Britain is facing an intense heatwave as temperatures continue to rise across England and Wales. Thousands of lightning strikes hit southern parts of the country overnight, causing flooding and house fires. Bristol Airport was briefly closed after thunderstorms affected air traffic systems. Several schools announced closures or early dismissals to protect students from extreme heat. Emergency services responded to hundreds of weather-related incidents. Weather officials have issued rare red heat warnings, with temperatures expected to reach up to 39°C in some areas. Authorities have urged people to stay hydrated, avoid heat exposure and follow safety advice. (PC: Getty)

A preliminary investigation into the deadly Lucknow building fire has found that the structure was using electricity far beyond its approved limit. Officials said the building had a sanctioned load of 20 kilowatts but was drawing over 34 kVA before the blaze. The fire killed 15 people, including students and professionals, in Aliganj's Sector D. Investigators are now examining whether earlier warnings about power overload were ignored. Authorities are also looking into safety approvals, electrical systems and emergency preparedness. The exact cause of the fire has not been confirmed. A detailed technical investigation is underway. (PC: PTI)

Iran's judiciary has announced the arrest of more than 3,000 people accused of helping Israel or acting against the state. Officials said 3,292 people were detained, including hundreds accused of carrying out operations for Israel. Others were charged with spreading anti-government propaganda. Authorities said more than 1,000 indictments have already been issued, and assets belonging to some suspects have been seized. The arrests are part of a wider crackdown that followed anti-government protests and the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Human rights groups have criticised the detentions and called for due process. (PC: Reuters)

The Pentagon is seeking about $80 billion from the US Congress, mainly to cover costs linked to the war with Iran. Defence officials said the money would help replace military stockpiles, repair equipment and support ongoing operations. The request comes as President Donald Trump pushes for a record defence budget of $1.5 trillion. Some lawmakers have expressed concern about increasing military spending while many Americans face economic challenges. Others argue the funding is needed to strengthen national security and replenish weapons supplies. The proposal is expected to face intense debate before Congress decides whether to approve it. (PC: AP)

At least 13 people were killed and 66 others injured after an explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial zone, home to one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facilities. Authorities said the blast was caused by a technical accident at the Barzan gas supply facility. Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said there was no sign of sabotage and that an investigation is underway. Officials confirmed that those killed were from India and Pakistan. Emergency teams quickly brought the fire under control. The incident is not expected to affect Qatar’s energy exports. (PC: AFP Via Getty Images)

Oracle has confirmed that it cut about 21,000 jobs worldwide during fiscal 2026 as the company expands its use of artificial intelligence. The workforce fell from around 162,000 employees to 141,000 by the end of May 2026. Oracle said AI technologies have already reduced staffing needs and could lead to more job cuts in the future. The company is investing heavily in AI and cloud computing infrastructure, including large data centres for AI services. Oracle spent $1.84 billion on restructuring costs during the year. The company is also planning major investments to support its AI growth strategy.

Iran briefly walked out of high-level talks in Switzerland after objecting to fresh threats made by US President Donald Trump. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not continue discussions under pressure, stating, “We never negotiate under threats or pressure.” He said the issue was raised directly with US Vice President JD Vance during the meeting. Iran also refused to take part in a planned joint photo with the US delegation. Despite the walkout, discussions continued through Qatari and Pakistani mediators as efforts to ease regional tensions and advance a broader agreement moved forward. (PC: AFP)

Mumbai and Pune are under an orange alert as heavy rain continues across parts of Maharashtra ahead of the southwest monsoon's arrival. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the monsoon is likely to reach Mumbai within the next 48 hours. Several areas of Mumbai recorded heavy rainfall, causing waterlogging and traffic disruptions. Bandra, Worli and Malabar Hill were among the places that received significant rain. Raigad and Ratnagiri are also under orange alert, while Thane and Palghar remain under a yellow alert. The IMD expects rainfall activity to continue over the coming days.

A remarkable turnaround story from India’s growing private space sector, Pawan Kumar Chandana transformed early academic struggles into entrepreneurial success. After scoring just 51 marks in mathematics during school, Chandana improved through IIT-JEE preparation, secured admission to Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, and later joined Indian Space Research Organisation as a scientist. In 2018, he left ISRO to co-found Skyroot Aerospace with Naga Bharath Daka. The company achieved a historic milestone by launching India’s first privately developed rocket and recently reached a valuation of about $1.1 billion. Skyroot is now preparing for the orbital launch of its Vikram-1 rocket. (PC: MJF World)

Iran’s football federation has criticised its FIFA World Cup 2026 travel schedule, arguing that strict travel restrictions are creating unfair conditions for the team. Based in Tijuana, Mexico, Iran must travel to US host cities only a day before matches and return immediately afterward, citing visa and security requirements linked to the recent conflict. Captain Mehdi Taremi and officials say the arrangement affects players physically and mentally, while the federation plans to raise the issue with FIFA. However, FIFA regulations generally require teams to arrive one day before matches and return after games. Iran remains the only participating nation operating under such additional restrictions. (PC: Times Now & X)