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A new study shows that people around the world now view China more positively than the United States. This change represents a major shift in how countries see global powers.
Key Facts
The study comes from Pew Research Center, which tracks global opinions.
China’s image has improved significantly in many countries.
The United States' image has declined compared to previous years.
This is one of the biggest changes in global opinion since the study began.
Public views reflect feelings about a country's influence and leadership.
The shift could affect international relations and diplomacy.
China’s rise is seen in areas like economic growth and global presence.
The United States faces challenges to its traditional role as a world leader.
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The U.S. Navy has decided to stop sharing detailed information about sailors’ service history with the press. This change aims to reduce security risks and harassment but limits background details that were freely available for many years.
Key Facts
The Navy will no longer release details about any sailor’s service history, such as units served in or awards earned.
Information confirming someone is a sailor will only be shared if the request is of "high public interest."
The policy was widened after initially limiting information about commanding officers only.
Officials say these changes respond to increased security threats and concerns about harassment.
The Navy still considers some exceptions for public figures or special cases but defines these terms narrowly.
The policy makes it harder for journalists to report on military personnel involved in news events.
The move comes amid increased military restrictions on press access driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Congress is also considering laws to allow the military to withhold certain unclassified records from the public.
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Police in Greater Manchester had the attacker’s phones before his synagogue attack but did not check them. The phones contained extremist messages that might have helped stop the attack, which killed two men during a Jewish holy day gathering.
Key Facts
Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, attacked a synagogue in Manchester on 2 October 2025, killing two Jewish men.
Al-Shamie was on bail for an alleged rape at the time of the attack.
Police seized Al-Shamie’s phones in February and September 2025 but did not examine them before the attack.
The phones had evidence of Al-Shamie’s extremist views and plans.
Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson apologized for not reviewing the phones.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating police’s prior contact with Al-Shamie.
One officer is under investigation for possible misconduct related to handling rape allegations against Al-Shamie.
Al-Shamie was killed by police at the scene after attacking people with a car and a knife.
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ABC News reported that some advertisements use artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake influencers who promote health supplements and clothing. These AI-generated ads falsely claim miracle cures and feature pretend doctors and wellness experts.
Key Facts
AI technology is used to create fake online influencers in advertisements.
These fake influencers promote supplements and clothing products.
The ads make false promises about miracle cures for health conditions.
Fake doctors and wellness influencers are part of these AI-generated ads.
The report is from ABC News' Chief Investigative Correspondent Aaron Katersky.
This is a concern because consumers may be misled by fake endorsements.
The story was shared on July 23, 2026.
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Houthi rebels in Yemen said they attacked two Saudi Arabian oil tankers in the Red Sea. This happened after the Houthis announced they would block Saudi ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Key Facts
The Houthis are a rebel group based in Yemen.
They claimed to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers named Encelia and Layla.
The attack took place in the Red Sea.
This is the first reported attack since the Houthis announced a blockade of Saudi ships.
The blockade targets ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route.
Saudi Arabia relies on oil tankers to transport oil through this area.
The situation adds tension to the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the region.
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Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, visited the United States and Iran shortly after taking office to balance relations with two influential countries shaping Iraq’s politics and economy. His government aims to shift Iraq’s ties with the US from security to economic cooperation while managing close but complex connections with Iran and its allied groups inside Iraq.
Key Facts
Ali al-Zaidi became Iraq’s prime minister in May 2026.
He made his first foreign trips to Washington, DC, and Tehran.
In the US, he and President Donald Trump discussed increasing economic partnerships and agreed on projects like reopening an Iraq-Syria oil pipeline.
Iraq depends heavily on Iran for natural gas and electricity, with bilateral trade over $12 billion yearly.
Millions of Iranian Shia pilgrims visit Iraq each year, showing strong religious and cultural ties.
Iran has influence in Iraq through Shia political parties and armed groups that are part of Iraq’s security forces.
The US pressures Iraq to control Iran-aligned armed groups linked to ongoing conflicts involving Iran.
Al-Zaidi is also working to improve Iraq’s relationships with Gulf states and Turkey to balance regional powers.
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A Czech army helicopter crashed on Thursday at an air force base southeast of Prague. One soldier died, and three others were injured and taken to hospitals.
Key Facts
The helicopter was a Venom model operated by the Czech army.
It had five soldiers on board at the time of the crash.
The crash happened around noon local time at the Náměšt nad Oslavou air force base.
Náměšt nad Oslavou is about 180 kilometers (112 miles) southeast of Prague.
One soldier died in the accident.
Three soldiers were injured and taken to hospitals.
The military has not shared more details about the cause of the crash or the condition of the injured.
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Yemen’s Houthi rebels have threatened to block shipping tied to Saudi Arabia in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key global trade route. This move could widen the conflict involving Iran and further disrupt oil exports and international trade.
Key Facts
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is crucial for global trade.
About 12% of the world’s trade and 25% of container shipping pass through this narrow waterway.
Houthis, supported by Iran, say they have closed the strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for Saudi actions in Yemen.
