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International students from countries where being gay is illegal have been targeted in Victoria, Australia. They were tricked into meetings through gay dating apps, then attacked, filmed, and threatened with having their sexuality revealed to their families unless they paid money. Police have identified many attacks, but experts say the real number is likely higher because victims are afraid to report.
Key Facts
Since June 2024, police found 95 attacks against gay and bisexual men in Victoria, with 42 arrests.
Many victims are international students whose home countries criminalize homosexuality.
Attackers use gay dating apps to lure victims, then assault and film them.
Victims face threats to publicly share videos of the attacks unless they pay money.
Victims often fear police and worry about family reactions if outed.
The attacks mainly happen in Melbourne’s outer northern and south-eastern suburbs.
Some attackers are as young as 13 years old.
These attacks are considered hate crimes linked to far-right online communities called the “manosphere.”
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Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), was sentenced to over five years in prison for stealing more than £400,000 from the party over 12 years. Police released photos showing luxury items, including a £124,550 motorhome and expensive kitchen goods, bought with the embezzled money.
Key Facts
Peter Murrell embezzled more than £400,000 from the SNP over 12 years.
He was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
Police seized a luxury motorhome valued at £124,550 parked at Murrell's mother’s house.
The motorhome contained various high-end kitchen items such as a £220 stainless-steel teapot and branded cooking utensils.
Other discovered items included a Peugeot salt and pepper mill and Molton Brown toiletries.
Murrell’s estranged wife, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said she did not recall seeing the motorhome.
The motorhome was seized as part of Operation Branchform on April 5, 2023.
Some items bought with stolen funds were purchased online, including from Amazon.
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Twins Bill and John Bowdler have lived very similar lives for 82 years, living together in the same house, working the same jobs, and dressing alike. Recently, they both had cataract surgery on the same eye at the same clinic, continuing their long history of shared experiences.
Key Facts
Bill and John Bowdler are twins living in Birmingham, England.
They have lived in the same house where they were born for 82 years.
The brothers worked together at a wholesale distribution business for 32 years.
After that company closed, they both retrained and worked as postmen for over 17 years.
They dress alike every day and spend free time playing bingo, bowling, and watching football.
Their mother started dressing them the same as children, a habit they have continued.
Both had cataract surgery on the same eye at the same clinic.
They have rarely been apart except for different school classes and a hospital stay.
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A federal judge blocked the government from making arrests at immigration courts across the U.S. The judge ruled that the government did not provide good reasons for changing the policy to allow arrests at courthouses, a change made after President Donald Trump took office.
Key Facts
The ruling stops Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting people at immigration courts nationwide.
Before President Trump’s administration, arrests at immigration courts were not allowed for many years.
Judge Casey Pitts said the government’s decision lacked proper explanation and did not consider how arrests might prevent people from attending court hearings.
The decision refers to the Administrative Procedure Act, a law that requires federal agencies to explain their actions clearly.
This ruling follows a similar decision made in May that applied only to New York courts.
Homeland Security’s lawyer criticized the ruling, saying it interferes with lawful judicial actions and supports an "open borders" agenda.
Under the current practice, agents sometimes arrest individuals right after court hearings, sometimes holding them more than 12 hours in separate cells.
Judge Pitts was appointed by President Joe Biden, whereas the policy change occurred under President Donald Trump’s administration.
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Europe is experiencing a severe heatwave with record-breaking temperatures expected in several countries, including the UK and Italy. Authorities have issued heat alerts, closed some schools, and warned people to avoid travel due to the dangerous heat.
Key Facts
Italy declared a red heatwave alert in 16 cities, including Milan and Rome.
The UK may see temperatures reach 40°C, with a red warning covering areas from London to Swansea and Birmingham.
Schools in parts of the UK are closing or shutting early to protect students from the heat.
France recorded its hottest day, with 40 recent drowning deaths linked to swimming in unsafe areas.
Over 90% of people in France face extreme heat, with temperatures between 39°C and 41°C.
The Netherlands issued an orange alert, offering free outdoor swimming and reducing train service due to heat.
Heat warnings are extended to eastern Europe, with Poland, Croatia, and Hungary raising alerts for high temperatures.
The heatwave is caused by weather patterns trapping hot air, worsened by global heating.
