Simon Levy, 40, was convicted of two murders and multiple sexual assaults, including a sustained attack on a sex worker in January 2025 that left her with a broken clavicle and unconscious. The trial revealed a troubling history of Levy's sexual violence dating back to 2017, including prior convictions and allegations of sexual assault while in prison, with a total of three confirmed victims: Sheryl Wilkins and Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, both murdered, and one survivor whose testimony exposed the brutality of Levy's attacks. Experts question whether policing has improved since the 2021 murder of Sarah Everard, noting that Levy targeted vulnerable women, believing it would help him evade capture, and highlighting systemic issues in how victims' cases have been handled by authorities.
Hungary has emerged as Europe's solar leader, generating 25% of its electricity from solar energy, surpassing sunnier nations like Spain and Greece, despite former leader Viktor Orban's criticism of EU climate policies and a ban on wind turbines. The growth in solar energy is attributed to a focus on self-sufficiency and economic incentives rather than climate activism, with a new 450-megawatt solar park set to come online by September 2026, powering approximately 106,000 households. In contrast, research initiatives in the U.S. are finding innovative funding sources, such as the OnlyMarms platform that allows fans to support marmot studies through donations.
Simon Levy, 40, was found guilty by an Old Bailey jury of murdering two women, Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo and Sheryl Wilkins, in London in 2025, while he was on bail and had previously faced multiple sexual assault charges. Police and prosecutors admitted that systemic errors allowed Levy, a proven sex offender with a history of violence and 10 reported sexual assaults, to remain free and commit the murders, with the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledging they failed to present crucial information at three court hearings. Despite being jailed for sexual violence in 2021 and implicated in sexual assaults on trains and another rape case, errors in prosecutorial handling meant Levy was able to attack more women before his eventual conviction.
Europe is facing a severe water crisis as rivers like the Rhine, Danube, and Po experience historically low levels due to a summer drought exacerbated by climate change, threatening freight transport, the economy, and agriculture. As farmers warn of rising prices due to poor harvests, ecosystems are also at risk, with warmer waters and lower oxygen levels potentially harming fish populations, as seen with the death of around 1,000 metric tons of fish in 2022 on the Oder River. Experts project that water supply costs could increase by up to 30% due to the need for additional treatment to ensure clean drinking water, with potential investments of up to €14 billion required by 2035 for improved water systems.
Europe is facing a severe water crisis as the Rhine, Danube, and Po rivers experience historically low levels due to an ongoing drought exacerbated by climate change, affecting freight transport and agriculture, with farmers warning of increased prices due to poor harvests. The crisis has led to significant consequences for ecosystems, including fish die-offs and the endangerment of habitats for mussels and invertebrates, while the German industry estimates that water supply costs could rise by up to 30%, necessitating up to €14 billion in investments for improved water treatment by 2035. Additionally, the decline in river health is increasing pollutant concentrations, which in turn raises the costs of delivering clean drinking water to millions of people.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has decided to proceed with Amanda Knox's comedy show "Cartwheel," despite calls for its cancellation from the family of her murdered flatmate, Meredith Kercher, and a petition that has garnered over 6,000 signatures. Knox, who was wrongfully convicted of Kercher's murder in 2009 but acquitted in 2015, defends her show as a commentary on motherhood and violence against women, stating it does not joke about Kercher's death. Festival organizers emphasize their commitment to free expression and believe that the decision to perform should remain with the artist and the venue.
RWE has decided to abandon its offshore wind projects in the US after agreeing to a $1.2 billion payout deal with the Trump administration, reallocating funds to invest $900 million in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in Louisiana. The company is relinquishing its leases off the coasts of California, Louisiana, and in the New York Bight, as it plans to invest approximately €17 billion (about $19.6 billion) in the US over the next six years to increase its generation capacity. This decision aligns with the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to support the fossil fuel industry and halt offshore wind initiatives, continuing a trend observed this year with similar agreements involving other companies like TotalEnergies and Duke Energy.
