President Donald Trump changed his earlier decision to charge a 20% toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He also stated that the U.S. military does not need to be present in Iran.
Key Facts
President Trump initially planned to impose a 20% toll on ships going through the Strait of Hormuz.
He later reversed that decision and will not charge the toll.
President Trump said the U.S. military does not need to remain inside Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global oil shipments.
This change in policy was reported on by CBS News correspondents.
The update affects U.S. strategy and presence in the Middle East.
The announcements were made publicly on a Tuesday.
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Anne Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, was killed in a targeted attack at her home in Devon. Police arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of murder and possible terrorism, but they have not yet declared the incident terrorist-related and are still investigating the motive.
Key Facts
Anne Widdecombe was found dead at her home on July 9 with serious injuries.
A 28-year-old white British man was arrested in Rotherham in connection with the murder.
Police have a warrant under the Terrorism Act to hold the suspect for up to seven days.
The attack is described as "targeted," but the exact motive is still unknown.
Counter Terrorism Police have taken over the investigation from local police.
The suspect was not known to the government's Prevent anti-terrorism program.
Police are investigating whether the suspect targeted other Reform UK figures or if there is foreign involvement.
Officials urge the public not to speculate on the motive while the investigation continues.
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The UK government is advising people to take small steps to be ready for possible national emergencies like bad weather, cyber-attacks, or disruptions in water and power. Officials say threats such as climate change, wars, and advanced technology increase the risk of serious problems. The government plans public campaigns and large defense exercises to improve readiness.
Key Facts
The UK warns of risks from climate change, cyber-attacks, and severe weather causing significant service disruptions.
New threats added to the UK’s national risk register include foreign interference, cyber-attacks on infrastructure, and technology outages.
Artificial intelligence could help criminals launch more complex cyber-attacks.
Research shows the UK lags behind European countries in stockpiling essential supplies like medicines.
June 2024 heatwave in England and Wales caused an estimated 440 deaths per day during the highest temperatures.
The government will launch a public campaign to help people prepare for emergencies affecting power, water, phone signals, and food access.
In 2027, the UK will hold its biggest-ever national home defense exercise to practice responses against hybrid threats, including attacks from Russia.
Officials stress that Russia poses a direct threat to the UK homeland, not just NATO’s eastern borders.
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The US military used explosive drone boats in combat for the first time, attacking an Iranian midget submarine and naval base on July 12. These unmanned boats, called Corsair drones, can operate by themselves and carry explosives to targets at sea.
Key Facts
The attack targeted an Iranian midget submarine and a ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base.
The drones were autonomous surface vessels developed by Saronic Technologies in Austin, Texas.
Each drone boat is about 24 feet long and can carry up to 1,000 pounds for over 1,000 nautical miles at speeds over 34 knots.
The drones can navigate, patrol, and manage power without direct human control.
This was the first time US forces used drone boats in combat operations, according to US Central Command.
Earlier, the US used a similar drone boat to rescue two helicopter pilots off Oman in June 2026.
Explosive drone boats have been used by other groups like Iran-backed Houthis since 2017 and Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Ukraine’s drone boats have helped limit Russia’s naval operations in the Black Sea through attacks on warships and support vessels.
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Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, known for safely landing a plane on the Hudson River, shared that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. He made this announcement publicly to inform people about his health condition.
Key Facts
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger is famous for the emergency landing on the Hudson River.
He safely landed a commercial airplane on the river, saving many lives.
He has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's is a brain condition that affects memory and thinking.
Sullenberger chose to share this news publicly.
His announcement raises awareness about Alzheimer's disease.
The diagnosis does not change his past achievements as a pilot.
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Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot famous for safely landing a plane on New York’s Hudson River in 2009, announced he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He shared his hopes that speaking openly about the illness will encourage others affected by it.
Key Facts
Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger is 75 years old.
He safely landed US Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River after engine failure caused by birds in 2009.
All 155 people on board the plane survived the emergency landing.
Sullenberger was recently diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Alzheimer’s disease affects about 7.4 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, but treatments can help reduce symptoms and slow the disease.
