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In Gaza, a women-only safe space offers psychological support and group discussions for women affected by the ongoing war. Many women, like Ola Saleh, who lost their husbands and are now heads of households, use the space to talk, heal, and share their feelings amid difficult living conditions.
Key Facts
Ola Saleh is a 39-year-old woman living in a tent in al-Amal camp, Gaza, who attends a daily women-only support group.
Her husband was killed in August 2023 during the Israel-Palestine conflict, leaving her to care for five children alone.
About 16,000 women in Gaza have lost their husbands since the war began in October 2023, making nearly one in seven families led by a woman.
The support program is run by Collective Development Projects, providing psychological help and practical advice.
Sessions started recently at the al-Farah School and have quickly grown in attendance, with up to 75 women per day.
The safe space helps women express emotions, gain strength, and learn to handle family and social challenges during displacement.
Women face harsh living conditions in tents, often without electricity or ventilation, and focus heavily on survival needs.
The program also raises awareness on mental health, family pressure, economic difficulties, and child care during the war.
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Russia has charged Pavel Durov, the founder of the messaging app Telegram, with helping terrorists. Russian security services say Telegram was used by Ukrainian agents to plan attacks inside Russia, and they have issued an international arrest warrant for Durov, who lives outside Russia.
Key Facts
Russia’s FSB security agency claims Telegram was used to organize sabotage and terrorist acts inside Russia.
Telegram is accused of not removing channels and bots linked to Ukraine’s secret services.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for Pavel Durov.
Pavel Durov was born in Russia but lives abroad and holds French and UAE passports.
Telegram remains popular in Russia despite government attempts to limit access.
Durov denies the accusations and says Russian authorities want to restrict access to Telegram.
It is unknown if other countries will cooperate with Russia’s arrest warrant.
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Ofgem, the UK energy regulator, has proposed charging data centre developers a large refundable fee upfront to connect to the electricity grid. This move aims to manage the rising demand for electricity from data centres, which has more than doubled recently, and to prevent speculative projects from taking up space in the connection queue without real plans to connect.
Key Facts
Ofgem wants data centre projects to pay a deposit between £237,500 and £712,500 per megawatt of power requested.
A data centre needing 1 gigawatt (GW) of power could pay hundreds of millions of pounds up front.
The fee is refundable if the project is completed.
Electricity capacity requests from data centre projects rose from 41 GW to 125 GW in one year.
The current peak electricity demand in the UK is about 46 GW, much lower than the requested capacity.
There are 564 data centres in the UK, with 24 more planned in Scotland due to its renewable energy supply.
Local communities have raised concerns about noise, high electricity use, and water needs for cooling servers.
The new rules aim to stop speculative data centre projects from blocking the electricity grid connection process.
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The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Iranian-backed forces in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters. This followed recent missile and drone attacks by Iran and its allies against U.S. and Saudi targets in the region.
Key Facts
U.S. and Saudi forces launched strikes on Iran-backed groups in eastern Iraq.
The Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iraqi paramilitary group backed by Iran, reported at least 20 fighters killed and 32 wounded.
The strikes targeted logistics and weapons sites used by Iranian proxies.
Over 30 drone attacks on U.S. forces and Saudi energy facilities were attempted in the prior three days.
Jordan intercepted and destroyed five Iranian missiles fired early Wednesday.
The U.S. military said it stopped a missile attack aimed at American forces and worked with Saudi Arabia on the retaliatory strikes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards struck and stopped three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming they ignored warnings.
The Houthi group, supported by Iran, fired ballistic missiles at a Saudi tanker in the Red Sea.
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The southeastern coast of the United States, including areas near Florida, the Carolinas, Cuba, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, could see the formation of tropical storms in early to mid-August. Forecasters say there is no immediate threat, but the area needs to be monitored due to favorable conditions like warm water and weakening winds.
Key Facts
No tropical storms are expected in the Atlantic in the next few days.
A broad zone near the U.S. coast may produce tropical rainstorms or depressions by early to mid-August.
Warm ocean water and lower wind shear could help storms form in that region.
Tropical systems can develop if thunderstorms gather and separate from weather fronts to form low pressure areas with warm cores.
A quickly forming storm near shore could cause heavy rain, flooding, and strong winds with little warning.
This watch area follows the recent storms Arthur and Bertha, the second named storm this season.
Forecasters expect a below-average to average hurricane season in 2026 due to a strong El Niño, which tends to reduce storm formation.
