It said no staff or animals were hurt after a blaze broke out at a nearby electricity substation

An aquarium in Dorset has temporarily closed to visitors after a fire broke out at a nearby electricity substation on Sunday.

Sealife Weymouth remains shut as “a precaution” on Monday (July 13) although no buildings were affected.

In a statement, the Merlin-owned attraction said no animals, staff or visitors were hurt and that it would reopen to the public “once it has been confirmed it is safe to do so”.

“If you were due to visit us on this day, please contact us on 01305 761070 to rearrange your visit or request a refund,” Sealife said. “We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.”

Emergency services were called to Preston Beach Road at 3.45pm on Sunday after a reports the substation was on fire and flames had spread to nearby trees and bushes.

A total of 12 firefighters used two hose reels, two main jets and foam to extinguish the fire, which reportedly also caused power to be lost to around 100 nearby properties.

Firefighters remained on the scene beyond 7.30pm on Sunday, for several hours dampening down.

A spokesperson for SeaLife said: “Following a fire at an electricity substation on land adjacent, the aquarium will remain closed on Monday. The fire was contained to an outside area, and did not spread to the aquarium buildings.

“No employees or guests were harmed by this incident, and all animals remain safe and well in our care. The aquarium will re-open to guests once it has been confirmed it is safe to do so.”

It comes as parts of the UK face an “exceptional” risk for wildfires over the next few days amid record-breaking temperatures.

The UK Health Security Agency’s amber and yellow heat health alerts, which were due to be lifted on Sunday, are now in effect until 9pm BST on July 15.

Temperatures of 35°C or higher have now been recorded in May, June and July of the same year for the first time in the UK weather record, as heatwave conditions are expected to continue this week, according to the Met Office.

A National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) spokesperson said: “When the weather stays hot and dry, it only takes one spark to start a wildfire. What can begin as a small fire can spread incredibly quickly, putting people, homes, wildlife and our countryside at risk.

“We’re asking everyone to take extra care outdoors, whether that’s avoiding disposable barbecues in the countryside, parks or moorlands, or making sure cigarettes are fully extinguished. A few simple actions can make a huge difference and help prevent fires before they start.”

The NBA offseason has already produced a wave of blockbuster trades, but several major storylines remain unresolved as free agency and Summer League action continue in Las Vegas. Here are seven of the latest trade rumors and developments shaping the league heading into the 2026-27 season.

1. Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto is on hold pending a league investigation. Leonard was initially traded from the LA Clippers to the Toronto Raptors on June 30 in a deal that would send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks and additional draft compensation to Los Angeles. The trade was expected to be finalized after the league’s moratorium lifted July 6, but both teams issued statements saying the deal can only be completed if Toronto’s ownership group assumes the risk of penalties tied to an ongoing NBA investigation into whether Leonard’s endorsement arrangement with sponsor Aspiration constituted salary cap circumvention. Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the situation before Game 1 of the NBA Finals, saying he hoped for a swift resolution. “I think we’re close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up because you also need finality,” Silver said. “Their team has to understand what the situation is they’re going to be operating under, and so do the other 29 teams.”

2. LeBron James remains undecided, and his choice is holding up several other rosters. James informed the Los Angeles Lakers he would not return for a ninth season, and as of this week his free agency has stretched well beyond his own past decision timelines, including his 2010 move to Miami and his 2014 return to Cleveland, both of which were announced by July 11. Teams including Cleveland, Denver, Golden State, Miami, Minnesota and Philadelphia have each kept at least two roster spots open specifically to accommodate James, according to ESPN. His longtime agent, Rich Paul, has said the decision will ultimately come down to fit rather than money. “If it’s about happiness, because if it’s the most money, then it’s not necessarily the most happiness,” Paul said on his “Game Over” podcast, adding, “As you’re going through this process, I’m saying to LeBron, ‘You really have to think this through.’ Everything looks great in July. Everything looks great on paper. But you got to be very careful with that.”

