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World News
Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and U.S. President Donald Trump have a strong friendship despite recent disagreements. Trump confirmed he criticized Netanyahu's actions in Lebanon but also said they work well together and share goals, including disarming Hezbollah.
Key Facts
President Trump said he called Netanyahu “f****ing crazy” during a recent call but still supports him.
Netanyahu described their relationship as very good and based on mutual respect.
The two leaders have disagreements but resolve them quickly and work as friends.
Israel has escalated attacks in Lebanon, causing concern and risking talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Hezbollah, a group allied with Iran, is fighting against Israel in Lebanon and claims the right to self-defense.
Despite tensions, Netanyahu and Trump agree on disarming Hezbollah and demilitarizing Lebanon.
Israeli officials have proposed occupying southern Lebanon and destroying homes in border areas, following tactics used in Gaza.
Netanyahu expressed a desire for peace with Lebanon if Hezbollah is disarmed and the country is demilitarized.
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An Egyptian court sentenced activist and poet Ahmed Douma to one year in prison with labor for spreading false information. Douma was arrested after writing about Egypt’s prison conditions and was previously freed in 2023 after nearly 10 years in jail.
Key Facts
Ahmed Douma was sentenced to one year in prison with labor for “spreading fake news.”
He was arrested following an article about prison conditions published in a London-based news outlet.
Douma had been released in August 2023 by a presidential pardon after almost 10 years in jail.
Rights groups say the charge against him is often used to silence activists and journalists.
Amnesty International and PEN America criticized the sentence as an attack on free speech.
Douma has faced harsh detention conditions, including limited visits and bright lights in his cell.
Egypt’s government under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has a history of cracking down on peaceful critics.
The presidential pardon system released some prisoners but has not stopped ongoing arrests of activists.
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New research shows that stopping the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) led to more violence in Africa. Countries that received a lot of help from USAID had more armed fights, protests, and riots after the agency was closed.
Key Facts
USAID is a U.S. government agency that provides aid to other countries.
The research was published in the Science journal.
African countries that depended heavily on USAID saw an increase in violence after USAID shut down.
Types of violence included armed clashes, protests, and riots.
The study links the reduction in U.S. aid to rising instability in these areas.
The increase in violence happened in the months following USAID’s closure.
The findings suggest that USAID played a role in maintaining peace and stability in some African countries.
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The United Nations and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) say there is a high chance an El Niño weather event will form between June and November 2024. El Niño typically causes shifts in global temperatures and rainfall, affecting many regions, including parts of the United States.
Key Facts
El Niño has an 80% chance of forming between June and August 2024, and a 90% chance before November 2024.
The last El Niño (2023-24) was one of the strongest ever recorded and contributed to record global temperatures.
The upcoming El Niño is expected to be at least moderate in strength, possibly strong.
El Niño causes warmer ocean waters in the central-eastern Pacific and changes in weather patterns worldwide.
WMO forecasts warmer temperatures in many regions including the Pacific, Africa, Asia, and the Americas between June and August.
Rainfall will increase in places like southern U.S., southern South America, the Horn of Africa, and central Asia.
Drier conditions are expected in Central America, northern South America, the Caribbean, Australia, and parts of southern Asia.
El Niño may increase Pacific cyclones but likely reduce Atlantic hurricane activity.
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Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in a close vote. He will lead the UN’s main diplomatic meeting for one year, starting September 8, during a time of global challenges and the selection of a new UN Secretary-General.
Key Facts
Khalilur Rahman won the election with 99 votes against 91 for Cyprus’s Ambassador Andreas Kakouris.
The UN General Assembly (UNGA) includes all 193 member countries, each having one vote.
Rahman’s term as UNGA president begins on September 8 and lasts one year.
He has a long diplomatic career and became Bangladesh’s foreign minister in February 2024.
Rahman previously worked on the Rohingya refugee issue and held senior UN roles in New York and Geneva.
The UNGA meets yearly in New York where all countries’ leaders can speak on global topics.
The UNGA’s decisions include appointing the UN Secretary-General, electing Security Council members, and approving the budget.
The presidency rotates among five regional groups; this session is led by the Asia Pacific group.
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Actor Tom Holland has spoken about his experience living with dyslexia, explaining why he turned down hosting Saturday Night Live due to difficulties with reading cue cards. His openness has been praised for helping others with dyslexia feel understood and highlighting challenges people with learning difficulties face.
Key Facts
Tom Holland has dyslexia and finds it hard to read changing words, which made him decline hosting SNL.
Dyslexia affects reading, writing, and using numbers, and is a common learning difficulty.
Experts say Holland’s honesty helps others feel seen and raises awareness about challenges disabled people face.
Holland feels scared about reading aloud because it can cause a mental block or freezing.
Millions in the UK have dyslexia, and many adults have reading skills at the level of an 11-year-old.
Ashley Walker, who also has dyslexia, says Holland’s words inspire people but highlights that dyslexia affects people differently.
Dyslexia has no cure, but people find ways to manage it, like preparing more to get through challenges.
Holland will appear in the new Spider-Man movie later this year with Zendaya.
