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A 2-year-old boy named Bryson, born without parts of his arms and legs, took his first steps using prosthetic legs. His parents shared videos of his progress to show that children with disabilities can live active, happy lives.
Key Facts
Bryson is 2 years old and was born missing both legs below the knees and both arms below the elbows.
He was fitted with prosthetic legs when he was 9 months old.
Bryson recently took his first steps using Spiderman-themed prosthetic legs while pushing a cart.
He does not always like using the prosthetics and sometimes moves without them.
Bryson’s parents document his journey on social media under the name @starfish.chronicles.
Their goal is to show that people with limb differences can live normal, joyful lives.
A video of Bryson walking has gained over 230,000 views and 21,600 likes on Instagram.
His mother says Bryson is very independent, able to feed himself and play.
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The number of hungry people worldwide has decreased for the third year in a row but is still higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa remains the region with the most hungry people, and many still cannot afford healthy food, especially in Africa and Asia.
Key Facts
About 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, which is 14 million fewer than in 2024.
Around 7.8% of the world's population experienced hunger in 2025, down from 8.1% in 2024 and 8.6% in 2022.
Africa has about 309 million undernourished people, nearly half of the global total.
Asia and Latin America have made steady progress in reducing hunger levels.
Population growth in Africa means the total number of hungry people there is still rising despite a slight drop in hunger rate.
By 2030, the global number of hungry people is expected to drop by about 20%, but over 500 million will still face hunger.
The number of people unable to afford a healthy diet fell from 2.97 billion in 2021 to 2.69 billion in 2025.
The cost of a healthy diet rose to $4.28 per day in 2025, making it harder for many people, especially in Africa and Asia, to eat well.
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Andy Burnham, the new British prime minister, will soon attend an EU-UK summit to discuss ongoing issues between Britain and Europe. His government aims to continue working on security, trade, and cooperation while balancing the legacy of Brexit.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is the seventh British prime minister since the 2016 Brexit vote.
EU leaders including Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have greeted Burnham positively.
Burnham has expressed a wish to see Britain rejoin the EU someday but does not prioritize reversing Brexit now.
He has appointed Hamish Falconer as Europe minister, replacing Nick Thomas-Symonds to bring new energy to talks.
Johnny Reynolds returned as business secretary to help protect trade and negotiate tariff changes with the EU.
Under previous leadership, the UK and EU signed agreements on security, defence, and financial loans for Ukraine.
The upcoming summit will focus on easing trade barriers for fresh food, linking emissions trading, and youth exchange programs.
Ireland’s Europe minister expects positive continuity in EU-UK relations after the summit.
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President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has agreed to start national talks with political opposition groups. This decision follows growing political pressure over his government's plan to change the constitution.
Key Facts
President Felix Tshisekedi leads the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He will open national dialogue with opposition politicians.
The talks come after increased political pressure on Tshisekedi’s government.
The pressure is related to a proposed change in the country’s constitution.
Civil society groups in the DRC have called for national dialogue for over a year.
The dialogue aims to address political disagreements in the country.
The move is considered an important step for political stability in the DRC.
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A U.S.-based digital asset company found over $200 million in stablecoins heading to North Korea last month but did not stop the transaction. Current U.S. laws discourage companies from freezing such transfers due to fear of costly lawsuits.
Key Facts
The incident involved more than $200 million in stablecoins moving toward North Korea.
The company had about eight hours and the technology to freeze the transaction.
Despite this, the company did not block the transfer.
Existing U.S. laws create a risk of expensive civil lawsuits for companies that freeze transactions.
The article discusses the Clarity Act, which aims to give law enforcement clearer legal tools to manage decentralized finance.
Decentralized finance means financial services that operate without traditional banks or governments.
The Clarity Act is intended to support better control over digital asset transactions to improve security and compliance.
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Egg prices, which rose during President Biden’s time due to bird flu and other issues, have dropped significantly under President Donald Trump’s administration. However, rising gasoline prices caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict and ongoing tariffs have brought new inflation challenges.
