Good morning.<\/p>\n
Humanity has failed to limit global heating to 1.5C and must change course immediately, the secretary general of the UN has warned<\/a>.<\/p>\n In his only interview before next month\u2019s Cop30 climate summit, Ant\u00f3nio Guterres acknowledged it was now \u201cinevitable\u201d that humanity would overshoot the target in the Paris climate agreement, with \u201cdevastating consequences\u201d for the world.<\/p>\n He urged the leaders who will gather in the Brazilian rainforest city of Bel\u00e9m to realise that the longer they delay cutting emissions, the greater the danger of passing catastrophic \u201ctipping points\u201d in the Amazon, the Arctic and the oceans.<\/p>\n What does the UN say about world\u2019s climate plans? Recently drafted climate plans from scores of countries fall drastically short of what is needed to stave off the worst effects of climate breakdown, analysis has shown<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jamaicans take shelter as Hurricane Melissa set to make landfall as category 5 stormStorm Melissa is approaching Jamaica. Photograph: AP<\/p>\n Jamaicans have started to take shelter from Hurricane Melissa as the category 5 storm neared the coast, amid warnings of catastrophic flooding, landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.<\/p>\n The slow-moving giant, the strongest hurricane to hit Jamaica since records began in 1851<\/a>, is due to make landfall early on Tuesday and to linger over the island.<\/p>\n The storm is expected to slice diagonally across the island, entering near the parish of St Elizabeth in the south and exiting around the parish of St Ann in the north, according to forecasters.<\/p>\n What do forecasters predict? Some parts of eastern Jamaica could receive up to a metre (40in) of rain while western Haiti could get 40cm (16in), the US National Hurricane Center said. \u201cCatastrophic flash flooding and numerous landslides are likely.\u201d<\/p>\n This is a developing story. Follow our blog here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Elizabeth Warren urges US regulators to investigate Jes Staley ties to EpsteinJes Staley, the former chief executive of Barclays, attends the high court in April during his legal challenge against the FCA. Photograph: Carl Court\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren<\/a> is calling for an investigation into bankers including Jes Staley over their alleged support for the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in a move that could leave the former Barclays boss banned from working in the US financial sector.<\/p>\n In a letter privately filed with regulators, and seen by the Guardian, Warren called for investigations into \u201call current and former US banking executives who may have facilitated Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s illicit conduct\u201d.<\/p>\n What was Epstein\u2019s relationship with JP Morgan? During his 15-year relationship with JP Morgan, Epstein opened at least 134 accounts, processed over $1bn in transactions, and brought in several lucrative clients, Warren\u2019s letter said.<\/p>\n What did Warren say about Staley? That he is alleged to have helped protect the late financier\u2019s access to the banking system during his stint working at JP Morgan in the early 2000s. Warren noted that Staley \u2013 who is already banned from the UK banking sector \u2013 had been described in media reports as Epstein\u2019s \u201cchief defender\u201d.<\/p>\n In other news \u2026Donald Trump and Japan\u2019s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, arrive at the US naval base in Yokosuka this morning. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Japan\u2019s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has vowed to realise a \u201cgolden age\u201d<\/a> of US relations at the start of a meeting with Donald Trump in Tokyo.<\/p>\n The Emmy-winning journalist Mario Guevara said he may have been \u201cthe first\u201d immigrant journalist whom Donald Trump\u2019s administration deported from the US<\/a> while working but \u201cI don\u2019t think [I\u2019ll] be the only one.\u201d.<\/p>\n John Dickerson, a longtime CBS News journalist, has become the latest high-profile figure to resign from the network amid concerns about its ownership<\/a> and editorial independence.<\/p>\n Noah Oppenheim, the writer of Kathryn Bigelow\u2019s nuclear-missile thriller House of Dynamite, has responded to complaints from the Pentagon over the accuracy of its depiction of the US\u2019s defence systems, saying he \u201crespectfully disagree[s]\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stat of the day: Amazon plans to cut 30,000 corporate jobs in response to pandemic over-hiringAn Amazon package at a distribution center in Werne, Germany. Photograph: Christopher Neundorf\/EPA<\/p>\n Amazon is preparing to lay off tens of thousands of corporate workers<\/a>, reversing its pandemic hiring spree. The cuts come months after its chief executive warned white-collar employees their jobs could be taken by artificial intelligence. The Amazon senior vice-president Beth Galetti wrote in a blog post<\/a> that \u201cthis generation of AI is the most transformative technology we\u2019ve seen since the Internet\u201d, and added that Amazon needed to be \u201corganized more leanly, with fewer layers\u201d.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss this: \u2018DeepSeek is humane. Doctors are more like machines\u2019 \u2013 my mother\u2019s worrying reliance on AI for health adviceChatbots could become a trusted alternative for elderly people. Composite: Guardian Design\/Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cNearly three years after OpenAI launched ChatGPT and ushered in a global frenzy over large language models (LLMs), chatbots are weaving themselves into almost every part of society in China, the US and beyond,\u201d said Viola Zhou. \u201cFor patients such as my mom, who feel they don\u2019t get the time or care they need from their healthcare systems, these chatbots have become a trusted alternative<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, more than a million people every week show suicidal intent<\/a> when chatting with ChatGPT, OpenAI estimates.<\/p>\n Or this: A third term for Trump would be unconstitutional. Here\u2019s whyThe Trump Organization is now selling $50 red caps that read \u201cTrump 2028\u201d, appearing to promote the president as a candidate in the next election. Photograph: Sue Dorfman\/ZUMA via Alamy<\/p>\n Donald Trump has declined to definitively say he will not seek an unconstitutional third term as US president. \u201cI would love to do it: I have my best numbers ever,\u201d the 79-year-old told reporters on Air Force One during a trip to Asia. The 22nd amendment states no person shall be elected president more than twice \u2013 but Trump allies could challenge it or seek a loophole. Will it be possible?<\/a><\/p>\n Last Thing: Chinese ice dancers under investigation after holding toy missile at eventRen Junfei (right) and Xing Jianing (centre) of China with a soft toy\/plushie in the shape of a missile labelled \u201cDF-61\u201d as they were waiting for their scores in the \u201ckiss and cry\u201d area at the Cup of China on Saturday. Photograph: ISU\/youtube<\/p>\n The International Skating Union is investigating after two Chinese ice dancers were shown with what appeared to be a toy ballistic missile<\/a> during a grand prix figure skating event. The large toy was briefly held up by Ren Junfei, Xing Jianing and a coach then placed across Xing\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n Sign up<\/p>\n Sign up for the US morning briefing<\/p>\n First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you\u2019re not already signed up, subscribe now<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get in touch<\/p>\n