Two people died in central Mexico from flooding caused by heavy rains, local authorities said Saturday, as severe downpours continued to batter parts of the country.
Two bodies were found in the city of Queretaro shortly before midnight Friday, a civil protection report said.
“They were swept away by rainwater,” the report said.
Queretaro faced heavy rainfall on Saturday, causing damage to property and prompting federal authorities to initiate a military emergency response plan.
In Mexico City, also lashed by the downpours, operations at Benito Juarez International Airport, one of Latin America’s busiest, were briefly halted on Saturday due to poor visibility.
Earlier this month, flooding in the capital and surrounding areas disrupted flights at the same airport, which served more than 45 million passengers in 2024.
Mexico experiences major storms every year, usually between May and November.
But the Latin American country has experienced an unusually wet year, particularly in the capital, where storms have been the heaviest since 1952, according to official records.
The National Water Commission reported June as the third-rainiest month since 1985.
Scientists have shown that human-driven climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely.
Earlier this month, we learned that Samsung is developing the Galaxy F17 5G and the Galaxy M17 5G, rebranded variants of the Galaxy A17 5G. We also got to know their display, processor, and OS details. Well, today we have more leak about the two devices. This one sheds light on their performance and suggests that they are coming soon.
The Galaxy F17 5G and the Galaxy M17 5G have been spotted on Geekbench (via Mohammed Khatri). According to their listings, they have the Exynos 1330 SoC and 8GB RAM. They may also be available with lower memory options. With the same processor, you might have expected them to perform the same but that’s not the case.
The Galaxy F17 5G scored 975 in the single-core CPU test and 2,242 points in the multi-score CPU test. Whereas, the Galaxy M17 5G has scored 762 points in the former and 1,596 points in the latter. Both phones may have performed differently because they are still in the testing phase. The retail units of these phones should have similar performance.
Considering that Samsung has started getting the two phones benchmarked, it looks like their development is complete (not that the brand had much work to do apart from taking the Galaxy A17 5G, slamming new names on it, and putting different back panels). With that, you can expect the two devices to hit the market soon.
This section presents a model for energy management of distributed generation sources in microgrids, which reduces energy supply costs. Therefore, the artificial bee colony optimization algorithm has been used for optimization. The goal of optimal use of resources in microgrids is to reduce operating costs. In addition to ABC algorithm, the Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Algorithm (PSO), and Modified Bat Algorithm (MBA) are used for optimization. It should be noted that all these algorithms were used in13. Studies have been repeated for four different radiation conditions: warm sunny, cold sunny, warm cloudy, and cold cloudy. In Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the results are shown as constant radiation in terms of global HZ irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiation (DNI), and different seasons (Diff).
Fig. 5
Intensity of solar radiation in GHI conditions.
Fig. 6
Intensity of solar radiation in DNI conditions.
Fig. 7
Intensity of solar radiation in Diff conditions.
Next, in Fig. 8, the ambient temperature is shown in different conditions. Figure 9 illustrates the amount of electrical power requested in the microgrid for 24 h for four different situations.
Fig. 8
Ambient temperature in different conditions.
Fig. 9
The first scenario: (optimization results for a hot sunny day)
In the initial phase of the optimization, we focused on minimizing the operating costs of the microgrid under the conditions of a hot, sunny day. To achieve this objective, the optimization algorithms are employed to determine the most cost-effective power generation schedule for the microgrid during the specified period. It is important to note that each algorithm was executed 50 times to ensure statistical reliability, and the corresponding results are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2 Optimization results in the first scenario.
The results indicate that all the employed optimization algorithms produced relatively similar outcomes, with only slight differences in their objective function values. Nonetheless, even small variations in operational cost can accumulate to significant amounts over extended periods. For the ABC algorithm, the minimum and maximum values of the objective function were recorded at $363.21 and $391.17, respectively. In comparison, the GA yielded a minimum of $367.69 and a maximum of $380.34. A notable finding is that the standard deviation of the ABC algorithm was lower than that of the other optimization methods. A lower standard deviation suggests that the algorithm delivers more stable and accurate performance, reducing the likelihood of converging on an optimal solution by chance. Specifically, the standard deviation for the ABC algorithm was calculated to be 11.16, demonstrating greater consistency and reliability. In terms of reliability index, all algorithms achieved values below 2%. However, the ABC algorithm attained a reliability index of 1.45%, which is the lowest among the tested algorithms, further confirming its superior performance. Following optimization with the ABC algorithm, the power generation levels for each distributed energy resource were determined. If the output power of the distributed generation units is scheduled according to Figure (10), the total energy supply cost within the microgrid will be minimized under this scenario.
As anticipated, during peak electricity price hours, the electrical demand is primarily met by the distributed generation units. Conversely, during periods of low electricity prices, the utility grid supplies the required load power. Figures (11) illustrates the variation in the electricity price exchanged with the grid, as well as the battery’s charging and discharging profile, when optimized using the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm.
The second scenario: (optimization results for a cold sunny day)
In the second scenario of the simulations, the cost reduction of using resources in the microgrid for a chilly summer day has been studied. As in the first scenario, optimization algorithms were used in new conditions to reduce costs. Algorithms have been executed 50 times; Table 3 shows the results.
Table 3 Optimization results in the second scenario.
Compared to the first scenario, a significant reduction in operational costs was observed, primarily due to decreased energy consumption. The best solution obtained using the proposed ABC algorithm was $292.86, while the optimal result from multiple executions of the GA reached $297.83. This indicates that the ABC algorithm achieved approximately $5 in cost savings over the GA method for microgrid optimization. In this scenario, a higher standard deviation was observed, suggesting greater dispersion in the optimization outcomes. However, the reliability index for the microgrid improved compared to the first scenario, indicating a reduction in the level of unsupplied energy. Specifically, the LPSP index was recorded at 1.23% for the ABC algorithm, consistent with the values obtained from other algorithms. After applying the ABC optimization algorithm, the generation power levels of each distributed energy source and the amount of electric power exchanged with the national grid were determined. Figure 10 illustrates the contribution of each distributed generation source in the second scenario.
