Rich Booth

Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald was admitted to the National Hospital for treatment after cortisone therapy for hemolytic anemia caused fluid accumulation in his body. He has been on sick leave for two weeks, with Crown Prince Haakon serving as regent. Harald has experienced several recent health problems, including a skin infection in the Canary Islands and the implantation of a permanent pacemaker after falling ill in Malaysia.

A man died after a major emergency incident at the five-star Harbour Hotel in Southampton. Firefighters, paramedics, police and electricity engineers attended, while investigators collected evidence and examined a nearby vehicle and utility room. The hotel temporarily restricted access, suspended lift service and reduced its bar menu. Emergency services handed the incident to ambulance paramedics, and the hotel said guest and staff safety remained its priority; police had not commented.

At least five people were injured when a fire spread from an apartment on the 11th floor of a 21-story residential building in Berlin’s Friedrichshain district near Ostbahnhof. All residents were evacuated, with some jumping from windows and one person rescued in a firetruck’s aerial basket. The blaze was brought under control in less than three hours, but its cause and the severity of injuries were initially unknown. Separately, authorities in western Germany ordered about 1,800 residents to evacuate as a wildfire approached the village of Gey near the Belgian border amid dry conditions and heightened wildfire risks across Europe.

Mexico's health ministry reported that PCR tests of fruit, vegetables and water samples from more than a dozen Riviera Maya hotels found no cyclospora parasite. The update follows a rise in cyclosporiasis among UK travellers returning from Mexico, with 67 cases recorded over two and a half months compared with an annual average of 93 in previous years. UK health officials advise travellers to use bottled water, eat thoroughly cooked food, avoid certain uncooked produce and seek medical care if symptoms develop.

Ring doorbell footage captures a suspected gas explosion destroying a bungalow on Cobb Hall Road in Newton Longville near Milton Keynes. Bricks, roof tiles, smoke and flames were thrown into the air, damaging surrounding homes. One man was injured, nearby properties were evacuated, and the resident whose camera recorded the blast said their own home was also damaged.

The winning Powerball numbers are 14, 20, 59, 60 and 61, with 25 as the Powerball number. The next estimated jackpot is £444 million, payable over 30 years, and the article lists the winning ticket combinations, winners and prize amounts for each tier.

UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento died aged 34 from an apparent heart attack in his sleep. The UFC, his Brazilian training gym Chute Boxe, and fellow fighter Charles Oliveira paid tribute to him. Nascimento joined the UFC in 2021, compiled a 4–2 Octagon record, and finished his career with a 22–7 record and 16 submission victories.

Suspected human remains were discovered near the M67 motorway in Tameside, east of Manchester, after road workers alerted police shortly after 11pm on Monday 3 August 2026. Greater Manchester Police said detectives believe the remains are human. The motorway is closed eastbound between junctions three and four, with motorists advised to avoid the area while diversions are in place.

Brazilian UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento has died at 34 after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep. The UFC, his Chute Boxe Diego Lima team and former teammate Charles Oliveira paid tribute to him, highlighting his professionalism, humility and close relationships within the fighting community. Nascimento had a 4–2 UFC record and a 22–7 professional record, including 16 submission victories.

The winning Powerball numbers for Tuesday 4 August were 08, 30, 41, 48 and 54, with Powerball number 04. The next estimated jackpot is £411 million, payable over 30 years. The results list the winning ticket combinations and corresponding prizes, including £1 million for matching all five main numbers without the Powerball.

England and Wales experienced their driest July on record, while also recording exceptionally high sunshine levels and, in Wales, a record-equalling mean temperature. Southern England had its driest month ever recorded, with only 1.9mm of rain, and the wider UK endured prolonged dry conditions, drought, heatwaves and wildfires. The extreme weather is putting pressure on water supplies, farming, food production and public health, with farmers warning of potential shortages and authorities issuing heat-health alerts. Some cooler and wetter weather is expected, particularly in northern areas, but the south is likely to receive little of the rain needed to relieve drought conditions.