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Palestinian shepherds and farmers in the West Bank have been facing repeated attacks from Israeli settlers, who have destroyed crops, assaulted people, and stolen livestock. These attacks have forced many Palestinian families to leave their homes and lands, impacting their livelihoods and communities.
Key Facts
Mukhlis Masa’id and other Palestinians in Khirbet Yarza have faced intensified settler attacks over the past three years.
Settlers destroyed crops, attacked homes, and physically assaulted shepherds and farmers.
Fourteen families, about 100 people, have left their village due to the violence.
Livestock, including sheep and cattle, were stolen by settlers, damaging the community’s main source of income.
Attacks increased after a new Israeli government with far-right ministers, some connected to settler groups, took power in October 2023.
Violence and theft also occurred in areas under Palestinian Authority control, like Jifna near Ramallah.
In one incident, settlers with Israeli military support stole 180 cattle, assaulted residents, and wounded people.
Palestinian families now live in crowded areas with limited resources and have suffered financial and emotional loss.
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The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum began amid Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian oil and naval facilities in the city. The strikes caused large explosions and smoke, but no deaths were reported. Russian officials said they defended against many drones and promised strong responses.
Key Facts
The forum in St. Petersburg hosts about 20,000 guests from 130 countries.
Ukrainian drones targeted a large oil storage facility and a naval base near St. Petersburg.
The oil terminal handles about 12.5 million tons of fuel yearly and is key to Russian exports.
Russian air defenses claim to have shot down 59 drones during the attacks.
The strikes caused black smoke and fireworks of explosions but no casualties.
Ukraine called the strikes "long-range sanctions" as they hit deep inside Russia.
The forum includes some foreign attendees, including a U.S. official and far-right politicians.
Moscow responded with heavy strikes on Ukrainian cities, resulting in at least 21 deaths.
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This podcast episode covers the Makerfield by-election in the UK, featuring interviews with candidates and analysis of their campaign messages and challenges. It discusses how candidates from Reform UK, Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, and Green parties are performing and responding to voters and controversies.
Key Facts
Chris reports from the Makerfield by-election, focusing on candidate Robert Kenyon from Reform UK and Andy Burnham from Labour.
The program looks at reactions to Robert Kenyon’s past comments about women.
Andy Burnham’s campaign slogan is “Change Labour. Keep The Faith.”
Candidates from the Conservative, Liberal Democrats, and Green parties also take part in interviews.
Sarah Lester from Manchester Evening News and Kevin Fitzpatrick from BBC Radio Manchester join the discussion.
More details about the by-election and candidates can be found on the BBC website link provided.
Newscast is a daily BBC podcast offering political news analysis.
The episode was presented by Adam Fleming and produced by a BBC team.
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London Underground drivers from the RMT union will strike for a second day, causing major transport problems on Thursday. The strike is about changes to a proposed four-day working week, which TfL says are voluntary, while RMT opposes them; some lines will have no service, but other rail and bus services will run normally.
Key Facts
The RMT union is holding a 24-hour strike on Thursday, the second this week.
The strike disrupts London Underground, with some lines completely closed and others running less often.
TfL says about 60% of drivers still worked during Tuesday’s strike.
The dispute is over a proposed four-day workweek change, supported by the rival Aslef union but rejected by RMT.
Other services like the Elizabeth line, London Overground, and buses will run but are expected to be crowded.
TfL reports fewer tube journeys (down 41%) but more bus and rail passengers on strike days.
Talks between TfL and RMT have paused but are expected to resume next week.
No new strikes are currently planned beyond Thursday.
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Peter Magyar defeated Hungary's leader Viktor Orban in an election, showing that authoritarian leaders can be beaten. The key to this victory was focusing on unity and a shared future for the people.
Key Facts
Viktor Orban is the current leader of Hungary known for authoritarian rule.
Peter Magyar won against Orban in a recent election.
Magyar's campaign focused on bringing people together.
The victory suggests that authoritarian leaders can be overcome.
The example from Hungary is seen as a lesson for other countries.
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Sir Alex Younger, who led the British intelligence agency MI6 from 2014 to 2020, has died at the age of 62 after cancer treatment. He had a career in intelligence for nearly 30 years and served in various roles in Europe, the Middle East, and Afghanistan before retiring.
Key Facts
Sir Alex Younger was the head of MI6 from 2014 to 2020.
He died at the age of 62 after being treated for cancer.
He worked in British intelligence for almost 30 years, starting in 1991.
Before his intelligence career, he was an officer in the British Army.
Younger worked in locations including Europe, the Middle East, and Afghanistan.
After retiring, he became a commentator on global security issues.
In 2016, he said the fictional spy James Bond would not pass MI6’s recruitment process.
He focused on modernizing recruitment to address new global security challenges.
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The St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is a major annual event in Russia that brings together thousands of guests from over 130 countries to discuss economic and political issues. Despite tensions due to the war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, the forum continues as a platform for Russia to strengthen ties with countries outside the West, with notable participants including an official US representative appointed by President Trump.
Key Facts
SPIEF is held annually in St Petersburg, Russia, attracting about 20,000 guests from more than 130 countries.
