get the monkey off our back, it will be pretty special for them.
“There will be relief as well, I’m sure.”
Jones says Wales can not fixate on the failures.
“We’ve got to move on,” said Jones.
“You look through it, but you can’t dwell otherwise you’re just going round and round. Then it’ll be 19, 20 games.
Just such an opportunity comes in Kobe on Saturday, as Wales look to level the series in their final game of the season.
Wales are aiming to ensure they do not go a full international campaign without a win after suffering nine defeats in 2024-25.
“At the moment we’re in this big losing streak but that one win will give them a bit of confidence to kick on,” said Jones.
“It’s the last week of the season, which is always tough, but there’s a carrot at the end of it.
“They’ve got five weeks off after this now, so they’ve put everything into this last game and hopefully we’ll get the result we want.”
While the players get five weeks off, Jones will be straight back to the day job at Harlequins on Monday morning after having had two stints with Wales during the Six Nations and summer tour.
Jones was brought into the Wales set-up by Warren Gatland, who then left his role after defeat against Italy in Rome in February, with Matt Sherratt taking over as interim head coach.
Jones was retained for the summer tour, with his Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson also brought in on a temporary basis to look after the forwards.
Despite all the trauma, with six defeats and no wins so far while he has been involved, Jones has no regrets about his international return, after playing his final game for Wales in 2014.
“I’ve loved it, it’s been brilliant,” said Jones.
“It’s been just over a decade since I last played for Wales and I loved representing my country.
“Playing for them for 11 years changed my life. The chance to represent them as a coach has been just as special.
“It’s been frustrating. It’s been pretty strange with Gats bringing me in where I had god knows how many questions over whether we get on anymore.
“Next thing he’s gone, so that was strange.
“I have enjoyed it but then I just get straight back into it with Harlequins on Monday and I might be a bit jet-lagged.”
Greece has shut the Acropolis and halted outdoor work across the country as a fierce heatwave scorches the region, pushing temperatures to above 40C (104F) and leading to fire alerts and severe weather warnings across the Balkans.
The Greek Ministry of Culture announced that the 2, 500-year-old Acropolis site would remain closed until 5pm on Tuesday “for the safety of workers and visitors, owing to high temperatures”.
The landmark, perched above capital Athens with little natural shade, typically attracts tens of thousands of tourists each day.
This is Greece’s second severe heatwave since late June. Meteorologists expect temperatures to peak at 42C (107.6F) in some parts of the country, with Athens facing highs of 38C (100.4F). Similar conditions are forecast for Wednesday.
To protect labourers exposed to the sun, Greece’s Ministry of Labour has ordered a work pause from noon to 5pm in multiple regions, including popular islands. The restriction applies to outdoor jobs such as construction and food delivery.
“Days with a heatwave make my job more difficult”, 43-year-old courier Michalis Keskinidis told the AFP news agency. “We drink a lot of water, use electrolytes, and take breaks whenever possible”.
Last year, the Acropolis recorded 4.5 million visitors – up by more than 15 percent from the previous year – and authorities have been forced to close the site during previous heatwaves as well.
Fire danger remains a key concern. Civil protection officials have issued high-risk warnings for areas including greater Athens, central Greece and the Peloponnese. Greece’s fire service is already tackling up to 50 blazes daily, said senior fire officer Constantinos Tsigkas.
Elsewhere in the Balkans, extreme weather continues to batter neighbouring countries. In Serbia, meteorologists warned of elevated fire risks after 620 wildfires were reported on Monday. Simultaneously, parts of the country face threats of hail and hurricane-strength winds.
In Croatia, storms injured two people in Vinkovci when a power line collapsed onto a home. Strong winds and rain have flooded roads, knocked down trees and caused widespread power outages in Split, where a ferry broke loose and sank a tourist boat.
On medical grounds, Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has set a hearing date for July 17 to hear a request from Yahaya Bello, the immediate-ex-gouverneur of Kogi State, to leave the country.
His attorney, Joseph Daudu (SAN), informed the court that he had requested that the registrar grant his client’s request for the release of his client’s international passport so that he could travel for medical treatment.
However, the EFCC counsel had a counteraffidavit, claiming that granting the request could halt future proceedings.
In response to the counteraffidavit from the prosecution team, Daudu claimed that the defendant’s team had also submitted a further affidavit of 20 paragraphs, which the applicant had presented himself with two exhibits on July 7, 2025.
ADC Members File Suit Contesting Interim Executive’s Positions’ Legality.
“Exhibit C is the CTC of your lordship’s decision allowing the defendant to be released on bail, and Exhibit D is the FHC’s decision allowing him to be released.”
He continued, “We urged your lordship to grant our application by adopting these documents.”
responding to the prosecution’s claim that the request was a case of abuse of court due to the fact that a similar request was made at the FHC.
He argued that the court process could not have been used abusively. He argued in favor of the fact that the complainant was the one to bring those allegations before various courts.
Daudu claimed that applying in one court and not the other court would be futile.
The defendant should have given his sureties notice when he applied to leave the country, according to Chukwudi Enebele (SAN), the prosecution attorney, who defended the EFCC’s counteraffidavit.
He believes that the sureties must decide whether to remain his security when he travels.
The defendant’s attorney were also attempting to converge the courts by filing the same application at both the FCT High Court and Federal High Court, he added.
Daudu responded by saying that the sureties knew of this already.
It is a dead argument, to be sure, regarding the interpol issue. He has never broken the law of your lordship. They have even forgotten about those red alerts, the attorney continued, urging the court to approve the application.
