At least four of the crew members who were working on the oil-drilling barge have died and four others are still unaccounted for in the Gulf of Suez.
The Adam Marine 12 sank the night before in the Gebel el-Zeit area of the Gulf of Suez, according to the Egyptian government, on Wednesday, injuring 22 people.
According to Egyptian media, the barge capsized while being towed to a new location.
According to the Egyptian Ministry of Health, four of the injured people were taken to a hospital and 18 others were taken by ambulance.
On Wednesday, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources posted images of Minister Karim Badawi, a member of Labour’s Mohammed Jibran and Red Sea governor Amr Hanafi, visiting survivors at El Gouna hospital in Hurghada.
According to Hanafi, Egyptian ships participated in the search-and-rescue efforts for the crew members.
As Russia’s attacks on Ukraine increase, the United States claims that it is halting some weapons deliveries to Kyiv that were promised by the Biden administration.
As the Pentagon reviews the current inventory levels, the pledges made during the Biden-era, which included various munitions to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, are now being reviewed. Under President Donald Trump, who has pushed for a more restrained global military posture, the move may indicate a shift in priorities.
Following a review of our country’s military support and assistance to other nations around the world, White House spokesman Anna Kelly stated in a statement on Tuesday that “this decision was made to put America’s interests first.”
According to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Pentagon’s internal analysis revealed some stockpiles were “too low” to justify a US-led transfer to Ukraine, according to Politico, which first reported the suspension of military aid.
A significant tax and defense spending bill in Congress, according to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, would improve systems for long-term deterrence, noting that “America’s military has never been more ready and capable.
According to Politico and other US media reports, Patriot air defense systems missiles, precision artillery, and Hellfire missiles are among the items being blocked.
Russia’s assault is getting worse
Russia’s continued aerial bombardment of Ukraine during one of the war’s most difficult times comes at a precarious time. With Kyiv and Moscow’s talks still stalled, hopes for a ceasefire have waned even more.
The US has given Ukraine more than $66 billion in weapons and security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Washington has urged its allies to provide air defense systems, particularly Patriot missile batteries, throughout the conflict. Many NATO members, especially those who are wary of Russia, continue to be reluctant to give up the systems.
Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s request for more Patriots during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week at the NATO summit.
According to Trump, “They do want to have the Patriots,” or “as they call them.” We’ll check to see if we can offer some. They are also necessary for us. They are very effective and are being supplied to Israel. Hard to believe how effective it is.
The US Department of Defense’s undersecretary for policy, Elbridge Colby, stated that the administration was looking into how to balance maintaining support for Ukraine with domestic readiness.
Israel has accepted a 60-day ceasefire agreement, according to President Donald Trump, but he did not provide specifics about it. Hassan demanded security guarantees as well as a full withdrawal of Israeli forces. Next week, Trump will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Your questions have been a BBC Sport topic since Wimbledon 2025 first became available.
Hundreds of you have been in touch and we’ve picked out some of the best to take a look at.
Contact us.
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Why are Wimbledon’s seats empty?
John in Bedford
Even though ballot tickets for the 2025 Championships had already sold out months prior, there were still plenty of empty seats in the Center Court and Court One stands. Why ?
Wimbledon operations manager Michelle Dine spoke to BBC Sport on Tuesday.
There are a lot more people scurrying around the grounds, she said, “because it was so hot.”
“We’re constantly sending out reminders to people to get water.” So maybe there were a few more people that were off court just trying to find some shade and take a bit of a break”.
Play begins at 11am and can run for 12 hours. Some fans may not have time to spend the entire day at SW19; however, travel plans may prompt some to arrive before the game ends or to leave before it ends.
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Why does Wimbledon have five sets for men and three for women?
Russell in Frome
A custom that dates back to the late 19th century involves men playing best-of-five matches and women playing only three.
Best-of-five matches were held when the men’s singles competition at Wimbledon first took place in 1877. When the women’s singles followed in 1884, they played best-of-three-set matches because of a perception they had less stamina.
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What material is used to make tennis balls?
Lancashire’s Zac
Tennis balls are made of a hollow rubber core, filled with pressurised air, with compound felt cover comprised of cotton, nylon and wool.
That hasn’t, however, always been the case.
The first rubber balls were created in the middle of the 20th century when modern lawn tennis first started to take shape. Wear and tear to the outside of the rubber eventually led to efforts to create a protective covering.
Tennis balls are yellow, but why?
Owen in Manchester
Depending on the color of the court, tennis balls were once either black or white.
When David Attenborough, the most well-known naturalist in the world, took over control of BBC Two in the beginning of his television career.
