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Barclays has increased its bonus pool for bankers by nearly 30% after reporting higher profits in the first half of the year. This strong financial performance has led to calls from trade unions for the UK government to tax banks more to help fund public spending.
Key Facts
Barclays raised its bonus pool to £1.3 billion for the first half of the year, up from £1 billion last year.
The bonus pool will keep growing in the second half and will result in bigger payouts by February next year.
Barclays reported second-quarter pre-tax profits of £3.3 billion, a 31% increase compared to last year.
Half-year profits totaled £6.1 billion, which is 17% higher than last year.
The bank announced shareholder payments, including a £1 billion share buy-back and £800 million in dividends.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) urges the UK government to tax banks more to support spending plans by Andy Burnham, aiming to address the cost of living crisis.
The TUC claims high interest rates have benefited banks but made mortgages and bills more expensive for regular people.
Calls are made to increase the bank surcharge tax to use funds for lowering energy bills.
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Kristopher Karolkiewicz killed his wife and six children before taking his own life in their home in Grand Haven Township, Michigan. The family’s bodies were found after a fire broke out in the house, which investigators believe was set intentionally after the shootings.
Key Facts
The incident happened in Grand Haven Township on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.
Kristopher Karolkiewicz, 47, his wife Amanda, 39, and their six children, ages 5 to 15, all died from gunshot wounds.
The fire in the house was started in multiple places after the shootings, according to officials.
The case is being treated as a murder-suicide and is still under investigation.
Karolkiewicz worked as a vice president of sales and marketing for the American Heart Association until recently.
He worked remotely in a division related to CPR and first aid training.
Authorities were alerted by a fire report before discovering the victims.
Support resources for suicide prevention were noted in the article.
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Looking good during job interviews can help candidates make a better first impression and improve their chances of getting hired. Research shows that employers often judge candidates partly based on their appearance, including clothing and grooming, which can influence how trustworthy and confident they seem.
Key Facts
Taya Reed, a 23-year-old graduate, got a marketing job after carefully choosing an outfit that matched the company culture.
A 2020 UK study found 51% of employers rejected candidates because of their appearance, such as scruffy clothes or poorly dyed hair.
Professor Min-Hsuan Tu explains attractive people are often seen as more trustworthy and confident, helping them in interviews.
Physical attractiveness includes not just looks but also clothing and makeup.
Matt Cohen, a 31-year-old American, secured a job by dressing professionally and using confident body language in interviews.
Cohen used techniques like good eye contact and imagining the interviewer as a friend to stay calm.
Career coach Caroline Hickey supports the idea that appearance matters in a tough job market.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for the first time since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran led to increased conflict in the Middle East. The leaders plan to focus on the ongoing war, security issues, and regional peace efforts despite previous tensions in their relationship.
Key Facts
Netanyahu and President Trump will meet on Tuesday at the White House.
This is their first in-person meeting since U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Relations between the two leaders were strained after the strikes and ceasefire talks in April.
Both leaders have tried to reduce public disagreements ahead of the meeting.
They will discuss Iran, the Israel-Lebanon framework deal, and Gaza’s reconstruction.
The meeting aims to show that U.S.-Israeli ties remain strong despite challenges.
The U.S. and Israel have different views on how to handle military operations but agree on war goals.
This will be their eighth meeting since President Trump began his second term last year.
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Suzy Lamplugh, a 25-year-old estate agent, disappeared in London in 1986 after meeting a client and has never been found. Police continue to investigate the case, though it will move to a less active phase next year, while her family released new photos and support a charity focused on personal safety.
Key Facts
Suzy Lamplugh went missing on 28 July 1986 after leaving work to meet a man called "Mr Kipper."
Her white car was found abandoned, but no trace of her was ever discovered.
She was declared "presumed dead" in 1993.
Police suspect she may have been stalked and lured into a false meeting.
The investigation is one of the UK’s largest missing person cases and is still partly run on 1980s paper records.
The main suspect, John Cannan, died in prison in 2024; no charges were ever brought against him for Lamplugh’s disappearance.
DNA tests and fingerprint evidence have not identified any match.
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust was created by her parents to promote personal safety and runs the National Stalking Helpline.
