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  • Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón sets World Cup record with 519 straight scoreless minutes in net

    Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón sets World Cup record with 519 straight scoreless minutes in net

    INGLEWOOD, California — Unai Simón, Spain’s standout starting goalkeeper, has cemented his place in World Cup history after breaking one of the tournament’s most enduring records, posting the longest consecutive shutout streak across men’s World Cup competition. The historic milestone came during Spain’s dominant 3-0 Group Stage victory over Austria on Thursday, which marked Simón’s fourth consecutive clean sheet at the ongoing tournament.

    Across the last two editions of the World Cup, Simón has not conceded a single goal across 519 consecutive minutes of play. That two-game streak surpasses the 517-minute record set 36 years ago by iconic Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga, who notched five straight shutouts while Italy hosted the 1990 World Cup. The 29-year-old, a lifelong starter for Spain’s Athletic Bilbao, has long flown under the radar compared to other global soccer stars — even within his own national squad — but his elite command of Spain’s backline, paired with the team’s standout defensive organization, has pushed him into the record books.

    Heading into the knockout round, Spain has yet to allow a single goal at this tournament, and Simón has only been called on to make four total saves through four matches. Against Austria, he did not need to make a single stop, as none of the Austrian side’s five shot attempts found their way on target.

    Spain head coach Luis De La Fuente, who has stood by Simón as his starter through years of calls to promote higher-profile backup goalkeepers, expressed nothing but pride for his goalkeeper after the record-breaking win. “I feel proud of him,” De La Fuente said. “I feel like he is a member of my family. I’m very happy for him.”

    Simón has served as Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper for the majority of the past five years, holding onto his starting spot despite fierce competition from two of the most successful keepers in top European club soccer: David Raya, who just claimed a Premier League title with Arsenal, and Joan Garcia, Barcelona’s breakout young starter. Unlike his two backups, Simón has spent his entire club career at the less prominent Athletic Bilbao, who only qualified for the Champions League for the first time in his tenure last season.

    Simón’s long-running trust with De La Fuente dates back nearly a decade, a bond that has been central to his continued place as the national team’s starter. The pair first worked together in 2015, when a then 18-year-old Simón helped De La Fuente’s Spanish squad win the European Under-19 Championship in Greece. They continued working together through Spain’s youth national team program, before reuniting in early 2023 when De La Fuente took over the senior men’s squad, kicking off one of the most successful runs in Spanish soccer history.

    Under De La Fuente’s leadership, Spain has dropped just one loss across 37 competitive matches, going unbeaten in 35 consecutive outings — a run that includes a penalty shootout defeat to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League. With Simón in goal, Spain claimed the 2023 Nations League title and the 2024 European Championship, and have now advanced to a World Cup knockout round for the first time in 16 years.

    Simón’s record-breaking shutout streak traces back to the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where Spain conceded just three goals in four matches before bowing out in an early upset. The streak began during Spain’s 2-1 group stage loss to Japan, and continued through a regulation scoreless draw with Morocco in the round of 16 — a match Spain ultimately lost on penalties, with Morocco converting three of four spot kicks against Simón.

    At this year’s tournament co-hosted in North America, no side has managed to put the ball in the back of the net past Simón. Among Spain’s four group stage opponents, only Uruguay managed to register more than one shot on target. De La Fuente was quick to emphasize that Simón’s historic milestone is a testament to the entire team’s defensive effort, not just individual brilliance. “(Simón) played a very big role in the victory, but it’s not just about individuals,” De La Fuente said after beating Austria. “It’s about the whole group coming together for that defensive effort.”

    Early in the second half against Austria, Simón also surpassed another iconic record: the consecutive World Cup shutout streak set by Spanish legend Iker Casillas across the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. His consistent elite performance has been more than enough to fend off his two high-profile challengers as Spain advances to the round of 16.

    Raya, who has won three consecutive Premier League Golden Glove awards for leading the league in clean sheets, backstopped Arsenal to their first top-flight title since 2004 and a Champions League final appearance this season — yet he remains confined to a backup role for La Roja. Garcia, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the most promising young goalkeeping talents in world soccer after taking over Barcelona’s starting job last season, but he is also expected to remain on the sidelines for the duration of the tournament.

  • Arrest warrant issued for suspect in Monaco parcel bombing

    Arrest warrant issued for suspect in Monaco parcel bombing

    A major cross-border investigation into a deliberate parcel bombing in Monaco has moved quickly, with authorities identifying a suspect and issuing an international arrest warrant just days after the attack that left three people, including a sanctioned Ukrainian-born millionaire, seriously wounded. The explosion, which rocked a residential apartment building near Monaco’s border with France on Monday evening, has been classified as an attempted murder by investigators, ruling out terrorism as a motive.

