Zahra Khaliq

easyJet will permanently end all flights from Leeds Bradford Airport after 5 January 2027, affecting routes including Barcelona, Paris, Belfast, Malaga, Mallorca and Geneva. Passengers booked beyond the cutoff date can choose a full refund or a free transfer to an alternative airport. The airline said it is reallocating resources to its most popular and highest-demand routes; some routes already appear to end before January.

A helicopter operated by Bellavia Aviation Services crashed near the Tholos area of Sifnos shortly before its scheduled landing on August 17, 2026. All three people aboard died, including a British couple reportedly honeymooning in Greece and a pilot described as a military-background father of three. Emergency crews recovered the bodies after extinguishing the resulting fire, while the cause of the crash remains unreported.

Five 17-year-old boys—Braden Taylor, Tristan Tucker, Titus Gould, William Simms and Tyler Martinez—died after their car veered off a residential roadway and plunged down a steep hillside in Grand Junction, Colorado. The vehicle was discovered the following morning, and officials said three occupants were wearing seatbelts while two were ejected. Authorities are investigating whether speed contributed to the crash. Relatives described the boys as best friends and launched fundraisers to help the grieving families.

Amanda “Mandy” Karolkiewicz, her husband Kristopher, and their six children, aged five to 15, were found dead after a fire at their home in Grand Haven Township, Michigan. Authorities say several victims sustained gunshot injuries, the blaze appears suspicious and may have been deliberately started, and they are investigating a possible murder-suicide rather than pursuing external suspects. The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office has not yet formally identified all victims or determined the definitive cause of death, while the local school district is offering support and mental-health services.

Whitbread plans to close 106 UK pub restaurants, including five sites in Scotland, as part of a £250 million restructuring. All Beefeater restaurants are scheduled to close by 10 September 2026, while Brewers Fayre and Bar + Block closures will follow with dates yet to be confirmed. Around 3,800 jobs are at risk, although Whitbread says it expects to retain or redeploy a significant proportion of affected employees.

A man was killed when a four-seat Tecnam light aircraft crashed into a family home in Ganderkesee, Lower Saxony. The residents were away, but authorities evacuated nearby people after warning that the damaged property could collapse. Officials are searching for another possible occupant, have suspended local aviation activity, cut power to the street and deployed emergency teams and drones. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

Authorities in Salerno are investigating the killing of football journalist Luigi ‘Luca’ Esposito, whose burned body was found in a remote field after he was reported missing. Evidence suggests he was shot before being set on fire, and prosecutors led by anti‑mafia chief Raffaele Cantone are treating the case as murder while examining possible motives. Esposito, a well‑known pundit and columnist, had a significant presence in the local football community, and colleagues described him as fearless and outspoken. No arrests have been made as the investigation continues.

Seventeen-year-old Hampton School pupil Eugene Enoch Kwon died after disappearing while snorkelling in Lake Malawi during a school trip. Divers recovered him underwater and he was taken to hospital, but could not be saved. Malawi Police Service investigations are continuing, while the school is supporting his family and community. The report also notes the recent death of 18-year-old London student Umar Dumbuya after entering the River Wye during a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Wales.

Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, were found dead at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, on July 6. Post-mortem examinations identified blunt-force trauma as the cause of death. Nothabo’s husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, has been charged with three counts of murder and arrested in Johannesburg after allegedly fleeing the UK shortly before the bodies were discovered. He has been remanded in custody in South Africa while UK authorities work with international partners to bring him back. Police have declined to provide further details because the proceedings remain active.

Two Hampshire police officers are under gross misconduct investigation for allegedly ignoring Henry Nowak’s pleas that he had been stabbed and for restraining him instead of providing medical aid. The IOPC is examining their conduct, including whether race or religion influenced their actions. Evidence suggests potential breaches involving duties, use of force and discreditable behavior. Henry Nowak died after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who was later sentenced to life. The investigation continues, with possible disciplinary proceedings pending.

A shooting at San Pedro Square in San Jose left one person dead and another critically injured during a period when no World Cup matches were being shown. Police are investigating the incident as a homicide, closing nearby streets and prompting a significant emergency response. The area, previously busy with World Cup fan gatherings, saw bars shut as authorities secured the scene. Witness accounts described the injured victim in distress as officers and security personnel responded.

