The US and Iran have ended a June ceasefire agreement and are engaged in ongoing military attacks against each other and allied Gulf nations. Although both countries have expressed interest in diplomacy, tensions remain high amid economic and military pressures, with Pakistan urging both sides to resume talks.
Key Facts
The US and Iran have stopped following a ceasefire deal signed in June and are exchanging attacks.
The United States recently reimposed sanctions on Iran after briefly lifting some as part of the June agreement.
Iran’s economy has weakened due to long-term US sanctions and the ongoing conflict, with lower oil exports and a lower currency value.
Iran’s military resources, including missiles and drones, have been significantly reduced from earlier US-Israeli strikes.
The US claims to have damaged Iran’s nuclear sites during a 12-day war in 2025.
Pakistan is acting as a mediator and urges both nations to choose dialogue over violence.
President Donald Trump says Iran wants peace but is not trusted by the US.
Iranian officials describe the conflict as an “existential war” and are hesitant to return to the agreement.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Keir Starmer, the outgoing UK prime minister, made his final visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he received the "Order of Freedom" award. He will soon be succeeded by Burnham, who will become leader of the UK Labour party and then prime minister.
Key Facts
Ukraine gave Keir Starmer the "Order of Freedom" honor on July 19, 2026.
This award ceremony happened during Starmer’s last visit as UK prime minister to Kyiv.
Burnham will become leader of the UK Labour party on July 17, 2026.
Burnham will take over as UK prime minister on July 20, 2026.
Starmer is the UK’s fifth prime minister since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The article looks back on Starmer’s policies toward Ukraine during his time in office.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Andy Burnham, the likely next UK prime minister, has shown some efforts to address climate change during his time as Manchester mayor, including setting a carbon net zero goal and promoting electric buses. However, his plans on climate remain unclear, especially on issues like North Sea oil drilling, as the UK faces serious challenges from heatwaves, wildfires, and economic impacts linked to the climate crisis.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham set a goal for Greater Manchester to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2038.
Burnham expanded and started electrifying bus services in Manchester and supported home insulation programs.
Heatwaves in the UK this year have caused around 2,700 deaths and significant damage to crops.
The UK economy has lost at least £2.4 billion due to reduced productivity from heatwaves.
Burnham has opposed fracking in northern England but is uncertain about more North Sea oil drilling.
In 2022, Burnham paused a clean air zone plan that would limit polluting cars in Manchester due to opposition and cost concerns.
Some UK politicians blame climate policies for high energy prices, but many economists say renewable energy is cheaper and better for the economy.
Burnham is considering Ed Miliband, a strong climate action supporter, for chancellor, but rivals say the post may go to Shabana Mahmood instead.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
King Charles III visited a brewery in Dorset and poured a pint of beer. He mentioned England’s loss to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final by saying it might be a good day to "drown a few sorrows," and Queen Camilla was with him.
Key Facts
King Charles III was at the Hall & Woodhouse Badger Brewery in Blandford, Dorset.
He poured a pint of beer during the visit.
He referred to England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.
The King said, “Maybe it's a good day to drown a few sorrows.”
Queen Camilla was present and smiling during this moment.
The event happened shortly after England’s World Cup defeat.
This moment was shared through news updates under UK Royal Family topics.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The plan led by President Trump’s Board of Peace to rebuild Gaza has been greatly reduced from a large-scale recovery project to a small pilot program in southern Gaza. Progress on this pilot camp, meant to include Palestinian administration and a small international security force, is slow and may not begin until after Israeli elections in late October. Tensions remain high, with ongoing Israeli military actions and uncertainty about future peace efforts.
Key Facts
President Trump’s Board of Peace initially planned a full reconstruction of Gaza but now focuses on a small pilot project near Rafah in southern Gaza.
The pilot camp would house a tiny number of displaced Palestinians and have local administration, police, and an international security force.
An International Stabilization Force, including Moroccan and Kosovar officers, is forming in Israel, with logistical support near the Gaza-Israel border.