Wildfires across Greece, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are being intensified by prolonged heat, drought and strong winds. More than 1,000 people were evacuated near Athens, including people rescued by boat, while firefighting aircraft returned to operations after a helicopter collision killed two crew members. A blaze near Porto Germeno was linked to a faulty wind-farm power line, leading to two arrests. In France, a record wildfire burned about 420 square kilometres, forced more than 224,000 people to evacuate and destroyed 183 homes, although some residents were allowed to return. Authorities across Europe warned that wildfire risk remains high as the continent experiences increasingly hot and dry summers.

Cyclospora infections have risen among travellers returning to the UK from Mexico, with 67 cases reported in England, Wales and Scotland between 30 April and 15 July 2026, including 48 linked to travel to Mexico. Several cases involved stays in Riviera Maya and Cancún hotels and all-inclusive holiday consumption. The UK Health Security Agency advises travellers to practise strict food and water hygiene, including drinking bottled water, eating thoroughly cooked food and avoiding uncooked berries, herbs, unpeeled fruit and salads. Symptoms include persistent watery diarrhoea, cramps, nausea, bloating, fatigue and weight loss; infections are usually mild but can be prolonged or more serious in immunocompromised people. The parasite is acquired through contaminated food and does not normally spread person to person in the UK. A parallel outbreak has affected nine US states.

Funeral director Robert Bush has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting 67 offences involving the mistreatment of bodies and ashes, fraud, fraudulent funeral plans and theft from charities. Police found 31 bodies at his Hull premises in 2024, including an unborn baby, while investigators identified 57 families who may have received incorrect or no ashes. Bush operated Legacy Independent Funeral Directors for nearly 12 years, selling fake funeral plans to 226 people and retaining more than £500,000. Victims described profound distress, including discovering that jewellery and memorial items made from ashes may contain the remains of strangers. The judge condemned Bush’s greed, dishonesty and disregard for human dignity, while calls intensified for statutory regulation of funeral homes and mortuaries.

A cruise ship carrying 186 tourists ran aground on the severely depleted Danube River in Bulgaria, leaving passengers without sufficient food and water and prompting their evacuation. Prolonged drought and a renewed heatwave have disrupted river tourism and cargo operations, while critically low water levels have reduced cooling capacity at nuclear power plants in Romania and Hungary. Receding waters have also revealed shipwrecks and wartime explosives, with conditions expected to deteriorate as temperatures remain high.

A man died after getting into difficulty in the sea off The Esplanade in Frinton, Essex. Essex Police were called shortly before 2.10pm on Thursday 30 July, and emergency services pronounced him dead at the scene. His family has been informed and is receiving support from officers. The incident occurred during the UK's fourth summer heatwave, when temperatures exceeded 35°C.

A man died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Frinton, Essex, and being brought ashore; police said he was pronounced dead at the scene and that his family had been informed. The incident occurred during an intense period of heatwaves and drought in England. The UK Health Security Agency warned that 2026 could produce the highest number of heat-associated deaths on record, with interim estimates already approaching the 2022 annual record.

Deadly heatwaves and drought have dramatically altered waterways and landscapes across Europe, while wildfires have damaged land and forced evacuations in France, Spain, Greece, Italy, England and elsewhere. Low water levels have disrupted navigation on the Rhine and led Romania to shut down both reactors at the Cernavoda nuclear plant because the Danube could no longer provide sufficient cooling water. The Loire, Lake Brenets and other waterways have also receded sharply. Europe is experiencing increasingly severe wildfire conditions after a wet winter produced abundant vegetation that dried out during successive heatwaves, with temperatures well above historic averages.

Alexandra Walker and Harrison Simpson were sentenced to life in prison for the murder and cruelty of two-year-old Isabelle Welsh in Thornaby. Isabelle suffered weeks of abuse, including 21 broken bones, a fatal head injury and sexual assault; Simpson was convicted of the sexual assault while Walker was acquitted of that charge. Simpson received a minimum term of 28 years and six months, and Walker 22 years. The judge said Walker delayed seeking medical help and lied to conceal the abuse, while both defendants were responsible for a sustained campaign of extreme violence.

