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Around 100,000 years ago, an early Homo sapiens man was probably stabbed in the face with a sharp stone tool and later buried in a cave in what is now Israel, archaeologists have determined. The Stone Age cold case appears to be the earliest evidence of this kind of interpersonal violence, according to the research team.

In a study published June 30 in the journal Scientific Reports , the international team of researchers closely examined the skull and lower jaw of a person who was deliberately buried in Qafzeh cave in Israel during the Middle Paleolithic period.

At least 27 people were buried in Qafzeh cave between about 145,000 and 92,000 years ago, making them some of the earliest members of our species to be found outside Africa. Previous analysis of the skeletons, which were excavated between the 1930s and 1970s, revealed that two people had head injuries resulting from blunt trauma.

But the new analysis, which employed microscopic and micro-CT scanning techniques, revealed that Qafzeh 25, an adult male, had a cut mark across his lower left jaw that affected one of his bicuspids and part of his upper jaw. The jawbone showed signs of healing, suggesting that the man lived for a significant amount of time after being injured, the researchers wrote in the study.

Archaeologists had previously identified only a few cases of trauma caused by sharp weapons or projectiles in Middle Paleolithic skeletons. Although these injuries could have resulted from hunting accidents, the researchers wrote, they have generally been interpreted as evidence of interpersonal violence.

The cut mark on the jaw of Qafzeh 25 was found on the left side of his face, lending further support to the idea that the injury was not an accident.

A close-up of the left side of the lower jaw, showing a cut mark near a bicuspid. (Image credit: Ana Pantoja et al.) It's not clear what kind of tool made the cut mark, but stone tools found at Qafzeh included flint scrapers and sharp points that could have been fashioned into spear tips.

"Forensic studies of modern human populations have reported that craniofacial injuries resulting from blows are more frequently observed on the left side of the skull, a distribution commonly attributed to the predominance of right-handed assailants in face-to-face confrontations," the researchers wrote.

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If the researchers' interpretation of the cut mark is correct, it "would represent the earliest documented case of sharp force trauma in the archaeological record," they wrote.

Qafzeh cave is already well known within archaeology for its clear evidence that early humans buried their dead. The new discovery confirms that the earliest human groups left Africa with a complex culture.

"These results provide new data to the debate on the origin of complex behaviors such as interpersonal violence, the care of injured or sick individuals and funeral practices," study first author Ana Pantoja Pérez , a paleoanthropologist at Spain's National Research Center for Human Evolution, said in a statement .

See how much you know about early humans with our human evolution quiz!

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PARIS — The newfound harmony between France and Morocco will be tested Thursday night when the two nations clash in the World Cup quarterfinals in Boston.

Relations between Paris and Rabat have rarely been warmer, after President Emmanuel Macron recognized Morocco’s disputed sovereignty plan for Western Sahara in 2024. During a state visit to Rabat that year, Macron hailed a deep connection between the two countries “that stretches back to time immemorial.”

But the propensity of French police to crack down on exuberant football fans, along with recurring violent incidents after big matches involving French teams, and the scorching summer weather baking France all add up to a potential tinderbox across the country.

Due to France’s large Moroccan community — which numbers at least 1.7 million people, according to 2019 data — and the country’s recent difficulties managing post-match celebrations, authorities have put some security precautions in place. The Paris police department has banned flares and fireworks on the night of the match, warning that “numerous incidents of violence occur regularly during the final stages of major soccer tournaments.” 

In May, 20,000 people took to the streets to celebrate Paris Saint-Germain’s second straight UEFA Champions League title, leading to unrest and clashes between supporters and police. Far-right chief Jordan Bardella seized on the violence to blame France’s population of immigrant descent.

Asked whether Thursday night’s game carried any particular security risk, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez replied “like any match” during an interview this week on French public television.

Nuñez said police would be “extremely vigilant during the celebrations” regardless of the result, but would not automatically move to disperse public gatherings. He added that the same approach had been used for France’s previous matches, while noting that fixtures generally become higher risk as tournaments reach their final stages.

French outlet Le Parisien reported Wednesday evening that in private authorities had compiled a document that noted: “This match presents an increased risk due to its knockout nature and the stakes of qualifying for the semi-finals.”

‘Deep human bonds’

France and Morocco have shared unusually close ties for decades, shaped by Morocco’s status as a French protectorate from 1912 until its independence in 1956. France remains one of Morocco’s largest trading partners, while security and intelligence cooperation has long been a cornerstone of the relationship — even if political disputes have periodically strained it.

In 2021, media investigations alleged that Moroccan authorities had used Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to target phones belonging to Macron and other French officials. Ties remained frosty after a devastating earthquake struck Morocco in 2023, when Rabat declined France’s offer of aid.

