Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has declared drought status for parts of Wales, including North and South Gwynedd, Ynys Môn, Dee, Clwyd, and Upper Severn, due to widespread wildfires, critically low river levels, and successive heatwaves. This marks the first UK region to face such a declaration this summer, impacting wildlife, farming, and water quality.
Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley appeared before US lawmakers for a closed-door interview regarding his past ties to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This follows a UK regulatory investigation that led to Staley's resignation and a ban from the UK financial sector.
AI chip startup Etched, founded by three Harvard dropouts, has closed a $300 million Series C funding round, valuing the company at $10.3 billion. This marks a doubling of its valuation in seven months, following successful chip manufacturing and $1 billion in orders.
Indian teenage cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, aged 15 years and 118 days, made history by scoring his maiden T20I half-century against Zimbabwe in Harare, becoming the youngest player globally to achieve this feat, surpassing Gibraltar's Louis Bruce.
Love Island: All Stars 2024 winners Molly Smith and Tom Clare announced their marriage on Instagram, sharing photos of their wedding rings and ceremony. The couple, who met on the spin-off show two years ago, got engaged in Dubai last September.
India captain Shreyas Iyer has expressed confidence in teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the T20I series against Zimbabwe, believing he has learned from his challenging England tour. Iyer urged the young squad to play fearlessly, while Sooryavanshi affirmed his confidence despite recent setbacks and highlighted his familiarity with the Harare venue.
A Florida teen, RKC, dropped his lawsuit against Meta alleging its platforms caused his depression and anxiety, days before trial. This follows settlements with YouTube, TikTok, and Snap, and other recent verdicts against social media companies for addictive products.
Netflix's "Heartstopper," based on Alice Oseman's graphic novels, concludes after six books, three seasons, and a film, leaving a significant cultural impact. The series is celebrated for its positive LGBTQ+ representation, offering joy and reassurance to young queer people, despite some criticism for its sanitized depiction of adolescence.
Former India opener Abhinav Mukund announced his 15-man squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup, including veteran Rohit Sharma but omitting Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill is now just one rating point behind the No. 1 spot in the latest ICC ODI batting rankings.
India's T20 team, led by new captain Shreyas Iyer, faces Zimbabwe in a three-match series in Harare, aiming to regain confidence after consecutive defeats in Ireland and England. The series is crucial for Iyer's captaincy and several players seeking to revive their T20 careers.
Hong Kong police arrested five people from two independent bookstores for allegedly selling "seditious" content, sparking concern and a surge in sales of a related book in Taiwan. Taiwan's president and booksellers condemned the arrests, highlighting censorship fears and cross-strait tensions.
Actor Nam Joo-hyuk has been cast as Yoon Tae-joo, a prosecution investigator-turned-lawyer, in the upcoming 12-part Disney+ original Korean crime thriller series "Code," set to premiere next year. The series, directed by Yoo Su-min, is based on a Taiwanese series.
Morocco faces a "herculean task" preparing to co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal, budgeting £4bn-£4.8bn for direct football investments and £17bn for infrastructure upgrades. This accelerated expenditure, equivalent to 11.9% of its 2024 GDP, raises public concerns about costs versus long-term benefits, prompting lessons from past hosts like South Africa.
Samsung launched its Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Flip 8, and Galaxy Watch 9 series, featuring Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipsets, Flex Titanium tech, and design updates. Pre-orders begin today, with availability on August 7. The company also previewed smart glasses and a new credit card.
The cult hit 'Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie' and its inspiring series 'Nirvanna the Band the Show' will both become available to stream on Hulu starting July 24, making the previously hard-to-find show accessible to new and existing fans.
Night-time anti-doping tests on Tour de France leaders Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard sparked debate. While some, like Jonathan Vaughters, support these "effective" measures against micro-dosing, the cyclists' union CPA argues they are dangerous and disrupt rider rest. The UCI defends the "exceptional" tests as an "absolute priority" in fighting doping.
Samsung has launched its Z Flip 8 foldable smartphone, featuring a thinner, lighter design, a stronger Flex Titanium hinge, and new AI-powered camera and software features including MyFan cam and Gemini integration. Priced at $1,200, it also offers customizable front display panels and chipset variations by region.
India captain Shreyas Iyer believes a tough white-ball tour of England and Ireland has strengthened the squad ahead of the T20I series against Zimbabwe. He urged his young team to play aggressively without fear of failure, emphasizing adaptability to new conditions and respecting Zimbabwe's experienced squad.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' White House visit has sparked division among immigrant fans, including Juan, who feel the team hasn't adequately supported the community amid Trump's immigration crackdown, especially given former ownership ties to a detention center operator.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav has signed with Yorkshire as an overseas player for the remainder of the English domestic season, set to play five One-Day Cup matches and three County Championship games. He expressed delight at joining the historic club, while Yorkshire's general manager Gavin Hamilton highlighted his international quality and the expected role of spin in the season's closing stages.
German startup Passionfroot secured $15 million in Series A funding led by Insight Partners to expand its B2B creator marketplace, opening offices in New York and São Paulo, and growing its team to meet increasing demand for creator-led brand recall amidst AI-driven product commoditization.
India captain Shreyas Iyer has expressed confidence in teenage batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi ahead of the T20I series against Zimbabwe, believing he has learned from his challenging international debut. Iyer also urged his young squad to play fearlessly, while Sooryavanshi affirmed his confidence despite recent setbacks.
India captain Shreyas Iyer reflects on the team's recent winless tours of England and Ireland, stating the difficult phase strengthened the squad. He urges his team to play with an attacking mindset ahead of their three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, emphasizing quick adaptation to new conditions.
England secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over India, their first since 2018, with Joe Root named Player of the Series and returning to the ICC ODI Batting Rankings top 10 at No. 8. Ben Duckett also climbed to joint-19th after a record-breaking knock at Lord's.
