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A fire broke out in a 10-story apartment building in Antwerp, Belgium, causing at least six deaths and injuring several people. The fire started on the ground floor due to a technical problem, and residents were evacuated while emergency services responded.
Key Facts
The fire occurred in a 10-story block of flats in Antwerp.
At least six people died, and several others were injured.
The fire started shortly before 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT) on Wednesday.
Police said the cause was a technical problem on the building's ground floor.
More than 200 people live in the building.
Firefighters evacuated 80 flats during the incident.
Video footage shows a man climbing from a balcony as smoke filled the building.
The man was helped into a neighboring window by others nearby.
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Victor Willis, the lead singer of the disco group The Village People, has died at the age of 74. He passed away on June 30, 2026, after a brief illness, according to statements from the band and his wife.
Key Facts
Victor Willis was the lead singer of The Village People.
He was known for his role as the policeman character in their hit song "YMCA."
He died on June 30, 2026, at 74 years old.
His death followed a short but aggressive illness.
The news was shared by both the band and his wife on social media.
The family has asked for privacy during this time.
The Village People were an international pop disco group famous for their music and unique costumes.
Victor Willis had a significant impact on disco music and pop culture.
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New research shows that at least 3.3 million people were enslaved by the Netherlands during the transatlantic slave trade, much higher than the previously accepted figure of 600,000. This higher figure includes people enslaved in all Dutch colonies and people born into slavery, expanding the time and regions considered.
Key Facts
The commonly cited number of enslaved people linked to Dutch ships is around 600,000.
A new book by journalist Leendert van der Valk estimates this number to be between 3.3 and 5.3 million.
The new estimate includes enslaved people in Dutch colonies beyond the transatlantic slave trade, like parts of South Africa, India, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean.
It also counts Indigenous people enslaved by the Dutch and people born into slavery.
The timeframe for Dutch enslavement is expanded from 1595 to 1914, instead of the previous 1630 to 1863.
The research is based on demographic studies and data from Radboud University in the Netherlands.
Dutch officials, including King Willem-Alexander and former Prime Minister Mark Rutte, previously apologized for the Dutch role in the slave trade using the lower figure.
Cultural leaders say recognizing the full number of enslaved people helps humanize those affected and challenges old colonial views.
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A 52-year-old man named Riad Bouchaker was found guilty of trying to kill three children and attacking four others in Dublin in November 2023. One of the children, a five-year-old girl, suffered a serious brain injury after being stabbed in the heart.
Key Facts
Riad Bouchaker was convicted of all eight charges, including attempted murder and serious assault.
The attacks happened outside a school in Parnell Square, Dublin.
A five-year-old girl was stabbed and left with lifelong brain damage.
Four other people, including children and a crèche worker, were also injured.
The jury reached the verdict after about six hours of discussion.
Sentencing will occur on 12 October, and Bouchaker will remain in custody until then.
The attack triggered riots across Dublin with widespread damage to shops, police vehicles, and public transport.
Irish police described the rioters as a far-right group causing chaos after the attack.
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Ukraine has used long-range drones to attack Russian oil refineries, causing fuel shortages in Russia and occupied Crimea. Despite these problems, Russian President Vladimir Putin remains firm in his demands for Ukraine to give up certain territories as part of any peace deal.
Key Facts
Ukraine’s drone strikes have caused serious fuel shortages in Russia and occupied Crimea.
Russia has started buying fuel from other countries because of these shortages.
Putin admitted the attacks are painful but did not change his conditions for peace.
He insists that Ukraine agrees to neutrality and military limits based on talks from 2022.
Putin demands that Ukraine give up control of the parts of Donbas it still holds.
He also demands land beyond Donbas, called Novorossiya, which could include southern Ukraine areas like Odesa or Zaporizhia.
The Russian population has experienced worse hardships before and continues to support the war effort.
Despite the strikes, Russian oil and gas production is still strong and supports the country’s economy and military.
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Recent polling shows that for the first time in 20 years, more than half of Russians feel pessimistic about their country. This change reflects a drop in trust in the economy, government institutions, the military, elections, and the freedom of the media during the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Over 50% of Russians now express pessimism, a first in two decades.
Public confidence in the Russian economy has declined.
Trust in key government institutions is decreasing.
Confidence in the Russian military has dropped.
Faith in the fairness of elections is falling.
People’s belief in media freedom is weakening.
This shift is linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The research is based on more than 20 years of Gallup polling data.
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Actor and activist Danny Glover has said he has Alzheimer’s disease. He was diagnosed three years ago and shared this news with the public to raise awareness about the illness.
Key Facts
Danny Glover is an actor known for his role in the “Lethal Weapon” movies.
He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a disease that affects memory, three years ago.
Glover is turning 80 years old on July 22.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 6 million people in the U.S. alone.
He has received four Emmy Award nominations and an honorary Oscar in 2022.
Glover has been honored by organizations like the NAACP and Black Entertainment Television.
He was a United Nations goodwill ambassador focused on issues in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean from 1998 to 2004.
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A week after two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela, doctors warn that survivors face new dangers from infected wounds and poor sanitary conditions. Rescue teams from many countries are still searching for people trapped under rubble, while hospitals struggle with lack of supplies and damage.