3. The Warriors’ pursuit of James may hinge on landing Anthony Davis. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Golden State is not viewed as a top contender for James unless the team can first pull off a trade for Davis, James’ former Lakers teammate. Complicating that pursuit is forward Jimmy Butler, whose $57 million expiring contract would likely need to be included in any Davis package. The Warriors have publicly told Butler he will not be dealt, though Butler is separately expected to be sidelined into at least the winter as he recovers from January ACL surgery, limiting outside interest in acquiring him regardless.

4. Jalen Duren’s future with the Detroit Pistons remains unresolved. Duren and the Pistons have yet to agree to a new contract as of this week, with league sources indicating a sign-and-trade remains a possibility if the two sides cannot reach an agreement on an extension. Duren’s situation has continued to draw attention from rival front offices monitoring Detroit’s roster decisions as the team looks to build around its young core following an active offseason that already saw the Pistons trade away veteran forward Caris LeVert.

5. Nikola Jokic is choosing to wait a full year before signing his next contract, a decision that will directly affect Denver’s trade calculus. Jokic became extension-eligible in mid-June for a four-year, $278 million deal, but is instead expected to wait until next offseason to sign a five-year, $359.5 million contract, which would become the largest deal in NBA history. Speaking in Serbian following a FIBA World Cup qualifying game, Jokic reaffirmed his desire to stay in Denver long term. “My idea and desire is to stay in Denver. I’ll probably sign next year,” Jokic said. “My desire is to play the rest of my life in Denver.”

6. New Orleans is fielding steady interest in forward Trey Murphy III, though a deal appears increasingly unlikely. Murphy has remained a frequent name in trade rumors, but one league executive told Heavy that acquiring him would likely require an offer similar to the four first-round picks Memphis received in the Desmond Bane trade, though that asking price has reportedly come down somewhat in recent weeks. Despite the interest, momentum suggests the Pelicans are more likely to keep Murphy on their roster heading into the coming season rather than complete a deal before training camp.

7. Evan Mobley’s long-term fit in Cleveland could be reshaped depending on where LeBron James ultimately signs. The Cavaliers, one of the teams still in the mix for James, carry an expensive roster built around Mobley’s four-year, $223 million extension, and analysts have noted that a James addition would likely reduce Mobley’s offensive touches given James’ need for a significant share of the ball. Some league observers believe Cleveland could ultimately look to move Mobley for a substantial return if the roster fit no longer makes sense, particularly if the team shifts into a more explicit win-now mode built around James.

Beyond these seven storylines, the broader offseason has already reshaped several rosters significantly. The Milwaukee Bucks completed a blockbuster trade sending two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for four players, four first-round picks and a pick swap, while the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and additional draft compensation. The Memphis Grizzlies also moved on from Ja Morant, sending the guard to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a broader teardown of the young core that once won 56 games together, while the Charlotte Hornets dealt LaMelo Ball to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

With Summer League continuing in Las Vegas and several marquee free agents, including James, still unsigned, league insiders expect additional trade activity in the coming days as front offices continue positioning their rosters ahead of the 2026-27 season, particularly once James’ decision finally resolves the logjam currently holding up multiple front offices around the league.

A fire that tore through a crowded live music venue in Bangkok late Sunday night has killed at least 27 people and injured 63 others, with Thai officials saying most victims died after being overcome by smoke while trying to reach the pub’s toilets, which had no way out. Nine men and 18 women are among the dead, and 22 of the injured remain in critical condition. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, visited the site and confirmed the toll, as authorities opened an investigation into how a night of music turned into one of the country’s deadliest fire disasters in years.

The blaze broke out at the Na Ladprao venue, near Soi Lat Phrao 1 Road, just after midnight, when the bar was packed with customers. Officials say the choking pace at which smoke filled the building, reaching the ceiling and spreading through the entire venue within minutes, left many patrons with almost no time to find a working exit.

Trapped near the toilets

According to Thai authorities, a large number of the dead were found near the bathrooms at the rear of the venue, an area that offered no route outside. PM Anutin said panic appeared to have pushed the crowd toward that dead end as smoke filled the room, rather than toward the exits.

Were the exits blocked?

