A man has admitted using motor oil and detergent to kill his neighbour’s fish and destroy a water pump out of ‘sheer frustration and lack of sleep’, a court has heard.

Gerry Duffy, 76, of Barnet, north London, was ‘driven completely insane’ by the sound of a water pump running his neighbour’s fishpond.

At Willesden Magistrates’ Court this morning, Duffy pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to damaging the pond, fish, water pump and pipes in March. 

He had warned his neighbour, Andreas Ptohides, that he would take matters into his own hands if he did not do something about the noise. 

The former builder, who lives in a studio flat on Hadley Road, Barnet, north London threw motor oil into the body of water belonging to Mr Ptohides on March 20, 2026. 

Four days later, Duffy was captured on CCTV climbing into Mr Ptohides’ garden and damaging the water pipes and electric pumps. 

On March 26, 2026, Duffy also interfered with the pond by pouring a detergent of an unknown substance, causing further damage. 

Shahid Iftakhar, prosecuting, told the court the ‘neighbour dispute’ had killed ‘five or six’ of Mr Ptohides’s Koi carp, and potentially caused of damage. 

The neighbour claimed £800 worth of damage was caused, Mr Iftakhar said, but today the prosecution stated the damage was £565.  

The 76-year-old told the court he did it out of ‘sheer frustration and lack of sleep’

Advertisement

He said: ‘The defendant has previously complained to the complainant about noise coming from his garden and has said words to the effect of, “if you don’t deal with it, I will” – there was a warning before the incident.’

Mr Elliott Stern, defending, said Duffy had been driven ‘completely insane by the noise’ from the electric pump feature on his neighbour’s pond.

The 76-year-old and his neighbour had discussed the matter several times, to which Mr Ptohides said he would stop the pump , he added.

However, the neighbour later said he would no longer do so because it was ‘not good for the fish’.

Duffy contacted the council, whose worker visited and said there was no noise, advising ‘he either move[d] or close his windows’, Mr Stern added.

‘Out of sheer frustration and lack of sleep. Mr Duffy out of character and I would say lost his mind and committed these various damages,’ the defence said.

He added that Duffy had been pushed ‘beyond rational thinking and did not think about the consequences’ of his actions.

Mr Stern, mitigating, said the pensioner had COPD, as well as several health issues including type 1 diabetes, skin cancer, and high blood pressure.

It was also heard that his health had declined both physically and mentally in the last year, and that he suffered from ‘severe’ anxiety and depression.

Mr Stern also added that Duffy’s break-up with a partner had also had an impact on him over the last three years.

Magistrate Matthew Cornish said: ‘We believe there was some planning given the incidents occurred over three separate days.’

Duffy was ordered to pay £565 in compensation, £440 for the pond and associated equipment as well as £125 for the destruction of the fish.

He was also handed a two-year conditional discharge order.

TS Travels Group, which began operating in 2015, describes itself as a “leading coach and minibus hire company”.

It provided “reliable and affordable transport solutions across the UK and Europe”.

UK travel company enters liquidation with no new trips

Now, after 11 years, TS Travels Group, based in West Yorkshire, is set to close.

The company’s website has been taken offline, and new bookings are no longer possible.

Laura Anne Walshe of Keywood Group Limited was appointed as liquidator on July 29, according to The Gazette.

On LinkedIn, the company said: “With years of industry experience, we have built a reputation for delivering exceptional service, catering to both private and corporate clients.

“Our diverse fleet ranges from small minibuses to large coaches, some of which are bespoke-built to our specifications to ensure maximum comfort.

“Through our trusted network of partner operators, we offer seamless nationwide coverage, making transport planning effortless for our clients.

“At TS Travels Group, no journey is too big or small.

“Whether it’s private hire, corporate travel, school transport, or airport transfers, we are committed to providing a flexible and stress-free travel experience.”

It comes just days after fellow UK travel company Ski Yodl Ltd entered liquidation, resulting in the cancellation of all holiday packages.

The company offered ski holiday packages to destinations including the French Alps.

Other UK travel companies that have closed in 2026

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Recommended reading:

Four UK airlines have also fallen into administration or liquidation this year:

• Ascend Airways (liquidation)
• EcoJet Airlines (liquidation)
• Zenith Aviation Limited (administration)
• European Cargo (administration)

Have you booked any trips with TS Travels Group? Let us know in the comments.

