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Origin Energy, a large Australian energy company, revealed that hackers accessed the personal data of about 900,000 current and former customers. The company was warned about the hack three weeks before telling the public and is notifying those affected while investigating the incident.
Key Facts
Around 900,000 personal customer records were accessed in a data breach at Origin Energy.
The data may include names, addresses, birth dates, phone numbers, account details, and partial credit or bank card numbers.
A large number of affected customers were former users of Origin Energy services.
Origin Energy has 4.8 million customer accounts across electricity, gas, LPG, and internet services.
The company first received an unverified warning email on July 2 but confirmed a data breach on July 22.
Origin says the stolen data has not appeared on the dark web, a place where stolen data is often sold.
Origin’s CEO said the matter is under criminal investigation and declined to answer some detailed questions.
Reports that Origin struck a deal with hackers to stop data leaks have been denied by the company.
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Jellyfish are commonly seen off the coast of Scotland, especially during July and August when the sea is warmer. While their stings can be painful, they are rarely dangerous. Jellyfish numbers rise due to warmer water, more food, and calm ocean currents pushing them closer to shore.
Key Facts
July and August are the months with the most jellyfish sightings in Scotland.
Jellyfish rely on ocean currents to move because they are weak swimmers.
Warmer sea temperatures help jellyfish breed faster, creating large groups called blooms.
Jellyfish blooms have disrupted activities before, such as closing a nuclear power station in 2011.
Most jellyfish have stinging cells, but sting strength varies by species.
The Lion’s Mane jellyfish is common in Scottish waters during summer and can cause sore but not deadly stings.
Jellyfish tentacles can break off and still sting even if detached from the jellyfish.
Jellyfish can be found year-round but are more common in the warmer months.
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Johnson & Johnson will pay about $5.5 billion to settle nearly all lawsuits claiming its talc products caused ovarian cancer. The deal covers around 76,000 claims and aims to end a legal fight lasting over ten years, but it still needs approval from most claimants before it is final.
Key Facts
Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $5.5 billion to resolve talc-related ovarian cancer lawsuits.
The settlement includes about 76,000 claims in federal and state courts.
The company denies that its talc products caused cancer and says the claims lack merit.
Johnson & Johnson will pay $3 billion in 2027 and more payments in 2028, with total costs possibly exceeding $7 billion.
The deal applies only to existing claims and does not cover future lawsuits.
The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and now sells a cornstarch-based product.
Past court battles included some wins and losses for Johnson & Johnson.
The settlement requires approval from 95% of current claimants to become final.
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Ecuador is facing a big rise in drug crime as cocaine enters the country from Colombia and Peru. Local gangs, connected to international criminal groups, are helping to move drugs further, which has contributed to a very high murder rate in Ecuador.
Key Facts
Ecuador is experiencing a large increase in drug-related crime.
Cocaine is being brought into Ecuador from Colombia and Peru, the two largest cocaine producers.
Local gangs in Ecuador have ties to Mexican cartels and Albanian mafia groups.
These gangs help smuggle cocaine to other countries.
Last year, Ecuador’s murder rate was very high, with over 9,200 people killed.
The information comes from Ecuador’s interior ministry and reporting by the BBC.
Ecuadorian police are actively working to confront these gang members.
The rise in violence is linked to the growing drug trade in the region.
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Police in the Ecuadoran city of Durán are battling violent gangs involved in drug trafficking, facing not only criminals but also corruption within their own ranks. The city has become a major route for cocaine from Colombia and Peru to reach global markets, with drug violence causing a high murder rate despite government crackdowns.
Key Facts
Durán, Ecuador is a city heavily affected by drug gangs and violence.
Police Captain Jean Carlos Bustamante leads a trusted team fighting against gangs armed with many weapons.
Corruption exists inside the police and government, with some officials paid by gangs.
The gangs control neighborhoods through fear, killing anyone who speaks out against them.
Approximately 70% of the cocaine reaching Europe and the US passes through Ecuador.
