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Last year, about half a million Russians declared bankruptcy as the country’s banks face growing risks linked to the war in Ukraine. Russian banks have issued more risky loans, partly to support the war and borrowers, but this has increased financial problems and the chance of more defaults.
Key Facts
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development lowered its growth forecast for 2026 from 1.3% to 0.4% due to war impacts.
Over 500,000 Russians declared bankruptcy last year, a rise of nearly one-third from the previous year.
Russian banks issued more risky loans recently, including to individuals and companies linked to defense.
About 10% of corporate loans in Russia are considered doubtful or at risk of default.
Many Russians took three or more loans simultaneously, encouraged by state-backed credit programs.
Overdue corporate loans amount to roughly 7 trillion roubles ($91 billion), about 3% of Russia’s GDP.
The state is expected to support banks by keeping interest payments current on defense-related loans.
New sanctions planned by the EU may further strain Russian banks and their financial situation.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan briefly held President Donald Trump’s arm and guided him during a welcome ceremony at a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7, 2026. This short moment sparked debate about Trump’s health and leadership but can also be seen as a normal part of protocol during formal arrivals.
Key Facts
The event happened during the NATO summit arrival ceremony at Etimesgut Air Base in Ankara, Turkey.
Erdoğan took President Trump’s arm to help guide him into position on the red carpet.
The interaction was captured on video and quickly spread online, drawing mixed reactions.
Some people saw it as a usual diplomatic gesture related to ceremony staging and protocol.
Others interpreted it as a sign of concern about Trump’s age and cognitive sharpness.
The U.S. State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol manages the exact timing and positioning of leaders during such events, often requiring physical guidance.
The moment came amid larger political issues at the summit, including tensions over Greenland and disputes with European allies.
The White House defended President Trump’s health and energy, calling him very sharp and hardworking.
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President Donald Trump said the temporary peace deal between the U.S. and Iran is over. He called dealing with Iran a waste of time as tensions increased after recent military strikes and attacks in the region.
Key Facts
President Trump said the ceasefire agreement with Iran is "over."
He described Iran negatively and said he does not want to spend time negotiating with them.
The comments were made during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
The U.S. recently launched military strikes on Iran in response to attacks on tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran responded with strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, increasing tension in the region.
The ceasefire had been agreed upon in April and renewed in a memorandum on June 17.
Trump said his negotiating team can talk, but he thinks it is a waste of time.
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Marine Le Pen has been convicted but continues her campaign for the French presidency. Different newspapers report mixed views on her legal case and political future, with some seeing risks for democracy and others noting her ongoing support among voters.
Key Facts
Marine Le Pen was convicted but is appealing the decision and still running for president.
French newspapers describe her as a "political animal" who remains in control despite the conviction.
Some papers say the conviction is lenient, while others say it is serious.
There are concerns about the impact of her leadership on French democracy.
International media mention worries about the rise of far-right politics in France and Europe.
Turkey deported a Russian anti-war activist, Ariadna Litvinova, back to Russia, where she was detained.
Research shows that men’s average testosterone levels have dropped by half in 50 years, signaling a male fertility crisis.
Causes for low testosterone include obesity, diabetes, and environmental factors.
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Funeral events for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have started in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf, with thousands of mourners attending. Iraq declared a public holiday for the ceremonies, which are part of a series of funerals held in Iran and neighboring countries after Khamenei was killed in a strike on February 28.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a strike by the US and Israel on February 28.
Funeral ceremonies began in Najaf, Iraq, with thousands attending and the city declaring a public holiday.
Khamenei’s remains were received in Najaf by Iraqi officials and Iranian representatives, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Khamenei’s eldest son.
Najaf is the third holiest city for Shia Muslims and hosts large religious gatherings regularly.
Khamenei’s burial is planned for Thursday in his hometown of Mashhad, Iran.
His son Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded him as Supreme Leader, has not appeared publicly and is reportedly wounded.
After Najaf, the coffin will go to Karbala for further procession at important Shia shrines.
