A fast-moving wildfire in southern Spain's Andalusia region killed at least 12 people and left 19 others missing. The fire, fanned by strong winds and dry conditions due to a heatwave, is the deadliest in the region's recent history.
Key Facts
The wildfire started on Thursday afternoon near the N-340 highway in Los Gallardos, Almeria province.
Flames quickly spread to the nearby municipality of Bedar because of strong winds.
Several victims were found trapped inside vehicles while trying to escape.
Nineteen people remain unaccounted for as search efforts continue.
Six people were injured, including one with severe burns and another treated for smoke inhalation.
Over 300 emergency workers, including 150 from Spain’s Military Emergency Unit, are fighting the fire.
Two major highways were closed due to thick smoke.
Officials suspect a downed power line may have sparked the fire amid record heat and drought conditions.
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The United States is changing its strategy toward Iran from direct pressure to a multi-level approach. This new plan aims to create constant pressure inside Iran and around its regional allies to weaken Iran’s overall influence and decision-making.
Key Facts
President Trump attended the NATO summit in Turkiye amid rising tension with Iran.
The US believes direct military and economic pressure alone did not change Iran’s behavior.
The new strategy uses multiple levels of pressure: domestic, regional, and international.
Inside Iran, the US aims to increase social and infrastructure pressure to disrupt daily life and governance.
Regionally, the US and Israel want to engage Iran’s borders and its allies like Hezbollah and groups in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen.
The strategy includes creating insecurity in areas near Iran and limiting its regional influence step by step.
Actions such as small military operations or economic pressure are part of a larger plan, not isolated events.
The NATO summit in Turkiye is seen as important for supporting this broader approach against Iran.
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Many developing countries spend more money paying off foreign debt than on education, according to the UN. At the same time, global financial aid for education is falling, which makes it harder for these countries to support schools and teachers.
Key Facts
In 2025, 113 developing countries spent more on repaying foreign debt than on education.
In sub-Saharan Africa, countries spent 3.6 times more on debt payments than on education.
Aid for education to low- and lower-middle-income countries dropped by 21% in 2023 and could fall by up to 30% by 2027.
Some countries like Afghanistan, Mali, Niger, and Liberia lost over 40% of their education aid in three years.
Eighteen heavily indebted countries spent at least five times more on debt than education; Sri Lanka spent up to 16 times more.
Debt repayments by poorer countries reached a 35-year high in 2023, with 56 countries using nearly 20% of their revenue to service loans.
Reduced aid and debt payments have caused shortages in school funding and unpaid teachers in many countries.
Experts call for better debt relief plans focused on long-term sustainability and involving private lenders who currently block debt agreements.
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A wildfire in southern Spain killed 12 people and injured six others as firefighters worked to control the blaze. The fire started near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains and caused evacuations and road closures.
Key Facts
The wildfire occurred in Los Gallardos, southern Spain.
12 people died, with some found inside burned vehicles.
Six people were injured in the fire.
About 150 firefighters were fighting the fire.
The fire started in a semi-dry area near mountains.
Officials suspect a fallen power line caused the fire, but this is not confirmed.
Spain’s military emergency unit was set to assist with firefighting.
Around 1,000 residents were evacuated for safety.
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A fire at a shoe factory in southeastern China’s Fujian province killed 28 people. Authorities have arrested the factory’s owner and managers and are investigating the cause of the fire.
Key Facts
The fire happened at the Fujian Huiteng shoe factory in Jinjiang city.
237 workers and 2 visitors were inside when the fire started.
213 people were rescued, but 28 died, including 2 who died at hospitals after rescue.
The factory makes shoes for various Chinese and foreign brands.
The owner and managers of the factory were arrested, and the company’s accounts were frozen.
Worker safety issues have been a continuing problem in China with multiple deadly industrial accidents recently.
In 2025, over 18,000 people died in workplace accidents in China.
Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered a quick investigation and said those responsible will be held accountable.
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A new report from Parks Canada says that the creation of Canada’s national parks involved taking land from Indigenous peoples by force. Indigenous communities were removed from their homes and stopped from using their traditional lands for hunting and gathering.