However, it was frequently difficult to distinguish the white lines of the court from the white ones, and it was difficult to tell whether or not shots were coming in or out.
Attenborough suggested a change of colour to something more visible. The International Tennis Federation conducted a number of tests to determine the color ball’s clearest spot, eventually coming up with fluorescent yellow.
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Why do players examine multiple balls before serving?
Robert in Brixton
Before serving, tennis players typically take three balls from the ball crew.
They will generally give one back, put one in their pocket, and keep hold of the third. The pocket serves as a buffer between the second and third serves, allowing for the player to continue playing without having to hand the player a second ball.
Players typically evaluate the three balls by sight and touch before choosing which to keep and which to give back when holding them. They do so in order to try to gain an advantage.
The inside of a tennis ball loses air pressure as a result, and the outside becomes more frayed.
A ball with a high air pressure and smooth exterior will move more quickly through the air, making a quick first serve preferable.
Meanwhile, a ball which has slightly less air pressure and more frayed exterior can be more suitable for a slower serve with more spin, making them potentially useful for the second serve.
At Wimbledon, how are seedings decided?
Beth in Essex
In each of the four Grand Slam draws, there are 32 seeds for men’s and women’s singles. The ranking of players in the lead-up to the tournament determines seeding. For the 2025 edition, the cut-off date was 23 June.
This is accomplished by the men’s singles players using their ATP Tour rankings. The WTA Tour rankings are used for the women’s singles. Players are seeded in the order in which they rank.
Casper Ruud, Arthur Fils, and Sebastian Korda would all have qualified this year, but they all withdrew because of injury. As a result, Alex Michelsen, Tallon Griekspoor and Matteo Berrettini were seeded 30th, 31st and 32nd respectively.
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Why is there a curfew at 11 o’clock in Wimbledon?
Craig in Wrexham
The All England Club announced an 11pm curfew for Wimbledon games in 2009, the same day as the roof of the Centre Court was unveiled.
The curfew was put in place to “balance the consideration of local residents with the scale of an international tennis event that takes place in a residential area.”
Why do tennis players not burn themselves?
Cumbria’s Becky
Players apply sun cream before matches, and may do so again during changes of end.
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Who are the voices at Wimbledon yelling line calls?
Rainer in Oxford
When a shot is hit out of play or a player breaks on a serve, line calls can now be heard at Wimbledon thanks to line judges.
Players and fans complained that bellows line judges’ loudspeakers were ineffective when called into action.
What kind of cream is paired with strawberries?
Jack and Sarah are both from Nottingham and Sarah is from Derby.
The cream used in the classic Wimbledon snack is double cream, which is sourced from British dairies.
Alternatives that are vegan are also present.
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The Dalai Lama confirmed on Wednesday that he will have a successor to carry on the role of spiritual leadership to Tibetan Buddhists, in a statement issued during continuing celebrations to mark his 90th birthday.
He said that leaders of Tibet’s spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan parliament and government in exile, both of which are in the Indian district of Dharamshala, and Buddhists from around the world, including mainland China and Tibet, had written to him, requesting that the institution continue.
“In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” he said.
His statement, issued at a time when Buddhist scholars and revered monks from around the world have converged on McLeodganj town in Dharamshala, where the Dalai Lama lives, to participate in the 90th birthday celebrations. The town, also known as “Little Lhasa” because it is in effect the capital of Tibetan Buddhists in exile, will also host an intense three-day religious conference that the Dalai Lama will preside over.
But the occasion isn’t only religious. How the next Dalai is chosen, and by whom, carries deep geopolitical significance.
For centuries, Tibetan Buddhist leaders have chosen and enthroned a new Dalai Lama only after an intense quest and subsequent schooling after the incumbent passes away. If the current Dalai Lama, the 14th, offers any more details in the coming days about how his successor might be chosen, or whom it might be, that would represent a dramatic break with tradition.
What he says, and doesn’t say, will be closely watched in Washington, New Delhi and Beijing.
The Dalai Lama, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who fled Tibet for India in 1959, is seen as a separatist by Beijing. India, as his host for 66 years, has deep stakes in the future of the institution of the Dalai Lama, who has known every Indian prime minister since the country gained independence. And the United States, which has long cited the Tibetan movement in exile as evidence of China’s human rights excesses, will want to make sure that the glue that binds it all – the institution of the Dalai Lama – continues.
So, who will choose the next Dalai Lama? Can the incumbent Dalai Lama stump the Chinese government? And could there be two Dalai Lamas?
How is a Dalai Lama chosen?
