In the wake of the catastrophic flash floods in Texas on 4 July, governor Greg Abbott has said that at least 109 people are confirmed dead and 161 are still missing. Among the missing are five children and a counsellor from Camp Mystic, a century-old Christian girls’ summer camp, where 27 lives were lost. Torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to rise by eight metres in under an hour, turning areas like Kerrville and nearby counties into disaster zones. The devastation at Camp Mystic was profound, with personal belongings strewn across muddy grounds. Survivors recounted harrowing rescues, including airlifts and children escaping through cabin windows. Ten-year-old Lucy Kennedy recalled sensing danger before the flooding began and was later reunited with her mother, who also lost their home in the disaster. Amidst political disputes over emergency preparedness and federal weather service funding, Texas communities are grieving, searching, and beginning the long road to recovery from one of the deadliest flash floods in recent memory. For more information about Camp Mystic, see

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban figures - supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and chief justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani - accusing them of crimes against humanity through systematic gender-based persecution. Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, girls have been banned from education beyond sixth grade, women forced into veiling and isolation, and LGBTQ individuals have also been targeted. This is the first time an international tribunal has legally recognised LGBTQ people as victims of gender-based crimes against humanity. Though the Taliban dismissed the warrants as fuelled by ‘enmity and hatred for the pure religion of Islam’, international rights groups have praised the move as a historic and necessary step toward accountability and justice for the victims of ongoing gender-based oppression in Afghanistan. The decision came the day after the UN General Assembly expressed ‘serious concern about the widespread and systematic oppression of all women and girls in Afghanistan’, and called for the Taliban to ‘swiftly reverse these policies’.

A full year has passed since Guinean activists Oumar Sylla (known as Foniké Menguè) and Mamadou Billo Bah were forcibly disappeared on 9 July 2024, with no word on their whereabouts. Arrested by armed men in Conakry and reportedly taken to the Loos archipelago, the two members of the now-banned National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) are believed to have endured torture and secret detention. Their case reflects a troubling rise in forced disappearances under Guinea’s ruling junta, which human rights organisations describe as a ‘climate of terror.’ Other victims include civil society leader Abdoul Sacko - abducted, tortured, and abandoned in the bush - and lawyer Mohamed Traoré, also abducted and abused. Despite initial promises of investigations, authorities have remained silent. Amnesty International has called for immediate and transparent inquiries, but families continue to wait in anguish. As hope fades, the international community is urged to demand accountability for Guinea’s growing list of enforced disappearances.

Jennifer Geerlings-Simons has made history as Suriname’s first female president, elected amid political and economic turmoil. The 71-year-old physician and lawmaker was backed by a two-thirds parliamentary vote after inconclusive May elections and growing dissatisfaction with outgoing president Chandrikapersad Santokhi’s austerity measures; his administration has also faced corruption allegations. Geerlings-Simons, who ran unopposed, will assume office on 16 July along with her running mate Gregory Rusland. She inherits a nation burdened by debt, economic instability, and public frustration, but one with the hopeful prospect of offshore oil production starting in 2028. Her administration has pledged to stabilise state finances through stricter tax enforcement, but economists warn of a difficult path ahead, with debt repayments nearing $400 million annually. As Suriname approaches its 50th year of independence, the country (which is one of the continent’s poorest nations, with a rich ethnic tapestry) looks to Geerlings-Simons for leadership in a time of fragile transition and high expectations.

A leaked audio recording verified by BBC Eye reveals that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina authorised lethal force against student-led protesters during last year’s deadly unrest. In the recording, Hasina is heard instructing security forces to use lethal weapons and to shoot wherever protesters are found. The protests, initially sparked by opposition to civil service job quotas, escalated into a mass movement that led to Hasina's ousting in July 2024, after fifteen years in power. According to UN investigators, up to 1,400 people were killed in what became Bangladesh’s deadliest violence since its 1971 independence war. The leaked call, which has been authenticated by audio forensics experts, occurred on 18 July, as outrage grew over video evidence of police killings. Hasina, now in exile in India, faces charges of crimes against humanity in a special tribunal. The recording is considered a key piece of evidence in the proceedings.

