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The cost to upgrade Great Britain’s electricity network in the 2030s could reach nearly £90 billion, which is 50% more than earlier estimates. This increase reflects the government’s goal to expand clean energy and meet rising electricity demand.
Key Facts
The energy system operator (Neso) now estimates £89 billion is needed to improve the electricity network by the 2030s.
Previous estimates put the cost at £58 billion before the Labour government took office.
The increased cost is due to faster clean energy projects, higher inflation, and rising electricity use, including from data centres.
Neso recommends 43 network projects, including 16 new ones not in earlier plans.
Projects include connecting wind farms in the Celtic Sea to parts of Wales and south-west England.
The Labour government aims to make the UK a clean energy superpower by 2030.
Plans include doubling onshore wind, tripling solar power, and quadrupling offshore wind capacity by 2030.
Transmission companies are speeding up upgrades to support economic growth and keep costs down for consumers.
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The Oura Ring 5 is a much smaller and lighter smart ring that tracks health data like heart rate, sleep, and temperature. It costs around $399 and requires a monthly subscription to access full features, offering improvements in size, comfort, battery life, and durability compared to the previous model.
Key Facts
The Ring 5 is 40% smaller in volume than the previous Ring 4 and weighs about 2 grams.
It measures around 6mm wide and 2.23mm thick, making it similar in size to a regular wedding band.
It tracks over 50 health metrics including heart rate, blood oxygen, body temperature, movement, sleep, stress, and women’s health.
The Ring 5 comes in six colors, is made of titanium, and has a more scratch-resistant coating.
Users choose from eight sizes, and Oura offers a free sizing kit to help find the right fit.
The battery lasts between 6 to 9 days depending on ring size, with a full charge taking under 90 minutes.
The ring syncs with the Oura app on smartphones via Bluetooth, but full data access requires a subscription costing about $6 a month.
Optional accessories include a battery case for travel that provides multiple full charges.
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Sharon Graham, leader of the UK’s Unite union, will face a leadership challenge from Simon Dubbins. The challenge comes amid concerns that the union is not doing enough to oppose the political rise of the Reform UK party and its leader Nigel Farage.
Key Facts
Simon Dubbins has secured enough nominations to challenge Sharon Graham for the Unite union leadership.
Graham was criticized for supporting more fossil fuel drilling and attacking Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s net zero plans.
Some union members worry Graham’s stance helps the Reform UK party and Nigel Farage.
Unite represents workers in many sectors and Dubbins claims support from over 250 workplaces.
Dubbins says the union must oppose Reform, which he says does not support working people.
He supports a transition to a low-carbon economy that protects workers’ jobs.
Voting for the union leadership will start on July 14 with over 1 million members eligible to vote.
The election result is expected to be announced on August 14.
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Millions of people in Britain need to send in their energy meter readings before Wednesday to avoid paying higher bills when the energy price cap increases. The price cap, which limits how much energy companies can charge, will go up by 13%, raising average household bills by about £221 per year.
Key Facts
The energy price cap in Britain will increase by 13% on Wednesday.
Around 5.3 million households without smart meters are urged to submit their readings before the price rise.
If they don't, some of their energy use in June might be charged at the higher new rates.
Electricity prices will rise from 24.67p to 26.11p per kilowatt hour; gas prices from 5.74p to 7.33p per kilowatt hour.
The average annual energy bill will increase to £1,862, up £221 from before.
The price increase is linked to higher global energy prices caused by conflict involving Iran.
Some cheaper fixed-price deals are still available, costing less than the new price cap.
The price increase occurs during warmer months when heating use is lower, which may reduce the impact on bills.
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A young bald eagle named Luna made its first flight in Big Bear Valley, California. Many people watched the event live online and some gathered nearby to see it happen in person.
Key Facts
The bald eagle is from Big Bear Valley, east of Los Angeles.
The eagle's first flight was livestreamed by Friends of Big Bear Valley.
Thousands of people watched the livestream.
Bird watchers also gathered in the valley during the flight.
The eagle is nicknamed Luna.
The eagle flew from its nest to a nearby tree.