No construction has started yet on the pilot camp or support base, and major progress is unlikely before Israel’s elections on 27 October.
Since the ceasefire in October, Israel has frequently violated it, blocking reconstruction and aid flows into Gaza.
The Israeli army currently controls over 60% of Gaza territory and has created a buffer zone beyond.
There is concern that Israel could launch a new large-scale attack on Gaza before the elections.
Hamas and Israeli-backed groups discussed disarmament in Egyptian talks, but the situation remains fragile.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Hal Williams, an actor known for his roles in the TV shows Sanford & Son and 227, died at age 91 at his home in California on July 15. He began acting in his 30s after working as a postal worker and corrections officer. Williams was admired for portraying caring Black fathers on television and helped open doors for Black talent in the entertainment industry.
Key Facts
Hal Williams died on July 15 at age 91.
He is best known for playing Officer "Smitty" Smith on Sanford & Son and Lester Jenkins on 227.
Sanford & Son aired from 1962 to 1974 and was adapted from a British TV series.
Williams started acting after moving to Los Angeles in 1968 but kept working at the post office during Sanford & Son filming.
He appeared in several movies, including Private Benjamin and The Rookie, and TV shows like The Waltons and Knots Landing.
Williams was praised for representing loving, present Black fathers on TV.
He noted the growth of Black producers, writers, and directors in recent years.
Hal Williams encouraged young actors to be patient and prepared for rejection in their careers.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Sudan’s ongoing war, which began in April 2023, has caused major changes in the country’s population. The conflict has killed many people, displaced millions inside Sudan and to nearby countries, and worsened poverty and unemployment. The government plans to improve population policies and help displaced people as part of recovery efforts.
Key Facts
The war in Sudan started in April 2023 between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
About 200,000 people have died because of the conflict.
Over 11 million people have been displaced by the war, making it the largest humanitarian crisis in the world according to the UN.
Before the war, Sudan’s population was about 44.4 million in 2020 and expected to grow to more than 64 million by 2035.
The war has increased poverty, caused loss of income for many citizens, and damaged basic services and the job market.
Sudan has a very young population, with 70% under the age of 30, which could help economic growth if challenges are addressed.
Many young people face difficulties like poor access to education and few jobs, problems made worse by the war.
The government, through the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, aims to link population policies with social support, refugee return, and rebuilding human resources.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The UK government has canceled plans to stop paying volunteer coastguard rescue officers (CROs) for their work after facing strong criticism. The current hourly pay arrangement will continue, and officials said they want to treat CROs with respect and keep them in the service.
Key Facts
The UK government planned to stop paying CROs hourly wages starting in September.
CROs volunteer but are currently paid when they respond to emergencies.
Plans changed after many CROs and their union strongly opposed the pay cut.
A court decision in January confirmed CROs are workers because they receive pay.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) had aimed to change CROs’ status to volunteers by removing pay.
The maritime minister, Keir Mather, announced the pay cut plan is canceled.
The MCA chief, Virginia McVea’s position is uncertain due to criticism over the issue.
The government wants to ensure CROs continue to have respect and support for their work.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lebanon and Israel have finished a round of talks mediated by the United States in Rome about Israeli forces leaving southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Syria said it stopped a weapons shipment intended for Hezbollah at its border with Iraq, following President Donald Trump's suggestion that Syria might interfere against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Key Facts
Lebanon and Israel held talks in Rome about Israeli forces withdrawing from southern Lebanon.
These talks were arranged with help from the United States.
Syria reported that it intercepted weapons, including missiles, meant for Hezbollah near its border with Iraq.
Hezbollah is an armed group based in Lebanon.
President Donald Trump proposed the idea of Syria acting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The situation is part of ongoing tensions and conflicts in the Middle East region.
The talks aim to reduce military presence and conflict near the Lebanon-Israel border.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thousands of Ukrainians are protesting President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to remove Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was credited with improving Ukraine’s military efforts against Russia. The protests took place in several cities, with demonstrators asking for Fedorov to be reinstated and expressing frustration with the government.