    Surveillance footage captured an individual leaving the explosive package in the building’s entrance hall shortly before three victims entered the space and triggered the blast. Immediately after the detonation, the suspect fled toward Beausoleil, a French commune that borders the tiny principality, according to official statements. Initial investigations described the suspect, who wore a black hat to obscure their features, as a man, but local media reports have since claimed the person of interest is actually a woman attempting to hide her identity. Monaco’s top public prosecutor Stéphane Thibault declined to confirm that detail, but praised the rapid joint work between Monegasque and French law enforcement that led to the quick identification of the suspect.

    In an official statement released Thursday night, Monaco’s prosecutor’s office confirmed that an arrest warrant had been issued for the foreign national suspect, who is no longer believed to be on Monegasque territory. An Interpol Red Notice, the global police agency’s highest-level alert for wanted persons, will also be issued starting Thursday evening. An official update on the investigation is scheduled for 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) Friday.

    While Monaco authorities have not formally released the identities of the three injured people, multiple local and international media reports confirm the attack targeted Vadym Yermolaiev, 58, his partner and his 13-year-old son. Yermolaiev, a wealthy real estate and business magnate, has resided in Monaco for years and became a Cypriot citizen after renouncing his Ukrainian citizenship in 2019. He retains extensive business holdings in the wine and alcohol industry in Crimea, the Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia in 2014, a status that led Kyiv to impose personal sanctions on him in 2023. Before he renounced his citizenship, Forbes ranked Yermolaiev as the 39th richest person in Ukraine in 2020, estimating his total net worth at $230 million (£173.8 million).

    All three victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for emergency care immediately after the blast. The two adult victims were initially listed in critical condition. As of Wednesday, Yermolaiev’s condition has improved and he is no longer considered to be in life-threatening danger, but his partner has not yet stabilized, according to reports from Agence France-Presse. The 13-year-old victim’s condition has not been updated in official briefings.

    Monaco’s ruling monarch Prince Albert II has publicly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous crime” that shocked the normally quiet and secure principality.

  • Rare copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

    Rare copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives

    In a landmark historical find that has electrified global academic circles, a rare surviving copy of the 1776 Declaration of Independence — the only confirmed example located outside the United States — has been uncovered at The National Archives in Kew, UK. The extraordinary discovery was made in February this year, when volunteer archivist Michael Scurr was cataloging a collection of personal papers belonging to Royal Navy officers who served during the American Revolutionary War.

    This particular copy is one of just 11 surviving printings produced in Exeter, New Hampshire, between July 16 and 19 1776. Just 12 days after the original Declaration was signed in Philadelphia, colonial printers rushed out these regional reprints to spread news of American independence across the 13 colonies, turning a private legislative act into a mass public movement. Unlike formal government copies intended for long-term preservation, these regional broadsides were produced quickly for wide distribution, making their survival over 250 years extremely unlikely.

    Scurr recalled the moment of discovery to BBC News, describing a rush of excitement: “I had butterflies in my stomach after I opened up the folded paper and immediately realised what I was holding. I called over to my supervisor and said, ‘I think you need to come see this.’”

    Records traced the document’s journey across the Atlantic to a dramatic Christmas Eve 1776 naval engagement. Off the coast of Portugal, the British Royal Navy warship HMS Raisonable chased down the American privateer ship Dalton for seven hours before capturing it. Among the seized papers was the Declaration of Independence copy, alongside the privateer’s official commission and printed instructions from the Continental Congress.

    The captured ship was brought to the British port of Plymouth in January 1777, and all seized documents were transferred to London’s Whitehall for government review. At the time, the Declaration was listed casually as just “another paper” among Captain Thomas Fitzherbert’s correspondence, and it remained unrecognized and hidden in Britain’s national archival collections for nearly 250 years.

    Dr. Graham Moore, a senior historical researcher at The National Archives, explained that this find is unparalleled in historical circles. “This is one of the rarest versions of the Declaration we know of,” he said. “Because these regional reprints were meant for immediate distribution, they were never intended to be preserved long-term. Of the 11 Exeter printings that survive, this is the only one ever captured by British military forces, and the only copy confirmed to exist outside U.S. borders.”

    Saul Nassé, Chief Executive of The National Archives, called the find an extraordinary archaeological discovery of documentary history. “It is a vanishingly rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence, found not in a U.S. archive or private collection, but right here in the UK,” he noted.

    After undergoing targeted conservation work to stabilize its aging paper and repair a small tear, the document is now prepared for public display. It will be featured as a centerpiece of The National Archives’ Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763-1783 exhibition, which opened to the public last month. The National Archives already holds three of the iconic original John Dunlap broadside copies printed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776 — of the roughly 200 copies printed that night, only 26 are known to survive today.

