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Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela’s Caribbean coast last Wednesday, causing many buildings to collapse and killing over 1,700 people officially. Thousands remain missing as rescue efforts continue amid widespread destruction and a fragile political situation.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck Venezuela seconds apart.
More than 1,700 people have died, but tens of thousands are still missing.
Many buildings and homes, especially in the city of La Guaira, were destroyed.
A young man was rescued after being trapped under rubble for over four days.
The country faces challenges like economic troubles, corruption, and political instability following the capture of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Families are searching for missing loved ones by walking through damaged streets and showing photos.
Mortuaries are overwhelmed by bodies arriving in cars and motorcycles.
The UN is trying to provide 10,000 body bags to help Venezuelan authorities manage the disaster’s aftermath.
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China has introduced a new "Ethnic Unity Law" that aims to promote national unity among its ethnic groups but also allows the government to take action against people and groups outside China who it says threaten this unity. Critics living abroad, including activists and advocates for ethnic minorities like Tibetans and Uyghurs, fear the law could be used to intimidate or punish them even if they are outside China's borders.
Key Facts
The new Ethnic Unity Law became effective recently in China.
The law intends to promote harmony and a shared identity among China’s 56 ethnic groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs.
A specific clause (Article 63) lets Chinese authorities act against people or groups outside China who undermine ethnic unity.
Zhang Yadi, a Chinese student abroad who supported Tibetan rights, was arrested in China and faces charges related to national unity.
China is accused of pressuring and tracking down critics and activists living overseas, including Uyghur and Hong Kong pro-democracy supporters.
The law could extend China’s influence over dissidents living in other countries, possibly causing diplomatic issues.
European lawmakers have warned their countries to be cautious about extradition agreements with China due to this law.
China is simultaneously working to improve its global image by hosting foreign leaders and promoting tourism.
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Neighbours in Wigston, Leicestershire, rescued an 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's from a house fire after seeing the fire on her doorbell camera. The fire was accidental, and the fire service arrived quickly, but the neighbours’ quick actions saved the woman’s life.
Key Facts
The fire started at 11:30 pm in Phyllis Day’s house in Wigston, Leicestershire.
Phyllis Day, 87, was asleep and unaware of the fire due to Alzheimer's and not wearing her hearing aids.
Suzanne Wright, her daughter, saw the fire through the doorbell camera and guided neighbours via the camera’s intercom to get inside.
Neighbours Pav Sarpal and Stephan Smart entered the burning house, located Day, and helped her escape.
The fire caused heavy smoke and flames, making rescue efforts very dangerous.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was accidental and reminded people not to enter burning buildings due to risks.
The rescue brought neighbours closer, and Wright praised them for saving her mother’s life.
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Andy Burnham, expected to become the next UK prime minister, will face a £4.7 billion cost to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before addressing how to increase defense spending further for the upcoming election. Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer published the plan ahead of the NATO summit but acknowledged major budget challenges and trade-offs.
Key Facts
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has a £4.7 billion bill to be paid soon after the next prime minister takes office.
Additional defense spending needs may require finding another £5 billion from existing government budgets.
The current government delayed the DIP but published it before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis supported the DIP, sparing Burnham from announcing it himself.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the decision involved difficult choices due to economic challenges like high debt and taxes.
Starmer admitted his government faced internal disagreements on budget priorities.
Andy Burnham will inherit the pressures of managing defense costs amid other financial demands.
The DIP publication marks one of Starmer's last acts as prime minister before he leaves office.
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The BBC asked people from several U.S. states how they feel about the country in its 250th year. The interviewees shared their views on the current state of the nation.
Key Facts
The interviews were conducted in states including California, New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington DC.
Americans were asked for their opinions about how the U.S. is doing in 2026.
The year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The video report was produced and edited by Meiying Wu.
Multiple people helped film the video report.
The report captures a range of perspectives from different parts of the country.
The article focuses on public opinion about the nation's current condition.
The source of the report is the BBC.
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The US Supreme Court refused President Donald Trump’s request to end the rule that grants US citizenship to children born in the country, even if their parents are not citizens. This decision is important for immigration policy and has caused strong reactions from supporters of President Trump’s policies.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court denied President Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship.
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the US automatically becomes a citizen.
President Trump wanted to stop children of some immigrants from getting US citizenship at birth.
This policy is a key part of President Trump’s immigration platform.
The decision has caused upset among the MAGA movement, which supports President Trump.
The ruling keeps the current citizenship law unchanged.
The case involved children born to immigrant parents in the US.
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Welsh Water, a water company owned by the public and not shareholders, has had mixed results since its change in 2001. While it has good customer trust, it faces high bills and environmental fines. Experts say simply changing ownership won't fix all problems in the water and energy industries, and nationalising companies can be costly and complex.
Key Facts
Welsh Water became a not-for-profit company in 2001, serving 3 million people in Wales.
It has no shareholders and reinvests money to keep bills low and protect the environment.
