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World News
Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
Thousands of protesters and riot police clashed in Erfurt, Germany, as opponents tried to stop the far-right AfD party’s national conference. The AfD held the event on the 100th anniversary of a Nazi conference, causing controversy, but its leaders were expected to be re-elected.
Key Facts
About 20,000 protesters gathered in Erfurt to block roads and stop AfD delegates from reaching their conference.
Protesters used sit-ins, glued themselves to tram tracks, and abseiled from bridges to disrupt the event.
Around 600 AfD delegates attended; about 540 arrived before 5 a.m. and the conference started on time.
Police reported mostly peaceful protests with fewer than 100 offenses, mainly property damage like graffiti.
The conference date matched the 100th anniversary of a Nazi party event in nearby Weimar.
Critics say the timing was meant to provoke, while AfD denied this and criticized historical weaponization.
Opponents accuse AfD of racist and anti-Muslim policies and minimizing Nazi crimes.
Some government ministers joined the protests, and demonstrators emphasized preventing a repeat of Nazi-era history.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married at Madison Square Garden in New York, confirmed by Swift’s publicist with a message displayed on giant screens. Actor Adam Sandler officiated the wedding, and the couple wore custom outfits designed by Christian Dior.
Key Facts
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married at Madison Square Garden, New York.
Adam Sandler, a close friend, officiated the wedding and performed a song.
Sandler has a history of friendship with the couple and appeared in a movie with Kelce.
Both bride and groom wore wedding clothes made by Christian Dior's creative director, Jonathan Anderson.
Swift’s shoes were custom made by Christian Louboutin, and she wore Cartier jewelry.
Swift chose her brother Austin as her “man of honour” instead of a maid of honour.
The wedding took place after the couple got engaged in August last year.
The wedding location may have been inspired by Sandler’s film Mr. Deeds, where a character proposed at Madison Square Garden.
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Eric Dillon initially thought his shoulder pain was from a muscle injury, but an MRI later revealed he had multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. He began treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center and joined a clinical trial to help improve care for others, especially Black patients who are more affected by this disease.
Key Facts
Eric Dillon’s shoulder pain was first treated as a rotator cuff injury before cancer was diagnosed.
Multiple myeloma affects plasma cells and can cause bone damage, anemia, kidney problems, and high calcium levels.
The disease often mimics common muscle or joint pain, making diagnosis difficult and slow.
Black Americans make up about 20% of multiple myeloma patients but only 4% of the U.S. population and tend to get the disease younger.
Black patients are underrepresented in clinical trials for multiple myeloma despite their higher risk.
Dillon joined a clinical trial after starting treatment to contribute to better understanding and fairness in research.
He adjusted his work and kept a journal to track treatment effects and side effects.
His experience highlights the importance of awareness and early diagnosis for this cancer.
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A three-year-old boy was seriously injured by crocodiles at a zoo in Cambridgeshire and has had five surgeries so far. Police arrested a 30-year-old man but later released him on bail; the boy will need more surgeries and a long recovery.
Key Facts
The attack happened on June 18 at Johnsons of Old Hurst zoo in Cambridgeshire.
The boy was inside the crocodile enclosure when the attack occurred.
He has undergone five surgeries and needs at least two more.
The boy’s parents said they don’t yet know how much feeling or movement he will recover in his arms and hands.
A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder but was released on bail until September 18.
The arrested man has learning disabilities and was visiting the zoo with carers; he is not believed to know the boy.
The family has received around £26,000 in donations to help with recovery and expenses.
Zoo staff acted quickly to rescue the boy, and the zoo has over 100 animals including lions, tigers, and various types of crocodiles.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine’s military said Ukraine still controls the eastern city of Kostiantynivka. This makes their own claim that Russia has not captured the city, which Russia’s military said it had taken during fighting in the Donetsk region.
Key Facts
Ukraine controls the city of Kostiantynivka in eastern Ukraine.
President Zelensky and Ukraine’s General Staff denied Russian claims of capturing the city.
Russia’s military reported to President Vladimir Putin that it had taken Kostiantynivka.
Kostiantynivka is an important strategic target in Russia’s push through the Donetsk region.