Key Facts
The report is from Parks Canada and is called the "Evaluation of the Indigenous Guardians Initiative Internal Review."
It was written in August 2024 and made public on June 22, 2024.
Indigenous peoples were forced to leave their homes starting in the 19th century when national parks were created.
They lost access to their traditional lands inside the parks.
Hunting and gathering on park land were prohibited for Indigenous communities.
Indigenous people were not included in decisions about managing the land and resources in the parks.
The report describes these actions as "colonial injustices."
The acknowledgment is part of an internal review looking at Parks Canada’s efforts to involve Indigenous groups in park management.
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The Metropolitan Police are investigating over £500,000 in donations made to the UK political party Reform UK by Fiona Cottrell, whose son is a convicted fraudster. The inquiry looks into whether these donations broke rules about who can give money to political parties before the 2024 UK General Election.
Key Facts
Police began investigating Reform UK donations in February 2025 after a referral from the Electoral Commission.
Fiona Cottrell donated two payments of £250,000 each to Reform UK in May 2024, before the general election.
The investigation concerns possible breaches of laws that limit or control political donations, including hiding the true source or amount.
Fiona Cottrell’s son, George Cottrell, who pleaded guilty to fraud in the US and served jail time, reportedly paid for Nigel Farage’s staff and security before the election.
Nigel Farage was elected to the UK Parliament for the first time in the 2024 election.
George Cottrell and Nigel Farage deny any wrongdoing in relation to these donations.
The police are working with the Crown Prosecution Service and have interviewed two people, but no arrests have been made yet.
The Electoral Commission said the police are leading the investigation, as it involves offences they cannot investigate themselves.
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Police found the body of 13-year-old Layla Jeffery in bushland near Donald, Victoria, after she went missing on July 5. Police are investigating the death as suspicious and have started a formal inquiry.
Key Facts
Layla Jeffery went missing on July 5 in Donald, a small town in western Victoria.
Her body was discovered late Thursday afternoon in bushland west of Byrne Street.
Police used dogs, helicopters, and search teams during the search.
The body is believed to be Layla’s but has not been formally identified yet.
Police searched a home in Donald on Friday as part of the investigation.
The death is being treated as suspicious by the police.
The investigation is ongoing, with no further details released.
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The BBC is making a new drama called Hamburg Days about the Beatles’ early years playing music in Hamburg, Germany, from 1960 to 1962. The series will show the important role of Lord Woodbine, a Trinidadian musician and early co-manager of the Beatles who helped them learn and grow as a band.
Key Facts
The Beatles played over 250 gigs in Hamburg between 1960 and 1962.
Lord Woodbine’s real name was Harold Adolphus Phillips, a calypso musician from Trinidad.
Phillips came to Britain in 1943 during World War II as an air force flight engineer.
He returned to Liverpool after the war, managing the Jacaranda club and mentoring the Beatles.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney respected Woodbine for his musical experience and songwriting.
Woodbine and Allan Williams were the Beatles’ first co-managers before Brian Epstein took over.
Woodbine helped the Beatles by feeding them, teaching chords, and possibly driving them to Hamburg.
Woodbine’s contributions have often been left out of official Beatles histories.
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Ann Widdecombe, a former British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has died at age 78. She served in government positions, was known for her Eurosceptic views, participated in a popular dance TV show, and later joined Reform UK as an immigration spokesperson.
Key Facts
Ann Widdecombe was a Conservative MP from 1987 to 2010, representing Maidstone and later Maidstone and the Weald.
She held ministerial roles in Prime Minister John Major’s government.
Widdecombe was known for her strong Eurosceptic stance and supported the Vote Leave campaign in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
She became an MEP for South West England from 2019 to 2020 with the Brexit Party.
In 2023, she joined Reform UK, the Brexit Party’s successor, serving as its immigration spokesperson.
Widdecombe appeared on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2010, reaching the semi-finals.
She held socially conservative views, opposing abortion and expanded LGBT rights during her time in Parliament.
A statement from her management asked for privacy for her family during this time.
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The Bayeux Tapestry, a 1,000-year-old artwork depicting the 1066 Battle of Hastings, has arrived safely in London on loan from France. It will be displayed at the British Museum from September 2026 to July 2027 after a carefully planned and secretive journey.