An overcrowded mega-dinghy carrying 157 migrants caught fire in the English Channel today, forcing all those on board to jump into the sea.

Rescue efforts began at around 6am after the inflatable’s engine burst into flames shortly after leaving a beach near Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Two British Border Security Command boats and an RNLI lifeboat deployed to assist the rescue operation, which was led by the French.

Some 54 of the migrants were taken to France aboard the British vessels, while the rest were picked up by the French. There have been no reported fatalities although some of the passengers suffered minor burns. 

A UK coastguard spokesman said: ‘A vessel caught fire earlier this morning whilst in the French search and rescue region. UK vessels and a lifeboat are assisting.’ An RNLI spokesman said: ‘Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat launched at 6am.’

The stricken vessel was being tracked by British and French rescue boats when it caught fire, according to France’s Maritime Prefecture.

French officials have a controversial policy of not intercepting small boats at sea because they claim it could risk the lives of those onboard, though they can carry out rescues. 

It comes a day after Reform UK proposed using the Royal Navy to return migrants to France or Belgium under a plan called ‘Operation Fortress’. 

Responding to the incident, party leader Nigel Farage said: ‘We must put a stop to this. Our plan will save lives.’ 

Richard Tice, his deputy, said: ‘Being rescued and returned to France – let’s hope all safe. Just like Reform policy: rescue and return. It’s the humanitarian thing to do. We must stop people dying.’

More than 2,000 migrants have arrived on UK shores in small boat crossings since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister just over a fortnight ago. The new PM, who only entered office on 20 July, is taking a break from his day-to-day duties to travel abroad with his family for a long-planned trip.

The group at the Port de Commerce in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France, after the rescue mission

Migrants disembark from the French rescue ship Argonaute following their rescue at sea after their boat caught fire

In a translated statement about today’s incident, the Maritime Prefecture said the decision was initially made not to force the migrants to board rescue vessels to ‘avoid endangering their lives’. 

‘Five people had initially asked to get off, because the boat was in such a bad way,’ a spokesman said. ‘The rest told rescuers they wanted to continue, and this was permitted. Then, later in the morning, the engine caught fire.’

It was then that everybody jumped into the water and the boat capsized, the spokesman added.

By 1pm in France, it appeared that all 157 people on board had been brought to safety. Most had been wearing life jackets. Some of those returned to France were suffering from burns.

The number of people on the boat – which left the beach at Veules-les-Roses, near Dieppe, last night – makes it one of the biggest ever to attempt to cross the Channel.

A record 165 migrants crossed in a single vessel last month in a 13m (42ft) boat dubbed a ‘mega dinghy’ by the media. The previous record, set on July 10, was 128.

Today’s fire is believed to have been caused by a fuel leak.

The migrants aboard the boat had paid people smugglers up to £1,000 each for the journey, a French emergency services source was quoted as saying.

A UK Government spokesman said: ‘This morning, the Border Security Command was alerted to an incident in the Channel concerning a migrant small boat in distress in French waters.

‘British vessels supported a French search and rescue operation. This is a live rescue operation but at this stage there have been no fatalities reported. Those on board will be safely returned to France.

‘This incident underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings. We continue to work relentlessly with the French and our partners overseas to prevent these perilous journeys.’

At least 14 UK-bound migrants have died in the Channel this year, either by drowning or through suffocation aboard overcrowded small boats.

All 157 people on board were brought to safety

Migrants disembark in Boulogne-sur-Mer from French rescue ship Argonaute

Tents had been set up at the dock to check migrants coming off the boat 

Advertisement

There was a heavy emergency services presence at Boulogne-sur-Mer during the operation

The worst tragedy of this kind came in November 2021, when 27 migrants died after a dinghy sank while heading to the UK, the deadliest single Channel crossing incident on record. 

Last Wednesday marked the busiest day for small boat crossings in the English Channel so far this year, with 752 migrants arriving in the UK.

But the number of overall arrivals for 2026 has dropped since last year.

The provisional total for the year is 14,526, 43 per cent lower than the number recorded by this time last year (25,436) and down 14 per cent on the same period in 2024 (16,903).

Under Reform’s ‘rescue and return’ proposal, the Royal Navy would intercept every vessel carrying illegal migrants to the UK and return all those on board to their country of departure.