Fig. 10
The contribution of each distributed generation source in the second scenario.
Similar to the first scenario, energy supply during peak electricity price hours was primarily managed using lower-cost distributed generation sources. During off-peak hours, the national grid provided a substantial portion of the microgrid’s load demand. The analysis of the second scenario also includes the hourly profile of electricity prices exchanged with the national grid and the battery storage’s charge/discharge behavior under optimization by the ABC algorithm. These results further confirm the algorithm’s ability to effectively manage energy resources while minimizing operational costs. Figure 11 shows the electricity price and battery power at different hours in the second scenario.
Fig. 11
Electricity price and battery power at different hours in the second scenario.
The third scenario: (optimization results for a hot cloudy day)
Continuing the process of simulations, in the third scenario, reducing the cost of using resources in the microgrid for a hot, cloudy day has been studied. Like the previous two scenarios, genetic algorithms, particle swarm, artificial bee, modified fake bee, lightning search, and the proposed artificial bee colony algorithm were used for optimization. The results of running the algorithm 50 times are given in Table 4.
Table 4 Optimization results in the third scenario.
The optimal, worst, and average values of the objective function obtained using the proposed ABC algorithm were $267.77, $300.38, and $289.61, respectively, with a standard deviation of $14.21. These results demonstrate superior performance compared to other optimization algorithms, indicating the consistency and reliability of the ABC algorithm in minimizing operational costs. In this scenario, the value of the LPSP reliability index increased, primarily due to reduced photovoltaic power generation caused by cloud cover and decreased solar irradiance, coupled with increased energy demand. When using the ABC algorithm, the LPSP index reached 1.76%. The hourly distribution of generation power for each distributed energy source and storage system, as well as the power exchanged with the national grid, is represented as a bar graph (Fig. 12). Notably, during high-cost electricity hours, the average exchanged power with the national grid was negative, indicating that electricity was sold to the grid, resulting in increased profitability for microgrid operators.
Fig. 12
The contribution of each distributed generation source in the third scenario.
Conversely, during low-cost electricity periods, such as early morning hours, a significant portion of the microgrid’s demand was met through purchases from the national grid. Additionally, batteries were primarily charged during these cheaper periods and discharged when electricity prices were higher, enhancing the overall economic performance of the system. Figure 13 shows the electricity price and battery power at different hours in the third section.
Fig. 13
Electricity price and battery power at different hours in the third scenario.
The fourth scenario: (optimization results for a cold, cloudy day)
Finally, in the fourth scenario of the simulations, the operation cost reduction in the studied microgrid for a cold, cloudy day has been done. Like the previous three scenarios, the optimization algorithms were executed 50 times, and their results are summarized in Table 5.
Table 5 Optimization results in the fourth scenario.
Following optimization using the ABC algorithm, the best result across 50 independent runs was recorded at $266.14, while the worst solution reached $340.83. For comparison, the best solutions obtained using other algorithms, GA, PSO, standard ABC, Improved Fake Bee Algorithm, and the LSA, were calculated as $271.51, $269.88, $268.17, $267.00, and $267.11, respectively. These findings highlight the superior performance of the proposed ABC method in minimizing microgrid operational costs. In this scenario, the reliability index, measured by the LPSP, remained below the acceptable threshold of 2% for all algorithms. However, the LPSP value resulting from the ABC algorithm was calculated at 1.61%, which is lower than all other methods tested, indicating better reliability and energy supply security. The hourly distribution of generation power from distributed energy resources, the battery’s charging and discharging behavior, and the energy exchanged with the national grid were also evaluated under ABC optimization. Figure 14 illustrates the contribution of each distributed generation source in the fourth section.
Fig. 14
The contribution of each distributed generation source in the fourth scenario.
As anticipated, during periods of high electricity prices, local distributed generation units were primarily responsible for supplying the load. Conversely, during hours with lower electricity prices, the majority of the microgrid’s energy demand was met through imports from the grid. Subsequently, the variation in electricity exchange prices and the battery’s charging/discharging profile under ABC optimization are illustrated, confirming an economically and operationally efficient energy management strategy. Figure 15 shows the electricity price and battery power at different hours in the fourth scenario.
Fig. 15
Electricity price and battery power at different hours in the fourth scenario.
Trade-off between operational cost and system reliability
The Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm effectively balances the trade-off between minimizing operational costs and ensuring system reliability in microgrid energy management. This is achieved through a penalty-based objective function, as defined in Eqs. (1)–(3), which minimizes costs related to fuel consumption, start-up, energy exchange with the national grid, and penalties for unserved load, while enforcing reliability constraints, specifically maintaining the Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) below 2%. Candidate solutions that violate reliability constraints are penalized, guiding the algorithm toward solutions that optimize cost while ensuring reliable energy supply. The ABC algorithm’s adaptive mechanisms, including the waggle dance-inspired information sharing and scout bee exploration, enable efficient navigation of the solution space, avoiding local optima and ensuring consistent performance.
The performance of the ABC algorithm in managing this trade-off is evaluated across four operational scenarios (hot sunny, cold sunny, hot cloudy, and cold cloudy), with results compared against other metaheuristic methods: Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Modified Bat Algorithm (MBA), and Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA). Table 6 summarizes the best operational cost and corresponding LPSP values for each algorithm across all scenarios, highlighting the ABC algorithm’s superior ability to achieve lower costs while maintaining high reliability.
Table 6 Comparison of operational cost and reliability across Scenarios.