Iranian and Iraqi leaders emphasized the close spiritual and political ties between the two Shia-majority countries during the ceremonies.
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The UK government plans to charge asylum seekers a fixed fee of about £10,000 to repay the cost of support they receive during their application process. People like Frank, a Nigerian asylum seeker living rough in London, fear the repayment will be too expensive and push many into hiding.
Key Facts
Frank arrived in the UK in 2019 and is now seeking asylum because of safety concerns in Nigeria.
He is currently homeless and works part-time under restricted conditions while waiting for a decision.
The UK’s new Immigration and Asylum Bill requires some asylum seekers to repay £10,000 toward accommodation and support.
Repayment applies to adults who earn above a certain financial threshold.
Full repayment must be made before they can apply for settlement in the UK.
The government says asylum support is both a right and a responsibility.
Some asylum seekers fear the repayment will force them into hiding or poverty.
Community members suggest alternatives like community service instead of large repayments.
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The Philippines is strengthening its military and alliances to push back against China's actions in the South China Sea. Despite China rejecting a 2016 international court ruling against its claims, the Philippines plans to increase its presence in disputed areas and work with allies such as the United States and Japan to resist Chinese advances.
Key Facts
In 2016, an international court ruled against China's broad claims in the South China Sea, a decision China rejected.
China and the Philippines have ongoing disputes over small islands and waters the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippines plans to build a stronger military presence to stop China's "creeping advance" in its exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines is strengthening alliances with countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
China took control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 but recently removed a temporary structure after Philippine pushback.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed confidence in U.S. defense support despite global tensions.
The Chinese embassy has accused the Philippines of provocations and encourages resolving disputes through dialogue.
Teodoro is under Chinese sanctions but remains focused on addressing China's actions in the region.
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Some health workers in eastern Congo’s Ebola outbreak have stopped working to protest not being paid their wages and bonuses since the outbreak began on May 15, 2026. The strike is happening while Ebola cases and deaths continue to rise, and treatment centers are almost full.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak affects three provinces in eastern Congo, with Ituri province hardest hit.
As of now, 1,708 cases and 580 deaths have been reported.
Health workers say they have not received pay or bonuses since the outbreak started.
Some workers also complain about limited protective gear and unfair treatment.
The strike threatens efforts to control the virus, which is spreading fast.
Treatment centers are near full capacity amid the outbreak.
Officials say delays in payment are partly due to the closure of Bunia airport, affecting fund delivery.
Workers protested outside a treatment center, leading to a brief disturbance before police restored order.
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A British court has ruled against Prince Harry and others who accused Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, of illegal information gathering. The judge found that the group did not provide enough proof to support their claims against the newspaper.
Key Facts
The court case involved Prince Harry and other well-known figures claiming the Daily Mail and related papers gathered information illegally.
Judge Mr Justice Nicklin said the claimants failed to prove their allegations of wrongdoing.
Associated Newspapers denied any illegal actions and was cleared by the court.
The case is part of a long-running scandal about phone hacking and privacy breaches involving UK newspapers.
Prince Harry was a victim of phone hacking discovered in 2007, which led to further investigations and newspaper closures.
Other celebrities and public figures have also sued newspapers over similar issues in the past.
Prince Harry and co-claimants called the ruling a “whitewash” but have not announced an appeal yet.
The case outcome may influence future claims against Associated Newspapers and similar publishers.
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NATO leaders met in Ankara, Turkey, for a summit focused on improving defense cooperation and supporting Ukraine. President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for not supporting the U.S. on Iran, threatened to withdraw troops from Europe, and renewed his call for the U.S. to take control of Greenland, which Denmark firmly opposed.
Key Facts
NATO leaders gathered in Turkey to discuss defense spending and alliance cooperation.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte praised President Trump for urging European NATO members to increase defense efforts.
The alliance planned to restate its support for Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia.
President Trump expressed disappointment in NATO allies for lacking support on Iran issues.
Trump threatened to pull U.S. troops out of Europe during the summit.
Trump renewed his claim that Greenland should be owned by the U.S., not Denmark.