The plan was heavily criticised by the French government, which declared it a ‘violation of French sovereignty’ and international law.

A spokesman for the French interior ministry said in a statement: ‘This would be a violation of French sovereignty as well as a violation of maritime law and international law.

‘Separately, as part of the measures put in place with the UK and the arrangements deployed at the local level, the interior ministry states that the number of crossings is down in 2026.’

In response, a Reform spokesman said: ‘We will always stand up for British interests and protect our people, whether Emmanuel Macron likes it or not.

‘Humanitarian missions do not violate maritime or international law.’

A total of 165 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in a single mega-dinghy on July 23 – the highest on record 

Nigel Farage today claimed that Reform’s proposal to use the navy to stop migrant crossings would ‘save lives’. The Tories said the plan had been ‘written on the back of a fag packet’ 

Asked about Reform’s proposal, Mr Burnham’s official spokesman said: ‘The Royal Navy had primacy for small boat crossings under the previous government in 2022. I’d remind you there was no reduction in small boat crossings in that period.

‘The Royal Navy is already tackling many threats, including monitoring any Russian warships operating near our shores, protecting our waters and our critical national infrastructure.

‘Border patrol officers have significant capabilities and skills that make them the best suited candidate to lead small boats operations in the Channel.

‘That’s why we’re driving down the number of crossings. It’s why they’re down almost 50 per cent compared to last year, and why almost 60 per cent of attempted crossings have been stopped since this Government came to power.’

Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Reform of putting forward ‘slogans and policies written on the back of a fag packet but no credibility behind it – they can’t answer basic questions like how they would properly fund the military’.

He added: ‘They haven’t even got a defence spokesman and they can’t answer basic questions like what they would do if the French refuse to allow the illegal immigrants to be disembarked back in France.’

Mr Philp said the Conservatives ‘would deport these illegal immigrants back to their country of origin, and if that’s not possible, a safe third country like Rwanda’.

Police said her behaviour included drinking alcohol and urinating and defecating in public

A woman could be arrested after repeated anti-social behaviour after a court imposed a strict order on her. Cambridgeshire Police said Ramona Engele has been a nuisance to residents, members of the public, and restaurants in Millfield, Peterborough.

The force said this has included drinking alcohol and urinating and defecating in public, as well as loitering and causing a nuisance near to Madina Grill, in Lincoln Road.

Locals raised concerns about Engele, 27, at police community meetings. On April 27 she was made the subject of a community protection notice (CPN).

However, she admitted breaching this 10 times. Engele, of no fixed address, appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday (July 31) where she was given a two-year criminal behaviour order (CBO).

The CBO bans her from:

• Causing alarm or distress or acting in an anti-social manner.
• Being in possession of an open vessel of alcohol in an open place.
• Approaching members of the public or businesses to beg for money, alcohol, or any other item.
• Entering an exclusion zone of Lincoln Road, between Burghley Road and Rhubarb Bridge.
• Urinating or defecating in a public place or on private property.

Flouting the terms of the order could result in her arrest and a potential prison sentence.

PC Nikki Timms, from the Central neighbourhood policing team, said: “We have worked closely with Ramona and her support workers, but it has not improved her behaviour, so we had to take more robust action. The order is not just about giving us greater powers but also insisting she engage positively with police and partner agencies, attending appointments and accepting support from services.

“We are listening to community concerns and will continue to act on their reports to make the area a nicer place to live.”

Anyone with information about Engele breaching her CBO should contact police online. Those without internet access should call 101.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A group of eight South Korean students were detained Tuesday for allegedly breaking into a United States air base while shouting anti-U.S. slogans, South Korean authorities said.

U.S. military personnel detained the four male and four female students after they allegedly entered Osan Air Base near the capital Seoul. They were later transferred to the custody of South Korean authorities, police said.

The students were being investigated under a law protecting military installations in South Korea, according to police, who said they all had invoked their right to remain silent during questioning.

Police said the students shouted slogans at the site including, “Let’s smash U.S. 7th Air Force.”

A U.S. military statement said the group attempted to unlawfully enter the base through the main gate and that “unauthorized attempts to access a U.S. military installation are taken extremely seriously.”

The incident will be addressed in accordance with applicable U.S. and South Korean laws and procedures, the military said.