They reportedly attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, causing fires but no casualties.
Houthis plan to use mines, explosive boats, drones, and helicopters to block ships that ignore warnings.
The Houthis do not control the coast at the strait but are close enough to disrupt shipping.
Similar actions during earlier conflicts have shown how such attacks can effectively close important waterways.
This threatens global oil supplies, especially since the Strait of Hormuz, another key route, is already disrupted by conflict.
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A top Republican lawmaker, Rep. Jim Jordan, accused special counsel Jack Smith of lying to Congress about his investigation into President Donald Trump. Jordan referred Smith to the Justice Department for possible prosecution, claiming Smith falsely said he did not obtain the content of lawmakers’ text messages. Smith’s lawyers deny this, saying his testimony was truthful and specific to toll records, not text message contents.
Key Facts
Rep. Jim Jordan, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, accused special counsel Jack Smith of lying during testimony.
The accusation centers on whether Smith obtained content from lawmakers’ phone or text records in the Trump investigation.
Smith said he did not get content from toll records or text messages during questioning.
Newly released records show Smith received contents of 44 lawmakers’ text messages via a separate subpoena.
Jordan says Smith’s answers were misleading because they gave the impression he did not access message content.
Smith’s lawyers say his answers were truthful, referring only to toll records, which do not include message content.
The referral to the Justice Department does not require prosecutors to take action.
The Justice Department under President Trump has shown willingness to investigate opponents of Trump.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video expressing his wish to arrest Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal, based on an International Criminal Court warrant. However, he admitted he lacks the legal power and city authority to do this and asked the federal government for help.
Key Facts
Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.
He refers to an expected 2024 warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Mamdani admitted he does not have the legal jurisdiction to arrest Netanyahu.
The video highlights Mamdani’s frustration but acknowledges his political limitations.
Mamdani’s views align with a segment of the American left critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The conflict referenced involved Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s military response.
Mamdani labels Netanyahu a war criminal and accuses Israel of genocide, despite no U.N. genocide declaration.
President Donald Trump publicly stated that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the U.S.
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President Donald Trump’s approval rating has stayed near a record low for three months, with 39 percent of voters approving his job as president. The latest Fox News poll also shows that many voters disapprove of his handling of key issues like the economy, inflation, and immigration, while Democrats lead in support ahead of the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval rating is 39 percent, unchanged for three months.
His approval on the economy is low, with only 33 percent approving and 67 percent disapproving.
Inflation ratings are even lower, with 27 percent approval and 73 percent disapproval.
Immigration approval is 42 percent, down from previous years, with 57 percent disapproval.
On Iran policy, 34 percent approve of Trump’s handling and 66 percent disapprove.
Democrats lead Republicans 53 percent to 46 percent in voting preference for the House if elections were held now.
Voter motivation is higher among Democrats (68%) than Republicans (57%). Among Republicans, MAGA supporters are more motivated (66%) than non-MAGA Republicans (41%).
Many voters want big changes in government and believe the system favors the wealthy.
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Amish Shah won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st congressional district, defeating the candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Shah will face Republican Jay Feely, who was endorsed by President Trump, in the general election this fall.
Key Facts
Amish Shah is an emergency doctor and won the Arizona Democratic primary for the 1st congressional district.
The DCCC supported Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican who switched parties, but she lost to Shah.
Shah will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and Trump-endorsed candidate, in the November election.
The 1st district covers areas like north-east Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley, and it is important for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The seat is open because current Republican David Schweikert ran unsuccessfully for governor.
Both Shah and Galán-Woods are moderate Democrats, and the race was not seen as a fight between progressives and centrists.
The DCCC’s choice to back Galán-Woods surprised local Democrats since Shah and she had similar political views.
Republicans are attacking Shah as a socialist in their campaign ads, while Shah calls himself a political outsider focused on results.
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More than 20,000 people have been evacuated from the Atlantic coast of south-west France due to a fast-moving wildfire near Saumos. Firefighters are working with planes and many crews to control the fire, which has burned 2,400 hectares in less than a day, but no deaths or home losses have been reported so far.
Key Facts
The wildfire started in a dense pine forest near Saumos, west of Bordeaux.
Over 20,000 people, including tourists, have been evacuated from the area.
The fire burned 2,400 hectares (about 5,928 acres) in under 24 hours.
Firefighters have deployed 700 personnel and four water-dropping planes to fight the blaze.
Nine local towns opened centers to shelter more than 2,500 evacuees.
The fire threatens wealthy and popular holiday areas like Cap Ferret.
Authorities say the fire may have been caused by a machine clearing undergrowth.
Another fire near Pontevès in south-east France burned 2,500 hectares and destroyed at least 10 houses.
France has seen multiple heatwaves and over 12,500 wildfires this year due to climate change effects.
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The Bottom Line's 2026 Business Awards featured a panel of business leaders discussing the successes and failures in business over the past year. The show, hosted by Evan Davis, highlighted notable products, leadership, marketing efforts, and strategic decisions in the business world.
