A Northern Territory minister claimed that using underground water could prevent the Earth’s magnetic poles from flipping. Experts rejected this, saying the poles flip due to processes deep in the Earth’s core, not from groundwater changes. The government is promoting new data center projects in the NT that use significant water and energy resources, raising concerns about environmental impacts.
Key Facts
NT Minister Robyn Cahill said using groundwater might stop the Earth’s magnetic poles from flipping.
Experts, including scientists and environmental groups, said this claim has no scientific basis.
Earth’s magnetic poles flip roughly every hundreds of thousands of years due to deep Earth processes, not surface water.
The last major magnetic pole flip happened about 780,000 years ago and takes thousands of years to occur.
The NT government wants to make the region a hub for large data centers (called hyperscalers).
These data centers need a lot of water and power to operate and cool their equipment.
One new project announced will use gas power to generate up to 2 gigawatts, enough to power about 2 million homes.
Environmental groups worry that using groundwater for data centers could harm local water supplies and ecosystems.
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Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for 26 days to support the Cockroach Janta Party's call for education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. After losing 11 kilograms and being hospitalized, Wangchuk refuses to end his fast until the government promises no force will be used against protesting students.
Key Facts
Sonam Wangchuk is an Indian education activist on hunger strike for 26 days.
He supports the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which demands education reforms and the resignation of Minister Pradhan.
Wangchuk has lost 11 kg and has been hospitalized in the ICU but remains stable.
Thousands continue to protest in Delhi despite a police crackdown that injured many.
Government officials, including Health Minister JP Nadda, have visited Wangchuk and asked him to end his fast.
Wangchuk says he will end the strike only if the government assures no violence against students.
The protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar will continue until Minister Pradhan resigns.
Students blame Pradhan for exam paper leaks and want him to take responsibility.
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Sri Lanka is facing its worst dengue outbreak in nearly ten years, with over 77,000 infections and 56 deaths this year. The government is using military drones to find and remove mosquito breeding sites to control the spread of the disease.
Key Facts
Dengue fever is caused by a virus spread through Aedes mosquito bites.
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water like buckets and flowerpot trays.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and rash; severe cases can cause internal bleeding or death.
There are four strains of dengue virus, and infection by one does not protect against the others.
Sri Lanka’s dengue surge is linked to a cyclone that left debris, creating more mosquito breeding grounds.
Military drones scan rooftops for breeding sites, and police inspect homes to reduce mosquito populations.
Over 11,000 mosquito breeding sites have been cleared recently, with fines issued to over 4,000 locations.
Hospitals are overwhelmed, and mild cases are advised to recover at home; a universal vaccine is not yet available.
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The Houthi group in Yemen announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and claimed to have attacked two Saudi ships. This move has raised fears among many Yemenis of a return to intense fighting and worsening shortages, while supporters see it as resistance against Saudi control.
Key Facts
The Houthi military announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis said they attacked two Saudi ships to enforce this blockade.
Houthis justify their actions as a response to a Saudi blockade on rebel-held areas in Yemen.
Many Yemenis worry this could lead to more fighting and worsen the humanitarian crisis.
About 20 million people in Yemen currently need humanitarian aid according to the United Nations.
Houthi supporters see the blockade as a way to push back against Saudi influence.
Supporters of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government accuse the Houthis of following Iran’s orders.
Ordinary civilians fear the conflict will increase prices, reduce fuel, and hurt daily life.
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A 15-year-old girl named Tilly Phillips had a special type of brain surgery called a conscious craniotomy to treat a dangerous tangle of blood vessels that caused her seizures. Surgeons woke her briefly during the 12-hour operation to map important brain areas and safely remove the problem, helping reduce her seizures and improve her quality of life.
Key Facts
Tilly Phillips was 15 when she had the surgery and is now 16.
The surgery treated an arteriovenous malformation, a harmful tangle of blood vessels in her brain.
The operation lasted 12 hours and was done at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
Surgeons woke Tilly for about 30 minutes to check brain functions like speech and movement during the surgery.