The Korean Progressive University Student Union said in a statement on Facebook that those detained were members who were trying to protest what it called the U.S. military’s opposition to a South Korean semiconductor cluster project.

South Korean police declined to comment on the group’s statement, which was not addressed by the U.S. military.

Yonhap news agency reported the U.S. said it has important interests in a military airport set to be relocated over the semiconductor project.

There are about 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to help deter potential aggression from North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Surveys have steadfastly shown a majority of South Koreans support the U.S.-South Korean military alliance, but the U.S. presence and its role in South Korea’s turbulent modern history also have been long-running sources of anti-U.S. sentiment among many in South Korea.

South Korean police arrested four students in 2019 who broke into the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Seoul while protesting the Trump administration’s demands for the country to pay more to help cover the costs of U.S. troops there.

Music legend Bono arrives shortly before the service started.

He released a heartbreaking statement following his friend’s death last week.

It read: “Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed….Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… not otherworldly…in fact, very present this presence…

“A smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces…

“Of course, Glen was the shining star of the Christmas Eve busk… sometimes the only one reminding the rest of us that Christmas began with a refugee born in a manger, which is hardly a step from living on the street.

“To be utterly yourself by being more interested in others – a clue for any of us trying out different personas. He really was who you thought he was. He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK… and more than that, he worked very hard so that less people had to live on the streets in the first place.”

There could be a real mix of options on show for Saturday’s Carabao Cup clash against Birmingham

The new season is nearly here, albeit with a slightly different feel to previous years.

Normally, it’s the league campaign that takes centre-stage on the opening day, but on this occasion, Swansea start the 2026/27 campaign with the visit of Birmingham City in the opening round of the Carabao Cup.

Swansea had some great moments in this competition last year, producing a stunning comeback to beat Nottingham Forest, a result that was perhaps the beginning of the end for boss Ange Postecoglou, before then putting in a spirited showing against Manchester City.

Even so, it’s probably fair to assume this tournament isn’t the main priority for Vitor Matos, whose ultimate ambition is likely to hinge more on a possible play-off push.

That said, this contest with the Blues might still be seen as a useful exercise in the wider preparations for the new season.

Traditionally, the early stages of this competition have served as an opportunity to give a few younger members of the squad, and a couple of fringe players, the opportunity to earn some game-time.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Follow Wales Online’s Swansea City FB page for more news and analysis

That may well be the case again, but with a few of his first-team stars perhaps still in need of minutes, it could be slightly stronger than XIs seen in previous years.

In goal, one suspects Andy Fisher will be given the nod, but the back four is slightly trickier to predict.

After a solid showing against Leganes, Filip Lissah could well be handed another chance to shine, perhaps in his more favoured right-back role.

In the middle, there’s every chance youngsters like Arthur Parker and Carter Heywood, the latter of whom has really impressed Matos, could well be in contention.

But providing he’s fit, these are the sort of games Stephen Welsh would be hoping to make the most of, while Cameron Burgess could potentially do with a few minutes given his late return to the club this summer.

Tiago Parente is available following his loan move from Benfica, and will surely start.

Elsewhere, Matos appeared to drift away from his usual double-pivot set-up in City’s final friendly, preferring instead to invert the full-backs to create another body in midfield.

Goncalo Franco’s absence was clearly part of that decision, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a repeat here, with Jay Fulton likely to be entrusted to anchor the midfield.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of the three remaining new boys start, but Moussa Yeo is perhaps the most likely.

Eom Jisung could potentially do with a bit more game-time on the left given, like Burgess, he was also late returning to the squad.

In the middle, this could be another chance to give Leo Walta more minutes, while someone like Thomas Woodward might well be handed the opportunity to shine.

Up front is an interesting one.

Joseph Opoku can potentially play there, but Zan Vipotnik’s lack of minutes this summer means there’s surely a real chance he will lead the line.

Swansea’s possible XI: Fisher, Lissah, Welsh, Burgess, Parente; Fulton; Yeo, Walta, Woodward, Eom; Vipotnik

*Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Swans news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Our Swansea City correspondent Tom Coleman is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

A woman has revealed her remarkable post-break-up transformation which saw her drop from a size 22 to a size 6.

Amy Salmon spent years trapped in a cycle of comfort eating, watching her weight climb to 18st despite trying endless diets.