The venue’s Facebook page had listed a capacity of more than 300 people and advertised four fire exits, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the bar held the required permits. But investigators are now examining whether one or more of those exits were obstructed on the night of the fire, Chadchart noted that several bodies were recovered close to a fire exit, and officials believe something may have been blocking it.

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Smoke, not fire, was the killer

Officials repeatedly pointed to smoke, rather than the flames themselves, as the main cause of death. Chadchart said the fire climbed quickly to the ceiling and that smoke was very likely what killed most victims. A firefighter at the scene, Chakrit Khongkom, described the smoke as having filled the entire venue almost instantly, adding that most survivors were found choking rather than burned.

Rescuers battled furniture and heat

Fire crews reached the venue within about five minutes of the alarm being raised, but by then the blaze had already spread through the building, according to fire official Suriyachai. Teams searching the smoke-filled interior found tables and chairs blocking their path throughout the venue, making the rescue slower and more dangerous in the intense heat. Body-camera footage reviewed by Reuters showed firefighters in oxygen masks working through the darkness, carrying victims out on stretchers, several of whom were found near the toilets.

A blackout, then an explosion

The exact cause of the fire is still being investigated, but band members performing that night told officials the lights suddenly went out near the stage, followed by what sounded like an explosion, after which smoke filled the room. One musician recalled a scramble for the exit in total darkness, with people on the floor calling for help around him. Anutin said musicians had described smoke coming from a circuit breaker near the stage moments before the power failed.

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What witnesses saw

Motorbike-taxi driver Surin Jaiharn told reporters he saw flames shoot out of the entrance and used clothing to beat out fire on people fleeing the building, while another driver helped carry an injured woman to safety. A tourist from Laos, Kan Kutirat, said he noticed smoke near the stage moments before the crowd erupted into screaming and chaos — an experience he said has stayed with him. Journalists at the scene reported seeing people run into the street with their clothes on fire, and multiple body bags laid out as forensic teams worked through the night.

Old questions about nightlife safety, again

The tragedy has reopened concerns about fire safety enforcement at bars and clubs in Thailand, a country that has seen repeated deadly venue fires. It follows the 2022 Mountain B nightclub fire that killed 25 people, and the 2009 Santika Club fire in Bangkok, which remains one of the country’s worst, with 67 deaths. Investigators say they are now focused on whether the exits at Na Ladprao were genuinely accessible on the night of the fire, and whether any safety violations contributed to the scale of the tragedy.

(Inputs from AFP and Reuters)

The gold jewellery industry entered FY27 facing a four-pronged challenge. Soaring oil prices, rising inflation concerns and renewed expectations of higher interest rates amid the West Asia crisis coincided with the once-in-three-years Adhik Maas period, which typically dampens wedding-related jewellery demand. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to curb gold purchases to help arrest the freefall in the Indian rupee, while customs duty on gold was raised to 15% from 6%.

Despite these headwinds, India’s listed jewellery stocks have moved in the opposite direction. Backed by stronger-than-expected June quarter business updates, the sector has rallied as much as 40% in just one month.

Data from ACE Equity shows Kalyan Jewellers leading the pack with a 40% gain, followed by Sky Gold at 25%, Thangamayil Jewellery at 24%, Goldiam International at 21%, PC Jeweller at 15%, Titan Company at 14%, and Senco Gold at 9%.

Jewellery stocks Q1 update

Jewellery companies delivered healthy same-store sales growth during the June quarter, signalling resilient demand and an accelerating shift towards organised players. The sector had earlier corrected following adverse government policy measures and advisories. However, analysts believe demand has remained resilient and that the long-term structural tailwinds for organised jewellers remain intact.Titan, India’s largest jewellery retailer, reported a 41% year-on-year rise in its consumer businesses during the June quarter, supported by strong jewellery demand, retail network expansion and robust growth in its international operations. Its domestic business grew 37% year-on-year, taking the total store count to 3,517. Jewellery continued to be the biggest contributor, with the segment growing 39% over the year-ago period. Titan attributed the performance to healthy festive demand and strong sales during Akshaya Tritiya.

