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A tunnel under construction in Sikkim, India, collapsed after a methane gas explosion, killing at least 12 workers. Rescue teams are still searching for 13 other workers trapped inside the tunnel.
Key Facts
The explosion happened about 1.5 kilometers inside the tunnel.
The tunnel is part of a hydropower project using water from the Teesta River.
Methane gas, naturally found underground, likely caused the explosion when ignited.
27 workers were inside; 2 escaped, 12 bodies have been found, and 13 are still missing.
Victims include locals from Sikkim and migrant workers from other Indian states.
A post-mortem will determine the exact cause of death for the victims.
Officials set up a special investigation team to find out what caused the accident.
Rescue efforts focus on a 200-meter area thought to contain the trapped workers.
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The government in England will lower the maximum price for a single bus ticket back to £2 starting January 2027. This change aims to help people with living costs and will cost over £500 million.
Key Facts
The bus fare cap in England will return to £2 from January 1, 2027.
The policy is expected to cost more than £500 million.
The original £2 cap was introduced in January 2023 by the previous Conservative government and later extended.
In January 2025, the fare cap was raised to £3 by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government.
The £2 fare cap was first used in Greater Manchester in September 2022.
The fare cap helps lower-income passengers most and has increased bus use by about 13%.
The Burnham government plans to fund the £2 cap by canceling Sir Keir Starmer’s digital ID scheme.
The fare cap applies to buses outside London on a voluntary basis by bus operators.
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A Sydney court cleared actress Rebel Wilson of defaming Charlotte MacInnes, who appeared in Wilson’s film The Deb. The court ruled that Wilson's social media posts claiming MacInnes changed a sexual harassment complaint did not seriously harm her reputation.
Key Facts
Charlotte MacInnes sued Rebel Wilson for defamation over Instagram posts in 2024 and 2025.
Wilson accused MacInnes of retracting a sexual harassment complaint to advance her career, which MacInnes denied.
Justice Elizabeth Raper dismissed the case, saying the claim was not defamatory.
The judge ordered MacInnes to pay Wilson’s legal costs.
The dispute involved an unusual incident where MacInnes and a producer, Amanda Ghost, shared a bath at a luxury apartment.
Wilson posted on Instagram after the verdict, expressing gratitude and respect for the legal system.
MacInnes has signed a record deal, which Wilson’s lawyers used to argue MacInnes was not harmed by the posts.
The court heard conflicting accounts about the bath incident and Wilson denying claims she ordered a smear website against Ghost.
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Jersey’s Social Security Minister Elaine Millar says removing the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on sanitary products would be ineffective because the government already offers free period products through a scheme. Some campaigners argue that keeping the tax on these essential items is unfair and that removing it could help women save money.
Key Facts
Jersey is the only place in the British Isles that still charges GST on sanitary products.
The government launched a free period product scheme in October 2022, spending over £500,000 in four years.
The free scheme provides sanitary items at many locations like public toilets and government buildings.
Removing GST from period products would save about 25 pence per £5 spent, while the free products save the full amount.
Campaigners say taxing these products is unfair and want the GST removed to support women more.
Minister Millar believes the free scheme addresses accessibility and affordability better than removing the tax.
In 2022, politicians almost voted to remove the 5% GST on sanitary products but decided against it.
Sanitary products are taxed, while other necessary items like medicines on prescription are exempt from GST.
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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen gave 2020 election records to the FBI after receiving a subpoena. He is expected to win the Republican primary for Arizona Attorney General and will face Democrat Kris Mayes in November.
Key Facts
Warren Petersen is the Arizona Senate President and a Republican.
He provided 2020 election records to the FBI in March following a federal grand jury subpoena.
Petersen has been the top Senate Republican in Arizona since 2023.
He won the Republican primary for Arizona Attorney General.
Petersen will run against Kris Mayes, the current Arizona Attorney General and a Democrat, in the November election.
His primary opponent was Rodney Glassman, whom he defeated.
The source projecting his primary win is Decision Desk HQ.
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Mark Lamb, the former sheriff of Pinal County, is expected to win the Republican primary for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. He aims to take the seat currently held by Rep. Andy Biggs and has President Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Key Facts
Mark Lamb is a former sheriff from Pinal County, Arizona.