  • World Cup what to know: Messi looks to add to career goals lead when Argentina faces Cape Verde

    World Cup what to know: Messi looks to add to career goals lead when Argentina faces Cape Verde

    As the FIFA World Cup knockout stage kicks into high gear, three intriguing round of 32 matches are set to unfold across the United States on Friday, headlined by defending champion Argentina and superstar Lionel Messi squaring off against surprise qualifier Cape Verde at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. A win for the South American giants will book their spot in the tournament’s round of 16, continuing Messi’s quest for a second World Cup title.

    At 36, Messi continues to rewrite World Cup history, putting in a tournament performance for the ages. He currently sits level atop this tournament’s goal-scoring table with six strikes, tied with France’s Kylian Mbappé. With 19 career World Cup goals, Messi holds the all-time leading scorer mark, though Mbappé sits just one goal behind after his brace in France’s 3-0 group-stage rout of Sweden. Crucially, Messi has played one fewer match than Mbappé at this year’s tournament, giving him a clear path to extend his lead and strengthen his bid for the Golden Boot when Argentina faces a Cape Verde side lacking the big-name star power of the tournament’s elite.

    The matchup has widely been framed as soccer’s modern David vs. Goliath, but Cape Verde has already proven that underestimating the African side leads to trouble. The underdogs held Spain to a 0-0 draw in group play, a result that pushed them into the knockout round and sent two-time champion Uruguay packing earlier than expected. Even as massive underdogs, Cape Verde’s camp says they have no intention of simply showing up to make up the numbers.

    Calling this the most significant match in the nation’s soccer history, Cape Verde head coach Bubista emphasized that his side’s knockout berth was no fluke. “We did not reach this stage by chance. It was on our own merits and we want to show the world our qualities, our values, and that there is a lot of quality in Cape Verdean football,” he told reporters Thursday. Backup defender Stopira echoed that confidence, saying “I believe we can do a great thing here… this match is no exception.” A Cape Verde upset would send shockwaves across the global soccer community, but the side has already earned the respect of Argentina’s coaching staff.

    Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said his side has no plans to overlook their opponents. “We are not surprised, to be honest. They are a good team. And they are not here by chance. We must respect them. And that’s what we will do,” Scaloni said.

    Friday’s action kicks off at 2 p.m. EDT at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where Australia will face Egypt in the day’s first knockout tie. Egypt is holding out hope that star forward Mohamed Salah, who picked up a hamstring injury in the team’s 1-1 group-stage draw with Iran that secured their knockout spot, will be available. Salah came off in the 57th minute of that match and only participated in limited training sessions in the lead-up to the game, with head coach Hossam Hassan saying he is still unsure whether Salah will feature in the starting lineup.

    This is only Egypt’s fourth World Cup appearance, and just their first trip to the knockout round. One more goal from Salah will tie the Liverpool icon’s career national team tally at 69, equaling the Egyptian all-time record held by his current national team coach. For Australia, the Socceroos are chasing their first ever knockout round win, having fallen in their two previous appearances at this stage — including a 2-1 loss to Messi and Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup round of 16. Australia advanced out of their group after a 2-0 win over Turkey, a 2-0 loss to the United States, and a conservative 0-0 draw with Paraguay that saw both sides protect their position to advance.

    The nightcap will be held at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, where Colombia faces Ghana with a round of 16 spot on the line. Colombia enter the match as heavy favorites after a dominant group-stage run, where they picked up wins over Uzbekistan and Congo, and held Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a hard-fought 0-0 draw. Across three matches, Los Cafeteros only conceded one goal, and head coach Nestor Lorenzo’s side has carried quiet confidence into their final training sessions this week.

    Even Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente named Colombia as a legitimate contender to win the entire tournament. Lorenzo downplayed the favorite label, saying “I know that is a complement from Coach De La Fuente, and I thank him for saying so, but I prefer not to be considered a favorite. Every single time we’ve had to take over the reins, our team has done so. That’s shown growth on behalf of Colombia.” A win Friday will see Colombia advance to face the winner of Saturday’s Switzerland-Algeria matchup on July 7.

    For Ghana, the moment is already something of a surprise. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in more than 20 years, but a win over Panama and a draw with England were enough to push them into the knockout round. Now they are aiming to reach the round of 16 for the first time since 2010, adding another chapter to this tournament’s run of upsets. “It’s very important,” Ghana center back Derrick Luckassen said. “We are through and that’s the most important, and we hope we can come even further. That is what we want. We will give our best to come through.”

    One of the biggest storylines entering Friday’s action remains Messi’s historic goal chase. While the Inter Miami star already holds the all-time career World Cup goal record, he remains far off the mark for the most goals scored in a single edition of the tournament: that 13-goal record set by France’s Just Fontaine all the way back at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Fontaine is one of only three men to hit double-digit goals in a single World Cup, alongside Hungary’s Sándor Kocsis (11 goals in 1954) and West Germany’s Gerd Müller (10 goals in 1970), and Fontaine’s record came in his only ever World Cup appearance — while Messi is playing in his sixth.