As shown in Table 6, the ABC algorithm consistently achieves the lowest operational costs across all scenarios (e.g., $363.21 in Scenario 1, $292.86 in Scenario 2, $267.77 in Scenario 3, and $266.14 in Scenario 4) while maintaining the lowest LPSP values (1.45%, 1.23%, 1.76%, and 1.61%, respectively). This demonstrates its ability to optimize the cost-reliability trade-off effectively. For example, in Scenario 3 (hot cloudy day), where reduced photovoltaic generation due to cloud cover increases LPSP, the ABC algorithm still achieves the lowest cost ($267.77) and an LPSP of 1.76%, well within the acceptable limit of 2%. In contrast, GA and PSO yield higher costs ($273.18 and $271.56) and higher LPSP values (1.99% and 1.89%), indicating a less favorable trade-off.
The ABC algorithm’s superior performance can be attributed to its robust exploration and exploitation mechanisms. Unlike GA, which may converge to local optima due to its crossover and mutation operations, or PSO, which can be sensitive to parameter tuning, the ABC algorithm leverages a simpler structure with fewer control parameters. The scout bee phase ensures diversity in the solution space, while the onlooker bee phase refines promising solutions, leading to lower standard deviations (e.g., 16.11 in Scenario 1 vs. 19.85 for GA) and more consistent results. Compared to MBA and LSA, which perform well but achieve slightly higher costs and LPSP values, the ABC algorithm’s adaptive information-sharing mechanism (via the waggle dance) enhances its ability to balance cost and reliability effectively.
These results confirm that the ABC algorithm outperforms other metaheuristic methods in managing the trade-off between operational cost and system reliability, making it a robust and efficient tool for microgrid energy management under diverse operating conditions.
Performance of the ABC algorithm across different time horizons
The performance of the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm in microgrid energy management varies depending on the scheduling time horizon—hourly, daily, or weekly—due to differences in computational requirements, data resolution, and the handling of uncertainties. The current study employs a daily (24-hour) scheduling horizon, optimizing the allocation of distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery storage on an hourly basis within a single day. This section evaluates how the ABC algorithm’s performance, in terms of computational time, operational cost, and system reliability (measured by Loss of Power Supply Probability, LPSP), is expected to vary across hourly, daily, and weekly scheduling horizons, based on the simulation results and typical algorithm behavior.
Hourly Scheduling: In an hourly scheduling framework, the ABC algorithm optimizes resource allocation for each hour independently or in short time blocks, using high-resolution forecasts of load, solar irradiance, and wind speed. This approach allows precise control of DERs and battery storage, enabling the algorithm to respond dynamically to short-term variations. However, frequent re-optimization increases computational demand, potentially leading to higher simulation times (e.g., estimated at 10–20 s per hour based on the daily simulation times of 84–125 s for 24 h). While operational costs and reliability remain comparable to daily scheduling (e.g., LPSP < 2%), the need for rapid computation may limit real-time applicability in large microgrids.
Daily Scheduling: The current study uses a daily scheduling horizon, as detailed in Sect. 6.1–6.4, where the ABC algorithm optimizes a 24-hour schedule based on hourly forecasts. This approach balances computational efficiency and solution quality, achieving operational costs of $266.14–$363.21 and LPSP values of 1.23–1.76% across the four scenarios (Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5). The daily horizon leverages a full day’s forecast, reducing the impact of short-term uncertainties while maintaining manageable computational times (84–125 s). This makes it well-suited for both planning and near-real-time applications in the tested benchmark microgrid.
Weekly Scheduling: For a weekly scheduling horizon (168 h), the ABC algorithm optimizes resource allocation over an extended period, requiring forecasts for load, solar, and wind profiles over seven days. While this enables strategic planning (e.g., for maintenance scheduling or energy trading), it significantly increases the solution space and computational complexity, potentially leading to simulation times in the range of 600–1000 s. Additionally, longer-term forecasts are less accurate, which may increase LPSP (e.g., estimated at 1.8–2.5%) and operational costs due to suboptimal decisions under uncertainty. However, weekly scheduling can reduce overall costs by optimizing resource utilization over a longer period, particularly in scenarios with stable load patterns.
Table 7 summarizes the estimated performance of the ABC algorithm across these time horizons, based on the current study’s results and reasonable extrapolations for hourly and weekly scheduling.
Table 7 Estimated performance of the ABC algorithm across different time Horizons.
The ABC algorithm’s performance across these horizons highlights its flexibility but also its trade-offs. Hourly scheduling offers high precision but may be computationally intensive for real-time applications in large microgrids. Daily scheduling, as implemented in this study, provides an optimal balance for the benchmark microgrid, achieving low costs and high reliability with reasonable computational effort. Weekly scheduling, while beneficial for long-term planning, faces challenges due to increased uncertainty and computational time, which may reduce its effectiveness unless enhanced with robust forecasting or parallel computing techniques.
To improve the ABC algorithm’s performance across different time horizons, future work could explore adaptive time-step optimization, where the algorithm dynamically adjusts the scheduling resolution based on operational needs. Additionally, integrating stochastic forecasting models or parallelized computation could mitigate the challenges of weekly scheduling and enhance real-time applicability for hourly scheduling in complex microgrids.
Discussion
The simulation results presented in Sect. 6.1–6.6 highlight the effectiveness of the Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm in optimizing energy management for a benchmark microgrid under diverse load and solar irradiance conditions. Across four operational scenarios (hot sunny, cold sunny, hot cloudy, and cold cloudy), the ABC algorithm consistently achieves the lowest operational costs, ranging from $266.14 to $363.21, while maintaining high system reliability, with Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) values between 1.23% and 1.76%, well below the 2% threshold (Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5). These findings, particularly those in Subsection 6.5, demonstrate the algorithm’s ability to effectively balance the trade-off between cost minimization and reliability. The ABC algorithm outperforms other metaheuristic methods, including Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Modified Bat Algorithm (MBA), and Lightning Search Algorithm (LSA), as evidenced by its lower costs (e.g., $266.14 vs. $271.51 for GA in Scenario 4) and lower LPSP values (e.g., 1.61% vs. 1.88% for GA in Scenario 4). The algorithm’s lower standard deviation (e.g., 16.11 in Scenario 1 compared to 19.85 for GA) further underscores its consistency and robustness, making it a reliable tool for microgrid energy management.
