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Godalming plant-based cookery classes bring people together

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Godalming plant-based cookery classes bring people together


Samantha Hutchison, the council’s assistant director of community services, said the classes offered “a fantastic opportunity for people to come together, share skills, experience different cultural cuisines and improve both their health and community wellbeing”.



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Why are Scotland playing Ivory Coast in Liverpool?

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Why are Scotland playing Ivory Coast in Liverpool?


There is also a bit of symmetry about Tuesday’s first-ever meeting between these two sides.

Ivory Coast, at 35th, are five places above Scotland in the world rankings and are returning to the World Cup finals for the first time in 12 years.

With a 52,600 capacity, Hill Dickinson Stadium is just above Hampden’s 51,866.

Considering the distances involved for both sets of fans, will the attendance get close to that, or even the average of about 24,000 Ivory Coast usually attract to their games at the 60,000-capacity Alassane Ouattara Stadium?

Scotland are no strangers to playing in neutral venues, recently facing Gibraltar in Portugal, Ukraine in Poland and, in September, beating Belarus 2-0 in Hungary in a World Cup qualifier also switched because of Russia’s invasion.

However, the most famous might be the 1977 win over Wales.

Because of capacity restrictions and safety concerns at other grounds, the match was moved to Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium – Wales’ first home match held outside the country since 1890.

An infamous handball by Joe Jordan won Scotland a controversial penalty, with Don Masson slotting home the opener before Kenny Dalglish’s late strike settled the tie to send Scotland to the finals in Argentina instead of their heartbroken hosts.



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Extended interview: Olivia Munn

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Extended interview: Olivia Munn



Olivia Munn reflects on her career, family, breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.



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Are robots coming to a McDonald’s near you?

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Are robots coming to a McDonald’s near you?


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Walk into a McDonald’s, and you expect a familiar routine. You order, wait and grab your food. At one location in Shanghai, that routine briefly looked very different.

McDonald’s deployed robots from Chinese robotics firm Keenon Robotics in one of its fast-food restaurants as part of a short-term test tied to a store opening. The robots greeted customers, added a bit of entertainment and helped with simple service tasks.

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DRONE FOOD DELIVERY LAUNCHES IN NEW JERSEY

Humanoid and service robots from Keenon Robotics line up outside a McDonald’s in Shanghai, highlighting the mix of experimental machines used in the short-term test. (Keenon Robotics)

What actually happened at this McDonald’s in Shanghai

This test happened at just one location. It was not a rollout. It was a short pilot tied to a store opening. Inside the restaurant, humanoid robots greeted customers and added a fun, interactive element. You can see them wearing McDonald’s uniforms and making simple gestures for diners. At the same time, other robots handled basic tasks like delivering food and clearing trays. It was a mix of different machines working together, not a fully integrated system.

Human workers still did the real work behind the counter. They handled cooking, orders and anything that required judgment.

In the end, this looked more like a live demo than a real shift in operations. The robots were there to attract attention, not replace staff.

Why McDonald’s is experimenting with robots

Even though this was a small test, it reflects a much bigger trend. Restaurants in many regions are dealing with hiring challenges. At the same time, fewer workers are interested in repetitive, lower-paid roles. That creates an opportunity for automation. Robots can handle simple, repetitive tasks with consistency. They do not get tired, and they can operate for long hours. For fast-food chains, that level of reliability is appealing. At this stage, the technology is not advanced enough to replace human workers. But it can support them in limited ways.

Are robot workers the future of fast food?

Not yet. This test was more about exploring possibilities than changing operations. The robots acted more like a demonstration of what could come next rather than a working solution ready for scale. Right now, the most realistic future is a hybrid model. Humans continue to handle cooking, customer issues and complex tasks. Robots assist with basic service and customer-facing roles. That balance could evolve over time as the technology improves.

Why robot tests matter for the future of fast food

Even short-term experiments can signal where things are headed. Robots can speed up service, reduce long-term labor costs and create a unique experience that attracts customers. For families and younger diners, interacting with a robot can turn a routine visit into something memorable. That novelty factor alone makes these tests valuable for companies looking to stand out.

