Six round objects called "space balls" washed up on beaches in northern Queensland. The Australian Space Agency said they likely came from a rocket that recently fell back to Earth from space.
Key Facts
The objects were found near Forrest Beach, north of Townsville, over three days.
They are pressure vessels, which hold fuel on a rocket and survive high heat during re-entry.
The Australian Space Agency believes the objects came from a foreign rocket that re-entered the atmosphere.
Police and fire services set safety zones around the debris and checked them for danger.
Australia follows an international treaty that says the country that launched the rocket owns its debris.
Australia is working with other countries to confirm exactly where the debris came from.
Experts warn people not to touch or move space debris but to call emergency services instead.
Similar space debris has fallen to Australia before, including parts from India’s rocket and NASA’s Skylab station.
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For the first time in over 80 years, nearly 10,000 soldiers from the British Indian Army who fought and died in World War One are being officially recognized. Their names have been added to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission casualty database after volunteers digitized records from Punjab, which was then part of India but now split between India and Pakistan.
Key Facts
About 1.4 million people from what are now India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh served in the British Indian Army during World War One.
Researchers found 9,909 names of soldiers who were missing from official casualty records.
These names came from detailed hand-written registers created in Punjab after the war.
The Punjab region was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947 after independence.
Volunteers from the UK Punjab Heritage Association digitized and studied these fragile records over several years.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has updated its database to include these soldiers for the first time since World War Two.
Many newly recognized soldiers died of wounds away from battle and were not included before because of old rules.
Around 25% of the newly added soldiers are Sikhs, 25% Hindus, and 40% Muslims, reflecting the diverse makeup of the army.
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Pizza Express conducted a private investigation in 2019 to check if Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had visited their Woking restaurant as he claimed during a BBC Newsnight interview. The restaurant found no proof either confirming or denying his presence on the day he was accused of sexual misconduct involving Virginia Giuffre.
Key Facts
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor said in a 2019 interview that he was at a Pizza Express in Woking on the day Virginia Giuffre accused him of sexual assault.
The Pizza Express chain conducted an internal inquiry after the interview to verify his claim.
The restaurant searched for records and spoke to former staff but found no evidence to prove whether he had been there or not.
No witnesses or customers recalled seeing Mountbatten-Windsor at the Woking branch on that day in 2001.
Mountbatten-Windsor strongly denies any wrongdoing related to the allegations.
The accusations are linked to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, with police investigating Mountbatten-Windsor for misconduct.
The interview involving the Pizza Express visit was widely reported and considered an “alibi” at the time.
The investigation took place because the claim was a matter of public interest following the interview.
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Andy Burnham is expected to become the next UK prime minister and will likely speak soon with President Donald Trump. Past UK leaders struggled with Trump’s unpredictable behavior, and experts say Burnham faces challenges in managing the UK-US relationship.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is expected to become UK prime minister soon.
President Donald Trump has Scottish roots and is interested in Britain.
Previous UK leaders had difficulty dealing with Trump’s unpredictable and demanding style.
Trump insulted previous British leaders and criticized UK military support.
Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester and held UK government roles in 2008-2009.
Burnham has criticized US-style politics and Trump’s impact on global stability.
Experts say Trump respects kings more than prime ministers and often treats UK leaders poorly.
Burnham’s low recognition in the US might be an advantage in starting their relationship fresh.
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Allison Kirkby became BT’s first female chief executive over two years ago, and since then, the company’s share price has increased by 80%. Under her leadership, BT has made progress in selling its international division, expanding full-fibre broadband coverage in the UK, and raising cost-saving targets, though some credit earlier progress to her predecessor.
Key Facts
Allison Kirkby became BT’s first female CEO more than two years ago.
Since she took over, BT’s share price has risen by 80%.
Kirkby earned a pay and bonus package of £5.6 million last year, the largest at BT in over a decade.
BT’s international division, which had been a financial drag, is being sold off to focus on UK operations.
More than two-thirds of UK homes now have full-fibre broadband thanks to BT’s investments.
BT expects to reduce its workforce by about 40% by the end of the decade, partly due to AI and fewer engineering needs.
The company raised its cost-saving target from £3 billion to £3.7 billion.
BT faces competition from Vodafone and had revenue decline by 3% last year.
BT reversed a plan to retire its brand in favor of EE, aiming to position BT as a national connectivity brand.
