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A special election is taking place in the Makerfield district of northwest England to choose a new member of Parliament. Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester and a Labour Party candidate, is leading and could challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the leadership of the party if he wins. Starmer has faced declining popularity and criticism over his government’s performance since the Labour Party's election win in 2024.
Key Facts
The special election is in Makerfield, a district in northwest England with about 75,000 voters.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, is the Labour Party candidate and favorite to win.
Burnham could challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for party leadership if elected.
Keir Starmer became prime minister after Labour’s 2024 election victory.
Starmer's government has struggled with economic growth, public services, and cost of living issues.
Starmer faced criticism for appointing Peter Mandelson, linked to controversies, as UK ambassador to the US.
Labour lawmakers have asked Starmer to resign, but he has refused to step down.
Josh Simons, the former Labour MP for Makerfield, resigned to allow Burnham to run in this election.
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Since a ceasefire began last October, Israeli military actions in Gaza have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. Recently, Israeli strikes targeted militant groups, but also caused civilian casualties, amid ongoing tensions and accusations of ceasefire violations by both sides.
Key Facts
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 1,005 Palestinians have been killed during the ceasefire period since October 2025.
Near-daily Israeli strikes, shelling, and gunfire continue along the border dividing Gaza.
An Israeli strike on June 17, 2026, killed two Palestinians and wounded six in southern Gaza.
The Israeli military admitted to conducting the strike, targeting a Hamas militant group.
Families said those killed were near a large tent camp housing displaced Palestinians.
Both Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaking the ceasefire agreement.
The Gaza Health Ministry states the overall death toll from the war has passed 73,000 but does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking hostages.
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Sony Pictures released a new trailer for the movie Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is set to come out on July 31, 2026. The story follows Peter Parker as he deals with new physical changes and fights crime in New York, joined by several heroes like Hulk and Punisher.
Key Facts
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a follow-up to the 2021 film No Way Home.
The movie takes place four years after No Way Home, with Peter Parker living alone.
Peter has erased himself from the memories of those he loves to protect the multiverse.
Peter experiences a physical change that may be a mutation in his DNA.
The cast includes Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Zendaya (MJ), Jon Bernthal (Punisher), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), and Charlie Cox (Daredevil).
Peter is the only person who can sense a new invisible threat affecting others.
The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will release in theaters on July 31, 2026.
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Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is running in a local election in the Makerfield area of the UK. If he wins, he may challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership of the Labour party and the position of UK prime minister.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is trying to return to the UK parliament after nine years.
The local election in Makerfield is seen as very important for the future of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Burnham faces competition from the hard-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.
Polls suggest Burnham is likely to win due to his popularity and his leadership in Greater Manchester.
Prime Minister Starmer has been struggling with low approval ratings and political challenges since taking office in 2024.
Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down to let Burnham run for the parliamentary seat.
The Makerfield electorate usually votes for Labour but showed significant support for Reform UK in recent local council elections.
Controversies and offensive remarks have affected Reform’s candidate Robert Kenyon’s public image.
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President Donald Trump and Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a temporary peace deal to end the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran. The deal includes Iran reducing its enriched uranium in exchange for lifting sanctions and a $300 billion fund to help rebuild the region.
Key Facts
The deal was signed on June 17, 2026, during a dinner at the Palace of Versailles after the G7 summit.
Iran agreed to dilute its enriched uranium to reduce nuclear risks.
The US will lift its naval blockade and oil sanctions on Iran immediately.
A $300 billion reconstruction fund supported by regional nations will be released after a final agreement.
The Strait of Hormuz, an important global shipping route, will be reopened by Iran.
Pakistan helped mediate the agreement.
The war started on February 28, 2026, involving missile attacks and closing the Strait of Hormuz.
More than 7,000 people have died in the conflict, mostly in Iran and Lebanon.
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An inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, a Melbourne woman who gave birth at home without medically trained help, has been delayed after new phone evidence was found. Warnecke died from heavy bleeding after childbirth, and the court will investigate further before making any conclusions.
Key Facts
Stacey Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist and wellness influencer, died on 29 September in a Melbourne hospital.
Warnecke chose a "freebirth," giving birth at home without medical staff, supported by a birthkeeper with no medical training.
