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GENEVA (AP) - The world's top chess federation has ruled that transgender women cannot compete in its official events for women until its officials make an assessment of gender change. The decision by the Switzerland-based federation FIDE, published on Monday, has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and supporters of transgender rights. FIDE said it and its member federations increasingly have received recognition requests from players who identify as transgender, and that the participation of transgender women would depend on an analysis of individual cases that could take up to two years. "Change of gender is a change that has a significant impact on a player´s status and future eligibility to tournaments, therefore it can only be made if there is a relevant proof of the change provided," the federation said. "In the event that the gender was changed from a male to a female the player has no right to participate in official FIDE events for women until further FIDE´s decision is made," it said. Holders of women's titles who change their genders to male would see those titles "abolished," the federation said, while holding out the possibility of a reinstatement "if the person changes the gender back to a woman." FULL STORY

Broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson has died at the age of 88, his family has confirmed. His TV career spanned seven decades, and he interviewed the world's biggest stars on his long-running chat show. A statement from Sir Michael's family said: "After a brief illness Sir Michael Parkinson passed away peacefully at home last night in the company of his family. "The family request that they are given privacy and time to grieve." Follow updates: Tributes to 'greatest interviewer of our age' Michael Parkinson: The chat show king who set the standard In pictures: Michael Parkinson and his star guests more on this

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Many ChatGPT users have suspected the online tool has a left-wing bias since it was released in November. Now, a thorough scientific study confirms suspicions, revealing it has a 'significant and systemic' tendency to return left-leaning responses. ChatGPT’s responses favour the Labour Party in the UK, as well as Democrats in the US and Brazil President Lula da Silva of the Workers’ Party, it found. Concerns regarding ChatGPT's political bias have already been raised – one professor called it a 'woke parrot' after receiving PC responses about 'white people'. But this new research is the first largescale study using a 'consistent, evidenced-based analysis' – with serious implications for politics and the economy. The new study was conducted by experts at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and published today in the journal Public Choice. 'With the growing use by the public of AI-powered systems to find out facts and create new content, it is important that the output of popular platforms such as ChatGPT is as impartial as possible,' said lead author Dr Fabio Motoki at UEA. 'The presence of political bias can influence user views and has potential implications for political and electoral processes.' ChatGPT was built by San Francisco-based company OpenAI using large language models (LLMs) – deep learning algorithms that can recognise and generate text based on knowledge gained from massive datasets. FULL STORY

Eight months after 2023 kicked off with widespread recession calls across Wall Street, the Atlanta Fed is projecting the economy will grow nearly 6% in the third quarter. On Tuesday, the Atlanta Fed's GDPNow estimate moved up to 5.8% from 5.0% a day prior after fresh data from the Census Bureau's showed housing starts increased 3.9%. in June. If the 5.8% GDP growth number held, it'd mark the most robust period of economic growth since the fourth quarter of 2021. The higher projection from the Atlanta Fed is the latest piece of data pointing to a stronger than expected US economy. On Tuesday, July's retail sales report revealed sales increased 0.7% in the month with the control group, which contributes directly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising 1.0%. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected just a 0.5% increase for the control group. The upbeat print on the consumer came after recent jobs data showed the economy is still adding jobs while unemployment remains historically low and monthly wage growth has begun to outpace inflation, providing a potential boost for further consumer spending. 2023 has been marked by upward revisions to economic growth. An initial reading for first quarter GDP of 1.1% was boosted to 2.0%. The first reading of second quarter GDP came in hotter than expected, too. A 2.4% reading in late July, revealed the economy grew at a faster pace in the second quarter. FULL STORY