The city has been a key focus in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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The 1986 World Cup in Mexico was almost cancelled after a deadly earthquake hit Mexico City in 1985, killing thousands and damaging the city. Despite the disaster, the tournament went ahead because the stadiums were not damaged, and the Mexican government and FIFA decided to continue with the event.
Key Facts
A powerful earthquake struck Mexico City in 1985, killing at least 5,000 people and leaving about 30,000 homeless.
Some estimates claim the death toll could have been as high as 40,000.
The quake damaged many buildings, including hospitals and churches, and caused widespread destruction in the city center.
Mexico was not the original host of the 1986 World Cup; it took over after Colombia withdrew in 1983.
The city’s football stadiums, including Estadio Azteca, remained intact after the earthquake.
FIFA supported Mexico’s decision to continue hosting the tournament despite the disaster.
Rescue efforts involved 50,000 troops, police, and firefighters dealing with severe shortages of water and medicine.
During the World Cup opening, President Miguel de la Madrid faced boos from the crowd, indicating public dissatisfaction with the government.
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The city of El Obeid in Sudan is facing heavy drone attacks amid fighting between Sudan’s army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These strikes have damaged schools, fuel stations, and power facilities, causing many deaths and injuries. The United Nations and human rights groups warn of possible large-scale human rights crimes in the area.
Key Facts
El Obeid is a city of about 500,000 people in Sudan’s conflict zone between government and paramilitary forces.
Over 40 drone attacks have occurred in recent months, with at least 15 strikes causing 45 deaths and 41 injuries in June alone.
The RSF is accused of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, including actions described as having genocide characteristics in nearby regions.
The UN’s human rights chief called for urgent international action to stop potential atrocities in El Obeid.
Key facilities such as schools, hospitals, fuel stations, and the city’s main power station have been hit, causing blackouts and disrupting life.
The Sudanese army is defending the city and has built extensive defensive lines in anticipation of a siege.
Tens of thousands of displaced people live in camps near El Obeid, increasing the humanitarian crisis.
Reports find that attacks on civilian infrastructure appear intentional and designed to weaken the city’s ability to survive.
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Thousands of people protested in Erfurt, Germany, to block roads and disrupt the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s annual conference. The AfD is gaining popularity but remains controversial due to its extremist views, and some protesters want the party banned.
Key Facts
Around 20,000 protesters gathered in Erfurt, Thuringia, to oppose the AfD party meeting.
Protesters came from unions, civil groups, and left-wing parties and organized road blockades and sit-ins.
Police deployed many officers and reported over 200 buses bringing protesters to the city.
Some clashes occurred between protesters and police in riot gear, but the AfD conference began on time.
The AfD became the second largest party in Germany last year, achieving the best far-right election result since World War II.
Opinion polls indicate the AfD leads over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party and might gain state-level power for the first time in Saxony-Anhalt.
Mainstream parties refuse to work with AfD because of its “anti-democratic” and extremist positions.
The German intelligence agency has monitored AfD for possible anti-constitutional activities.
Protesters argue that AfD’s policies, like mass deportations, are harmful and demand banning the party.
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Many people experience problems with their sense of smell, such as total or partial loss. The COVID-19 pandemic brought more attention to these smell disorders, leading to increased research showing how smell affects quality of life and brain health.
Key Facts
Around 22% of people have some smell impairment, including complete loss (anosmia) or partial loss (hyposmia).
Other smell disorders include phantosmia (smelling things that aren’t there) and parosmia (pleasant smells become unpleasant).
COVID-19 caused millions of smell losses worldwide, making researchers study this sense more closely.
Smell is linked directly to emotional and memory areas of the brain, unlike vision or hearing.
The olfactory bulbs in the brain detect smells and can grow new neurons even in adults.
These brain parts are vulnerable to viruses and toxins and may explain long-term smell problems.
Chrissi Kelly lost her sense of smell 14 years ago and started patient groups and research efforts on smell loss.
Historically, scientists underestimated the importance of smell, but new studies show it plays a key role in everyday life and brain function.
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NASA’s Perseverance rover found a new type of organic carbon on the surface of a Martian rock in Jezero Crater. Unlike previous findings that required drilling, this carbon was detected right on the rock’s surface, but scientists are still unsure if it came from living things or non-living chemical processes.
Key Facts
Perseverance rover has been exploring Mars’ Jezero Crater for five years.
