Nigel Farage is poised for a decisive victory in the Clacton byelection against a record 34 candidates, including 20 independents and three from the Official Monster Raving Loony party. This byelection follows scrutiny of Farage's financial affairs, including a £5 million gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne, and he is under investigation by the parliamentary standards watchdog for failing to declare gifts. The event marks the largest candidate field in a UK byelection, surpassing the previous record of 32 candidates in the 2008 Haltemprice and Howden byelection.
On July 10, 2026, a Ryanair flight from Greece to Germany experienced a fan blade failure in the No. 2 engine shortly after takeoff, resulting in a cabin window being shattered and Serbian national Ljubisa Karović sustaining serious injuries as his head and right shoulder were partially sucked out. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the crew received a "high vibration" alert, declared an emergency, and returned to Thessaloniki after detecting increasing vibrations and a loud bang. Following the incident, which involved a thorough inspection of the engine in May with no faults found, Ryanair's CEO suggested the possibility of "foreign object damage" as a contributing factor.
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, leading to over 265 confirmed deaths and the identification of 56 building collapses as rescue efforts continue, with 85 survivors rescued so far. Mayor Alejandro Eder is actively coordinating the crisis response, bringing in 150 rescuers by Monday evening and converting a fairground into a distribution center for food and medical supplies. Despite the critical situation and mixed public perception, Eder's immediate actions in the wake of the disaster have drawn praise from some residents while facing scrutiny from others due to past issues in the city.
Seventeen-year-old Arjun Aravind is accused of killing his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and younger brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14, in their Massachusetts home, with authorities linking the murders to his online activity involving ChatGPT, where he explored fantasy narratives regarding family killings. The alleged incident occurred on Tuesday, and both victims were found dead later that day, with investigators noting signs of blunt force trauma, while Arjun was arrested in a vehicle belonging to his mother approximately 13 miles away. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder and theft of a motor vehicle, and is currently being held without bail.
Romania's sole nuclear power plant, Cernavoda, was shut down due to significant drops in the Danube River's water levels, which are essential for cooling, with only one of its reactors previously shut down earlier in 2023 for the same reason. The shutdown has prompted Romania to seek alternative energy sources, including wind power and imports, while large industrial users may face electricity restrictions. Meanwhile, Hungary is constructing a low weir to raise the Danube's water level in front of its Paks nuclear plant, which normally generates about half of the country's electricity, with the project expected to be completed in four weeks.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has reported that Colombia is not allowing a Mexican rescue team to assist in the aftermath of a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that has killed at least 273 people and left over 3,800 injured, with 377 still missing. Despite the blockage, Colombia has accepted 58.5 tonnes of aid from Mexico, and the government is formalizing support from teams in the U.S., El Salvador, Ecuador, and Israel, under specific international certification requirements. Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office shortly before the earthquake, faces accusations of politically motivated refusals of assistance, which his administration denies as they continue to receive aid from various countries including a $10 million donation from the UAE.
Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema is campaigning for a second term, highlighting economic recovery achieved during his tenure amidst voter concerns about the economy. Despite Zambia's wealth in critical minerals, 70% of the population survives on less than three dollars a day, raising questions about equitable resource distribution. The upcoming general election is attracting international attention, as the outcome could significantly influence the country's political landscape and governance.
The Kennedy Center board has decided to proceed with a two-year closure of the center and reinstate Donald Trump's name on the building, following a court ruling for its removal roughly three months prior. Representative Joyce Beatty condemned these actions as attempts to bypass legal authority, emphasizing that this decision contradicts Congress's statutes. The controversial name change, which renamed the center to the "Donald J Trump and John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts," led to significant legal disputes, with the venue now facing further lawsuits, including one where a judge recently awarded jazz musician Chuck Redd over $250,000 after he canceled a performance due to the rebranding.
The Labor-led parliamentary committee investigating KPMG’s audit leaks is urging the Albanese government to reform whistleblower protection laws, which they believe could have safeguarded the scandal's whistleblower. On July 9, the committee, comprising five Labor MPs, requested urgent action from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and later shared a letter from his assistant minister indicating that Treasury is reviewing relevant laws. The committee highlighted that Australian law has been “largely ineffectual” in deterring misconduct and has made dozens of bipartisan recommendations over the past decade that remain unimplemented.
Cuba commemorated the centenary of former President Fidel Castro's birth with events including the International Book Fair and art exhibitions, amid ongoing economic challenges exacerbated by US sanctions and a prolonged crisis starting five years ago. Fidel Castro, who ruled from 1959 until 2008, remains a significant figure in Cuban history, with his brother Raul Castro, the last surviving leader of the 1959 revolution, still regarded as influential despite stepping down as president in 2018. Raul received a standing ovation during the commemorative event, even as he faces legal issues, having been indicted on four counts of murder in Florida.