NOAA predicts 8 to 14 named storms this season, with 3 to 6 becoming hurricanes and 1 to 3 possibly major hurricanes.
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A powerful earthquake measuring 7.1 hit Kumamoto prefecture in southwest Japan, causing significant damage. The earthquake destroyed homes, caused fires, broke bridges, cut power, and resulted in at least 18 confirmed deaths so far as rescue efforts continue.
Key Facts
The earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture in southwest Japan.
The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated at 7.1.
Five people died at a damaged factory where part of a large smokestack collapsed.
At least 13 people died after a shopping mall was badly damaged.
The earthquake flattened homes and started fires in the affected area.
Several bridges were broken due to the quake.
Thousands of people lost electricity following the earthquake.
Rescue efforts to find survivors are still ongoing.
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A large fire in southwestern France has mostly stabilized, allowing around 60,000 people to return home. However, 14 fires have started again, and firefighters are working to control them as a fourth heatwave this year arrives, making their task harder.
Key Facts
A major wildfire in southwest France is currently under control but not fully extinguished.
Nearly 60,000 residents who had evacuated are being allowed to return home.
Fourteen smaller fires have reignited in the region.
Firefighters continue to battle these fires amid challenging conditions.
A fourth heatwave this year is hitting the area, increasing the difficulty of fighting the fires.
French officials and emergency teams are actively managing the situation to prevent further damage.
Authorities are also trying to prevent burglaries in evacuated areas.
The fire is near Bordeaux, in the Gironde department of France.
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A recent Fox News survey shows that fewer Republicans view capitalism favorably compared to previous years. While most Republicans still support capitalism, many are concerned that the system mainly benefits the wealthy and does not work well for everyday workers.
Key Facts
61% of Republicans view capitalism favorably, down from 72% in 2019.
Strongly favorable opinions among Republicans dropped from 54% to 41%.
Overall, only 50% of registered voters now have a favorable view of capitalism, with 46% unfavorable.
65% of voters believe the economic system favors the wealthy, an increase from 56% during President Donald Trump’s first term.
Many voters feel capitalism is linked to high costs and corporate influence rather than shared prosperity.
A Wall Street Journal-NORC survey found less than half of Americans think capitalism works well, down from 60% about ten years ago.
Most Republicans have not abandoned capitalism but express frustration with what they see as unfair practices helping elites while burdening working families.
Experts say this trend reflects concerns about economic fairness and affordability, not a move toward socialism.
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A large outbreak of the parasite cyclospora has caused over 11,000 illnesses across more than 40 U.S. states this summer, with iceberg lettuce linked to some cases. The outbreak is highlighting problems in the country’s food safety system, leading to public worry and making it harder to encourage people to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Key Facts
More than 11,000 people in over 40 states have been sickened or are suspected to be sick from cyclospora this summer.
Iceberg lettuce has been identified as a likely source of some infections, but not all cases are linked to it.
Michigan alone has reported over 9,600 suspected cases and 160 hospitalizations.
Confidence in food safety has declined, causing some people to avoid salads and fresh produce at restaurants.
Public health experts say staffing and communication at the FDA, CDC, and local health departments have been weakened recently.
These weaknesses existed before President Trump’s administration and are due to years of underfunding public health.
The outbreak challenges efforts to promote healthier eating by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.
The Trump administration says it is actively responding to the outbreak and providing information to the public.
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The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to decide soon whether to raise interest rates as inflation rises because of higher oil prices linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. Despite rising costs, the job market remains strong, and the Fed may keep rates steady for now, but a hike could come later this year.
Key Facts
The Iran conflict has caused oil prices to rise, pushing inflation to a three-year high of 3.5%.
The Federal Reserve aims to reduce inflation to 2%.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has promised to restore price stability.
Increasing interest rates can reduce inflation but may slow down hiring.
The U.S. labor market added an average of 92,000 jobs per month in the first half of 2026.
Oil prices have been volatile due to on-again, off-again fighting and peace talks.
Average gas prices are currently about $4.11 per gallon, influenced by crude oil costs.
Markets expect the Fed to hold interest rates steady now, with a possible increase in September.
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Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, known for horror films, released his first samurai movie, "The Samurai and the Prisoner," which is now playing in U.S. theaters. The film received a warm welcome at the Cannes Film Festival and in Japan, making it Kurosawa's most popular work so far.
Key Facts
Kiyoshi Kurosawa is famous for directing horror movies.