After surgery, Tilly experienced memory and speech difficulties but has improved with therapy.
Before surgery, Tilly had about three seizures a day; these have since reduced a lot.
She stayed about a week in the hospital and took her GCSE exams at home during recovery.
The hospital says Tilly is the youngest known patient to have this kind of brain surgery.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised strict punishment for those involved in a leaked exam paper scandal that sparked large student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party. The protests have led to clashes with police in New Delhi and are among the biggest challenges Modi has faced since his 2024 re-election.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Modi vowed "stringent punishment" and fast-track courts for those responsible for the exam fraud.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement, organized large protests in New Delhi.
The protests were triggered by leaked exam papers affecting millions of students, including a medical entrance test retaken by over two million candidates.
Police used tear gas and batons to control protesters attempting to march to parliament, leading to violent clashes and injuries to at least 178 people.
The CJP began as a response to a court remark comparing young people to "cockroaches" but now addresses broader youth issues and criticizes Modi's governing style.
The protests represent a significant challenge to Modi's Hindu-nationalist government following his third term election in 2024.
The education minister is being blamed by protesters and demands for his resignation are ongoing.
Additional concerns include online marking disputes affecting nearly two million high school students.
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India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to create special fast track courts to quickly punish officials involved in leaking exam papers. This comes as thousands of young people protest a government they say harms their education and future, demanding the resignation of the education minister and education reforms.
Key Facts
Modi announced fast track courts to handle corruption cases related to exam paper leaks more quickly.
The youth-led protest movement is called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), named after a judge’s insult to unemployed youth.
Protesters want the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and education system reforms.
About 50,000 people protested in Delhi despite police trying to stop the march and using baton charges and teargas.
Over 1,000 protesters remain camped in central Delhi despite hot, humid weather conditions.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi said there have been 152 exam paper leaks in 10 years with no convictions and called on Modi to apologize.
CJP leaders refuse to meet government officials unless the ministers come to the protest site and speak publicly.
Support for the protest is growing in other Indian cities with similar demonstrations.
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Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, died earlier this month from head injuries. Her family announced a private funeral for close friends and relatives will happen soon, followed by a public memorial later this year.
Key Facts
Ann Widdecombe was 78 years old and found dead at her home in Dartmoor.
She died from serious head injuries, reportedly caused by being hit with a hammer.
A private funeral service will be held soon for family and close friends only.
A public memorial event will be arranged later in the year with details to be announced.
Widdecombe was a Conservative MP for 23 years and held ministerial roles in the 1990s.
She participated in the TV show Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2018.
Later in life, she was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the Brexit Party.
Joshua Kerry, 28, was charged with her murder; a trial date is set for June 2027.
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Southeast Asian foreign ministers are meeting in the Philippines to discuss regional security problems like the Myanmar civil war and South China Sea disputes. However, renewed fighting between the US and Iran is distracting from these talks, and ministers want the conflict to stop because it is disrupting energy, food supplies, trade, and raising worries about the global economy.
Key Facts
The Philippines is hosting a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers.
They are focusing on regional security, including Myanmar’s civil war and South China Sea territorial disputes.
Fighting between the US and Iran has increased recently, overshadowing the meeting.
ASEAN ministers have called for an end to the conflict between the US and Iran.
The war between the US and Iran is disrupting Asia’s energy and food supplies.
It is also affecting international trade and raising fears of a global economic slowdown.
Experts from universities and think tanks discussed how this situation might impact ASEAN’s work.
The article highlights the challenge ASEAN faces balancing regional issues with global conflicts.
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Thousands of people are leaving their homes in southern France because of large wildfires. Firefighters are working to control the fires, which experts say are getting worse due to climate change causing hotter and drier weather.
Key Facts
Large wildfires are spreading in southern France.
Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate to stay safe.
Firefighters are actively fighting the fires.
Researchers link the worse wildfire seasons to climate change.
Climate change causes higher temperatures and drought.
Hotter and drier conditions help wildfires grow bigger and more harmful.