ROBOT FIREFIGHTERS ENTER BURNING BUILDINGS FIRST

Robot working at McDonalds

A humanoid robot greets a customer at the counter, showing how the machines were used to create an interactive, front-of-house experience. (Keenon Robotics)

Why fast food automation is still in the early stages

Today’s robots are limited. They struggle with complex tasks and unpredictable situations that require human judgment. Cooking, handling special requests and managing busy environments still depend on people. That is why this test remained small and temporary. It shows potential, but it also highlights how far the technology still has to go.

What this means to you

You are not about to walk into a fully automated McDonald’s. But you may start seeing more technology in everyday places. That could mean faster service and fewer delays. It could also mean less direct interaction with human staff. Jobs in fast food are unlikely to disappear overnight. Instead, they may shift toward roles that focus on customer support, problem-solving and managing technology. At the same time, these early tests raise questions about how far automation will go and how quickly it could change the workforce.

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Robot working at McDonalds

A humanoid robot dressed as a chef stands on display, underscoring how the test leaned more toward demonstration and entertainment than real kitchen operations. (Keenon Robotics)

Kurt’s key takeaways

This was not a rollout. It was a glimpse. McDonald’s used humanoid robots in one location for a short period to test reactions and explore possibilities. The machines added novelty, but they did not replace workers. Still, the direction is clear. Automation is moving into everyday spaces, one small test at a time.

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If robots can already greet you and deliver your food, how long before they take on the rest of the job? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Prince Harry ‘hopes King will invite Meghan and children to Sandringham this summer’

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Prince Harry ‘hopes King will invite Meghan and children to Sandringham this summer’


Prince Harry is hoping he, his wife Meghan and their two children will be invited by the King for some “family time” at Sandringham this summer, according to reports.

The Duke of Sussex has only seen his father twice in two years, while Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, last saw their grandfather more than four years ago. The Duchess of Sussex was last in the UK when the couple attended Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022.

Harry, who is currently waiting for a decision on his UK security, has said he would not feel safe bringing his family to the UK without armed police protection, which the Sussexes lost when they stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US.

But the duke, 41, would reportedly welcome an invitation from the King to Sandringham, hi’s estate in Norfolk, as he believes this would enable him to bring his family with him.

A friend of the 41-year-old told The Sunday Times: “If he was invited by the King, he would get a package of security that automatically kicks in. He’d like an invite to Sandringham. Would he go? It would depend who was there. If the King was to say, ‘Come up and spend some time with the family’, he’d love that.”

Prince Harry is hoping he, Meghan Markle and their two children will be invited by the King for some ‘family time’ at Sandringham this summer, according to reports (Archewell Foundation)

Harry last saw his father on 10 September last year when they met for under an hour at Clarence House for the first time in 19 months. Afterwards, a source close to the duke told the newspaper: “He always loves seeing his father and would love to see him as much as possible.”

The pair are believed to have spoken multiple times since, although Harry was in London for his ongoing court case against Associated Newspapers and did not see his family. He and the Prince of Wales are still estranged.

Prior to the September meeting, Harry and Charles last met face to face in February when the duke made a transatlantic dash to see the monarch after hearing of his cancer diagnosis. However, they spent just over 30 minutes together before the King left to recuperate in Sandringham. Charles is still receiving treatment for the disease.

The duke’s controversial autobiography Spare contained a number of allegations against the royal family
The duke’s controversial autobiography Spare contained a number of allegations against the royal family (PA Archive)

Harry has previously spoken of his hopes for a “reconciliation” with his family, saying: “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things.”

He added: “But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family,” and said there was “no point in continuing to fight anymore”.

The duke’s controversial autobiography Spare contained a number of allegations against the royal family. The book came out in January 2023 and further opened a rift with his brother, with claims that Prince William had physically attacked him. The well-publicised memoir also covered Prince Harry’s mother Diana’s death, as well as his sex life, drug use and time served in the army.



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Cut taxes on energy bills before giving bailouts, Kemi Badenoch says

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Cut taxes on energy bills before giving bailouts, Kemi Badenoch says



The Tory leader refuses to rule out direct payments to households if bills spike but says this would come at a cost.



