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The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint strikes on Iran-backed militias in Iraq on July 29, 2026, increasing tensions in the Middle East. This action followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and the Israeli prime minister amid an ongoing military campaign against Iran.
Key Facts
The US and Saudi Arabia struck militias backed by Iran on July 29, 2026.
These strikes took place in Iraq.
This military action is part of a wider conflict in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time since the campaign started.
The meeting and strikes happen as the US midterm elections approach.
Iran is involved in supporting militias that the US and Saudi Arabia targeted.
The conflict risks escalating due to these recent attacks.
The US accuses Iran of trying to disrupt ceasefire talks.
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Some single people are using spreadsheets to help them find a good romantic partner. ABC News reporter Morgan Norwood shared a story about how these people organize and compare information about potential matches using spreadsheets.
Key Facts
Singles are using spreadsheets as a tool in their dating efforts.
Spreadsheets help organize information in rows and columns for easy comparison.
This method allows users to track qualities and preferences of potential partners.
The report was presented by ABC News' Morgan Norwood.
Using data tools for personal decisions like dating is a growing trend.
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A new study shows young adults in the U.S. are smoking fewer cigarettes and using more e-cigarettes and vapes. This change could lower future rates of cancer caused by smoking, but the full effects will take decades to appear.
Key Facts
Cigarette smoking causes over 480,000 deaths each year in the U.S.
In 2022, about 11.6% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes, down from 42.4% in 1965.
Youth smoking rates dropped from 36.4% in 1997 to 3.8% in 2021.
Younger adults aged 18-34 are switching from combustible tobacco (like cigarettes) to noncombustible products (like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches).
Combustible tobacco causes about one-third of cancer deaths and 90% of lung cancer deaths.
Older adults (55+) still mostly use traditional cigarettes and are not switching as much to less harmful products.
The decline in smoking is expected to reduce smoking-related cancers in the future.
Researchers will study daily and occasional use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes next for more insight.
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The article discusses how many American children today feel hopeless about their future, contributing to a mental health crisis. It explains that children pick up on the uncertain and stressful emotions of adults around them, which affects their well-being and outlook on life.
Key Facts
Forty percent of American high school students report feeling sad or hopeless often.
Many adults also feel uncertain about the future, with only about 59% expecting a good quality of life in five years.
Economic problems, political division, and global conflicts add to widespread anxiety in families.
Children hear adult worries about money, politics, and other issues, even if they don’t fully understand them.
This emotional environment shapes how children view themselves and the world, sometimes limiting their potential.
The article suggests that lack of hope, more than just anxiety or stress, is a deep issue affecting mental health.
Hope is something people can practice and hold onto even in hard times.
Adults play a key role in shaping children’s feelings about the future through the messages they send.
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Pavel Durov is the billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, a popular messaging app with over 1 billion users. Russia’s security agency, the FSB, accused him of helping terrorism and put him on international wanted lists, continuing long-standing conflicts between Durov and the Kremlin over internet control and free speech.
Key Facts
Pavel Durov was born in Russia and holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
He founded VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network, in 2006 but sold his stake after pressure from the government.
In 2013, Durov and his brother launched Telegram and he left Russia in 2014 to live in Dubai.
Telegram allows private and group messaging, with group chats supporting up to 200,000 members.
The app offers optional end-to-end encryption for private chats but not for groups.
Durov opposes government restrictions and promotes Telegram as a platform for free speech and privacy.
Russian authorities accuse him of aiding terrorism amid efforts to tighten internet control before elections.
Durov has a net worth of $6.6 billion and has publicly promoted fitness and a healthy lifestyle.
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The only zoo in the Dominican Republic is caring for a growing number of animals seized from illegal owners. The government has increased efforts to stop people from keeping exotic animals, leading to many birds, reptiles, and other species being taken away and rehabilitated at the zoo.
Key Facts
Dominican authorities seized 188 exotic animals in 2025, up from 30 in 2023.
So far in 2026, over 8,900 species have been confiscated, mostly small animals like crickets and fish used to feed other animals.
The National Zoological Park in Santo Domingo houses many confiscated animals such as flamingos, crocodiles, and tigers.
Flamingos are the most commonly rescued protected animals and are often illegally taken for decoration in hotels and private homes.
Some people harm flamingos to keep them from flying by cutting their wings.
Rescued flamingos at the zoo receive proper food and care to help them recover before some are released back into the wild.
The zoo faces challenges like limited space and funding, especially because some animals need to be kept separate to avoid fights.
The government runs educational campaigns to discourage illegal ownership of wild animals and suggests using less harmful bird species for decoration.
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Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died suddenly on July 11, 2026, and was honored with memorial services in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance joined others to remember Graham’s decades of service and his role as a key political figure. Graham’s funeral and burial took place in Columbia, South Carolina, where he had strong local ties.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham died suddenly at his home in Washington, likely due to an aortic tear.
He was 71 years old and had recently attended a NATO summit in Turkey and visited Ukraine.