Denmark’s prime minister said Greenland is not for sale and the country is ready to defend the territory.
The summit was designed to be brief and avoid disruption but included tense moments with President Trump’s statements.
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Research shows that white storks in Europe are increasingly eating food from landfills, which gives them quick energy but may cause health problems. While landfill food helps some stork populations grow and reduce their migration, it also exposes them to harmful materials like plastics and heavy metals.
Key Facts
White storks have started eating more from rubbish dumps in Europe, especially in Poland.
Landfill food provides easy energy and helps storks save time and energy searching for natural prey.
Storks feeding on landfills tend to have more body weight and energy than those eating natural food.
Some stork populations are changing their migration habits because of easier food access at landfills.
Landfill food exposes storks to dangerous materials like plastics, glass, wires, and heavy metals.
DNA damage was found in young stork chicks linked to eating landfill food.
The study suggests a trade-off between short-term benefits of landfill food and long-term health risks for storks.
The research was presented at a biology conference and involved scientists from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.
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Hundreds of football fans in Gaza watched the World Cup match between Argentina and Egypt while sitting among damaged buildings in the Nuseirat area. Egypt’s flag was a common sight, as the country shares a border with Gaza and has been working to help negotiate peace between Hamas and Israel.
Key Facts
The World Cup match was between Argentina and Egypt.
The game took place during ongoing conflict in Gaza, where many buildings are destroyed.
Fans watched the match from rubble in Nuseirat, a part of Gaza.
Many fans waved the Egyptian flag.
Egypt borders Gaza and has worked as a mediator in ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel.
Argentina won the game 3-2 and moved on to the quarter-finals.
The event shows how people in conflict zones still find ways to enjoy sports together.
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The second phase of the Southport Inquiry will study how the internet and social media may have influenced a man who carried out knife attacks in Southport in July 2024. The inquiry will also review knife sale laws and agency failures linked to the attack that killed three girls and injured others.
Key Facts
The inquiry was set up after knife attacks at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on 29 July 2024.
Three girls—Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe, and Alice da Silva Aguiar—were murdered, and 10 others were hurt.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 52 years for the murders and attacks.
The first phase of the inquiry found serious failures by agencies to prevent the attack.
Inquiry Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford said Rudakubana was clearly dangerous and the attacks could have been stopped if proper actions were taken.
Sir Adrian’s report contains 67 suggestions for change and points to a lack of responsibility by agencies to manage the risk.
The government, through Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, accepted the recommendations and pledged to protect the public.
Families affected want more proof of real action and accountability before the inquiry’s second phase opens in London.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, announced he will resign and run again in a by-election to try to clear doubts about a £5 million donation he did not declare. The donation was reported to the National Crime Agency, which raised concerns about possible money laundering. Other political parties have decided not to compete in the by-election.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage is the leader of Reform UK and the MP for Clacton.
He received a secret £5 million donation from a cryptocurrency billionaire.
Bankers reported this donation to the National Crime Agency due to money laundering concerns.
Farage did not declare this large donation, which might break parliamentary rules.
Farage announced he will resign and try to win his seat again in a by-election.
Major political parties chose not to stand candidates against him in the by-election.
Labour and Liberal Democrat politicians called on Farage to be honest and cooperate with investigators.
A parliamentary inquiry is ongoing into Farage’s financial conduct.
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Commander Gabriel Edwards, a U.S. Navy pilot, went missing after his helicopter crashed in the Arabian Sea on July 1. Three other crew members were rescued, but the search for Edwards was stopped after more than 102 hours and 14,000 square miles were covered. The Navy is still investigating the crash.
Key Facts
Commander Gabriel Edwards was the pilot of a MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.
The helicopter was part of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 on the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier.
The crash happened in the Arabian Sea on July 1.
Three of the four crew members survived and were rescued.
The Navy searched for Edwards for over 102 hours across 14,000 square miles before stopping.
Rear Admiral Todd Cimicata expressed support for Edwards’ family and his team.
The Navy continues to investigate why the helicopter made an emergency water landing.