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Rescue teams, including the Coastguard, police, lifeboats, and air ambulance, responded to an emergency at West Mersea Beach in Essex on the evening of July 22, 2026. The area around Seaview Avenue and the beach was cordoned off, and police have asked the public to stay away while they investigate a serious incident.
Key Facts
The Coastguard described the event as a "tragic incident" on West Mersea Beach.
Essex Police, the RNLI lifeboat crews from West Mersea and Clacton, and the East of England Air Ambulance were all present.
Rescue teams searched both the coastline and the water during the evening.
Police cordoned off part of the beach near Seaview Avenue and focused inquiries on an area with windbreakers.
Rescue services remained at the scene into the night, continuing searches with torches and lifeboat launches.
West Mersea Parish Church was opened to support anyone affected by the incident.
Officials have not released detailed information about the nature of the emergency.
The public was advised to avoid the area while emergency work is ongoing.
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The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement that lets Saudi Arabia build nuclear power plants using American technology for peaceful purposes. The deal had been delayed because the US wanted Saudi Arabia to formally improve relations with Israel, but this condition was removed in the final agreement.
Key Facts
The deal allows Saudi Arabia to construct nuclear reactors for civilian use.
The reactors will use technology provided by the United States.
The agreement had been stalled for several years.
One reason for the delay was the US demand for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel.
The US dropped the normalization requirement before finalizing the deal.
This agreement marks a significant step in US-Saudi relations.
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Videos show police using pellet guns and other force against student protesters in New Delhi, India. Over 100 students have been injured during the crackdown on the protests.
Key Facts
Student protests are ongoing in New Delhi, India.
Police have been using pellet guns on some protesters.
More than 100 students have been reported injured.
Videos have emerged documenting the police response.
The police actions appear to be increasingly violent.
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Israel is building a large earth barrier inside Gaza, extending beyond the agreed border line known as the "yellow line." This barrier divides Gaza further and raises concerns among Palestinians that Israel may keep control of more land permanently.
Key Facts
The barrier includes a raised earth wall (berm) and a trench.
It extends up to 1,300 meters (about 4,260 feet) beyond the official ceasefire border in some places.
The barrier is already over 23 kilometers (14 miles) long; Gaza is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) in total length.
The construction cuts through Palestinian towns and farmland, many of which were damaged during the 2023 conflict.
Israel has created new roads and military bases on the ruins of these Palestinian areas.
Some Israeli officials plan to set up military outposts inside northern Gaza.
Thousands of Israelis recently marched near the Gaza border, calling for re-establishing settlements there.
Palestinians west of the barrier live in crowded camps and face ongoing airstrikes and shortages of aid.
The ceasefire agreement expected Israel to eventually pull back to the yellow line and have an international force replace its presence; instead, Israel is expanding the barrier and enforcing a strict border line with lethal force against those crossing it.
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The city of Dunedin in New Zealand is preparing for a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028, the first visible there in more than 850 years. Hotels are already fully booked two years ahead, and the event is expected to attract about 35,000 visitors as the city organizes special celebrations.
Key Facts
A total solar eclipse will occur over southern New Zealand at 4:17 pm on July 22, 2028.
The eclipse will darken a 100km-wide area, including Dunedin and Queenstown, for nearly 3 minutes.
This is the first total solar eclipse visible in Dunedin since 1163, before humans arrived in New Zealand.
The last total solar eclipse seen anywhere in New Zealand was in 1965.
Dunedin’s hotels, such as the Dunedin Leisure Lodge, are already fully booked for eclipse packages.
The city expects around 35,000 visitors, a large influx compared to its 130,000 population.
The eclipse will happen shortly after the Māori new year celebration called Matariki, linked to a star cluster known as the Pleiades.
Dunedin plans a night-sky festival that starts with Matariki and culminates with the eclipse event.
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A missile strike on a primary school in Minab, southern Iran, killed 156 people, including 120 children, during the early hours of a war involving the US and Israel against Iran. The attack hit Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School, causing heavy destruction and civilian casualties, with investigations indicating US forces likely carried out the strike unintentionally.