The birthkeeper, Emily Lal, was paid $6,000 to support the birth but said she was not responsible for safety or medical decisions.
Warnecke suffered a severe postpartum hemorrhage (heavy bleeding) after delivering the placenta.
An ambulance was called about 30 minutes after the bleeding started.
Lal lost access to messages from Warnecke about the labor after getting a new phone and could only communicate mainly with Warnecke’s husband afterward.
New information from a forensic analysis of Warnecke’s phone has prompted further investigation and delayed the inquest's conclusion.
Medical experts said Warnecke’s bleeding was treatable if a midwife or hospital care had been present, emphasizing early intervention is key in such cases.
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Ukrainian drones attacked a major oil refinery in Moscow for the second time this week, causing fires and smoke in the area. The attacks also damaged other buildings and led to flight suspensions at Moscow’s main airport amidst ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Facts
Ukrainian drones struck Moscow’s oil refinery twice this week, with the latest attack causing large fires.
Moscow’s mayor said air defense forces shot down about 180 drones aimed at the capital.
The refinery’s operations stopped after the first strike, adding to fuel shortages in Russia.
Nearby buildings, including a shopping center, high-rise homes, and an industrial site, were damaged.
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport canceled flights and evacuated some people due to the drone attack.
Russia reported shooting down 555 Ukrainian drones across several regions overnight; the exact number is unconfirmed.
Ukraine also faced missile attacks on Kyiv, with alerts for airstrikes across much of Ukraine.
Several people were reported killed in different drone attacks in the region, including in Ukraine and Russian border areas.
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An eight-year-old boy named Tommy from Blackpool won a contest to design the official artwork shown before all UK screenings of the movie Toy Story 5. He met actors Tom Hanks and Tim Allen at a London event, where they congratulated him and signed his framed artwork.
Key Facts
Tommy is 8 years old and from Blackpool, UK.
He won a competition to design the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) Black Card for Toy Story 5.
His artwork features the feet of characters from the film, including a new character named Lilypad.
Tommy used acrylic paint with brushes and sponges to create different textures in his painting.
Tom Hanks (Woody) and Tim Allen (Buzz Lightyear) met Tommy and signed his winning artwork.
The BBFC will show Tommy’s design before Toy Story 5 movie screenings in the UK.
The competition had over 1,000 participants across the UK.
Tommy and his family were invited to a special event including a red carpet walk and a behind-the-scenes tour of the BBFC.
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Caleb Tutt, a 24-year-old from London, inherited the right to graze sheep on common land in Llantrisant, Wales, a tradition dating back 680 years. He recently attended a ceremony to formally accept this historic honour that originated from his Welsh ancestors.
Key Facts
Caleb Tutt lives in London but has the right to graze livestock in Llantrisant, Wales.
This right, known as "freemanship," is an ancient title passed down through family generations.
The land involved includes areas called Cymdda Bach and Brynteg.
Caleb inherited this right from his grandmother’s mining family in Wales.
He and about 20 other people became freemen at a ceremony held in May.
The ceremony involved signing an old ledger and receiving a ceremonial necktie or scarf.
The freemanship grants the right to graze animals but does not include large estates or major privileges.
Caleb was surprised by the simple nature of the ceremony, which felt more like a local tradition than a grand event.
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Ukraine has increased its military defenses along its northern border with Belarus due to more Russian spy drones entering from Belarusian airspace this year. Ukrainian officials worry that Belarus might become more involved in the war as Russia uses Belarusian territory to launch attacks on Ukraine.
Key Facts
Russian spy drones flying over Ukraine from Belarusian airspace have increased by about 20% since January.
Ukraine has built new defenses such as anti-tank ditches, concrete obstacles, and barbed wire near its border with Belarus.
Russia has set up five new drone bases near the border it shares with Belarus.
Belarus is expanding infrastructure like logistics routes, training grounds, and surveillance to support Russian drone strikes.
Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have raised concerns about Belarus’s military activity and possible deeper involvement in the war.
Belarus and Russia accused Ukraine of a drone attack on a bus with Belarusian children, but Ukraine denied this claim.
Some experts warn Belarus’s President Aleksandr Lukashenko is preparing for closer cooperation with Russia in the conflict.