Just days ago, the judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s prosecution on charges of seeking to subvert the 2020 election admonished him against violating the conditions of his release put in place at his arraignment — including by making “inflammatory statements” that could be construed as possibly intimidating witnesses or other people involved in the case. But Trump immediately tested that warning by posting a string of messages on his social media website, Truth Social, that largely amplified others criticizing the judge, Tanya Chutkan. In one post, written by an ally of Trump’s, lawyer Mike Davis, a large photo of Chutkan accompanied text that falsely claimed she had “openly admitted she’s running election interference against Trump.” In two other posts, Trump wrote, “She obviously wants me behind bars. VERY BIASED & UNFAIR.” After eight years of pushing back at a number of institutions in the United States, Trump is now probing the limits of what the criminal justice system will tolerate and the lines that Chutkan sought to lay out about what he can — and cannot — say about the election interference case she is overseeing. He has waged a similarly defiant campaign against others involved in criminal cases against him, denouncing Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two federal indictments against him, as “deranged”; casting Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, as “corrupt”; and even singling out witnesses. Some lawyers have said that if Trump were an ordinary citizen issuing these attacks, he would be in jail by now. The question is whether Trump will face consequences for this kind of behavior before a trial. FULL STORY

President Biden will travel to Maui next week to meet with first responders and tour damage from catastrophic wildfires on the island, the White House announced Wednesday. “In Maui, the President and First Lady will be welcomed by state and local leaders to see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires and the devastating loss of life and land that has occurred on the island, as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. The death toll from the wildfires has topped 100 and is expected to rise, according to local officials. Homes and businesses across the island were destroyed, and witnesses have described watching people flee into the ocean to try to escape the flames. “The President continues to marshal a whole-of-government response to the deadly Maui fires, and he has committed to delivering everything that the people of Hawaii need from the federal government as they recover from this disaster,” Jean-Pierre said. The National Fire Protection Association said the Maui wildfires are the deadliest in the U.S. in more than 100 years. Biden spoke last Thursday about the devastation in Maui, but he faced criticism after not giving any additional public remarks on the crisis until a Tuesday stop in Wisconsin. Biden spent the weekend in Delaware, prompting backlash from Republicans who accused the president of not doing more to address the situation. FULL STORY

England reached the Women's World Cup final for the first time as they spoiled co-hosts Australia's party on a historic evening in Sydney. Silencing a sell-out crowd at Stadium Australia with their 3-1 victory, the Lionesses became the first England football team since 1966 to reach a senior final on the world stage. It caps a sensational two years under manager Sarina Wiegman as England, crowned European champions for the first time last year on home soil, showed their superiority and know-how to see off an Australia side spurred on by a nation who have been inspired by the Matildas' success. How England crashed Australia's party to reach World Cup final Ella Toone gave England the lead in the first half with a superb first-time strike which sailed into the top corner. The Lionesses controlled proceedings until the second half when Australia threw everything at them and star striker Sam Kerr - starting her first match of the tournament - struck a 25-yard stunner over goalkeeper Mary Earps' head to make it 1-1. But England, as they so often do, found a way back into the game when Lauren Hemp pounced on a defensive error to restore their lead, before Alessia Russo made sure of victory late on to set up a final with Spain on Sunday. FULL STORY

Wildfire is bearing down on the capital city of Canada's Northwest Territories, with thousands of people under evacuation orders. The conflagration - which has already razed one remote community - could reach the city of Yellowknife by the weekend, say officials. Another fire is threatening the community of Hay River. One evacuee told the CBC her car began melting as they drove through embers while fleeing the town on Sunday. The Northwest Territories declared a state of emergency late on Tuesday as it battles more than 200 wildfires. Hay River Mayor Kandis Jameson estimated that about 500 people were still in the community of some 3,500 people as of Tuesday despite an evacuation notice issued for the town over the weekend. The fire moved 30km in a few hours because of strong winds earlier this week, closing the only two highways out of the town. The road out of Hay River is "treacherous", the mayor said, and food and petrol supplies are getting low in the town. Phone and internet services have also been down in the remote region. Canada's military has been co-ordinating airlift operations out of several communities in Northwest Territories' South Slave Region that have been threatened by wildfires in recent days. It is the largest airlift evacuation effort in the territory's history. FULL STORY