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Johnson & Johnson has offered to pay $5.5 billion to settle about 76,000 lawsuits claiming that its talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer. The company denies the claims but wants to resolve the long legal fight and focus on its medical business.
Key Facts
Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion settlement for talc-related lawsuits.
The settlement would cover nearly all remaining talc claims in federal and state courts.
The company requires at least 95% of the claimants to agree to the settlement.
J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US and Canada in 2020.
The company denies its products caused cancer and says the claims lack scientific proof.
Plaintiffs seek compensation for injuries allegedly caused by J&J’s talcum powder.
J&J has already settled many cases linked to asbestos in its talc products.
Similar lawsuits are ongoing in the United Kingdom, with claims totaling about $1.3 billion.
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Two earthquakes hit Qinghai province in northwest China on Tuesday morning, occurring 18 minutes apart. The first measured magnitude 5.7 and the second 5.8, both at a depth of 10 kilometers, with no immediate reports of injuries.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes struck Qinghai province in China on Tuesday at 11:16 a.m. and 11:34 a.m.
The magnitudes were 5.7 and 5.8, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
Both quakes occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles) underground.
Qinghai is a sparsely populated province that often experiences earthquakes.
No casualties were reported immediately after the earthquakes.
Dust clouds were seen rising from cliffs during the shaking.
The earthquakes were also felt in Lanzhou, a large city in the neighboring Gansu province.
Videos from social media showed lamps swinging inside homes in Lanzhou.
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On July 24, Israeli settlers and soldiers attacked Palestinian homes near Tal in the occupied West Bank, leading to violence where several Palestinians, one settler, and one soldier were killed. Following the incident, Israeli forces launched wide military operations, including raids and arrests, while violence and property damage increased across multiple West Bank villages.
Key Facts
More than 20 Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes near Tal, southwest of Nablus.
A Palestinian man killed a settler in the conflict, then was shot dead by Israeli soldiers.
Four Palestinians from one family died in the violence; one settler and one Israeli soldier also died.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered a large military response, including home demolitions and permit revocations.
Israeli forces arrested 30 to 50 Palestinians and searched about 70 homes in subsequent raids.
New illegal Israeli settler outposts have been established near Tal and other West Bank villages.
Over the weekend, there were around 30 settler attacks in the West Bank, including arson on homes, farms, and villages.
Israeli forces used tear gas against Palestinians and journalists during attempts to protect settlers.
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Early voting has started in Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor, with five candidates competing to challenge the Republican nominee in November. The race is marked by multiple candidates, including one endorsed by the current governor and one who recently re-entered the contest after previously dropping out. Democrats hope to win the governor’s office and control the state legislature.
Key Facts
Early in-person voting began on Tuesday for Wisconsin’s Democratic governor primary.
Five Democratic candidates are running, including democratic socialist Francesca Hong, Mandela Barnes, and David Crowley.
David Crowley, endorsed by Governor Tony Evers, dropped out on July 8 but rejoined the race on July 17.
Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Missy Hughes have dropped out, but their names remain on the ballot.
Democrats want a judge to allow voters who already mailed absentee ballots to cancel and cast new ones due to the candidate changes.
The Democratic primary winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, supported by President Donald Trump, in the November election.
Early absentee voting will continue through August 9, and all ballots must be received by then.
Democrats aim to gain full control of Wisconsin’s state government for the first time since 2010.
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Senator Lindsey Graham, who served South Carolina for over 30 years, is being honored with memorial services in Washington, D.C., including at the U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral. President Donald Trump and other leaders, including Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to attend and speak at the funeral events. Graham died suddenly on July 11, 2026, from a likely aortic tear.
Key Facts
Lindsey Graham served as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina for more than 30 years.
His funeral events are taking place in Washington, D.C., including memorials at the U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral.
President Donald Trump will deliver remarks at the cathedral service.
Foreign leaders such as Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to attend.
Graham died unexpectedly on July 11, 2026, at age 71, due to a likely aortic tear.
He was remembered for his strong support of U.S. military intervention worldwide.
Graham served in the Air Force and was honored by an Armed Forces Body Bearer Team at the Capitol.
Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are among those expected to speak at the services.
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South Carolina is holding a special Republican primary on August 11 to choose a candidate to replace the late Senator Lindsey Graham. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed as a temporary senator and is running in the primary along with at least nine other Republicans.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham passed away suddenly at age 71 earlier this month.
