Simon Hamalienko

Dolly Parton missed the August 14 launch of Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition after her Nashville doctor advised her not to travel because of dizziness, dehydration and an infection. She appeared virtually instead and said she was recuperating. Parton has also cancelled rearranged Las Vegas residency performances while receiving treatment, but said she is responding well to medication and that her condition is treatable.

Xbox Live experienced a major global outage on 27 July 2026, with service-status indicators showing problems across account and profile, store and subscriptions, games and gaming, and apps and mobile. DownDetector reports began rising around 2pm, while users said they were unable to sign in, access their game libraries or launch games. Xbox Support confirmed the issue and said its teams were investigating, following a similar PlayStation outage days earlier.

Footage from Atlanta showed Argentina fans fighting and throwing objects, including bins and furniture, ahead of the World Cup semi-final against England. Police intervened to separate the groups, and no arrests were confirmed. The report also outlined England manager Thomas Tuchel’s team changes and Argentina’s Premier League-heavy lineup for the match.

Tyler Ford, an 18-year-old world champion kickboxer, has been charged with murder and attempted murder after a collision involving a car and an off-road bike in Gorseinon on July 9 that killed 18-year-old Ceiran Evans and left another man in hospital. Ford appeared at Swansea Crown Court for an administrative hearing and was remanded in custody, with a plea hearing scheduled for September and trial set for January 2027. Police confirmed ongoing enquiries and urged the public to provide information, while Evans’ family issued a tribute expressing their grief.

Police arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe, who was found dead with serious injuries at her home in Dartmoor. Authorities confirmed the case is not being treated as terror-related or politically motivated. Senior officers urged the public to provide information as the investigation progresses. Political leaders, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham, offered condolences and called for public assistance in locating the suspect. Widdecombe’s management and police appealed for witnesses, and a public portal was opened for submitting evidence.

Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran over, accusing the country of renewed aggression and describing US strikes as far tougher than before. The escalation followed attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz and coincided with the funeral of Iran’s late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during which mourners called for retaliation against US and Israeli leaders. The United States launched strikes on Iranian military assets, including air defenses, radar systems and Revolutionary Guard boats, while Iran responded with attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. The developments cast doubt on planned negotiations intended to address shipping security and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Former footballer Emile Heskey has separated from his wife Chantelle after more than two decades together and is now publicly in a relationship with Sky Sports walk‑on girl Jade Slusarczyk. Friends say the marriage ended last year, and divorce proceedings are underway. Photos of Heskey and Slusarczyk appearing together at recent public events prompted questions, while Chantelle continues to run her business ventures and support their children, two of whom now play for Manchester City.

FIFA is considering moving the England vs Mexico 2026 World Cup match from a 1:00am UK time kickoff on July 6 to 7:00pm on July 5 due to thunderstorm risks in Mexico City. Regulations allow FIFA to reschedule matches for safety, and discussions are ongoing. The change would prevent potential delays and provide a more convenient viewing time for UK fans, with pubs and venues adjusting expectations as the earlier kickoff becomes increasingly likely.

Two 15‑month‑old twin girls were found dead from dehydration in their home in Beuvrages, northern France, while four siblings were also dehydrated and one remains in critical condition. An autopsy confirmed the twins were underweight. The parents reported finding the children unresponsive and have been charged and placed in custody. All surviving children were taken into care, and authorities noted the family had no prior reports or judicial supervision.

US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Village People lead singer Victor Willis, who died after a short and aggressive illness. Trump praised Willis for embracing the use of YMCA at his rallies and credited the song’s renewed popularity to its presence at campaign events. The group had previously taken legal action to prevent Trump from using their music, though Willis later performed with a version of the band during Trump’s 2025 inauguration events. Willis, known for major hits including YMCA and In The Navy, had publicly stated that neither he nor the group endorsed Trump despite appreciating the song’s broad appeal across political lines.

A 31-year-old woman died after a large alligator attacked her while she was cooling off in shallow water at the Econlockhatchee River near Orlando. The alligator tore off one of her arms and severely injured the other as her boyfriend and friend attempted to get help. Emergency services were unable to save her before she reached a hospital. Wildlife officials removed two large alligators from the scene and sent DNA samples for analysis to determine which was responsible. The fatal attack occurred during a period of increased alligator aggression in central Florida.

A deliberate explosion in Monaco injured three people, including a couple in critical condition and a 13‑year‑old boy. Authorities are treating the incident as a likely terrorist attack after CCTV captured a man leaving a backpack shortly before the blast. The suspect fled toward Beausoleil in France and remains at large. Monaco’s security forces and French police are investigating, while officials including Nice mayor Eric Ciotti condemned the attack and expressed support for emergency services.

Fifteen‑month‑old twin girls were found dead in their beds in Beuvrages, northern France, with authorities suspecting dehydration amid high temperatures. Four other children in the household were also suffering from dehydration, and one remains in critical condition after an airlift to hospital. The parents were taken into custody as investigators examine possible deprivation of care leading to the deaths. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

A JetBlue pilot reported that the aircraft collided with a drone at 3,000 feet while approaching JFK Airport, but the plane landed safely and showed no damage after inspection. The FAA is investigating the incident, which occurred amid increased air traffic for World Cup travel. A similar drone sighting was reported days earlier by a United Airlines pilot near Newark Airport, though no collision occurred.

Six people were killed and several others injured after a gunman attacked a youth welfare facility in Stade, Germany, which houses pregnant women and young mothers. Police arrested the suspected shooter and another individual, warning the public against spreading misinformation as investigations continue. The area was heavily secured, and eyewitnesses reported hearing gunfire before emergency services arrived.