26 June 2026, in sixty words

At least 920 people have died and more than 3,300 have been injured after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, the National Assembly president said on Friday.

Government work on migration has been disrupted after a dispute between two ministers grew worse.

Local groups in Makerfield will receive extra funding after part of an MP’s salary is set aside for community projects.

People expressing support for a banned group shouldn't face prosecution unless they're working with violent extremists, Sarah Rogers said.

OpenAI has begun a limited preview of GPT-5.6, a new generation of models led by its most powerful system yet, called Sol, alongside a mid-range model and a cheaper, faster one.

A scientist has won a $100,000 prize for decoding the calls of zebra finches, bringing human-animal communication closer.

Geothermal energy, which uses natural heat from below the Earth's surface, is getting a boost from new drilling technologies.

Apple's most powerful Mac computers might not get significant processor upgrades until late 2027, which is a big shake-up from their usual release schedule.

Hidden text found in a recent Claude Code update suggests Anthropic is preparing to bring its Fable 5 model back as part of subscription plans, with a weekly usage allowance rather than a separate charge.

England gained ground before the interval, keeping the deciding Test more evenly balanced after New Zealand's strong start.

People changing money could see the pound hold its value better against the euro after a steady week despite political uncertainty in Britain.

People could see more well-known athletes helping shape investment decisions in sport.

A London Labour politician has criticised King Charles for not living in Buckingham Palace after its £370 million refurbishment.

Paris has banned drinking alcohol in public places as temperatures hit 36C, following a record 40.9C earlier in the week.

A woman in her 40s has died after her plane came down on a farm near Dunkeswell Aerodrome, sparking a serious fire.

Volkswagen is reportedly looking to cut as many as 100,000 jobs, around a sixth of its global workforce, alongside closing four German factories, according to German business magazine Manager Magazin.

A light aircraft crashed into the CITIC Tower, Beijing’s tallest building, on Friday, breaking apart on impact and sending debris into the streets below.

More people in London had cardiac arrests this week as the heat built up on buses and trains, the head of London Ambulance Service has said.

Scientists say the current heatwave across Europe would have been virtually impossible 50 years ago, with climate change making it more likely and intense.

Many London train operators are telling passengers to avoid travel this week because of the heatwave.

Engine updates could stay out of reach for one manufacturer.

Holiday travel could become less busy as Heathrow expects fewer passengers because fighting in the Middle East may reduce demand.

People could see stronger energy supplies with less dependence on imported fuel.

A planned UN operation to evacuate over 11,000 sailors from the Strait of Hormuz has been paused after a cargo ship was hit.

America's Supreme Court has backed the Trump administration on two rulings that reshape immigration and asylum, sparking anger from advocacy groups.

People using a new forecasting app could face tighter oversight if British authorities examine how it operates.

London Ambulance Service saw a 30% jump in cardiac arrest calls during the recent heatwave compared to a typical Wednesday in June.

The 2026 Fifa World Cup is underway, with teams earning their places in the subsequent round.

Higher household costs remain a key concern as business leaders and advisers argue the next government should focus on easing pressure and supporting economic growth.

People waiting for a decision on the minister's future still don't know if he'll keep his job.

Better protection for nesting places could help a bird whose numbers have fallen because many homes lose suitable spaces during building work.

Red alerts from the Met Office show current 40C temperatures are a serious health risk, not just typical summer weather.

Police have launched a murder investigation in Surrey following the tragic discovery of a three-year-old girl's body in a property.

In a break from royal tradition, the palace will be opened up further to the public rather than become the King's home.

Firefighters have successfully extinguished a significant blaze that erupted at a department store in Peckham on Thursday night.

Plymouth's museum and art gallery, The Box, has won the prestigious 2026 Art Fund Museum of the Year award, beating four other finalists.

Andy Haldane, president of the British Chambers of Commerce, suggests that over £50bn in pension tax relief should only go to savers investing in Britain.

Some MRI scanners at Bedford South Wing Hospital are not working because old cooling systems can't cope with the current heat and humidity.

Lithium batteries in devices like power banks and vapes are now the biggest fire risk on planes, with incidents nearly doubling in a year.

Ukraine's President Zelensky has approved a major 40-day offensive, hoping to pressure Russia into ending the ongoing conflict.

Prince William will no longer personally receive the £1.5m annual rent from Dartmoor Prison, choosing to redirect the money to local community regeneration instead.

Schools in Essex face more disruption on Friday as the continuing heatwave forces further closures.

It's the fourth senior AI departure from Google in a week, three of them to Anthropic, denting its standing in the field.

With AI data centres straining the grid, the plan turns millions of home batteries and thermostats into power, no new plants needed.

It pushes past a barrier the industry feared hitting, and could mean faster, greener AI chips, though it's still a lab demo.

It's a rare overnight price rise for Apple, and a sign the AI boom's hunger for memory chips is now reaching shoppers.

The former Prime Minister issued a scathing critique of Brexit's impact, calling for honesty about its "devastating damage".

Two NATO countries warn Russia is preparing a "provocation" in the Baltic states or Poland, trying to test the Western military alliance.

A 23-year-old British influencer, Brooke George, could face the death penalty by firing squad if convicted of murder in Dubai.

This famous comeback victory sends them into the knockout stage for only the second time ever.

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 235 people and injuring more than 4,300.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards attacked a Singapore-flagged commercial vessel with a drone on Thursday, damaging its bridge.

Less money reached the UK Treasury after income from offshore wind agreements fell as projects entered construction.

People waiting for changes to immigration rules could face more uncertainty as disagreement continues inside government.

Travel has been disrupted, while smoke and ash have spread across nearby communities as firefighters work to control a large blaze.

The administration intends to relocate thousands of asylum seekers from hotels to three novel military facilities, assuming planning permission is secured.

Authorities were aware of the two young men who disabled Transport for London's systems, as they possessed extensive cyber-crime backgrounds prior to 2024.

The highly anticipated "Kagurabachi" anime series has found its international streaming home on Crunchyroll, with a confirmed April 2027 release date.

The United Kingdom and Switzerland both recorded their highest-ever June temperatures on Thursday as an intense heatwave continued across Europe.

Authorities have charged a 14-year-old male with murder following the discovery of a body in Blaina during an investigation into a missing girl.

Monarchs Charles and Camilla have opted against relocating to Buckingham Palace, despite its extensive £370 million renovation concluding next March.

King Charles has become the first monarch to publicly share his tax bill, paying £12.9 million for 2024-25, placing him among the UK's top taxpayers.