It detected complex macromolecular carbon on the surface of a rock named Bright Angel near an ancient river channel called Neretva Vallis.
This carbon was found using SHERLOC, an instrument that uses ultraviolet light to identify chemicals.
The carbon’s pattern (called the G-band) suggests a structure similar to kerogen, a substance on Earth usually made by fossilized life.
Scientists do not confirm the carbon is from life because it might have formed through non-living processes.
Tests showed the signal was not caused by Perseverance’s instruments or contamination from Earth.
One detected rock with the carbon was never touched by the rover’s tools; the rover only removed dust with nitrogen gas.
To understand the origin of the carbon, scientists may need to bring samples back to Earth for more detailed study.
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A woman shares her experience of diving near the Revillagigedo Archipelago, a remote group of islands in the Pacific Ocean known for abundant marine life including many sharks. She describes the challenging journey, the powerful feeling of being underwater during a shark feeding frenzy, and how the trip helped her find peace after personal struggles including cancer and marriage issues.
Key Facts
The Revillagigedo Archipelago consists of four small, isolated islands about 400 km from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The area is only reachable by a 24-hour liveaboard dive boat journey, often through rough seas.
It is known for clear, pristine waters and a variety of sea animals, including large manta rays, dolphins, and many sharks.
The author experienced a feeding frenzy of sharks underwater while diving near one of the islands called Roca Partida.
The journey was part of the author's effort to find solitude and healing after surviving breast cancer and going through a difficult marriage.
The archipelago has no hotels, no public airports, and little infrastructure besides a small Mexican naval base.
The author’s dive experience was deeply personal, reconnecting with a childhood love for the ocean and exploration.
The trip was designed to be a break from technology and everyday life, with limited or no phone and internet service.
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The Irish leader Robert Emmet admired the American Revolution and hoped Ireland could achieve the same kind of independence and protections that America gained through its fight for freedom.
Key Facts
Robert Emmet was a leader in the Irish republican movement.
Emmet expressed a wish for Ireland to gain independence like America did.
He referred to the protections and freedoms secured by George Washington during the American Revolution.
The American Revolution inspired other countries seeking freedom, including Ireland.
Emmet’s statement connects the Irish struggle for independence to America’s successful revolution.
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Pope Leo XIV visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, urging Europe to do more to help migrants and improve conditions in their home countries. He prayed for migrants who died crossing the Mediterranean Sea and called for both immediate aid and long-term plans to support and integrate migrants.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV visited Lampedusa, an island that receives tens of thousands of migrants each year.
He prayed at a cemetery for migrants who died crossing the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe.
The Pope called on Europe to address migration with both short-term relief and long-term strategies.
Lampedusa has an overcrowded migrant reception center with difficult living conditions.
More than 1,400 people, including 28 children, have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean this year.
The Pope criticized past decisions and inaction that have contributed to migrant deaths.
He has frequently supported migrants and criticized President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies.
Migrants, rescue teams, aid workers, and the Italian Coast Guard gathered to hear the Pope’s message.
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Hundreds of firefighters in northern Spain are working to control a growing wildfire near the Costa Brava, a popular tourist area. At the same time, Portugal is asking other countries for help to fight forest fires in its northern regions.
Key Facts
A large wildfire is spreading near Costa Brava in northern Spain.
Hundreds of Spanish firefighters are involved in fighting this fire.
Portugal is facing forest fires in its northern areas.
Portugal has requested international assistance to help manage the fires.
The fires are happening during a time of increased wildfire activity in Europe.
Costa Brava is a well-known tourist destination affected by the fire.
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The United States has renamed its Indo-Pacific Command back to Pacific Command, signaling a shift in its approach to South Asia. The U.S. is engaging directly with countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, rather than treating India as the main regional partner.
Key Facts
The U.S. military renamed Indo-Pacific Command to Pacific Command in April 2024.
The name "Indo-Pacific" was added in 2018 to highlight cooperation with India against China.
The removal of "Indo" suggests less focus on India as the primary partner in South Asia.
The U.S. is now dealing directly with other South Asian countries, recognizing their separate interests.
This marks the end of the U.S. treating all South Asian countries as dependent on India.
The U.S. aims to balance power in South Asia and prevent any single country from dominating.
India is increasingly seen as a commercial competitor to the U.S. in areas like technology and pharmaceuticals.