Cocaine supply comes mainly from Colombia and Peru, the world’s biggest producers.
Ecuador’s long coastline and weak border controls help drug gangs smuggle cocaine.
Despite arrests and crackdowns ordered by President Daniel Noboa, the murder rate remains very high and gang violence has grown worse.
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Jodrell Bank, a leading UK radio astronomy centre, faces closure due to planned funding cuts by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in 2028. Other UK physics research facilities are also experiencing significant budget reductions, risking a loss of scientists and weakening the country's role in global physics research.
Key Facts
Jodrell Bank began radio astronomy research in 1945 and hosts the Lovell telescope, once the largest in the world.
The STFC plans to stop funding the UK's national radio astronomy network, e-Merlin, in March 2028.
UK participation in major international astronomy projects, such as the Rubin observatory and the Event Horizon Telescope, is being reduced.
The STFC needs to save £162 million by 2030 but forecasts a much larger budget shortfall of £684 million for 2024-2028.
Cuts also affect other physics facilities, including the Diamond synchrotron, Isis neutron source, Clara accelerator tests, and Boulby underground lab.
Funding for the Large Hadron Collider experiment LHCb is ending early, risking loss of most planned data.
Nearly 80% of early-career UK physicists are thinking about leaving the country due to funding problems.
The UK risks losing top scientific talent, which could harm its scientific progress and economic growth.
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Royal Mail is raising its prices for bulk postal services by an average of 25%, starting on 5 October. This increase will affect large organizations like the NHS, which spends a lot on sending letters, leading to higher postal costs for them.
Key Facts
Royal Mail will increase wholesale postal prices by up to one-third.
The NHS spent at least £100 million on sending letters in 2024, so the price rise could add millions more costs.
The price hike affects bulk mail customers like UK Mail, Whistl, and Citipost, serving big businesses and public bodies.
Royal Mail handles most UK letter deliveries but faces falling letter volumes as more communication moves online.
Rising costs for fuel and labor contribute to the price increases, according to Royal Mail management.
The company is owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský since April 2025.
Royal Mail has struggled to meet delivery targets and has been fined £37 million since 2023 for late deliveries.
Bulk mail letter prices will increase differently based on weight and service speed, with some rates rising by over 30%.
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A US airman named James Loubeau was accused of raping several women, some in England and some on a US military base. Instead of British courts handling the case, Suffolk police allowed the US military to take over the investigation and trial, resulting in Loubeau’s conviction in a US military court.
Key Facts
James Loubeau is a US airman accused of raping six women in England in 2019.
Some attacks involved drugging women and breaking into homes or bedrooms.
Suffolk police initially investigated but transferred the case to the US military after 11 days.
Three victims were British women attacked while Loubeau was off duty; others were US military personnel.
Loubeau was convicted of sexual assault in a court martial held in Miami, Florida.
He was sentenced to five years in prison and will be monitored for 20 years after release.
A 1951 UK-US agreement allows US military courts to handle crimes involving their personnel on UK bases or between US service members.
Suffolk police have not explained why they gave up jurisdiction of these serious allegations.
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During recent heatwaves, many people in Britain are choosing to eat traditional warm comfort foods instead of cold salads and chilled drinks. Waitrose supermarket reported big increases in sales of dishes like cottage pie, chicken korma, and trifle, suggesting a trend of buying nostalgic, home-cooked meals even in hot weather.
Key Facts
Cottage pie sales at Waitrose rose by 110% in the last month compared to last year.
South African red wine sales increased by 68% over the same period.
Other popular warm dishes included chicken korma (up 67%), chicken and ham gratin (68%), and chicken, bacon and leek pie (41%).
Searches on Waitrose’s recipe website rose for traditional meals like toad-in-the-hole (67%), spaghetti bolognese (91%), and rarebit mac and cheese (57%).
A food historian said the rise in these dishes relates to people wanting home-cooked, comforting food during uncertain times and unusual weather.