    The tournament’s round of 16 is set to begin Saturday, with eight more knockout ties scheduled to decide the quarterfinal field over the coming days. This story was compiled with reporting from AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds, David Skretta and Schuyler Dixon.

  • What will guests wear to Taylor Swift’s wedding of the century?

    What will guests wear to Taylor Swift’s wedding of the century?

    Wedding fever has swept across pop culture and social media in recent days, as swirling rumors point to an imminent high-profile marriage between global music icon Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs NFL star Travis Kelce in New York City. The 36-year-old couple, who announced their engagement in August 2025, have perfected Swift’s well-known talent for controlling public narrative, leaving every concrete detail of the rumored Friday nuptials shrouded in mystery.

    Rumors have placed the event at Manhattan’s iconic Madison Square Garden, a massive sports and entertainment venue located in the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities. Even as speculation mounts over whether the space will be transformed into a one-of-a-kind wedding venue, including unconfirmed reports of a custom-built castle on site, and who has scored one of the estimated 1,100 invitations, the biggest question on everyone’s mind ahead of the big day is simple: what will everyone wear?

    Fashion industry insiders and entertainment journalists have shared their expert predictions for guest looks, leaning into the aesthetic preferences that have long defined Swift’s personal style. Savannah Bradley, a fashion editor speaking to the BBC, explained that guests spotted arriving in New York this week will likely opt for soft, polished, classic silhouettes that align with Swift’s favored aesthetic, with romantic design as the core throughline. She added that it would be no surprise to see a host of A-list guests in pieces from luxury houses including Gucci and Dior, the latter currently helmed by creative director Jonathan Anderson.

    Swift’s guest list draws from her wide circle of celebrity friends, each with distinct personal style: the roster includes Selena Gomez, Suki Waterhouse, music trio the Haim sisters, model Cara Delevingne, producer Jack Antonoff and rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter, among others. Entertainment journalist Nola Ojomu notes that Carpenter’s signature aesthetic leans into distinctive old Hollywood glamour, a look that is perfectly suited for a high-profile wedding. Unconfirmed reports have pointed to a formal black tie dress code, requiring top hats for male attendees and evening gloves for female guests, with an overarching “whimsical” theme communicated to invitees, according to an anonymous source cited by Us Weekly.

    Ojomu points out that Suki Waterhouse’s signature natural bohemian style fits the rumored whimsical theme perfectly, and she is expected to turn out one of the night’s most memorable looks alongside fashion-forward attendees like Cara Delevingne. She predicts guests will embrace warm-weather New York wedding trends, reaching for vibrant hues, flowy silhouettes, and the recently revived lightweight lace fabrics that have dominated 2026 red carpets, alongside chic dresses with attached multiway neck scarves.

    Even as speculation over guest fashion runs wild, much remains unclear about how much of the event will ever be seen by the public. Conflicting reports swirl: some claim a livestream will give fans a peek at the celebrations, while others insist a total phone ban will keep all photography locked inside the venue. With uncertainty over whether their outfits will ever be seen by outside audiences, experts say guests are likely dressing to impress their fellow A-list attendees rather than the general public.

    Bradley explained that the unwritten rules for dressing for a gathering of fellow celebrities have shifted dramatically in recent years. Where once the goal was to flaunt wealth via headline-grabbing luxury pieces, today’s A-list guests prioritize showcasing refined personal taste and creative vision. Many attendees may opt for archival designer pieces — think a 1994 Chanel vintage look or a 2005 Ralph Lauren runway piece — or restyle a previously worn gown in a new, interesting way to stand out, rather than commissioning a brand new custom piece.

    Of course, the unbreakable rule for every guest remains: never upstage the bride. Walking that line is particularly tricky at a wedding where nearly every attendee can afford custom or archival high-end designer looks, but both experts agree that guests will stick to the unspoken rule. While attendees may lean into bolder choices than the average wedding guest, they will be careful not to pull focus from Swift on her big day.

    As for the bride herself, fashion experts agree that a custom designer gown is all but guaranteed. Bradley notes that Swift has longstanding close working relationships with acclaimed designers including Stella McCartney, the late Vivienne Westwood, and Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen, while designs from Oscar de la Renta or Christian Siriano would also align perfectly with her aesthetic. “A corset wouldn’t shock me. She loves a corset,” Bradley added, echoing a common observation of Swift’s red carpet and stage wardrobe.