This year’s forum occurs amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia’s strained relations with Western countries.
Ukrainian drone strikes near St Petersburg caused temporary disruptions but did not stop the event.
SPIEF started in 1997 to attract investment to post-Soviet Russia and has grown into a broad platform for economic and political discussions.
The forum showcases Russia’s efforts to build connections with countries in the Global South amid Western sanctions.
For the first time since the Ukraine war began, an official US delegation is attending, appointed by President Donald Trump.
Key foreign attendees include leaders from Uzbekistan, Tanzania, China, and Saudi Arabia’s energy minister.
The event also features former politicians and media personalities, reflecting a mix of political and cultural dialogue.
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The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that El Niño could cause another global coral bleaching event this summer, just one year after the last one ended. Coral reefs, which support many marine animals, are at high risk of losing color and health due to warmer ocean temperatures caused by El Niño and climate change.
Key Facts
NOAA predicts a high risk of coral bleaching in the northern Pacific, including Hawaii, and possibly in Florida and the Caribbean during summer.
This would be the fifth global coral bleaching event in recorded history.
Coral bleaching happens when higher ocean temperatures stress corals, causing them to lose their color.
The last global bleaching event affected 84% of the world’s reefs and ended around mid-2025.
El Niño is linked with warmer ocean waters and has caused all strong global bleaching events since 1998.
Scientists expect El Niño to arrive before fall 2026 but are not sure when or how strong it will be.
Some coral reefs showed resilience and did not bleach during the last event despite the heat.
NOAA is researching coral heat tolerance to help improve protection and restoration of reefs.
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A Nigerian court sentenced four men to death for attacking a Catholic church in Ondo state in 2022, killing 41 worshippers and injuring over 100 others. The men were also given 20-year prison sentences for being part of a terrorist group, while a fifth defendant was acquitted due to lack of evidence.
Key Facts
The attack happened at St Francis Catholic church in Owo during a Pentecost service in 2022.
Forty-one people were killed and more than 100 injured in the shooting and bombing.
Four men—Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, and Abdulhaleem Idris—were found guilty and sentenced to death.
They also received 20-year sentences for belonging to a terrorist group.
A fifth man, Momoh Otuho Abubakar, was acquitted for lack of evidence.
The judge said the evidence was strong and witnesses saw the attackers.
The death sentence requires the Nigerian president’s approval before it can be carried out.
The accused claimed they were tortured while in custody and plan to appeal the verdict.
Nigerian security challenges, including attacks on churches, have increased since the Owo attack.
President Donald Trump criticized Nigeria for not protecting Christians and the US conducted airstrikes against jihadist camps in Nigeria.
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Months after Iran’s government violently stopped anti-regime protests in December 2025 and January 2026, many families are still searching for missing loved ones. The crackdown caused thousands of deaths and detentions, and ongoing internet restrictions and a new war with the US and Israel have made it harder to find out what happened to detainees.
Key Facts
Anti-regime protests in Iran took place from December 2025 to January 2026.
The government used military weapons to suppress protests, killing thousands.
Many protesters and others remain missing or detained in prisons and juvenile centers.
Internet access was cut across Iran to restrict information during and after protests.
A US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28, 2026, worsening repression and communication difficulties.
Iranian families continue searching for missing relatives without official confirmation.
Human Rights groups report at least 6,488 confirmed protester deaths, with many more cases unverified.
Two protesters arrested in January were executed on June 1, accused of crimes against national security.
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Owain Rhys Davies, an actor known for roles in "Twin Peaks: The Return," "The OA," and Disney’s live-action "Alice in Wonderland" sequel, has died at the age of 44. His family shared the news of his sudden passing this week.
Key Facts
Owain Rhys Davies was an actor.
He appeared in the TV show "Twin Peaks: The Return."
He also acted in the series "The OA."
He was part of Disney’s live-action sequel to "Alice in Wonderland."
Davies died suddenly at the age of 44.
His family made the announcement about his death this week.
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Three men were seen on security video opening a manhole in Astoria, Queens, New York. They used an unknown tool to remove the manhole cover and then entered the sewer system. Residents want to know why the men went underground.
Key Facts
The incident happened on a Sunday in Astoria, Queens, New York.
Three men worked together to lift the manhole cover.
They used an unknown object or tool to open the manhole.
The men disappeared into the sewer system beneath the street.
Surveillance cameras recorded the event.
Local residents are curious and concerned about the reason for this action.
The identity and purpose of the men remain unknown.
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The United States is planning to restart funding for an international vaccine program that helps provide vaccines globally. This reverses a previous hold on the funds made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. due to concerns about vaccine safety.
Key Facts
The U.S. will likely resume financial support for a global vaccine alliance.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had paused the funding over vaccine safety worries.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department is taking back control of the funding decision.
The announcement came during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting.
The vaccine program focuses on humanitarian aid and global health.
The funding hold was a recent policy change now being reversed.
Resuming funding shows the U.S. commitment to global health partnerships.
This move may affect international cooperation on vaccines and disease prevention.
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