A man died after falling around 100 feet from cliffs at Fisherman's Walk in Bournemouth. Police were already engaging with him after concerns for his wellbeing when he fell and was declared dead at the scene. Witnesses on the beach described the incident as terrifying. Police say the death is not suspicious and have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to their presence at the time of the fall.

Police in Renningen, Germany are searching for a missing three‑month‑old boy reportedly taken from a pushchair late at night. The operation involves drones, helicopters, firefighters and rescue dogs, including cadaver dogs, but authorities say no promising leads have emerged. Residents have been urged not to form independent search groups to avoid disrupting the investigation, while local officials expressed deep concern over the child’s safety amid high temperatures.

Two women were critically injured when a telegraph pole with live wires fell onto them in the car park of Pontyclun train station in Wales. Emergency services, including an air ambulance, responded and transported both victims to the University Hospital of Wales, where they remain in life-threatening condition. South Wales Police confirmed the incident occurred around 12:50pm and that the women had been trapped under the pole before rescue teams arrived.

A Cessna Citation Latitude business jet crashed onto Loop 20 in Laredo, Texas, killing one person and igniting a large fire. Drivers attempted to help trapped passengers escape as several people emerged from the wreckage. Five officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, and the cause of the crash remains unknown. The jet, operated by NetJets, had departed from Los Cabos, Mexico, earlier that evening.

Construction workers discovered the remains of 29 unborn babies buried beneath a property in Lutory, Poland, prompting the arrest of a 52-year-old woman. Authorities found significant medical waste on the site, including paraffin blocks, slides and fetal remains, leading to an investigation for corpse desecration and illegal hazardous‑waste disposal. Police continue to search the property and surrounding systems as forensic experts examine the recovered materials, while locals describe the former homeowner as reclusive and unusual.

A false alarm over a suspected hazardous materials issue prompted the evacuation and lockdown of several floors of the Pentagon. Air quality systems triggered the alert, leading to standard protection protocols including a shelter‑in‑place order and deployment of hazardous materials response teams and local fire services. After investigation, officials confirmed no real threat was present.

A woman is on trial for killing her ex-partner and hiding his body in a bathroom for 11 months. Prosecutors describe a long history of controlling and abusive behaviour culminating in a fatal attack that caused severe head injuries. The defendant has admitted hiding the body and attempted fraud but is expected to claim self‑defence or diminished responsibility. The victim had repeatedly reported concerns about her behaviour to police, and the body was eventually discovered by a lodger due to a strong smell. The trial remains ongoing.

Three teenage boys who raped two girls in Fordingbridge avoided prison despite a judge finding that two of them posed a high risk of serious harm to young females. Judge Nicholas Rowland ruled that although the offences passed the custody threshold, youth justice guidelines and the boys' developmental and personal circumstances supported rehabilitation over detention. All three received Youth Rehabilitation Orders, prompting public anger and a referral of the sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentences scheme. The judge cited ADHD, intellectual impairments and emotional immaturity as key considerations, emphasising that custody should be a last resort and that structured rehabilitation offered the best chance of preventing reoffending.

A Sheffield motorist, Zulkernain Ahmed, received a life sentence with a minimum term of 30 years for using his Audi as a weapon while chasing e‑bike riders, killing 16‑year‑old Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Taleb, a recent refugee from Yemen. His brother, Armaan Ahmed, was sentenced to 17 years for manslaughter. Prosecutors said the attack was a revenge attempt targeting rider La'Rome Divers over an e‑bike dispute. Victim impact statements described the devastating effect on Abdullah’s family. The court also heard about Zulkernain's mental health issues and his written apology expressing remorse.

A Southampton man, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak with a Sikh kirpan knife. Digwa falsely claimed he had been racially abused and acted in self-defence, but evidence and court findings contradicted his account. His mother was convicted of assisting an offender for removing the weapon from the scene. Police mistakenly handcuffed the dying victim after Digwa denied involvement, prompting an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Emotional statements from the victim’s family highlighted the devastation caused by the killing.

Donald Trump announced he would meet advisers in the White House Situation Room to decide whether to approve a developing peace and nuclear-related agreement with Iran. He outlined conditions including Iran permanently renouncing nuclear weapons, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, removing sea mines and allowing the destruction of enriched uranium by the US in cooperation with Iran and the IAEA. Reports indicated US and Iranian negotiators had agreed on a framework for a 60‑day ceasefire extension involving mine clearance and sanctions discussions. Vice President JD Vance confirmed a tentative agreement but said Trump had not yet decided on final approval.

