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Somalia's military has dealt a significant blow to the terrorist group Al-Shabab, killing 27 fighters in a large-scale operation. The Ministry of Defence reported that the operation, conducted in the autonomous state of Jubbaland, was carried out with the support of international partners who provided air strikes.The operation, which took place across the Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba regions, targeted the districts of Jilib, Xagar, and Afmadow. Somalia's Defence Ministry stated that the operation was a success, dealing a major blow to Al-Shabab and eliminating key members of the armed group.In addition to the casualties, the Somali army seized weapons and military equipment, including BKM machine guns, RPGs, AK-47 rifles, and landmines intended for use against civilians. The Defence Ministry emphasized that operations are ongoing to pursue the remaining Al-Shabaab elements and ensure the security, stability, and safety of civilians living in Somalia.Somalia has been battling Al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-linked group, since 2007. The group aims to topple Somalia's central government and impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law. Al-Shabab is considered by the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) to be the largest, wealthiest, and most lethal al-Qaeda-affiliated organisation globally, controlling large swaths of southern and central Somalia.The conflict has had a significant humanitarian impact, with almost 60,000 people displaced due to fighting between government forces and Al-Shabab in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region between January and July 2025. The group has also claimed responsibility for attacks in Kenya, Uganda, and Djibouti.

A 20-year-old man from Texas has been charged with attempted murder and arson after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco.Daniel Moreno-Gama faces two counts of attempted murder and nine other charges following last week's arson attack on Altman's residence. The San Francisco District Attorney, Brooke Jenkins, stated that the attack was an extreme danger to Altman and those around him.Moreno-Gama is also facing federal charges of attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives, and possession of an unregistered firearm. He could face life in prison under the charges.The suspect was captured on a security camera hurling an incendiary device at Altman's home and later travelled to OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters, where he attempted to burn it down and kill anyone inside.Police recovered incendiary devices, a container of kerosene, a lighter, and a document espousing opposition to artificial intelligence and tech executives, including Altman.Altman, whose company released ChatGPT in 2022, has become a focal point for discussions about the potential risks and benefits of AI. He has called for a decrease in the heat of public debate on AI.The District Attorney criticized what she described as incendiary rhetoric about AI's impact on society, stating that it should not lead to violence.

Colombia's Environment Minister, Irene Velez, announced on Monday that the country will cull up to 80 hippos that have been roaming freely in a region near the Magdalena River basin. The decision comes after previous attempts to control the population, including sterilization and capturing the animals, proved too expensive or ineffective.The hippos were introduced to Colombia by infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, when he brought four to his private zoo. After Escobar's death, the hippo population swelled to an estimated 170, with the animals now spotted up to 60 miles from Escobar's former ranch, Hacienda Napoles.Authorities say the hippos pose a threat to villagers who encounter them and compete with native wildlife, such as manatees, for food. Despite local concerns, the hippos have become a tourist attraction, with visitors flocking to the Napoles ranch to spot the animals and buy hippo-themed souvenirs.Animal welfare activists have opposed the culling, citing concerns about the country's history of conflict and the potential for the cull to set a poor example. However, Velez emphasized that the action is necessary to preserve Colombia's ecosystems. The hippos cannot be returned to their natural habitat due to their limited gene pool, which could lead to the spread of diseases.

According to a recent report, the cost of a round‑trip train ticket from New York City’s Penn Station to MetLife Stadium could surge sevenfold to more than $100 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The Athletic cited sources familiar with NJ Transit’s pricing strategy, noting that the agency told Fox 5 New York the exact fare has not yet been finalized, with a decision expected in the coming days.At present, NJ Transit lists a standard round‑trip fare at $12.90, with discounted rates for children, seniors and passengers with disabilities. The proposed increase would eliminate these reduced‑price options, pushing the ticket price above the six‑figure mark for a single journey.Transportation costs have become a focal point of the World Cup debate, joining concerns over the sky‑high match tickets. For context, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority recently raised its Boston‑to‑Gillette Stadium fare from $20 to $80 for the tournament.New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill emphasized her commitment to protecting taxpayers, stating that the state will not subsidize travel for World Cup spectators."When I came into office about two months ago, I immediately got to work on the World Cup," Sherrill said. "One of the key things I wanted to make sure of was that we were not going to be paying for moving people who were viewing the World Cup on the backs of New Jersey taxpayers and New Jersey commuters."NJ Transit estimates that operating its services for the eight World Cup matches at MetLife—including the July 19 final—will cost roughly $48 million.The agency added, "The ticket prices for match‑day travel have not been finalized. However, as the Governor has clearly stated, the cost for the eight matches will not be borne by our regular commuters."In February, Governor Sherrill cancelled a planned $5 million fan festival at Liberty State Park, redirecting the funds toward smaller watch parties and events across the state.Officials anticipate tens of thousands of fans will rely on the rail network to reach MetLife, especially as parking availability will be sharply reduced compared with typical concert or NFL game days. NorthJersey.com reported that portions of Penn Station will be reserved exclusively for World Cup ticket‑holders for a four‑hour window before each of the eight matches.