Key Facts
The episode aired on Radio 4 on July 23, 2026.
It lasted 34 minutes.
The event was an unofficial business awards show.
A panel of business leaders selected winners and losers from the past 12 months.
Evan Davis was the host of the program.
Guests included Nicola Hodson (Deputy President of techUK), Peter Bazalgette (former Chair of ITV), and Edwina Dunn (Co-founder of dunnhumby).
The awards recognize achievements and failures in areas like products, leadership, marketing, and strategy.
The production team included producers, sound engineers, and a production coordinator.
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Elon Musk spoke about the rapid progress of artificial intelligence (AI), saying people should "enjoy the ride" despite concerns about risks. He believes AI will likely create great wealth for everyone, and that stopping its development is not possible.
Key Facts
Elon Musk said AI is growing very fast and cannot be stopped.
He thinks AI will bring "incredible abundance" to humanity.
Musk expressed concern about AI risks but chooses to focus on the positive side.
The interview was recorded before OpenAI reported some AI models hacked a start-up during a security test.
Musk said AI development is accelerating due to many companies working on it, including OpenAI and Anthropic.
He made predictions like "money won't matter" within ten years.
Musk addressed accusations of racism and said his family is diverse and his companies have executives of all races.
He acknowledged that some people dislike him but pointed out he has about 250 million followers on X (formerly Twitter).
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Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has caused deaths on both sides, including civilians and children. Both countries carried out attacks deep behind the front lines, increasing the number of casualties even though the main battle area has not changed much recently.
Key Facts
At least eight people died in attacks by Russia and Ukraine, including a three-year-old child.
Four people died in Ukraine; four others died in Russia and Crimea, a peninsula controlled by Russia.
A drone attack in Voronezh, Russia, caused a house fire and killed a young child.
Ukrainian strikes hit targets near Moscow, Crimea, and the Russian border region of Belgorod.
Russian attacks in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions killed civilians and injured others.
Russia claimed it captured a village near Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, but Ukraine denied the claim.
Ukraine reported repelling multiple Russian attacks near Pokrovsk.
The European Union agreed on a new sanctions package targeting Russian banks, military industries, and shipping.
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Israel has freed 35 Palestinian prisoners from Gaza. They were moved through the Karem Abu Salem crossing to a hospital in Khan Yunis to meet their families.
Key Facts
Israel released 35 Palestinian detainees from Gaza.
The detainees were transferred via the Karem Abu Salem crossing.
They arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.
The purpose was to reunite them with their families.
The detainees came from Gaza, a Palestinian territory.
The release was organized by Israeli authorities.
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A new study shows that sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, may help stop cancer from spreading by affecting how cancer cells use cholesterol. The research used mice, human cancer cells, and data from Israeli health records, and found stronger effects when sildenafil was combined with cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins.
Key Facts
Sildenafil blocks an enzyme called PDE5, raising a molecule named cGMP.
Higher cGMP affects a protein that moves cholesterol inside cancer cells.
This lowers the cholesterol cancer cells need to spread to other parts of the body.
The study used mice, human cancer cell samples, and health data from 5 million Israeli patients.
Patients taking sildenafil had better cancer survival rates, especially when also using statins.
Statins are drugs that reduce the body’s cholesterol production.
Researchers say the findings are early and need human clinical trials before changing cancer treatment.
Both sildenafil and statins are commonly used medicines, which might help future research.
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The Rosebank oilfield in the North Sea is at the center of a debate about new oil drilling in the UK. The UK government and energy companies are deciding whether to approve the project, while local residents and environmental groups oppose it due to climate and ecological concerns.
Key Facts
Rosebank is the largest untapped oil and gas field in the UK, located near Shetland in the North Sea.
Norwegian company Equinor and Shell's joint venture, Adura, are leading the Rosebank development.
Legal challenges delayed the project because prior approvals did not fully consider the environmental impact.
The UK government restarted the approval process in 2025, with a public comment period ending in August 2025.
Protests come from local residents and groups worried about climate change and damage to marine life.
Ithaca Energy, a Scottish company owned by Israeli conglomerate Delek Group, owns part of the project; Delek is controversial due to its links to Israeli settlements.
Some say Rosebank could conflict with the UK’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The final decision is expected from UK Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh after the public consultation.
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Large wildfires broke out in southern France, especially in southwest areas near the coast, destroying pine forests and forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Hundreds of firefighters worked to control the fires starting on July 22-23, 2026, using water drops from helicopters and trucks.
Key Facts
Wildfires started around midday on July 22, 2026, in southeast and southwest France.
Thousands of residents and tourists were evacuated from affected areas.
The fires burned seaside pine forests and other vegetation.
Hundreds of firefighters fought the flames with water helicopters and wildland water trucks.
Smoke and flames were visible in places like Ponteves and Le Porge.
Some homes and outdoor areas, such as gardens, were damaged by the fires.
The fires were part of wider wildfire problems affecting parts of Spain, France, and Italy.
Efforts continue to contain the blazes amid a heatwave and dry conditions in Europe.
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