Also read:Titan vs Kalyan Jewellers: What Q1 sales indicate about demand and which stock to buy
Other listed players also reported robust business updates. Senco Gold posted 60% revenue growth along with 38% same-store sales growth, Kalyan Jewellers reported 38% growth, while PC Jeweller recorded 21% growth after reducing more than 90% of its settlement debt and guiding for a debt-free balance sheet this quarter.

Fundamental buying or sentiment driven?

“The Q1 FY27 business updates from jewellers point towards demand resilience despite concerns around Adhik Maas, gold prices and macro uncertainty. While the market expected a softer quarter, demand remained strong across wedding, festive and investment-led categories. A key driver was the ~18% correction from peak gold prices and the return of price stability,” Anil R, Senior Research Analyst, Geojit Investments, told ETMarkets.According to him, the recent rally is largely supported by improving fundamentals rather than sentiment alone. Organised jewellers continue to gain market share from the unorganised segment as consumers increasingly prefer branded and trusted players. At the same time, leading companies have consistently expanded their store networks while maintaining healthy return ratios and strong balance sheets, making the organised jewellery business model increasingly attractive to investors.

He added that the industry is also benefiting from premiumisation and higher penetration of studded jewellery, both of which support sustainable revenue growth over the medium term. The recent consolidation in gold prices is also expected to improve customer footfalls.

That said, valuations for some jewellery stocks are no longer inexpensive, and future returns will increasingly depend on earnings delivery.

Will momentum sustain after Q1 results?

The outlook beyond the June quarter also remains constructive as leading players continue to project strong long-term demand.

“The strong start to FY27 by market leaders reinforces confidence in the sector’s demand outlook. Within our coverage universe, we prefer Titan Company (ADD, Fair Value: Rs 4,725) and Bluestone Jewellery (BUY, Target Price: Rs 625) as our preferred picks over the next 12–18 months,” Pankaj Kumar, VP Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities, told ETMarkets.

Anil shares a similar view, saying the growth momentum appears sustainable beyond Q2, although the pace will depend on gold price movements and consumer sentiment. Stable gold prices should support demand, as jewellery purchases are typically influenced more by price volatility than by absolute price levels. He also believes initiatives such as gold exchange and recycling programmes will improve affordability and customer engagement.

Also read:Bought gold and silver at the top? Here’s what experts suggest after prices plunged up to 50% from January

Importantly, the second half of the year is typically stronger for the industry, supported by the festive season and the peak wedding period. If gold prices remain relatively stable, leading organised jewellery retailers should continue delivering healthy growth over the coming quarters.

Should you buy jewellery stocks right now?

International brokerage Nomura said the “strength show continues, all businesses fire up well” for Titan Company and maintained its Buy rating with a target price of Rs 5,000, implying 9% upside. “We view Titan as a key beneficiary of the rising affluent and elite income population in India, with sales growth at 1.5-2x GDP of India over the medium term,” the brokerage said.

Nomura noted that Titan has been among the fastest-growing domestic jewellery players, increasing its market share from 5% in FY19 to 8% in FY24. It expects the company to continue outpacing industry growth and raise its market share to 10% by FY28F, driven by expansion into Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4 towns and the continued migration of consumers from the unorganised sector, which still accounts for 60% of the industry, to organised retailers offering correct carat-age, better designs and an improved shopping experience.

Preeyam Tolia, Research Analyst, Choice Institutional Equities, believes B2B jewellery manufacturers are better placed to outperform over the next 12-18 months. He said these companies can scale without significant investments in store expansion, branding or customer acquisition. With ongoing capacity additions and stronger relationships with organised jewellers, B2B players are well positioned to deliver superior earnings growth. Within this segment, Shanti Gold and Shringar House of Mangalsutra remain the firm’s preferred picks.

Citi remains bullish on Kalyan Jewellers, with a target price of Rs 750, implying 58% upside. The brokerage expects the company’s franchise-led expansion strategy to support future revenue growth and believes its asset-light model will aid deleveraging while improving return on capital employed (ROCE).

ICICI Securities has also maintained a Buy rating on Kalyan Jewellers, with a target price of Rs 670, implying 41% upside. The brokerage said the company’s robust Q1FY27 performance despite multiple headwinds underscores resilient jewellery demand. While continued store expansion and the formalisation of the industry reinforce its positive outlook, it flagged any structural decline in natural diamond prices as a key risk.