Diego Maradona's masseur, Nicolas Taffarel, testified in court that the football legend was bedridden, suffering from edema, and unresponsive to care in his final days, indicating a severe decline in his health. Taffarel reported that Maradona, who died at 60 from heart failure and acute pulmonary edema, had swollen legs and expressed a lack of desire to eat or maintain personal hygiene, and he alerted Maradona's medical team about these issues without them taking action. Seven healthcare professionals are on trial for potential negligence that may have contributed to Maradona's death, facing up to 25 years in prison, but they deny any responsibility.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkiye have signed the Mecca Joint Deterrence Agreement aimed at providing collective security against aggression, with an armed attack on any signatory considered an attack on all. This defense pact formalizes longstanding ties and cooperation among the three nations and comes amidst heightened tensions in the Middle East following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and ongoing conflicts involving Iran and its allies. The agreement reflects a strategic necessity for the countries, prompted by increasing threats from regional instability, including Iran's military actions and Israeli operations in Lebanon.
Firefighting tactics may have exacerbated a lumber mill fire and explosion in Searsmont, according to a report. Portland is under a heat advisory, which is in effect until 8 p.m. on Friday. Alcohol and marijuana were identified as likely contributing factors in a serious motorcycle crash in Falmouth.
In July, Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russian casualties reached 42,800, the highest monthly loss for Russia in 2026, while Ukraine's President Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine's own losses stood at 450,000, including 50,000 fatalities. Ukraine's defense ministry noted that Russian forces used 8,300 glide bombs in July, marking the highest monthly usage, and attributed 30,272 of Russia's casualties to drone warfare. Additionally, the Institute for the Study of War revealed that Russia occupied only 37.85 square kilometers in July and lost a total of 183.5 square kilometers of territory this year, in stark contrast to the 2,198 square kilometers gained in the same period in 2025.
In July, U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs, marking a continued softening of the labor market, with significant losses in retail and restaurant sectors despite gains in construction and manufacturing. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, but this was primarily due to over 260,000 people dropping out of the workforce, while Glassdoor's worker confidence index hit a record low. Although average wages increased by 3.2% over the past year, rising inflation and energy prices have diminished the real value of these gains for workers.
Armenia is set to put the head of the Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, along with six other clerics, on trial for allegedly defying a civil court order regarding the reinstatement of a defrocked bishop, facing up to two years in prison each if convicted. The bishop, Gevorg Saroyan, was defrocked in January for abusing his authority and neglecting duties and is a supporter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who has accused the Church leadership of espionage for Russia. This trial reflects a deepening conflict between Pashinyan and the Church amid criticism of the government's handling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and accusations of political motivations behind the prosecution, with civil rights advocates expressing concerns over judicial independence in Armenia.
The Trump administration has finalized a framework for vetting new artificial intelligence models for safety and cybersecurity risks, but details remain largely undisclosed, raising concerns about transparency. Tech leaders from companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft attended a private meeting to discuss the framework, which allows for a voluntary review process prior to model release; however, it lacks clear safety benchmarks and criteria. This comes after tensions arose concerning AI cybersecurity capabilities, notably with Anthropic’s Mythos model, leading the administration to reconsider its approach to AI regulation and issue an executive order requiring voluntary submission of new models for review up to 30 days before release.
Kristen Galvan, a 15-year-old from Houston, was sex trafficked and murdered, with her remains identified over six years after they were found, raising concerns about police failures to protect her despite her extensive cooperation with investigations against her traffickers. Following her abduction and trafficking in November 2019, Kristen shared vital information that helped convict three gang members, yet law enforcement did not provide the necessary witness protection, which her family believes could have saved her life. Investigations revealed that Kristen's remains were positively identified through advanced DNA testing, and her case, which garnered significant media attention, highlights serious lapses in law enforcement's treatment of trafficking victims.
