Israel’s parliament set an election date for October 27, and soon after, Israeli forces struck a funeral procession in Gaza, killing at least eight people. Between July 13 and 20, Israeli attacks killed at least 57 Palestinians, including children and women, raising concerns about possible violations of international laws during a week of heavy violence and destruction in Gaza.
Key Facts
Israel’s parliament dissolved itself and scheduled elections for October 27.
On July 17, an Israeli drone attacked a funeral outside Ahmad Yassin Mosque in Gaza, killing at least eight mourners.
Between July 13 and 20, at least 57 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks, including six children and eight women.
The UN human rights office warned that the attacks might violate international humanitarian law and could be war crimes.
Israel’s military carried out daily attacks, destroyed homes, and settlers attacked Palestinians during this period.
Some Israeli officials expressed satisfaction with the destruction and discussed establishing military-style settlements in northern Gaza.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening, with many households lacking sufficient drinking water and living near exposed sewage.
The “Yellow Line” controlled by Israel has expanded, forcing more families to flee their homes.
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At least 143 refugees and migrants died or went missing after a boat carrying them got stranded off the coast of Mauritania. The boat left from The Gambia and was found after 25 days, with 38 survivors and many bodies on board.
Key Facts
The boat left Bafuloto, The Gambia, with 160 people on board.
It was stranded for 25 days before reaching Nouadhibou port in Mauritania.
38 people survived, including two children who lost all their family members.
At least 143 people are dead or missing from the boat.
Mauritania’s coastguard reported 122 people missing.
The passengers were from countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
The route to the Canary Islands is very dangerous due to long distances and unsafe boats.
European Union funding supports crackdowns in Mauritania, reducing arrivals but pushing migrants to take longer and more dangerous routes.
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France will ban children under 15 from using social media starting September 1. This follows similar restrictions introduced by the UK and Australia, though some studies suggest such bans might not work because young people find ways to get around them.
Key Facts
France’s social media ban applies to children under 15 years old.
The ban starts on September 1.
The UK and Australia have made similar rules to restrict social media use for young people.
Research shows that young users may still find ways to use social media despite restrictions.
The effectiveness of these bans is debated among experts.
The law aims to protect children’s well-being online.
Social media platforms will need to enforce the age restrictions.
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South Korean prosecutors have asked for a one-year jail sentence and a fine for the owner of a Michelin two-star restaurant that used ants as a garnish on desserts. The ants are not approved for human consumption in South Korea, and health officials found the ants contained high levels of heavy metals. The court will decide the case in September.
Key Facts
The restaurant used about 49,000 ants over four years, mainly as a topping for sorbet.
Ants are not in the list of 10 insect species approved by South Korean law for eating; approved insects include grasshoppers and crickets.
The ants were imported from the US and Thailand.
Health authorities found the ants had up to 55 times more heavy metals than typical edible insects.
The owner said only about 60% of customers chose to eat the ants; others received alternative toppings.
Similar use of ants as food occurs in countries like Australia, Denmark, and the UK.
The restaurant holds two Michelin stars, a rating for excellent cooking and quality.
The court will announce its verdict on September 2.
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An Australian woman gave birth to identical quadruplet girls after a very rare natural pregnancy, with all four babies coming from one fertilized egg that split into four. The babies were born prematurely at 28 weeks and are now in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, while the mother is recovering well.
Key Facts
The mother, Jenitar Sau Na’amoana, is 34 years old and already has four children.
The quadruplets were born at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Queensland, Australia.
The pregnancy is extremely rare, with a chance of about 1 in 15 million for identical quadruplets conceived naturally.
The babies were born by cesarean section at 28 weeks and 4 days of pregnancy.
All four babies share one placenta, increasing health risks for the mother and babies.
The mother was monitored closely by a medical team from 10 weeks and hospitalized at 25 weeks.
The babies’ names are Emily, Harriet, Catherine, and Alexa, named after the doctor who cared for the mother.
Natural conception of any quadruplets is about 1 in 700,000, most quadruplets come from fertility treatments.
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The United States has carried out strikes on Iran for 11 nights in a row, aiming to reduce Iran's threats to commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump warned of more attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, while Iran and some Middle Eastern countries have responded with warnings and defensive actions.
Key Facts
The US Central Command said the strikes target Iran's military centers and infrastructure that threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran activated air defenses and reported explosions in several cities, including near its nuclear power plant.
President Trump said the US would soon attack an underground nuclear site called Pickaxe Mountain in Iran.
Iran warned any attack on this site would widen the conflict in the region and threaten US and allied interests.
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan intercepted drone and missile attacks linked to Iran.
Houthi rebels in Yemen, supported by Iran, threatened to block Saudi ports in the Red Sea, causing tankers to change routes.
The US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, but fighting resumed last week.
The ongoing conflict has cost the US about $37.5 billion, and the Defense Secretary asked Congress for more funding.
