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Jellyfish are commonly seen off the coast of Scotland, especially during July and August when the sea is warmer. While their stings can be painful, they are rarely dangerous. Jellyfish numbers rise due to warmer water, more food, and calm ocean currents pushing them closer to shore.
Key Facts
July and August are the months with the most jellyfish sightings in Scotland.
Jellyfish rely on ocean currents to move because they are weak swimmers.
Warmer sea temperatures help jellyfish breed faster, creating large groups called blooms.
Jellyfish blooms have disrupted activities before, such as closing a nuclear power station in 2011.
Most jellyfish have stinging cells, but sting strength varies by species.
The Lion’s Mane jellyfish is common in Scottish waters during summer and can cause sore but not deadly stings.
Jellyfish tentacles can break off and still sting even if detached from the jellyfish.
Jellyfish can be found year-round but are more common in the warmer months.
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Ecuador is facing a big rise in drug crime as cocaine enters the country from Colombia and Peru. Local gangs, connected to international criminal groups, are helping to move drugs further, which has contributed to a very high murder rate in Ecuador.
Key Facts
Ecuador is experiencing a large increase in drug-related crime.
Cocaine is being brought into Ecuador from Colombia and Peru, the two largest cocaine producers.
Local gangs in Ecuador have ties to Mexican cartels and Albanian mafia groups.
These gangs help smuggle cocaine to other countries.
Last year, Ecuador’s murder rate was very high, with over 9,200 people killed.
The information comes from Ecuador’s interior ministry and reporting by the BBC.
Ecuadorian police are actively working to confront these gang members.
The rise in violence is linked to the growing drug trade in the region.
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Police in the Ecuadoran city of Durán are battling violent gangs involved in drug trafficking, facing not only criminals but also corruption within their own ranks. The city has become a major route for cocaine from Colombia and Peru to reach global markets, with drug violence causing a high murder rate despite government crackdowns.
Key Facts
Durán, Ecuador is a city heavily affected by drug gangs and violence.
Police Captain Jean Carlos Bustamante leads a trusted team fighting against gangs armed with many weapons.
Corruption exists inside the police and government, with some officials paid by gangs.
The gangs control neighborhoods through fear, killing anyone who speaks out against them.
Approximately 70% of the cocaine reaching Europe and the US passes through Ecuador.
Cocaine supply comes mainly from Colombia and Peru, the world’s biggest producers.
Ecuador’s long coastline and weak border controls help drug gangs smuggle cocaine.
Despite arrests and crackdowns ordered by President Daniel Noboa, the murder rate remains very high and gang violence has grown worse.
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Jodrell Bank, a leading UK radio astronomy centre, faces closure due to planned funding cuts by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in 2028. Other UK physics research facilities are also experiencing significant budget reductions, risking a loss of scientists and weakening the country's role in global physics research.
Key Facts
Jodrell Bank began radio astronomy research in 1945 and hosts the Lovell telescope, once the largest in the world.
The STFC plans to stop funding the UK's national radio astronomy network, e-Merlin, in March 2028.
UK participation in major international astronomy projects, such as the Rubin observatory and the Event Horizon Telescope, is being reduced.
The STFC needs to save £162 million by 2030 but forecasts a much larger budget shortfall of £684 million for 2024-2028.
Cuts also affect other physics facilities, including the Diamond synchrotron, Isis neutron source, Clara accelerator tests, and Boulby underground lab.
Funding for the Large Hadron Collider experiment LHCb is ending early, risking loss of most planned data.
Nearly 80% of early-career UK physicists are thinking about leaving the country due to funding problems.
The UK risks losing top scientific talent, which could harm its scientific progress and economic growth.
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A US airman named James Loubeau was accused of raping several women, some in England and some on a US military base. Instead of British courts handling the case, Suffolk police allowed the US military to take over the investigation and trial, resulting in Loubeau’s conviction in a US military court.