Severe drought and heat have driven Danube water levels to record lows, disrupting cruise and cargo shipping across Central and Southeastern Europe. Bulgarian police evacuated 186 tourists from the Viking Ullur after it ran aground near Vidin, while its crew remained aboard pending refloating efforts. Reduced river flow also stranded vessels, exposed wartime ordnance and artifacts, and forced Romania’s Cernavoda and Hungary’s Paks nuclear plants to shut down or reduce reactor output because of limited cooling water.

Johannes Kongsnes Natland, a 19-year-old Norwegian footballer, was convicted by an Old Bailey jury of conspiring to murder an unidentified person in England for €25,000. He travelled to the UK, collected two guns, ammunition, cash and a stolen vehicle, and was arrested at a Huddersfield hotel before the planned killing. Prosecutors said he was recruited through the Swedish Foxtrot criminal network, which is linked to the Iranian regime, and directed by an unidentified English-speaking figure known as “Agent 47.” Natland claimed he had been frightened and intended to fake a self-inflicted foot injury to escape the plot, but jurors rejected his account after hearing evidence of his messages, weapons photographs, repeated lies and attempts to influence his girlfriend’s evidence.

Norwegian footballer Johannes Kongsnes Natland, 19, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiring to murder an unknown target in England for €25,000. He had been recruited by a 17-year-old known as “Generalen” to work for Sweden’s proscribed Foxtrot gang, which is described as backed by Iran. Police arrested Natland at a Huddersfield hotel and seized two guns and live ammunition; jurors rejected his claim that he intended only to injure himself and heard that he had lied and attempted to influence his girlfriend’s testimony.

James Desborough was unanimously convicted at Winchester Crown Court of murdering Claudio Aquilino and Daniel Coleman, two homeless men who had lived at the same hostel as him. Their dismembered remains were found in and near Sticker Woods in Cornwall, and prosecutors presented evidence that Desborough used their money for drugs and alcohol, kept notes about killing and planned to leave the UK. He denied the murders, claiming he discovered both men dead and helped dispose of their remains, but admitted preventing their lawful burial. Desborough is already serving a life sentence for strangling his cellmate Steven Kempster while awaiting trial, making him responsible for three murders in separate incidents.

Residents near Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, were evacuated after reports of a white phosphorus leak. Authorities advised people to move to safety and avoid skin exposure, while police established a perimeter around the base. The evacuation order was lifted after decontamination work was completed. The U.S. 51st Fighter Wing described the incident only as a ground mishap and said it had created a safety cordon as a precaution; no major disruptions or accidents were immediately reported.

Will Rogers has stepped down immediately as managing director of East Midlands Railway, with Merseyrail managing director Neil Grabham appointed as interim replacement. The leadership change comes as EMR faces widespread cancellations caused by reliability and maintenance problems affecting Hitachi Rail’s Class 810 trains, alongside disruption following the fatal collision of two EMR trains near Bedford. EMR is expected to return to public ownership next year.

Wildlife presenter, comedian and broadcaster Bill Oddie has died aged 85. He became widely known through the comedy trio The Goodies before hosting BBC wildlife programmes including Springwatch and Autumnwatch. His agent and friend David Foster praised Oddie’s versatility and highlighted his longstanding campaigning, lobbying and conservation work.

Four people, including a baby girl, died after a red Hyundai carrying five people left the A38 near Derby and crashed into trees. Two women aged 18 and 30 and a 36-year-old man died at the scene, while the baby girl died in hospital. The 33-year-old driver, who suffered serious injuries, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. All those involved were from Leeds, and police appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.

Christopher Hellenthal, still wearing a Spider-Man costume after working at a trampoline-park event, helped a man in a wheelchair cross six lanes of traffic in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He intervened from a waiting Jeep, moved the man to safety before the traffic light changed, and then returned to his vehicle. The Jonesboro Police Department shared security-camera footage of the rescue, prompting widespread positive reactions online. Hellenthal said he acted on instinct, while colleagues described the spontaneous assistance as typical of him.