A major wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife has led to the evacuation of five villages. The fire has spread some 8 sq km (800 hectares) since it started in a nature reserve on the north-east coast of the island late on Tuesday evening. Local authorities have cut off access to the forest around the Mount Teide volcano, Spain's highest peak, and say secondary fires have now broken out. Helicopters spraying water have been seen flying over the area. The main blaze is spreading through woodland and ravines in the Candelaria and Arafo areas, making it difficult for firefighters to tackle. Rosa Davila, president of the Tenerife Council, said aircraft were necessary because it was a steep area. "The blaze has a huge potential, we have asked for additional means," she said on local radio. The villages of Arrate, Chivisaya, Media Montaña, Ajafoña and Las Lagunetas were evacuated on Wednesday morning. Pedro Martinez, head of Tenerife's emergency services, said multiple secondary fires had also broken out. Photos show large flames engulfing parts of the forest, and thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. As of Wednesday evening, there was no apparent disruption to arrivals or departures at Tenerife's South and North airports. More on this story

Commercial ships are facing long queues and delays to travel through the Panama Canal as a lengthy drought in the Central American country has led to a cut in the number of vessels able to pass through one of the world’s most important trading routes. In a fresh demonstration of the impact of the climate crisis on global business and trade, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), which manages the waterway, introduced restrictions on the number of transiting vessels as a result of the drought. An extended dry season has reduced the availability of water, required to allow vessels to pass through the canal’s locks, which has triggered a logjam of ships awaiting their turn. The canal is favoured by many shippers as it usually reduces cost and transit times, especially for large retailers and energy companies that trade between China and the rest of Asia, and the US. The ACP has said it faces “unprecedented challenges”, adding that the severity of the drought had “no historical precedence”, even compared with the last drought in 2019-20. In late July, the state-owned ACP limited the number of vessels passing through the waterway each day to an average of 32, down from the usual 36. It also restricted the permitted maximum depth of ships. The restrictions led to a bottleneck of ships waiting for their turn to cross and sent companies scrambling to find alternative routes. FULL STORY

Former president lashed out on Truth Social after he was indicted in Fulton County, Georgia, for running a criminal enterprise to overturn the 2020 Ga election – charges that could see him spend his final days in jail Donald Trump and 18 of his allies have been indicted on a range of criminal charges relating to the former president’s attempts to alter Georgia‘s 2020 election results. The former president described the extensive charge sheet produced by a grand jury in Fulton County as an attempt to stop him from running in next year’s election, writing on Truth Social that “the witch hunt continues”. Mr Trump has been charged with 13 counts including racketeering, filing false documents, and attempting to coerce public officers to violate their oaths, according to court documents. The charges mark the fourth major indictment against Trump in nearly as many months, and the second related directly to his actions during the 2020 election. Prominent allies also charged over the Georgia plot include Trump lawyer and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Trump and the others named have been issued with arrest warrants and ordered to surrender by 25 August. On Tuesday, the former president claimed that a “Large, Complex, Detailed but Irrefutable REPORT” he will present at a news conference on Monday at his Bedminster golf club will exonerate him. FULL STORY

Tory MPs urge Rishi Sunak to get asylum returns deal – as Brussels rejects reports that the EU Commission has blocked an agreement A war of words has erupted following claims that the EU has rejected Rishi Sunak’s plea for a post-Brexit asylum seeker returns deal to ease the small boats crisis. It was claimed that a senior European Commission official told the UK’s national security adviser earlier this year that there was no prospect of such an agreement. But an EU Commission spokesperson rubbished reports on Tuesday as “not correct”. A UK government spokeswoman insisted that No 10 remains “open to working with the EU to take forward negotiations on a UK-EU returns deal”. It sparked a row among Tory MPs, as Brexiteers lashed out at the “immoral” EU for failing to help tackle the Channel crossings, while moderate Tories urged Mr Sunak to forge a returns deal so Britain can work more closely with its nearest neighbours. Return agreements are viewed by some as key to solving the migrant crisis and the PM still hopes to strike a deal with the EU Commission that would allow Britain to return people to European countries where they have previously claimed asylum or have links to. FULL STORY