The relevance of these results is significant in the context of modern microgrid systems, where cost efficiency and reliability are paramount for sustainable energy solutions. As discussed in Subsection 6.5, the ABC algorithm’s ability to navigate the cost-reliability trade-off is particularly valuable in scenarios with variable renewable generation, such as cloudy conditions (Scenarios 3 and 4), where reduced solar output increases reliance on battery storage and grid imports. By optimizing the scheduling of distributed energy resources (DERs) and battery storage, the algorithm minimizes costly grid imports during peak price hours, as shown in Figs. 16, 17, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. This aligns with the global shift toward decentralized energy systems, which aim to enhance energy security and reduce environmental impact through renewable integration1,13. The performance analysis across different time horizons in Subsection 6.6 further highlights the algorithm’s flexibility, with daily scheduling offering a balance of computational efficiency and solution quality (costs of $266.14–$363.21, LPSP of 1.23–1.76%), while hourly scheduling provides precision at higher computational costs, and weekly scheduling supports strategic planning but faces challenges due to increased uncertainty.
Fig. 16
The contribution of each distributed generation source in the first scenario.
Fig. 17
Electricity price and battery power at different hours in the first scenario.
Comparisons with existing literature contextualize the ABC algorithm’s contributions. For instance14] and [15, report cost reductions of 3–5% using PSO-based approaches, while the ABC algorithm achieves comparable or better savings (e.g., 5% lower costs than GA in Scenario 2). The integration of battery storage optimization, as explored in23, complements the current study’s focus on efficient resource utilization. However, Subsection 6.6 notes limitations in real-time implementation for larger microgrids, such as high computational times (84–125 s for daily scheduling), which could be mitigated by parallel computing or adaptive time-step optimization. These findings align with46, which emphasizes the role of adaptive controllers in enhancing microgrid performance, suggesting that combining ABC with such controllers could further improve real-time applicability.
The practical implications of these results are significant for microgrid operators seeking to minimize operational costs while ensuring reliable power supply. The ABC algorithm’s simplicity, requiring fewer control parameters than GA or PSO, makes it an attractive option for practical deployment. However, challenges such as computational complexity in large-scale systems and sensitivity to forecasting errors, as discussed in related literature48, must be addressed to fully realize its potential. Future research could explore integrating stochastic optimization or advanced forecasting techniques to enhance robustness, as well as incorporating demand response strategies45 to further reduce costs by 2–5%. These enhancements would strengthen the ABC algorithm’s role as a versatile and effective solution for next-generation microgrid energy management, contributing to the global transition toward sustainable and resilient energy systems.
If you saw Martin Parr and didn’t know who he was, you would barely notice him. He is Mr Invisible and Mr Normal rolled into one, in his sensible jumper – probably from Marks & Spencer – and sensible socks and sandals. He has a neat side parting and neatly cut hair. He has a mild and conventional manner and a mild and conventional appearance. There is something of the naff birdwatcher about him. But do not be fooled. This is the disguise of a man who is seeing far more than most of us ever see, and he’s hiding in plain sight. He is a genius who has changed photography, one of the great artists of our time.
So who is Martin Parr? And what would he say if we listened? His life is, in many ways, an everyman’s life: he’s born into a family of mixed characters and classes; he has a devoted grandparent; he is undistinguished at school – perhaps not having the happiest of childhoods; he’s a silly boy; he goes to college; mucks around, tries new things, gets a girlfriend, has some holiday jobs. He enters adulthood in an inauspicious way, works hard, sees something of the world; gets married, becomes a father, builds up his career, travels; has conflict, success, illness, recovery; becomes a grandfather, gains wisdom and respect. An ordinary life that follows an ordinary arc.
Martin Parr’s life is also a life of its century. He was there in the great freeze of 1962 – he records it with his first photo. He’s a grammar school boy who trainspots the last steam engines, then a hippy student with long hair in the 70s. He’s in Ireland during the Troubles, then, in the 80s, he’s capturing fashion, luxury, consumerism and British Conservatism. He sees the fall of communism in the 90s, the rise of McDonald’s and the explosion in international tourism. In the new millennium, he watches India transforming, industry dying in the Black Country, the traditional English village enduring. He sees South Africa after apartheid and the growth in the standard of living worldwide. He lives through the arrival of digital photography, mobile phones, selfies. He sees Gay Pride marches and Black Lives Matter protests, meets the elderly queen and survives the pandemic.
And he photographs it all. He’s like a photographic Forrest Gump. In the mid-80s, like the film of The Wizard of Oz, his work burst into colour, not in a wonderland like Oz but in a downtrodden, dirty, unglamorous seaside resort near Liverpool called New Brighton. He photographed gulls, litter, sunbathers on cement walkways, babies crying and chip shops. Not for him the luscious aesthetic of 1930s seaside posters. This was a working-class day out, and Martin displayed it in vibrant, flash-induced, saturated colour. In New Brighton, Martin became the photographer we know him to be now – vivid, demanding our attention, socially aware and pulling us in like a magnet.
Many years ago, I approached Martin and asked if I could write his biography. He said yes. We tried, we failed. I asked questions; he replied quickly and briskly. I asked the same questions again, I tried to dig deeper. I failed. I wanted to write something analytical, deep, full of myth, id and ego. Martin talked about birdwatching and regularly said the worst phrase a biographer can hear: “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” How could I write a book with so few words? I couldn’t. Nearly all of Martin is in his pictures, not words.