Macron’s Western Sahara gambit in 2024, which aligned France with Spain, the U.S. and dozens of other countries around the world, helped to quell the tensions between the two countries — an important matter for France, which seeks Morrocco’s cooperation on topics ranging from trade to migration. Western Sahara is mostly controlled by Morocco, but Rabat’s sovereignty over the territory is not internationally recognized.

Paris Saint-Germain’s French midfielder #14 Desire Doue (C-L) and Morocco’s defender #02 Achraf Hakimi (C-R) arrive ahead of the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at the Parc des Princes in Paris on April 28, 2026. | Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images

The connection between France and Morocco runs all the way to the pitch: France captain Kylian Mbappé and Morocco skipper Achraf Hakimi — former teammates at Paris Saint-Germain — are close friends off the field.

Previous France-Morocco encounters, including in the 2022 World Cup semifinals, led to some arrests but no major public unrest. Morocco’s big games in other competitions, like the African Cup of Nations, have also largely passed off without trouble in France.

A law enforcement official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said any concerns were more likely to center on possible tensions between Morocco supporters and members of the French-Algerian community, given the diplomatic angst between the North African neighbors.

A center-left parliamentarian, who also spoke to POLITICO on condition of anonymity, said they would expect France’s powerful far right — which is leading the race for the French presidency in 2027 — to try to score political points off any unrest that occurs, as they did after the Champions League final . “Morocco, Algeria or any other African country, I don’t think they care about the distinctions,” the lawmaker said. 

But what is perhaps most striking about the Paris-Rabat reconciliation is that even the anti-immigrant far right is on board. The French-Moroccan friendship committee in parliament is chaired by Hélène Laporte, a senior member of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella’s National Rally.

Laporte has said “the relationship between France and Morocco is strong and enduring,” describing it as built on “deep human bonds and a sincere friendship.”

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Peaky Blinders sequel series: key information

- No title has been announced for the sequel series

- No confirmed release date

- No trailer yet

- We know that it will be split into two new six-episode seasons

- Jamie Bell, Conleth Hill, and Charlie Heaton are among the confirmed cast members

The following guide may contain spoilers for the main Peaky Blinders series and the movie The Immortal Man.

Peaky Blinders will return to Netflix for a new sequel series, but so far little is known about the next installment.

That doesn't mean there's nothing to be excited about, though. In June 2026, Tudum confirmed that some huge names were joining the cast, so I'm sure it will be just as impressive as the original Peaky Blinders series and its follow-up movie, The Immortal Man , the latter of which received a 90% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.

However, our entertainment writer Jasmine Valentine noted that The Immortal Man 's ending might pose some problems when it comes to the new sequel series. We'll get into that later on.

Here's everything we know about the Peaky Blinders sequel series so far.

Peaky Blinders sequel: release date

We don't have a release date for the Peaky Blinders sequel series just yet, but we do know it will consist of two new six-episode seasons.

The Peaky Blinders sequel will follow the original series and the feature-length film, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man , that’s streaming now on Netflix. So you can watch these while you wait for the new episodes, if you like.

Speaking of the show's return, creator Steven Knight told Tudum : “Once again it will be rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz. The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel, and it will be a hell of a ride.”

Peaky Blinders sequel trailer: is there one?

Currently, there is no trailer available for the Peaky Blinders sequel series as it is still in development. Once one becomes available, I'll add it here.

Peaky Blinders sequel: cast

Charlie Heaton joins the cast as one of Tommy Shelby's sons. (Image credit: Netflix) Much of the excitement around the Peaky Blinders sequel so far has come from the recent casting announcements . Despite not having a release date, trailer, or name, we do know that some major stars are joining the line-up.

Half Man 's Jamie Bell and Stranger Things ' Charlie Heaton will star as Duke and Charles Shelby, two half-brothers and the sons of the now deceased Tommy Shelby. Charles severed all ties to the Peaky Blinders gang, but something tells me he won't be able to get out completely.

Elsewhere, Conleth Hill joins as Clemmy Keeler, the fierce patriarch of the rival Keeler family. Cal O’Driscoll plays Clemmy’s son, Aidan Keeler, and Daniel Monks plays Detective Inspector Bell.

This great selection of stars joins previously announced cast members Jessica Brown Findlay, Lashana Lynch, and Lucy Karczewski.

Peaky Blinders sequel: plot details

Thomas Shelby met his demise in The Immortal Man . (Image credit: Netflix) Peaky Blinders ' sequel series is set a decade after World War II, and follows the race to rebuild Birmingham. Duke Shelby is at the heart of what has been described as "a brutal contest of mythical dimensions."

We can expect new opportunities, jeopardy, and ambitions when Peaky Blinders returns, even though we won't be focusing on the series' icon, Tommy Shelby, anymore. I'm excited already.