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World News
Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
An 11-year-old boy in Ontario, Canada, died of rabies after waking to find a bat on his face. Doctors said the rare death could have been prevented with better public understanding of rabies risks and treatment.
Key Facts
The boy found a bat on his nose and mouth while staying at a cottage in northern Ontario in 2024.
His parents caught the bat and released it without suspecting rabies, as they saw no bites or unusual bat behavior.
Rabies is very rare in Canada, with only 28 cases since 1924 and none in Ontario since 1967.
Bats are the main carriers of rabies in North America, and bites or scratches can be so small they go unnoticed.
Rabies can enter the body through saliva contacting cuts, eyes, nose, or mouth.
Symptoms appeared 19 days later with facial tingling and swelling; rabies was confirmed by brain scans and tests.
There is no cure for rabies once symptoms start, and it is almost always fatal.
Early treatment after exposure, called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), is very effective at preventing rabies.
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Israel disagrees with a United Nations report accusing its military of deliberately targeting Palestinian children. However, some incidents involving children being hit by precise weapons raise questions about whether these were truly accidental.
Key Facts
The UN Commission report claims Israeli forces intentionally target Palestinian children.
Israel rejects these accusations from the UN report.
Some Palestinian children have been shot with precision weapons.
Precision weapons are designed to hit specific targets accurately.
The use of such weapons in these cases makes it hard to say the shootings were accidental.
The report and Israel’s response highlight ongoing tension and conflict in the region.
The information is reported by Al Jazeera correspondent Emma Withrow.
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A textile artist from north-west London, Holly Searle, is happy after a large box containing 206 pieces of her tea towel artwork was returned. The box had been lost in transit while sent to an arts festival but was later found and delivered back to her home.
Key Facts
Holly Searle sent a box of 206 tea towel artworks via 48-hour delivery on June 22.
The box was meant for an exhibition at the Alton Arts Festival in Hampshire.
The box went missing and was later found after a search by Royal Mail and public help.
The box traveled outside London to Coventry due to water damage on the label.
The artworks, created over seven years, were all undamaged when returned.
The postman who delivered the box seemed unaware of the search for the parcel.
Royal Mail apologized and will give a refund to Holly Searle.
A man donated 80 vintage tea towels to help replace the lost ones during the search.
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Rescue teams in Venezuela continue searching for survivors eight days after deadly twin earthquakes struck the area. Despite many casualties and destruction, a man trapped under rubble was rescued alive, while the U.S. government rejected criticism of Venezuela’s earthquake response.
Key Facts
Twin earthquakes hit Catia La Mar, Venezuela, causing severe damage and many deaths.
At least 2,295 people died and over 11,000 were injured, according to Venezuela’s government.
Rescue workers have been digging through rubble for more than a week to find survivors.
A 43-year-old man survived being trapped nearly eight days under a collapsed shopping mall.
A toddler was also rescued after being trapped six days in the disaster zone.
Many people are living in shelters or outside due to destroyed homes.
Medical experts worry that untreated injuries and diseases could worsen health problems.
The U.S. rejected criticism aimed at Venezuela’s handling of the earthquake response.
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King Charles took part in a traditional hand ba' game in Jedburgh, Scotland, during his visit to the town. The event, part of the Jethart Callant's Festival, involved local teams playing a historic and energetic street sport that has been played in the area for centuries.
Key Facts
King Charles officially started an exhibition hand ba' game in Jedburgh.
Hand ba' is a traditional street sport in the Scottish Borders, played for about 500 years.
The game involves two teams: the Uppies and the Doonies, trying to carry the ball to different points in the town.
The sport is known for being energetic and sometimes rough, causing the King’s security to stay alert.
There are only about 14 traditional hand ba' games still played regularly in Britain.
King Charles has also started a similar ancient game before, in Derbyshire.
The visit coincided with the start of the Jethart Callant’s Festival, featuring horseback rides and traditional dances.