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Ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are facing new dangers after Iran restricted navigation to routes along its coast and threatened ships using other paths. Recently, two ships using an alternative route near Oman were attacked, raising concerns about safety in this key global shipping lane.
Key Facts
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said only certain sea routes near Iran’s coast are allowed for ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran warned ships using other routes that safe passage would not be guaranteed.
Two ships that took an alternative route along Oman’s coast were attacked in late June 2026.
The alternative route was recommended by a U.S.-supported naval information center as being free of mines, unlike the usual central route.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage vital for oil shipments, technically in Iran and Oman’s waters.
Historically, a “traffic separation scheme” has guided ships through the central part of the strait to reduce collision risks.
Iran now restricts ships to routes along its coast, closing the central maritime corridor.
After these attacks, U.S. airstrikes and Iranian retaliatory strikes occurred, but both sides agreed to stop attacks for now; shipping remains disrupted.
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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced new plans for the UK asylum system that include charging asylum seekers about £10,000 each for their living costs to gain settled status. She also aims to speed up safe and legal ways to claim asylum, like employer sponsorship, as part of a broader immigration reform bill being discussed by UK lawmakers.
Key Facts
Asylum seekers in the UK may have to pay around £10,000 for living costs to get settled status under the new plan.
Refugee charities criticize this plan, saying it unfairly taxes people fleeing violence and hardship.
Mahmood plans to open faster safe and legal routes for asylum, such as employer sponsorship programs.
The reforms aim to reduce dangerous crossings of the English Channel by asylum seekers in small boats.
The immigration and asylum bill includes measures to speed up the removal of families whose asylum claims are refused.
Other proposals include limiting some human rights claims, ending councils’ duty to support asylum seekers, and making refugee status temporary.
The bill is expected to be debated in the UK Parliament soon.
Veteran Labour peer Alf Dubs criticized the plans as harsh and urged new leaders to overturn them.
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In Big Bear Valley, California, a young bald eagle named Sandy accidentally fell out of its nest while its sibling Luna flew out safely. The eagle parents, Jackie and Shadow, have raised multiple eaglets who are now grown.
Key Facts
The event took place in Big Bear Valley, California.
Bald eagle parents are named Jackie and Shadow.
Their eaglets, including Luna and Sandy, are fully grown.
Luna left the nest by flying out on her own.
Sandy accidentally fell out of the nest on Sunday.
Bald eagles typically leave the nest when ready to fly, a process called fledging.
The news report focused on this incident involving the eaglets.
The incident was captured on video and shared widely.
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An original Mr Blobby costume from the 1990s TV show sold for £8,500 at an online auction, exceeding the predicted price. The costume, used for stunts and outdoor appearances, attracted 26 bids from around the world including the USA.
Key Facts
The Mr Blobby costume sold for £8,500 at Auctioneum Ltd in Bristol.
It was one of three original costumes made for the BBC’s Noel’s House Party show in the 1990s.
The costume was mainly used for stunts and work outside TV studios.
The auction received 26 bids, including international bidders from the USA.
Auctioneers initially estimated the costume would sell for up to £5,000.
A related item, a Baby Blobby figure, sold for £2,100 at the same auction.
Mr Blobby became a popular character in the 1990s, known for pranks and bright colors.
The costume originally belonged to Mickey Wills, the former head of entertainment at the Blobbyland theme park.
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A school podcast called The Reading Cafe, created by pupils at Holy Cross High School in Hamilton, won Scotland's Emerging Talent prize at the Scottish Podcast Awards. The podcast features students discussing books and interviewing authors and musicians, helping students build skills and confidence in media.
Key Facts
The Reading Cafe podcast has run for five years at Holy Cross High School in South Lanarkshire.
The podcast includes book discussions and interviews with authors, musicians, and cultural figures.
It won the Emerging Talent prize at the first Scottish Podcast Awards.
About 15 to 20 pupils work on each podcast episode.
The project is led by English teacher Peter Kelly, who aims to inspire pupils to enjoy reading.
The podcast helps students gain skills useful for future jobs, including journalism and media work.
Guests have included author Emily Varga, comic writer Mark Millar, and singer Stuart Murdoch.