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The United States is marking its 250th birthday with efforts to encourage volunteering and patriotic celebrations by nonprofits and major companies. However, political divisions and competing events have made it difficult to present a united message, as some Americans feel less connected to national symbols and patriotism than in the past.
Key Facts
The U.S. is celebrating its 250th birthday with nationwide community service drives and special patriotic merchandise.
Major companies like Walmart and Coca-Cola are sponsoring events and selling limited-edition products for the occasion.
Nonprofits aim to inspire a record number of volunteer hours, tracked through an online system called America Gives.
Political divisions have complicated celebrations, with two rival groups organizing different 250th events.
President Donald Trump launched Freedom 250 as an alternative to the official America250 commission.
Some events linked to Freedom 250 lost performers due to concerns about political bias.
Views on the American flag and patriotic pride vary sharply by politics, age, and race.
Despite political concerns, thousands of churches supported a volunteer day organized by the Salvation Army.
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Prince Harry is visiting the UK soon to take part in charity events. There is much attention on whether his wife Meghan and their two children will join him, as security arrangements have not been confirmed by the government.
Key Facts
Prince Harry will attend charity events in the UK starting Tuesday.
The visit marks one year before the Invictus Games, which Harry founded.
British media are guessing if Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will come.
Bringing the children depends on the UK government approving security for the family.
A government committee called Ravec decides on state-funded protection for Harry.
Harry and Meghan do not receive automatic security because they are no longer working royals.
Harry says his family is still at risk due to their royal ties.
A High Court decision on Harry’s privacy lawsuit is expected soon and may affect the visit.
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Russian missile strikes hit buildings in Kyiv, killing at least nine people and injuring many others, including children. The attacks occurred just before a Nato summit in Turkey where Ukrainian President Zelensky and US President Donald Trump are expected to meet.
Key Facts
At least nine people were killed and 46 injured in Russian strikes on Kyiv.
Among the injured, at least five are children.
The strikes damaged apartment buildings, warehouses, and garages in the city.
Fires broke out in several apartment complexes following the missile hits.
Ukrainian officials warned of a second large assault on Kyiv shortly before the attacks.
Russia claimed it targeted military and energy facilities in retaliation for Ukrainian strikes.
Power outages occurred in Sevastopol, a city in Russian-occupied Crimea, overnight.
Ahead of the Nato summit, Zelensky called for faster delivery of long-range air defense missiles to Ukraine.
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New entertainment options are available this week, including the Rolling Stones’ latest album “Foreign Tongues,” the movie “Backrooms” now on streaming, and a reboot of the TV series “Little House on the Prairie.” Other new releases include films like “Reminders of Him” and “The Long Walk,” music albums from Adam Lambert and Finn Wolfhard, and the video game “College Football 27.”
Key Facts
The Rolling Stones’ new album “Foreign Tongues” comes out on July 10 and features guest artists like Robert Smith and Paul McCartney.
The movie “Backrooms,” directed by Kane Parsons and starring Chiwetel Ejiofor, will be available to stream for purchase starting July 7.
“Reminders of Him,” a movie about a woman rebuilding her life after prison, will stream on Peacock starting July 10.
HBO Max will release “The Long Walk” on July 10, a film based on a Stephen King story about a deadly contest among boys.
Actor Finn Wolfhard releases his second solo music album on July 10, following his debut year ago.
New albums from Adam Lambert and Finn Wolfhard, along with the “College Football 27” video game, are also launching this week.
The new “Little House on the Prairie” series is part of this week’s streaming offerings.
The Rolling Stones’ “Jealous Lover” music video features actors Anya Taylor-Joy and Charles Melton.
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President Donald Trump will attend the NATO summit in Turkey, where he plans to ensure that alliance members follow through on their promises to increase defense spending. Last year, most NATO countries agreed to raise their defense budgets to 5% of their economy over the next decade, responding to Trump’s demands.
Key Facts
President Trump successfully pushed NATO members last year to spend more on defense.
NATO countries have mostly agreed to spend 5% of their annual economy (GDP) on defense over ten years.
Trump’s goal at the Turkey summit is to make sure these countries keep their spending promises.
The U.S. ambassador to NATO confirmed that Trump expects immediate action from all members.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte showed Trump charts called “The Trump Trillion” to highlight increased spending by allies.