Fifteen years later, I went back to him and said, “How about you tell your life story through photographs and you talk about your photos?” And he said yes.
Martin is older now, a statesman in his world. He has the air of someone who’s seen everything – which, in a way, he has. But he’s still at it. He recently held an exhibition of his photos on smoking, exploring the difficult borders between comfort and discomfort. He has work to do, an ever-changing world to document, boring things to find that he’s going to make us interested in.
So if you see a mild-mannered man walking along and he points his camera at you – especially if you’re doing something unremarkable, such as standing at the checkout, having a cup of tea, taking a selfie or even just waiting in a queue – you may have been Parr-ed.WJ
Frozen Stream, Chessington, England, 1962-3
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
The first photo I remember taking is this one, of my father on a frozen stream. I used to play here, next to our house. I would have been 10 when I took this during the great freeze of 1962–3. I remember helping my father sweep the snow outside our house and people thanking us – everyone was being nice to each other because it was a very cold winter.
You can see my father’s got his binoculars on. He was a great birdwatcher, as was my mother, which meant all our trips out were to birdwatching places – to Thursley Common to see the Dartford warbler, and down to Pagham, looking for waders.
We would go to Hersham Sewage Works, where I spent many Saturdays looking for migratory birds, because a lot came there to feed. It was smelly and we wore wellingtons. There were tomatoes growing. We used to pick green ones that had grown in human shit. They would never ripen; they were always green. We’d pick them and my mother used to make green tomato chutney.
Birdwatchers, Surrey Bird Club, England, 1972
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
When I went home during the college breaks, I would take pictures of my father’s birdwatching trips with the Surrey Bird Club – my father was the president. He made lists of the birds, and the Dartford warbler was his specialism. This picture was taken when the bird club was having its picnic lunch. I guess this photo works because you’ve got these two couples, both with binoculars, so it looks quite surreal. They look like owls themselves.
I was beginning to look at scenes that were familiar in a slightly remote way. And there’s humour in it – it was the first photo I could clearly see the humour in.
Susie Mitchell, Paris, France, 1978
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
Despite being “utterly inattentive and lazy” in French at school (to quote one school report), in the late 70s I began to go on trips to France. I went to see Jean-Claude Lemagny, who was in charge of the photography collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris. He bought many early black-and-white prints from me – for bargain prices, but it was a great thrill. The trips were very exciting and helped build up my reputation in France. And Susie came along, because she could speak French.
This was taken in one of those classic French bistros. Susie didn’t like being photographed by me at all. She’d put her hand up in front of her face. She has always said she looks awful, which is absolute rubbish. Her skin is beautiful. She still puts her hand up now. It doesn’t stop me taking pictures, so it’s a bit useless. I can easily outwit her. I’ve got lots of photos of Susie in the archive. We’ve been married for 45 years.
Colour and Flash, New Brighton, England, 1983-85
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from The Last Resort
In 1982 Susie got a job in Liverpool and we found a house overlooking the Mersey. I knew the seaside resort New Brighton was a mile down the road and would be great for me to explore photographically. It was a tradition; people came here from all over Merseyside for a day out on the beach – if you could call it a beach. It was shabby, but it had an ice-cream parlour, an amusement arcade and funfair rides.
I kept working in black and white because colour photography wasn’t taken seriously in the UK. In the 40s and 50s, it was regarded as commercial and trivial, used for family snapshots because you could get cheap colour cameras. Then, in the late 70s, I saw images from America of serious photography being done in colour: the likes of Stephen Shore, William Eggleston and Joel Meyerowitz were getting shows in the big museums. I thought, I must go to colour.
I knew I was on to something with this combination of colour, flash and New Brighton. I could tell these were good pictures. It made me realise colour really had potential to express my attitude and subjectivity much more efficiently than anything else. Colour is real, isn’t it? It’s right in your face. It just looks great. I still love black and white, but once I moved to colour, I never went back.
Something That Seems Ordinary, Salford, England, 1986
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Spending Time
I was hanging around a petrol station like a pervert. Photographers at the time would have said that this was the craziest place to take a picture. Because it’s a very unglamorous subject matter. Boring. There’s no drama here. But there’s something very interesting about boring. Something that seems very ordinary at the time becomes interesting when you look back at it later, almost 40 years later: the pump has changed, the clothes have changed, the car has changed. It tells us something about consumerism, and how we depend on fuel, oil and petrol.
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from The Cost of Living
I went to the Conservative Party Association in Bath and asked if there was any chance of getting access to events happening in people’s gardens and houses. They said, “Yes, here’s a list.” They were so very agreeable. Access, back in the 80s, was a much easier game to play. I guess now they would look me up and would be horrified by my reputation.
Every little component of this picture works – and that’s an unusual achievement. The men are dressed up in suits and ties, and they look very smug. This lady’s hair is like a helmet. It looks solid. It doesn’t look like it would blow in the wind in the Midsummer Madness.
Small World, Kleine Scheidegg, Switzerland, 1990
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Small World
In 1992, I had an exhibition of my ongoing project on tourism, Small World, in Paris. One of the guests was Henri Cartier-Bresson, probably the most famous photographer in the world, and a founder of Magnum. He was so annoyed by the exhibition that when he got home he sent me a fax saying, “I don’t see your viewpoint. Your work is from a different planet. We belong to two different solar systems.” I thought, oh, this is fantastic. I replied, “I acknowledge there is a large gap between your celebration of life and my implied criticism of it … What I would query with you is: why shoot the messenger?” He was photographing the old style of life; I was photographing modern things. I usually relish criticism and opposition. When I realised people were against me, I thought: I must be doing something right.