Pupils can earn a National Progression Award in journalism through involvement with the podcast.
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The Shetland Islands Council plans to build undersea tunnels connecting several northern islands to replace ferries. The project, costing about £1.5 billion, aims to improve transport, reduce costs, and support the local economy, including industries like spaceport operations and tourism.
Key Facts
The council proposes tunnels linking Shetland’s mainland to Yell, and Yell to Unst, with possible future tunnels to Whalsay and Bressay.
The project is expected to cost around £1.5 billion.
Tunnels would replace current ferry services, which serve 750,000 passengers yearly at a cost of £23 million.
Building tunnels is seen as cheaper and more reliable long-term compared to ferries.
Funding may include private investment, government money, borrowing, and tolls for maintenance.
Unst hosts the UK’s only spaceport at Saxavord, and tunnels could help its growth and related industries.
The Faroe Islands, with a similar tunnel network, inspired the plan and have shown such infrastructure can boost development.
Current ferry services struggle to meet demand and have staffing difficulties.
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A mural in Pontyates, a small Welsh village, shows characters linked to the village’s history, including Dot Cotton from the TV show Eastenders. The actress who played Dot, June Brown, was sent to Pontyates as a child during World War Two for safety, a fact that inspired her inclusion on the mural.
Key Facts
The mural features Dot Cotton, a character from the BBC show Eastenders, alongside a dragon, a miner, and a rugby player.
June Brown, the actress who played Dot, was sent to Pontyates at age 12 during World War Two.
Brown described Pontyates as a "safe haven" during the war.
The mural aims to brighten the village of about 1,500 people.
Local schoolchildren suggested including Dot Cotton when designing the mural.
The mural was funded by local fundraising efforts.
Some local older residents knew about Brown’s connection to the village, but younger people were less aware.
The mural has started conversations among locals about the village’s history and Brown’s time there.
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Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui was sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. prison for financial fraud that hurt over 1,000 people worldwide. A Manhattan jury found him guilty of fraud, money laundering, and other crimes, and he must also pay $889 million in restitution.
Key Facts
Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire who fled to the U.S. in 2015, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for fraud.
The fraud scheme took place between 2018 and 2023 and involved financial losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
More than 1,000 victims worldwide were affected by Guo’s actions.
A Manhattan jury found Guo guilty of fraud, securities offenses, wire fraud, and money laundering in 2024.
Guo was ordered to pay $889 million to victims as restitution.
He had positioned himself in the U.S. as a critic of the Chinese Communist Party and worked with Steve Bannon in an anti-CCP group.
Judge Analisa Torres stated that Guo preyed on people seeking democracy in China and failed to take responsibility for his crimes.
Guo’s lawyers argued that his imprisonment was influenced by Chinese government pressure and labeled him a victim of political persecution.
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A man named Asad Hussain created a fake Tinder profile using his ex-girlfriend’s photos to lure men to her home in Cheshire, England. He was caught after police reviewed doorbell camera footage and was jailed for stalking, assault, and refusing to share device passcodes.
Key Facts
Asad Hussain made a fake Tinder profile pretending to be his ex-girlfriend.
He invited random men to the woman’s home, causing safety concerns for her and her family.
Some men arrived late at night, with one breaking a glass panel and another entering the home alone while the woman’s teenage daughter was upstairs.
Police started investigating after neighbors called them when Hussain rang the doorbell for two hours straight.
Hussain used the alias "Mick Renney" and tried to control the woman’s phone during their relationship.
Police identified Hussain by matching doorbell camera footage and car registration details.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of stalking, assault, and not giving police his device passcodes.
At least 18 men came to the woman’s home due to the fake profile, though police believe the total is higher.
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A four-year-old boy named Dáibhin had both his legs amputated after a serious bacterial infection called meningococcal disease caused sepsis. Now using prosthetic legs, he enjoys nursery school and was celebrated by his classmates and teachers for his courage and positive attitude.
Key Facts
Dáibhin got very sick with sepsis caused by meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection common in young children.
He was treated in a hospital in Belfast and put on life support.
In June 2025, he had both legs amputated to save his life.