A 14-year-old boy was found dead in the River Thames in Oxford, becoming the 11th water-related fatality during a UK heatwave marked by high temperatures and thunderstorms. Authorities warn that warm weather increases the risk of accidental drownings, with several recent deaths reported across multiple regions. Weather conditions are expected to cool as rain moves in over the weekend, and national safety agencies highlight the ongoing risks associated with open-water swimming and cold-water shock.

Emergency services responded to a medical incident on Hastings seafront where a man was pronounced dead despite paramedics' efforts, prompting road closures and the erection of a privacy screen. Sussex Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances and that a report will be prepared for the coroner, with the man's next of kin notified and supported.

Five Italian tourists died during a cave dive in the Maldives after becoming trapped roughly 200 feet deep and lacking essential cave-diving equipment. A Maldivian rescue diver also died during recovery efforts. Experts cited human error, oxygen toxicity and panic as possible factors, while officials noted the depth and difficulty of the cave. Bodies were recovered over several days, with investigations continuing into the cause of the incident.

UK charter airline Zenith Aviation has ceased operations and entered administration, resulting in the loss of 41 jobs. Administrator Paul Hargreaves cited cashflow problems, unpaid debts and historic management issues as key factors. The company’s assets and options for potential rescue or sale are being assessed. Zenith Aviation was acquired by Opul Jets last year, though control of the firm ended in December.

A 14-year-old schoolgirl, Adriana Retyte, died by suicide after being found unresponsive at her family home in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, and passing away in hospital two days later. Her family, school community and friends issued emotional tributes, while an inquest formally confirmed the cause of death and set a full hearing for October. A funeral service was scheduled in Norwich, and supporters created a fundraising page for the suicide-prevention charity Papyrus. Mental health support resources were highlighted in the aftermath of the tragedy.

A pedestrian was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle at a crossing outside Manchester College in Cheetham Hill, prompting police and paramedics to close nearby roads on Great Ducie Street and Trinity Way. Numerous emergency vehicles responded, causing significant traffic delays, and the public was advised to avoid the area while investigations continued.

Abdul Halim Khan, a 54‑year‑old imam, was sentenced to life in prison for raping and sexually assaulting seven girls and women between 2005 and 2014. He used threats of black magic and claims of spirit possession to intimidate victims, exploiting his position within the Muslim community. Judge Leslie Cuthbert condemned him for abusing trust and relying on community stigma to avoid exposure.

Cyprus police are conducting a large-scale search for a two-year-old British boy allegedly abducted by his Turkish Cypriot father, who reportedly crossed illegally from the island’s north and fled with an accomplice in a white car. Authorities believe he returned to the northern Turkish‑occupied region, and an arrest warrant is being prepared. The father is already wanted for a previous domestic abuse case, and the mother is part of a support program for victims.

Armed officers in Bedfordshire fatally shot a man in his 40s after he barricaded himself inside a house and made threats following reports of vehicle damage. Negotiators attempted to engage with him for several hours until he presented a weapon, prompting police to open fire. Residents were evacuated and later allowed to return as inquiries continue.

Donald Trump has reportedly discussed the possibility of making Venezuela the 51st US state, a notion he raised during the 2026 World Baseball Classic and again in a call with Fox News correspondent John Roberts. His comments come amid heightened US involvement in Venezuela following the January capture of former president Nicolas Maduro, whom Trump accuses of sending criminals to the United States and contributing to drug trafficking. Maduro is being held in New York on narcoterrorism-related charges. The article notes Trump’s history of suggesting US control over foreign territories such as Greenland and Canada.

Scientists warn that rapidly warming Pacific waters are likely to trigger a Super El Niño between May and July, raising the risk of extreme global weather. UK impacts could include higher summer temperatures and a greater chance of colder, drier winters. Ocean temperatures are approaching record highs, with experts comparing the developing system to the strongest past events. South American countries may face severe flooding, while regions in the western Pacific could see droughts and bushfires. The Met Office says this El Niño could rank among the most significant in recent decades, with peak influence expected between November and February.