The United States has carried out airstrikes on transport infrastructure in Iran, including bridges, between July 17 and 18. Despite escalating military actions, the White House says it still wants to pursue diplomacy with Iran.
Key Facts
US airstrikes targeted transport facilities in Iran, such as bridges.
These strikes took place overnight between July 17 and 18, 2026.
The attacks mark increased conflict after fighting resumed near the Strait of Hormuz over a week ago.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway important for global shipping.
The White House maintains that diplomatic talks with Iran remain possible.
The conflict involves exchange of strikes between the US and Iran.
President Donald Trump has threatened further strikes on bridges and power plants in Iran.
The situation follows ongoing tensions and military actions in the Middle East.
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Ukraine's defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, was removed from his position after six months in office. His efforts to reform the military caused conflicts with the top general, and his dismissal has triggered protests across Ukraine.
Key Facts
Mykhailo Fedorov served as Ukraine’s defence minister for six months.
He tried to modernize and reform Ukraine’s military.
Fedorov clashed with the top general, whom he criticized as outdated and slow.
His disagreements with military leadership led to his removal from the post.
The dismissal caused protests in many parts of Ukraine.
The situation reflects tensions within Ukraine’s military leadership during ongoing conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelensky approved the defence minister’s dismissal.
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Germany has called again for the European Union to send a force to Lebanon to replace United Nations peacekeepers who plan to leave by the end of the year. The goal is to prevent a security gap in southern Lebanon while allowing Israeli troops to withdraw and stopping Hezbollah from regaining control.
Key Facts
The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) will end after 48 years by the end of 2024.
Germany wants the EU to create a new mission to avoid a security vacuum in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL leaves.
The proposed EU force would help Lebanon’s military and support Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, continues attacks across the border into northern Israel.
Israel currently controls some areas in southern Lebanon due to ongoing conflict with Hezbollah.
There are ongoing US-backed peace talks between Lebanon and Israel to reduce hostilities.
Lebanon has agreed to the idea of an EU-led mission to support security in the region.
The new EU mission would likely focus on training and support, not direct peacekeeping on the ground like UNIFIL.
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A major wildfire has been burning for three days in the Cairngorms area of Scotland, spreading over nearly four miles and causing evacuations of homes, businesses, and campsites. Firefighters and volunteers continue to work to contain the fire, which has burned about 300 hectares of land, while authorities warn people to avoid the area and stay safe.
Key Facts
The wildfire started near Ryvoan Bothy close to Nethy Bridge on Wednesday morning.
By Thursday afternoon, the fire had spread across 3.7 miles (6 km).
Evacuations include homes, businesses, ski resorts, and campsites in Glenmore Forest Park.
Firefighters have worked through the night and continue to fight the fire with six engines and specialized equipment.
About 300 hectares (740 acres) of land have burned so far.
Volunteers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) have helped using vehicles and hoses.
There are no reports of injuries or casualties.
Authorities warn people not to visit the affected areas and keep following safety advice due to ongoing risk.
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Energy prices began rising after Iran increased attacks near the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, while the U.S. military struck Iranian targets. China’s large oil reserves and reduced imports helped keep global oil prices from rising too quickly despite the conflict.
Key Facts
Iran attacked ships near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil shipments.
The U.S. military resumed daily strikes on Iranian targets amid rising tensions.
Despite disruption, global oil prices did not spike to expected historic levels.
China cut its crude oil imports by 41.3% compared to the previous year.
China used its strategic petroleum reserves, which hold about 1.2 billion barrels of crude oil.
China is the world’s largest crude oil buyer, accounting for 20% of global traded oil last year.
Nearly half of China’s oil comes from the Middle East, including discounted oil from Iran.
China’s use of reserves and lower imports helped stabilize the global oil market during the conflict.
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Mel Brennan worked inside Concacaf during a time of corruption led by Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer. He helped investigators uncover wrongdoing and believes that football has survived past corruption scandals and will continue to do so under current leadership.