Key Facts
President Zelensky removed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who had served only six months.
Fedorov was known for his work in modernizing Ukraine’s military and using technology like drones.
Some lawmakers oppose the appointment of Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko as Fedorov’s replacement.
Zelensky also nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister to manage energy issues during wartime.
Protests occurred in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Odesa, with people chanting for Fedorov’s return.
Protesters and some officials say the dismissal adds to public frustration and fatigue from the war.
Fedorov helped with military reforms and efforts against Russian forces in Crimea and elsewhere.
This is not the first time Zelensky has faced protests over government decisions during the war.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The article discusses the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran, focusing on U.S. missile strikes in Iran under President Donald Trump's orders. It explains how Iran’s military group, the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), benefits from a long-lasting conflict by strengthening its control and influence, despite the hardships on ordinary Iranians.
Key Facts
President Trump has carried out missile strikes in Iran for several days and threatened to target bridges and power plants.
The IRGC is Iran’s powerful military group that controls much of the country’s political and military decisions.
A prolonged conflict helps the IRGC maintain tight control over Iran by justifying strict social rules and sidelining civilian government parts.
Iran uses missiles and drones to threaten the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
Disrupting the Strait of Hormuz can affect the global economy and pressure countries allied with the U.S.
If Iran controls the Strait, it could make economic deals with other countries despite U.S. sanctions.
China is interested in Iran retaining control of the Strait because it affects Middle Eastern energy exports to China.
Military strikes by the U.S. are unlikely to cause regime change in Iran without a long, difficult ground war, which President Trump would find politically and practically hard to pursue.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
An Italian court found 32 people guilty for their roles in the 2018 collapse of the Genoa bridge, which killed 43 people. The bridge fell during a summer storm, causing vehicles to drop onto warehouses and a riverbed below.
Key Facts
The Genoa bridge collapse happened on August 14, 2018.
A 200-meter section of the bridge fell during a summer storm.
Forty-three people died in the accident.
Vehicles on the bridge plunged to the ground beneath.
An Italian court tried the case and found 32 defendants guilty.
The bridge was located in the port city of Genoa, Italy.
The collapse caused damage to warehouses and the riverbed under the bridge.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes for six days near the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipping. This fighting follows recent attacks and a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, despite efforts by Pakistan to mediate peace talks.
Key Facts
The conflict involves the U.S. and Iran attacking each other near the Strait of Hormuz.
The fight has lasted at least six days as of July 16, 2026.
The U.S. has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran reports that U.S. attacks have killed at least 30 people since the fighting resumed.
A preliminary peace deal was signed about a month ago but has not stopped the fighting.
Pakistan has called for renewed talks to resolve the conflict, but these have not happened.
The Strait of Hormuz is important because many ships carrying oil pass through it.
The strikes continue despite efforts to avoid war and keep the peace deal in place.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Italian courts sentenced several officials from the motorway company Autostrade per l'Italia for the collapse of Genoa’s Morandi bridge in 2018, which killed 43 people. The former CEO, Giovanni Castellucci, received 12 years in prison, and other executives also got prison terms for failing to maintain the bridge.
Key Facts
The Morandi bridge collapsed in August 2018 during a rainstorm, killing 43 people.
Giovanni Castellucci, former CEO of Autostrade per l'Italia, was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Castellucci is already serving six years for a different road disaster in 2013.
Another top official, Michele Donferri Mitelli, received 11 years in prison.
Paolo Berti, the former deputy chief of the motorway operator, got five and a half years in prison.
A total of 57 defendants faced trial for failing to maintain the bridge.
Prosecutors asked for a combined 400 years in prison for the accused.
Defendants denied wrongdoing, blaming the collapse on the bridge’s original design and concrete-covered cables.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
MI5 was criticized by a watchdog for being dishonest about its relationship with a neo-Nazi informant known as agent X. The informant misused his role by threatening his girlfriend violently, and MI5 initially gave unclear or false information to the courts and the regulator about his status.