Trump has raised complaints about the U.S. paying more for defense compared to other NATO countries.
The Ankara meeting is seen as the first report card on NATO’s progress since last year.
Trump plans to meet with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the summit.
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The Trump administration plans to open a 528-bed holding center in Alexandria, Louisiana, near an airport, to temporarily house migrant families and children before deportation. The facility is meant to simplify logistics but has raised concerns among immigration advocates about the potential for long detention times and limited oversight.
Key Facts
The new holding center will have 528 beds and be located near Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana.
It is intended to hold migrant families and unaccompanied children for a few days before deportation flights.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) calls the site a "staging area," not a detention center.
The center will be run by a nonprofit part of LaSalle Corrections, a private prison company.
The Department of Health and Human Services, which usually cares for unaccompanied children, is not involved in this facility.
Concerns have been raised that children might stay for weeks or months, as has happened in other facilities.
The plan aims to avoid past problems when children were transported long distances to airports with limited care.
A Texas nonprofit that was initially involved in operating the facility is no longer participating.
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Ernest Hemingway’s novel "The Sun Also Rises," published 100 years ago, helped make the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain, famous worldwide. Many Americans, inspired by the book, travel to Pamplona to take part in the running of the bulls, a dangerous event where people run alongside bulls through city streets.
Key Facts
"The Sun Also Rises" was published in 1926 and made Pamplona famous.
The novel features the San Fermin festival and the running of the bulls.
Bill Hillmann, inspired by the book at age 19, has run with bulls hundreds of times and was injured by a bull three times.
Hillmann earned a doctorate in English and teaches the book at East-West University in Chicago.
Americans are the largest group of foreign participants in the San Fermin bull runs.
In 2022, 16% of the bull runners were Americans, the highest percentage among foreigners.
The San Fermin festival lasts nine days and begins with a firework over the city plaza.
The running of the bulls involves guiding bulls through cobblestone streets to the bull ring.
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A preliminary hearing is starting in Utah for Tyler Robinson, who is charged with killing Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist and supporter of President Donald Trump. Prosecutors say they have enough evidence, including a confession note and DNA proof, and they want to seek the death penalty.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University.
Robinson turned himself in the day after the shooting.
Prosecutors have a note Robinson allegedly left, confessing to targeting Charlie Kirk.
Evidence includes DNA linking Robinson to the murder weapon, witness statements, autopsy details, and video footage.
The hearing will last five days and is meant to decide if there is enough evidence for a trial.
Prosecutors may seek the death penalty because the shooting endangered others at the event.
Robinson has not yet entered a plea, and his attorneys have tried to remove the death penalty option but failed.
Charlie Kirk was a co-founder of Turning Point USA and helped support President Donald Trump’s campaign.
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Many schools in the UK struggled to keep students cool during a recent heat wave, with temperatures reaching record highs. Old buildings with poor ventilation and no air conditioning made it hard for students and teachers to stay comfortable, forcing some schools to close.
Key Facts
A heat wave hit the UK and record high temperatures, like 35.9°C (96.6°F) in Wales, disrupted schools.
Over 1,000 schools in the UK closed or sent children home early because of the heat.
Many school buildings are old and were built to keep warm, not cool, so they lack air conditioning and have poor ventilation.
Teachers and students tried to cope with handheld fans, water sprays, cold foods, and sitting on cooler floors.
Crowded classrooms with around 30 students each made overheating a health concern.
The situation revealed problems with public buildings across the UK being unprepared for more frequent, intense heat as climate change continues.
The British government’s climate advisers stated that buildings were designed for a past climate and need updating for new weather conditions.
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A 12-year-old Venezuelan girl named Fabiana was trapped under rubble for 32 hours after two strong earthquakes hit her area on June 24, 2024. She survived with only minor injuries by staying calm, moving rubble, and finding some ketchup and cheese to stay conscious until rescuers arrived.
Key Facts
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela nearly at the same time on June 24, 2024.
The second earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5, one of the strongest in a century for the country.
Fabiana was inside her home when the building collapsed and she got trapped under debris.
She remained trapped for 32 hours with a fractured foot and minor cuts and scrapes.
Fabiana found a bottle of ketchup and grated cheese, which helped her stay alert.
A nurse trapped nearby called out and heard Fabiana respond, leading to hope for rescue.