The King spent over three hours in Jedburgh, meeting locals and visiting a company that makes insulation from hemp.
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The Vatican declared that the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, has formally broken away from the Catholic Church. It excommunicated the group's bishops and priests after they consecrated new bishops without the pope’s approval and warned their followers of penalties.
Key Facts
The Vatican said the SSPX officially separated from the Catholic Church, calling it a schism.
The Society of St. Pius X consecrated four new bishops without permission from the pope.
The Vatican’s doctrine office issued the excommunications, which are severe church penalties.
The Vatican warned followers of the SSPX that they could also face serious sanctions.
SSPX opposes modern reforms in the Catholic Church and prefers the old Latin Mass.
The group has challenged the Vatican for about 50 years by claiming to be more faithful to Catholic tradition.
This response by the Vatican is stronger than usual and goes beyond normal church rules.
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Russian mercenaries from the Africa Corps are using combat drones in Mali that were previously mainly seen in the war in Ukraine. These drones, called Lancet loitering munitions, are small missile-like devices with cameras, used to target vehicles and armed groups in the Sahel region of Africa.
Key Facts
The Africa Corps, a Russian mercenary group, now supports the Malian army after replacing the Wagner Group.
They have deployed the Lancet drone, a loitering munition used since 2020 by Russia in Ukraine.
The Lancet drone can fly for a long time and is remotely piloted via a camera.
Images of drone debris found in Mali match parts sold on a Ukrainian resale website featuring captured Russian equipment.
The drone was found near Timbuktu after Russian mercenary drone strikes targeting rebel separatists and jihadist groups.
The Lancet drone was designed to hit armored vehicles and artillery, not for use in African environments or against insurgent forces.
The drones are used alongside reconnaissance drones to seek out and attack targets like pickup trucks in conflict zones.
The drone debris evidence came from an anonymous source linked to the Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group active in northern Mali.
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A weather event called a heat dome will bring very hot temperatures to many parts of the United States during the Fourth of July weekend. This heat dome will cover much of the East Coast, the South, and other regions, leading to dangerous heat conditions.
Key Facts
Millions of Americans will experience the heat dome during Independence Day celebrations.
The heat dome causes a large area of high pressure that traps warm air.
This results in extremely hot temperatures over several days.
The affected areas include most of the East Coast and the southern United States.
Meteorologists warn that the heat could create dangerous health conditions.
The heat dome will last through the holiday weekend.
People are advised to take steps to stay cool and hydrated.
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A 43-year-old security guard, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was rescued alive after being trapped for eight days under a collapsed shopping mall in La Guaira, Venezuela, following two strong earthquakes. International rescue teams worked under difficult conditions to save him, while many others remain missing or injured.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 hit Venezuela, killing nearly 2,200 people and injuring over 11,000.
Hernán Alberto Gil Flores was trapped in his security cabin in the basement of Galerías Playa Grande mall for eight days.
A pocket of air in his cabin helped him survive the collapse.
Rescue teams from Costa Rica, Chile, the US, Portugal, and Mexico worked together to find and extract him.
Rescuers used a telescopic camera and a narrow shaft to keep contact and provide water and nutrients.
The rescue was complicated by unstable buildings, heavy rain, and aftershocks.
Most collapsed buildings in La Guaira have been searched with no survivors found.
The community faces shortages of food and water, and there have been reports of theft and arrests of police officers involved.
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The French TV show Paris des Arts featured a special edition in Fez, Morocco, focusing on the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music. The program highlighted Moroccan singer Nabyla Maan and pianist Rami Khalifé, who shared their personal connections to music and its cultural importance. A local guide also explored the historic medina of Fez.
Key Facts
Paris des Arts is a French cultural TV show.
The special edition was filmed in Fez, Morocco.
It covered the 29th Festival of World Sacred Music.
Singer Nabyla Maan performs traditional Moroccan and Arab-Andalusian music.
Pianist Rami Khalifé views music as a form of political expression.
The medina of Fez is an ancient, large old city within Fez.