Key Facts
Egg prices fell nearly 57% from January 2025 to June 2026, thanks to government efforts and recovery from avian influenza.
The USDA expects egg prices to continue declining by about 30% in 2026.
President Trump prioritized reducing egg prices and made it a focus early in his second term.
Inflation rose 4.2% in the year through May 2026, driven by higher oil prices due to the Iran war.
Gasoline prices jumped 21.2% in March 2026, the largest monthly increase since 1967.
After a brief drop below $4 per gallon, gas prices rose again over $4 in July 2026 amid renewed conflict in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tariffs from President Trump’s global trade actions have increased prices on some goods, adding to inflation pressures.
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Khalil al-Hayya was narrowly elected as the new leader of Hamas after nearly two years of shared leadership. His election highlights divisions within Hamas, especially about its relationship with Iran and the balance of power among its Gaza, West Bank, and diaspora branches.
Key Facts
Hamas was founded in 1987 as part of the Muslim Brotherhood network in Gaza and surrounding regions.
Its original leadership was based in Gaza but shifted toward the diaspora due to Israeli crackdowns.
Khalil al-Hayya won the Hamas leadership vote by just one vote, 35 to 34.
The election reflects ongoing tensions between factions aligned differently, with some closer to Iran.
Hamas leadership is organized into three main groups: Gaza, West Bank, and the diaspora, each with its own council.
This structure has led to internal conflicts and overlapping responsibilities.
Hamas’s leadership was based in Damascus for 11 years, during which its international ties, including with Iran and allies like Hezbollah, grew stronger.
The current situation tests whether Hamas can reunite its different factions under al-Hayya’s leadership.
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Pamela Smart, who is serving a life sentence for helping plan the murder of her husband by a teenage student, has asked a New Hampshire judge for a new trial. Her lawyers claim there were mistakes in the trial that violated her rights, including problems with transcripts of recorded conversations used as evidence.
Key Facts
Pamela Smart is serving life in prison for helping a 15-year-old student murder her husband in 1990.
The teenage shooter was released in 2015 after serving 25 years in prison.
Smart was convicted despite denying she knew about the murder plan.
Her trial was one of the first in the U.S. to be broadcast live on TV from start to finish.
Smart’s lawyers filed a petition in January asking to overturn the conviction.
They claim the transcripts of recordings played at trial had words that were not actually audible.
The inaccurate transcripts may have biased the jury by suggesting certain words were said.
A New Hampshire judge is reviewing the petition and will decide in 30 to 60 days.
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Officials in Chile declared a state of catastrophe in the Coquimbo region and Huasco province after heavy rains caused floods and mudslides. At least five people died, thousands were affected, and many are isolated or missing.
Key Facts
Heavy rains caused floods and mudslides in Chile’s Coquimbo region and Huasco province.
A state of catastrophe was declared by the Chilean government.
At least five people have died due to the extreme weather.
More than 99,000 people are isolated by floodwaters or damaged roads.
Several people are reported missing across the country.
Cerro Tololo in Coquimbo recorded over 200 millimeters of rain, a historic amount.
Chile’s disaster agency Senapred is coordinating the emergency response.
President José Antonio Kast activated the constitutional state of catastrophe to manage the crisis.
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The U.S. State Department criticized China’s coast guard for aggressive actions during a clash with Philippine sailors near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The U.S. supports the Philippines and refers to an international ruling that rejects China’s broad claims in the area, while China denies wrongdoing and defends its actions.
Key Facts
A fight occurred between Chinese coast guard and Philippine navy personnel near Second Thomas Shoal, about 120 miles off Palawan, Philippines.
One Philippine sailor was injured in the incident involving rods and oars.
Both China and the Philippines accuse each other of starting the clash.
The U.S. has a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines covering attacks in the South China Sea.
The U.S. condemned China’s actions and supported the Philippines’ restraint.
A 2016 international ruling declared China’s large maritime claims in the South China Sea invalid.
