UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced plans to ban American XL bully dogs by the end of 2022, calling them a "danger to communities". The move comes after a fatal attack by two dogs, suspected to be XL bullies, in Staffordshire last week. Sunak stated XL bullies need to be defined as a breed first before being banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. This follows an attack on an 11-year old girl in Birmingham recently that sparked debate on prohibiting certain dangerous breeds. A 30-year old man was arrested over the Staffordshire attack. Sunak asserted XL bullies pose significant risk and will be outlawed once confirmed as a breed.

London homes in more than 50 postcode areas (SW, TW, W1 H-M-N, W2-W14)  have been left without water or with low pressure after a fault at a treatment plant in the capital. Schools will stay closed on Wednesday amid the widespread disruption. Thames Water said it is bringing in tankers to support hospitals as thousands are impacted. The company expects water to return later on Wednesday but children have already missed school due to the chaos. Thames Water apologized to affected customers in West London experiencing no water or low pressure. MPs called on the utility to update residents on when supplies will normalize.

An Indian-origin man was arrested in Hong Kong for molesting a South Korean vlogger during her livestream. The man approached the woman asking for directions before grabbing her hand and groping her, despite her repeated pleas for him to stop. He later forcefully pressed her against a wall, grabbed her chest, and kissed her. The distressed woman cried for help as the man fled. The man, identified as Amit Jariyal, was detained on suspicion of indecent assault. The distressed vlogger showed her bruises during another livestream in Macau after the attack.

The longest September heatwave in UK history is expected to come to an end this week as rains and thunderstorms arrive, bringing cooler weather for all according to the Met Office. Temperatures will dip on Wednesday after parts of the UK faced disruptive thunderstorms and rainfall over the past couple of days. More rain is forecast on Thursday and Friday which could mark the end of the exceptional 7-day stretch of heatwave conditions. While humidity may rise again later, showers are predicted to keep temperatures around average for this time of year - mid-20s in the south and high-teens in the north. The cooler, wetter weather will provide relief from the scorching heatwave that broke records across the UK.

Over 2 million litres of red wine gushed through the streets of a small Portuguese village this week after two tanker trucks belonging to a local distillery spilled their contents. Video shows the wine flowing down the roads and alleyways of São Lourenco do Bairro after the accidental spill on Sunday. The Levira Distillery has apologized and assumed responsibility for cleanup costs. The company said it is committed to resolving the situation quickly, though the village was left awash in a river of wasted red wine from the massive accident. (Video courtesy: Daily Mail) 

Scotland is launching pilot programs across select government agencies to test a transition to a four-day workweek for civil servants. The initiative is outlined in Scotland's 2023-24 Programme for Government as a way to assess the potential well-being, environmental, and productivity benefits of reduced working hours. The year-long trials may involve government enterprise bodies rather than ministries. This follows the UK's largest-ever four-day week trial last year involving 3,000 employees, which most companies chose to retain citing increased revenues, lower turnover, and less burnout. Scotland aims to similarly evaluate the feasibility and advantages of a shortened workweek.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as "major news" that will greatly benefit Israel and the globe. The ambitious economic corridor, unveiled Saturday in New Delhi, links infrastructure from Asia to Europe as an alternative to China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative. Netanyahu said IMEC realizes a vision for the Middle East and that Israel is at the center of this "unprecedented international project." He welcomed the joint announcement by the U.S., India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and E.U. Netanyahu made the remarks while addressing protests in Israel over proposed judicial reforms. [photo courtesy: @netanyahu]

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman is pushing for a ban on American XL Bully dogs after an 'appalling' attack on an 11-year-old girl in Birmingham over the weekend. She argues these dogs pose a "clear and lethal danger", particularly to children. Braverman has commissioned urgent advice on outlawing the XL Bully dog breed. However, Environment Secretary Therese Coffey's department is responsible for banning dogs. They have concerns over feasibility as the American XL Bully is not an officially recognized breed and could inadvertently ban other dogs too. 

The UK's week-long heatwave is expected to be broken by thunderstorms in the coming days, according to the Met Office. A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued across parts of Northern Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland until Monday morning. Heavy rain up to 50mm is forecast which could lead to flash flooding and transport disruptions. While Sunday was the seventh consecutive day over 30C, temperatures are predicted to drop from Monday onwards. However some southeastern areas could still reach near 30C. By midweek, cooler weather is expected across the UK, with more rain on Thursday and Friday likely ending the hot spell. The heatwave lasting over seven days in September was unprecedented, the Met Office said.

A video of President Joe Biden's press conference in Vietnam is going viral after it was abruptly ended by White House staff. Biden was rambling in his answers, making awkward jokes, and seemed confused at times. This was the first time a U.S. President's own team has cut short a press briefing in this manner. Many found the moment disturbing and embarrassing. Critics suggested it indicates Biden is not fully in control. The incident has raised concerns about the President's cognitive abilities as he nears the end of his Asia trip. Some netizens called it a failure of White House staff for allowing Biden's confusing briefing to go on so long before intervening.