The U.S. is taking a more flexible, transactional approach to partnerships in the region instead of strict alliances.
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Ukrainian drones attacked oil and military sites near Russia’s city of St Petersburg, hitting an oil terminal, a port, and a naval base. Russia said its defenses shot down many drones, but the strikes caused local disruptions and damage to important facilities.
Key Facts
Ukrainian long-range drones targeted the St Petersburg area, about 900 km from Ukrainian control.
Russian air defenses reportedly shot down 72 drones in the Leningrad region and 389 nationwide overnight.
A drone crashed near the Peterhof Palace, a historic site, and another hit an oil terminal in the city’s Kirovsky district.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy confirmed strikes on oil infrastructure and the Kronstadt naval base.
Ukraine claims these attacks disabled nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity since August 2025.
Fuel shortages in Russia led to bans on petrol exports and limits on fuel sales in many regions.
Russia acknowledged the fuel shortage but called it “not critical” and said repairs are underway.
Russia also attacked a gas facility in Ukraine’s Poltava region, causing a fire and halting operations.
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A 21-year-old British woman was arrested in Thailand after police found her boyfriend, a 34-year-old cannabis farm operator, stabbed to death in their rented home near Pattaya. Police found a large knife washed in the sink and said the woman’s story about the incident did not match the evidence.
Key Facts
The victim was a 34-year-old man who ran a cannabis farm.
His body was found with multiple stab wounds in a bathroom of their rental home near Pattaya, Thailand.
Police believe he had been dead for about six hours before they arrived.
The 21-year-old British woman, his girlfriend, was found sitting near the body.
A 50cm machete-like knife was found cleaned in the sink.
Police saw signs of a struggle and bloodstains inside the house.
The woman claimed the man hurt himself, but investigators found inconsistencies in her story.
The UK Foreign Office is supporting the families and working with Thai authorities.
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A second man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Donna Keogh, a teenager who disappeared 28 years ago in the UK. Police believe she was killed soon after she went missing, but her body has never been found.
Key Facts
Donna Keogh, aged 17, went missing on April 28, 1998, in Middlesbrough, England.
She was known to have traveled to Leeds in 1998.
Police suspect she was murdered shortly after her disappearance.
A 62-year-old man was arrested recently in the Manchester area.
Earlier, a 64-year-old man from Leeds was also arrested but remains on bail.
Donna’s body has never been recovered despite a long investigation.
Detectives have been investigating new leads in Leeds in recent months.
Police hope someone with information will come forward to provide answers to her family.
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Ukrainian drones attacked an oil terminal in St. Petersburg, Russia, targeting energy infrastructure used to fund Russia’s military actions. Russian officials reported that their air defenses shot down dozens of drones during the attack, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called it part of Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russian resources.
Key Facts
Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal in the Kirovsky district of St. Petersburg.
Russian air defenses shot down 72 Ukrainian drones in and around the city.
President Zelenskyy said the strikes targeted facilities supporting Russia’s war effort, including a military site on Kronstadt island.
The attack adds to a series of nearly daily Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
These attacks have caused fuel shortages and increased political pressure on Russia’s government.
Russian President Putin called the strikes “not critical” and said the war will continue until Russia achieves its objectives.
Russia recently captured the city of Kostyantynivka, a key transport and industrial hub in eastern Ukraine.
The Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, has also faced heavy Ukrainian strikes causing fuel sales to be suspended locally.
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Millions of people are attending funeral ceremonies in Tehran for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died after a US-Israeli attack in February. The week-long event includes multiple cities and has drawn international delegations, highlighting its importance for Iran and the wider region.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, was killed in a US-Israeli attack in February.
Millions of mourners are expected to attend a week of funeral ceremonies starting in Tehran.
The funeral events are held in several cities: Tehran, Qom, Iraq, and Mashhad.
Several family members of Khamenei who died in the attack, including his granddaughter, are also being honored.
More than 5,000 schools and many classrooms were opened to host visitors coming to Tehran.
Delegations from over 100 countries attended initial ceremonies for foreign guests.
The funeral timing coincides with the first 10 days of Muharram, an important Muslim month, and the US Independence Day.
Analysts say the timing shows Iran’s focus on religious symbolism and signals that Iran’s leadership will maintain its current policies after Khamenei’s son takes over.
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