Sullenberger hopes sharing his diagnosis will help others with the disease speak up.
He previously served in the U.S. Air Force and worked as an aviation expert and corporate speaker.
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A US-Russian space mission launched from Kazakhstan to the International Space Station, showing ongoing collaboration despite tensions over the Ukraine conflict. The crew includes two Russian astronauts and one American astronaut, planning to stay on the ISS for eight months.
Key Facts
The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft launched from Baikonur (a Russian-operated spaceport in Kazakhstan).
The crew consists of Russian astronauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina and NASA astronaut Anil Menon.
This mission marks Anil Menon’s first space flight and the second for Dubrov and Kikina.
The crew will join other astronauts from NASA, Roscosmos, and the European Space Agency already aboard the ISS.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch and met with Russian space agency Roscosmos leaders.
US-Russian cooperation in space continues despite political tensions caused by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Plans for wider US-Russia space cooperation, like Russian participation in NASA’s Artemis moon program, have been canceled.
Russia is increasing cooperation with China in space projects due to Western sanctions and shifting alliances.
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President Donald Trump proposed charging a 20 percent fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz but reversed the idea the next day. The proposed fee faced criticism because it could violate international maritime law and significantly increase shipping costs.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump suggested a 20 percent fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
He quickly withdrew the proposal and instead promised large trade and investment deals with Gulf countries.
Shipping organizations said the fee would disrupt established international maritime rules.
The Baltic and International Maritime Council estimated fees could cost up to $27 million per trip for large oil tankers.
Container ships might face fees between $65 million and $260 million per voyage.
The fees would likely increase consumer prices rather than just affect shipping companies.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) protects the right of ships to pass through international waterways without fees.
The U.S., while not officially a UNCLOS member, usually follows its guidelines.
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Kent Carpenter, a 73-year-old American marine biologist, was shot and killed by three masked men who broke into his home in the Philippines. His companion was injured during the attack, and police are investigating the incident and searching for the attackers.
Key Facts
Kent Carpenter was a marine biologist and professor at Old Dominion University since 1996.
He was killed in his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental province, Philippines, on Sunday night.
Three masked men forced their way inside, shot Carpenter in the head, and stole a laptop, cash, and a backpack.
Carpenter’s Filipina companion was injured and is receiving medical treatment.
Police are investigating the motive and identifying the suspects.
Carpenter’s research focused on marine life in the Philippines and promoting conservation in the Coral Triangle.
He had been working on an extended research assignment in the Philippines and planned to retire soon.
Local universities and biodiversity centers praised Carpenter’s contributions to marine science and conservation.
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Albanian protests have been ongoing against a large resort project backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, which involves building on protected natural areas. Pop star Dua Lipa expressed support for the protests, highlighting concerns about the government changing environmental laws without public input.
Key Facts
The resort project in Albania is worth €1.6 billion and involves construction on Sazan Island and the Zvërnec peninsula, both nature reserves.
Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and Ivanka Trump are investors in the development.
The Albanian parliament changed laws in 2024 to allow building in environmentally protected zones, sparking controversy.
Protests in Tirana have lasted 45 days, with people opposing the environmental impact and lack of transparency.
Dua Lipa, who has Albanian roots, called the protests “inspiring” and criticized the government’s law changes without public consultation.
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama supports the project, calling it a major investment and benefit for the country.
Environmental groups warn that damage has already occurred and are demanding accountability for harm done.
The EU has expressed concern that environmental issues could affect Albania’s hopes to join the bloc by 2030.
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Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that social media companies can be held responsible for some harmful posts, leading to removal of hate speech and false political content. In response, President Donald Trump proposed a 25% tariff on Brazilian imports, criticizing Brazil’s actions as unfair to US tech companies. Meanwhile, Brazil has developed a public payment system called Pix, aiming to reduce dependence on foreign-controlled financial networks.
Key Facts
Brazil’s Supreme Court decided social media companies like X (Elon Musk) and Meta (Mark Zuckerberg) must remove hate speech and anti-democratic content.
President Donald Trump wants to tax 25% more on Brazilian goods because of this decision affecting US tech firms.