Choosing the next Dalai Lama, who will be enthroned as the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, is a process rooted in centuries-old traditions, spiritual beliefs, and rituals.
Traditions consider the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, and each Dalai Lama is believed to be the successor in a line of reincarnations.
Traditionally, the search for the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation typically begins after a period of mourning. High-ranking lamas (spiritual leaders) form a search committee to identify the next Dalai Lama, based on signs such as the direction of the smoke blowing from his cremation, the direction where he was looking when he died, and oracles’ visions, including at Lhamo Latso, a lake considered holy in Tibet.
Once potential candidates are identified, they undergo a series of tests to confirm their identity as the reincarnation. Candidates are usually young boys born at about the time of the previous Dalai Lama’s death. But the current Dalai Lama has said that there is no reason why a woman cannot be the next reincarnation.
After a candidate is chosen, the child begins a rigorous education in Buddhist philosophy, scriptures and leadership responsibilities, preparing them to assume the role of both a spiritual and, historically, political leader of the Tibetan people.
Who is the current Dalai Lama and how was he chosen?
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, was born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in a region now in Qinghai province. He was identified as a reincarnation when he was barely two years old.
After the death of the 13th Dalai Lama, the search party concluded a four-year-long quest after the toddler identified belongings of his predecessor with the phrase, “It’s mine, it’s mine.” While the majority of Dalai Lamas have been born in Tibet, one was discovered in Mongolia, and another in a region that today lies in northeastern India.
In March 1959, after a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese control, the Dalai Lama fled Lhasa in disguise, crossing the Himalayas on horseback and foot, eventually reaching India on March 31 that year. Nearly 100,000 Tibetan refugees live in different parts of India today, the community’s largest exile population.
His escape marked the end of traditional Tibetan governance and the beginning of a life in exile, from where he led the Tibetan struggle for autonomy.
A painting by Kanwal Krishna, probably dated in the 1930s, of a young Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso, born in 1935), the traditional religious and temporal head of Tibet’s Buddhist clergy [Kanwal Krishna/AFP]
What has the 14th Dalai Lama said about his successor?
Addressing a beaming crowd of followers and monks in McLeodganj on Monday, June 30, the Dalai Lama, clad in his traditional red robes and yellow scarf, said: “As far as the institution of the Dalai Lama is concerned, there will be a framework for it to continue.
“I think I have been able to serve the Dharma and sentient beings and I am determined to continue to do so,” he added, noting that at 90 years old, he feels “physically healthy and well”.
He has also hinted about where to look for the next Dalai Lama. Noting that the purpose of a reincarnation is to carry on the work of the predecessor, the 14th Dalai Lama wrote in his book, Voice for the Voiceless, published in March 2025, that “the new Dalai Lama will be born in the free world”.
In effect, that has meant that the Dalai Lama has decreed that the reincarnation would not be in China or China-controlled Tibet. He had earlier said that his incarnation could be found in India.
For Tenzin Jigme, a 39-year-old who lives in McLeodganj and works with the Tibetan government-in-exile, the mere thought of the Dalai Lama passing away is heavy. His voice broke as he said, “We live in a free world because he led us here.”
“For all of us, living as refugees, His Holiness Dalai Lama is a fatherly figure,” Jigme told Al Jazeera. “We need his reincarnation; look at the world, we need someone to teach us compassion.”
Was there a risk that there wouldn’t be a successor?
The 14th Dalai Lama has suggested in the past that there may not be a successor at all.
In 2011, he said that when he turned 90, he would consult his fellow lamas and the Tibetan public and “re‑evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not”.
In 2014, during a visit to the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, the then-79-year-old spiritual leader said that whether another Dalai Lama would be enthroned after him would depend on the circumstances after his death and was “up to the Tibetan people”.
“The Dalai Lama institution will cease one day. These man-made institutions will cease,” the Dalai Lama said in an interview with the BBC. “There is no guarantee that some stupid Dalai Lama won’t come next, who will disgrace himself or herself. That would be very sad. So, much better that a centuries-old tradition should cease at the time of a quite popular Dalai Lama.”
Dibyesh Anand, a professor of international relations at the University of Westminster and the author of Geopolitical Exotica: Tibet in Western Imagination, said the institution of the Dalai Lama will face immense uncertainty in the coming decades.
But, he said, “the history shows that this institution has been more protean and resilient than politically power-based states.”
Subsequent exiled Dalai Lamas “will not have political power in conventional sense”; however, the institution will remain “symbolically the heart of the Tibetan nation and the most respected authority in Tibetan Buddhism,” he said.
A Chinese soldier mans a checkpoint near the Potala Palace, the former residence of the Dalai Lama, on October 24, 1989 [Guy Dinmore/Reuters]
What is China’s position on this?