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Yehia Hassan, a 78-year-old man with diabetes who uses a wheelchair, returned home to find his house in Luton was damaged and turned into a cannabis farm while he was in hospital. Police found hundreds of cannabis plants there, but the renters responsible have not been found. The damage to the house is extensive and will cost a lot of money to repair.
Key Facts
Yehia Hassan was hospitalized in Egypt when his home was used as a cannabis farm.
Police raids uncovered hundreds of cannabis plants at Hassan’s house and a nearby property.
The renters who turned the home into a cannabis farm have not been located.
Hassan had rented the house to a local business owner who sublet it to others.
The damage includes holes in walls, rewiring for electricity theft, broken furniture, and leftover growing materials.
Thousands of cannabis farms have been discovered in English homes in the past three years.
Bedfordshire Police report a rise in criminals using unregulated estate agents to sublet properties for cannabis growing.
Hassan’s family learned about the police raid from a Facebook post and is currently living elsewhere while dealing with repairs.
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Police officers took eight minutes to find the fatal stab wound on Henry Nowak after arriving at the scene in Southampton. Despite efforts to save him, Henry died, and the man responsible, Vickrum Digwa, was jailed for life. The police and authorities are investigating the incident and reviewing the officers’ actions.
Key Facts
Henry Nowak was stabbed and died from an 8cm deep wound to his chest.
Police took eight minutes to discover Henry’s stab wound after arriving on the scene.
Vickrum Digwa, who stabbed Henry, falsely told police he had been racially attacked.
Officers handcuffed Henry and initially did not believe his claim that he had been stabbed.
Henry received CPR from police and medical teams for 51 minutes before being declared dead.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police apologized to Henry’s family for the treatment he received.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police officers’ actions that night.
A full inquest into Henry’s death will start in September 2027 to examine if police actions contributed.
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Kenya’s Health Minister has ordered a stop to building a US-supported Ebola treatment facility in Kenya. This order came after a court suspended construction, but satellite images showed work continued, leading to the Health Minister being held in contempt.
Key Facts
Kenya’s Health Minister stopped construction of a US Ebola facility in Kenya.
A court had ordered a suspension of the construction.
Satellite images showed construction kept going despite the court order.
The Health Minister was found in contempt because of this.
The facility is intended to help with Ebola treatment and response.
The construction involved support or funding from the United States.
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A beach hut in Abersoch, Wales, rebuilt in 2023 without electricity or running water, has gone on sale for £200,000, close to the average house price in Wales. The hut gives owners a rare chance to own part of the beach and has attracted good interest despite its basic features and annual council tax.
Key Facts
The beach hut is located on the right-hand side of Abersoch’s coastline and is one of only 17 huts there.
It has no electricity or running water and provides only basic shelter.
The hut was rebuilt in 2023 and listed for sale in June 2026 for £200,000.
Owners must pay about £800 in council tax annually for the hut.
Buying the hut means owning freehold property, which is ownership of land or buildings permanently.
Abersoch is a popular holiday spot with around 600 year-round residents and 30,000 summer visitors.
Houses in the area can sell for over £1 million, making the hut’s price somewhat affordable.
The hut mainly appeals to those who want beach access, storage for water sports, or a shelter on the coast.
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The BBC asked people from different states in the U.S. how they see their American identity as the country approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. The interviews covered views from a wide range of Americans to understand what being American means today.
Key Facts
The BBC conducted interviews with U.S. citizens from states including California, New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Washington DC.
The topic was about American identity and what it means to be American in the year 2026.
The interviews were done as the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
Video and editing of the interviews were done by Meiying Wu.
Multiple people helped film, including Angélica Casas and Madeline Gerber.
The project aims to show diverse opinions from across the country.
The content was published recently, about three hours ago.
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Over 40 progressive economists have written to Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union, rejecting her claim that Ed Miliband would harm jobs if he becomes chancellor. They support the green economy and say Miliband's approach to reducing fossil fuel use will create jobs and address climate change.
Key Facts
Sharon Graham criticized Ed Miliband for focusing too much on net zero emissions and risking jobs.
Unite supports expanding North Sea oil and gas extraction and is concerned about lost jobs in oil refineries and offshore wind.
More than 40 economists wrote to Graham, saying the green economy creates jobs and is growing.