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Extreme weather in Afghanistan leaves 17 people dead, authorities say

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Extreme weather in Afghanistan leaves 17 people dead, authorities say


KABUL, Afghanistan — Severe flooding, a landslide and thunderstorms in parts of Afghanistan have left 17 people dead and 26 injured over the last 24 hours, authorities said Sunday, the latest casualties from extreme weather in the country this season.

The number of casualties could increase as crews from the country’s National Disaster Management Authority survey the affected areas, the authority’s spokesman Yousuf Hammad said in a statement. Thirteen of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, mostly in the western, central and northwestern parts of the country, were affected.

The severe weather also left 147 homes either completely or partially destroyed, wiped out 80 kilometers of roads and destroyed agricultural land and irrigation canals, Hammad said.

Earlier this year, heavy snowfall and flash floods left dozens of people dead across the country.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that triggers flash floods often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods.

Decades of conflict coupled with poor infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation and the intensifying effects of climate change have amplified the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.



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Record number of lawmakers retiring from Congress ahead of midterms

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Record number of lawmakers retiring from Congress ahead of midterms


On Friday, Republican Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri became the 36th Republican — and 57th House member — to announce plans not to seek re-election, saying it was time to “pass the torch” to a new generation.

In this Oct. 23, 2025, file photo, Rep. Sam Graves center, speaks alongside (L-R) Rep. Lisa McClain, Rep. Tom Emmer, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and Rep. Steve Scalise, during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Eric Lee/Getty Images, FILE

In fact, more Republicans are retiring ahead of the midterms than at any point in nearly a century, according to an ABC News tally of retirement announcements and a review of historical data since 1930 compiled by the Brookings Institution.

Heading for the exits

That’s a larger cohort than the 34 Republicans who did not run to keep their seats in 2018, when Republicans lost the majority in a 40-seat wave election to Democrats during the first Trump administration.

It includes powerful committee chairs, including Graves and Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, the Republican leader of the House Budget Committee; veterans such as retired Navy SEAL Rep. Morgan Luttrell of Texas and retired Air Force brigadier general Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska; and 20 Republicans running for Senate or governor of their home states.

Two other Republicans, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, retired before the end of the term. Rep. Dan Crenshaw lost his primary in Texas this month.

“Republicans are staring down the barrel of the minority party, which is not a fulfilling place to be in federal politics in 2026,” said Casey Burgat, the director of the Legislative Affairs Program at George Washington University.

So far, 21 House Democrats have announced plans to retire, more than the total that left ahead of the 2018 midterms, but less than the 29 Democrats who did not run for office again before the party lost the House majority in 2021.

In this May 10, 2023, file photo, Chair of the House Republican Conference Rep. Elise Stefanik looks on as Rep. Morgan Luttrell speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images, FILE

Of that cohort, eight launched bids for Senate or governor of their home states. Another Democrat, former Rep. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, has already left Congress and won the New Jersey governor’s race last fall.

Many reasons for leaving

Many of the lawmakers cited personal reasons, including long careers and their families, as shaping their decisions not to seek office again.

Others dropped re-election bids following redistricting fights that scrambled political maps and would have forced them to campaign in new districts.

The group of retiring members, particularly the Democrats, includes influential party leaders who have spent decades in Congress, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, and former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

The 86-year-old Democrats began their political lives decades ago, as interns together in the 1960’s for then-Maryland Sen. Daniel Brewster.

In this Feb. 14, 2024, file photo, Rep. Jodey Arrington , joined by Rep. Beth Van Duyne and Rep. Brian Babin, speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images, FILE

Still, some of the oldest members of Congress, such as 88-year-old Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., and 87-year-old Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., are running for re-election.

Rep. Jared Golden, 43, a moderate Democrat from Maine, surprised some colleagues when he announced plans to retire from his Trump-leaning district.

In his announcement, he pointed to the “increasing incivility and plain nastiness” of politics, and “recent incidents of political violence” that factored into his decision to leave public life.

“As a father, I have to consider whether the good I can achieve outweighs everything my family endures as a result,” he wrote in the Bangor Daily News.

Golden also voiced frustration with the state of Congress and the longest shutdown in government history last fall, arguing that the dysfunction led him to reconsider his options.

In this Oct. 25, 2024, file photo, Rep. Jared Golden attends an event in Lewiston, Maine.