The cost of living crisis, global conflicts, and political changes are also factors affecting people’s food choices.
Some chefs think people want to recreate the pub meal experience at home due to cutbacks on eating out.
Ready meals and warm dishes may also suit people who have less time or cooking skills and find salads impractical for weekly shopping.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a plan to sell grocery baskets at city-run stores at 30% less than regular prices. This effort aims to help New Yorkers manage the cost of living by providing affordable food options.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani leads New York City.
The city will sell grocery baskets at a 30% discount.
Discounts apply only at five city-run stores.
The goal is to reduce the cost of living for residents.
The program focuses on saving money on groceries.
This is a new initiative from the mayor’s office.
The discounted baskets contain essential food items.
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Shabaz Ali, a content creator and broadcaster, meets a billionaire in person to see if billionaires are really as bad as many people think. This program explores views on the super-rich by moving the conversation from online discussions to real-life encounters.
Key Facts
Shabaz Ali has been critical of very wealthy people online for years.
The show features a face-to-face meeting between Shabaz and a billionaire.
It aims to understand if billionaires deserve the negative opinions often expressed about them.
The program was first shown on July 28, 2026, and lasts 48 minutes.
It is part of a series that examines social and economic issues.
The show is available with audio description and sign language support.
The program is produced and aired by the BBC.
It invites viewers to rethink common beliefs about wealth and money holders.
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The New Boy is an Australian drama set in a remote orphanage in the outback during the 1940s. It tells the story of a young orphan who struggles to fit in and affects those around him.
Key Facts
The story takes place in the Australian outback in the mid-1940s.
The main character is a young orphan boy.
The boy is brought to a remote orphanage run by two nuns.
He has trouble fitting in with others at the orphanage.
His presence causes disturbance among the people there.
The film lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It was first shown in 2023 and is available to watch for over a year.
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The article describes a show where content creator Shabaz Ali meets a billionaire to discuss whether billionaires are bad. The program explores how the super-rich make money and what they do with their wealth.
Key Facts
Shabaz Ali, a content creator and broadcaster, interviews a billionaire.
The show questions common ideas about billionaires being harmful.
It examines how billionaires earn their fortunes.
The program also looks into how billionaires spend or use their money.
The show is part of a series with related episodes about economic ideas, wealth, and social issues.
It first aired on July 28, 2026, and is available for over a year.
The content is produced by the BBC.
Additional episodes cover topics like vaping risks, online gossip, and social media effects.
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The article describes a story set in the Australian outback in the mid-1940s, where a young orphan is taken to a distant orphanage run by two nuns. The boy struggles to fit in, and his presence causes unease among the other people there.
Key Facts
The story takes place in Australia during the 1940s.
It focuses on a young orphan boy.
The boy is brought to a remote orphanage in the outback.
Two nuns run the orphanage.
The boy has difficulty adjusting to life at the orphanage.
His presence affects those living there in a disturbing way.
The story is presented in a 1 hour 30 minute program.
The program contains some upsetting scenes and language.
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Wu Chi-wai, a former Hong Kong opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, was initially detained and threatened with deportation when he arrived in the UK. After several days, the UK Border Force allowed him and his family to stay for six months using his British National (Overseas) passport.
Key Facts
Wu Chi-wai is a 63-year-old former leader of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party and a prominent pro-democracy figure.
He was detained for nearly 10 hours at London's Heathrow Airport and initially refused entry.
Wu was later told he could stay only one week before possible deportation but was eventually granted a six-month stay.
Wu spent over five years in prison in Hong Kong on charges of subversion related to pro-democracy activities.
His wife and son had already moved to the UK in 2022 and 2023; Wu aimed to reunite with them.
Wu traveled using a British National (Overseas) passport, which allows visa-free stays in the UK for six months.
The UK government created a visa program for BNO passport holders after protests in Hong Kong and the crackdown on democracy activists.
Over 230,000 Hong Kong residents have been granted these visas, with nearly 170,000 relocating to the UK.
