What happened
At least 28 people have died after fire swept through a factory in southeastern China. The blaze broke out at about midday at a shoe manufacturing plant in Jinjiang, Fujian province, where hundreds of workers were on site. State media reported that 239 people were at the facility when the fire started, with more than 200 having been safely evacuated. Footage showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the upper levels of the building before firefighters brought the blaze under control several hours later.

Who said what
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out efforts” to rescue anyone trapped, determine how the fire started and “hold those responsible accountable”.

Industrial accidents are common in China due to “lax safety standards and poor enforcement”, according to Al Jazeera, which “some attribute to corruption among those responsible for ensuring compliance”.

China “launched a campaign against fire hazards in high-rise buildings in November” after a huge blaze engulfed several tower blocks in Hong Kong, killing 168 people, said the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. However, a month later another fire at a residential building in southern China’s Guangdong province killed 12 people.

What next?
The manager of the Jinjiang shoe factory has been detained while authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.

What happened
The current sweltering conditions are placing a heavy strain on the UK’s energy grid. The National Energy System Operator (Neso) has issued a notice calling on power generators to provide extra supplies to cope with the “extreme temperatures” and added household demands.

Households are not expected to see their power disrupted, but the notice does highlight Neso’s reliance on exported energy to ensure that demand is met. About 22% of Britain’s electricity was generated overseas yesterday morning. 

Who said what
Neso told The Guardian that it was “giving participants the opportunity” to make “any additional generation or flexibility” during this period. This notice comes “with the prospect of being paid premium rates”, said The Telegraph.

It’s “only going to get worse”, energy analyst Kathryn Porter told The Telegraph, as without “sensible policies” the UK is “clearly struggling to manage” its energy demands during extreme forecasts.

What next?
This is Britain’s third heatwave this year, with temperatures expected to peak today at 36C in some parts of the country.

Archaeologists have made two important discoveries that could provide valuable insights into life in the fourth century.

The first, a Byzantine city dug up in the Dakhla Oasis region, was a “remarkably preserved secret”, according to the Egypt Independent. In a separate dig, 18 tombs were also uncovered at the Marina el-Alamein archaeological site near Egypt’s northern coast.

The Dakhla oasis site offers a “detailed glimpse” into urban development and economic activity in Byzantine Egypt, said The Independent. The ancient city had a “meticulously planned layout” that allowed for open and public spaces.

The second intriguing discovery was of 11 rock-cut tombs and seven surface limestone-built tombs at the Marina el-Alamein site, west of Alexandria, said the Associated Press. Archaeologists found gold pieces inside the mouths of some of those buried there, a funerary practice known as the “golden tongue”. In addition, mission chief Eman Abdel-Khaliq confirmed that they had uncovered a 2.5-metre-long granite sarcophagus containing skeletal remains, and pieces of a plaster sphinx statue.

As well as providing insights into life in fourth-century Egypt, these sites will also be “simultaneously bolstering” the nation’s crucial tourism sector, added The Independent.

Over the past decade the country has been rebuilding its tourism appeal after years of political turmoil, violence and the pandemic. Last year Egypt welcomed a record 19 million visitors, said the Associated Press, a 21% increase from 2024.