Darline Graham, Lindsey’s sister, was appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to serve temporarily until January.
At least 10 Republicans filed paperwork to run in the August 11 special primary.
If no candidate gets more than half the votes, a runoff election will take place on August 25.
Lindsey Graham had just won his June primary and was expected to seek a fifth term.
No Democrat has won a statewide office in South Carolina for 20 years.
Darline Graham is not well known politically but has been closely involved in her brother’s campaigns.
President Donald Trump endorsed Darline Graham before she announced her run.
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Many companies first used artificial intelligence (AI) tools a lot to get more work done, but now they see that the costs are high and the productivity gains are not enough. Experts and business leaders say companies need to use AI more carefully to avoid wasting money and risking their data.
Key Facts
Tokenmaxxing means using as many AI-generated text pieces ("tokens") as possible to increase AI output.
Tokens are small parts of words or text, and AI services charge based on the number of tokens used.
At first, tech leaders praised high token usage as a sign of strong performance.
Companies are now noticing that AI tools are expensive and may not always add value.
Microsoft’s CEO warned customers might pay twice: once for AI use and once by giving away their data.
Some business leaders say companies feel frustrated paying a lot for AI that doesn’t deliver results.
Consultants report that big companies are rethinking how they invest in AI to get better returns.
The trend shows a shift from unlimited AI use toward more careful and cost-effective use.
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South Korea’s main stock market index, the Kospi, dropped more than 10% due to heavy selling of chipmaking stocks like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Investors are concerned that competition from Chinese chip companies could hurt global firms that benefited from the recent artificial intelligence (AI) boom.
Key Facts
The Kospi index fell 10.5% to 6,051.19 on heavy selling of chip stocks.
Samsung Electronics shares dropped 12%, and SK Hynix shares fell 12.7%.
Selling was driven by worries that Chinese AI startups and chipmakers will challenge global companies.
Chinese chipmaker CXMT’s shares surged 466% during its recent stock market debut in Shanghai.
Most other Asian stock markets also declined, including Japan’s Nikkei (down 4%) and Taiwan’s Taiex (down 3.9%).
Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell slightly by 0.1%, and China’s Shanghai Composite lost 1%.
Oil prices decreased by about 0.8-0.9%, influenced by a pause in conflicts between the U.S. and Iran.
U.S. stock markets showed mixed results with small gains in the S&P 500 and Dow Jones, but the Nasdaq lost for the fourth day.
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President Donald Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House before Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral. Zelenskyy is visiting Washington to honor Graham, who worked on sanctions against countries buying Russian energy exports.
Key Facts
President Trump and President Zelenskyy will meet in Washington on Tuesday.
The meeting happens before Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral.
Senator Graham’s last official act was visiting Kyiv and securing sanctions targeting countries buying Russian oil and gas.
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist close to President Trump, recently visited Ukraine, met Zelenskyy, and changed her view on Russia’s war.
Loomer admitted she was misled by Russian propaganda before seeing the war’s impact firsthand.
Zelenskyy warned that Russia is helping Iran by sharing satellite images that lead to Iranian strikes.
President Trump minimized Russia’s role in aiding Iran but said he would raise the issue with President Putin.
Zelenskyy has a busy schedule during his current Washington visit.
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The Senate is expected to confirm Jay Clayton as the next Director of National Intelligence. Clayton faced a tough hearing but is likely to be approved along party lines to replace an interim director before upcoming elections.
Key Facts
Jay Clayton is nominated to lead the U.S. intelligence agencies.
He is currently the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman.
Clayton refused to explicitly say that President Biden won the 2020 election, saying only that it was “certified.”
Democrats have concerns about Clayton but prefer him over the interim director Bill Pulte, who has no intelligence background.
Bill Pulte took over temporarily after Tulsi Gabbard resigned.
The Senate voted 51-43 to advance Clayton's nomination mostly along party lines.
Republicans pushed for Clayton’s quick confirmation before an earlier Senate recess, but President Trump delayed the nomination.
Senators from both parties want a permanent director before the midterm elections for continuity in intelligence leadership.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Donald Trump for the first time since they launched a joint war against Iran. The meeting focused on easing tensions between the two leaders, discussing the ongoing conflict with Iran, and reviewing agreements related to the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Key Facts
Netanyahu and Trump started a joint war against Iran earlier this year.