Key Facts
James Loubeau is a US airman accused of raping six women in England in 2019.
Some attacks involved drugging women and breaking into homes or bedrooms.
Suffolk police initially investigated but transferred the case to the US military after 11 days.
Three victims were British women attacked while Loubeau was off duty; others were US military personnel.
Loubeau was convicted of sexual assault in a court martial held in Miami, Florida.
He was sentenced to five years in prison and will be monitored for 20 years after release.
A 1951 UK-US agreement allows US military courts to handle crimes involving their personnel on UK bases or between US service members.
Suffolk police have not explained why they gave up jurisdiction of these serious allegations.
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Shabaz Ali, a content creator and broadcaster, meets a billionaire in person to see if billionaires are really as bad as many people think. This program explores views on the super-rich by moving the conversation from online discussions to real-life encounters.
Key Facts
Shabaz Ali has been critical of very wealthy people online for years.
The show features a face-to-face meeting between Shabaz and a billionaire.
It aims to understand if billionaires deserve the negative opinions often expressed about them.
The program was first shown on July 28, 2026, and lasts 48 minutes.
It is part of a series that examines social and economic issues.
The show is available with audio description and sign language support.
The program is produced and aired by the BBC.
It invites viewers to rethink common beliefs about wealth and money holders.
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The New Boy is an Australian drama set in a remote orphanage in the outback during the 1940s. It tells the story of a young orphan who struggles to fit in and affects those around him.
Key Facts
The story takes place in the Australian outback in the mid-1940s.
The main character is a young orphan boy.
The boy is brought to a remote orphanage run by two nuns.
He has trouble fitting in with others at the orphanage.
His presence causes disturbance among the people there.
The film lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes.
It was first shown in 2023 and is available to watch for over a year.
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The article describes a story set in the Australian outback in the mid-1940s, where a young orphan is taken to a distant orphanage run by two nuns. The boy struggles to fit in, and his presence causes unease among the other people there.
Key Facts
The story takes place in Australia during the 1940s.
It focuses on a young orphan boy.
The boy is brought to a remote orphanage in the outback.
Two nuns run the orphanage.
The boy has difficulty adjusting to life at the orphanage.
His presence affects those living there in a disturbing way.
The story is presented in a 1 hour 30 minute program.
The program contains some upsetting scenes and language.
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Wu Chi-wai, a former Hong Kong opposition leader and pro-democracy activist, was initially detained and threatened with deportation when he arrived in the UK. After several days, the UK Border Force allowed him and his family to stay for six months using his British National (Overseas) passport.
Key Facts
Wu Chi-wai is a 63-year-old former leader of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party and a prominent pro-democracy figure.
He was detained for nearly 10 hours at London's Heathrow Airport and initially refused entry.
Wu was later told he could stay only one week before possible deportation but was eventually granted a six-month stay.
Wu spent over five years in prison in Hong Kong on charges of subversion related to pro-democracy activities.
His wife and son had already moved to the UK in 2022 and 2023; Wu aimed to reunite with them.
Wu traveled using a British National (Overseas) passport, which allows visa-free stays in the UK for six months.
The UK government created a visa program for BNO passport holders after protests in Hong Kong and the crackdown on democracy activists.
Over 230,000 Hong Kong residents have been granted these visas, with nearly 170,000 relocating to the UK.
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Malaysian police have detained over 100 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers who were trying to get help from the United Nations after being forced to leave their homes. There has been an increase in hateful speech and false information online, which has caused more problems for the Rohingya in Malaysia.
Key Facts
More than 100 Rohingya refugees and asylum seekers were detained by Malaysian police.
The Rohingya were seeking assistance from the United Nations.
They were evicted from their homes before being detained.
Online hate speech and misinformation against the Rohingya have increased in Malaysia.
This rise in negative online content has led to more harassment of the Rohingya group.