China refuses to accept the 2016 ruling and says its coast guard was lawfully protecting its rights.
China criticized the U.S. for interfering and escalating tensions in the region.
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Three teenagers have been sentenced to jail for murdering 16-year-old Kayden Moy during a stabbing attack on a beach in North Ayrshire. The offenders traveled to the beach armed and intended to retaliate against a rival group before stabbing Moy, who died after falling to the ground.
Key Facts
Kayden Moy was stabbed to death on Irvine Beach on May 17, 2025.
Cole Turley, 18, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to at least 16 years in jail.
Jay Stewart, 19, and a 15-year-old boy were also convicted and sentenced to minimum terms of 16 and 14 years, respectively.
The attackers belonged to the Murray Boys gang and targeted Moy, who was part of a rival group called Himshie.
After the stabbing, the attackers hugged each other and later mocked Moy by creating a rap song.
The attackers had traveled to the beach with weapons, including a lock knife and an extendable baton.
Stewart had past convictions related to weapons and had made threats toward Moy on social media.
The judge described the killing as "pointless and unnecessary," highlighting the violence as a tragic act of retaliation.
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A woman gave birth to rare identical quadruplet girls, all from one fertilized egg and sharing a single placenta. Such natural identical quadruplets are extremely uncommon worldwide.
Key Facts
The quadruplet daughters are identical, meaning they come from the same egg and share the same genetic makeup.
They were naturally conceived, not through fertility treatments.
All four babies share one placenta, which is rare for multiples.
Identical quadruplets occur in only a few cases globally.
The birth took place recently and has attracted attention due to its rarity.
Identical multiples happen when a fertilized egg splits into multiple embryos.
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Joel Mawhinney, a former presenter of the children's show Blue Peter, performed a magic trick on America's Got Talent where he took and appeared to break judges' personal items but then revealed they were unharmed. He received three "yes" votes from the judges and moved on to the next round.
Key Facts
Joel Mawhinney, from Northern Ireland, was a Blue Peter presenter for over three years before leaving to focus on magic.
He performed a risky magic trick on America's Got Talent involving judges’ prized possessions, including a phone, a picture of a dog, and a bracelet.
Mawhinney appeared to smash the items with a hammer, but they later reappeared undamaged in surprising places.
Judges Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Simon Cowell voted "yes," while Howie Mandel voted "no" due to the performance's slow pace.
Mawhinney said the audition was nerve-wracking but was helped by his live TV experience on Blue Peter.
Producers invited him to audition since 2020, but he only decided to go for it after leaving Blue Peter earlier in 2024.
The trick involved finding and borrowing the judges' possessions without actually taking or damaging them.
Mawhinney is now competing for a cash prize on the show.
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Thousands of Indian students protested in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after exam scandals. The police used tear gas and force to disperse the crowd, injuring over 100 students, but the protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations.
Key Facts
The protests took place in the center of New Delhi near Parliament Street and Connaught Place.
Police cracked down on thousands of mainly student protesters with tear gas and force.
More than 100 students were injured during the police action.
The protests began after exam papers were leaked and students faced unfair grading in entrance exams.
Over 20 students have died by suicide, many linked to the exam problems.
The prime minister, Narendra Modi, has not addressed the protests directly.
Student leaders said they will keep protesting until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed by police and detained in a hospital, which his supporters call illegal.
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California high-speed rail planners have agreed to work together to connect the Palmdale and Victor Valley areas, which could link California’s rail system with Brightline West’s planned Las Vegas route. This step aims to help finish California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project and improve travel connections across Southern California, Central California, Northern California, and eventually to Las Vegas.
Key Facts
The California High-Speed Rail Authority and the High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency signed an agreement to coordinate environmental approvals, station design, and other planning efforts.
The link from Palmdale to Victor Valley is about 54 miles long and is important because Victor Valley is part of the planned Brightline West rail route to Las Vegas.
Brightline West plans a 218-mile electric passenger train connecting Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga along Interstate 15.