US domestic airfares are currently 26.5% higher than last year, driven by strong travel demand and a reduction in oil refining capacity, while global airfare prices have increased by 25-30%. Jet fuel prices, crucial for airlines' operational costs, have risen significantly, from $90 a barrel at the start of 2026 to about $149 a barrel by August 4, reflecting a 65% increase. Despite potential relief from lower oil prices due to a ceasefire with Iran, experts predict that airfare prices will remain high due to capacity constraints and ongoing demand, with many airlines struggling to maintain profitability.
Rome authorities are struggling to house approximately 400 residents who were evicted from Spin Time Labs amidst a government crackdown on squatted buildings, with over 200 now sleeping in tents outside the site. The eviction followed a failed offer from the Rome council to buy the property, leading to political debates about squatted buildings, particularly in light of the 20-year occupation of a nearby state-owned building by the neofascist group CasaPound. Many of the displaced individuals, including a quarter who are children, express their determination to resist and seek alternative housing solutions despite the owner’s refusal to negotiate.
Iran has leveraged its ability to limit commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an average of only four ships passing per day, down from 90 in the same week of 2025, which reflects a decline of about 96% in transit volume from 3.5 million to approximately 143,000 metric tonnes. This disruption is not temporary, as vessel traffic and estimated tonnage have remained significantly low since February 28, raising concerns among Gulf states and major Asian importers about potential energy price hikes and supply shortages. The economic ramifications extend beyond oil, impacting the Gulf’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and agricultural exports, as increased risks and costs threaten key sectors essential for regional diversification.
The support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino has solidified with Argentina and Mexico backing him, following a unanimous endorsement from Africa's Confederation of African Football (CAF), which consists of 54 members. Infantino is facing significant opposition from UEFA, which has voted to boycott FIFA, and has been called for resignation by Norway, while South America's CONMEBOL and Argentina's football association (AFA) have shown support for his leadership. The upcoming FIFA Congress in Morocco in March 2027 is poised to be a pivotal moment, where Infantino may face challenges for his presidency amid ongoing tensions within the sport.
Donald Trump has claimed that oil companies have profited excessively from the Iran war, with Americans paying over $78 billion more at the pump since it began, leading proposals for a windfall tax on these profits to benefit consumers. An analysis indicates that Trump’s policies have resulted in an additional $285 in fuel costs for the average American family. Meanwhile, Trump has signed new executive orders attempting to restrict birthright citizenship, which could face legal challenges, following a Supreme Court ruling that his earlier efforts violated the 14th Amendment.
William Orbit, the influential British music producer, passed away at the age of 69 on July 23, as confirmed by a family statement. He was renowned for his collaborations, particularly with Madonna on her 1998 album Ray of Light, which achieved multi-platinum status and won three Grammy Awards, along with hits like Frozen and The Power of Goodbye. Orbit's extensive musical career included work on Blur's album 13, All Saints' No. 1 single Pure Shores, and his own successful remix of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, which reached the UK Top 5 in 1999.
Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her opposition to Donald Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche as U.S. Attorney General, citing concerns about a proposed fund for compensating January 6 rioters, despite Blanche's confirmation that the fund was terminated. Blanche was previously supported by the Senate Judiciary Committee in a narrow 12-10 vote after he promised not to pursue the controversial payout fund. With the Senate split 53-47 in favor of Republicans but without Mitch McConnell present due to health issues, Murkowski's decision further complicates Blanche's path to confirmation.
US cities have increased cooling centers during extreme heat, with New York opening 23 new centers and maintaining an average of 585 centers on weekdays, up from 560 the previous year. Despite these efforts, public access remains low due to distance, stigma, and perceptions of heat danger, leading to a spike in heat-related illnesses—New York recorded 156 emergency room visits on July 3 for heat-related issues, the highest since 2017. In Maryland, at least 38 heat-related deaths occurred this summer, surpassing the total from 2025, highlighting the urgent need for effective outreach to vulnerable populations like lower-income individuals and the homeless.