Welsh Water was fined £44.7 million for poor sewage management that harmed the environment.
Its water bills (£683 a year) are higher than the industry average.
Andy Burnham has called for more public ownership of water and energy but is unclear on how this would happen.
Nationalising water companies could be expensive and complicated, especially for financially healthy firms.
Thames Water’s financial problems have wiped out its shareholders, possibly easing nationalisation there.
Large water and energy companies like United Utilities, Severn Trent, National Grid, and SSE are valued in billions of pounds, making nationalisation a major financial challenge.
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The UK justice secretary, David Lammy, agreed to increase the minimum prison sentences for men who murder their current or ex-partners in England and Wales. This decision came after campaigning by mothers whose daughters were killed by their partners and who argued existing sentences were too low because these crimes happened at home.
Key Facts
Women killed by their partners at home currently face lower maximum sentences than murders committed in public.
Mothers of victims campaigned for longer sentences after their daughters received less than 17 years in prison.
The killers used weapons found at home, which limited sentencing under existing laws.
Justice Secretary David Lammy met with the mothers and agreed to raise sentences by an extra 10 years.
The campaign group “Killed Women” was formed by families of women murdered by men.
The change aims to better reflect the severity of domestic murders and send a stronger message about justice.
The mothers expressed relief and emotion after the announcement but noted the long and difficult fight for change.
This is a UK domestic justice issue involving sentencing laws for domestic murders.
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The UK government plans to limit the salaries of academy school leaders to a maximum of £174,000 to prevent very high executive pay paid by public funds. This change will require government approval for pay above this limit and restrict pay raises to levels similar to those given to teachers.
Key Facts
Nearly 100 academy school leaders in England currently earn over £200,000 a year.
Only about 25% of the highest-paid academy executives are women.
The government will introduce a salary cap of £174,000 for academy trust executives.
Any pay above this cap will require government approval before being advertised.
Future pay increases for academy executives will be limited to the same percentage increases teachers receive.
Academy trust executive pay rules will become similar to those in the National Health Service (NHS) and further education colleges.
The decision aims to make pay fairer for taxpayers and ensure money supports teaching rather than high salaries.
Around 90% of England’s secondary schools are academies, but most pay less than the new cap.
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A study found that heatwaves reduce the fertility of solitary red mason bees. This could lead to fewer bees the following year and less pollination for important food crops.
Key Facts
Researchers simulated a three-day heatwave in the UK in a lab setting.
Male bees exposed to the heatwave had sperm activity cut by half.
Female bees from the heatwave group had 15% fewer and smaller developing eggs.
Both heatwave and control groups spun cocoons and hibernated normally.
Over 90% of UK bee species live alone without nest mates.
Reduced bee fertility could cause fewer bees and lower pollination of crops like apples and oilseed rape.
The study was published in the Journal of Thermal Biology.
The research was led by Professor James Gilbert from the University of Hull.
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The energy price cap in Great Britain is rising, causing many households to spend more on electricity and gas. This increase will push millions more people into fuel poverty, meaning they will have to spend a large part of their income just to keep their homes heated or cooled.
Key Facts
The energy price cap will increase to about £1,862 per year for the average household.
Around 13.5 million households will spend more than 10% of their income on energy, up from 11.3 million in April.
Nearly 5.5 million homes will spend about 20% of their income on energy, up from 4.3 million in April.
Electricity prices will rise from 24.67p to 26.11p per kilowatt-hour, and gas prices from 5.74p to 7.33p per kilowatt-hour for those paying by direct debit.
Energy bills are expected to stay high during the cooler months because of increased gas use.
Some groups are calling for government action, including protests demanding lower energy costs and public ownership of energy companies.
Labour MP Andy Burnham proposes more local control over energy services to reduce costs.
Officials acknowledge the concerns but have not announced new major interventions yet.
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Canada is celebrating its 159th birthday while facing challenges that threaten its unity. In Alberta and Quebec, movements pushing for independence are gaining attention, and Prime Minister Mark Carney is working to keep the country united.
Key Facts
Canada Day marks 159 years since the country’s founding.
Alberta will hold a referendum in October to decide if it should push for sovereignty later.
Support for Alberta’s independence movement is around 25% to 30%.
Quebec’s Parti Quebecois is leading in polls and plans a referendum on independence by 2030 if elected.
Quebec has held two previous referenda on independence, in 1980 and 1995.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is campaigning for national unity and compares current separations risks to Brexit.
Alberta’s movement partly stems from dissatisfaction with federal policies on energy and environment.
The separatisms in both provinces highlight long-standing regional and cultural differences in Canada.
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A woman named Gemma, who worked for Superdry co-founder James Holder, reported that he raped her in 2022 after work. Holder was sentenced to eight years in prison for this crime.
Key Facts
Gemma worked for James Holder at Superdry and later at another company he started.
The rape happened in May 2022 after work drinks in Cheltenham.
Holder entered Gemma's taxi without invitation and went to her home.