California’s high-speed rail project was approved in 2008 with an original completion date of 2020 but has faced delays, cost increases, and funding gaps.
About 90 miles of track and 61 major structures have been completed so far, mostly in California’s Central Valley area.
Coordinating this new segment aims to reduce public costs and speed up construction by sharing materials and efforts.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced nearly $2.5 billion in funding for over 150 transportation projects across California for 2025-26, including highways and transit.
The agreement is part of a larger plan to create a clean and modern high-speed rail network connecting multiple regions in California and beyond.
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Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun is visiting Washington, DC, to seek support from President Donald Trump for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and for strengthening the Lebanese army. This follows recent talks between Lebanon and Israel to implement a ceasefire agreement and efforts to reduce Hezbollah’s influence in the region.
Key Facts
President Joseph Aoun arrived in Washington, DC, for an official visit, the first by a Lebanese head of state since 2009.
Aoun is meeting with President Trump to discuss support for Israeli withdrawal and backing for the Lebanese army.
Recent US-mediated talks in Rome involved Lebanon and Israel discussing the implementation of a ceasefire deal signed on June 26.
The Israeli military has started a gradual withdrawal from some parts of southern Lebanon under a plan called the “pilot zone programme.”
Lebanese troops have begun deploying in areas where Israel withdrew, aiming to take control and confiscate Hezbollah’s weapons.
Hezbollah opposes Lebanon’s negotiations with Israel and wants to keep its weapons, while Israel demands Hezbollah’s disarmament before full withdrawal.
Lebanon’s government wants to disarm non-state armed groups like Hezbollah to improve security and stability.
The Lebanese government seeks increased US and international investment to support the army and rebuild the country’s damaged infrastructure.
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The United Kingdom has a new prime minister and government focused on changing the country's direction. Before the first cabinet meeting, they announced a cut in the VAT tax on energy bills to address the cost of living, but the decision has already received some criticism.
Key Facts
The UK has a new prime minister and government as of July 2026.
The new government aims to change the current direction of the country.
A reduction in VAT (value-added tax) on energy bills was announced before the first cabinet meeting.
Reducing VAT on energy bills is meant to help with the rising cost of living.
Some people have criticized this VAT cut announcement.
The new prime minister is Andy Burnham.
The government’s priorities include addressing economic challenges faced by citizens.
The news source providing this information is Reuters, reported on July 21, 2026.
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A federal appeals court denied President Biden’s request to block the release of transcripts and audio recordings of his conversations with his biographer from about ten years ago. The recordings will be given to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative group, but the court allowed more time until August 3 for further appeals.
Key Facts
The court’s decision was a 2-1 ruling by three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The Heritage Foundation requested the tapes after a special counsel report mentioned them in connection with Biden’s memory and behavior.
The recordings are from 2016 and 2017 when Biden spoke with his biographer, Mark Zwonitzer.
The Justice Department withheld the tapes at first but planned to release them after President Trump returned to office.
A lower court initially blocked and then delayed the tapes’ release to allow for further review.
Biden’s legal team argued that the recordings were private and should not be public because they were collected during a criminal investigation that led to no charges.
The case involves a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the Heritage Foundation.
The court delayed the ruling until August 3 to give time for possible appeals.
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A dental hygienist explains that changes in the tongue can sometimes show signs of health issues elsewhere in the body. While not all changes require worry, persistent sores, lumps, or color changes should be checked by a doctor or dentist.
Key Facts
Almost all dental students (94.2%) clean their tongue regularly as part of oral hygiene.
A smooth, pale, or sore tongue can suggest deficiencies in iron or vitamin B12.
Nutritional deficiencies often develop slowly, so early signs can be subtle.
Tongue ulcers or patches that do not heal within 2-3 weeks may need medical evaluation.
Persistent pain, bleeding, or swelling in the mouth without a clear reason should be checked.
Tongue appearance can change due to dehydration, illness, medication, or normal variation.
Many tongue variations, like grooves or light coatings, are harmless.
The main concern is new or lasting changes rather than normal fluctuations.
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