Ukraine is facing problems recruiting men to fight in the war against Russia, which has lasted for almost five years. Many people are scared or unwilling to join, leading to violent attacks on recruitment officers trying to force men to join the army.
Key Facts
Ukraine has struggled to get men to join the military during its long conflict with Russia.
Many people do not want to fight because they fear the dangers or the war’s unclear end.
Recruitment officers have been attacked more than 600 times, with increasing violence.
In April, some recruiters were stabbed, and one person died from the attack.
Recently in Lviv, about 200 protesters blocked officers trying to arrest a man avoiding the draft and damaged their car.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke out against violence toward soldiers and recruitment officers.
The rise in violence is creating problems for Ukraine’s efforts to keep its army staffed.
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Edward Stourton, a broadcaster and journalist known for his work with BBC Radio 4 and other news programs, has died at age 68. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and passed away surrounded by family.
Key Facts
Edward Stourton was a presenter on several BBC programs, including Today, The World At One, and Sunday.
He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and began his career with Channel 4 News in 1982.
Stourton worked as a Washington correspondent and diplomatic editor, covering major global events such as the Gulf War and the end of the Soviet Union.
He joined the BBC in 1988, left for ITN, then returned to the BBC in 1993.
He hosted his own Radio 4 phone-in show called Call Ed Stourton and contributed to programs like Panorama.
Stourton wrote several books, including a memoir in 2023 where he disclosed his cancer diagnosis.
His last book, Made in America (2025), discusses US history and the presidency of Donald Trump.
He is survived by his wife Fiona and four children.
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A gay couple in the UK struggled with expensive and slow surrogacy options at home, leading them to seek surrogacy services in Mexico where the process is commercial and legal for same-sex parents. They found the arrangement in Mexico more transparent and straightforward, but concerns remain about surrogacy laws and protections for women there.
Key Facts
Gay couples in the UK face long waiting times and high costs for surrogacy, with some attempts failing.
UK surrogacy is altruistic, meaning surrogates only get expenses paid, not fees.
Mexico legalized surrogacy for same-sex parents in 2021 and allows commercial surrogacy in some states.
Commercial surrogacy in Mexico means surrogates and egg donors are paid, making the process clearer for all involved.
The couple uses a UK-based, queer-founded agency that works only in Mexican states with surrogacy-friendly laws.
Some Mexican states ban surrogacy, and there are worries about the exploitation of poor women and lack of regulation.
Mexico City is one of the states with legal frameworks aiming to protect both surrogates and intended parents.
The Mexican agency emphasizes working with human rights experts to ensure ethical surrogacy practices.
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The United States conducted its ninth night of attacks on Iran after a US soldier died in Iraq during the safe removal of an unexploded Iranian drone bomb. The US targeted Iranian military sites to reduce Iran’s ability to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded by shooting down a US drone and launching missile attacks on US bases in Jordan.
Key Facts
A US soldier was killed in northern Iraq while handling an unexploded Iranian drone.
The US launched attacks on Iranian military command centers, air defenses, missile sites, and communication networks.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two oil tankers exploded in the Strait of Hormuz and blocked the waterway.
Iran shot down an MQ-9 US drone over western Iran’s Kermanshah province.
IRGC fired ballistic missiles at US aircraft and facilities in Jordan, claiming damage to planes and hangars.
The US embassy in Bahrain warned of possible Iranian threats in central Manama and advised caution.
The UK maritime agency reported a ship caught fire near Oman, but the cause is unclear.
President Trump said the attacks honor American soldiers killed and emphasized preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
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Andy Burnham is becoming the new prime minister of the UK, replacing Keir Starmer. Burnham plans to introduce a 10-year plan for the country and has shared some ideas about tax policy.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is set to become the UK prime minister today.
This is the sixth change of prime minister in just over ten years.
Burnham will deliver a speech from Downing Street after being appointed by the king.
He intends to present a "10-year plan" addressing the country's long-term challenges.