But when her relationship ended in 2023, the mother of two from Hertfordshire, decided it was finally time to put herself first.

Two years on, Amy has lost an astonishing 9st and now wears a size 6. She says the biggest change has been her confidence rather than her appearance. 

Thanks to a gastric sleeve surgery she underwent in 2024, a rigid diet of protein and whole foods, and a little help from cosmetic ‘tweakments’ to enhance her facial features, the 31-year-old no longer shies away from photos and social situations.

She said: ‘Life has changed massively. I finally feel confident in myself, and I no longer hide away in photos or avoid social situations.

‘I struggled with my confidence for a long time, and food became something I turned to when I was stressed, overwhelmed or unhappy.

‘Looking back, I realise I wasn’t just carrying extra weight physically, I was carrying a lot emotionally too.’

The mother-of-two was a size 22 two years ago, due to a diet of chocolate, sweets and takeaways, including McDonald’s and pizzas

According to  the aesthetics practitioner, the pressures of motherhood, a demanding schedule and an unhappy relationship caused her to turn to comfort in food.  

Chocolate, sweets, takeaways, including McDonald’s and pizzas, became routine for Amy, with large portions and little thought given to nutrition. 

Although she repeatedly attempted various diets and weight-loss programmes, including Slimming World and meal replacement shakes, the results never lasted. 

It was only when her relationship ended that she decided enough was enough.  

Amy said: ‘I reached a point where I realised I wasn’t living the life I wanted. I wanted to be healthier, more confident and, most importantly, able to keep up with my children as they grew up.

‘I knew something had to change, not just for how I looked, but for how I felt.’

After struggling to achieve lasting results through dieting alone, Amy travelled to Egypt in June 2024 to undergo gastric sleeve surgery.

Within just a year, her weight had dropped from 18st to 9st. 

She explained: ‘I always say that the operation was a tool, not a magic fix. It still required a huge amount of commitment, learning healthier habits and changing my mindset.’ 

‘During this time I focused on prioritising protein, exercising regularly, building muscle and creating sustainable habits rather than chasing quick fixes.’

Although Amy repeatedly attempted various diets and weight-loss programmes, including Slimming World and meal replacement shakes, the results never lasted

After her relationship ended, Amy decided that her life had to change, so she flew to Egypt for gastric band surgery

The mother-of-two’s weight peaked at 18st

Advertisement

Amy now follows a strict diet of protein and whole foods, with chicken salad for lunch and lean meat for dinner  

Amy said: ‘I reached a point where I realised I wasn’t living the life I wanted. I wanted to be healthier, more confident and, most importantly, able to keep up with my children as they grew up’ 

Today, Amy’s meals primarily revolve around lean protein and whole foods.   

Breakfast typically consists of eggs on sourdough, or Greek yoghurt with added protein and berries, while lunch might be chicken salad or an omelette. Dinner usually includes lean meat or fish with vegetables. 

While Amy still enjoys treats from time to time, she revealed her relationship with food has completely changed, adding that she now ‘eats to fuel my body rather than to cope with my emotions’. 

The transformation has had a huge impact on nearly every aspect of her life. 

She said: ‘I have so much more energy, I can be far more active with my children and everyday tasks that once felt exhausting are now effortless.

‘I spend less on takeaways – they were costing me a fortune – and my mood is happier as I feel better in my own skin.

‘My confidence has completely transformed and that’s had a huge impact on both my personal life and my career.

‘It’s also inspired the mission behind my [aesthetics] business, because I know what it’s like to lack confidence and I love helping other women feel better about themselves too.’

Amy has since documented her journey on TikTok, where her videos have amassed more than one million views. 

And while many followers have been blown away by her dramatic weight loss, other eagle-eyed viewers have noticed the changes to her facial appearance. 

While the aesthetics practitioner has undergone dramatic weight loss, she’s also made major changes to her facial appearance with the help of regular cosmetic tweakments 

Despite the striking physical transformation, Amy insists the emotional changes have had more of an impact on her

Amy, who has candidly opened up about the treatments she ‘religiously’ receives, says she undergoes aesthetic ‘tweakments’ every four weeks to maintain her new look. 

Her skincare routine includes skin boosters with hyaluronic acid injections, polynucleotide treatments – commonly referred to as ‘salmon sperm facials’ – beneath her eyes, across her lower face and neck.