Key Facts
The strike happened on 28 February at Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab, southern Iran.
156 people died in the attack, including 120 children, a pregnant woman, and her unborn child.
The school is located next to a compound of Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) that was also struck several times.
US forces are believed by some military investigators to have unintentionally hit the school.
The US government has not officially admitted responsibility for the strike.
Teacher Amaineh Nademi survived the attack and described the chaos, smoke, injuries, and collapse of the school building.
Teachers and rescue workers continue to pray at and search the site for remains.
Iranian authorities presented the visit to the school as proof that the campaign targeted civilians, not just military sites.
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A ferry in Guyana capsized off the Essequibo coast, with about 100 people feared dead and many still missing. Authorities are investigating how the accident happened, while families wait for news and officials promise legal action if negligence is found.
Key Facts
The ferry MV Barima, 87 years old, left Georgetown for Port Kaituma before capsizing.
About 179 people were likely on board, although the official list showed 133.
76 people survived, 53 bodies have been recovered, and many remain missing.
Survivors say the ferry was crowded with people and cargo, including engines and fuel.
Some survivors reported engine trouble early on and that the crew tried fixing it at sea.
Police detained the captain and a crew member who tested positive for marijuana.
Officials say the ferry was within capacity limits, but investigation is ongoing.
A newer ferry from India, costing $12.7 million, is waiting for a special pier to be finished.
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Scientists filmed orcas in the Gulf of California working together to ram sunfish so hard that the sunfish's bodies broke into pieces. This behavior may help younger orcas eat more easily or could be a form of play or learning among the orcas.
Key Facts
Orcas were seen ramming sunfish carcasses until they exploded into fragments.
This behavior was recorded twice in the Gulf of California, Mexico.
The orcas worked as a group, with one holding the sunfish while another rammed it.
The fragments made it easier for younger orcas to eat.
Orcas have other cooperative hunting methods, like herding rays and knocking penguins off ice.
The sunfish was already dead with some internal organs removed before being rammed.
Scientists think this may be a way orcas teach young ones or simply play with their food.
The orca group included adult females, one male, and juveniles.
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Orcas have been seen ramming dead giant sunfish so hard that the fish explode into pieces, possibly as a form of play or to help younger whales eat smaller parts. Scientists recorded this behavior off the coast of Mexico and believe it shows complex social behavior among orcas.
Key Facts
Orcas ram dead sunfish at high speed, causing the fish to break into thousands of pieces.
Scientists recorded these events in the Gulf of California, Mexico, in 2024 and 2025.
Sunfish are very large fish, up to three meters long and 2,000 kilograms heavy.
One idea is that orcas break the fish into smaller pieces so young whales can eat more easily.
Orcas are known to play with their food and engage in fun social behaviors, like carrying dead salmon on their heads.
This behavior requires planning and teamwork, showing orcas’ intelligence.
New underwater cameras and drones help scientists discover such behavior but there are concerns about how tourism affects orcas.
Mexico has introduced rules to protect orcas and limit swimming with them during tours.
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Jailed Tunisian opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi fainted in prison due to extreme heat during a heatwave that made conditions in Mornaguia prison worse. Visitors report temperatures inside the prison reached 52°C (126°F), with many political prisoners confined to small cells and only allowed limited time outside.
Key Facts
Rached Ghannouchi, a prominent opposition leader, fainted in Mornaguia prison because of extreme heat.
Temperatures inside the prison reached 52°C (126°F) during a heatwave.
Prison cells are small, about 16 square meters (172 square feet), with inmates allowed only two hours outside daily.
Haifa Chebbi, daughter of another imprisoned opposition politician, witnessed Ghannouchi faint and described harsh conditions.
Around 37 opposition figures, including Ghannouchi and Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, were jailed on charges of “conspiracy against state security.”
The United Nations criticized these trials for lacking fair process and suggested political motives.
Ghannouchi was hospitalized earlier in April due to health problems but returned to prison.
The political prisoners include other activists, lawyers, and journalists, and their detention is linked to wider social unrest in Tunisia.
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