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Armed groups in northern Mali, including Tuareg separatists and an al-Qaeda-linked group, have started working together against the Malian military and its Russian allies. This cooperation makes it harder for the Malian government to control the conflict, especially after it ended peace talks and increased its military partnership with Russia.
Key Facts
At least 50 Malian soldiers were killed in an ambush near Anefis on July 18.
The attack was carried out by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
FLA seeks autonomy or independence for northern Mali, while JNIM wants Islamic law across the region.
These groups cooperate mainly because they share a common enemy, not because they have the same goals.
Cooperation allows them to combine resources and use local knowledge against the Malian army and Russian forces.
Mali’s military government stopped peace talks and asked the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping mission.
Russia’s Africa Corps supports the Malian military with combat forces and drones.
Coordinated attacks by armed groups have increased since April, putting more pressure on the Malian military.
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The Apollo 11 mission in 1969 was the first to land humans on the moon. While the three astronauts were famous, about 400,000 people worked behind the scenes to make the mission successful.
Key Facts
Apollo 11 landed the first humans on the moon in 1969.
Three astronauts were on the mission and received most of the attention.
Around 400,000 people worked behind the scenes to support the mission.
The work included engineers, technicians, scientists, and other staff.
This teamwork was essential for the success of landing on the moon.
Randall Pinkston reported on an important behind-the-scenes person in 2009.
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A fast-moving wildfire in southern France burned 1,700 hectares and forced nearly 400 people to evacuate their homes. Around 1,000 firefighters and several aircraft worked to control the fire amid very dry weather and extreme fire risk.
Key Facts
The wildfire occurred in the Var region, between Marseille and Nice.
Flames spread rapidly, moving down Gros Bessillon mountain quicker than expected.
Evacuations were ordered in villages including Cotignac, Montfort-sur-Argens, Correns, Ponteves, and Sillans-la-Cascade.
Nearly 1,000 firefighters fought the fire using over 100 water and fire retardant drops from planes and helicopters.
More than 2,300 homes experienced power outages because of the fire.
The dry weather and ongoing heatwaves increased the risk and severity of wildfires in France this year.
Since the start of 2026, nearly 40,000 hectares have burned in France, which is more than the entire previous year.
Other fires were active in the French Alps and on the island of Corsica around the same time.
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Nicolás Maduro, the ousted president of Venezuela, has a court hearing in New York federal court on Wednesday regarding charges of drug trafficking, terrorism, and weapons offenses. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, deny the charges and have been held in custody in the U.S. since their capture earlier this year.
Key Facts
Maduro faces U.S. charges including narco-terrorism, cocaine trafficking, and illegal weapons offenses.
He and his wife were captured and brought to the U.S. by American forces.
Both have pleaded not guilty and Maduro calls himself a “prisoner of war.”
The charges involve using Venezuela’s government to help traffic cocaine into the U.S. with rebel groups from Colombia.
They are held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn awaiting trial.
The Wednesday hearing is a pretrial status conference to discuss legal procedures, not the trial itself.
Defense lawyers claim Maduro should have immunity as a head of state and that his capture was illegal.
Prosecutors plan to reject these claims and prepare for trial; no trial date is set yet.
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The FDA is investigating an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness, but some earlier positive test results were incorrect. Dr. David Acheson, a medical and food safety expert, explained the situation on CBS News.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by eating food or water contaminated with a parasite called Cyclospora.
The FDA is trying to find the source of the recent outbreak.
Some early test results for Cyclospora infection were false positives, meaning they showed the illness when it was not really there.
False positives can complicate and delay the investigation.
Dr. David Acheson has over 40 years of experience in medicine and food safety.
He discussed the implications of the false positive test results on CBS News.
The FDA continues its efforts to identify the cause and prevent further cases.
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The United States has carried out air strikes on Iran for 11 nights in a row. The Pentagon has asked for more money to support these military actions, as explained by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Key Facts
The U.S. has conducted strikes on Iran for 11 consecutive nights.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about the Pentagon’s request for additional funding.
The strikes are part of ongoing military operations involving the U.S. and Iran.
CBS News and the Washington Post have reported on these developments.
Experts are analyzing the potential impact and reasons behind the continued strikes.
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The US military confirmed a third service member died in an Iranian missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan. The total number of US deaths related to the ongoing conflict now stands at 18, with renewed fighting continuing between the US and Iran in the Middle East.
Key Facts
Sgt Angel S Rampersad, 28, from New York, is identified as the third US soldier killed in the attack on a base in Jordan.
Two other soldiers killed in the Jordan attack are 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, from Hawaii, and Pvt Isabella Gonzales, 19, from Texas.
The soldiers died from Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, marking the first US troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the war started.
Sgt Rampersad and Pvt Gonzales served in the 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command based in Germany.
Another US soldier, Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton from North Carolina, died in Iraq during a controlled detonation of an Iranian drone.