Flávio Bolsonaro, son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, asked the US to delay tariffs until Brazil’s October elections.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, current Brazilian president, promotes national control over digital platforms and financial systems.
Brazil's Pix system allows instant money transfers, avoiding networks controlled by US companies like Visa and Mastercard.
The Pix system had $6.7 trillion in transaction volume in 2025 and is designed to protect Brazil from external financial influence or sanctions.
Some experts see Brazil’s digital infrastructure as a way to support national development in technology while avoiding US surveillance.
The conflict highlights a tension between Brazil’s desire for sovereignty and the US framing those actions as unfair trade practices.
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Nine of the ten bestselling novels in the UK this week feature the murder of a woman as a central story point. This trend reflects a long history in fiction where female victims appear often, especially in crime and thriller books.
Key Facts
Nine out of the ten bestselling fiction paperbacks in the UK involve the murder of a woman.
These books cover different genres like historical fiction, domestic noir (crime stories set in homes), and police procedurals.
The only bestseller without this theme is a book about letter writing called The Correspondent.
The trend is not new; stories about murdered women have been popular in literature for many years.
Crime novels featuring female victims are very popular, especially among women readers.
Experts say these stories reflect real fears women have about violence from people they know.
Some writers see reading crime fiction by women as a feminist act.
True crime stories and novels can help people learn how to stay safe or understand dangerous behavior.
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Cuba’s entire power grid failed for the third time in less than 10 days, leaving around 10 million people without electricity. The island’s electricity system is struggling due to an economic crisis, fuel shortages caused by U.S. sanctions, and old infrastructure.
Key Facts
Cuba experienced its third nationwide blackout in under 10 days, starting around 11 a.m. local time.
Approximately 10 million people were affected by the power outage.
The blackouts follow an ongoing economic crisis worsened by a U.S. fuel blockade.
The U.S. imposed sanctions on Cuba after removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who used to supply Cuba with subsidized oil.
Cuba produces only about 40% of the oil it needs and depends heavily on imports.
The blockades aim to pressure Cuba’s government to hold democratic elections and release political prisoners.
Cuban authorities blame the blackouts on the U.S. fuel blockade; the U.S. blames Cuba’s ageing and poorly maintained power system.
Protests erupted in Havana recently, with residents demanding the government restore electricity.
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President Donald Trump met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House to strengthen economic ties and increase Iraq’s oil production. Both leaders said U.S. troops would fully withdraw from Iraq by September 30, and al-Zaidi promised to disarm armed groups in Iraq.
Key Facts
President Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met in Washington, D.C.
They pledged to deepen economic relations and boost Iraq’s oil output.
Trump called al-Zaidi a “fantastic champion” and promised many deals to create jobs and increase oil exports.
Al-Zaidi described the visit as a shift from military to economic relations between the U.S. and Iraq.
Both leaders said the remaining U.S. forces in Iraq, fewer than 2,000, would leave by September 30.
Al-Zaidi pledged to disarm armed paramilitary groups across Iraq by the same date.
Iraq seeks a larger share of oil production quotas from the OPEC group because of war damage and economic needs.
The visit took place amid ongoing tensions in the region related to the U.S.-Iran conflict and its effects on Iraq’s economy.
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Oil prices rose sharply due to increased tensions between the United States and Iran. U.S. benchmark crude oil prices went up from about $72 to $79 per barrel in a few days, while international crude prices increased as well.
Key Facts
U.S. benchmark WTI crude oil price increased to about $79 per barrel on Tuesday.
Prices were around $74 per barrel at the start of trading on Monday and about $72 late last week.
International benchmark Brent crude oil price also rose to about $85 per barrel.
The price rise is linked to renewed tensions or conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Higher oil prices can affect global markets and energy costs.
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The UK government will start a public campaign to help people prepare for emergencies like cyber-attacks or severe weather. They will also run a large national exercise next year to test the country’s readiness for serious emergencies, including digital and physical threats.
Key Facts
The government plans a public awareness campaign on preparing for food or water shortages triggered by cyber-attacks or bad weather.