He is projected to win the Republican primary for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District.
The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, whom Lamb plans to replace.
Lamb previously ran for the U.S. Senate but lost to Kari Lake in the 2024 Republican primary.
President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Mark Lamb.
Lamb also has support from conservative groups.
The primary election result was reported by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).
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Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, is set to join Andy Burnham’s government through a seat in the House of Lords. Several officials who criticized or left Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government are now taking prominent roles in Burnham’s cabinet.
Key Facts
Anas Sarwar publicly said in February that Sir Keir Starmer should resign as prime minister.
Sarwar will move from the Scottish Parliament to Westminster to become a government minister under Andy Burnham.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the new energy secretary in Burnham’s government, was the first to quit Starmer’s administration over lost faith in him.
Ed Miliband, the new Foreign Secretary, suggested to Starmer that it was time to step down just before Starmer left office.
John Healey and Wes Streeting, who resigned from Starmer’s government, now hold important roles in Burnham’s cabinet.
Steve Reed, a defender of Starmer, expressed hope for loyalty to Burnham after leaving government.
Labour MPs largely support Burnham, but internal tensions remain following recent political changes.
Darren Jones, loyal to Starmer, criticized government plans on VAT cuts for electricity bills, showing ongoing debates within Labour.
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Women in the UK armed forces still receive military equipment that does not fit properly, despite a 2021 report recommending better gear by 2022. The Ministry of Defence has made some improvements, including a new body armour design, but female troops report ongoing issues with fit and safety. A new curved body armour plate designed for women is being supplied to Ukrainian forces but is not yet available to UK servicewomen.
Key Facts
The 2021 Atherton report warned that ill-fitting military kit put women at greater risk of harm.
The UK Ministry of Defence promised safer, better-fitting equipment for women by the end of 2022.
Female soldiers report that body armour still does not fit breasts or curves properly and smaller sizes are often unavailable.
The Virtus Scalable Tactical Vest was introduced in 2022 with adjustable straps and smaller plates, but some women still find it uncomfortable or unsafe.
The Ministry of Defence spent £4.5 billion on support to Ukraine in 2023.
The UK supplied 2,000 sets of new curved body armour plates designed for women to the Ukrainian military.
These curved plates have been tested extensively and provide better protection compared to flat plates designed for men.
The new curved plates are not currently used by UK servicewomen.
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A tribal village in eastern India called Tirilbasa held a football tournament with teams from 64 nearby villages. Instead of usual trophies, winners received goats along with cash prizes, reflecting the local Ho community's traditions.
Key Facts
The football tournament took place from July 14 to July 17 in Tirilbasa, Jharkhand, India.
Teams from 64 villages participated in the event.
The winners got goats (called "khassi" which are castrated males) as trophies, along with cash prizes.
NCS Maudi won the final match against Kumbaram with a score of 1-0.
Prize money ranged from 15,000 rupees ($156) for the winners to 9,000 rupees ($93) for those finishing fourth.
The Ho community, native to the region, considers goats an important cultural symbol used in ceremonies.
The tournament follows official FIFA football rules but includes local customs like awarding goats.
The event helps the tribal groups celebrate their bonds and culture through sport.
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Islington, a neighborhood in north London, has one of the lowest birth rates in the UK and many families are moving away due to high living and childcare costs. This trend reflects a larger issue affecting London, where the number of children is falling while the overall population grows, raising concerns about the city's future workforce and economy.
Key Facts
Islington has a low birth rate and mothers tend to be older compared to other parts of London.
High housing and childcare costs are major reasons families leave Islington, such as childcare costing £2,000-£3,000 per month.
Some families, like Tiphanie Frutuoso’s, choose to move abroad for more affordable childcare, such as free services in Luxembourg.
Parents report difficulties finding affordable homes with enough space for children in Islington.
London's population of children aged 0-9 fell by 99,100 from 2013 to 2023, while the city’s total population increased by 506,000.
The London Assembly describes this decline in children as an “existential challenge” for the city’s future.
Suggestions to address the problem include making London more child-friendly, improving housing standards, and increasing play spaces.
Officials warn the falling number of children could threaten London’s future workforce and economy, urging urgent government action.