The episode aimed to show the dialogue between different cultures and spiritual traditions.
The show was produced by Valérie Fayolle, Stéphanie Cheval, and Pauline Heilmann.
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Research in the UK shows that women from Black and Asian backgrounds are less likely than white women to receive epidural pain relief during childbirth. Experts say this highlights racial inequalities in healthcare, where people of color often get less pain treatment.
Key Facts
The study looked at data from over 2.7 million births in the UK up to 2021.
Women from Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Black Caribbean backgrounds were 24%, 15%, and 8% less likely than white women to get epidurals during vaginal births.
Black Caribbean-British women were 58% more likely to receive general anesthesia rather than regional anesthesia during planned C-sections compared to white women.
General anesthesia puts the mother fully to sleep and is mostly used in emergencies, while regional anesthesia (like epidurals) allows the mother to stay awake and recover faster.
The findings reflect wider racial inequalities in pain treatment in UK healthcare, from emergency care to cancer pain relief.
Medical professionals call for better data to understand and fix how pain is treated for ethnic minority patients.
The report links these inequalities to deeper problems, including institutional racism and harmful stereotypes about Black and Asian women.
Similar racial disparities in maternity care have also been reported in other countries like the US and Australia.
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An Albanian-American man, Artur Shehu, who sold land for a luxury resort project supported by President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, is under investigation in Albania for drug trafficking, money laundering, and financial fraud. The planned resort has caused large protests in Albania due to concerns about environmental damage and government corruption.
Key Facts
Artur Shehu, an Albanian-American living in Miami, is being investigated for drug trafficking and money laundering by Albanian prosecutors.
He sold land in a protected natural coastal area to a company linked to Jared Kushner and other investors planning a luxury resort.
The resort plans have triggered over a month of protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana, involving many groups worried about wildlife and corruption.
Albania’s anti-corruption agency has issued arrest warrants for people involved in international drug trafficking, though names are not publicly confirmed.
Albanian courts have frozen a bank account with more than $127 million linked to the land sale involving Shehu.
Albanian residents claim disputes over the rightful ownership of the land Shehu sold; legal challenges are ongoing.
The investigation into the project does not currently include Kushner’s company, according to Albanian prosecutors.
Shehu has stated his ownership of the land is undisputed and that he sold it through a middleman.
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The Vatican has declared the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) to be in formal schism for consecrating four bishops without the pope’s approval. This led to the excommunication of those bishops and others who support the group, banning them from certain church duties.
Key Facts
The SSPX consecrated four bishops without Pope Leo XIV’s permission.
Consecration is a religious ceremony where a bishop gives authority to new bishops through prayer and symbolic actions.
The Vatican declared this act a schism, which means a serious break in church unity.
Those involved, including the new bishops and their supporters, were excommunicated, the strictest Church penalty.
The SSPX rejects many changes made by the Catholic Church during the 1960s reforms known as Vatican II.
The SSPX began in 1970 and follows traditional Catholic practices like the Latin Mass.
The Vatican does not officially recognize the SSPX as part of the Catholic Church.
Despite warnings from Pope Leo XIV, the SSPX proceeded with the consecrations, calling them a necessary defense of tradition.
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The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, might be visible at the start of the July 4 weekend. This natural light show in the sky could offer a colorful display alongside typical holiday events like fireworks.
Key Facts
The northern lights are natural lights seen in the night sky near the North Pole.
They occur when charged particles from the sun hit Earth's atmosphere.
The lights can show many colors, like green and red.
This natural display might be strong enough to be seen over the July 4 weekend.
People often watch the northern lights in places with dark skies away from city lights.
The event could offer an alternative to typical July 4 fireworks and celebrations.
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A new study reviewed evidence on artificial and low-calorie sweeteners and found they may affect metabolism and gut bacteria. The research showed these sweeteners could raise markers linked to blood sugar control and potentially change gut microbes, though long-term health effects are still uncertain.