In its first comments on the story, state news agency KCNA says Travis King decided to enter North Korean territory last month, partly because he was "disillusioned at the unequal American society". Detained US soldier Travis King entered North Korea because of "inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination within the US Army", the communist country's state media has claimed. He has also "expressed willingness" to seek refuge in North Korea after crossing the border last month, Pyongyang has said in its first comments on the story. King was "disillusioned at the unequal American society", KCNA claimed. North Korean investigators have concluded that he crossed from South Korea deliberately and illegally, intending to stay in the North or in a third country, KCNA said. King, 23, was reportedly facing disciplinary action by the US military when he crossed over while on a civilian tour of the Joint Security Area (JSA) - the heavily fortified border between the two Koreas. He was also said to have been struggling with the death of his young cousin, according to US media reports. He is the first American to be detained in North Korea for almost five years. The US Pentagon said it could not verify King's alleged comments. "The department's priority is to bring Private King home. We are working through all available channels to achieve that outcome," a Pentagon spokesperson said. FULL STORY

In her university room in Bangladesh, Nina, 19, holds her boxing gloves up to her face, staring into the mirror. She is learning to protect herself. She says there is no other way. Nina is one of hundreds of Afghan women who have taken up the offer of an education abroad, despite knowing they may never be able to return home. Nearly 12 months ago, walking through Kabul airport, she says she felt far less strong. She remembers her hands shaking. She knew it was dangerous to flee Afghanistan. When airport officials questioned her, she lied: "The Taliban don't allow women to travel alone so I said my mother was sick in Pakistan." She was relieved when they were convinced, but a harder challenge was yet to come. As Nina stepped onto the plane she stepped away from her home and family. "On the day when I left I was crying that I might never see my mother's face again, it was so hard for me," she says. "It broke my younger sister's heart. When I think about them, it hurts." 'We want to get 1,000 women out' Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan two years ago - in August 2021 - life has drastically changed for women in the country. They lost their right to be educated past the age of 12, their right to wear what they want or travel alone for more than 72km. Nina is among those who was offered a way out - an education through programmes organised by the Asian University for Women (AUW). FULL STORY

After wildfires devastated parts of the Hawaiian island of Maui, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US, officials warned visitors to stay away. But thousands remained and others continued to fly in, angering residents in the wake of the tragedy. At Maui's Wailea Beach on Monday the skies were bright and clear. Luxury hotels lined the beachfront, their guests spread on the sand. Some waded in the ocean, while others sat under umbrellas with white monogrammed towels on their chairs. Inside one of the hotels, beyond a pool, a two-tiered fountain and a glass-walled habitat for the resident parrot, was a wooden-framed screen advertising a relief fund for the resort's employees - the first sign of the destruction in Lahaina, just 30 miles (48km) up the coast. In the wake of the wildfires, the deadliest in modern US history, frustration at tourists who have chosen to carry on with their holidays has grown. Many in Maui say the devastation has highlighted what is known as the "two Hawaiis" - one built for the comfort of visitors and another, harsher Hawaii left to Hawaiians. "It's all butterflies and rainbows when it comes to the tourism industry," said a 21-year-old Maui native and an employee at the hotel who asked to remain anonymous. "But what's really under it is kind of scary." FULL STORY