Javokhir Sindarov, the 20‑year‑old Uzbek grandmaster, sealed his place as the challenger for Gukesh Dommaraju’s world chess title after winning the Candidates tournament in Cyprus with a game to spare. Playing Black against Dutch veteran Anish Giri, Sindarov drew a calm 58‑move game that lifted him to 9½ points out of a possible 14, leaving the world No. 9 two points behind with one round remaining. "After the queen exchange I felt no pressure at all; the game was comfortable for me," Sindarov said, reflecting the composure that defined his wire‑to‑wire triumph. The Candidates, a double‑round‑robin featuring eight of the world’s best, saw Sindarov dominate with six wins and seven draws, an unbeaten run rarely achieved on such a cut‑throat stage. He will finish the event with a dead‑rubber white game against China’s Wei Yi. His victory not only earns him a shot at the world title—likely in November—but also a winner’s share of €70,000 from the €700,000 prize fund, plus an extra €5,000 for each half‑point scored. The result highlights a broader shift in elite chess. Former top‑seed Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura failed to mount serious challenges, underscoring the rise of a younger generation. Gukesh, who became the youngest world champion in history two years ago by defeating Ding Liren, will defend his title against another teenager. This will be the second consecutive world‑championship match featuring two Asian players under 21, a historic first in the 138‑year legacy of the event. While Gukesh’s recent form has dipped—he finished joint‑last at the Prague International Chess Festival—he remains a formidable opponent. Sindarov praised his challenger, noting Gukesh’s "strong skills" and "excellent team," and wished him luck. Having risen to a career‑best world ranking of No. 11 after winning the 2025 FIDE World Cup, Sindarov’s rapid ascent contrasts with Gukesh’s recent struggles, which the Indian prodigy attributes to a deliberate reduction in tournament intensity to regain form. When asked if the prospect of playing for the sport’s most coveted title had sunk in, Sindarov replied, "A year ago I would never have believed it, but I have improved dramatically and I am eager to keep getting better." The exact date and venue for the best‑of‑14‑games world championship match remain to be announced.

Atlético Madrid have secured a spot in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a decade, overcoming a spirited Barcelona side 3-2 on aggregate. The victory was sealed with a crucial goal from Ademola Lookman just seven minutes after Barcelona had levelled the tie.The win marked a significant moment for Diego Simeone's side, who had been waiting 10 years for this achievement. Simeone expressed his pride in his team's performance, stating, 'We give everything to win the cup.' The coach also praised his players, saying, 'I've been here 14 years and never stop feeling emotional.'Barcelona, led by Lamine Yamal, fought hard to mount a comeback but ultimately fell short. Despite being down to 10 men for 10 minutes after Eric García was sent off, they continued to push for a goal that would have taken the tie to extra time. However, Ronald Araújo's header in the 96th minute went over the bar, securing Atlético's victory.The win sets up a thrilling semi-final matchup for Atlético, who are eager to return to the final and exorcise the ghosts of past defeats. Simeone's side will look to build on this momentum as they pursue European glory.