    Sarah Chapelle, founder of the popular fashion blog Taylor Swift Style, points out that Kelce — a noted fan of bold fashion — is also likely to make a sartorial splash. The NFL star often steps out in bright colors and eye-catching patterns, favoring pieces that are bold, playful and fun, so Chapelle predicts a colorful statement jacket for the wedding reception would fit right in with his personal style.

    Ojomu predicts Swift will lean into a full fairytale aesthetic for her walk down the aisle, with a princess ball gown silhouette that delivers the iconic romantic moment fans expect. Her main ceremony dress is likely to be a classic corseted design with a flowing A-line skirt, fitting both her personal taste and the rumored whimsical wedding theme. But given the couple’s well-documented love of celebrating, Ojomu expects Swift to change into a more lightweight, movement-friendly design for the reception — likely a relaxed, comfortable piece from Stella McCartney or Ralph Lauren. For Kelce, she predicts the groom will lean into playful, tailored design from American brand Thom Browne once the full-scale celebrations get underway.

  • Carney and Marcos deepen Canada-Philippines ties as Ottawa looks beyond US trade

    Carney and Marcos deepen Canada-Philippines ties as Ottawa looks beyond US trade

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia – In a diplomatic move aligned with Canada’s broader strategy to expand economic engagement beyond its traditional reliance on the United States, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. have committed to strengthening bilateral collaboration across trade, energy, and security sectors during their meeting on Thursday. This agreement marks a key milestone in Canada’s deepening involvement in the dynamic Indo-Pacific region.\n\nAddressing the long-standing people-to-people connection between the two nations, Carney emphasized that the 1 million-strong Filipino community in Canada forms an integral social and economic backbone of the country. He noted that a targeted strategic partnership between Ottawa and Manila would deliver mutual gains on two pressing global priorities: bolstering regional energy security and expanding access to critical minerals, resources that are essential to the global transition to clean energy and advanced manufacturing supply chains.\n\nMarcos echoed Carney’s positive outlook, stating that the two nations share aligned global ambitions and common strategic goals that create a strong foundation for enhanced cooperation.\n\nDuring the talks, the two leaders laid out clear next steps for bilateral collaboration: they formally committed to advancing negotiations toward a comprehensive Canada-Philippines free trade agreement, deepening defense and maritime cooperation across the Indo-Pacific, and leveraging the tight-knit Filipino-Canadian community to drive stronger people-to-people and economic ties.\n\nCurrently, Canada is pursuing two parallel trade tracks in Southeast Asia: a bilateral deal with the Philippines and a separate broader agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc. Carney has set an ambitious target to finalize these negotiations ahead of his scheduled November visit to Manila, where Marcos will assume the rotating chair of the annual ASEAN summit, providing a high-profile platform to announce progress on trade cooperation.\n\nThis push for diversified trade ties stems from a deliberate policy shift by the Carney administration. The prime minister has set a national goal to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next 10 years, a target shaped by ongoing trade frictions and persistent American tariffs that have created uncertainty for cross-border investment and slowed business confidence in bilateral trade channels.

  • Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship

    Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship

    After more than a decade of quiet volunteer work cataloging historical documents at Britain’s National Archives, retired insurance executive Michael Scurr stumbled upon a historic find that has electrified the global history community. For 11 years, Scurr dedicated his Thursday mornings to the painstaking work of organizing 18th-century Royal Navy correspondence, a labor of love designed to support future generations of researchers. It was during a routine sifting session last May that his work turned up something extraordinary.

    Nestled within the personal letters of an 18th-century Royal Navy captain, attached to a December 24, 1776 battle report detailing the capture of the American privateer *Dalton*, was an unassuming folded enclosure labeled only “another paper.” When Scurr carefully unfolded the yellowed document, his eye immediately caught the word “Declaration” printed across its top margin. “I thought, oh, right, OK, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,” he recalled to the Associated Press. “How exciting is that?”

    Following months of careful authentication, the UK National Archives officially unveiled the discovery this Thursday, just days ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Experts have confirmed the document is an extremely rare early printing of the United States’ founding text, produced less than two weeks after the original Declaration was signed in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. Printed in Exeter, New Hampshire between July 16 and 19, 1776, the copy was created specifically to spread word across the colonies and beyond that the 13 North American colonies had formally severed their political ties to the British Crown.

    This find marks a historic first: of the 11 known surviving original copies of the Exeter printing of the Declaration, this is the only one located outside of the United States. What makes the document even more significant, however, is its provenance, according to Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives’ cataloging project for Royal Navy correspondence from the American Revolutionary War. The document was captured directly from a ship operating under the authority of the newly formed Continental Congress, with official orders signed by Congress president John Hancock.
    Bevan noted that while popular history has widely documented the harsh struggles of the Continental Army on land at sites like Valley Forge, far less attention has been paid to the American sailors who risked their lives at sea to disrupt British trade routes and challenge the dominant Royal Navy. This discovery, she says, casts new light on that forgotten chapter of the revolution.