Key Facts
The Bayeux Tapestry is a 70-meter long embroidery showing events before the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
It was loaned by France and will be exhibited at the British Museum for one year.
The tapestry arrived after an 11-hour, 560-kilometer trip through the Channel Tunnel in a special climate-controlled case.
Details about its journey were kept secret for security reasons.
The tapestry has mostly been kept in Bayeux, France, for nearly 1,000 years.
It highlights the Norman conquest of England led by William the Conqueror.
The loan was announced during French President Macron’s state visit to the UK in 2025.
In exchange, the British Museum will loan Anglo-Saxon artifacts from the Sutton Hoo hoard to museums in Normandy.
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A strong typhoon named Bavi is moving toward China's east coast after deadly storms earlier this week in other parts of the country. The typhoon is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan, some Japanese islands, and areas near Shanghai, while rescue efforts continue for those affected by recent flooding and storms.
Key Facts
Typhoon Bavi has winds up to 162 kilometers (101 miles) per hour.
It is forecast to pass north of Taiwan and make landfall near the border of Fujian and Zhejiang provinces in China on Saturday night.
Schools in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital, were closed and fishing boats secured before the storm.
Over 17,000 people were evacuated in Zhejiang province, with 170,000 rescue workers on standby.
Flights to Japan, Hong Kong, and other areas were canceled through Saturday.
Recent tropical storm Maysak caused flooding in southern China’s Guangxi region, killing 39 people and causing dam breaches.
Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in central China’s Hubei province killed 11 people.
A landslide in western China’s Gansu province killed 21 forestry workers; this was unrelated to the storms.
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The Bayeux Tapestry, an important medieval artwork showing the 1066 Norman conquest of England, arrived quietly at the British Museum in London after nearly 1,000 years. It came from France in a secure, carefully planned journey and will be on display from September 2026 to July 2027.
Key Facts
The Bayeux Tapestry is about 70 meters (230 feet) long and made of wool thread on linen fabric.
It shows scenes leading up to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when William of Normandy conquered England.
The tapestry was transported in a climate-controlled case on a truck through the Channel Tunnel.
The trip lasted about 11 hours and covered 350 miles (560 kilometers), with police escort.
Museum and diplomatic staff awaited its arrival in secret to ensure security.
The exhibit is expected to be very popular, with 100,000 tickets sold on the first day.
This is the first time in 1,000 years the tapestry has been displayed on English soil.
The artwork symbolizes the shared history between England and France.
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A movie called "Satluj" about a human rights activist’s investigation into violence during the 1980s and 1990s insurgency in Punjab, India, was blocked by government censors and removed from an online streaming site. Local communities in Punjab have organized their own screenings of the film in village temples and halls to share the story that government officials tried to suppress.
Key Facts
"Satluj" tells the true story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist who exposed illegal killings during Punjab’s insurgency.
The insurgency involved Sikh militants fighting for independence and Indian security forces, causing many deaths.
Khalra uncovered cases where police allegedly killed and secretly cremated thousands of disappeared people without telling families.
Khalra himself was abducted and killed in 1995; some police officers were later convicted for his murder.
The Indian censor board demanded over 120 cuts to the movie, delaying its release for three years.
After finally releasing on the ZEE5 streaming platform, the film was removed from India two days later without official explanation.
In response, Sikh groups and villagers have been holding community screenings of the film using online copies in Punjab.
These screenings happen in Sikh temples and village halls, serving as a way to remember and discuss this period.
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North Korea plans to increase the number and quality of its nuclear weapons and expand its spying activities in South Korea, according to state media. This decision came from a recent military meeting as tensions remain high between the two Koreas, which are still technically at war.
Key Facts
North Korea intends to improve both the quality and quantity of its nuclear force.
The country will expand the role of its military intelligence agency focused on South Korea.
The General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau is tasked with gathering information on South Korea and controlling threats.
North Korea considers South Korea its "most hostile" enemy and calls itself an "irreversible" nuclear state.
The military meeting discussed boosting surveillance and spying capabilities in a significant way.