Key Facts
Mel Brennan was an executive at Concacaf during the corrupt leadership of Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer.
Brennan became a secret source for FBI and journalists investigating football corruption.
Concacaf offices were located in Trump Tower, where some officials lived or worked close to Donald Trump’s residence.
FBI raids in 2015 targeted Concacaf and Fifa officials due to widespread corruption.
Brennan says the corrupt leaders were opportunists, not criminals, and feared exposure.
Concacaf was seen as less competent than other football organizations, making corruption easier to detect.
Football has survived previous corruption scandals involving Sepp Blatter, Warner, and Blazer, and Brennan believes it will survive current issues with Gianni Infantino.
Media sometimes avoided deep investigation to maintain access, contributing to the problem.
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Chinese officials and experts see President Trump’s approach to U.S.-China relations as more cooperative compared to prior policies. They note that reducing trade conflicts and pausing arms sales to Taiwan have eased tensions and helped China’s position globally, while raising concerns about impacts on U.S. power and influence.
Key Facts
After a rocky start, U.S.-China relations have improved during President Trump’s second term, according to Chinese officials and academics.
Trump’s approach focused on transactions rather than ideological or technology competition.
Trump reduced tariffs and relaxed export controls on advanced AI chips to China.
Arms shipments to Taiwan were paused, shifting military balance toward Beijing.
China mourns the U.S. withdrawal from some international diplomacy groups, where China may gain influence.
Chinese experts see Trump’s policies as beneficial to China’s global standing.
Trump’s policies may weaken U.S. alliances and hurt long-term American competitiveness.
The easing of tensions offers potential benefits but also risks reducing U.S. global power.
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The US military carried out airstrikes in southern Iran for the sixth night in a row. They destroyed an important bridge and a maritime control tower, causing at least seven deaths.
Key Facts
The US military targeted southern Iran with airstrikes.
These strikes have continued for six nights in a row.
A key bridge was destroyed during the attacks.
A maritime control tower was also destroyed.
At least seven people were killed in the strikes.
The strikes are part of ongoing military actions involving the US and Iran.
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Severe thunderstorms with large hailstones have hit parts of Europe during a record heatwave, causing flooding and damage in countries like France, Germany, and Poland. Meanwhile, heavy monsoon rains in Bangladesh have caused deadly floods and landslides, affecting about a million people.
Key Facts
Large hailstones up to 7 cm in diameter fell in southeastern France, damaging cars, buildings, and vineyards.
Flooding and strong winds caused road and tram closures in Wrocław, Poland, with warnings issued to stay indoors.
Storms in France were expected to bring 30-50 mm of rain, with some places receiving more.
In Bangladesh, monsoon rains caused flooding and landslides that killed at least 53 people, including schoolchildren and a teacher.
About one million people in Bangladesh have been affected, with many living in government shelters.
Cox’s Bazar refugee settlement in Bangladesh was evacuated due to flooding.
Chattogram district recorded 412.3 mm of rain in 24 hours, the highest July rainfall in 42 years.
Bangladesh’s low-lying geography and many rivers increase its risk of flooding during heavy rains.
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Wildfires in northern Minnesota and Canada are producing heavy smoke that is affecting air quality across the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, as well as parts of Canada. Experts link the increase in wildfire smoke to human-caused climate change, which is making fires more frequent and severe.
Key Facts
Wildfire smoke has created poor air quality warnings in cities like New York, Chicago, and Toronto.
The smoke comes from large fires burning in northern Minnesota and Canada.
Climate change, caused by human activity, is increasing both the number and intensity of wildfires.
From 2020 to 2024, exposure to harmful wildfire smoke in the U.S. was four times higher per person than from 2006 to 2019.
The fires have destroyed homes and harmed local tourism industries.
Hot, dry weather is helping the fires continue and raises the chance of new fires starting.
Smoke may spread to other areas, potentially moving southward in the coming week.
Experts suggest that more people will need to adjust to “smoke season” in addition to traditional “fire season.”