Ahoor Ramabark Fathi, 61, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing drugs with intent to supply, a firearm and ammunition, and criminal property. Metropolitan Police officers linked him to the transport of GBL from Manchester to London and found 2,256 litres of the drug in a rented storage container, along with £100,000 in cash, 456 grams of crystal meth, ammunition and a firearm. Detective Inspector Mark Gavin said the seizure was among the largest quantities of GBL recovered in London and had prevented the drug from reaching the streets.

Prison officers in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region stopped a cat before it entered Correctional Colony No. 17 and found two homemade collars containing narcotics. The animal was checked for injuries and released. Authorities did not identify the smugglers or specify the drugs. The report also describes a similar 2025 incident in Costa Rica, where a cat was found carrying marijuana and heroin into a prison.

Police have released a photograph of a man they want to question about a serious assault on Gascoyne Road in Hackney shortly after the England-Norway World Cup match on 12 July. A 24-year-old man suffered serious head injuries and remains in hospital. Detectives believe he was assaulted by one member of a group following an altercation. No arrests have been made, and police are appealing for witnesses and information.

Two Greek American tourists were stabbed near the entrance to the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The woman sustained light leg injuries, while the man suffered more serious wounds to his arm; both were taken to hospital. Police detained one person and said the suspected attacker appeared to have psychological problems. The Acropolis and surrounding sites remained open, with no disruption to tourist operations.

Two Greek American tourists were stabbed near the entrance of the Acropolis Museum in Athens. The woman suffered minor leg injuries and the man sustained more serious arm wounds; both were taken to hospital. Police detained a man believed to have psychological problems, while authorities noted that violent street attacks are rare in Greece.

The World Cup closing ceremony featured a Super Bowl-style halftime show with Madonna, Robbie Williams, BTS, Post Malone, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Bieber, Shakira, Burna Boy and other performers. Madonna was joined by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, while Tom Cruise gave a motivational speech, Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra, and Chris Martin curated the spectacle. The event concluded with a performance involving elementary school students from Staten Island.

A Metropolitan Police tribunal found former Detective Sergeant Jason Grafham guilty of gross misconduct for keeping and showing graphic crime‑scene photographs of murdered teenager Sally Anne Bowman without any policing purpose, intensifying the family's distress and undermining professional standards. Grafham, who retired just before the hearing, was also found to have made multiple sexually inappropriate and discriminatory remarks to colleagues. Officials condemned his actions, stressing that such behaviour has no place in the force and acknowledging the harm caused.

A group posing as police officers stole over £4 million in cryptocurrency from victims by directing them to transfer funds to fake secure accounts and using convincing police-style websites. The three men were arrested following coordinated raids, with investigators uncovering luxury spending, extensive digital evidence, and more than £1 million in recovered assets. All three were convicted of conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering, receiving sentences ranging from three years nine months to six years. Police continue efforts to identify additional suspects and recover further criminal proceeds.

Micah Richards learned of the unexpected death of his father shortly before appearing on BBC’s coverage of England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina. He later paid tribute on Instagram, describing his father as his greatest supporter and expressing solidarity with his family. The broadcast also featured lighthearted exchanges among presenters, including jokes referencing Gary Lineker and analysis highlighting Jude Bellingham’s goal statistics.

Micah Richards learned of the sudden death of his father, Lincoln, shortly before BBC coverage of England’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina. Despite his grief, Richards continued working because he believed his father, a proud Yorkshireman and lifelong supporter, would have wanted the broadcast to continue. He later paid tribute to Lincoln as his greatest fan, hero and inspiration. England subsequently lost 2–1 and were eliminated at the semi-final stage.

Andy Burnham says he would deal with Donald Trump directly, respecting the presidency and the UK-US relationship while openly expressing disagreements. He also declines to rule out a wealth tax, arguing that the UK needs greater fairness, but says he would first assess the country’s finances and avoid creating new divisions. Burnham warns that difficult decisions may eventually require asking people to contribute more, though he stresses that such decisions are not imminent.