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Nearly 600 former Israeli military and security officials have asked President Donald Trump to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action against violent acts by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. They warn that if the violence is not stopped quickly, it could cause serious security problems for Israel, the United States, and the region.
Key Facts
The letter was written by Commanders for Israel’s Security, a group of retired Israeli military and intelligence officers.
The group says settlers are responsible for increased violence, called “settler terror,” in the West Bank.
They believe certain Israeli government members protect settlers and avoid legal scrutiny.
The group warns this violence could have worse effects than the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The letter asked President Trump to discuss the issue with Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit to Washington, DC.
The protests and violence by settlers increased after a shootout in Tal town where six people died, including two Israelis and four Palestinians.
The group’s mission is to protect Israel as a strong, democratic Jewish state.
Netanyahu was visiting the US for the seventh time during Trump’s second term as president.
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Houssein Hamze, who survived a near-death experience during Israel’s 2006 war with Hezbollah thanks to his dog, now runs an animal shelter in southern Lebanon. Despite ongoing conflicts, he stays in his village to care for abandoned and rescued animals, providing food and shelter even during dangerous times.
Key Facts
In 2006, a bomb landed near Hamze’s home; his dog’s barking warned him in time to avoid injury.
Hamze founded the Mashala shelter in Zefta, south Lebanon, to care for stray and abandoned animals.
The shelter cares for around 200 dogs, camels, horses, chickens, geese, and ravens.
Hamze stayed during the 2026 Hezbollah-Israel war to care for animals left behind by fleeing residents.
He regularly delivered food and water to animals despite the threat of Israeli drone and airstrikes.
Some animals came to the shelter on their own during the war, seeking food and help.
Hamze marked his vehicle to show he was an animal caretaker while being observed by drones.
He has rescued injured animals like Lulu, a dog who lost part of her tail in an airstrike.
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Heavy rain and floods have caused serious damage across several Asian countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea. The extreme weather has destroyed homes, crops, and roads, killed dozens of people, and displaced many residents.
Key Facts
In eastern Afghanistan, continuous rain for 10 days damaged homes made of stone and mud, killing at least 31 people and leaving hundreds missing.
Bangladesh’s Chattogram city recorded a record 412.3mm of rain in 24 hours, causing flash floods that destroyed homes and crops.
Residents like Jesmin Akter have lost their belongings and are relying on food aid while living in unsafe, wet conditions.
China has experienced a 35% increase in rivers rising above warning levels compared to the past five years, with deadly landslides and floods reported.
Typhoon Noul forced the evacuation of nearly 900,000 people in China’s Guangdong province.
The floods and storms in the region have been worsened by multiple typhoons hitting in a short time.
Governments and rescue workers are responding to floods and landslide disasters, but more rain is expected soon.
Other countries in the region like Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea have also suffered from extreme weather events like landslides and sudden heavy rain.
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A British YouTuber and rapper known as Yung Filly is on trial in Australia for charges including rape, assault, and choking. The case involves an incident in a Perth hotel room in September 2024, and the jury will consider their verdict soon.
Key Facts
Yung Filly’s real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos.
He faces six rape charges, three assault charges, and one count of choking.
The alleged victim was 20 years old at the time of the incident.
Barrientos denies slapping or choking the woman but admits to biting her, calling it a “love bite.”
Photos of the woman show bruises and bite marks.
The woman initially agreed to sex but reportedly withdrew consent when she felt unsafe.
A security guard took the woman’s phone before entering the hotel room; Barrientos says this is normal to protect privacy.
Barrientos was touring Australia and had been arrested days after performing in Brisbane.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet President Donald Trump at the White House, coinciding with a Senate vote on new sanctions against Russia and Iran. Ukraine recently attacked an Iranian tanker helping Russia, causing tensions to rise between these two separate conflicts.
Key Facts
Zelenskyy is attending the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham and meeting the US Senate on the same day.
The Senate is expected to vote on a bill imposing sanctions on Russia, including 100% tariffs on imports from countries buying Russian oil and gas.