Lost ball, Chew Stoke, England, 1992
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Chew Stoke: A Year in the Life of an English Village
It’s classic to play cricket in summer in Britain, yet things can go badly wrong. It’s not a professional match. Everybody’s mucking in to find the ball so the game can continue.
McDonald’s, Moscow, Russia, 1992
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
When the first McDonald’s in the USSR opened in Pushkin Square, Moscow, there was a queue of a thousand people trying to get in. I still remember the excitement and thrill of the diners. It was the largest McDonald’s in the world, with 600 seats. It was nicknamed Bolshoi Mac and heralded as an amazing advance; because of Gorbachev’s glasnost policy, the USSR let this icon of America in.
This was the only time I have been allowed to photograph in McDonald’s. I’ve often taken pictures without permission; being thrown out by a faintly embarrassed duty manager gives a certain satisfaction.
Pyongyang, North Korea, 1997
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
I’ve always been fascinated by North Korea. Finally, in 1997, I saw an advertisement in the Times for a trip that was leaving from Beijing and going to North Korea. I applied and said I was a lecturer – which I was; it wasn’t a lie – and they gave me a visa. We were a coachload of 20 people driven around all the propaganda sites, which were like film sets. There were no cars anywhere. We knew there was a lot of starvation, but we didn’t see evidence of that. Still, it felt poor.
We were controlled the whole time, in what we did, where we went, and we had to have an interpreter or a guide with us constantly. They were OK with me having quite a big camera. They must have realised I was a photographer, but they didn’t stop me from photographing anything, because it was all so curated you could only take pleasant photographs, really. It was propaganda of the first order. Occasionally, like here, I had an opportunity to sneak an uncurated picture through the coach window. North Korea was the most surreal experience of my life.
A perfect cup of tea, Sand Bay, England, 1997
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Common Sense
I’ve done many other pictures of cups of tea but this is the best: every component is correct. It’s a perfect cup of tea in a perfect Wedgwood cup and saucer on a perfect red gingham tablecloth.
It was taken in a cafe near Weston-super-Mare that Susie and I used to frequent, called Monk’s Rest, on a hill overlooking the sea. Sometimes we would have poached eggs on toast, and sometimes sardines on toast, and one day someone put this cup of tea on the table and I took a photo of it. It’s a simple picture that’s become very well known, licensed and used many, many times.
It’s very rewarding to take an iconic image. I have taken millions of photos, and I’m always looking to take one that will survive on its own without context, without the narrative.
Benidorm, Spain, 1997
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Common Sense
I was very excited about going to Benidorm with a macro lens for the first time, because it meant I could take photos at close range. And the scale of the beach in Benidorm is quite amazing. It’s huge. It must be three miles long, with three different beaches, and there’s this long path by the water where the Spanish go promenading during the day, particularly in the morning. It’s quite an event. I call it the motorway.
I took the picture of this woman very quickly. She was fast asleep. Those blue things are eye shields. It was one of those rare moments when everything fell into place. I was very close to her. I only took one frame and then moved on. I had a hunch that this would be a good photo, and it is now one of my most famous pictures.
I’ve since had two people write to me and say, “That’s a photo of my grandmother.” They weren’t able to prove it. The woman hasn’t ever come forward.
Senegalese street seller, Dakar, 2001
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Fashion Magazine
I went to Dakar for a fashion shoot for Rebel, a French fashion magazine. I had accessories to photograph: handbags, sunglasses and a Louis Vuitton cigarette case – the silver square in the front row. Every fashion picture is about solving a problem: how to make the picture look good while showing the item of clothing.
This guy was selling his wares on the street for two or three dollars. I negotiated to pay him to take his photo – I can’t remember how much – and I placed the cigarette case into the tray. And Bob’s your uncle.
It’s all cheap stuff, apart from the Louis Vuitton cigarette case, which is an expensive French luxury good. It devalues it. It’s ironic, isn’t it, really? I put it there as a form of subversion, because everything else on that tray would be worth under $10. And that Louis Vuitton cigarette case is going to be worth $1,000. Minimum.
Shalfleet Church Fete, Isle of Wight, England, 2007
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
I have been to so many country fetes over the years. I can’t get enough of them, in particular church fetes, ideally in the vicar’s garden. It’s like stepping back in time to the 1950s. You can’t help but admire the notice here: “Do take ONE cherry tomato with your roll.” It’s a shame these days the food is often covered in clingfilm. I can get an interesting photo of the reflections when I’m using flash, but clingfilm just annoys me. You don’t need it. The food’s only going to be in the open air for a couple of hours before it’s eaten. It’s health and safety gone mad.
Spectators in Switzerland Watching Polo, St Moritz, 2011
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Luxury
I wasn’t interested in the polo. I wanted the spectators. And they’re very much spectating, wearing their sunglasses and watching intently. The way the dog is integrated into the fur works well, and I like the other dog, also paying attention.
Employee of the Month, Rochester, New York, US, 2012
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Tim Montondo is Employee of the Month at Wards Natural Science for the month of April. This is his sixth time
In 2012, Magnum initiated a project called Postcards from America, in which photographers were sent to different towns in the US for 10 days. I was sent to Rochester, where I came across Tim Montondo. The sign tells the story: he’s Employee of the Month. It’s his sixth time. I love that he’s holding his cup, the way it’s held in one hand and the other just drops down. I wanted him to look very proud. I had to tell him not to smile. I wanted to take it seriously. People assume for a portrait you should smile. The opposite is the case. I want the subject to show dignity.
The queen visiting Drapers’ Hall, London, England, 2014
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos, taken from Unseen City
The Drapers’ Livery company said, “We’ve got the queen coming to lunch to celebrate our 650th birthday. Would you be happy to take pictures of the event?” and I immediately said yes. The livery companies in London are trade guilds, or professional associations, and they are famously very wealthy. They are also typically very male, very white and very old. But still they go on. Still rich. Still giving out money. Still having their dinners.
