Five years after taking power, the Taliban are ending their international isolation as regional and western powers resume diplomatic contacts, sparking human rights concerns.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is criticized for not addressing the climate crisis despite the country's extreme heatwave, wildfires, and drought, with experts and campaigners urging immediate action to cut emissions and invest in resilience.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage won his self-triggered by-election in Clacton, southern England, securing 62.8 percent of the vote, while rival Count Binface took 26.7 percent.
Disabled and terminally ill campaigners have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reform social and palliative care before assisted dying legislation is introduced in England and Wales, warning that current failings put lives at risk.
Monsoon rains cause severe flooding in Laos, exacerbated by dams and deforestation, while an ongoing resource crisis hampers rescue operations.
Andy Burnham stated the UK government will look at banning disposable barbecues following a series of serious wildfires caused by the devices, while campaigners urge action on the broader climate crisis.
Joyce Thomas, a 78-year-old British widow who has lived in Sweden for 21 years, is fighting deportation after authorities rejected her late post-Brexit residency application, joining 2,500 Britons ordered to leave the country.
A new Nature Food study highlights that while diverting food waste from landfills cuts climate impacts by up to 99%, it risks increasing agricultural soil contamination from microplastics due to imperfect packaging separation.
Campaigners Peter Barclay and Cagne have lost their Court of Appeal bid to challenge government approval for Gatwick Airport's £2.2bn two-runway expansion scheme.
Gatwick airport will begin developing its £2.2bn second runway after the court of appeal dismissed a legal challenge from local campaigners, allowing around 100,000 more flights a year.
Campaigners are demanding a windfall tax on UK banks, estimated to raise £19bn, following HSBC's $10.1bn second-quarter profits. The funds could support cost of living initiatives, while banks face scrutiny over profit distribution and lending.
A £500m redevelopment of the Truman Brewery estate in east London's Brick Lane has been approved by housing secretary Angela Rayner, paving the way for a datacentre, offices, and apartments despite strong local opposition.
A parliamentary inquiry into Labor's gambling legislation heard allegations that problem gamblers received cocaine and sex workers, which Sportsbet and Tabcorp denied.
Anti-gambling campaigners Tim Costello and Luke Bateman alleged at a parliamentary inquiry that betting firms Sportsbet and Tabcorp supplied vulnerable customers with cocaine, alcohol and sex workers. The firms deny the claims, saying they have no evidence.
NatureScot refuses licence for annual guga hunt on Sula Sgeir, sparing up to 2,000 gannet chicks, citing potential adverse impact on populations, amid long-standing protests and controversy.
Robert Bush was jailed for 20 years for defrauding families and failing to bury or cremate bodies. Victims' families, including Tristan Essex, are campaigning for statutory regulation of the UK's funeral industry, prompting a government pledge for urgent action.
A UK High Court judge dismissed a legal challenge, allowing King's College London's 'Pathways' trial for puberty blockers on 11-16 year olds to proceed from August 1. Campaigners, including detransitioner Keira Bell, argued potential harm, but the court found no realistic chance of success, citing careful participant assessment and regulatory approval.
The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge, allowing King's College London's Pathways trial for puberty blockers in gender-questioning children to proceed. The study, commissioned after a review found weak evidence for the drugs, will recruit over 220 children aged 11-16 from August 1st to assess benefits and risks.
CT Group, a lobbying firm co-founded by Lynton Crosby, faces widespread condemnation and calls for transparency after a Guardian investigation revealed it secretly paid journalists for articles favorable to its clients. MPs and transparency campaigners denounce the practice as an "attack on democracy" and demand an overhaul of lobbying regulations.
Campaigners in Oradea, Romania, plan to proceed with a Pride march despite local authorities denying permission for the fourth consecutive year, citing "technical excuses." The repeated bans have drawn international attention, with organizers comparing the situation to democratic backsliding in other EU states.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces mounting pressure to reinstate Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister, with nationwide protests continuing after Fedorov reportedly rejected a new government role. This comes amidst a radical reshuffle of Ukraine's top military command, including the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of the armed forces.
The High Court heard arguments regarding the Home Office's decision to house up to 540 asylum seekers at Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex. Community group Crowborough Shield claims the Home Office acted without openness and wrongly invoked emergency planning powers, a claim the Home Office disputes.
Australia will conduct a national test of its new AusAlert emergency system on Monday, emitting a siren from most phones. The federal government proceeds despite state concerns over landline reach and warnings from domestic violence campaigners for "safe phone" users to power off devices to avoid exposure.
Bristol Airport plans to expand from 12M to 15M passengers annually, aiming for net-zero by 2030, excluding flight emissions. Climate campaigners oppose the expansion, arguing increased flights will negate efficiency gains from new aircraft and heat pumps, urging council leaders to reject the plans.