South East Water will pay a £30.5 million penalty imposed by Ofwat after investigations into supply interruptions, customer failings and a breach of its supply licence. The penalty includes a previously proposed £22 million fine for failures between 2020 and 2023 that affected more than 286,000 people, as well as additional interruptions in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Sussex affecting up to 70,000 homes.

A Singapore court postponed the case against 19-year-old French student Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, who is accused of filming himself licking a straw from an IJooz vending machine and putting it back. Prosecutors requested more time to determine whether his student pass would be revoked if he is convicted. The case was adjourned until July 30. Maximilien faces charges of mischief and public nuisance, while IJooz reported the incident, sanitized the dispenser, replaced all 500 straws and said it would add individually packaged straws and transaction-controlled compartments to its machines.

A 26-year-old man was arrested in Newton Abbot, Devon, on suspicion of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead at her home after sustaining serious injuries. Devon and Cornwall Police said there was no information indicating a politically motivated or terror-related crime. Keir Starmer described the death as shocking and praised Widdecombe as a distinguished politician.

Devon and Cornwall Police launched a murder investigation after former MP and minister Ann Widdecombe was found dead with serious injuries at her home in Haytor, Devon. Officers are conducting forensic, house-to-house and CCTV enquiries, while road closures and a police cordon remain in place. Detectives are seeking information about a white male believed to be responsible and have asked the public not to speculate, particularly on social media. Information can be submitted through the police public portal, by calling 101, or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

Bedfordshire Police have named 45-year-old Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, known as Mark, as the suspect in the deaths of his wife, Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, and their daughters Natalie and Nala in Great Denham near Bedford. Police believe Tshuma left the UK for Zimbabwe via Heathrow and have issued a CCTV image while working with national and international agencies to locate him. The victims have been mourned by relatives, friends and local residents. Tshuma is the sole director of property company Nexus Trove Holdings, which reported more than £1 million in assets and a £48,277 profit in its latest filings.

A severe heatwave disrupted legal proceedings and rail services across the UK. Parts of Bristol Crown Court became unusable because of excessive temperatures, forcing Tony Bartlett to attend a nearby magistrates’ court by video link while he was convicted of murdering his baby son, Atticus. HM Courts & Tribunals Service said hearings could be moved to video where necessary for safety. East Midlands Railway also warned of cancellations, reduced speeds and timetable changes, including suspended services from Nottingham, because extreme heat can buckle rails, sag overhead wires and cause fires.

Marks & Spencer is investing in new refrigeration equipment and reviewing its systems after fridges broke down in some stores and food halls during a recent UK heatwave. Chief executive Stuart Machin said the upgrades are intended to help the retailer cope with future extreme temperatures of up to 45°C.

England defeated co-hosts Mexico 3–2 at the Estadio Azteca to reach the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Jude Bellingham scored twice in the first half, while Harry Kane added a penalty. England were reduced to ten men after Jarell Quansah's red card and conceded a penalty, but held on for victory and will face Norway in Miami.

Wildfires are burning across Portugal, Greece and Spain, prompting the deployment of hundreds of firefighters and international reinforcements. A blaze near Vouzela in central Portugal has scorched about 12,000 hectares, while fires in Greece include a recycling plant blaze near Thessaloniki that produced toxic smoke and a major fire west of Athens. Greek authorities arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of negligently starting the Thessaloniki fire and said negligence causes most wildfires in the country. In Spain, a fire in the Girona region has consumed nearly 2,200 hectares and developed a 40-kilometre perimeter.

Wildfires across Portugal, Greece and Spain prompted large-scale firefighting operations, international reinforcements and safety warnings as toxic smoke affected Thessaloniki. Portugal’s prolonged blaze showed signs of stabilizing while significant fires continued near Athens and in Spain’s Girona region. Greek authorities attributed most fires to negligence, highlighting ongoing vulnerability amid dry summer conditions and increasing reliance on satellite monitoring technology.

A speeding, overcrowded passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Dana Sar near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killing 40 of the 48 people aboard and injuring eight. Officials said the bus had taken on passengers from another broken-down bus. A survivor alleged that an argument with the driver preceded the crash, but police were investigating and the account had not been independently verified. Rescue agencies transported victims to hospitals, while Pakistan’s president and Balochistan’s chief minister offered condolences and ordered care for the injured.