China insists that only its government has the authority to approve the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, treating it as a matter of national sovereignty and religious regulation. This position was cemented in a 2007 law, which mandates that all reincarnations of Tibetan “living Buddhas” must be approved by the state and must follow Chinese laws, religious rituals and historical precedent.
Chinese officials have repeatedly stated that the next Dalai Lama must be born inside China, and any foreign-born or exile-appointed successor would be considered “illegitimate”.
A key element of China’s proposed process is the Golden Urn system, an 18th-century Qing Dynasty method in which the names of candidates are placed in a golden vessel and one is selected by lot.
The current Dalai Lama doesn’t favour this method, arguing that it lacks “spiritual quality”.
In March 2015, then Tibet Governor Padma Choling accused the Dalai Lama of “profaning religion and Tibetan Buddhism,” adding that the Dalai Lama was trying to usurp Beijing’s right to decide.
“If he says no reincarnation, then no reincarnation? Impossible. Nobody in Tibetan Buddhism would agree to that,” said Choling.
While talks over finding the next Dalai Lama traditionally occur after the death of the incumbent one, the Chinese position has left monks and Tibetans in exile worried that Beijing might try to hijack the institution.
The centrality of the Dalai Lama to the Tibetan national movement and his stature as a global icon is an irritant for Beijing, said Anand, the professor.
“This is a battle over legitimacy and not actual rule over territorial Tibet. Beijing seeks to win that battle of legitimacy but faces an institution and person in the 14th Dalai Lama that is beyond its control,” he told Al Jazeera.
Robert Barnett, a scholar of modern Tibetan history and politics and founder of Columbia University’s Modern Tibetan Studies Program, said that some “Chinese strategists see the succession issue purely as an opportunity to frustrate the exile project”.
Another reason could be the Chinese leaders’ anticipation of another plausible Tibetan uprising. It helps Beijing to “have a ‘tame’ Dalai Lama to dissuade Tibetans from protest,” Barnett told Al Jazeera.
Has China hijacked a selection before?
Yes. In 1995, the Dalai Lama recognised a young boy in Tibet as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama – the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. He was a six-year-old, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the son of a doctor and a nurse from the Tibetan town of Naqchu.
Soon after, Chinese authorities took the boy into custody and relocated the family. Their whereabouts are not known since.
In his place, Beijing appointed its own candidate, a move widely rejected by Tibetan Buddhists in exile and many inside Tibet, who view the Chinese-selected Panchen Lama as illegitimate.
The disappearance of the Panchen Lama in 1995 was a turning point in Chinese-Tibetan political history, said Barnett.
“The Chinese side decided that it has to control not just which child should be chosen, but whether a lama can reincarnate, where he or she can reincarnate, who should search for them,” he said. The Chinese were clear that the Dalai Lama needed to be excluded from the process.
That episode is a key reason why the current Dalai Lama and Tibetans in exile are opposed to the selection of any future reincarnation inside China, including Tibet. The chosen child might simply be abducted, as happened 30 years ago.
Anand said that China’s goal is to dishearten and divide Tibetans. “If [China] cannot achieve it through winning hearts and minds, they’d do it through divide and rule, and this is how we should see the battle over reincarnation,” he told Al Jazeera.
Tibetans in New Delhi carry pictures of Gedun Choekyi Nyima, the Panchen Lama reincarnation recognised by the Dalai Lama, and shout anti-Chinese slogans to mark their protest on December 8 against the enthronement of another Panchen Lama recognised by the Chinese government in Tibet today [Reuters]
A case of two rival Dalai Lamas
Tibet observers and scholars believe that after the 14th Dalai Lama’s death, Tibetan Buddhists might well find a scenario where two rival successors jostle for legitimacy – an exiled leader, appointed by the lamas faithful to the incumbent Dalai Lama, and one appointed by the Chinese government.
It would be unprecedented in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, but “is highly likely to occur,” said Barnett.
While the reality of two Dalai Lamas may not matter to exiled Tibetans from a religious perspective, it “makes life very difficult for Tibetans inside Tibet who will be forced in huge numbers to publicly declare their loyalty to China over and over again”.
Barnett noted that Beijing could also use the succession issue as leverage to get foreign governments to marginalise organisations of Tibetans in exile in those countries.
Anand said that Beijing’s insistence on its candidate “will be a source of instability in China-Tibetan relations” and “may come back to haunt the Chinese Communist Party”.