Graham served more than 30 years as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina.
President Donald Trump called Graham “a giant of the Senate” and “a true American original.”
Memorial services were held at Washington National Cathedral and the U.S. Capitol.
His funeral took place at First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina, where he was laid to rest.
A horse-drawn caisson carried his casket during the funeral procession.
Graham was known for supporting local South Carolina politics through his political action committee (PAC).
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Tick bites and diseases carried by ticks are increasing in many parts of the U.S., partly due to changing climates and expanding tick habitats. Experts advise using protective clothing, insect repellents, daily tick checks, and proper tick removal methods to reduce the risk of illness.
Key Facts
Tick season is changing with more tick bites and new tick-borne diseases appearing.
Some tick-related illnesses can look alike, leading to misdiagnosis, like confusing Lyme disease with Bourbon virus.
Alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy caused by tick bites, is becoming more common in areas with many lone star ticks.
Daily tick checks and quick removal of ticks reduce the chance of disease transmission.
Using EPA-approved repellents like DEET or picaridin, wearing permethrin-treated clothes, and showering soon after outdoor exposure help prevent ticks.
To remove ticks safely, use fine-tipped tweezers and pull straight up without twisting or crushing the tick.
Keeping yards clean by cutting grass, removing leaf litter, and reducing brush lowers tick populations near homes.
Saving removed ticks in alcohol can help with testing if illness develops later.
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Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio used strong language towards Dr. Anthony Fauci during a Senate hearing about COVID-19's origins and the government's response. Fauci, who was the top medical adviser to the White House, chose not to answer some questions by using his Fifth Amendment right.
Key Facts
Senator Bernie Moreno criticized Dr. Fauci with an expletive during a Senate hearing.
The hearing focused on examining the origins of COVID-19 and how the government handled the pandemic.
Dr. Anthony Fauci served as the chief medical adviser to the White House during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right, which means he declined to answer some questions to avoid self-incrimination.
Moreno mentioned his decision to run for office was influenced by a personal experience related to the pandemic.
The hearing involved Republicans questioning Fauci about the pandemic and government actions.
The confrontation took place in a United States Senate committee setting.
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Prince Harry and six other claimants lost a privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail’s publisher, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The claimants’ insurance may not cover the full legal costs, leading to a possible large financial gap they must pay.
Key Facts
Seven claimants, including Prince Harry, Doreen Lawrence, and Elton John, sued ANL for unlawful information gathering.
The High Court dismissed all their claims on 7 July.
The claimants had insurance covering £16.2 million, but ANL’s legal costs were reported at £34.5 million.
ANL requested an interim payment of nearly £10 million; claimants offered £8 million so far.
ANL’s lawyers want claimants to pay costs on an indemnity basis, meaning full payment without needing to prove costs were reasonable.
ANL accused the claimants of making serious allegations and running the case as part of a wider legal strategy against them.
Claimants’ lawyers argued ANL’s legal costs were unusually high and went beyond agreed budgets without notice.
The court is still deciding how much the claimants must pay for ANL’s legal costs.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci is scheduled to testify before a Senate committee about the origins and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will happen six years after the pandemic began, soon after Senator Rand Paul shared Fauci’s diary entries related to the pandemic and his interactions with President Trump.
Key Facts
Dr. Anthony Fauci will appear before a Senate panel on Wednesday.
The testimony will focus on the origins of COVID-19 and how the pandemic was handled.
The pandemic started six years ago.
Senator Rand Paul recently released Fauci’s diary entries.
The diary entries include details about Fauci’s relationship with President Donald Trump.
The diary also covers the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Sony Pictures released the trailer for Jumanji: Open World, the next movie in the Jumanji series directed by Jake Kasdan. The film brings the Jumanji game world into real life and features the return of the main cast. The movie will premiere on December 25, 2026.
Key Facts
Jumanji: Open World is a sequel to the 2019 film Jumanji: The Next Level.
The original Jumanji movie came out in 1995 and was based on a 1981 children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg.
The 2017 reboot updated the game from a board game to a video game and was very successful, earning over $960 million worldwide.
The new movie’s trailer shows game avatars entering the real world but stuck in demo mode.
The main cast, including Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Kevin Hart, is returning.
The movie also stars new actors with some roles not yet revealed.
The film’s release date is December 25, 2026.
The movie continues the theme of blending gaming worlds with real life.
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The Trump administration announced it will end a Medicare premium subsidy program started under President Biden. This program, related to Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, will stop by the end of the year and will not be available starting in 2027.
Key Facts
The subsidy program was created during President Biden’s time in office.
It helped cover premium costs for Medicare Part D, which is optional drug coverage.
The Trump administration says the program helped insurance companies more than patients.
Medicare Part D subsidies will end at the close of this year.
No subsidies will be offered for Medicare Part D beginning in 2027.
This change affects Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.
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Greek police have identified a body found in a suitcase in Athens as a 38-year-old British woman who had been dead for several weeks. Authorities are investigating the death as a possible crime and are working with international agencies to trace her movements before she died.