A large UK home defense exercise, called Operation Albiston Shadow, will take place next year to test emergency preparedness.
The UK’s national risk register now includes seven new risks such as cyber-attacks on water supplies and failures in digital systems.
The risk of disruption to Russian gas supplies has been removed from the risk register due to reduced UK reliance on Russian gas.
The register lists 95 risks in total, highlighting threats like pandemics, extreme weather, AI developments, and geopolitical conflicts.
The government is updating classified crisis plans, known as 'war books', for the first time since 2004.
Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones said everyone can help keep themselves safe by preparing for emergencies.
The campaign will build on existing government resources available on its website.
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President Donald Trump welcomed Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the White House. Trump aims to help American companies get special access to Iraq’s large oil reserves and supported al-Zaidi’s appointment after Iraq’s recent elections.
Key Facts
President Trump officially welcomed Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House.
Trump wants U.S. companies to have priority access to Iraq’s oil resources.
Trump advocated for al-Zaidi’s appointment after Iraq’s last parliamentary elections.
Al-Zaidi is newly elected as Iraq’s prime minister.
The focus is on strengthening U.S.-Iraq ties, especially in the energy sector.
The article mentions Trump opposed the initial front-runner before al-Zaidi was chosen.
Iraq holds significant oil reserves that attract international interest.
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President Donald Trump is using military pressure and negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route controlled by Iran. Experts say fully securing the strait likely requires a large U.S. military presence, including ground troops, because Iran has strong defenses and can disrupt traffic with missiles and drones.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway where 20% of the world’s oil passes through.
Iran controls the strait and has hidden weapons like drones and missiles to target ships.
President Trump has used airstrikes, naval blockades, negotiations, and threats against Iran.
Experts say reopening the strait safely would need tens of thousands of U.S. troops on Iranian soil.
Iran’s military is decentralized and prepared for asymmetric warfare, making airstrikes less effective.
U.S. ground forces would face high costs and risks, including possible insurgent attacks.
There have been recent clashes between U.S. and Iranian forces, increasing tensions.
Rising oil prices and disrupted shipping are political issues for President Trump ahead of midterm elections.
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Sudan is facing a serious hunger crisis caused by ongoing fighting, cuts in aid funding, and higher costs due to global disruptions linked to the Iran war. Over 19 million people in Sudan are suffering from severe food shortages, and the World Food Programme warns that the situation is worsening.
Key Facts
More than 100,000 people in Sudan are in famine-like conditions, the most severe level of hunger.
Around 19.5 million people in Sudan face high levels of food insecurity.
Fighting around the city of el-Obeid has raised fears of a siege similar to what happened in el-Fasher, where civilians faced violence and blocked aid.
Violence has recently eased near el-Obeid, allowing hopes to increase food aid to 250,000 people there.
Renewed conflict in Darfur has forced the closure of a key border crossing, threatening aid delivery.
The World Food Programme has cut food aid from 5 million to 3.5 million people due to a $646 million funding shortfall.
Rising diesel prices and fertilizer shortages linked to the Gulf conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are making farming and irrigation more costly and difficult in Sudan.
The ongoing war between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces is in its fourth year and has displaced millions while damaging the country’s agriculture and food access.
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A wildfire has burned about 2,050 hectares of the Fontainebleau forest near Paris, forcing around 1,000 people to leave their homes. Firefighters are working to control the fire, which was started intentionally, while locals express shock at the loss of their beloved forest.
Key Facts
The fire began on Sunday and has affected 2,050 hectares of the Fontainebleau forest southeast of Paris.
About 1,000 people were evacuated due to the wildfire.
Around 850 firefighters, along with planes and helicopters, are fighting the fire.
Officials expect to control the fire by Tuesday, but heat, wind, and dry weather have made it difficult.
Two people, including an 18-year-old with no criminal history, were arrested on suspicion of arson (starting the fire on purpose).
The area is popular with hikers and climbers and attracts millions of visitors worldwide.
Local residents described anxiety and uncertainty about what to save in case they must leave their homes.
The fire occurs during France’s third major heatwave in under two months.
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