He initially fell asleep but then forced Gemma onto the bed and raped her.
Gemma returned to work days later and faced Holder, who acted like nothing happened.
Holder is a multi-millionaire, married, and has two children.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison in May for rape.
Gemma described a controlling work environment under Holder’s leadership.
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A couple in Newport, Wales, created a tropical garden with many exotic and some poisonous plants behind their ordinary-looking house. They started with a banana tree and now grow a wide variety of plants, teaching their son about them and balancing safety with their interest.
Key Facts
Dave Robinson and Gemma Furby live in Alway, Newport, Wales.
They began their tropical garden in 2016 after buying their first home with a large garden.
The garden includes plants from Africa, Asia, South America, and other regions.
They grow some poisonous and spiky plants, which their seven-year-old son Arlo has learned to identify.
The couple draws inspiration from their travels and places like Cornwall’s Eden Project.
Milder winters and hotter summers in the UK help them grow exotic plants outdoors.
They source plants from rare and niche nurseries and garden centers in Wales.
Serious poisoning from garden plants in the UK is uncommon, according to the Royal Horticultural Society.
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Two teenage boys convicted of raping two girls in Hampshire received sentences without jail time, causing public concern and a sentence review at the Court of Appeal. One of the victims, a 15-year-old girl named Jazmine, shared how the attack has deeply affected her life and how the legal process has been very hard for her.
Key Facts
Two teenage boys, aged 15, were convicted of raping two girls aged 14 and 15 in Hampshire.
The boys were given youth rehabilitation orders instead of prison sentences.
The judge said that custody should be a last resort for youth offenders and considered the boys’ mental and developmental conditions.
One boy has ADHD and anxiety; the other has a very low IQ and neurodevelopmental issues.
The attacks included multiple rapes, some filmed and shared on social media, leading to further abuse of the victims.
The victims spoke out about the lasting trauma and harm caused by the attacks.
The Attorney General sent the case to the Court of Appeal, calling the sentences too light.
The case drew responses from political leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who expressed distress.
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The Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump's appeal to overturn a jury's decision that he sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the 1990s and later defamed her. Carroll's lawyers are now asking a judge to require Trump to pay nearly $5.8 million from the jury verdict without further delay.
Key Facts
E. Jean Carroll accused President Trump of sexually abusing her in a New York City store dressing room in 1996.
A jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation after Carroll spoke publicly about the attack in 2019.
The Supreme Court refused to hear Trump's appeal to overturn the jury verdict.
The amount owed to Carroll has increased to about $5.8 million with interest.
Carroll's lawyers say Trump is trying to delay payment despite previous denials of such delays.
Trump has resumed public criticism of Carroll after the court's decision.
Trump is also appealing a separate $83 million defamation damage award from another trial.
Carroll’s legal team insists that Trump should pay the owed money immediately.
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Thousands of people protested in South Africa against illegal immigration, marking the largest related protests since 2008. The marches were mostly peaceful, but some incidents of looting happened, and some migrants have left the country amid tensions.
Key Facts
The protests occurred in parts of South Africa on June 30, 2026.
Authorities said the marches were mostly peaceful, with some arrests made.
Government officials said anyone committing crimes during protests would be prosecuted.
Protesters want all illegal migrants to leave, blaming them for unemployment and crime.
South African leaders disagree about the causes of social and economic problems.
Some migrants, including Nigerians and Malawians, have been deported.
President Cyril Ramaphosa met protest leaders to encourage peaceful demonstrations.
Groups leading protests include March and March, Operation Dudula, and Progressive Forces.
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Nadiem Makarim, co-founder of the Indonesian tech company Gojek and former Education Minister, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for corruption. He claims the charges are politically motivated and intends to appeal the verdict.
Key Facts
Nadiem Makarim helped start Gojek, a major tech company in Indonesia.
He served as Indonesia’s Education Minister before his conviction.
A court found him guilty of corruption.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Makarim says the charges are motivated by politics.
He plans to appeal the court decision.
Makarim was once a billionaire linked to Indonesia’s growing technology sector.
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A roof collapsed at a private tutoring centre outside Lahore, Pakistan, killing at least 14 children. The centre was operating inside a home and was not officially registered, and the roof was unsafe.
Key Facts
The accident happened at a private tutoring centre near Lahore, Pakistan.
At least 14 children died due to the roof collapse.
The tutoring centre was located inside a residential building.
The building's roof was declared unsafe by officials.
The centre was unregistered, meaning it did not have official permission to operate.
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The Supreme Court made a 6-3 decision about birthright citizenship. The judges had different opinions, which suggests the Court might look at this issue again in the future.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling on birthright citizenship.
The decision was split, showing disagreement among the justices.
Some justices wrote different opinions explaining their views.
This division suggests the Court may face more cases about birthright citizenship later.
Birthright citizenship refers to the right to citizenship for people born in the country.
The discussion involves how the Constitution applies to this right.
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