    The presence of the Declaration on board the *Dalton* also offers key insight into how the founding document was used in the field, Bevan explained. Following customary naval practice, the *Dalton*’s captain would have read his official orders aloud to the entire crew – and likely included the Declaration in that reading. “They know why they’re fighting, but this puts it in a language which makes it greater than them,” Bevan said. “They’re not fighting because they’re aggrieved in particular. They’re fighting for an ideal. And I think that just to find the declaration in a theater of war where people are committing themselves to fight for their country on the wide ocean is really something special.”

    The *Dalton*, an 18-gun privateer, was a privately owned vessel commissioned by the Continental Congress to bolster the fledgling nation’s tiny, under-resourced navy. On Christmas Eve 1776, after a seven-hour chase off the coast of Portugal, the *Dalton* was captured by HMS *Raisonnable*, a 64-gun Royal Navy ship commanded by Captain Thomas Fitzherbert. The *Dalton*’s 120-member crew was taken prisoner and transferred to Plymouth, England, where they were held in harsh, overcrowded conditions.

    One 19-year-old captive named Charles Hebert documented his experience in a personal journal, which he kept throughout more than two years of imprisonment before he was finally freed in a prisoner exchange. Hebert’s entries detailed persistent hunger, widespread illness, and repeated punishment for the captured Americans – though dozens of the crew, including Hebert, ultimately survived their captivity.

    News of the discovery has been met with widespread excitement from historians across the Atlantic. Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, called the find a transformative link to the earliest days of American independence. This copy, he explained, connects directly to the *Dalton*’s captain, who carried the message of American sovereignty to ports across the globe.

    “It’s not just a document, it’s an artifact,” Skic said. “It’s a tangible connection to the past, because holding that piece of paper in the archivist’s hand today is a way to transport us back to 1776. The baton being passed, in a way.”
    Skic added that the discovery also carries a larger lesson for the historical community: even 250 years after the American Revolution, there are still untold stories and unexamined artifacts waiting to be uncovered. “Even though 250 years has gone by, we still do not know everything about the American Revolution, and there are still finds left to be discovered,” he said.

  • Lamine Yamal without a goal, yet Spain’s young superstar is attacking threat in a 3-0 knockout win

    Lamine Yamal without a goal, yet Spain’s young superstar is attacking threat in a 3-0 knockout win

    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Eighteen-year-old Spanish winger Lamine Yamal is steadily regaining his match sharpness at his maiden World Cup, turning in a dynamic attacking performance even as he walked away without a goal in Spain’s commanding 3-0 knockout round win over Austria.

    The young superstar, one of the most anticipated emerging talents in global football, has spent the past two months working to rebuild full fitness after pulling his hamstring during a Barcelona La Liga fixture — an injury that left him fearing he would be forced to miss the entire tournament entirely.

    Despite his recent recovery, Yamal put on an unforgettable attacking display for the sellout crowd of 72,492 spectators at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. The match, which ended with Spain advancing to the next round without conceding a single goal through their first four tournament matches, earned Yamal the Player of the Match honors, a silver trophy he clutched proudly after the final whistle. He finished the game with six total shots, constantly testing Austria’s backline and creating space for his teammates with his relentless movement.

    “I didn’t get on the scoresheet today, but I’m over the moon that we’re through to the next round,” Yamal told reporters after the match.

    The sold-out crowd leaned heavily in support of La Roja, and counted A-list celebrities Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem among its attendees. Yamal’s 3-year-old half-brother Keyne was also in attendance, wrapped in the Spanish flag celebrating the team’s third goal as the stadium erupted.

    “It means the world to me to see my mom and my little brother living the life we always dreamed of together,” Yamal said. “My brother is like my son; I adore him more than anything.”

    Across Spain’s three group stage matches, Yamal only logged 141 minutes of playing time, notching one goal as global headlines focused on veteran superstars like Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe. But the teen says he is steadily getting back to his best form ahead of the tournament’s knockout stages.

    “Little by little, I’m starting to feel like myself again — I can make the runs, pull off the dribbles, and take on defenders just like I usually do,” Yamal explained. “I’m at 100% fitness now, whatever the coach needs from me I’m ready. I just need to keep resting and taking care of my body to stay sharp.”

    This knockout clash marked Yamal’s longest appearance of the tournament, with the winger playing 85 minutes before being substituted off. He came inches away from scoring on multiple occasions, each time denied by impressive Austrian defending.