Robert F. Bukaty/AP, FILE

With redistricting from both parties carving up the House map and leaving fewer truly competitive swing districts, politicians may be motivated by what helps them win primaries elections, over what can be done through legislative compromise across Capitol Hill, Burgat said.

“Compromise has become a dirty word,” he told ABC News.



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Saudi Arabia extends visa deadlines, allows exit without fines amid conflict: What stranded travellers need to do before April 18 – The Times of India

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Saudi Arabia extends visa deadlines, allows exit without fines amid conflict: What stranded travellers need to do before April 18 – The Times of India


In a latest development, Saudi Arabia has announced to extend visa deadlines, it’s a news that comes as a relief for stranded travellers. As travel is disrupted across the Gulf, Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) has launched a major relief measure. As per information shared on X, the visa deadlines have been extended while allowing penalty-free exits for those unable to leave on time because of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The official advisory shared on X reads (translated version):“Jawazat confirmed that it has started extending expired visas from 8/9/1447 AH (corresponding to February 25, 2026), based on requests from the beneficiaries. The extension will continue until 1/11/1447 AH (April 18, 2026), after payment of the prescribed fees through the Absher platform.”A dual relief for travellersIn its latest official advisory, Jawazat confirmed that holders of different visa categories which include Umrah visas, visitor visas, transit visas, and final exit permits, stranded travellers whose visas expired on or after February 25, 2026, can now either extend their stay or leave the country. No fine included, which is great news.The visa extension window will remain open until April 18, 2026. Extensions can be processed digitally through the Absher platform. It can be done after payment of applicable fees.No fines, a major highlightSaudi authorities have allowed affected travellers to exit the Kingdom without renewing their visas or paying any fines for overstaying. Travellers can leave via any international air, land, or sea port.

Official

X

The advisory further states, “It also stated that holders of visit visas of all types (visit, Umrah, transit, and final exit) that expired from 8/9/1447 AH (February 25, 2026) can leave the Kingdom through international ports without extending their visas and without paying any fines or penalties for delay,” Helpline Jawazat has also introduced a unified helpline—992. Travellers can seek assistance regarding visa status, extensions, or exit procedures. A necessary measure

Saudi Arabia

canva

The decision comes after aviation uncertainty across the Middle East region. The regional conflicts have led to hundreds of flight cancellations, rerouting, and airspace restrictions, among other issues. It has impacted global air travel. What travellers should knowCheck your visa expiry date Decide if you need to extend your visa or leave the countryUse the Absher platform for extensions Contact 992 for official supportPlan your departure before April 18, 2026Rely only on official channels for further information



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North Korean laborers describe brutal forced labor in Russia: ‘Working like a cow, earning nothing’

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North Korean laborers describe brutal forced labor in Russia: ‘Working like a cow, earning nothing’


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 “Wake up before 6 a.m. to the Russian winter. Walk to the construction site as a group. Work from 7 a.m. until 10, 11 p.m., sometimes even midnight. Without breaks. There is no set end time. You finish when the target is met. Rain, snow, it does not matter. We worked with no gloves, no heating, no protective equipment. My hands cracked so badly I could not grip the tools. But you do not stop.”

This was the reality for “RT,” identified by his initials to protect his identity, a former reported victim of North Korea’s overseas forced labor, who described his experience to Fox News Digital. 

The man was one of the 100,000 workers sent overseas under North Korea’s state-sponsored labor program.

AS WAR LOSSES NEAR 2 MILLION, RUSSIA ACCUSED OF TRAFFICKING FOREIGN RECRUITS FROM AFRICA, ASIA

“I was told I could earn money,” he claimed to Fox News Digital. “That was all. Nobody mentioned a quota. Nobody told me that most of what I earn would be taken. I thought if I went to Russia and worked hard, I could save enough to build a better life for my family. When I arrived, I realized none of that was true. The money was not mine. It was never going to be mine.”

A new report published by the international human rights organization Global Rights Compliance shares firsthand testimonies from North Koreans working in Russia.

The report found that Russian companies are employing North Korean workers in violation of United Nations sanctions, often obscuring their identities so laborers do not even know who they are working for. U.N. Security Council resolutions require member states to repatriate North Korean workers, making their continued presence in Russia a potential breach of international sanctions.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un attend a meeting at the Vostochny ?osmodrome in the far eastern Amur region, Russia, September 13, 2023.