The letter states climate change effects are real and reducing fossil fuels is necessary.
Ed Miliband called the UK’s clean energy sector a “booming” source of jobs and growth.
Andy Burnham is expected to become Labour leader soon and will choose the next chancellor.
Other possible candidates for chancellor include Wes Streeting, Yvette Cooper, and John Healey.
Burnham’s team is considering major economic changes, including bringing key utilities back into public ownership.
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A community housing project in Birmingham called the Stirchley Cooperative Development (SCD) is at risk because of disputes over rising construction costs. The housing association GreenSquareAccord (GSA), which owns the land, now says it cannot transfer ownership to the community due to a £1.16 million shortfall, causing delays and uncertainty for residents and businesses involved.
Key Facts
The Stirchley Cooperative Development was created in 2016 to build 39 affordable, landlord-free homes owned by local people.
The project aims to give residents and business owners control amid rising rents and house prices in Stirchley, Birmingham.
GreenSquareAccord took over construction in 2024 after the original contractor went bankrupt, leading to delays and cost increases.
GSA now refuses to transfer ownership of the development to the community because of a £1.16 million funding gap.
The residents and businesses have been left uncertain about the future, with some people homeless and companies at risk.
GSA says rising costs are due to interest, inflation, and construction challenges but is working to find a solution.
Community members accuse GSA of mismanagement that caused the problems and feel the housing association is not honoring its commitments.
Local businesses like a bike cooperative and a bakery are among those affected by the project’s problems.
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Many UK schools are struggling with high indoor temperatures because they were not built to handle hotter weather. Older school buildings with thick walls stay cooler, while newer buildings often become uncomfortably hot, showing a lack of planning for climate change impacts.
Key Facts
A 130-year-old school building stays cooler in summer than a newer building from 2017 nearby.
Newer school buildings were designed using guidelines that did not fully consider rising temperatures.
Some 1970s schools have poor designs like flat roofs and small windows, making heat problems worse.
The UK government’s Climate Change Committee says current school adaptation plans are “not fit for purpose.”
The committee recommends air conditioning in all schools, with a deadline set for 2050.
The UK Department for Education is investing nearly £20 billion to rebuild and refurbish over 750 schools by 2035.
A £710 million program is underway to upgrade schools to better handle climate change by 2030.
There are over 22,000 state schools and colleges in the UK, so more investment will be needed to prepare them all for hotter weather.
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France experienced a severe heatwave starting June 17, 2026, with record high temperatures affecting much of the country. Experts say this heatwave is part of a growing pattern caused by climate change and that France needs to improve building renovations and consider wider use of air conditioning to adapt to future heat events.
Key Facts
The heatwave caused record temperatures between 36°C and 43°C (97°F to 109°F).
Over 800 schools closed, and 10% of trains in the Paris area were canceled due to the heat.
The national weather service put 54 out of 96 mainland departments on red alert, covering 90% of the population.
The heatwave is comparable to the deadly 2003 event, which caused about 15,000 deaths.
Climate scientists have predicted more frequent and intense heatwaves as a result of climate change.
Renovation of public buildings and schools is needed to improve safety and comfort during heatwaves.
France had started an energy renovation plan in 2019 but later abandoned it.
Experts stress that these extreme temperatures will become normal in the coming decades without action.
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Ahmed al Ahmed, who stopped a gunman in a deadly shooting at Bondi Beach, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, stalking, and intimidation linked to an incident involving his father. The court also heard that two of Ahmed’s brothers have been charged with threatening and trying to extort money from him after the shooting.
Key Facts
Ahmed al Ahmed tackled a gunman during a mass shooting at a Jewish event in Sydney, saving lives.
The shooting on December 14 was Australia’s deadliest since 1996 and was treated as a terrorist attack.
Ahmed was shot in the arm by a second gunman during the attack.
He appeared in court facing charges of assault, stalking, and intimidation related to an incident in March.
Two of Ahmed’s brothers face charges for threatening him and trying to force him to give them money from donations.
Ahmed’s lawyer described the legal case as a difficult and unexpected family matter.
A large fundraiser collected over 2.5 million Australian dollars for Ahmed after his heroic actions.
The court case will have future hearings scheduled in August and December.