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Jordan Parke, a cosmetic practitioner nicknamed the "Lip King," was banned twice from performing liquid Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures in parts of England before a woman, Alice Webb, died after receiving the treatment from him in Gloucester in 2024. Authorities and family members say there is a need for national rules to prevent risky cosmetic practitioners from working in new areas after being banned elsewhere.
Key Facts
Alice Webb, a mother of five, died after a liquid Brazilian Butt Lift procedure performed by Jordan Parke.
Jordan Parke was banned from doing liquid BBLs in Dudley and Greater Manchester before treating Webb.
Prohibition orders were issued in Dudley (2023) and Salford (February 2024) restricting Parke’s practice.
Parke was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but was not charged; he died in February 2024 in an unrelated incident.
Alice Webb’s former partner, Ben Kingscote, called for national regulations to stop banned cosmetic practitioners from working elsewhere.
The Department of Health and Social Care plans to consult on stricter rules for high-risk cosmetic procedures like liquid BBLs.
The Gloucestershire Police investigated Webb’s death; her inquest is expected in autumn 2024 before a jury.
The case highlights concerns about gaps in the regulation of cosmetic treatments across different regions.
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A Melbourne court is hearing a rape trial involving a well-connected man accused by a former assistant of sexual assault in March 2023. The prosecution says the woman’s story is consistent despite some differences, and the defense denies the accusations.
Key Facts
The accused man faces two rape charges and one sexual assault charge and pleads not guilty.
The alleged victim was a personal assistant to the accused and described drinking, using cocaine, and watching football with him on the night in question.
The woman gave evidence in a closed court and reported the alleged incidents soon after they happened.
The prosecution said trauma can affect memory, but the alleged victim’s story stayed mostly consistent in early accounts.
The defense lawyer argued that if the woman had made up the story, it would have been clearer and more consistent.
The alleged victim had a past complaint about police behavior, which affected her willingness to report the alleged rape immediately.
Police officers denied inappropriate comments the woman claimed were made to her in 2019 during a traffic stop.
The prosecutor criticized a senior police officer’s testimony and suggested the jury might find the officer made the disputed comment.
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The US military has carried out airstrikes for 11 nights in a row, hitting new areas in Iran. These attacks have caused more civilian deaths and economic problems, raising doubts about the chances for peaceful talks.
Key Facts
The US military launched airstrikes for the 11th consecutive night.
Strikes expanded to Iranian provinces that had not been targeted before.
Civilian casualties from the strikes have increased.
The attacks are causing more economic difficulties in the affected areas.
These effects are leading people to question if diplomacy can still work.
The information comes from a report by Al Jazeera from Tehran.
The strikes mark a widening of the US military campaign against Iran.
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Six beluga whales were moved from a closed marine park in Canada to aquariums in the United States. The whales were carefully transported in cold-water containers with veterinarians watching over them during the trip.
Key Facts
The whales came from Marineland of Canada, which has a group of 30 belugas needing new homes.
Four whales named Sierra, Acadia, Osiris, and Lillooet went to a facility in Chicago.
Two whales named Bertie Botts and Frankie were sent to SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas.
The whales were moved using trucks and planes equipped to keep their water cold.
Marine mammal veterinarians accompanied the whales during the entire journey.
This relocation effort is the first of its kind between countries.
The move required months of preparation and health checks for the whales.
Specialists are now watching the whales as they adjust to their new environments.
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Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party, said domestic violence is a "two-way street" and that women should not tolerate abuse. Her comments were criticized by advocates, including Brittany Higgins and others, for blaming victims and misunderstanding the nature of domestic violence, which mostly involves men abusing women and children.
Key Facts
Pauline Hanson described domestic violence as both wrong and a "two-way street," meaning both men and women can be violent.
Hanson said women should not put up with abuse if they do not feel safe at home.
Activists and victims’ advocates, like Tarang Chawla and Brittany Higgins, said this view blames victims rather than holding abusers responsible.
Brittany Higgins, executive director of the Vida Fund, said victim-blaming rhetoric is harmful, especially with many women losing their lives to femicide.
The Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre called Hanson’s comments "vile and shameful" and noted most family violence is men abusing women and children.
Hanson has a history of controversial statements on family violence and family court issues, including claims that some women lie about abuse in court.
Studies have disproved the idea that domestic violence claims are often faked to affect child custody.