Going forward, investors will closely monitor management commentary, festive season demand and the pace of store expansion, all of which are likely to shape the sector’s performance over the coming quarters.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

France and Spain, the two highest-ranked teams in Europe and pre-tournament favorites, meet Tuesday in the first World Cup semifinal, a matchup many fans and analysts have described as the most anticipated fixture of the tournament, with a place in the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium on the line.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Eastern time at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, marking the final of nine match days held at the venue this tournament, the most of any of the World Cup’s 16 host cities. The match will air on FOX and Telemundo in the United States, with streaming available through the FOX Sports app, Tubi and Peacock.

Both teams arrive having gone unbeaten through six matches, though their paths to the semifinal have looked slightly different. France has won every match it has played, outscoring opponents in commanding fashion throughout the group stage before dispatching Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16 and controlling a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco. Spain opened the tournament with a scoreless draw against Cape Verde before winning every match since, keeping a clean sheet through the round of 16 before conceding a single goal in a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium. Statistical models have given France a modest edge heading into kickoff. Opta’s supercomputer projected France with a 42.1% probability of winning in regulation time, compared with 31.8% for Spain and a 26.1% chance the match extends to extra time.

Betting markets have reflected a similarly tight spread. FanDuel Sportsbook listed France at +130 on the 90-minute moneyline, with Spain at +230 and a draw at +220, while pricing France at -148 to advance to the final overall against Spain’s +120. SportsLine analyst Martin Green, who enters the tournament on a hot streak in his soccer betting picks, said he is leaning toward the match going over 2.5 total goals, pointing to Spain’s attacking quality as a key factor. “They clearly have enough quality to unlock France’s defense,” Green said, adding that France’s attacking depth presents an equally difficult challenge for Spain’s back line. “It’s hard to see Spain keeping Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola at bay for 90 minutes,” Green said.

The tournament’s biggest individual storyline centers on the head-to-head battle between two of soccer’s most electrifying young talents: France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, familiar rivals from their meetings in La Liga’s El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Mbappé enters the match tied atop the tournament’s Golden Boot race with eight goals, averaging a goal every 65 minutes on the pitch, and has scored twice in three previous professional matchups against Spain. Yamal, just 18, has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the tournament and previously scored twice against France in Spain’s dramatic 5-4 win over Les Bleus in the 2025 UEFA Nations League semifinals, a result that still looms over Tuesday’s rematch.

France and Spain have met 38 times overall, with Spain holding a decisive edge in the head-to-head series at 18 victories to France’s fewer wins, including seven wins in the two nations’ last 10 meetings. The two sides have faced each other just once at a World Cup, a 2006 last-16 meeting France won 3-1 behind goals from Franck Ribéry, Patrick Vieira and Zinedine Zidane. At the European Championships, the two teams have met five times, splitting results evenly with two wins apiece and one draw, including a 2-1 Spain win in the Euro 2024 semifinal that sent Spain on to eventually lift that tournament’s trophy.

Tactically, much of the pre-match analysis has centered on the midfield battle, where Spain is widely considered to hold an advantage behind the control of Rodri and Pedri. RotoWire’s soccer editor said France’s ability to disrupt that rhythm may hinge heavily on the fitness of midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, who has missed France’s last two matches. “I lean Spain, and it comes down to the midfield,” the analyst wrote. “Rodri and Pedri controlling the tempo is the single biggest factor on the pitch, and if Aurelien Tchouameni is anything less than fully fit, France’s ability to slow that down falls away. France will get their moments in transition and I expect Kylian Mbappe to find one, but I think Spain’s control tells over 90-plus minutes.”

Defensively, both sides enter the match among the tournament’s stingiest units. France’s back line has been beaten just once across six matches, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan recording four clean sheets, while Spain’s Unai Simón has conceded only once during Spain’s own six-match unbeaten run, which includes four clean sheets of his own. That defensive solidity on both sides has led several analysts to predict a tightly contested, low-scoring affair likely to be decided by a single moment of individual quality rather than a wide-open, high-scoring contest, despite the presence of some of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking talent on both rosters.