Burnham denied being a simple tax raiser and suggested he might reverse a personal tax allowance freeze.
The personal allowance freeze means people pay more tax over time as their pay rises.
Keir Starmer will resign and give a final speech before Burnham takes over.
Burnham will appoint his cabinet later today.
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Singapore’s acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Faishal Ibrahim, resigned after online and in-person interactions with a woman led to mutual harassment allegations. The police are investigating the case, but no criminal charges will be filed; however, Faishal stepped down from both his government and party roles due to concerns about his conduct.
Key Facts
Faishal Ibrahim was Singapore’s acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and a member of parliament since 2006.
He resigned from his cabinet position and the ruling People’s Action Party following allegations linked to his interactions with a woman.
Most interactions happened through online messages, with some meetings at public events.
Both Faishal and the woman accused each other of harassment, and police are investigating.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said no criminal offences were committed, but Faishal’s actions did not meet expected political standards.
Faishal stated there was no physical relationship and admitted to poor judgment in managing the interactions.
The ruling People’s Action Party has faced several scandals in recent years affecting its reputation.
Prime Minister Wong expressed sadness over Faishal’s departure from politics.
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The United States, under President Donald Trump, has been conducting daily military strikes against Iran for nine consecutive nights. These attacks target Iranian military sites, aiming to reduce Iran's power in the Strait of Hormuz, while nearby countries like Kuwait and Bahrain face drone attacks and air raid sirens.
Key Facts
President Trump announced major military operations against Iran starting February 28, 2026.
U.S. and Israeli forces have targeted Iranian military, government, and infrastructure locations.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran started in June to try to end the conflict, but fighting continues.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key area of conflict, important for global shipping routes.
Kuwait reported attacks by Iranian drones, and Bahrain sounded air raid sirens multiple times.
U.S. fighter jets, including F-16s from Germany and F-35s from the U.K., were sent to the Middle East.
There are about 50,000 U.S. troops currently deployed in the Middle East.
Seventeen U.S. service members have died in the conflict so far; one was killed recently handling unexploded Iranian drone ordnance.
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President Donald Trump was asked to leave the stage during Spain’s trophy presentation after they won the FIFA World Cup in New Jersey. Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time to become the new world champions.
Key Facts
Spain won the FIFA World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.
The winning goal was scored by Ferran Torres.
Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez was sent off (received a red card) during the match.
The final took place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
President Trump was on stage during the trophy presentation but was then asked to leave by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Other leaders present included Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The moment when President Trump left the stage was noticed and discussed by broadcasters.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino tried to guide President Donald Trump away from the stage during the ceremony when Spain’s team won the World Cup on Sunday. Spain celebrated their victory by lifting the World Cup trophy.
Key Facts
FIFA President Gianni Infantino was involved in the event.
The event was the World Cup trophy ceremony.
Spain’s national football team won the World Cup.
The trophy was lifted on Sunday.
President Donald Trump was present on the stage during the ceremony.
Infantino attempted to move President Trump away from the stage at that moment.
The incident occurred during the World Cup celebration.
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Police in New Delhi used batons to stop protesters from marching to the Indian parliament. The protesters, supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party, are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to problems and leaks related to major university exams.
Key Facts
Riot police charged at protesters near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi during a banned march to parliament.
The protest is related to alleged irregularities, such as leaked question papers and technical issues in university exams.
Protesters want the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, to resign.
The Cockroach Janta Party, linked to the protest, gained support after a Supreme Court chief justice compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches.”
Two members of the party planned to meet a senior minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet to discuss demands.
A prominent activist, Sonam Wangchuk, ended a 20-day hunger strike supporting the movement after being hospitalized.
The government imposed internet restrictions in parts of central New Delhi and said the protest was unauthorized.
The protest highlights wider concerns about job shortages and the education system despite India’s economic growth.