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A Boeing 737 cargo plane with five crew members disappeared while flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi, Pakistan. The plane was last seen over the Arabian Sea near Karachi after reporting a navigation problem, and a search operation is underway but no wreckage or survivors have been found yet.
Key Facts
The missing plane is a Boeing 737-400 operated by K2 Cargo Airways.
It had five crew members on board.
The flight was from Sharjah, UAE, to Karachi, Pakistan.
The plane was last tracked about 300 kilometers west of Karachi.
Flight tracking data showed a sharp drop in altitude and a sudden direction change before contact was lost.
The crew reported a navigation system issue shortly before the loss of contact.
Pakistani authorities have started a large search operation involving multiple agencies.
No wreckage or survivors have been found so far, and no official crash confirmation has been made.
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Pakistan’s Navy and other authorities are searching for a cargo plane that went missing while flying to Karachi. The plane reported trouble with its navigation system before disappearing over the Arabian Sea, and rough weather is making rescue efforts difficult.
Key Facts
The missing plane belonged to the private airline K2 Airways and had five people on board.
The aircraft was flying from Sharjah in the UAE to Karachi, Pakistan.
The plane reported a problem with its navigation system before losing contact.
Radar showed the plane made a sharp turn and rapidly descended about 178 miles west of Karachi.
Pakistan’s military and civilian agencies launched search-and-rescue operations at sea soon after the plane disappeared.
The Pakistan Navy, Air Force, and a national shipping vessel are involved in the search.
Rough seas caused by the monsoon are making the rescue work difficult.
There is no official confirmation yet on what happened to the plane.
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A major outage at Telstra, Australia's largest telecommunications company, caused mobile service interruptions, cancelled train services, and issues with emergency calls on Wednesday. The problem started early morning, lasted about six hours, and was linked to time-keeping servers, with no signs of a cyber attack.
Key Facts
The outage began at 4:30 a.m. local time and affected mobile calls and data across Australia.
About 90% of the network was restored within six hours.
The issue was caused by time-keeping servers in Sydney and Melbourne, but the exact cause is unknown.
Emergency call system 000 remained operational, but some emergency calls did not connect, prompting welfare checks.
Train services in Victoria and some in New South Wales were cancelled or disrupted.
National freight services were also affected.
Around 80,000 businesses using the Tyro payment app experienced payment outages.
The Australian Communication and Media Authority will investigate the outage.
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Funeral prayers have started in Najaf, Iraq, for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with thousands of mourners attending. After ceremonies in Najaf, his body will be taken to Karbala and then returned to Iran. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high, with recent military strikes raising concerns about peace in the region.
Key Facts
Funeral processions for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began Wednesday in Najaf, Iraq.
Khamenei’s body arrived in Najaf on Tuesday, accompanied by Iranian officials including President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The funeral will continue in Karbala, Iraq, before the body returns to Iran.
Streets and airspace in Tehran were closed during funeral events starting Saturday.
Mourners in Iraq waved Iranian flags and performed ritual self-flagellation, a traditional mourning practice.
Recent strikes in the Persian Gulf involved attacks on ships and retaliatory strikes between Iran and the U.S. military.
Talks between the U.S. and Iran are on hold until after Khamenei’s burial.
Najaf and Karbala are holy cities important to Shiite Muslims, where major religious shrines are located.
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Police in Bedfordshire found a mother and her two children dead in their home and are looking for a suspect believed to have killed them. The suspect is known to the victims and is thought to have left the country. Officers have said there is no ongoing risk to the public and have increased local patrols.
Key Facts
Police entered a house on Carnoustie Drive, Great Denham, after reports the family had not been seen for several days.
A mother and her two children were found dead inside the home.
Authorities have identified a suspect connected to all three victims who is believed to have fled the UK.
Police describe the case as a murder investigation.
Tributes have been made by neighbors and the local community.
The scene is being guarded, and flowers have been placed outside the house.
Police say there is no wider threat to the public but have increased patrols in the area.
Officials have asked anyone with information about suspicious activity to contact Bedfordshire Police.
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