This was their first meeting since the war began.
Both leaders face pressure at home: Netanyahu is up for reelection, and Trump faces criticism over the war’s impact on the economy.
They discussed a framework agreement between the U.S., Israel, and Lebanon regarding the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.
They also talked about expanding the Abraham Accords, which are peace agreements between Israel and some Arab countries.
Their relationship has had ups and downs, but was strong when Trump returned to office last year.
Trump has faced pressure to end the conflict as Iran has retaliated with attacks on U.S. bases and shipping routes.
Netanyahu plans to share new Israeli intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program during the meeting.
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The 1951 Refugee Convention, created after World War II to protect people fleeing war and persecution, marks its 75th anniversary. The treaty has helped millions, but some countries, including the United States under President Donald Trump, have restricted asylum seekers. Over 41 million people worldwide remain refugees, with most hosted by poorer countries, and ongoing conflicts threaten to increase this number.
Key Facts
The Refugee Convention was established in 1951 to define who is a refugee and set their rights.
Nearly 150 countries have agreed to follow the convention’s rules.
Its main rule, called “non-refoulement,” bans sending refugees back to places where they face danger.
More than 41 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide.
Almost 70% of refugees live in low- and middle-income countries.
Conflicts and violence continue globally, with over 130 active armed conflicts counted by the Red Cross.
Under President Trump, the U.S. changed its asylum policies by sending seekers to third countries.
Personal stories from refugees show the ongoing need for protection and support through the treaty.
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Florida plans to carry out two executions on the same day, a rare event in modern U.S. history. The inmates scheduled are James Aren Duckett, 68, convicted of murdering a young girl, and Dominick Anthony Occhicone, 80, convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents.
Key Facts
Florida is set to perform two executions in one day for the first time in over 60 years.
James Aren Duckett, age 68, was convicted of raping and drowning an 11-year-old girl in 1987.
Dominick Anthony Occhicone, age 80, would be the second-oldest inmate executed in U.S. modern history.
Governor Ron DeSantis has increased the number of executions during his term, overseeing 19 in 2025 alone.
Duckett’s scheduled execution was delayed to allow for DNA testing, which came back inconclusive.
Occhicone’s attorneys argued his age-related health issues could make execution especially painful.
Both inmates had appeals pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The last time Florida executed two inmates in one day was in 1964.
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A large wildfire near Bordeaux in southwest France has been stable after a calm night, according to local authorities. However, hot temperatures and shifting winds today could cause the fire to flare up again. At the same time, Spain is also dealing with huge wildfires near Madrid and Ávila, affecting tens of thousands of hectares.
Key Facts
The wildfire near Bordeaux has burned about 42,000 hectares of forest since July 22.
Local officials say the fire was stable after a quiet night, with flare-ups controlled by firefighters.
Weather forecasts predict temperatures between 33°C and 35°C with southeast winds, which might worsen the fire.
In Spain, fires near Madrid and Ávila have burned around 75,000 hectares, the largest recent wildfires in the country.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned of difficult hours ahead due to rising temperatures and a new heat wave.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited the affected area and promised to rebuild the damaged forests.
Holiday camp activities in the Gironde region of France were canceled because of the fire risk.
Authorities in both countries continue to monitor and fight the fires closely as conditions remain challenging.
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This article explains how harmful substances like "forever chemicals" (PFAS) and cadmium get into food and why they can be dangerous to health. It focuses on advice to reduce exposure to these pollutants, especially through diet, highlighting common foods that contain cadmium and suggesting ways to limit intake.
Key Facts
Forever chemicals (PFAS) are long-lasting pollutants found in soil, water, and living things.
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can build up in the liver and kidneys and raise the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Foods like seaweed, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, animal organs, shellfish, frog legs, dark chocolate, and crustaceans have high cadmium levels.
Most people's exposure mostly comes from everyday foods like cereals (pasta, bread, biscuits), potatoes, and some vegetables because they eat these often.
Avoiding high-cadmium foods entirely is difficult, but reducing consumption of certain contaminated foods can help lower risks.
Tobacco is another major source of cadmium exposure, besides food.
Public health measures and political actions are important to effectively reduce these contaminants in the environment.
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