Key Facts
MI5 lied about its connection to a neo-Nazi informant called agent X.
Agent X used his informant role to violently threaten his girlfriend, Beth.
MI5 initially told courts and the watchdog it could "neither confirm nor deny" having a relationship with agent X.
The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (Ipco) found this misleading and said it broke trust and accountability.
Agent X was recruited by MI5 before 2019 and is believed to have left the UK.
MI5 tried to stop a BBC report by claiming agent X was pretending to be an extremist on their orders.
A BBC investigation exposed agent X’s violent and abusive behavior, including threats toward Beth.
MI5 later admitted mistakes and apologized after being forced to retract false statements.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Human Rights Watch’s leader, Philippe Bolopion, said the Trump administration is attacking human rights inside the United States and globally. He criticized the Fort Bliss detention center in Texas for poor treatment of migrants and warned that U.S. actions threaten the global system based on rules and laws.
Key Facts
Philippe Bolopion is the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.
He described the Fort Bliss ICE detention center as a "human rights catastrophe" with reports of migrants being mistreated by masked agents.
One detainee at Fort Bliss died under suspicious circumstances.
Human Rights Watch calls for the detention center to be closed and investigated.
The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court.
Senator Marco Rubio aims to dismantle the International Criminal Court as part of U.S. foreign policy.
The U.S. has cut funding for the United Nations and left the Human Rights Council.
Bolopion warned these actions could encourage dictators worldwide to ignore international laws and human rights.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Argentina's football team showed a banner saying "The Falklands are Argentinian" after beating England in the World Cup semifinal, highlighting the ongoing dispute over the Falkland Islands. The islands are British territory but claimed by Argentina, which has caused tension between the two countries since the 19th century and led to a war in 1982.
Key Facts
Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the World Cup semifinal.
The Argentinian players displayed a banner saying "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" on the field.
FIFA may punish Argentina’s team for political messages banned in stadiums.
The Falkland Islands have been controlled by the UK since 1833 but claimed by Argentina.
In 1982, Argentina and the UK fought a 74-day war over the islands, losing 655 Argentinians and 255 British soldiers.
Argentina’s government, led by President Javier Milei, raised the dispute again during the recent World Cup.
Argentinian Vice President Victoria Villarruel publicly supported Argentina’s claim to the islands.
The Falklands conflict remains an important and emotional issue for many Argentinians.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A strong storm with heavy rain and strong winds hit the Ural region in Russia. Over 440 homes in the Sverdlovsk area were flooded, leading to evacuations.
Key Facts
The Ural region of Russia experienced heavy rain and strong winds.
More than 440 homes were flooded in the Sverdlovsk region.
Authorities evacuated people from the affected areas.
The storm caused significant damage to homes.
The flooding impacted the daily lives of many residents.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
GPS data has shown the movements of the boat where 18-year-old Nolan Wells was last seen before he disappeared near Horn Island, off Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Wells's parents and their lawyers say they have received promises that the investigation into his death will be thorough.
Key Facts
Nolan Wells, 18 years old, disappeared on July 4 during a boat trip.
The trip was to Horn Island, which is about 10 miles from Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
GPS data tracked the boat's movements before and after Wells went missing.
Wells's parents and their legal team are involved in the case.
They have been assured that the investigation will be complete and careful.
The news was reported by CBS News and covered by correspondent Skyler Henry.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Iran after a short ceasefire ended. These attacks targeted Iranian military sites including command centers and air defense systems.
Key Facts
The U.S. strikes occurred early Thursday and ended at 9 p.m. EST.
The timing corresponded to about 4:30 a.m. in Iran.
The strikes targeted Iranian command centers.
Air defense sites in Iran were also hit.
The military action followed the collapse of a brief ceasefire.
The U.S. Central Command, known as Centcom, announced the conclusion of the strikes.
These actions mark a rise in tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