Aidan Perry, a 20-year-old man from Florida, is praising God for saving his life after he was accidentally shot in the chest at close range on 7 June. The incident occurred when a friend was showing off a .40-calibre pistol that unexpectedly discharged. In the terrifying moments afterward, Aidan recalled seeing blood and fearing he would die. However, he credits both divine intervention and his cross necklace - a Christmas gift from his father - for his survival. Doctors confirmed that the necklace had deflected much of the bullet’s force, causing it to ricochet and lodge harmlessly in Aidan’s chest rather than striking vital organs. Aidan, who already had faith before this incident, said the experience has deepened his belief in God, reminding him to ‘never stop believing’. Meanwhile, the friend involved has been arrested and charged with culpable negligence causing injury.

Holy Hubert Lindsey, a fiery street evangelist, left an indelible mark on UC Berkeley in the turbulent 1960s and ‘70s. Born in Georgia in 1914 and converted at fifteen, Hubert sensed a divine call to preach boldly, even barefoot if needed. Drawn to Berkeley amid anti-war protests and cultural upheaval, he proclaimed repentance and Christ’s grace in Sproul Plaza, enduring jeers, violence, and scorn. In 1965, he was beaten unconscious yet returned swiftly, bullhorn in hand, declaring, 'They can bruise the body, but the soul is under the Shepherd’s care’. Many considered him a precursor to the Jesus Movement, as his preaching forced students to confront deeper spiritual questions. Despite opposition, he remained resolute, often tearfully urging listeners to turn to Christ. Hubert rejected media fame, choosing a humble life focused on the Gospel. He passed away in 2003, remembered as a courageous voice for Christ amid moral confusion.

Financial markets reacted sharply this week after Rachel Reeves appeared tearful during Prime Minister’s Questions, after the Government’s sudden U-turn on welfare reforms. Sterling fell by 1% against the dollar, while UK borrowing costs surged in one of the largest single-day moves since the market turmoil following Liz Truss’s 2022 mini-budget. The welfare reversal has left an almost £5 billion gap in Reeves’s fiscal plans, prompting investor concerns about how the Government will balance the books. While Downing Street insisted Reeves retains Starmer’s full support, analysts say the episode highlights market anxiety over potential leadership instability and future fiscal policy. Speculation mounted about possible tax rises in the autumn, though ministers reiterated pledges not to increase income tax, VAT, or National Insurance. Despite the turbulence, experts noted that markets are not as fragile as during the 2022 crisis.

MPs have voted overwhelmingly to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000, with 385 in favour and 26 against. Home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the move, stating that violence and serious criminal damage have no place in legitimate protest. Critics, however, warn that the decision could chill free expression, likening it to punishing suffragette-style activism. The move follows incidents such as activists vandalising planes at RAF Brize Norton and blockading defence firm Elbit Systems, aiming to disrupt UK arms links to Israel. Protesters outside Parliament condemned the Government for hypocrisy and accused it of suppressing effective dissent. Palestine Action insists its tactics, though disruptive, are non-violent and necessary to oppose alleged human rights abuses in Gaza. However, once the ban is approved by the House of Lords, membership or support of the group could carry prison sentences of up to fourteen years. The decision has sparked fierce debate over balancing security and civil liberties.

Keir Starmer has unveiled an ambitious ten-year plan to transform the NHS by shifting healthcare from hospitals to local communities. Central to the proposal are 200 new 'neighbourhood health centres', offering scans, outpatient services, mental health support, and more - all aimed at reducing hospital demand. Starmer declared the NHS must 'reform or die’, pledging accessible, community-based care under one roof. Health secretary Wes Streeting promised thousands more GPs, reversing current trends favouring hospital consultants, and aims to slash waiting lists while prioritising British doctors for NHS jobs. The plan also includes an enhanced NHS app, AI safety alerts, and a focus on helping patients return to work. However, experts express caution, noting that past governments have announced similar visions without delivering meaningful change. Questions remain over funding, but Starmer insists the plan will 'fundamentally rewire' healthcare and prioritise patient-centred care, especially in deprived areas.