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A British YouTuber and musician known as Yung Filly is on trial in Western Australia for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman after one of his concerts. He denies the charges, which include rape, assault, and choking. The court heard the incident happened in a hotel room following a performance in Perth.
Key Facts
Yung Filly’s real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, and he is 30 years old.
He faces six counts of sexually penetrating a woman without consent, as well as assault charges.
The alleged victim is a 20-year-old female fan who attended Yung Filly’s gig in Perth.
The court was told they initially had consensual sex, but the situation turned violent.
Barrientos allegedly bit and slapped the woman before raping her multiple times.
The woman suffered bruises and bite marks during the incident.
The incident took place in a hotel room after the concert, where the woman was taken under false pretenses.
Barrientos denies all charges and the trial is ongoing.
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President Donald Trump said the US launched strikes against Iran to honor three American soldiers killed recently. The US targeted military sites and communication networks in Iran to reduce attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran reported retaliatory actions and drone interceptions in the region.
Key Facts
The US launched strikes on Iran for the ninth night in a row, hitting military and communication targets.
President Trump said the attacks were in honor of three US soldiers killed in Jordan and Iraq.
Iran responded with a "surprise attack" in Syria and targeted US aircraft in Jordan.
Iranian drones were intercepted by Kuwait’s armed forces.
Iranian state media reported explosions in several cities and two oil tankers exploding near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the southern route of the strait is unsafe due to US strikes and promised further retaliation.
A US service member was killed by an Iranian attack in northern Iraq recently.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is open to diplomacy but emphasized the importance of keeping the international waterway free from Iran’s control.
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The seaside town of Donaghadee in Northern Ireland has become popular with tourists due to the BBC police drama Hope Street, which has been filmed there since 2021. Visitors from places like America and Australia come to see the filming locations, helping local businesses and raising the town's profile.
Key Facts
Donaghadee is the real town behind the fictional "Port Devine" in Hope Street.
Hope Street filming started in 2021 and has drawn more visitors to Donaghadee.
Tourists recognize filming spots such as the police station and local houses.
Some locals have appeared as extras in the show.
A local charity shop sells costumes from Hope Street.
A feature film related to the series will release this autumn.
Local businesses, such as cafes and pubs, have seen more customers due to the show.
Visitors come from countries including the United States and Australia to tour filming sites.
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Brazilian security forces have destroyed an illegal gold-mining settlement called Vila Cururu in the Amazon to stop severe damage to Indigenous lands. The mining caused large-scale forest destruction and pollution in protected Indigenous areas near the Bolivia border.
Key Facts
Vila Cururu was an illegal gold-mining camp with many miners damaging forests and land.
Brazilian troops attacked and destroyed the settlement in March 2024 as part of a government effort.
Sararé Indigenous territory lost about 4% of its forests, equivalent to almost half the size of Manhattan, between January 2024 and August 2025.
The damage includes poisoned water contaminated with mercury used in the mining process.
The government’s crackdown began after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to power in January 2023.
Miners moved to Sararé to escape enforcement actions in other Indigenous areas.
Rising global gold prices and political instability, including the influence of President Donald Trump’s policies, have driven illegal mining activity.
Around 200 Indigenous Nambiquara people live in the Sararé territory affected by the mining.
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The US military conducted air strikes in Iran for the ninth night in a row. These strikes targeted Iran’s military command centers, air defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, coastal surveillance, and communication networks.
Key Facts
The US military carried out air strikes in Iran for nine consecutive nights.
Targets included military command centers and air defense systems.
The strikes also hit missile and drone launch sites.
Coastal surveillance facilities were attacked as well.
Communication networks used by Iran’s military were targeted.
The information about the strikes was provided by CENTCOM (US Central Command).
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Birdwatchers and scientists are concerned that artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to create or change photos of rare birds. These edited images can mislead citizen science platforms that track where animals live and could harm important wildlife research.
Key Facts
Birdwatchers often celebrate spotting birds in unusual places, which helps scientists track species.