Ukraine has identified about 500 possible targets in Belarus if Belarus becomes more directly involved in the fighting.
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Two men connected to Russia were found guilty of planning arson attacks on homes linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The attacks were said to be directed by a Russian-speaking handler aiming to create division and weaken UK democracy amid rising tensions between Russia and the UK.
Key Facts
Roman Lavrynovych, 22, from Ukraine, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, from Romania, were convicted of conspiring to carry out arson linked to properties connected to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The attacks were allegedly ordered by someone using the name "El Money," who communicated in Russian and has ties to Russia.
Lavrynovych was also found guilty of causing fire damage to two other properties in May 2024.
A third defendant, Petro Pochynok, 35, was acquitted.
Prime Minister Starmer said the attacks aimed to exploit divisions and destabilize UK democracy.
The court case happened amid increased tensions with Russia, including recent events where a Russian oil vessel was intercepted and a Russian warship fired warning shots at a British yacht.
False conspiracy theories about the attack were spread by far-right figures and may have been amplified by Russian agents.
Starmer called for vigilance against those inside and outside the UK trying to cause conflict and division, especially related to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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The BBC produced a second documentary series with presenter Ashley Cain just months after it learned about alleged misconduct by him on a previous production in Las Vegas. After concerns about Cain’s behavior during filming, the BBC paused the project and replaced him with another presenter.
Key Facts
Ashley Cain is a presenter and former footballer who hosted BBC documentaries.
The BBC made a second series with Cain despite being informed of alleged misconduct during filming in Las Vegas.
Filming in Las Vegas was paused after Cain appeared to be drunk and concerns were raised by the crew.
Cain was replaced by another presenter, Tir Dhondy, and returned to the UK.
Cain has a history of offensive social media posts and was accused of sharing intimate footage without consent, which he denies.
The BBC was reportedly unaware of Cain’s social media history before hiring him.
The BBC is reviewing the hiring process and has taken the allegations seriously.
Cain did not respond to requests for comment; the BBC declined further comment at this time.
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The Taliban have ordered a ban on the use of smartphones by government officials in Afghanistan, with penalties including confiscation and destruction of phones. This ban may extend to the wider population and follows earlier internet shutdowns and efforts to control communication.
Key Facts
The Taliban's military courts issued a directive banning smartphones for all government staff.
Phones found in use will be smashed, and violators may face legal and religious punishments.
Exceptions require written permission from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Videos show Taliban officials destroying smartphones after the ban was announced.
The ban is applied differently across regions, sometimes affecting civilians, women, medical workers, and students.
The ban follows an internet blackout in September aimed at preventing "immorality," which disrupted many services.
The Taliban are concerned about loss of productivity and information leaks caused by smartphone use among officials.
Protests in Herat against strict hijab enforcement and the Taliban's violent response may have influenced the tightened restrictions.
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A train crash in mid Wales killed one passenger and injured four others when two trains collided head-on on a mostly single-track line in October 2024. An investigation found that the crash could have been avoided if train sanding systems, which help wheels grip the rails, had worked properly or been used manually.
Key Facts
The crash happened near the village of Talerddig, Powys, on the Cambrian Line.
One passenger, Tudor Evans, 66, died; four others were seriously hurt.
Two trains, both run by Transport for Wales, collided on a single-track section with a short passing loop.
The train towards Aberystwyth failed to stop in the loop despite full braking and slid down a slope into the other train.
The train was moving at 24 mph at impact; the other at 6 mph after slowing down.
The automatic sanding system did not work because of electrical faults; the driver did not activate the manual emergency sanding system.
The driver was not aware the automatic system was failing.
Adverse weather and low wheel-rail grip contributed to the accident.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) recommended better driver training on emergency actions and sanding use.
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More than 13,000 seal pups have died on Heard Island, an Australian territory, due to the spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus. The virus has affected several species of seals and birds on subantarctic islands, with very high mortality rates recorded.
Key Facts
Over 13,000 southern elephant seal pups died on Heard Island during 2025 and 2026.
The average death rate was 76% across the island, reaching 97% in some areas.
The H5N1 bird flu virus has infected at least six species on Heard Island, including penguins, seals, and petrels.