Carolina Molina filmed an incident in Falls Church, Virginia, where an ICE agent pointed a gun at her, and the video gained millions of views after being posted on Instagram. The US Department of Homeland Security asserted that Molina "attempted to harm officers by weaponising her vehicle," a claim she denies. BBC Verify reviewed the dashcam footage shared by Molina to assess the situation.
The board of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted to add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade and to proceed with a two-year closure for major renovations. This decision comes after a federal judge ruled in May that Trump's name should be removed, stating that only Congress can authorize such changes. The new wording will designate the center as "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump," with plans for it to be called "the President Donald J. Trump Plaza," aimed at circumventing federal law restrictions on additional memorials.
Flock Safety has installed a network of surveillance cameras across the US, conducting approximately 20 billion license plate scans monthly, but has faced backlash due to reports of police misuse, including the targeting of immigrants and individuals seeking out-of-state abortions. In response, CEO Garrett Langley announced that the company will require law enforcement agencies to enable new oversight features, including an audit system for abnormal activity, which only a third of customers had activated voluntarily. Additionally, the company will reduce the default retention period for license plate scans from 30 days to seven, while allowing agencies to restrict the sharing of data with partners, as privacy concerns are heightened following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v Wade.
About a dozen Palestinian households in Qusra, West Bank, were ordered to evacuate during an Israeli military operation aimed at removing Israeli settlers who had been besieging three homes for four days, disrupting essential services. Residents reported that 11 additional families were also forced from their homes, and one individual claimed that over 20 soldiers entered and damaged their property, stealing $1,500 in cash. The Israeli military stated they dismantled two illegal outposts and detained one Israeli, while a US ambassador condemned the settler intimidation as a "horrific act of terror," reflecting the escalation of settler violence amid the expansion of settlements.
Karoline Leavitt's unexpected resignation as White House press secretary has prompted a competitive race for her replacement within Trump’s circle. Key contenders include Stephen Cheung, the current communications director, Alina Habba, who was a personal lawyer for Trump and is seen as a frontrunner, and Anna Kelly, the principal deputy press secretary. Other names mentioned are Katie Miller, a former press secretary for Mike Pence, and Taylor Budowich, a former deputy chief of staff who has moved to the private sector.
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allies, including the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement – North (SPLM-N), have advanced into the strategically important town of Kurmuk on the border with Ethiopia, as the Sudanese army began withdrawing. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, it has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly 15 million people, with the UN reporting more than 200,000 fatalities attributed to the ongoing violence. The RSF recently attacked various army-controlled cities, using over 250 combat vehicles and conducting drone strikes, which resulted in deaths and further escalated the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that a Russian plot to kill a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw was disrupted, marking the first time a Russian-led attack on a US citizen took place in a NATO country. The suspect, allegedly recruited by Russian secret services, was detained on August 7 and will be held in custody for three months. This incident is part of a broader pattern of Russia's increased targeted killings and sabotage efforts across Europe, with Western officials linking approximately 200 acts of sabotage to Russia since the start of the Ukraine war.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Cali, Colombia, killed at least 273 people and injured over 3,800, with 377 individuals still unaccounted for as rescue operations approach the critical three-day mark. The University Hospital of the Valle Evaristo Garcia suffered about 50% structural damage, leading to the treatment of only critical patients, while city hospitals reached full capacity and declared a red alert amid an influx of injured. Local health officials reported that a combination of effective organization and temporary expansions in healthcare facilities has stabilized the situation, despite ongoing stress on the system, particularly for chronic illness patients.
Donald Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum allowing private companies to conduct limited offensive cyber operations against foreign transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) under government supervision. The framework encourages collaboration between private entities and federal, state, and local agencies to gather threat information and propose cyber operations, with participating companies required to maintain a bond or escrow of at least $1 million. This policy comes amid rising international concerns over cyber-attacks, particularly following incidents targeting U.S. critical infrastructure earlier in the year.
Romania has shut down its only nuclear power station, the Cernavodă plant, due to extremely low water levels in the Danube river, with the facility producing about 20% of the country's electricity. The second of its two reactors, each with a capacity of 706 megawatts, was disconnected from the grid recently, and a restart is not expected within the next 10 days. Across Europe, low water levels have affected agriculture and prompted evacuations in Greece, with Italy estimating climate-related damages could exceed €3 billion and France potentially facing costs of €10 billion to €15 billion from recent heatwaves.