The findings offer one of the clearest pictures yet of how North Korea is allegedly sustaining its regime under sanctions: exporting its citizens as labor, extracting their wages, and maintaining total control even beyond its borders.

Global Rights Compliance North Korea advisor Yeji Kim told Fox News Digital, “Every North Korean worker deployed abroad must pay a mandatory monthly sum to the state, known as the gukga gyehoekbun. As one worker told us, it must be paid ‘no matter what, dead or alive.’”

A typical worker earns roughly $800 a month for up to 420 hours of labor. From that, between $600 and $850 is deducted for the quota, along with additional payments for travel debt and communal living expenses, Kim said. 

What remains is approximately $10. If workers fall short, the deficit carries forward, leaving some in debt for an entire year, according to Kim. 

One worker described the quota as a “lump on his back” that dictated every aspect of his life abroad.

SHE HELPED NORTH KOREA INFILTRATE AMERICAN TECH COMPANIES

split of Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean workers

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean workers in the northeast of Pyongyang August 30, 2011.  (Putin’s photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images,North Korean workers: Carlos Barria/Reuters )

“Every month you must pay,” RT claimed. “There is no negotiation. If you fall short, the debt carries forward to the next month. We were told, ‘The quota must be met by any means necessary, even if it meant paying out of their own pocket.’ You came to earn and you leave with nothing. And if you fail too many times, they send you home. Home does not mean relief. It means blacklisting, interrogation, and sometimes your family paying the price.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and North Korea’s mission to the United Nations for comment and did not receive a response in time for publication.

The report identified what it said are all 11 International Labour Organization indicators of forced labor across 21 testimonies from workers in three Russian cities who did not know each other. These include debt bondage, restriction of movement, withholding of wages, excessive overtime, physical violence, surveillance, deception, isolation, abuse of vulnerability and abusive conditions.

Upon arrival in Russia, passports are immediately confiscated and retained by North Korean security officials, according to the report. 

NORTH KOREA EXECUTED TEENS FOR LISTENING TO K-POP, WATCHING ‘SQUID GAME’: REPORT

Migrant workers in Russia

Migrant workers harvest potatoes in a private field in the Beryozovsky district of Krasnoyarsk region, Russia Sep. 8, 2017. (Ilya Naymushin/Reuters)

“My passport was taken the day I arrived,” RT said. “I never held it again. I could not leave the worksite freely. The city was right there, beyond the fence, but we were sealed off from it. A few times a year, we were allowed out, but only in groups, heads counted, with a fixed time to return.”

Physical violence was reported in several cases, including one instance in which a worker was beaten so severely he could not work for two weeks. Surveillance onsite was described as constant, with collective punishment used to force workers to monitor one another.

Workers described living in overcrowded containers infested with cockroaches and bedbugs, with access to only one or two showers per year and in some cases just a single day off annually. 

One worker told investigators they were forced to “lead lives worse than cattle.”

When asked how central the program is to North Korea’s economy, Kim said: “The U.N. Panel of Experts estimates approximately $500 million annually from the labor program alone. For a country under the most comprehensive sanctions regime in U.N. history, that is a critical revenue stream. It sustains the political elite, funds internal patronage networks and underwrites military ambitions, including nuclear development.”

The findings come as North Korea also is reported to have supplied weapons and troops worth as much as $14 billion to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The report’s authors warn that host countries play a critical role in enabling the system by allowing it to operate within their borders.

The people who made it into the report are among the few who managed to escape the system. RT said he now feels an obligation to speak out.

“We are people just like you but working like a cow,” he said. We have families. We left home because we wanted to give our children something better, and what we found was a system that took everything from us.”

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Putin and Kim at parade

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, center right, ride on an open car, as they parade during the official welcome ceremony at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 19, 2024.  (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

He said thousands remain trapped.

“I want people to know that right now, today, there are men on construction sites in Russia working 16 hours a day, sleeping in containers, earning nothing, with no way to call home and no way to leave. Their names are not in any report. Nobody knows they are there. But they are there. And if I could say one thing to them, it would be — the world is starting to listen. Please hold on.”



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