A newly discovered 17-18 million-year-old ape fossil in northern Egypt, named Masripithecus, challenges the dominant view that East Africa was the primary hub for early ape diversification, suggesting northeastern Africa played a significant role in hominoid evolution.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened his "Number 10 North" office in Manchester on Friday, aiming to reverse decades of centralized power in London and spur economic growth by devolving power to local communities across England.
A suicide bomber, supported by armed militants, attacked a security checkpoint in Pakistan's Tank district, killing 15 security personnel, including military, police, and a government official. The military blamed the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), which did not immediately claim responsibility, amidst ongoing cross-border tensions with Afghanistan.
Drones carrying explosives targeted a city in northern Iraq where US forces are stationed, while sirens rang out in Bahrain. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for targeting an Amazon data center in Bahrain, hours after the US completed its 13th night of strikes against Iran, escalating regional tensions.
Wendy Faith and Alesi Diana Denise, accused of same-sex activity under Uganda's anti-LGBTQ+ laws, were acquitted after five months in prison in Arua City. Their case highlights ongoing fear and discrimination for LGBTQ+ Ugandans despite the charges being dropped.
Irish police discovered an "extremely significant" bomb in a vehicle near the Northern Ireland border, leading to the arrest of a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s. The incident in County Monaghan underscores the persistent threat from dissident republicans despite the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Irish police intercepted a car carrying an "extremely significant" bomb in County Monaghan, preventing an attack in Northern Ireland. A woman was charged, a man remains in custody, and the New IRA is suspected of responsibility.
A Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that entered the country's airspace near Padina, 90 km northeast of Bucharest. An investigation has been launched into the incident, which marks the third drone incursion into Romania in two months, following previous incidents involving Ukrainian naval drones and a Russian 'Geran-2' kamikaze drone.
North Carolina will allow a limited elk hunting season in 2027, 25 years after reintroduction efforts began. Governor Josh Stein signed House Bill 747, enabling the NCWRC to issue two permits, with funds from auctions and raffles supporting elk conservation and management.
The New World screwworm, eradicated from the US in 1966, has reemerged in South Texas in June 2026, spreading northward into New Mexico. This parasitic pest, which infests warm-blooded animals, raises concerns for livestock, wildlife, and pet owners, prompting multiagency response plans in states like Colorado.
The Hundred cricket tournament, now in its fifth year, navigates a manufactured identity and increasing influence from IPL owners. Teams like Manchester Super Giants adopt existing branding, while private equity investment raises questions about the tournament's long-term goals and alignment with English cricket's interests, despite its success in attracting families and mainstream attention.
Northrop Grumman's Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV), equipped with flexible robotic arms and developed with DARPA, launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 for a decade-long mission. It will service, upgrade, and repair satellites in geosynchronous orbit, marking a significant step in space capabilities with both commercial and military implications amidst US-China competition.
Canada is experiencing over 900 active wildfires, scorching 3 million hectares, with significant concerns in the Northwest Territories and Ontario, causing poor air quality extending to Europe. Concurrently, Salta, Argentina, recorded its warmest-ever winter night at 26C, driven by the Zonda wind and potentially influenced by El Niño.
Donald Trump accused Canada of "poisoning" US air with wildfire smoke, threatening sanctions and tariffs, prompting incredulity from scientists. Experts assert the fires are a symptom of the climate crisis, exacerbated by policies Trump supported, not a lack of Canadian management.
At least seven explosions occurred near a U.S. military base in Irbil, Iraq, with smoke rising, as the U.S. concluded its 13th night of strikes against Iran. This comes amid escalating tensions, Houthi attacks on Saudi oil tankers, and threats to key shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on his fourth day, launched his "Number 10 North" initiative in Manchester, aiming to decentralize government functions and promote UK-wide growth. He met with Scottish and Welsh First Ministers in Glasgow, avoiding independence talks, and faces skepticism over funding and genuine fiscal devolution.
Parents in Melbourne's inner-north are urging state and local governments to save the Don Bosco Youth Centre and Hostel in Brunswick, which has provided free services and accommodation for nearly 90 years. The Catholic-owned site, advertised for sale for an estimated $10 million, has garnered over 3,300 petition signatures from a community calling it the "soul of Brunswick."
North Korea's foreign ministry accused South Korea, the U.S., and Japan of exploiting the recent ASEAN forum in the Philippines to incite hostility, promote a U.S.-led security bloc, and push for denuclearization, which Pyongyang asserts is "irreversibly concluded."
Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev announces 2026 supply of advanced nuclear fuel to China for VVER-1200 and fast neutron reactors, discusses Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant safety, and outlines Russia-China cooperation in nuclear energy, quantum tech, and Arctic shipping via the Northern Sea Route.
Satellite images show extensive damage from wildfires in north Wales, with 951 hectares devastated in Rhinogydd mountains. The Welsh government activated crisis management, deploying a helicopter to Rhinogydd, as drought conditions persist and public safety warnings are issued.
Wendy Faith and Alesi Diana Denise were discharged after five months in a Ugandan prison, accused of same-sex activity under the Anti-Homosexuality Act. Their case was discontinued, but they face ongoing trauma, social stigma, and threats from the community.
Russia's Battlegroup North interceptor drone battery destroyed 24 Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs in the Sumy area over the past 24 hours, according to a commander with the call sign Amur. The drones were used for reconnaissance, fire adjustment, targeting, and delivering strikes.
Four Palestinians and one Israeli were killed in a shooting in the West Bank village of Tell, near Nablus, during what residents described as a settler attack involving the Israeli military. The incident, the deadliest this year, risks further reprisals.
A senior UK government official announces 'No 10 North', a new initiative based in Manchester, aimed at decentralizing political and economic power, driving reindustrialisation, and fostering bottom-up growth across all UK regions to achieve equivalent living standards.