An 11-year-old boy allegedly took his family’s pickup truck without permission and crashed into 35 Buddhist monks walking on pilgrimage along the Mukdahan-Don Tan Road in northeastern Thailand. Ten monks died—five at the scene and five in hospital—and 14 others were hospitalised, with one in critical condition. The boy was taken into custody, while police investigate the cause of the crash and whether his parents may face negligence charges.

Wildfires driven by strong winds, dry conditions and the aftermath of a European heatwave have devastated 1,210 hectares in southern France, with about 2,000 people evacuated from campsites near Fréjus. Fires also affected central Greece, where residents of two villages were urged to leave as firefighters and aircraft battled the flames; a separate northern Greek wildfire killed a father and his 12-year-old son. Greek authorities are increasingly using satellite technology as climate change intensifies the wildfire threat.

Firefighters are battling multiple wildfires in southern France, where strong winds, dry vegetation and recent extreme heat have fueled fires covering about 1,210 hectares. More than 2,000 people were evacuated from campsites near Fréjus, while around 800 firefighters worked on the largest blaze near the Spanish border; no casualties were reported in France. In Greece, authorities evacuated two villages as more than 135 firefighters and 25 aircraft tackled a fire in Fthiotida, following a previous blaze that killed a father and his 12-year-old son. Several other Greek fires were contained, while the country is expanding satellite-based wildfire monitoring amid worsening climate-related risks.

Eight monks in northeastern Thailand were killed when an 11-year-old boy driving a family pickup truck veered off a road and struck a pilgrimage group in Mukdahan province. Five monks died at the scene and three later in hospital, with fourteen more injured. The boy allegedly took the vehicle without permission and was taken into custody as police investigate the cause of the crash. Emergency services and local authorities responded, and efforts to contact victims’ families are underway.

A fire at a 10-story apartment block in Antwerp’s Linkeroever neighbourhood killed at least five people and injured numerous others. More than 200 residents were evacuated, while firefighters battled the blaze and emergency services activated a medical emergency plan. Residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed because of heavy smoke. Forensic experts are investigating the cause, and Belgium’s prime minister expressed condolences to the victims.

At least five people died and many others were injured when a fire struck a 10-story apartment block in Antwerp’s Linkeroever neighborhood. The building, which houses more than 200 people, was evacuated as firefighters battled the intense blaze and residents were warned to avoid smoke exposure. A medical emergency plan was activated, while forensic experts investigated the cause, which had not been determined. Prime Minister Bart De Wever expressed condolences to victims and evacuated residents and praised emergency responders.

Yerevan is drawing increasing numbers of visitors attracted by its Soviet-era relics, rich history and growing cultural and tech scenes. Red Tourism enthusiasts explore markets filled with USSR memorabilia while the city balances its complex past, including the Armenian Genocide and tensions with Azerbaijan, with rapid modernisation and a youthful population. Armenia’s flower industry faces disruption after Russia banned imports amid the country’s shift toward closer EU ties following recent elections. New direct WizzAir flights from the UK and affordable food, accommodation and attractions are fuelling strong growth in tourism, positioning Yerevan as an emerging travel destination.

A provisional temperature of 37.7C was recorded in Lingwood, Norfolk, surpassing previous June highs and potentially breaking the UK June record of 35.6C set in 1976. The heatwave caused widespread disruption, including school closures, hospital cancellations, transport suspensions and a hosepipe ban in Kent. Scientists and Met Office forecaster Andy Page linked the increasingly intense extreme heat to human-driven climate change. Eurostar cancellations, Sheffield tram suspensions and a sharp rise in vehicle breakdowns demonstrated the broader infrastructure and public-service impacts.

A 26-year-old Thai airline employee was arrested at Melbourne Airport after more than one kilogram of suspected heroin was allegedly found hidden in the linings of 12 tote bags. Australian authorities valued the drugs at approximately A$500,000 and charged her with importing and possessing narcotics, offences carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence. Thai Airways confirmed that one of its employees had been detained, said it was cooperating with investigators, and pledged action if misconduct is confirmed. The report also outlines regional heroin-smuggling routes from Myanmar through Thailand to overseas destinations such as Australia.