She also regularly has Botox injected throughout her face, as well as filler in her lip and chin. 

Amy said: ‘I went from looking completely unhealthy. [I was] physically overweight, my face looked puffy and tired, and overall I feel it made me look older than I actually was.

‘To now [I’m] looking a lot healthier, more put together and less tired. People have also said I look younger.’

Despite the striking physical transformation, Amy insists the emotional changes have had more of an impact on her. 

She said: ‘If there’s one thing I’d want people to know, it’s that losing weight doesn’t automatically fix every problem in your life – but it can give you the confidence to start changing everything else.

‘The physical transformation is obvious, but the mental transformation has been even bigger.

‘I’m proud of the weight I’ve lost, but I’m even prouder of the woman I’ve become through the process.

‘And if sharing my story helps even one person believe that change is possible, then it’s worth it.’

BAYREUTH, Germany (AP) — Richard Wagner likely would have appreciated the cutting-edge technology, if not the reaction.

Scenery selected by artificial intelligence sparked boos at the 150th anniversary performance of Wagner’s Ring Cycle from an audience frustrated that software could integrate images but not drama.

Called “10010110” — the number 150 in written in binary — the staging is subtitled “From Myth to Code” and was intended to portray the history of “Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung),” a series of four operas about the destruction of gods by humans, giants and dwarfs. It was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the full cycle’s premiere from Aug. 13-17, 1876, at the Festspielhaus theater built to Wagner’s specifications atop a Bavarian hill.

Curator Marcus Lobbes developed the concept with Nils Corte and dramaturge Andri Hardmeier, feeding computers about 1,000 images culled from the 15 prior Bayreuth Ring productions. They did not intend to produce a cohesive drama and suggested minimal blocking.

“We always communicated that it’s an experiment, it’s not stage-directed,” Lobbes said.

Disgruntled by 19th century standards, Wagner demanded his own theater of innovation. Bayreuth’s 239th Ring Cycle was an encyclopedia of interpretations rather than a new one.

The audience also responded with a 17-minute ovation

Singers stood between two 20-by-60 meter (33-by-66 foot) screens, often not moving, for 14 1/2 hours over four nights. About a dozen AI models were combined and Stable Diffusion was used to start each act with 1876 scenery designed by Gotthold Brückner and Max Brückner from sketches by Josef Hoffmann, then select images based on text and music.

After Saturday night’s concluding “Götterdämmerung,” conductor Christian Thielemann and the cast were greeted with a 17-minute ovation that wrapped around 30 seconds of boos and whistles when the production team joined for their bows.

Many Bayreuth productions are initially jeered, such as Patrice Chéreau’s centennial staging in 1976 that moved the action to the Industrial Revolution, then cheered years later. That production’s final appearance in 1980 ignited a 45-minute ovation.

“I know the ritual,” said Lobbes, director of the Academy for Theatre and Digitality in Dortmund.

He was approached in February 2023 to stage an AI Ring for the sesquicentennial by Katharina Wagner, a great-granddaughter of the composer and current festival director.

Wagner composed the Ring over 26 years. Coders divided it into about 250 scenes of two to six minutes and loaded images from past performances and topical moments to a pair of custom-built Tower PCs with NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics cards.

Singers led by Michael Volle (Wotan), Camilla Nylund (Brünnhilde) and Klaus Florian Vogt (Siegfried) wore birdlike costumes of wire mesh with black backing and laser voile designed by Pia Maria Mackert, Lobbes’ wife. The outfits shimmered in brilliant colors depending on the lighting, with gold and red most prominent.

As the narrative moved forward, so did AI’s projections.

An image of Theodor Herzl, a key figure in modern Zionism, appeared in “Das Rheingold,” and one of Adolf Hitler in “Die Walküre.” A sign that read: “Sorry, no gas today“ flashed in ”Siegfried” as the timeline reached the 1973 oil crisis and Brünnhilde awakened to sing “Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht! (Hail to you, Sun! Hail to you, Light!)”

“Every year of the 150 years, we have an answer from artificial intelligence what she thinks that the audience of Bayreuth would have said is the main political topic of this year or this summer,” Hardmeier said.

Many of the images provoked director name-checking in viewers’ minds — Was this from Wieland Wagner in 1951? From Frank Castorf in 2013? From Valentin Schwarz in 2020?