Key Facts
The study analyzed 21 clinical trials and large observational studies on non-nutritive sweeteners.
Sweeteners were compared with noncaloric controls like water or placebo to focus on their direct effects.
Consumption was linked to higher fasting insulin and higher HbA1c, a long-term blood sugar measure.
Results suggest artificial sweeteners might not be metabolically inactive as previously thought.
Types of sweeteners studied mainly included synthetic ones like aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium.
Artificial sweeteners may change the composition and function of gut bacteria, based on microbiome testing.
Experts say reducing sugar intake remains important despite potential sweetener effects.
More research is needed to understand how different sweeteners impact health over time and in typical amounts consumed.
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Algerians voted on July 2, 2026, to choose a new parliament. The election saw low expected voter turnout and controversy over the disqualification of about a third of potential candidates.
Key Facts
The election was held on July 2, 2026, in Algeria.
Around 25 million people were eligible to vote.
Many voters were expected not to participate, causing low turnout.
The government disqualified roughly one-third of the candidates.
Some candidates were blocked from running in important areas.
The election took place amid concerns about the cost of living.
Media coverage included explanations of how the election works.
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The Vatican has excommunicated over 500,000 members of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), a traditionalist Catholic group, after the SSPX consecrated four new bishops without the Pope’s permission. This decision includes all the group’s lay members, marking a rare and severe Church penalty.
Key Facts
The Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) is a conservative Catholic group founded in 1970 opposing Church reforms from the 1960s.
The SSPX has about 600,000 followers worldwide, mainly in the US, France, and the UK.
On Wednesday, the SSPX consecrated four new bishops in Geneva against the Pope’s direct order.
The Vatican excommunicated all six SSPX bishops and declared all lay members to be schismatic and excommunicated.
Excommunication means these members are cut off from Church sacraments and religious life.
SSPX prefers Latin Mass and more traditional practices, rejecting modern changes like using local languages or allowing communion to be received standing.
The Vatican said those who leave SSPX and want to return to the Catholic Church will be welcomed back.
The excommunication represents a stronger break between SSPX and the main Catholic Church than before, despite earlier attempts at reconciliation.
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The Vatican has officially removed six bishops from the ultraconservative Society of St Pius X from the Catholic Church. This decision came after the group secretly appointed four new bishops, ignoring Pope Leo XIV’s request to stop and deepening a split that began in 1988.
Key Facts
Six bishops from the Society of St Pius X were excommunicated by the Vatican.
The Society of St Pius X is an ultraconservative, breakaway group from the Catholic Church.
The group consecrated four new bishops without the Vatican’s approval.
Pope Leo XIV had asked the group to stop consecrating new bishops.
Any church members who officially support the breakaway group risk excommunication as well.
The split between the Society of St Pius X and the Catholic Church started in 1988.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius is over following the completion of the last person's quarantine. Since May 25, no new cases have been reported, with a total of 13 cases and three deaths confirmed among passengers and crew.
Key Facts
The hantavirus outbreak was linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.
The last person exposed to the virus completed a 42-day quarantine and tested negative.
There have been 13 total hantavirus cases and three deaths, all from the ship.
Over 650 contacts of infected people were tracked across 33 countries.
The virus strain involved is Andes virus, a rare hantavirus that can spread between people.
The outbreak likely started when the first infected person caught the virus on land before boarding the ship.
WHO will continue studying the outbreak to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Eighteen Americans exposed on the cruise ship completed their quarantine recently.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked the United States for more help after Russia attacked Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. He said that Ukrainians will win the war and called again for support from allies.
Key Facts
Russian forces carried out strikes on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.
The attacks caused deaths and damage, though exact numbers are not mentioned.
President Zelenskyy spoke with CBS News about the situation.
He asked the U.S. and other allies for more aid to help save Ukrainian lives.
Zelenskyy expressed confidence that Ukraine will win the war against Russia.
The article highlights an ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The call for support aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense efforts.
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