    His closest chance came just before he came off the pitch: a left-footed strike cleared off the goal line by Austrian captain David Alaba, keeping Yamal off the scoresheet. In first-half stoppage time, after Alex Baena’s 25-yard free kick hit the post and the Austrian defense failed to clear the loose ball, Yamal latched onto the chance at the back post only for goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to block his close-range effort. Early in the first half, Yamal found himself unmarked in front of goal only to send his shot sailing over the crossbar, and he even opened the game with a long solo run that ended with a shot straight into Schlager’s arms.

    Austria manager Ralf Rangnick acknowledged Yamal’s elite ability, while praising his side’s defensive organization to keep the teen from finding the back of the net. “Lamine Yamal is an incredible talent, one of the best we’ve ever seen at his age, and we knew what we were up against today,” Rangnick said. “But I think we defended him really well, and we managed to stop him from scoring.”

    With the win, Spain advances to the next round of the World Cup, where they will face higher stakes as they chase the tournament title — and Yamal says he is ready to step up when his team needs him.

  • Campaigners and scholars demand answers from British Museum following disclosures

    Campaigners and scholars demand answers from British Museum following disclosures

    A bombshell investigation by independent outlet Middle East Eye has pulled back the curtain on the British Museum’s deceptive practices around changes to its Middle Eastern exhibits, triggering widespread calls for an independent probe into alleged ethical breaches, political interference, and misleading public statements. The report, published Wednesday, confirms that the institution’s 2024 decision to scrub the terms “Palestine”, “Palestinian”, and “Israeli occupation” from its public displays was not, as museum leadership had repeatedly claimed, the outcome of audience research or a routine gallery update — it was a direct response to months of targeted lobbying by pro-Israel advocacy groups.

    Internal documents and email correspondence obtained by MEE directly contradict multiple public statements made by British Museum director Nicholas Cullinan earlier this year. In February, Cullinan claimed he had no knowledge of a formal complaint letter submitted by UK Lawyers for Israel, despite the correspondence being addressed directly to his work email and explicitly flagged for his attention by museum staff. He also insisted the terminology changes were completed months before his February comments as part of a long, deliberative curatorial review during a scheduled gallery refresh. But the investigation reveals that some of the alterations were implemented mere hours after a single complaint was lodged by pro-Israel activists.

    The British Museum has repeatedly denied intentional erasure of Palestinian identity, releasing a repeat of its February statement to MEE in response to the new investigation, claiming “it is simply not true” that it removed the term Palestine, noting that it retains the wording in some historic and contemporary galleries. But campaigners and academic experts say the contradictions in Cullinan’s public accounts and the internal evidence raise fundamental questions about the institution’s commitment to transparency, curatorial independence, and ethical governance.

    Campaign group Culture Unstained, which has previously challenged the British Museum’s ties to fossil fuel giant BP, has warned that Cullinan and the museum’s leadership likely violated the Museum Association’s formal Code of Ethics. The code requires all UK museums to base institutional decisions on professional best practice, maintain open and transparent governance, and prioritize public benefit. A spokesperson for Culture Unstained told MEE the investigation confirms the museum “has been swayed by undue political influence which has then undermined ethical and curatorial rigour”, adding that Cullinan’s misleading statements were deliberately crafted to confuse the public and obscure the actual decision-making process.

    Leading archaeology professor Dan Hicks of the University of Oxford, author of *The Brutish Museums*, a prominent work critiquing colonial-era museum practices, told MEE the leaked emails cast serious doubt on the museum’s commitment to academic integrity and proper procedure. As public research institutions, Hicks explained, changes to gallery interpretation at major cultural institutions must be rooted in curatorial expertise and open consultation with all relevant stakeholder and community groups. In this case, he argued, unplanned top-down reactions to random social media complaints bypassed established institutional protocols, resulting in poorly considered changes to public content. Hicks called for an immediate, full public accounting from the museum, noting “the degree of redaction and sustained silence in the British Museum’s replies to MEE’s story is hard to understand. What could there possibly be to hide?”

    Palestinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Husam Zomlot said he was never convinced by Cullinan’s February 2025 reassurance during a phone call that “nothing had changed” regarding Palestinian terminology in the museum’s displays. “From day one, the British Museum’s story did not add up,” Zomlot told MEE, emphasizing that the erasure of Palestinian historical identity carries severe stakes amid the current conflict in Gaza. “This is absolutely existential for us in light of the ongoing genocide.”

    Peter Leary, deputy director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, connected the museum’s decision to the broader context of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, noting that just last week a United Nations independent inquiry confirmed Israel is deliberately targeting and killing Palestinian children as part of a strategy to eliminate Palestinian national future. “This chilling evidence indicates that pro-Israel groups have been simultaneously working to eliminate all mention of their past,” Leary said, urging the museum to reverse the changes and address its problematic conduct rather than “collaborate with efforts to expunge Palestinians and their history.”