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Malaysian police have detained over 100 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers who were trying to get help from the United Nations after being forced to leave their homes. There has been an increase in hateful speech and false information online, which has caused more problems for the Rohingya in Malaysia.
Key Facts
More than 100 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers were detained by Malaysian police.
The Rohingya were seeking assistance from the United Nations.
They were evicted from their homes before being detained.
Online hate speech and misinformation against the Rohingya have increased in Malaysia.
This rise in negative online content has led to more harassment of the Rohingya group.
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Michelin-starred chef Sat Bains has asked the UK government to lower the 20% VAT (tax) on restaurants to help the struggling hospitality sector. While the VAT cut would be useful, Bains says the larger problem is people spending less due to high living costs.
Key Facts
Sat Bains, a Michelin two-star chef in Nottingham, hosted a breakfast pop-up event to support local businesses.
The UK restaurant VAT is 20%, one of the highest rates in Europe behind Denmark.
The government recently reduced business rates by 20% for pubs, social clubs, and music venues, but not for restaurants or hotels.
Bains states that the high VAT is a major problem for restaurants and urges the government to reduce it.
High costs of living are making customers more cautious, reducing advance bookings at restaurants.
John Hyman, owner of No.8 Deli in West Bridgford, supports lowering business costs to help local independent shops and restaurants thrive.
Earlier in 2024, several top UK chefs called for cutting VAT on pubs and restaurants to 10%.
VAT is a tax included in the price of goods and services; reducing it would lower the cost to customers directly.
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At a Michigan auto event, President Donald Trump’s speech was interrupted by a protester who was then removed. President Trump called the protester a "communist" and spoke about his concerns over communism in the country.
Key Facts
A protester interrupted President Trump’s speech at an auto event in Michigan.
The protester was removed from the event.
President Trump called the protester a "communist."
He expressed concerns about what he sees as a threat of communism in the United States.
The event focused on the auto industry in Michigan.
President Trump responded immediately to the interruption during his remarks.
The incident took place while President Trump was delivering a public speech.
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Nearly 600 former Israeli military and security officials have asked President Donald Trump to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action against violent acts by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. They warn that if the violence is not stopped quickly, it could cause serious security problems for Israel, the United States, and the region.
Key Facts
The letter was written by Commanders for Israel’s Security, a group of retired Israeli military and intelligence officers.
The group says settlers are responsible for increased violence, called “settler terror,” in the West Bank.
They believe certain Israeli government members protect settlers and avoid legal scrutiny.
The group warns this violence could have worse effects than the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The letter asked President Trump to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, DC.
The protests and violence by settlers increased after a shootout in Tal town where six people died, including two Israelis and four Palestinians.
The group’s mission is to protect Israel as a strong, democratic Jewish state.
Netanyahu was visiting the US for the seventh time during Trump’s second term as president.
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A federal judge ordered U.S. immigration officials to release Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego, a key witness in the fatal shooting of a Mexican homebuilder by an ICE officer in Houston. The judge found that keeping Rojas Pliego detained violated his legal rights and blocked his deportation while his legal status is being reviewed.
Key Facts
Jose Trinidad Rojas Pliego was a passenger in a van when ICE agents fatally shot Lorenzo Araujo Salgado on July 7, 2026, in Houston.
Araujo Salgado was a Mexican homebuilder who had lived in the U.S. for 35 years and was close to gaining legal status.
ICE claimed the officer fired because Araujo Salgado used his vehicle as a weapon to try to run over the officer.
Rojas Pliego and another witness said officers were beside the van, not in front or behind, disputing the government’s story.
The judge found that Rojas Pliego’s detention violated his Fifth Amendment right to due process.
Rojas Pliego has applied for a U-Visa, which could protect him from deportation and allow him to work legally.
The judge ordered immigration to release Rojas Pliego within 48 hours and requires notice and a hearing if they try to detain him again.
The shooting has caused protests and calls for an independent investigation into the incident.
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