At other times, AI picked forms that shifted like a giant Etch A Sketch into images evoking works by Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning.

Original plans for 2026 envisioned performances of the final 10 of Wagner’s 13 operas plus the Festspielhaus debut of the composer’s third, “Rienzi,” until now deemed not worthy of inclusion. The AI Ring was to be presented once to coincide approximately with the original premiere dates, but budget cuts two years ago caused four operas to be scrapped and replaced by two additional Rings, the first from July 27 to Aug. 1.

Singers were together for just one nine-hour rehearsal over a four-day period in which the directing team worked with cast members in small groups.

“I would wish that with a certain openness people will find some interesting correlations and will see things that maybe others don’t see,” Hardmeier said. “I hope that people go out with a very fruitful irritation — not irritation in the sense of ‘What was this about’ but more sort of, ‘Hey, interesting.’”

Beethoven’s 9th starts festival

Thielemann conducted Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to open the festival. Wagner led the work at the downtown Margravial Opera House after the Bayreuth cornerstone ceremony in 1872 and it has been repeated on special occasions, such as the 1951 resumption after World War II.

A speech the following day by Michel Friedman titled “Silenced Voices” addressed Wagner’s antisemitism and his family’s support of Hitler and the Nazi party.

‘Rienzi’ a success in Bayreuth Festspielhaus premiere

A striking staging with Alexandra Szemerédy and Magdolna Parditka, updated to post-modern dystopian times, was greeted with extended applause when it opened on July 26 in the first of nine performances through Aug. 26.

Tenor Andreas Schager gave the title role charisma and vocal beauty, telling the story of 14th century Italian populist Cola di Rienzo.

Conductor Nathalie Stutzmann made a convincing case for an unwieldy composition whose autographed score was given by Wagner’s daughter-in-law, Winifried, to Hitler and lost in the destruction that ended World War II.

The ballet became a hilarious parody of Wagnerian cliches as a cartwheeling child wearing sneakers with rainbow lights and dressed in gold, resembling statues of the composer, presided in front of a faux Bayreuth proscenium. A procession of characters, some in winged helmets, performed silent camp references to Wagner’s renowned roles.

Stars of The Commitments joined Steve Coogan and Gerry Adams at the funeral of Oscar-winning Irish musician Glen Hansard at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin on Tuesday.  

Musician, activist and The Commitments movie star Hansard died in an early-hours motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin last week. 

Hansard, 56, had featured in the celebrated film The Commitments, and won an Oscar for best original song for Falling Slowly in 2008, which he co-wrote with Marketa Irglova for the movie Once.

The Commitments star Angeline Ball, who played Imelda Quirke in the 1991 film, led mourners at Tuesday’s service, which took place 24 hours after a wake for Hansard was attended by thousands of well-wishers.

Steve Coogan collaborated closely on an experimental stage musical adaptation of Coogan’s film Philomena.

Hansard was also one half of the rock duo The Swell Season and released solo albums including Didn’t He Ramble, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.

For years he led the Christmas Eve charity busk outside The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin city, where members of the public gathered to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of the Dublin Simon Community.

He also took part in protests against Ireland’s housing crisis, a march to mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and he joined anti-austerity water charge protests in 2014.

Hansard also recorded a song called Take Heart, in October 2022, expressing support for Ukraine following the country’s invasion by Russia – with Hansard backed on the track by Irglová, U2 frontman Bono and Ukrainian refugees. 

Hansard toured in the past with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, sang the track Coyote at Joni Mitchell’s 75th birthday celebration in Los Angeles in 2018 and also sang live alongside artists including Bruce Springsteen and Ed Sheeran.

Former Irish president Michael D Higgins said Hansard was a ‘wonderful musician and performer’ who had a gift for storytelling.

He also praised the musician for having ‘also placed great emphasis throughout his life on the importance of tackling the problems of society, including regular work in drawing attention to the problem of homelessness’.