As opposed to most of the times I’ve photographed the queen at public events, this time I was the only photographer, and I followed her around.
Here she is leaving the event. By this time, a good few pedestrians had twigged that she was in the building. Hence, you see people with their phones trying to take pictures of her. The trouble is they’ll have me in them, with my camera. Sorry about that, folks.
This has become a very popular image. It’s interesting in that the queen is perhaps the only person who’s recognisable from behind. She’s got that classic hat and a slight hunch. I’m sure she was photographed from behind many times, but here, it really works.
Tomato Soup, Royal Infirmary, Bristol, England, 2021
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
Paramedics came to pick me up because I was vomiting and there was something wrong with my stomach. I had to have an emergency operation because something had come loose – I’m not sure exactly what happened. Anyway, by coincidence, when they were doing the scans for that they found “nodules on the spine”. And when they say that it means it’s cancer.
They removed my stem cells, gave me a blast of chemo, and put the stem cells back in. Then I had to remain in a highly controlled room for two weeks while my immune system was maintained. The only person allowed in was Susie, who came every day, God bless her. After that, I was in the ward. It took a long time for my bowel to start working again. I had to have food pumped in to me to keep me alive, it was nil by mouth. Then at some point they decided I was ready to eat.
The first food I had in three weeks was tomato soup – I think it was Heinz – orange juice and an ice-cream. NHS ice-cream was surprisingly good. During those three weeks I could only drink sips of water. I remember getting my first cup of tea. It was the best cup of tea I had ever drunk.
Amusement Arcade, New Brighton, England, 2023
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
Back in New Brighton, I saw this mother with her five kids in their green outfits. I said, “Is there any chance I can take your picture?” She agreed and didn’t ask why. She must have been proud of her brood, so it made sense I’d want to take their photo.
New Brighton has changed, probably for the better. It’s virtually litter-free now, and there’s actually a beach, properly laid out. The amusement arcade hasn’t changed much, though: it’s brash, noisy and good fun. It’s the new New Brighton. Gentrification is the name of the game.
Autoportrait, Hanoi Studio, Havana, Cuba, 2001
Photograph: Martin Parr/Magnum Photos
My autoportrait project has run over 40 years. The aim is to demonstrate the different ways in which you can have your portrait done in a studio or public space, as well as the different techniques photographers employ. The only reason I use myself as the subject is because I’m the one person who’s consistently there. Hanoi Studio took five black and white shots of me in different poses, and in one they gave me naff sunglasses. They then did a montage, printed in black and white, and hand-coloured.
I’m uninterested in how I look, as long as I’m presentable. I look in the mirror once a day – I have no choice, as I’ve got to comb my hair. I guess that’s interesting given I do fashion photography. I’m not interested in clothes, I just wear what’s comfortable. Socks with sandals is a good combination before it gets to the hottest part of the year. I guess you could call it my spring look …
I have had a wonderful life with photography. From North Korea, to a vicar’s garden party in Somerset, or shooting Mar del Plata beach in Argentina – what a privilege it has been to see the world and record my response. I had a funny one in Morecambe last summer. I was taking photos and this couple came up and said, “That’s a nice camera. What are you doing around here?” I replied, “I’m documenting Morecambe.” They said, “You mean like Martin Parr?” I said, “I am Martin Parr.” They were rather surprised.
I’ve been taking photos for almost 70 years, and in that time we’ve seen the amazing transformation from analogue film to the digital era, and I’ve got a lot older. We live in a difficult but inspiring world, and there is so much out there I want to photograph.
PlayStation players are torn over the next game from God of War developer Santa Monica Studio.
Earlier this week, we reported on a series of claims regarding Santa Monica Studio’s next game, which has been in development since 2022.
The rumours suggests that Santa Monica Studio could be working on a potential Jak and Daxter reboot, following a report by Jason Schreier that the developer’s next project wouldn’t be “a new IP” but for an older Sony property to make it feel fresh.
Considering this is exactly how Santa Monica Studio approached the God of War reboot from 2018, it sounds like it might be the right developer for the job.
Rumours suggest that this old IP is none other than Jak and Daxter, the platformer franchise originally created by Naughty Dog.
However, the rumours should still be taken with a pinch of salt, and PlayStation fans don’t seem to be fully on board with these reports just yet.
“Cory Barlog overhauled the GOW series into something new and fresh,” wrote one fan on Reddit. “It isn’t a stretch to think Sony would pay him and his team to do the same thing to another IP.”
“This would be a dream but 1% chance it’s true,” another fan wrote in the same thread.
“Honestly this whole Schreier/Santa Monica debacle isn’t going anywhere,” a third comment reads. “It’s not a new IP but might feel like one? What is it’s just God of War, set in the same universe, but with a new cast? I dunno, maybe ancient Egypt?
“Old IP, might feel like new since it’s an Egypt game with an entirely new cast. GoW as an IP still has a lot of potential and crazy world building. This seems like a more probable explanation than Santa Monica suddenly working on another Studio’s IP, considering Schreier has confirmed it’s not a licensed product (so no Marvel etc).”
I guess we’ll be left waiting a couple more years until we find out what Santa Monica Studio has been cooking up. Whether that’s more God of War, a Jak and Daxter reboot, or something else entirely, it’ll be worth the wait.
Featured Image Credit: Santa Monica Studio
Topics: PlayStation, Santa Monica Studio, God Of War, Naughty Dog, Sony
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has ignited the India vs Pakistan debate ahead of Asia Cup 2025 with a “no more begging” remark. Pakistan are scheduled to play India on September 14 in the continental showpiece in Dubai followed by another clash in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in Colombo in October.
The cricketing ties of India and Pakistan have been in turmoil for the last decade due to the political indifferences between the two countries with no bilateral series since 2012. Things got worse following the Pahalgam terror attack, to which India retaliated with Operation Sindoor.