The Kennedy Center board has voted to proceed with renovations that include temporarily closing the building and inscribing Donald Trump's name, which a federal judge had previously ordered to be removed. The proposed renovation project is valued at $250 million and aims to address significant infrastructure needs, including new marble floors and acoustical improvements. The center must present its revised plans to the judge by next week, as the initial closure plan was deemed insufficient and potentially unlawful by the court.
The widow of Irish United Nations employee Michael Ryan, who died in the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash that killed 157 people, has been awarded $29 million in damages by a jury in Chicago. Ryan's family pursued the civil suit against Boeing, highlighting the aircraft manufacturer's accountability for the loss, while Boeing expressed condolences and respect for the family's right to seek justice. Michael Ryan, who had a profound impact through his work with the World Food Programme in various countries, was remembered as a significant global figure whose contributions saved many lives.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has spent a record 250 consecutive days at sea, including 40 days of continuous combat operations, and faced problems such as shortages of basic supplies and deteriorating morale among its 5,000 crew members. Recent reports highlighted issues like food rationing, water shortages, plumbing problems, and a concerning incident where a sailor attempted to jump overboard, prompting calls from senators for an official oversight visit to investigate these alarming conditions. Hegseth acknowledged the challenges of longer deployments during wartime but asserted that the crew was well-supported, despite criticisms about the impacts on their well-being and the need for accountability from the administration.
The Kennedy Center Board voted to shut down its main building for a two-year renovation, which includes a $250 million budget for structural repairs and significant acoustical improvements, with plans to reopen in summer 2028. They also approved the restoration of President Trump's name on the center, despite a previous federal judge ruling that his name was unlawfully added. The renovations aim to include nearly $12 million in acoustical enhancements and a temporary relocation of the eight-foot bronze bust of President John F. Kennedy.
Israeli troops have forced two Palestinian families from their homes in the West Bank amid ongoing violence by settlers, with soldiers taking over eight homes in the village of Qusra. Despite promises from Maj Gen Avi Bluth to evacuate settlers, soldiers only removed one tent while leaving settlers armed and patrolling the area, where a Palestinian man was killed by a settler in March with no arrests made following the incident. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert condemned the situation as ethnic cleansing, stating it involved crimes against humanity supported by the Israeli government and the military's inaction.
Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is facing two federal charges of stalking resulting in death, each carrying a maximum life sentence, and a separate state trial, with jury selection scheduled for September 8, 2026. Discussions regarding a potential plea agreement will take place on August 13, 2026, but such deals may not be finalized and must be court-approved. Prosecutors allege Mangione's stalking, which involved interstate travel and electronic surveillance, resulted in Thompson's death, while two earlier murder charges were dismissed, removing the possibility of the death penalty.
Europe is experiencing a severe heatwave, with over 135 million people expected to face temperatures exceeding 35°C (95°F) across countries like France, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The UK recorded its hottest day of the year at 38.1°C (100.5°F) in west London, while France saw 38°C (100.4°F) in Paris, prompting heatwave alerts. This extreme heat has resulted in increased heatstroke cases in hospitals, where nurses and patients are struggling to cope, highlighting the serious impact of climate change.
Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has urged the club to invest more to keep up with Premier League title rivals, having spent about £85 million ($114 million) on new players since the end of last season. Carrick emphasized the need for more quality and depth, especially since United has never spent more than £89.5 million ($120.7 million) on a single player, while rivals like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Chelsea have made significant high-profile signings. With the Premier League opener against Hull approaching, Carrick expressed the importance of continuous improvement and the potential for the team to achieve something special this season.
A grassfire near Stourbridge golf course in the West Midlands, covering about 16 hectares (40 acres), prompted a response from about 60 firefighters on Thursday, with several homes ablaze. Two people received treatment for heat and smoke exposure, and six homes were directly affected, with residents from a local care home also evacuated. Coinciding with the fire, the UK experienced its hottest day of the year, with temperatures reaching a provisional high of 38.1°C (100.6°F) at Kew Gardens.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from the Trump administration against Harvard University, which alleged insufficient protection for Jewish students during pro-Gaza protests, citing a lack of evidence for ongoing civil rights violations. The lawsuit failed to demonstrate a systemic issue, as the judge described the incidents mentioned as "too isolated and episodic" to support claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Trump's administration had previously attempted to freeze $2.2 billion in federal funding to Harvard, an action ruled unlawful, while other universities opted for multimillion-dollar settlements amid similar allegations.