President Trump added sanctions on Iran to this bill, with Zelenskyy supporting this addition.
Ukraine attacked an Iranian tanker in the Caspian Sea, which was reportedly carrying military supplies to Russia.
Iran has threatened to retaliate after the attack on its ship.
Ukraine and the US agreed to jointly produce Patriot missile systems to boost Ukraine’s air defense.
The US and Ukraine are negotiating a deal to produce drones together, aiming to improve military technology.
Fighting continues strongly in eastern Ukraine, with daily attacks causing casualties on both sides.
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Large wildfires are burning in Spain and France, forcing more than 300,000 people to leave their homes. These evacuations are among the largest in Europe since World War II as emergency workers try to control the fires.
Key Facts
Wildfires are spreading rapidly in parts of Spain and France.
Over 300,000 residents have been evacuated due to the fires.
The evacuations rank as one of the biggest in Europe since World War II.
Fire crews are working quickly to stop the fires from spreading further.
Dangerous heat and dry weather are contributing to the wildfires’ growth.
The situation is ongoing, with efforts focused on protecting people and property.
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Healthcare workers at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo, have stopped working to demand two months of unpaid salary. This strike comes as the number of deaths from Ebola in the country has risen to over 1,400.
Key Facts
Healthcare workers at an Ebola treatment center in Bunia, DR Congo, are on strike.
The workers want payment for two months of unpaid salary.
The strike is happening during a rise in Ebola deaths.
More than 1,400 people have died from Ebola in DR Congo so far.
The strike could affect efforts to control the Ebola outbreak.
Bunia is one of the locations affected by the outbreak.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that can cause severe illness and death.
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In rural Zimbabwe, a new telehealth program connects patients with doctors through video calls, reducing the need for long and costly travel. This service, started in 2024, uses local health workers and satellite internet to provide medical care in remote villages.
Key Facts
Telehealth centers in Zimbabwe allow patients to have video consultations with doctors.
The program began in 2024, led by ZimSmart Villages in partnership with state-owned telecom and postal companies.
Zimbabwe has fewer doctors per people compared to the African average, especially in rural areas.
Patients like Anymore Kadzunge travel long distances for healthcare; telehealth helps by bringing doctors closer digitally.
Local nurses check vital signs and help patients before video appointments.
Starlink satellite internet and backup batteries keep the centers running during power cuts.
By 2026, 28 telehealth centers were set up across seven Zimbabwean provinces, completing over 28,000 virtual visits.
The telehealth centers are located inside existing post offices to improve accessibility for rural residents.
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France is fighting large wildfires in the southwest near Bordeaux while another fire has been contained. The country and western Europe are preparing for more heatwaves this week, which increase the risk of new fires.
Key Facts
One wildfire in southwest France is contained according to President Emmanuel Macron.
A larger wildfire near Bordeaux is still burning and not fully controlled.
Over 220,000 people have been evacuated from the affected areas.
Officials say the "monster" wildfire has stopped growing but is not fully contained.
New heatwaves are expected in western Europe this week, raising fire danger.
Climate change and lack of prevention measures contribute to the wildfires.
The local economy will face big costs for rebuilding and reforestation after the fires.
France’s interior minister is monitoring the fire situation closely.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Bridget Phillipson as chair of the Labour Party. Phillipson will work with deputy leader Lucy Powell to prepare the party for the next general election and focus on modernizing digital campaigning.
Key Facts
Bridget Phillipson is the new Labour Party chair.
She is also the minister for women and equalities.
Phillipson will collaborate closely with deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell.
Both Phillipson and Powell competed for deputy leader last year, with Powell winning.
Phillipson used to be education secretary before Powell took that role.
She replaces Anna Turley, who joined the Home Office as a minister.
The leadership team aims to change party culture and prepare policies for the next election, due by 2029.
Phillipson said she wants to build a strong campaign to win a second Labour term and challenge Reform UK.
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