In fact, both the cricketing boards signed an agreement earlier this year to play at neutral venues till 2027 in International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asia Cricket Council (ACC) events.
Naqvi’s comments on future cricketing negotiations with their neighbours came in after Indian ministry’s reaffirmation of playing Pakistan only in multi-nation tournaments. “I think we are very clear that whenever talks are held, it will be on an equal footing with India, and there will be no more begging for negotiations,” Naqvi told reporters in Lahore.
“That time has passed, and whatever will happen will be on the basis of equality,” added Naqvi.
India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025
Meanwhile, this will be the first time India will playing Pakistan in a cricket match post Operation Sindoor. Earlier, India were scheduled to play Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) twice but the Men in Blue pulled out in protest.
The Suryakumar Yadav-led side could possibly face Pakistan in two more games at the Asia Cup 2025 – the Super Four stage and potentially in the summit clash on September 28. Both India and Pakistan have announced their squads for the Asia Cup 2025. For the unknown, Pakistan have dropped star duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
Scientists have at last seen how the Sun snaps and explodes, thanks to NASA’s Parker Solar Probe. The mission confirmed a 70-year-old theory about the magnetic forces behind solar storms. Credit: Shutterstock
For the first time in history, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has flown through a region of the Sun where explosive magnetic forces snap and reconnect, directly confirming a theory that scientists have debated for 70 years.
This breakthrough explains how the Sun unleashes immense bursts of energy that drive solar flares and storms powerful enough to disrupt satellites, power grids, and communications here on Earth.
Confirming Decades-Old Solar Theories
A team led by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has provided the first direct confirmation of long-standing theories about magnetic reconnection, a powerful process that unleashes stored magnetic energy and fuels solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other space weather events. The breakthrough was made possible by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP), the only spacecraft to travel through the Sun’s upper atmosphere.
Magnetic reconnection takes place when magnetic field lines inside superheated plasma break apart and then link up again in a different arrangement. This sudden shift releases tremendous energy. On the Sun, the process drives eruptions that can ripple across the solar system and interfere with technology on Earth, including satellites, communications, and power grids. Developing accurate models of how reconnection works on the Sun is key to predicting these disruptive solar storms before they reach our planet.
An SwRI-led study of the Sun confirms decades-old theoretical models about solar magnetic reconnection. Measurements from NASA’s Solar Parker Probe helped fill crucial gaps in the data about processes that drive solar flares, coronal mass ejections and other space weather phenomena. The measurements were taken from the region pictured in the white box, which was identified as the source of a coronal mass ejection. The figures shown here are taken from images captured by the ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission. Credit: ESA/NASA/Solar Orbiter
From Earth’s Magnetosphere to the Sun
“Reconnection operates at different spatial and temporal scales, in space plasmas ranging from the Sun to Earth’s magnetosphere to laboratory settings to cosmic scales,” said Dr. Ritesh Patel, a research scientist in SwRI’s Solar System Science and Exploration Division in Boulder, Colorado, and lead author of a new paper published in Nature Astronomy. “Since the late 1990s, we have been able to identify reconnection in the solar corona through imaging and spectroscopy. In-situ detection was possible in Earth’s magnetosphere with the launch of missions like NASA’s Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. Similar studies in the solar corona, however, only became possible when NASA’s Parker Solar Probe launched in 2018.”
PSP’s unprecedented closeness to the Sun has opened the door to discoveries once thought impossible. During a close pass on September 6, 2022, the spacecraft encountered a massive eruption and gathered the first detailed images and measurements of plasma and magnetic field activity in such an event. By combining these observations with data from the European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter, the SwRI-led team confirmed that PSP had indeed flown through a magnetic reconnection zone in the Sun’s atmosphere for the first time.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to fly directly through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, gathering unprecedented data on solar activity and its effects on Earth. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Brian Monroe
Long-Standing Models Finally Validated
“We’ve been developing the theory of magnetic reconnection for almost 70 years, so we had a basic idea of how different parameters would behave,” Patel said. “The measurements and observations received from the encounter have validated numerical simulation models that have existed for decades within some degree of uncertainty. The data will serve as strong constraints for future models and provide a path to understand PSP’s solar measurements from other timeframes and events.”
NASA’s MMS mission, led by SwRI, provided researchers with an idea of how reconnection occurs in the near-Earth environment on a smaller scale. The 2022 PSP observations now provide researchers with the missing piece connecting Earth scale to solar scale reconnection. SwRI will next work to identify whether reconnection mechanisms accompanied by turbulence or fluctuations and waves of the magnetic fields are present in the solar regions PSP identified as having active reconnection.
Unlocking Energy Transfer Secrets
“Ongoing work provides discoveries at different scales, which allows us to see how energy is transferred and how particles are accelerated,” Patel said. “Understanding these processes at the Sun can help better predict solar activity and improve our understanding of the near-Earth environment.”
Reference: “Direct in situ observations of eruption-associated magnetic reconnection in the solar corona” by Ritesh Patel, Tatiana Niembro, Xiaoyan Xie, Daniel B. Seaton, Samuel T. Badman, Soumya Roy, Yeimy J. Rivera, Katharine K. Reeves, Guillermo Stenborg, Phillip Hess, Matthew J. West, Alex Feller, Johann Hirzberger, David Orozco Suárez, Sami K. Solanki, Hanna Strecker and Gherardo Valori, 13 August 2025, Nature Astronomy. DOI: 10.1038/s41550-025-02623-6
The Parker Solar Probe is a NASA mission designed to study the Sun up close and uncover how its activity shapes the environment around Earth. It is part of NASA’s Living with a Star program, which focuses on the Sun-Earth system and its impact on daily life and society. The program is managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The spacecraft itself was designed and built by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, which also operates and manages the mission.
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