Running for president of the US is an arduous task even in the best of times. Seeking the White House while facing multiple indictments and the prospect of multiple civil and criminal trials is an almost unimaginable task. That, however, is the reality that Donald Trump currently confronts. A presidential campaign involves near nonstop campaigning and fundraising through a long season of state primaries that determine the party nomination followed by a general election campaign under the intense scrutiny of the national media. There are debates, set-piece policy speeches and the multi-day nominating convention - with its balloon drops, confetti and spectacle, but also its potential for unscripted political drama if things go sideways. While the first presidential nomination contest, in Iowa, isn't until January, the Republican presidential race has already begun in earnest. The party is about to begin holding monthly debates for qualifying candidates. The first takes place next week in Wisconsin. Mr Trump has yet to confirm whether he will attend the debate, but either way the schedule provides an early display of how his legal concerns could factor into his political calculations. The former president will probably have to prepare for an appearance in an Atlanta courthouse by the end of next week, where he will be formally arraigned on charges of interfering in the Georgia 2020 election, while his opponents prepare to take the debate stage. FULL STORY

Former President Trump and a suite of 18 co-conspirators were indicted by a Georgia grand jury Monday on charges tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The charges follow a more than two-year investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) into Trump’s efforts to pressure state officials to intervene to reverse his loss while also organizing a group of 16 Georgians to serve as fake electors and claim the former president had won the state. The indictment also targets several Trump allies accused of aiding in the scheme, naming Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Kenneth Chesebro, Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell as co-conspirators. Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows also faces charges, as does Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department lawyer Trump mulled installing as attorney general. In total, the indictment lists charges on 41 counts; it is the fourth criminal case brought against Trump this year. “I make decisions in this office based on the facts in the law,” Willis said at a press conference late Monday night. “The law is completely nonpartisan. That’s how decisions are made in every case to date.” Willis said Trump and the other defendants must voluntarily surrender by Aug. 25 at noon, and that she hopes to schedule a single trial for all the defendants within the next six months. The indictment brings sweeping Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charges to weave together actions taken by numerous people involved in the plots, relying on a law crafted to address any criminal “enterprise.” It outlines 161 acts prosecutors allege furthered that conspiracy. FULL STORY

Former President Trump on Monday was indicted on criminal charges for a fourth time since April, adding details and accused co-conspirators out of Georgia to a by-now familiar prosecutorial narrative that upends presidential history and challenges American politics. Trump was charged in Fulton County, Ga., along with 18 alleged accomplices, with leading a criminal enterprise to try to stay in office following his loss in the 2020 elections. He faces 13 felony counts brought by District Attorney Fani Willis, including violations of the Georgia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, as well as conspiracy to commit forgery in the first degree and conspiring to file false documents (The Hill and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). The Georgia indictment alleges a web of conspiracy in multiple states designed to subvert the will of voters to try to keep Trump in office after he lost. ▪ The Hill: Breaking down the Georgia charges. ▪ The Washington Post: Read the full text of the 98-page Georgia indictment. ▪ The Washington Post: The Georgia indictment cites Trump’s online posts to allege evidence of acts in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy.  Among those indicted along with the former president are Rudy Giuliani, once New York’s mayor, and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, a former North Carolina congressman (The Hill).  FULL STORY

Former NFL player Michael Oher, the inspiration behind the 2009 Academy Award-winning film, "The Blind Side," alleged in a petition filed in a Tennessee court on Monday that he was never legally adopted by the family, but rather tricked into a conservatorship that solely benefited the Tuohy family. The filing reveals that Oher discovered he was never legally adopted by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy in February 2023 and alleges that he was tricked into entering a conservatorship after his 18th birthday. "The lie of Michael's adoption is one upon which Co-Conservators Leigh Anne Tuohy and Sean Tuohy have enriched themselves at the expense of their Ward, the undersigned Michael Oher," the document read. "Michael Oher discovered this lie to his chagrin and embarrassment in February of 2023, when he learned that the Conservatorship to which he consented on the basis that doing so would make him a member of the Tuohy family, in fact provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohy's." According to the petition, the Tennessee Department of Human Services took custody of Oher in 1996. His attorneys claim that he was left to "live on the streets" because of a "broken social system." FULL STORY