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China denied President Donald Trump's claim that it stole 220 million American voter records to influence the 2020 U.S. election. The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the accusation baseless and urged the U.S. to stop blaming China and focus on improving their relationship.
Key Facts
President Trump accused China of illegally taking sensitive voter data from the 2020 U.S. election.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the U.S. accusations are without facts and meant to harm China’s reputation.
A 2021 U.S. intelligence report found no evidence that China influenced the 2020 election results.
China said it has no interest in and has never interfered with U.S. elections.
China criticized the U.S. for spying on other countries and harming cybersecurity globally.
President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in May but made little progress on major issues.
Trump invited Xi to visit Washington in September to continue talks.
The U.S. and Chinese governments had not responded to requests for comments after the news story broke.
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Iran launched missile and drone strikes on several countries in the Gulf region as the United States continued air attacks on Iran for a sixth night. Countries including Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, and Syria took defensive measures amid rising tensions between the US and Iran.
Key Facts
Iran fired missiles and drones at Gulf states and other nearby countries overnight.
The US conducted air strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure, including telecommunications, railways, and a bridge in Hormozgan province.
Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, and Syria activated defenses against these Iranian attacks.
Qatar raised its security threat level after explosions in the capital Doha but later returned to normal.
Iranian forces claimed to have attacked US military sites in Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Syria.
US coalition forces shot down eight explosive drones over Erbil in northern Iraq without casualties.
Jordan intercepted and destroyed three Iranian missiles entering its airspace with no reported injuries.
China and Pakistan urged both sides to stop fighting and return to diplomatic talks to maintain the recent tentative ceasefire.
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A Viking re-enactor is getting ready to walk 100 miles while wearing traditional Viking clothes. This event will demonstrate how Vikings might have traveled long distances in their time.
Key Facts
A person who re-enacts history is dressing like a Viking.
The re-enactor plans to walk 100 miles in Viking-style clothing.
Viking clothing includes garments typical of the Viking Age (roughly 8th to 11th centuries).
The walk aims to show how Vikings could move in their everyday clothes.
This event highlights historical accuracy and physical endurance.
The re-enactor’s journey attracts interest in Viking culture and history.
The event was reported very recently, within the last day.
No advanced technology or modern equipment is involved in the walk.
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The United States has carried out attacks on several targets in southern Iran for six nights in a row. In response, Iran launched missile and drone strikes on US bases and neighboring Gulf countries, causing casualties and damage. Both sides continue to escalate tensions despite recent talks aimed at ending the conflict.
Key Facts
The US attacked sites in southern Iran, including six bridges and a railway station.
Iran reported at least eight people killed and several injured in the US attacks.
The strikes damaged power lines, causing power outages in parts of southern Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched missile and drone attacks on US bases and Gulf countries including Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, and Syria.
Qatar intercepted missiles, but one child was injured by shrapnel during the attacks.
Iran claimed to have destroyed radar installations in Oman and struck missile defense systems in Kuwait.
Jordan intercepted three Iranian missiles with no casualties reported.
Iranian officials said the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway, will be affected by the ongoing conflict.
US Vice President JD Vance mentioned Israeli officials’ attempts to influence US opinion on the Iran conflict during a podcast.
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A 39-year-old man named Vahid Aberi was charged with helping Iran’s intelligence service. He was arrested in Birmingham after a police investigation into national security, and he will appear in court soon.
Key Facts
Vahid Aberi is 39 years old and from Liverpool.
He was arrested in Birmingham by Counter Terrorism Police.
The arrest followed searches at homes in Birmingham and Liverpool.
Aberi has been charged under the National Security Act 2023.
The charge is for assisting a foreign intelligence service.
Police say there is no direct threat to the public or any community.
The case is part of increased national security efforts.
Aberi will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
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The US military carried out strikes in southern Iran, hitting an airport, a railway station, and bridges, resulting in deaths and injuries. These attacks are part of an ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which also includes a US blockade of Iranian ports and missile attacks on nearby countries.