A US Marine disappeared from the USS Anchorage during an integrated training exercise off Southern California. The Navy shifted from search-and-rescue to search-and-recovery efforts, covering roughly 2,400 square miles with three ships and 12 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force. The Marine’s identity was withheld pending notification of family.

Canada defeated South Africa 1–0 in Los Angeles to advance to the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Captain Stephen Eustaquio scored the decisive goal in stoppage time. Canada will face either Morocco or the Netherlands on 4 July.

The Cabinet Office’s Propriety and Ethics Team found no evidence of improper behaviour in an exchange of messages involving Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds and a female MP. Thomas-Symonds was reminded of his ministerial responsibilities, but officials said this was standard practice and no formal investigation or further action was warranted. Keir Starmer was informed and accepted standards adviser Laurie Magnus’s recommendation. The report also notes Thomas-Symonds’s support for Starmer amid speculation that Andy Burnham could challenge for the Labour leadership, while highlighting Thomas-Symonds’s role in post-Brexit relations with Brussels.

England finished top of Group L with a 2–0 win over Panama and will face DR Congo in the World Cup last 32. Scotland are seeking a new manager after Steve Clarke resigned following their elimination. Argentina completed three group-stage wins with a 3–1 victory over Jordan, with Lionel Messi scoring from the bench. Austria and Algeria advanced after a 3–3 draw, while DR Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3–1 to reach the knockout phase.

A 77-metre Jesus monument planned for Mount Hatis near Yerevan remains unfinished, with its 33-metre aluminium figure sitting in pieces at a construction site in Zovuni. Backed by businessman and politician Gagik Tsarukyan, the statue is intended to surpass major Christ monuments in Brazil, Poland and Indonesia and become a national landmark and tourist attraction. The Armenian Apostolic Church opposes the project, arguing that monumental statues of Jesus do not fit Armenia’s historic religious traditions and that a khachkar-inspired monument would be more appropriate. Critics also question the spending amid Armenia’s political instability and security concerns, leaving the statue’s eventual completion and meaning uncertain.

The Faroe Islands offer dramatic scenery, distinctive local culture and relatively low visitor numbers despite being easily reached from the UK. The article argues that the archipelago may provide an alternative to overcrowded European destinations, while noting that rising tourism could threaten its fragile landscapes and close-knit communities. Government initiatives such as the annual Closed for Maintenance scheme seek to manage that risk. The feature also covers the islands’ transport infrastructure, autonomous status within the Danish kingdom, traditional industries, whale hunts and a five-day travel itinerary.

Greece’s tourism industry is reaching a crossroads as overtourism, strained infrastructure, housing pressures, water scarcity and climate-driven heat and wildfires threaten the appeal of its islands. Santorini has experienced a sharp fall in arrivals amid overcrowding, earthquakes and cruise-ship pressure, while travelers are shifting toward destinations such as Lefkada, Aegina, Poros and other lesser-known islands. Zakynthos remains heavily visited despite infrastructure problems, and local businesses warn that government investment has not kept pace. Greek authorities plan to spend €322 million on tourism infrastructure, mountain and winter tourism, and destination diversification, but experts argue that coordinated, sustainable reform is needed to prevent the same problems spreading from one island to another.

Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners plans to develop luxury resorts, hotels and villas on Albania’s Sazan Island and around Vlore, with investment expected to exceed $1 billion and Saudi-linked financing playing a major role. The projects have prompted concern among residents, environmentalists and Albanian opposition figures over alleged lack of transparency, changes to protected-area laws, damage to wildlife and possible losses for local tourism businesses. U.S. Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden is investigating whether foreign sovereign wealth investments could provide leverage over Donald Trump’s family and U.S. politics, while Affinity has reportedly not yet generated returns. Albanian officials and tourism advocates support the developments as a way to attract high-end visitors and investment, leaving Vlore residents awaiting the outcome of the investigation and approval process.