Blackpool, bathing and a boar: Photos of the week

World Athletics mandates gene test for female category eligibility setting September 1 deadline for Tokyo Championships.World Athletics has mandated a gene test for female athletes to compete in elite events, with a September 1 deadline ahead of the Tokyo Championships starting September 13. This decision follows ongoing controversies regarding eligibility rules, particularly impacting athletes like Caster Semenya, and aims to ensure that only biologically female competitors can enter the female category. Want More Context? 🔎

Britain plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel improves conditions in Gaza and commits to a two-state solution, following France's similar announcement. The two-state solution, aimed at establishing Palestine alongside Israel, faces significant challenges, including expanding Israeli settlements and unresolved core issues from the 1947 UN partition plan and subsequent conflicts. Want More Context? 🔎

Esme Stallard and Mark PoyntingBBC News Climate and ScienceS. Lakamov/Anadolu/Getty ImagesDebris in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula after a 8.8 magnitude earthquakeAn 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting mass evacuations due to tsunami fears, reminiscent of past disasters in 2004 and 2011; however, the resulting tsunami was less severe, with waves reaching 4 meters, attributed to various geological factors and improved early warning systems. Want More Context? 🔎

After struggling with lifeguard shortages that affected aquatic programs across Canada, several northern Ontario cities report a significant improvement this summer, with fully staffed pools and supervised beaches. The YMCA in downtown Sudbury, which had to reduce programming, has now returned to pre-pandemic levels, indicating a positive shift in community aquatic services. Want More Context? 🔎

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized UK leader Keir Starmer's conditional plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, framing it as appeasement of Hamas. The article argues that recognition could empower moderate Palestinian leadership and promote peace, contrasting it with the UK's hesitance and emphasizing that Palestinian rights should not be conditional but a fundamental entitlement under international law. Want More Context? 🔎

This episode, "The War on Truth," delves into the origins and global ramifications of fake news, tracing its evolution from propaganda to its amplification through social media. Highlighting key examples like U.S. elections, bird flu, and COVID-19 misinformation, it features expert insights and dynamic visuals to analyze the consequences of misinformation, such as societal polarization and declining public trust. Want More Context? 🔎