Hanson’s previous comments included sympathy for men she believes are wrongly accused of domestic violence.
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Congress to approve money for a war involving Iran. During this request, Senator Gary Peters called Hegseth a failed leader, leading to a heated argument. Hegseth also said the war has already cost $37 billion and the amount is increasing.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the US Defense Secretary.
He went to Capitol Hill to ask Congress for war funding related to Iran.
The current war cost is $37 billion.
The cost of the war is continuing to rise.
Michigan Senator Gary Peters called Hegseth a failed leader.
This led to a heated exchange between Hegseth and Peters.
The discussion occurred during a congressional session about war funding.
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Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, described surviving a US-Israeli airstrike that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. The strike used precise intelligence to target senior officials, and Iran is now led by Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba.
Key Facts
The airstrike killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war.
Abbas Araghchi was trapped in rubble but escaped after the attack on a leadership compound in Tehran.
The US and Israel had accurate intelligence about the location and timing of senior Iranian officials’ meetings.
Iran’s new leader is Mojtaba Khamenei, Ali Khamenei’s son, who will continue existing policies.
Iran had tried to negotiate with the US on its nuclear program but failed, and talks ended just before the airstrike.
The attack included multiple explosions hitting different parts of the building housing Iran’s intelligence and defense councils.
Iran had plans, named “Code 110,” to respond if the supreme leader was targeted, including closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Regional governments advised President Donald Trump against war with Iran, warning it would not be easy.
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More than 16 million people in England and Wales live too far from a defibrillator that is available all day and night, putting them at risk if they suffer a cardiac arrest. Early use of a defibrillator and CPR can double survival chances, but many areas lack quick access to these devices. The British Heart Foundation is starting a program to provide more community defibrillators in high-need places.
Key Facts
Over 16 million people in England and Wales are more than a 1km round trip from a 24/7 defibrillator.
More than half the population, or 35 million people, are not within a 3-5 minute walk of a defibrillator.
Each year, there are over 40,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK with less than 10% survival.
Survival chances drop by roughly 10% each minute without CPR or defibrillation.
All local authorities except City of London have some residents far from a 24/7 defibrillator.
In 264 out of 318 areas studied, over half the residents live beyond the recommended 3-5 minutes from a defibrillator.
Some places like Harlow and Birmingham have very low access, while City of London and Hartlepool have better access.
The British Heart Foundation will give 400 defibrillators to communities with the greatest need.
A UK MP suggested removing VAT from defibrillators and their accessories to make installation easier.
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A farm near Peterborough found six barn owlets in one nest, which is a rare and positive sign for local wildlife. The owlets were tagged to help track their movements and support ongoing conservation efforts.
Key Facts
Six barn owlets, about 40 to 50 days old, were discovered at Moor Farm near Peterborough.
The owlets were fitted with metal rings that have unique ID numbers for tracking by conservationists.
This group of six is the largest brood found in 2026 in the area.
The farm had experienced six suspected arson attacks earlier this summer.
The six owlets include three males and three females, each about three days apart in age.
Barn owl numbers increased in 2026 compared to recent years when fewer babies hatched.
The biggest threat to barn owls is cars, so the farm created safe hunting paths away from roads.
Simon Dudhill, who monitors the owlets, has ringed over 260 barn owlets in Cambridgeshire this year.
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Rebel Wilson has won a defamation case brought by her co-star Charlotte MacInnes, who accused Wilson of making false social media posts. The court ruled MacInnes did not prove serious harm from Wilson’s posts that involved allegations about a sexual harassment complaint on a film set.
Key Facts
Rebel Wilson was sued by Australian actor Charlotte MacInnes over social media posts.
MacInnes claimed the posts implied she lied about and retracted a sexual harassment complaint.
The complaint involved a co-producer who allegedly asked to share a shower and bath.
MacInnes denied making or withdrawing any complaint and said she was not uncomfortable.
Justice Elizabeth Raper ruled in favor of Wilson, stating MacInnes did not show serious harm caused by the posts.
MacInnes sought extra damages for anxiety and work loss, but the court did not agree.
Wilson said she stood by her truth-telling and thanked supporters after the verdict.
The dispute related to Wilson’s directorial debut film, The Deb, and involved production conflicts.
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