In an interview in March 2019, the Dalai Lama acknowledged that following his death, there could be two rival Dalai Lamas. “In future, in case you see two Dalai Lamas come, one from here, in free country, one chosen by Chinese, then nobody will trust, nobody will respect [the one chosen by China],” he said.
“So that’s an additional problem for the Chinese! It’s possible, it can happen,” the Dalai Lama added, laughing.
This photo taken on September 17, 1959, shows Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (R) and the Dalaï Lama in a Buddhist salutation [Punjab/AFP)
Is the selection also a geostrategic issue?
It is, mainly for India and the United States.
For India, which hosts the Tibetan government-in-exile, the succession of the Dalai Lama intersects with national security and its fraught border relationship with China.
New Delhi will want to carry on giving hospitality and refuge to the Dalai Lama and his followers, said Anand. He added that the “Tibetan exiles in India offer a leverage and buffer to India vis-a-vis China’s influence in the Himalayan region”.
The US’s interest in Tibet dates back to the Cold War era, when the CIA backed Tibetan resistance against Chinese occupation, in the 1950s, including after the Dalai Lama’s exile.
Washington has long shown bipartisan support for the religious autonomy of Tibetan Buddhists, including in choosing the next Dalai Lama.
In 2015, when China claimed authority to select the next Dalai Lama, US officials publicly rejected this, asserting that Tibetan Buddhists alone should decide. The most forceful position came in 2020 with the passage of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act (TPSA) under President Donald Trump.
The new US position explicitly supported the Dalai Lama’s right to determine his own reincarnation and authorised sanctions on Chinese officials who interfered in the process.
The perfect Wimbledon accessory has been dropped, and the strawberry basket bag’s price has been reduced from £50 to £35 during the summer sale.
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Joe Browns strawberry basket bag is perfect for Wimbledon(Image: Joe Browns)
We’ve already seen a lot of stars and celebrities playing tennis on the sidelines of Wimbledon’s first week. We personally believe that the Wimbledon outfits from this year were just as thrilling as the competition, and we are already making plans for our very own courtside looks, even if we won’t be watching on television.
One accessory has caught our attention since it first launched, making it perfect for your Wimbledon strawberries and cream. This adorable Joe Browns Sweet Strawberry Bag is a must-have for any tennis-themed outfit. It’s now available for less than £50.
READ MORE: In a white maxi dress that “fits all shapes,” Molly-Mae is hailed as a ” Wimbledon lady.”
READ MORE: Rochelle Humes’ courtside chic appearance is a few examples of Wimbledon’s best-dressed celebrities
The Sweet Strawberry Bag is ideal for adding a little fun and joy to a plain tennis whites outfit thanks to its woven basket-style design, which promotes instant picnics in the sun. However, you can carry it wherever you go on a fun daytime trip, whether it’s to a summer wedding or a garden party.
It has a bright red wicker outer with tiny ribbons woven through it to give it a vintage-inspired feel. The “stem” of a strawberry is actually the fastening, which has two press-stud-style faux leather straps and green faux leather details on the top that give the appearance of leaves.
The strawberry bag brings some fun to your summer outfits(Image: Joe Browns)
It has a surprisingly large interior with a handy inside pocket for storing your belongings. You can use it on your shoulder or as a cross body with the help of an adjustable shoulder strap.
This Stella McCartney Strawberry Embroidered Straw Tote Bag is also great if you want the design to look like it’s a piece of fruit but doesn’t actually look like it. It has a drawstring pouch top, grab top handle, and a woven basket-style shape with crochet strawberries on the front. It is currently available for sale for £82.20.
Next’s Pink Strawberry Top Handle Bag, which costs $44, is a more subdued interpretation of the fashion. Dainty strawberry charms dangling from the flap adorn the classic square design, which also has a top handle and an envelope fastening.
We adore Anthropologie’s The Fiona Beaded Bag: Food &, Drink Edition for some glamour. If you don’t want to buy strawberries, you can choose from olives, tomatoes, or donut prints, which are available in the £88 bag.
It features ribbon and faux leather details(Image: Joe Browns)
However, Joe Browns customers have been raving about the Sweet Strawberry Bag, giving it a five out of five star rating. One person remarked, “It’s so well made, worth the price,” while another expressed, “So whimsical and cute, looks well made.”
One person wrote, “Very nice bag. Being a bit of a pain because of the pepper closure, most bags now have a magnetic fastening, but I’ll stick with either because I only use it occasionally. Additionally, it won’t stand up. However, it is only ever used occasionally.
Continue reading the article.
Additionally, it was praised by some as being “fabulous and really funky.” It looks great with spring/summer outfits and is extremely fashionable. Anyone who wants to use this bag would be in luck.