Nelson Mandela once claimed sport could spark hope where despair prevailed – a sentiment that now feels overly optimistic as climate change threatens every arena, from football pitches to alpine slopes.Extreme weather events are already cancelling competitions and rendering venues unplayable through floods, wildfires and storms. Rising heat and air‑pollution expose athletes to heat‑related illnesses, asthma and cardiovascular strain, while also increasing injury risk and diminishing performance for officials and spectators alike.Countries most vulnerable to climate impacts face the harshest sporting challenges. As Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned, athletes must compete on the conditions that exist, not on idealised pitches, while wealthier nations and governing bodies often look the other way.Historian David Goldblatt estimates sport’s carbon footprint rivals that of a small‑ to medium‑sized nation – roughly the emissions of Cuba to Poland. Yet the industry continues to chase growth, attracting sponsorship from fossil‑fuel giants and even entities reminiscent of the tobacco era.A 2024 “Dirty Money” report by the New Weather Institute revealed that state‑owned and private fossil‑fuel companies have poured at least $5.6 billion (£4.2 billion) into global sport across 205 active deals. The recent Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics relied on oil major Eni to fund artificial snow, while the upcoming men’s football World Cup – labelled the “most polluting ever” by Scientists for Global Responsibility – will be plastered with ads from Aramco, the world’s largest corporate greenhouse‑gas emitter, with emissions projected to be 92 % higher than typical tournaments between 2010‑2022.Fans and grassroots organisations are pushing back. Groups such as Surfers Against Sewage, Fossil Free Football, FrontRunners and Protect Our Winters are mobilising, while clubs like Forest Green Rovers and athletes such as Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins are publicly denouncing fossil‑fuel ties.Alternative sponsorships are emerging: Northern Rail backs the Rugby Super League, Metrobank partners with cricket, and Oxford United’s limited‑edition shirt celebrates John Ruskin’s “Study of a Wild Rose,” linking sport to environmental heritage.“The Hotspot” aims to surface the most compelling stories, analyse data, and chart a path forward for sport in a warming world. As the planet races toward a climatic finish line, sport must deliver its own last‑second victory.This excerpt is from the inaugural issue of The Hotspot newsletter. To subscribe, visit this page and follow the instructions.

The UK government's ambitious plans to create 400,000 green jobs by 2030 seem to be failing to deliver for young people in England's coastal communities. Despite being surrounded by offshore windfarms, 44% of the UK's offshore windfarms are located in the east of England, areas like Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth are struggling with high unemployment and limited job opportunities.Jake Snell, a 19-year-old from Lowestoft, is a prime example. With high grades in maths and physics A-levels, a distinction in BTEC engineering, and work experience at an engineering company, he seemed like the perfect candidate for a role in the green energy sector. However, out of his 14-person cohort, only two people ended up with apprenticeships, and only one of these was in engineering.Rachel Wilde, a social anthropologist at University College London, notes that the term 'green jobs' is nebulous and that there is little concrete evidence of what these jobs actually are. She argues that there is a gap between politicians and policymakers promoting green jobs and people on the ground trying to talk to young people about job opportunities.Avril Keating, a professor of youth studies at UCL, suggests that the focus on high-profile roles in green energy is misleading and that more investment in continuing careers support for people in coastal and economically deprived areas is urgently needed.The government has announced plans to establish five technical excellence colleges that will focus training around the green energy sector, which could provide hope for the next generation of young people in these areas. However, for now, many young people like Snell are struggling to find employment and are feeling frustrated and disillusioned with the lack of opportunities.

The UK government has unveiled a significant investment in England's cultural sector, with over 100 venues set to share a £130m funding package under the Arts Everywhere scheme. This initiative is part of a broader £1.5bn package aimed at supporting cultural infrastructure projects throughout the current parliament. The funding will be administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It comprises three main funds: the Creative Foundations Fund (£96m for 74 arts and cultural venues), the Museum Estate and Development Fund (£28m for 28 museums), and the Libraries Improvement Fund (£6.3m for 28 library services). Beneficiaries of the funding include the Lowry Centre in Salford, which will receive £8.5m to upgrade critical infrastructure such as replacing escalators with new lifts and providing step-free access to galleries. The Royal Shakespeare Company in Warwickshire and the Hexagon in Reading are also among the recipients. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy emphasized the importance of local arts, museums, and libraries in bringing communities together and reflecting the country's identity. She stated, 'Arts and culture aren’t a luxury for a privileged few. They are for everyone, everywhere.' The funding package represents a significant injection into a sector that has faced challenges in recent years. Arts Council England chair Nicholas Serota noted that the investment will help organizations secure their futures and continue to provide access to excellent art and culture. This investment follows a previously announced £270m and is part of a broader effort to repair the UK's cultural infrastructure. It marks one of the biggest resets in the arts for a generation, particularly after ACE funding was cut by 30% in 2010.