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China’s supercomputer, LineShine, has become the fastest in the world, surpassing the top American system, El Capitan. LineShine is located in Shenzhen and can perform over 2 quintillion calculations per second, marking a major achievement in computing power.
Key Facts
LineShine is the world’s fastest supercomputer according to the latest TOP500 ranking.
It achieved a peak performance of 2.198 exaflops (quintillion calculations per second).
This is the first time since 2017 that a Chinese supercomputer ranks first on the list.
The previous leader, El Capitan, is based in California and now ranks second.
LineShine uses only central processing units (CPUs), unlike many others that use graphics processing units (GPUs).
The TOP500 list ranks supercomputers by how fast they solve complex math problems.
The list is updated twice a year and includes systems from countries like the US, Germany, Japan, and the UK.
China and the US are competing fiercely in technology fields including AI and supercomputing.
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Andy Burnham, likely to be the next UK prime minister, faces challenges balancing increased government borrowing with market expectations. Financial experts warn that high borrowing or a leftwing chancellor could cause pressure from bond investors, especially given recent UK fiscal struggles.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is expected to become the next UK prime minister.
He plans policies like nationalizing utilities and building council houses.
Bond investors are cautious about increased government borrowing.
Burnham has pledged not to raise income tax, VAT, or national insurance.
He committed to following existing fiscal rules limiting borrowing.
Choosing a chancellor with too leftwing views might upset financial markets.
Some advisers suggest borrowing more for infrastructure investment.
External events, like global conflicts affecting energy prices, also impact bond markets.
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St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London is celebrating its 300th anniversary by revealing new stories from its memorial stones. These stones tell us about people from the past, including Black voters from the 1700s and a young African man likely enslaved in the early 1800s. The church is also sharing its history as a place connected to protest, activism, and community services.
Key Facts
St Martin-in-the-Fields church is located at Trafalgar Square in London and is 300 years old.
Memorial stones in the church reveal hidden stories of ordinary Londoners, including early Black voters.
William Fatt, a chimney sweep and son of another Black chimney sweep, voted in the 1749 Westminster byelection, making him one of the earliest known Black voters in Britain.
A memorial stone honors Richard James Said, a 19-year-old African who died in 1810 and may have been enslaved.
The church has been a center for activism, protest, and social causes, such as anti-apartheid protests and the origins of Amnesty International and Shelter.
Some gravestones were moved during construction and reused inside the church’s crypt and walls.
The church launched London’s first free lending library and had innovative audio services in the 1890s.
Artifacts like a royal chair used by Queen Mary and the Lampedusa Cross are displayed in the church, symbolizing its long and diverse history.
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Researchers found that sperm whales in the eastern and western Mediterranean Sea use different versions of their clicking sounds, called dialects. These dialects help whales form social groups and may develop slowly when groups become isolated from each other.
Key Facts
Sperm whales communicate using sequences of clicking sounds called codas.
Different groups of whales have distinct rhythmic patterns in their clicks, known as dialects.
Whales mostly associate with others that share their dialect, forming “vocal clans.”
The study recorded whale sounds near Greece (east) and near Spain (west) over many years.
Western Mediterranean whales use a pattern with three clicks then a pause, followed by one click; eastern whales have a faster version of this pattern.
Some whales in the eastern group occasionally use the western dialect.
Researchers think whales first settled in the western Mediterranean, then moved east and developed a slightly different dialect.
Dialect formation seems slow and requires some isolation between whale groups, similar to how human languages and bird songs change over time.
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A play in Nairobi called Free Me tells the true story of its writer, Gathoni Kimuyu, who survived an abusive marriage. The play highlights the ongoing problem of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kenya, where many women face abuse, and activists are calling on the government to take stronger action.
Key Facts
Free Me is an autobiographical play by Kenyan producer Gathoni Kimuyu about her experience with domestic abuse.
The play has been performed multiple times, drawing attention to the high rates of gender-based violence in Kenya.
Hundreds of women marched in Nairobi to call for GBV to be declared a national crisis.
The Kenyan government formed a working group in 2025 to study GBV and femicide and recommend new laws.
The group suggested making femicide a separate legal crime and urged the president to declare the crisis officially.
The government has not yet acted on these recommendations.
The play's director emphasized that many women still suffer without escape, unlike the play’s ending.
Actors in the play aim to educate people about the realities of abuse and encourage change.
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