Beyond Mbappé and Yamal, the matchup also features a compelling wide-player battle, with France’s Michael Olise and Spain’s Nico Williams both capable of turning transition moments into scoring chances on opposite flanks. Set-piece duties also loom as a factor, with Olise and Dembélé handling the majority of France’s corners and free kicks, while Spain’s attacking output on dead balls runs primarily through Alex Baena and Yamal himself.

Whichever team wins Tuesday’s match will advance to face the winner of Wednesday’s other semifinal between Argentina and England, played in Atlanta, for the World Cup title at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19. For both France and Spain, Tuesday’s contest carries stakes well beyond a single match: France is chasing a second consecutive World Cup final appearance and a title defense that has looked increasingly ruthless throughout the tournament, while Spain, the reigning European champions, is aiming to prove its case as the best team in the world on the sport’s biggest remaining stage, with revenge for last year’s Nations League semifinal defeat also firmly in the backdrop heading into kickoff.

Villagers armed with nets waded through muddy floodwaters to catch escaped cobras and water snakes after a breeding farm in Guangxi was washed away, even as China battles its deadliest flood season in years

Floodwaters set loose a slithering nightmare in southern China this week after nearly 900 snakes, including venomous cobras, escaped a breeding farm in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The farm in Dengwei village was swept away by rising waters on July 6, according to Wu Zhi, head of the local village committee, who spoke to state-run outlet Red Star News. The escaped reptiles included water snakes, king ratsnakes, and cobras, local media reported.

The bizarre episode is just one chapter in a much larger flood emergency unfolding across China. Days of extreme weather in the country’s south and central regions have already killed at least 39 people, sent dozens of rivers overflowing, and triggered the collapse of a reservoir dam. Chinese authorities have now evacuated more than 900,000 people as Typhoon Bavi barrels towards the eastern city of Wenzhou, after already lashing Taiwan and Japan’s southwestern islands, even as the country continues to deal with the fallout of Typhoon Maysak, which struck Hainan earlier this month.

Videos of cobras in floodwater send chills online

State media shared several videos of the aftermath, and the internet is not okay. One widely circulated clip shows local residents using dip nets to fish snakes out of the water, while another captures a cobra raising its head above a stretch of muddy floodwater. The footage, tied to the flooding caused by Typhoon Maysak, has racked up views as users reacted with a mix of horror and disbelief.

The farm bred snakes for medicine, meat and anti-venom

According to Chinese daily Global Times, the Dengwei village facility mainly bred three types of snakes, cobras, king ratsnakes, and water snakes, for use in traditional medicine, meat production, and anti-venom manufacturing. When the floodwaters tore through the farm, the reptiles simply swam away with the current.

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“Most of the snakes have already been washed away,” say officials, but caution urged

Wu Zhi told Global Times, “Most of the snakes have already been washed away by the floods.” He added that only a small number remain stranded on floating garbage and debris in the stagnant water, and that the vast majority of snakes captured at the site so far have turned out to be harmless water snakes rather than venomous ones.A ten-member team has been deployed to recapture the escapees using nets and electric fishing equipment. Even so, officials are taking no chances given that some of the loose reptiles are believed to be cobras. Residents have been firmly told not to attempt catching the snakes on their own. Wu Zhi said anyone who spots a snake at home should immediately alert the village committee so trained personnel can handle it.

Hundreds evacuated as reservoirs overflow

The snakes escaped on Monday, July 6, according to Shanghai Daily, and one villager was bitten by a snake and hospitalised. By the following day, 712 residents had been evacuated after the nearby Liulan and Yunbiao reservoirs began overflowing in the wake of Typhoon Maysak, China Daily reported.

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Describing the chaos, a local resident told the Associated Press, “It was terrifying.” The resident added that the flood tore through the snake farm and left the animals roaming everywhere, even in the water.

With Typhoon Bavi now approaching and memories of the snake scare still fresh, villagers in the flood-hit region are keeping a wary eye on both the skies and the water below.