The two Koreas have no peace treaty and remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War.
North Korea launched a military spy satellite in 2023, which it says observes US and South Korean military sites.
South Korea is closely watching these developments and their potential impact on security.
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North Korea has announced plans to improve and increase its nuclear weapons. It also wants to expand its military spying agency that focuses on South Korea. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the two Koreas and after North Korea rejected peace efforts from South Korea.
Key Facts
North Korea will strengthen its nuclear force in both quality and quantity.
The General Reconnaissance and Intelligence Bureau, responsible for spying on South Korea, will have expanded roles and missions.
The announcement was made after a meeting of North Korea’s ruling party’s central military commission.
North Korea calls South Korea its "most hostile" enemy and sees itself as an irreversible nuclear state.
The two Koreas are still technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.
North Korea has put a military spy satellite into orbit in 2023 that can image US and South Korean military sites.
Experts believe North Korea is trying to get military technology, possibly by supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine.
South Korea is closely watching any changes related to North Korea’s expanded military intelligence activities.
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Abuse survivors want to hold Edmund Rice Education Australia responsible for compensation claims related to Christian Brothers’ abuse cases. The Christian Brothers are struggling to pay and want to sell property to cover costs, while Edmund Rice Education Australia, which holds significant assets, opposes this legal move.
Key Facts
The Christian Brothers have a history of clergy abuse and face hundreds of claims worth about $774 million.
The Christian Brothers say they are running out of money and plan to sell 36 properties worth about $217 million to pay creditors, including survivors.
Over the last decade, Christian Brothers transferred land and buildings to Edmund Rice Education Australia for only $1 each.
Edmund Rice Education Australia runs former Christian Brothers schools and says it is an independent organization.
Edmund Rice Education Australia has reported $2.3 billion in assets and $345 million in cash as of December 2024.
Abuse survivors are trying to transfer their legal claims from the Christian Brothers to Edmund Rice Education Australia.
Edmund Rice Education Australia does not agree to be made responsible and will fight this in court.
The case is complex and likely to lead to a long legal battle, with a key hearing scheduled for August.
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A hospital ward in Carmarthen was closed due to an outbreak of crusted scabies, a rare and very contagious skin condition caused by mites. The health board is treating all patients and staff who might have been in contact, and extra infection control measures are in place to manage the situation.
Key Facts
The outbreak occurred in Steffan Ward at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen.
Crusted scabies causes a scaly rash and thick skin crusts filled with thousands of mites.
It spreads through close skin contact and is highly contagious.
Patients and staff who had contact with infected individuals have been informed and offered treatment.
The ward remains closed while infection prevention procedures continue.
Crusted scabies mainly affects people with weaker immune systems but can occur in others.
Symptoms include intense itching and crusty rash, especially on elbows, knees, hands, and feet.
There is an increase in scabies cases in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion areas.
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The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century embroidery showing the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, has arrived in the UK for the first time in nearly 1,000 years. It was carefully transported from northern France to the British Museum, where it will be displayed starting in September for nine months.
Key Facts
The Bayeux Tapestry is about 70 meters long and shows 58 scenes of events before the Norman Conquest of England.
It was moved from a secret location in northern France under police guard and brought to the British Museum late at night.
The tapestry has been in France since it was created nearly 1,000 years ago and has been displayed in Bayeux since 1983.
The loan for nine months was agreed upon by French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The British Museum is loaning several important British artifacts to France in exchange.
The tapestry was packed in a special crate with temperature and humidity control and shock absorbers to protect it during the journey.
Some people in France expressed concern about the risk of moving such a fragile and valuable historic object.
A projected image of the tapestry was shown on the white cliffs of Dover with a thank-you message from France.
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In Alexandra, South Africa, local people protested against migrants they believed were living there without legal permission. During the protest, some locals used sticks to try to force migrants to leave, while police were present nearby.
Key Facts
The protest took place in Alexandra, a town in South Africa.
Local residents were opposing migrants they thought were undocumented.
Protesters used sticks to try to evict the migrants.
Migrants were harassed and physically attacked during the protest.
Police officers were on the scene but did not stop the actions immediately.
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