After recovering, Dáibhin started nursery school in September 2025 and uses prosthetic legs.
His school held a “superhero day” where classmates dressed up to celebrate him.
Dáibhin feels happy and confident with his prosthetic legs, calling them his “superhero legs.”
School staff created special activities to help him participate fully.
Dáibhin will start Primary One in September 2026 and is excited about it.
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A 91-year-old man named Alan Still completed a skydive to raise £5,000 for a local community support group called Rowleys Centre in Cranleigh, Surrey. He described the experience as exciting and plans to take on more adventurous activities, such as a fast zipwire in Wales.
Key Facts
Alan Still is 91 years old.
He completed a skydive to support the Rowleys Centre for the Community.
He raised £5,000 through this skydive.
Alan said the skydive was an exciting and unforgettable experience.
The staff at Rowleys presented Alan with a special thank you gift, a mug with his skydive photo.
Alan plans to try a 100 mph (160.9 km/h) zipwire in Wales next.
Rowleys Centre helps local residents by providing support and services.
Alan enjoys trying new adventures for excitement and to stay active.
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The British folding bike maker Brompton has sold shares to French sports retailer Decathlon and Chinese investment group BA Capital. These investments, worth about £18 million, will help Brompton's staff and long-term investors access some cash and bring new expertise to the company.
Key Facts
Decathlon bought a 10% stake in Brompton.
BA Capital, an early investor in Labubu soft toys, bought 5%.
The deal is estimated to be worth around £18 million in total.
Brompton’s CEO, Will Butler-Adams, and other shareholders will be able to sell some shares for cash.
Decathlon’s investment arm aims to help Brompton expand, including placing "Brompton corners" in some Decathlon stores.
China is Brompton’s biggest market, and BA Capital will provide expertise there.
Brompton’s bike prices range from about £999 to nearly £6,000 for a top titanium electric bike.
Brompton’s sales declined after a pandemic boom but are now recovering as cycling grows in popularity worldwide.
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A new law in England requires schools to ban smartphones during the school day. A University College London study found that most students see these bans as unfair and unhelpful, while most teachers and parents support them. The study suggests that outright bans might not work well and could cause problems for students.
Key Facts
England introduced a legal ban on smartphones in schools during the day.
The study surveyed 732 students aged 11-18, 27 teachers, and 41 parents.
75% of students disagreed with the phone bans, while about 87-88% of teachers and parents supported them.
Students said smartphones help them with daily tasks like checking bus times, weather, and schoolwork apps.
Phones also help students stay safe, especially girls who travel alone.
Students worry that banning phones might hide issues like cyberbullying and stop them from reporting problems.
Schools have different phone rules, ranging from locking phones away to banning them completely.
Researchers recommend teaching students about the digital world’s challenges instead of just banning phones.
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A pupil at Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield was placed in an isolation booth for more than half of a school year as a method to manage behavior. The school uses isolation rooms, called reflection rooms, as part of a strict discipline policy aimed at improving student conduct after multiple warnings.
Key Facts
A student was isolated 58 times in one school year, each time usually lasting a full day.
At least 23 students at Outwood Grange Academy spent over 20% of their school days in isolation in recent years.
Isolation involves sitting alone in a booth separated by plastic dividers and monitored by cameras.
Students in isolation were often given very little work, such as word searches or no meaningful tasks for long periods.
The school trust changed rules in 2019 to provide more meaningful work during isolation after legal challenges.
Students could be placed in isolation for minor behavior issues like untucked shirts, talking in class, or asking to use the toilet.
The school claims reflection rooms have reduced the time students spend in isolation by half and help improve behavior.
Government guidance says isolation should be a last resort, but many schools in England use it regularly to control behavior.
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Shops and some public transport started working again in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after weeks of protests and violent clashes. The protests were about the need for better economic conditions and government changes.
Key Facts
Protests occurred in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for several weeks.
Demonstrators wanted economic reforms and better governance.
There were violent clashes between police and protesters, causing deaths.
After the unrest, shops reopened in the area.
Some public transport services also began operating again.
The region is controlled by Pakistan but is part of the larger Kashmir territory.
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