Olivia Rodrigo has built one of the most concentrated hit catalogs of the streaming era, with nine different songs surpassing a billion streams on Spotify despite a discography that spans just two full albums and a handful of standalone singles since her 2021 debut. Here is a look at her 10 most-streamed songs on the platform, based on cumulative totals.

Topping the list is “drivers license,” Rodrigo’s breakout debut single from her 2021 album “SOUR,” which has amassed more than 2.84 billion streams on Spotify. The track launched Rodrigo into global stardom almost overnight, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and holding the top spot for eight consecutive weeks, a run that established the song as one of the defining heartbreak anthems of the streaming music era.

Coming in second is “good 4 u,” also from “SOUR,” with roughly 2.65 billion streams. The pop-punk-inflected track gave Rodrigo her second No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 and has remained a staple of her live performances and playlists years after its release, helping cement “SOUR” as the most-streamed album by a female artist in Spotify’s history.

“Traitor,” another cut from “SOUR,” ranks third with roughly 2.33 billion streams, followed closely by “deja vu” in fourth place with about 2.28 billion streams. “Deja vu” served as the second single released from “SOUR” and became Rodrigo’s second single to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, part of a run that made her the first artist in history to have her first three singles all debut in the chart’s top 10.

Rounding out the top five is “vampire,” the lead single from Rodrigo’s 2023 sophomore album “GUTS,” with approximately 1.65 billion streams. The song was praised by Pitchfork as its “Best New Track” upon release and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Rodrigo the first artist ever to have the lead singles from two career-opening albums both debut atop the chart.

Sixth on the list is “happier,” a “SOUR” track with just over 1.64 billion streams, narrowly trailing “vampire” and underscoring how deeply Rodrigo’s debut album continues to dominate her overall streaming totals more than four years after its release. “Favorite crime,” also from “SOUR,” follows in seventh place with roughly 1.54 billion streams.

“Jealousy, jealousy” rounds out the eighth spot with about 1.26 billion streams, another “SOUR” cut that has remained a consistent presence in Rodrigo’s overall catalog performance. Ninth on the list is something of an outlier among Rodrigo’s biggest hits: “All I Want,” originally recorded for the soundtrack of Disney’s “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” in 2019, well before her mainstream pop breakthrough. The song has accumulated more than 1.15 billion streams, making it the only track in Rodrigo’s top nine billion-stream songs not written primarily by Rodrigo alongside her longtime producer and collaborator, Dan Nigro, and one of only two songs in her top tier not drawn from “SOUR.”

Closing out the top 10 is “brutal,” the opening track from “SOUR,” with just over 838 million streams, a total that falls short of the billion-stream mark reached by the nine songs ranked above it but still places it comfortably among Rodrigo’s most-streamed work overall.

What stands out most clearly across the ranking is just how disproportionately Rodrigo’s 2021 debut album continues to drive her overall streaming numbers. With the exception of “vampire” from “GUTS” and “All I Want” from her pre-fame Disney work, every song in her top nine billion-stream tracks comes from “SOUR,” a concentration that is unusual compared with most artists of similar scale, whose biggest hits are typically spread more evenly across multiple albums released over the course of a career.

Rodrigo’s rapid rise has been closely tied to her songwriting partnership with Nigro, who has co-written and produced nearly every song in her catalog aside from “All I Want.” That partnership has shaped not just Rodrigo’s own sound but has had a broader influence on the direction of mainstream pop music in the years since “SOUR” was released, as a wave of subsequent artists have drawn comparisons to the confessional, guitar-driven style the two helped popularize.

Beyond her existing catalog, Rodrigo’s streaming totals are likely to keep climbing following the June 12, 2026, release of her third studio album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love.” Early tracks from that project have already begun accumulating streams of their own, and industry watchers expect at least some of the album’s singles to eventually join the ranks of her billion-stream songs given the pace at which her earlier releases reached that milestone.

Rodrigo’s overall Spotify totals reflect the scale of her impact across a relatively brief but historically significant career. Across her full catalog of roughly 60 tracks, Rodrigo has accumulated more than 26.7 billion total streams on the platform, according to data from Spotify statistics tracker Kworb, with her music continuing to generate close to 14.7 million streams per day as of the most recent available figures. That places her among the platform’s most-streamed active artists, particularly notable given that her entire career discography spans just over five years since “drivers license” first arrived in January 2021.