The virus likely arrived from the French Crozet Islands about 1,800 km away, around August 2025.
This is the first detection of H5N1 in an Australian external territory.
The bird flu outbreak is causing severe impacts similar to other southern hemisphere outbreaks.
The Australian government has allocated an extra $11.2 million to protect native species on the mainland.
Scientists continue to monitor for bird flu on other Australian Antarctic territories and islands, with no cases found yet there.
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The United States and Iran have signed a 14-point agreement to extend a ceasefire and end their war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz for free maritime traffic for 60 days. After this period, Iran plans to charge ships passing through the strait, while the U.S. will lift its naval blockade and sanctions on Iran, along with unfreezing Iranian assets and funding reconstruction.
Key Facts
The U.S.-Iran agreement extends a ceasefire by 60 days and includes talks for a final peace deal.
The Strait of Hormuz will be open to ships without charges for 60 days; after that, Iran intends to charge fees for passage.
The U.S. has agreed to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and suspend sanctions during the agreement period.
Iran’s frozen assets will be unfrozen, and a $300 billion fund will support Iran’s post-war rebuilding.
President Trump warned he would attack Iran if it violates the agreement but expressed a desire for Iran to honor it.
Southeast Asian countries, which rely heavily on Middle Eastern oil, welcomed the agreement for bringing stability and lowering energy prices.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif helped mediate the deal and announced its immediate effectiveness.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran achieved more through negotiation than military action.
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Palestinian activist Mahmoud Zaiter comforted Algerian soccer fans after their team lost to Argentina in the World Cup. He praised Algeria’s efforts to help over 1,000 orphans in Gaza, saying this support was a bigger achievement than the game.
Key Facts
Algeria lost to Argentina in the World Cup.
Mahmoud Zaiter is a Palestinian activist.
Zaiter spoke to Algerian fans after the game.
He highlighted Algeria’s help for orphans in Gaza.
Algeria sponsors more than 1,000 orphans there.
The activist called this support a greater victory than the soccer match.
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President Donald Trump has made a peace agreement with Iran, which some critics say gives too many concessions and may cause political issues. Meanwhile, England won its first World Cup game, with several newspapers praising the team's performance.
Key Facts
President Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran.
Critics say the deal includes significant political and financial concessions to Iran.
Some question if the deal is worth the costs, such as war expenses and strained relations with allies.
US Republicans may react angrily to the agreement.
In London, 100 criminals were linked to over 4000 shop thefts, prompting calls for harsher punishments.
BBC staff expressed worry about budget cuts that may affect journalism quality.
England won their World Cup group stage opener against Croatia.
Newspapers highlighted key players like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane for their roles in the victory.
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An analyst says Israel might reduce its military presence in southern Lebanon after a peace deal between the US and Iran. However, he believes that real change will only happen if the US pressures Israel to change its policy toward Lebanon.
Key Facts
The US and Iran signed a peace deal that includes ending Israel’s conflict with Lebanon.
Israel may symbolically pull back troops from southern Lebanon.
Analyst Rami Khouri believes true policy change will require US intervention.
The analyst stresses the US needs to force Israel to alter its approach in Lebanon.
The current situation involves military tension between Israel and Lebanon.
The peace deal is seen as a step to reduce conflict in the region.
Israel’s military presence in Lebanon is a key issue in the peace process.
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A recent survey shows that many people in Western Europe believe crime is increasing, even though overall crime rates have been falling since the 1990s. The poll also found that trust in police varies by country, with Denmark showing the highest confidence and the UK the lowest.
Key Facts
The survey covered Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
Most countries showed over 50% of people trusting their national police, except Britain with only 43%.
Between 53% and 80% of people think crime has risen recently in their countries.
Despite perceptions, crime rates, including murder rates, have dropped significantly since the 1990s in Western Europe.
Recent increases in violent crime in some countries are linked to drug trafficking and online fraud.
France had a minor recent rise in murders but still has a lower murder rate per capita than in the 1990s.
People in France and Italy were more likely to say crime problems like drug trafficking and public disorder were worse than in other countries.
Corruption was seen as a bigger problem in Spain and Italy compared to Denmark, where economic crime was more common.
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