France Records 2,025 Excess Deaths as Europe Braces for Next Heatwave

France has reported 2,025 excess deaths during the final week of June’s record-breaking heatwave, a jump of nearly 30% compared to the previous week, as forecasters warn that more extreme temperatures are on the way for parts of Europe this weekend. French health minister Stéphanie Rist said there had been a “clear increase” in deaths […]

The 9 Senate Seats Most Likely to Flip in the 2026 Midterm Elections

Four months into the primary calendar, the battlefield for control of the US Senate is largely set, with nine states likely to determine the balance of power in November’s midterm elections. Democrats need to defend all their current seats and flip four Republican-held seats to reclaim the majority for the final two years of President […]

PlayStation to Stop Releasing Games on Discs From January 2028

Sony has announced that new PlayStation games will no longer be released on physical discs from January 2028, marking a significant shift for the gaming industry as it continues its transition toward digital distribution. The company said in a blog post that physical copies would still be available in shops but would come with a […]

Google Loses Final Appeal Against €4.1bn EU Android Fine

Europe’s top court has dismissed Google’s final appeal against a €4.1 billion (£3.5 billion) fine imposed for using its Android mobile operating system to block rivals, ending a seven-year legal battle. The European Commission originally handed down a €4.3 billion penalty in 2018, later trimmed to €4.1 billion in 2022. The Court of Justice ruling […]

Singapore Seizes $42m Mansion in Nvidia Chip Smuggling Probe

SINGAPORE — Police in Singapore have seized a luxury home worth S$55 million (£32m; $42.5m) that was allegedly purchased using proceeds from smuggling Nvidia artificial intelligence chips subject to US export controls, authorities said on Wednesday. At least two-thirds of the purchase price—approximately S$38 million—was allegedly funded by illicit earnings from the illegal trade in […]

Russia Launches Major Missile and Drone Attack on Kyiv, Killing 13

KYIV — Russian forces launched a major drone and missile attack on the Ukrainian capital overnight, killing at least 13 people and injuring more than 30 others, officials said on Thursday. Children were among the casualties, according to Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration. The strikes hit residential areas across the city, setting […]

How Your Phone Is Changing Your Body: From Tech Neck to Weak Grip

LONDON — The physical toll of constant device use is becoming increasingly clear, with scientists documenting changes to the neck, eyes, hands, and skin linked to the hours spent looking at screens. The phenomenon often called “tech neck”—the forward head posture adopted when looking down at a phone—can place up to 60lbs (27kg) of pressure […]

Seattle Buys Luxury Apartment Building for Social Housing in US First

The city of Seattle has purchased a 150-unit luxury apartment building in the Belltown neighbourhood for $61 million, the first step in a plan to create a publicly owned social housing system modelled on Vienna. The Seattle Social Housing Developer, a public authority established by voters in 2023, acquired the Elara at the Market this […]

Supreme Court Rejects Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order 6-3

WASHINGTON — The US Supreme Court has rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship by a 6-3 vote, ruling that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to all children born on American soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in Trump v. Barbara, grounding the decision […]

Trump Made More Than $1bn From Crypto in First Year Back in Office

President Donald Trump made more than $1 billion from cryptocurrency business dealings in his first year back in office, according to his mandatory financial disclosure for 2025. The 927-page report reveals $635 million in royalties from a Trump-branded meme coin that launched days before his inauguration—a token that has since plunged in value—and more than […]