AI tools can quickly create fake bird images or change real photos by removing or adding details.
Researchers found hundreds of AI-altered bird photos on popular platforms like iNaturalist and Macaulay Library.
Some edited images mix features from different bird species, causing mistaken sightings.
One example showed a red-winged blackbird wrongly reported in Brazil due to AI-enhanced editing.
Citizen science relies on accurate photos from the public to study animal habitats and changes caused by climate.
Platforms have flagged only a small number of images as AI-edited, but the true problem size is unknown.
Scientists ask birdwatchers to limit using AI when editing photos to protect the quality of wildlife data.
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Wang Jibing, a food delivery rider in China, has won the Lu Xun Literary Prize for his poetry collection inspired by the challenges delivery workers face. Despite the award, Wang plans to keep working as a delivery rider until he turns 60.
Key Facts
Wang Jibing began working as a food delivery rider around 2019.
His poetry collection "Low Flight" won the Lu Xun Literary Prize, a top Chinese literary award.
The prize is named after Lu Xun, a famous 20th-century Chinese writer.
Wang's poems focus on the daily struggles of delivery riders in China's gig economy.
He became popular on social media after his 2022 poem "Man in a Hurry" went viral.
Wang continued to work various jobs before delivery riding and left school early due to financial difficulties.
He does not plan to quit his delivery job despite winning the award, citing love for the work and its benefits.
The award highlights a growing recognition of blue-collar workers as writers in China.
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Andy Burnham will become the new British Prime Minister on Monday, replacing Keir Starmer who resigned last month. Burnham faces many challenges including a weak economy, high government debt, rising welfare costs, and increasing migrant arrivals, while aiming to restore public trust and give more power to regional areas.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham will be Britain’s seventh prime minister in ten years.
He takes over from Keir Starmer, who resigned after two years in office.
Burnham was asked by King Charles III to form the new government.
His priorities include improving government trust, managing the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting economic growth.
Burnham is known as the former mayor of Greater Manchester and has a reputation as the "King of the North."
Challenges include a slow economy, high borrowing costs, growing welfare expenses, and migration issues.
The unstable situation in the US-Iran conflict and President Donald Trump’s unpredictable actions may affect his leadership.
Burnham aims to decentralize power and change the political system to better serve ordinary people.
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Andy Burnham has been asked by King Charles III to become the new prime minister of the United Kingdom. He takes over from Keir Starmer, who resigned, and will face challenges like a weak economy, high government debt, and growing pressure from a rival anti-immigration party.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is set to become the UK prime minister on Monday, 20 July 2026.
He was invited by King Charles III to form a new government.
Burnham replaces Keir Starmer, who resigned after two years as prime minister.
Burnham is a former mayor of Greater Manchester and recently returned to Parliament.
Major issues Burnham faces include a slow economy, high borrowing costs, a rising welfare bill, and irregular migrants arriving by small boats.
There is political pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which opposes immigration.
Burnham plans to address government confidence, regional powers, and cost-of-living problems.
The US-Iran war and the unpredictable behavior of US President Donald Trump may affect the UK economy during Burnham’s time in office.
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Andy Burnham will become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister on Monday after winning the Labour Party leadership following Keir Starmer’s resignation. Burnham, known as the “King of the North,” has a background as mayor of Greater Manchester and will face challenges such as the sluggish economy and high living costs.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham won the Labour leadership and will become the UK’s 59th prime minister.
He will officially take office after King Charles III invites him to form a government.
Burnham served as mayor of Greater Manchester and earned the nickname “King of the North.”
He returned to Parliament recently, after nearly ten years away.
Burnham will deliver his first speech as prime minister at 10 Downing Street on Monday.
He will quickly begin appointing his Cabinet, including key ministers like the chancellor and foreign secretary.
The transition in the UK is fast, with no inauguration or parliamentary vote required.
Burnham’s government may soon put Thames Water under temporary public control to improve the company.
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