Bono said in a statement: ‘Sometimes I would wonder if Glen Hansard really existed….Seriously, he was such an angelic presence… not otherworldly…in fact, very present this presence…

‘A smiling rascal if you needed him to be… this most musical and mischievous archangel of Ballymun… no airs, plenty of graces…

Steve Coogan collaborated closely on an experimental stage musical adaptation of Coogan’s film Philomena

Gerry Adams was among the high-profile mourners at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Musician, activist and The Commitments movie star Hansard died in an early-hours motorcycle crash on the outskirts of Dublin last week. He is seen taking part in the annual Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street, Dublin, in December 2019

‘Of course, Glen was the shining star of the Christmas Eve busk… sometimes the only one reminding the rest of us that Christmas began with a refugee born in a manger, which is hardly a step from living on the street.

‘To be utterly yourself by being more interested in others – a clue for any of us trying out different personas.

‘He really was who you thought he was. He could never walk by a person living rough without checking they were OK… and more than that, he worked very hard so that less people had to live on the streets in the first place.

‘When the crowds got bigger and for safety’s sake Glen had to agree to move the busk to a stage kindly provided outside The Gaiety Theatre, he would say ‘we’ll give it our best but it’s not a busk if we’re not on the street!’ …because that’s who he was – a performer at eye level in any situation.

‘The stage was a separation he wouldn’t recognize. Of all the grand and gigantic venues he and The Frames played, you sensed the street was his most favoured place to perform. And street people, his favourite audience.

Hansard featured in the 1991 movie The Commitments as guitarist Outspan Foster

‘Voice of the streets. A choir of angels in one man. The rest of us blessed to stand there beside our very own and very earthed Angel Gabriel… All of us welcome in his choir, whatever shape or form.

‘….and I’m telling myself this morning that if he never existed, then he can never cease to exist. For me, he will always be everywhere I see a coin spinning into an open guitar case.

‘May you rest in the peace you gave to so many. Bono.’

Video footage showed Hansard’s final performance at the Wren’s Nest late on Tuesday night.

The Wren’s Nest, a pub in Dublin dating back to 1588, has posted an online tribute, saying: ‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Glen Hansard.

‘It was always a privilege to welcome Glen to The Wren’s Nest over the years. He will be remembered for his incredible talent, generosity and the joy he brought to so many.

‘Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all who knew and loved him. Rest in peace, Glen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.’

Fans have noted how Hansard’s last performance delivered lyrics such as ‘Time is the only thing that’s going to fix this now’.

A clock on the wall in the footage marks the time as being 11.15pm on Tuesday.

Responses online included the late comedian Spike Milligan’s daughter Jane Milligan saying: ‘How beautiful to have this song.

‘Once is a most profoundly great show, not only for its songs and sweet love story but for its Actor Musician element. RIP Glen.’

Another poster wrote: ‘You just never know when it all ends. So glad he was doing what he loved right up to the last moment. Thank you for everything Glen.’

Other comments included: ‘Nice that he left this song, and thankfully someone captured this on video.’

Dave Ashe said Hansard’s death was a ‘shock’ and described him as a ‘cultural node’ for the music community in Ireland.

‘His inputs of busking on the street, and then being the guitarist, the frontman, and then being the Oscar-winner, and being the storyteller, and then the trad session musician – to have that removed from the culture, I think it’s jarring for people,’ he said.

Songwriter Barra Donovan said Hansard was a ‘hero’ of his and described meeting Hansard in Dublin last month.

‘Who walks in but Glen?’ he said.

‘So naturally, I had to go up and say hello, and he was very approachable and very kind. We had a lovely conversation.

‘For about 30 minutes, we were just chatting, and he kept coming back and asking me questions about my music, had all the time in the world, and I walked away that night – I should say stumbled away – with a big grin on my face and a very happy story to tell the next day.’

He added: ‘I was so shocked at Glen’s passing, and the only thing I could think to do is, I have to come down, pay my respects to an absolute giant in the music community and around the world, really.

‘Glen helped build people up all the time, he was a giant is the only word for it.’

Singer-songwriter Zoe Hayter met Hansard when she was 10.

‘I never, ever thought someone could change your life in the best way possible,’ she said.

‘He introduced me into a world that was the most magical thing you could ever be a part of, and there was no-one else like him that could ever do that for anybody else, and he’s done it for me, and he’s done it for everybody in the whole world.

‘The whole world is crying, and there’ll never be anyone like that, and I’ll never stop loving him and I know no-one else will.’

Maureen Doyle and Richard Thorpe travelled from Co Kilkenny to pay their respects to Hansard.

Ms Doyle said he was a ‘good person’ and they expressed their condolences to his wife and young son, Christy.