    The investigation also uncovered existing internal dissent among British Museum staff, who have previously raised alarms that the institution’s public position on the terminology changes is contradictory, and that pre-approved, standard responses were already available to address complaints about Israeli-Palestinian content without altering permanent displays. Staff also reported being kept completely in the dark about the museum’s 2025 hosting of an event marking the 77th anniversary of Israel’s independence, and said that management has refused to issue a public apology or respond meaningfully to a staff letter demanding clarification and a break in institutional ties to Israeli cultural organizations.

    A spokesperson for campaign group Energy Embargo for Palestine accused Cullinan of repeated deception of both staff and the public, saying the scandal “makes a mockery of the pretence that the British Museum is in any way impartial or apolitical.” The spokesperson noted that the museum already holds a vast collection of Palestinian artifacts that are never put on public display, at a time when Israel has destroyed hundreds of Palestinian cultural sites and artifacts during its military campaign in Gaza, and killed or displaced countless Palestinian cultural heritage workers. “The British Museum’s culture of greed, exploitation, and corruption causes real-world pain and suffering, and we will hold them to account,” the spokesperson added.

    MEE reached out to both the Museum Association and the British Museum for comment ahead of publication. The British Museum only provided a reprint of its February statement, while the Museum Association did not send a response before the investigation went live.

  • The one club man who is Spain’s under-the-radar hero

    The one club man who is Spain’s under-the-radar hero

    As the world’s attention fixated on teen sensation Lamine Yamal ahead of Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup round-of-32 clash against Austria at Los Angeles Stadium, it was an unsung veteran of the squad who stole the show to secure the European champions’ place in the last 16. While fans packed the stands with Yamal’s name on the back of their match shirts, and cameras followed the 18-year-old Barcelona star everywhere from his team bus arrival to pre-match warmups, it was 29-year-old Mikel Oyarzabal who delivered a masterclass in finishing, scoring two unanswered goals to anchor a comfortable 3-0 victory over Austria.

    This result marks Spain’s first knockout stage win at a men’s World Cup in 16 years, a milestone that cements La Roja’s status as one of the tournament’s leading title contenders. For Oyarzabal, the moment is the culmination of a long, hard-fought road back to top-level competition. A product of Real Sociedad’s youth academy who has never played for another top-flight club, the striker missed the 2022 Qatar World Cup after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Four years on, he has entered the peak of his career, bringing blistering scoring form to his long-awaited World Cup debut.

    Going into the Austria clash, Oyarzabal had already notched 12 goals in 12 international appearances, and his double on Thursday extended that incredible run to 17 goals in his last 16 starts for Spain, bringing his total tournament tally to four. Since the start of 2025, only Norwegian superstar Erling Haaland has scored more international goals among all European players than Oyarzabal. He also made history with his performance, becoming the first Spanish player to net twice in a World Cup knockout match since Emilio Butragueno did so against Denmark in the 1986 tournament’s round of 16.

    Many football pundits have highlighted that Oyarzabal’s understated profile allows him to exploit the space created by defenders’ focus on Yamal. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, prominent Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague called Oyarzabal the side’s “invisible match-winner”, noting that the striker has a historic track record of scoring in major finals. “He is one of the most intelligent players we have, and our most decisive player at this tournament, no doubt,” Balague added. Former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta echoed that sentiment, telling BBC One that Oyarzabal has solved longstanding questions about La Roja’s centre-forward position, after transitioning from a wide right role to a central starting spot. Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger also pointed to the dynamic between Yamal and Oyarzabal: “When you have someone in your team like Lamine Yamal who attracts so much attention, you know you will get more space. Oyarzabal uses that space, gets the ball, and scores goals.”

    Off the pitch, Oyarzabal credits his innate goalscoring instinct to his early childhood playing hockey, a sport that taught him to shake off missed chances and keep hunting for more. “I always had this voice in my head, ‘It doesn’t matter if you missed one – there will be more,’” he explained. “I could smell goals, and that voice was always in my head.” Playing as a central striker fits that mentality perfectly, he added: “If you play higher up the pitch, and especially if you’re a striker like myself, it all comes down to a few moments. We often have to smell where the ball might drop or where you have to stand to have a chance at goal.”

    This victory extends Spain’s incredible unbeaten run to 34 matches, just one game short of the national team’s all-time record. La Roja got off to a slow start in the tournament with an unexpected goalless draw against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde, but have grown in strength with each match, now scoring eight goals across four games without conceding a single goal. They will next face a tough last-16 test against either Portugal or Croatia, and pundits warn that the side has not even hit top gear yet. Former England striker Dion Dublin told BBC Radio 5 Live: “They were comfortable playing in third or fourth gear against Austria because they knew the opposition didn’t have anything to offer. When they are playing against France or Portugal, whoever it may be, they will just up their game again. I think they have a lot more to offer which is a frightening thing for the rest of the teams in the competition.”