Key Facts
A body was found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in central Athens on July 18.
The victim was a 38-year-old British woman born in Scotland in 1988.
She arrived in Greece from Cyprus on June 29, reportedly coming from the United States.
The woman was found wrapped in cloth and plastic, wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, with no visible tattoos or marks.
Greek police used fingerprints and DNA with help from Interpol and US authorities to identify her.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage, flight records, and hotel bookings to learn about her last movements.
Officials consider the death suspicious because of how the body was concealed and are treating it as a possible crime.
The British embassy has been informed but has not made public comments.
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Two American men were found guilty of killing a Canadian couple in Dominica. The couple’s bodies were discovered in a burnt car after they were reported missing in late 2023.
Key Facts
The victims were Daniel Langlois, a Canadian entrepreneur, and his partner Dominique Marchand.
Langlois was founder of Softimage, a company known for animation software used in popular movies.
The couple had lived in Dominica since 1997 and were involved in charitable work and hotel business there.
The suspects, Jonathan Lehrer and Robert Snyder Jr, were arrested soon after the couple’s bodies were found.
Lehrer and Langlois had a long dispute over a road between their properties.
Lehrer owned a property next to Langlois’ large luxury resort in Dominica.
A court ordered Lehrer in 2019 to allow public access to the road, including for Langlois’ guests.
No sentence has been announced for the convicted men yet.
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Natural disasters in the U.S. caused $115 billion in damage last year. CBS News explains the types of insurance homeowners and renters should have to protect their homes from damage during such events.
Key Facts
Natural disasters caused $115 billion in damage in the U.S. last year.
Home insurance can help protect owners from financial loss due to disaster damage.
Renters also need insurance to cover their belongings in a disaster.
Different types of insurance cover different risks, like flooding or earthquakes.
It is important to understand what your insurance policy includes and excludes.
Some natural disasters require separate insurance policies beyond standard coverage.
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Hospitals can still send unpaid medical bills to collection agencies if patients do not pay or arrange payments. Before sending bills to collections, many hospitals try to help patients with payment plans or financial assistance, especially nonprofit hospitals. Recent changes have made it harder for some medical debts to hurt credit scores immediately, but unpaid bills can still cause other problems.
Key Facts
Hospitals usually try to work with patients to set up payment plans before sending bills to collections.
Nonprofit hospitals must try to see if patients qualify for charity care before using tougher collection methods.
Collection agencies can contact patients, offer payment deals, or take legal action to collect unpaid bills.
Credit reporting agencies now limit how medical collections show up on credit reports, often removing paid accounts and delaying reports of unpaid debts.
Small medical debts have less impact on credit scores than before.
Even if medical debt doesn’t appear right away on credit reports, patients can still get collection notices or face lawsuits.
Patients are encouraged to contact their hospital billing department early if they cannot pay their bills.
Some hospitals offer interest-free payment plans or financial aid programs to help reduce bills.
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Large wildfires in the Gironde region of France highlight growing problems with land management caused by climate change. Experts say the solution is not just better firefighting but also changing how forests and communities are planned to adapt to a hotter climate.
Key Facts
Wildfires in Gironde, southwest France, have become unusually severe.
Jean-Luc Gleyze, local government president, views the fires as a test of community and government cooperation.
Stéphane Delpeyrat-Vincent, a wildfire prevention researcher, says fires show that land management no longer fits the changing climate.
Experts suggest moving beyond fighting fires to rethink how forests and towns are organized.
Climate change is increasing the intensity and frequency of wildfires in the region.
The current approach to managing landscapes is based on past climate conditions that have changed.
The crisis highlights the need for new strategies to protect people and nature in a warming world.
Discussions also focus on using ancestral or traditional land management practices as part of the solution.
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The United States and Saudi Arabia carried out joint airstrikes on armed groups in Iraq that are backed by Iran. This action follows recent Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump has promised further responses, raising concerns about the conflict expanding further.
Key Facts
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Iran-supported armed groups located in Iraq.
Iran had previously attacked U.S. military bases in Jordan.
Iranian forces also targeted ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for oil transport.
President Donald Trump has vowed additional retaliation following these attacks.
The situation signals a widening of the conflict involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and Iran.
These developments increase fears that the conflict in the Middle East is entering a more dangerous phase.
The conflict involves complex regional alliances and power struggles, particularly centered on influence over Iraq.
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Two firefighters died while fighting a wildfire on the southern Greek island of Crete. About 125 firefighters were working to stop the fire in the Rethymno area when the deaths occurred.
Key Facts
The wildfire started on Wednesday afternoon in the Rethymno region of Crete.
Two firefighters died during efforts to control the fire.
Around 125 firefighters were involved in fighting the wildfire.
The fire department described the firefighters’ deaths as occurring in the line of duty.
The firefighting efforts aimed to protect people, property, and the environment.
The wildfire is part of ongoing fires affecting the region.
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