"The Samurai and the Prisoner" is Kurosawa’s first samurai film.
The movie opened in New York and Los Angeles on July 31, with plans to show it in other U.S. cities in August.
It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was well received by audiences.
The film had already shown in Japan earlier in the year and was popular there.
Kurosawa said making films is difficult and a mystery to him, but he keeps making them.
The story focuses on samurai-era themes like power struggles and betrayal.
Kurosawa noted differences in directing samurai films compared to modern dramas, like how actors deliver their lines.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci will testify before a Senate committee led by Senator Rand Paul, who accuses Fauci of lying about the origins of COVID-19. Fauci denies these claims, and many scientists defend him, saying there is no proof the virus came from a lab instead of nature.
Key Facts
Senator Rand Paul subpoenaed Dr. Fauci to appear before a Senate hearing about how COVID-19 started.
Paul released over 1,000 pages of Fauci’s personal diary entries from the pandemic years.
Fauci and his lawyers say Paul's accusations are baseless and part of a vendetta.
More than 150 scientists have publicly supported Fauci, calling the investigations a “witch-hunt.”
The hearing will focus on whether NIH-funded research in China contributed to the virus’s origin.
Most scientists believe COVID-19 came from animals to people, not from a lab leak.
The GOP subcommittee in 2024 found no evidence of wrongdoing by Fauci regarding pandemic origins.
Fauci has said he is open to both natural origin and lab leak theories but supports natural origin more.
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces challenges as the Republican Senate is likely to shift more towards hardline conservative and MAGA voices loyal to President Donald Trump. Several moderate Republicans in leadership are set to leave, and new conservative senators will gain power, making it harder for Thune to lead and pass legislation.
Key Facts
John Thune is the Senate Majority Leader and a moderate Republican who has sometimes opposed President Trump.
Many moderate Republican senators like John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are leaving the Senate next year.
Hardline conservatives and MAGA supporters like Rand Paul, Rick Scott, and Mike Lee are gaining important committee leadership roles.
The Senate Republican Conference is becoming more loyal to President Trump.
New conservative House members expected to move to the Senate include Barry Moore and Harriet Hageman.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump ally, is likely to win a Senate seat currently held by Cornyn.
The shift could increase internal Republican conflicts and make it harder to pass bipartisan laws or routine government funding.
If Republicans lose the Senate majority or there is a Trump impeachment, Thune’s job will become even more difficult.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested President Trump to provide Patriot missile interceptors to protect Ukraine from Russian attacks on its energy facilities during winter. Ukraine's supply of these interceptors is nearly gone, and there is concern that without them, Russian missile strikes could cause a major energy crisis for millions of Ukrainians. Zelensky also discussed ways to produce more interceptors faster and looked for U.S. help in developing alternative missile defense options.
Key Facts
Ukraine’s Patriot missile interceptors are almost used up, limiting defense against Russian ballistic missiles.
Without sufficient interceptors, Russian attacks could disable Ukraine’s power plants, risking heating outages for millions during winter.
President Zelensky talked with President Trump about providing interceptors and about granting Ukraine licenses to produce their own.
Producing new interceptors in Ukraine would take 1 to 5 years, but Ukraine needs them urgently—around 300 interceptors by winter.
U.S. interceptor stockpiles are also strained due to the war with Iran, making it hard to supply Ukraine quickly.
Zelensky met with defense companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which make Patriot interceptors, to discuss speeding up supply.
Ukraine is exploring converting its own ballistic missiles into anti-missile interceptors as a faster, cheaper option.
Despite a stalemate on the front lines, Ukrainian drone and missile strikes inside Russia have damaged key targets and lowered Russian public support for the war.
U.S. mediators are currently focused more on the Iran conflict but may visit Ukraine soon to explore restarting peace talks with Russia.
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Anthropic is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) company that has taken a unique and strict approach to AI safety and ethics. While its AI models are highly valued and successful, the company faces challenges in cooperating with other tech firms and government agencies because it often disagrees with common industry practices and policies.
Key Facts
Anthropic refused to sign a letter led by Nvidia's CEO opposing limits on "open-weight" AI models, which can be freely downloaded and changed by users.
Competitors like Google and OpenAI supported the letter, highlighting a divide in the AI industry.
Anthropic's CEO says they support some open models but want tighter controls on powerful AI technologies, especially those involving advanced computer chips.