Key Facts
US strikes targeted Iranshahr airport, Bandar Abbas railway station, and bridges in Hormozgan province, killing at least seven people.
The US military boarded a ship in the Gulf of Oman as part of a renewed blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran and the US have exchanged attacks following the collapse of a ceasefire agreed last month.
Iran reported 38 deaths and over 400 injuries from recent US attacks, including women and children.
Missile attacks associated with Iran targeted Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait in response to US strikes.
The conflict is disrupting shipping traffic in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices rose amid rising tensions but later dropped slightly.
A children’s cancer hospital in Ahvaz was evacuated after nearby US airstrikes.
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Andy Burnham will officially become the new leader of the UK Labour Party at a special conference today. He will promise to lead a government focused on Labour party values and tackle important issues like social care when he becomes prime minister next Monday.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is announced as the new Labour party leader at a special conference today.
Burnham will say his government will be "unashamedly Labour" in priorities and decisions.
He plans to focus on fixing major neglected political issues.
Burnham will be formally appointed prime minister and start forming his government on Monday.
One key priority for Burnham is improving social care, inspired by his personal experience with his father's Alzheimer's.
Burnham recently engaged directly with the public through a "Ask Andy Anything" event in Cardiff.
Other Labour leaders like Lucy Powell and Shabana Mahmood are also speaking at the conference.
Burnham will give another speech later today in the south-east of England.
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More than 130 people, mostly children, tested HIV-positive in an outbreak linked to a government hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Investigations found serious mistakes in infection control at the hospital, leading to the spread of HIV among patients.
Key Facts
The outbreak occurred at Kulsum Bai Valika (KBV) Hospital in Karachi, run by the Sindh Employees’ Social Security Institution (SESSI).
Over 10,500 people near the hospital were tested; 120 were found HIV-positive.
A second nearby SESSI facility reported 10 additional HIV cases.
The outbreak started around October 2025 but was noticed by the public in November 2025.
Internal reports pointed to poor infection prevention, wrong use of protective gear, and mishandling of single-use syringes.
Thirty-seven hospital staff received official notices and may face criminal charges or job loss.
The government denies syringe reuse caused the outbreak, stating they use syringes that cannot be reused.
Sindh has had previous big HIV outbreaks and is part of a region with one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics.
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The Mexican Ministry of Health has warned travelers to the United States about an outbreak of Cyclosporiasis, a parasite infection that causes diarrhea. There are 1,645 confirmed cases across 34 U.S. states, with many cases in the Midwest, and the source of contamination is still unknown.
Key Facts
Mexico’s health agency issued a travel warning about Cyclosporiasis for those visiting the U.S.
The outbreak has reached 1,645 confirmed cases in 34 states as of May 2026.
The hardest-hit states are Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a tiny parasite that infects the intestines.
The parasite spreads through food or water contaminated with infected feces.
Symptoms include severe watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and fatigue.
The parasite can survive up to two weeks in the environment, often contaminating fresh produce.
Health authorities have not found the exact source of this outbreak yet.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the challenges facing the global order and urged middle powers like Canada to take a more active role in world affairs. Canada is recognizing the need to be more independent, especially in response to tensions and trade threats from the United States under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Key Facts
In early 2026, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke at the Davos summit about changes in global politics.
Carney said the world is in a "state of rupture," with traditional international rules breaking down.
Canada shares a border with the U.S., and tensions increased after President Trump’s controversial "51st state" comment about Canada.
Tariffs and trade issues from the U.S. have pushed Canada to rethink its reliance on America.
Canada is rich in natural resources, minerals, and has strong researchers and innovators.
Historically seen as a peaceful and cooperative country, Canada is now considering boosting its military strength ("hard power").
Some experts say Canada’s cautious culture may slow its progress compared to countries like China, India, and the U.S.
Canadian leaders see a chance to become not just an energy power but also a leader in intellectual and technological fields.
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