Central and western Europe is set to experience another heatwave next week, with temperatures forecast to reach the high 30s Celsius in France, Spain, and Italy, before shifting to Germany, Poland, and Czechia later in the week. Recent records were shattered in Austria, with temperatures hitting 41.2°C on August 5 in Deutsch-Altenburg, surpassing the previous all-time high by 0.7°C, while Slovakia recorded 41.4°C on the same day. In contrast, extreme gusts over 70 mph in the Greek Islands have led to wildfires, damaging parts of the Crete palm forest, although the core of the forest remains mostly unharmed.
Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's junta chief turned president, completed a two-day visit to Thailand, his first as a civilian leader, as he seeks to reshape his image after years of diplomatic isolation, marked by a show of state honors during his arrival. Since his 2021 coup, an estimated 100,000 people have died, and over 3 million have been displaced due to civil conflict, with the international community largely condemning Myanmar's recent elections as a sham. Despite facing numerous sanctions and being barred from ASEAN summits, Hlaing's visit is aimed at securing legitimacy and support among neighboring countries amid ongoing calls for meaningful progress on Myanmar's peace plan, which he has previously dismissed.
Iran is manipulating the timeline of its nuclear negotiations to keep Donald Trump entangled in the ongoing conflict until the November midterm elections, hoping to undermine his presidency similarly to the impact of the 1979-81 US embassy hostage crisis on Jimmy Carter. Iranian officials, reflecting a strong desire for retribution against Trump for his actions, set a prolonged negotiation course that could last beyond the elections, with conditions requiring the lifting of sanctions and other concessions before moving forward. As Tehran monitors Trump's declining approval ratings, attributed to the war's unpopularity and high oil prices, their focus remains on creating a political challenge for the president rather than resolving the conflict.
A new vaccine candidate, WRSs2, developed by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, has shown promising results in preventing shigellosis, a significant cause of diarrheal deaths, with an efficacy rate of 89% in a trial involving 108 adults. Diarrheal illnesses, particularly in children under five, result in over 1 million deaths annually, with Chad having a staggering rate of roughly 1 in 140 childhood deaths each year. The trial revealed that 81% of the placebo group became ill, underscoring the vaccine’s effectiveness, and highlights the ongoing global public health challenge posed by diarrheal diseases, especially in areas with poor sanitation.
The latest ARD-Deutschlandtrend survey indicates that 28% of eligible voters in Germany would vote for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), marking a record high for the party, which has seen support especially strong in eastern states like Saxony-Anhalt, where they are polling at 41%. A growing number of voters, 27%, now support cooperating with the AfD, while 43% overall report feeling marginalized, a sentiment that rises to 70% among AfD supporters. Concerns about terrorism have increased as well, with one-third of respondents worried about becoming victims, and 70% identifying Islamist terrorism as the greatest threat compared to the past decade's focus on right-wing extremism.
Shakib Al Hasan, a prominent Bangladeshi cricketer and former politician, is prepared to return from a two-year exile in the U.S. to face charges, including murder, pending government assurances for his safety. The 39-year-old hopes to play a farewell series at home and represent Bangladesh at the 2027 Cricket World Cup, emphasizing that he would like to return alongside ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia after a crackdown that resulted in approximately 1,400 deaths during student-led protests. Shakib’s case highlights ongoing tensions following Hasina's ouster, as many of her allies face similar legal challenges, and he expressed frustration over the lack of responses to his requests for the dismissal of what he claims are fabricated charges against him.
Between 2020 and 2022, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) engaged in a war against Ethiopia’s federal government and its allies, but by March 2025, the TPLF had regained control of parts of the Tigray region, including the city of Adigrat. Ethiopia's government accused the TPLF and Eritrea of collaborating with the Amhara militias known as Fano to destabilize the region, while Fano, which emerged in 2016, has shifted its focus from alliance to opposition toward the government, seeking to depose Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Eritrea, which was implicated in the Tigray conflict for mass killings and other atrocities, denied the accusations and claimed that tensions with Addis Ababa stem from past collaborations against the TPLF.