The U.S. Pentagon blacklisted Anthropic due to concerns about its AI being used in military surveillance or weapons.
Anthropic has pushed for more government regulation of AI and proposed a regulator similar to the FAA for airplane safety.
The company faced export controls that temporarily shut down some of its AI models after a government security warning.
Anthropic claims Chinese AI labs copied its technology through a process called "distillation," though this is a common AI practice.
Despite controversies, Anthropic’s AI models remain top-ranked, and many enterprise clients continue to pay high prices for them.
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Modern warfare is changing quickly, with drones playing a big role in military operations. Newer, smaller companies that can work fast are becoming more important because traditional defense contractors are too slow to keep up with rapid tech changes.
Key Facts
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (drones) are now a key part of battlefield strategy worldwide.
Drones help with spying, targeting, moving supplies, and fighting.
Low-cost drones allow smaller forces to challenge bigger armies.
Traditional defense companies often cannot adapt quickly to new threats.
Smaller, venture-backed firms are able to develop and deploy technology faster.
Greypoint Industries, a company founded in 2025, focuses on stopping drone operators rather than the drones themselves.
Greypoint is made up of experienced military and tech professionals who understand real battlefield needs.
The company gained attention after winning Canada's first defense hackathon, showing a demand for new types of defense technology.
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French DJ and music producer Kavinsky, known for his electronic synthwave music and the hit song "Nightcall," was found dead at his home in Paris at age 50. French authorities have started an investigation into how he died.
Key Facts
Kavinsky’s real name was Vincent Belorgey.
He gained fame for mixing electronic music with 1980s film and video game sounds.
His song "Nightcall" was featured in the 2011 movie Drive.
He performed at the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics with Belgian singer Angèle.
His first album, OutRun, came out in 2013 and was praised for its cinematic and retro style.
His 2022 album, Reborn, marked his return after several years away from music.
Several artists, including Lady Gaga, have said Kavinsky inspired their work.
French prosecutors have opened an official inquiry into the cause of his death.
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A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Japanese island of Kyushu, causing buildings to collapse and leading to at least 13 deaths and many injuries. Rescue teams are continuing efforts to find survivors, while residents face challenges like aftershocks and heat during evacuation.
Key Facts
The earthquake struck near the town of Hikawa, close to the epicenter.
At least 13 people have died and hundreds were injured.
Many people spent the night outside their homes due to fear of aftershocks.
Rescue workers pulled survivors from collapsed houses, including one man who was bleeding from his head.
A gas explosion at the Kumamoto Aeon mall, possibly caused by the quake, injured several employees and left some missing.
Temperatures reached 35°C, raising concerns about heatstroke for evacuees sleeping in cars.
The quake was strong enough to rank 7 on the Japanese shindo scale, meaning very severe shaking.
The area is still recovering from a deadly 2016 earthquake that had similar severe impacts.
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Jay Clayton has been confirmed by the US Senate as the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI), replacing Bill Pulte. President Donald Trump nominated Clayton after Pulte, his original pick, faced criticism for lacking intelligence experience.
Key Facts
The Senate voted 51 to 47 to confirm Jay Clayton as DNI.
Clayton previously served as US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Bill Pulte was acting DNI but was criticized for being a housing official without intelligence background.
President Trump announced Clayton as his replacement nominee after Pulte’s appointment caused concern.
Clayton stated in his hearing that he accepts Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 election.
Some senators, including Democrat Mark Warner, expressed doubts about Clayton standing up to political pressure.
Clayton’s confirmation might help with renewing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Section 702, which lets the government collect communications from foreigners abroad.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune hopes Clayton’s appointment will lead to progress on FISA reauthorization.
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump met in Washington D.C. on July 28. This was their first in-person meeting since they began a joint military campaign against Iran in February. Both leaders described the meeting as positive despite earlier reports of tensions.
Key Facts
Netanyahu visited Washington D.C. for the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
The meeting marked the first face-to-face talks between Netanyahu and President Trump since the start of their joint war against Iran in February 2026.
There were rumors of disagreements between the two leaders before the meeting.
Both Netanyahu and President Trump praised the meeting as excellent and productive.
The conflict with Iran has led to ongoing ceasefire talks, which face challenges.
The article also references other recent Middle East events, including violence in the West Bank and conflicts involving Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis.
Israel recently detained more than 70 people after deadly violence in the West Bank.
UNESCO added an Israeli site to its World Heritage List despite objections from Israel.
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