Firefighters searched for Fabiana but initially could not find her.
She used her phone to record a video message as a way to signal for help.
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Ukraine aims to sign defense agreements with at least seven NATO countries by the end of the year, focusing on drone technology and related military knowledge. Kyiv has already made deals with six countries, including Middle Eastern states and NATO members Latvia and Lithuania, sharing expertise in drone defense and attack systems.
Key Facts
Ukraine has signed “drone deals” with six countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Latvia, and Lithuania.
The deals include sharing knowledge, components, and expertise, not just drones themselves.
Middle Eastern states sought Ukraine's support after being attacked by Iranian Shahed drones.
Ukraine provides advice on operating interceptor drones and integrating air defense systems.
Ukraine's defense industry is heavily focused on its own needs, so drone deliveries are not yet included in agreements.
The initiative helps Ukraine build new alliances and keeps its security issues on the global agenda.
NATO countries near Russia and Ukraine are increasingly focused on drone defense capabilities.
Ukraine’s experience is valuable because it has been defending against and using drones extensively in its conflict with Russia.
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A woman in New South Wales, Australia, was charged with the murder of a four-year-old boy whose body was found with significant injuries. Police are investigating whether cannibalism was involved, and the child protection department had prior contact with the family, prompting calls for an independent review of the department's handling of the case.
Key Facts
A four-year-old boy's body was found at a home on the NSW Central Coast with severe arm injuries.
A 32-year-old woman was charged with the boy’s murder and remains in custody.
Police are investigating the possibility of cannibalism linked to the case.
The child protection department had previous contact with the boy’s family and is reviewing related records.
The NSW opposition has called for an independent review, citing ongoing issues in child protection services.
A 2024 audit described the state’s child protection system as ineffective and unable to protect many vulnerable children.
The woman charged with murder appeared in court and did not request bail; her next court date is September 1.
Legal rules prevent naming the child or woman to protect the child’s identity.
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Iran held a funeral procession in Tehran for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died after being killed in an airstrike earlier this year. The funeral will continue until Thursday, ending with Khamenei's burial in his hometown of Mashhad. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Iran are in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s nuclear program, but discussions are paused during the funeral.
Key Facts
Iran began a funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran.
Khamenei and some family members were killed in a February airstrike linked to Israel and the U.S.
The coffin, covered with the Iranian flag, is being moved through the city to Mehrabad International Airport.
Streets and airspace in Tehran were shut down for the mourning events, which last from Saturday to Thursday.
Khamenei will be buried at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad, Iran.
The U.S. is negotiating with Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear program.
Negotiations are paused during the funeral period.
Some mourners have called for revenge against U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Russia attacked Kyiv and nearby areas with ballistic missiles and drones, killing at least eight people and hurting dozens. The attacks happened just before a NATO summit in Turkey, where President Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy plan to meet.
Key Facts
Russia used ballistic missiles and drones to strike Kyiv and surrounding regions.
At least eight people were killed, including seven in Kyiv and one in Bucha district.
Around 34 people were injured in Kyiv and nearby areas.
The attacks damaged apartment buildings and other structures overnight.
Kyiv’s mayor urged people to stay in shelters as air defenses worked to stop attacks.
Ukraine’s drones hit an oil terminal and port near St. Petersburg in Russia.
The conflict has intensified with long-range attacks from both sides, more than four years after Russia’s full invasion began.
President Trump and President Zelenskyy are expected to discuss the war during the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
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OPEC+ members including Saudi Arabia and Russia plan to increase oil production by 188,000 barrels per day starting in August. This is their fifth monthly increase as they respond to improving market conditions following disruptions caused by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Key Facts
Seven OPEC+ countries will raise oil output by 188,000 barrels per day from August.
The countries involved are Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman.
This marks the fifth straight monthly production increase by these countries.
OPEC+ had cut oil production in 2023 due to supply disruptions and financial market impacts.
The Strait of Hormuz near Iran, a key shipping route, was partially blocked but traffic is now increasing after a peace agreement.
Brent crude oil prices have dropped from over $126 per barrel in April to around $72 recently.
Total OPEC+ oil production fell from 42.77 million barrels per day in February to 33.13 million in May due to the blockade.
Analysts say the new production increases reflect easing shipping limits and higher supply, causing prices to fall.
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