The US and Iran have exchanged multiple strikes for ten days, affecting US allies and killing civilians in the region.
Iranian officials report at least 50 killed and over 500 wounded from recent US strikes.
The conflict has damaged civilian infrastructure and impacted workers in Gulf countries, Israel, and Lebanon.
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President Trump mentioned Pickaxe Mountain in Iran as a possible target for a military strike. This location is said to be a secure site involved in nuclear activities.
Key Facts
Pickaxe Mountain is in Iran.
It is described as a secure facility.
The site is reportedly connected to nuclear work.
President Trump threatened to attack this location.
The information was discussed in a CBS News report.
Aaron MacLean, a national security analyst, provided details on the topic.
The mention occurred on a Tuesday.
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President Donald Trump has approved a new nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia that may allow the kingdom to enrich uranium for its civilian nuclear program. The deal could last 30 years and involve U.S. companies in Saudi Arabia’s nuclear development.
Key Facts
The agreement was approved by President Trump but has not yet been formally announced.
It could allow Saudi Arabia to build a uranium enrichment facility.
The deal is expected to include involvement of U.S. firms in developing the nuclear program.
Uranium enrichment can be used for civilian energy but also increases the risk of nuclear weapons development.
Both President Trump and President Biden previously sought nuclear agreements with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has a defense pact with Pakistan, which has offered to share its nuclear program if needed.
Experts say uranium enrichment is an important step toward weapons but not the only step required.
The United Arab Emirates signed a U.S. nuclear deal without uranium enrichment, seen as a safer model.
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Weeks after two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela, many families are still looking through the ruins of their homes. The earthquakes measured magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, causing over 5,200 deaths and leaving more than 50,000 people missing according to the United Nations.
Key Facts
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
The disasters happened weeks ago but people still search through destroyed homes.
At least 5,278 people have died because of the earthquakes.
The United Nations reports more than 50,000 people are missing.
Families continue to deal with the damage and loss caused by the earthquakes.
Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing in the affected areas.
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Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister of the UK, said he is not currently planning to raise the tax-free personal allowance, which has been frozen at £12,570 since 2021. He acknowledges the issue but explained that changes would be costly and difficult, given the country’s financial situation.
Key Facts
The tax-free personal allowance in the UK is £12,570 and has not increased since 2021.
More people are paying income tax because the threshold has stayed the same while earnings have risen.
Burnham heard concerns about the personal allowance during recent campaigning but says changes are not part of his initial cost of living plan.
Increasing the personal allowance could cost the government around £8.5 to £9 billion a year.
Burnham’s government has promised not to raise income tax rates in the 2024 manifesto.
A new VAT cut on household electricity bills will start on 1 October, saving households about £45 a year.
The cost of this electricity bill VAT cut will be partly covered by scrapping a digital ID program, though some disagreement exists on funding details.
Additional measures to help with cost of living, like lowering bus fares outside London, are expected soon.
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Jenitar Na'amoana and her husband had an unusual pregnancy, giving birth to four identical daughters. The babies were born early but healthy, and their case is very rare because all four share the same DNA from one fertilized egg that split four ways.
Key Facts
Jenitar Na'amoana and her husband have four identical daughters born naturally.
The babies were born at 28 weeks and 4 days.
The pregnancy is extremely rare, happening about once in 15 million births.
All four daughters share identical DNA because one fertilized egg split into four embryos.
The hospital doctor said the birth of four healthy babies is incredible.
A family in Dallas also had naturally conceived identical quadruplets in 2020.
The Dallas mother advised parents of quadruplets to keep a sleep schedule and for the mother to take good care of herself.
The Na'amoana family hopes their daughters grow up healthy and reach normal milestones.
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A former U.S. State Department official, Jennifer Gavito, expressed doubts about Lebanon's plan to create "pilot zones." She believes these zones may allow Hezbollah to keep its armed activities. She also thinks Israel will probably not fully leave Lebanon because of ongoing security issues.
Key Facts
Jennifer Gavito worked in the Biden administration’s State Department.
Lebanon is planning to set up special "pilot zones."
Gavito says these zones could help Hezbollah continue its armed resistance.
Hezbollah is a political and militant group in Lebanon.
Gavito doubts Israel will completely withdraw troops from Lebanon.
She expects Israel to keep testing boundaries in Lebanon for security reasons.
The situation involves ongoing tensions and security concerns between Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah.
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An Australian woman gave birth to identical quadruplets, a very rare event that happens about once in fifteen million births. The quadruplets were naturally conceived, meaning without fertility treatments.
Key Facts
The woman is from Australia.
She had four babies who are identical quadruplets.
Identical quadruplets happen naturally about once in fifteen million births.
The babies share the same genetic makeup because they come from one fertilized egg that split multiple times.
This birth is considered a very rare medical event.
The story was reported by Mark Strassmann for CBS News.
The quadruplets were born without the use of fertility treatments.
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