Rodrigo, now a three-time Grammy winner, has continued to tour extensively in support of her growing catalog, with dates scheduled across North America and Europe extending into 2027, including stops in cities such as Charlotte, Boston, Toronto, London and Barcelona. As her third album continues to find its footing commercially and critically, fans and industry analysts alike are watching closely to see how many of its tracks eventually join the list of songs that have helped make Rodrigo one of the defining pop voices of the streaming era.

3P Technik and sister venture Celtic Sustainables come under new group entity Celtic House Holdings

Stormwater treatment and rainwater harvesting venture 3P Technik UK, and its sister sustainable building supplies company Celtic Sustainables, have become an employee-owned group.

Founded in 2000 by its current managing director Glyn Hyett, 3P Technik was originally based in Cardiff, before relocating to Cardigan in 2005. In 2008, Mr Hyett established Celtic Sustainables, after identifying a gap in the market for sustainable building products in the region.

The transition to employee ownership (EO) brings the two companies together under one group, Celtic House Holdings , from a shared factory unit in Parc Teifi in Cardigan and employing 17 people.

Since the move to Cardigan more than 20 years ago, the business has employed more than 50 local people, something that has always been important to founder and a key reason behind his decision to become employee-owned and use the employee ownership trust (EOT) model, rather than a trade sale.

The value of the deal has not been disclosed, bu Mr Hyett will remain with the business. He said: “When looking at the future of the business, I wanted to put something in place to ensure that it remained in Cardigan and that the people who have been loyal to the Group and me for so many years have some job security.

“I did explore the traditional trade sale route, but I wasn’t ready to leave the business quite yet and was also aware that by selling to a third party, the likelihood would be that the jobs would leave the region and that’s something I wasn’t willing to do.”

“I am staying with the business for the foreseeable future, so I can pass on my knowledge of both stormwater treatment and sustainable building to the rest of the team here, and to ensure that future generations have opportunities to build rewarding careers in this beautiful part of the world.

“While the businesses will continue to operate independently under their own brands, the move represents a shared commitment to long-term stewardship, local employment and sustainable business.”

Mr Hyett will form part of Celtic House EOT Trustee board for the Celtic House group of companies, as well as employee trust board members Jane Heard and Rhys Rideout. The independent trust board member is Sarah Owens from the EO Team at Cwmpas. Senior managers Andrew Mayer, Morag Embleton and Anthony Kerr have been appointed as new directors of Celtic House Holdings.

The Employee Ownership Wales service from Cwmpas is part of Social Business Wales and of the Business Wales family, both funded by Welsh Government. They support businesses navigating the transition into Employee Ownership, providing bespoke consultancy support to help you decide if EO is the right solution for owners and their business.

Sarah Owens, Specialist EO consultant from Cwmpas, said: “It has been great to work with Glyn and the team at Celtic House Holdings on their transition into Employee Ownership.

Glyn’s motives for the use of the EOT were clear and helped us to really shape the vision for the transition and how it would work for Glyn and his team in this unique group of companies. It’s wonderful news that the skills and expertise built up over so many years won’t be lost and will remain in Ceredigion thanks to this move into employee ownership. This is a really exciting time for Celtic House Holdings and it was an honour to help them achieve the next stage in their development.”

Mr Hyett team were supported throughout the process of becoming employee owned by JCP Solicitors. Natalie Jones, director and EOT specialist in JCP’s corporate and commercial team, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support Glyn and the team with the adoption of an employee ownership model for the froup. The EOT will ensure that the culture of the Group is preserved and the group’s continued presence in Ceredigion. EOTs have grown in popularity in recent years as a practical and tax-efficient exit (capital gain exemptions) route – and this deal shows just how well the model can work when implemented with care. We wish Glyn and the team every success in this new chapter.”

BPU Accountants Nick Toye, Director BPU and Martin Knight, director BPU also advised on the financial aspect of the transaction.

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