A supermarket in Austria was evacuated after a spider, whose bite is capable of causing painful erections and even death, was spotted. A PENNY shop in Krems an der Donau, a town located around 45 miles from Vienna, has remained closed since Tuesday, after the four-inch spider was said to have been seen when staffed opened a box of bananas. Descriptions of the spider’s colouring and size led people to believe they were dealing with a Brazilian wandering spider, also known as a “banana spider”. In 2019, scientists at the Federal University of Minas Gerais said the chemicals in its bite could lead to a treatment more effective than Viagra, after they included them in a gel which led to prolonged erections in a study of mice and rats. They found the gel led to a swelling of the penis “lasting about 60 minutes” when applied topically to the genitals. FULL STORY

Former President Trump blasted President Biden’s response to the Maui wildfires as “disgraceful” in a video message posted Monday evening. “When asked about it today, as he was getting into a car, perhaps coming home from the beach, where he has been spending a great deal of time, Crooked Joe Biden, the most incompetent president in the history of our country, with a laugh and a smile said he had no comment on the death and the tragedy,” Trump said in a video message. “To say no comment is oftentimes fine, but to be smiling when you say it, especially again such a tragedy as this, is absolutely horrible and unacceptable,” he continued. “It is a disgraceful thing that Joe Biden refuses to help or comment on the tragedy in Maui, just as he refused to help or comment on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio for a very, very long time.” The White House faced criticism Monday over Biden being on vacation and offering a “no comment” this weekend during the devastating fires in Maui — which have caused nearly 100 deaths so far. The White House pushed back on the criticism on Monday, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pointing to Biden’s interactions with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as evidence of him responding to the wildfires. FULL STORY

British rock star Mick Fleetwood, who has lived in Hawaii for decades, has said the situation in Lahaina is "catastrophic" following deadly wildfires that have killed at least 96 people. The Fleetwood Mac drummer told Sky News that the disaster has been "an incredible shock for everyone" - and described the scene as "complete devastation". Fleetwood revealed he was in LA visiting family when the fires broke out but flew back immediately, bringing supplies with him. "These hills were ablaze and I wasn't there... I was feeling helpless, and switches were going on and off as to what to do." Fleetwood's house was untouched but the town of Lahaina, where he owns a popular restaurant, has been decimated. His restaurant, Fleetwood's on Front St, was about to celebrate its 11th anniversary this week - but it has been destroyed by the blaze, and many of his staff have lost everything. "It's an incredible shock for everyone," he says. "The whole town of Lahaina is no more. That in itself is a statement that leads you immediately to the people who lived there. "Selfishly, I haven't lost a family member. I didn't lose my house. Yeah, it could have happened, but it didn't happen... I'm really lucky. Now, what the hell can I do? "The immediacy is finding people. The immediacy is communicating and knowing who's here and who's safe." The world-renowned musician says he has decided to speak out in order to keep the tragedy at the forefront of people's minds. FULL STORY

RAF Typhoon jets intercepted Russian bombers flying north of Scotland in the early hours of Monday morning, the UK government has said. Typhoon fighters were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range maritime patrol bombers as they transited near the Shetland Islands within NATO's northern air policing area, the government added. The UK quick reaction alert (QRA) jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in northeast Scotland and the two Russian bombers were monitored in international airspace as they flew north of the UK. A Voyager refuelling tanker was also launched and remained airborne for the duration of the mission - not specified by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) - to offer air-to-air refuelling to the Typhoon fighters if needed. Minister for the armed forces, James Heappey, said: "RAF crews at Lossiemouth maintain a constant watch over UK airspace and are always ready to take action at a moment's notice to keep our country safe. "Pilots launched in their Typhoon jets to intercept two Russian long-range bombers this morning, monitoring them as they passed north of the Shetland Islands, ready to counter any potential threat to UK territory." FULL STORY