Key Facts
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
Survivors are living in crowded shelters or outside without clean water.
Medical experts warn infections from untreated injuries are becoming a major problem.
Venezuelan hospitals are damaged or compromised, with 38 affected nationwide.
Hospitals face shortages of surgical supplies like screws, plates, and medicated gauze.
The search for survivors continues even though survival chances drop after 48 to 72 hours.
Rescuers have found a toddler who survived six days trapped under rubble.
More than two dozen countries have sent rescue teams to help in Venezuela.
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The National Air and Space Museum opened on July 1, 1976, with President Gerald Ford attending the ceremony. A key part of the event was a ribbon-cutting using a model arm from NASA’s Viking Mars lander, which was later taken back by NASA. The real Viking 1 spacecraft was then on its way to Mars, about 20 days from landing.
Key Facts
The National Air and Space Museum opened on July 1, 1976.
President Gerald Ford spoke at the opening ceremony.
The ceremony included a ribbon-cutting with the surface sampler arm from a Viking Mars lander model.
The Viking 1 spacecraft was heading to Mars at the time, about 20 days from arrival.
NASA took back the Viking engineering arm after the ceremony.
The event featured performances, an invocation, and a flyover by the Thunderbirds.
Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut, was also present and involved in the event.
Communications with the Viking 1 spacecraft had an 18-minute delay each way due to its distance from Earth.
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Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela nearly a week ago, causing severe damage especially in the La Guaira region. Security camera footage shows people running as the ground cracks and buildings fall during the quake.
Key Facts
Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela about a week ago.
La Guaira was the hardest-hit area by the earthquakes.
Security cameras captured people fleeing in panic during the tremors.
Cracks appeared in the ground as buildings collapsed in the footage.
Families in Venezuela are still searching for people missing after the quakes.
The earthquakes worsened problems caused by Venezuela’s weak infrastructure.
The event is part of ongoing natural disaster challenges in the country.
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A small dog named Giselle was rescued from rubble five days after strong earthquakes hit Venezuela and caused many deaths and building collapses. Rescue teams from different countries are working hard to save people trapped under damaged buildings, while the confirmed death count is over 1,900.
Key Facts
Powerful twin earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 hit Venezuela on June 24, 2026.
The earthquakes killed over 1,900 people and destroyed thousands of buildings.
A Salvadoran rescue team saved a dog named Giselle after she was trapped in rubble for five days.
Rescuers have found survivors, including an 18-day-old baby and a mother with her 9-month-old baby.
Rescue teams from the U.S. and El Salvador are trying to save a security guard trapped for six days in a collapsed building.
The rescue of this guard is complicated by unstable buildings leaning on the collapsed structure.
The dog Giselle was fed through a syringe after her rescue and officials are looking for her owner.
Tens of thousands of people remain missing after the earthquakes, according to the United Nations.
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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israeli troops will stay in southern Lebanon as long as Hezbollah remains a threat. This position conflicts with a US-Iran agreement that calls for an immediate stop to fighting in Lebanon. The situation creates tension between Israel and the US and complicates peace efforts involving Iran.
Key Facts
Netanyahu said Israeli forces will not leave southern Lebanon while Hezbollah is seen as a threat.
Israel’s Defense Minister Katz confirmed no withdrawal until Hezbollah is disarmed.
The US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) requires a permanent halt to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.
A US-brokered deal between Israel and Lebanon allows Israel to remain in southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah opposes.
Israel has controlled about one-fifth of Lebanon since early March.
Israel’s stance risks breaking the fragile US-Iran agreement.
Netanyahu faces domestic political pressure as Israeli elections approach in October.
Iran strongly supports Hezbollah and demands Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory before peace talks.
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Businessman Yorgen Fenech went on trial in Malta accused of planning the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. She was killed by a car bomb after exposing corruption involving Fenech in a power station deal. Two hitmen were already sentenced for carrying out the attack, and a third became a witness.
Key Facts
Yorgen Fenech is charged with ordering the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Daphne Caruana Galizia was an investigative journalist known for exposing corruption in Malta.
She died in 2017 when a bomb exploded under her car near her home.
Fenech was a major shareholder in the power station deal she was investigating.
Two hitmen were convicted and sentenced to 40 years each in prison for executing the car bomb attack.
A third accused hitman agreed to testify for a reduced sentence of 15 years.
The trial began in Valletta, Malta’s capital city.
The killing drew international attention to issues of press freedom and corruption in Malta.
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Syria has formed its first parliament since President Bashar al-Assad was removed from power in December 2024. The new parliament has 210 members, including 70 appointed by the interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and will begin its work drafting laws and preparing for future elections.
Key Facts
President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed 70 of the 210 members in the new Syrian parliament.
The parliament includes 15 women appointed by al-Sharaa, making 22 female members in total.
The first meeting of the new parliament will be on Monday, when members are sworn in and leaders are elected.
Parliamentary elections began in October 2024 but excluded the southern province of Suwayda and northeast Syria at first.
A later vote was held in northeast Syria after government forces regained control.
The new parliament includes representatives of minority groups like the Alawites and Kurds.
The parliament will serve for 30 months and work on a new election law.
These steps are part of Syria’s transition after more than 13 years of civil war under President Bashar al-Assad.
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Former U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is uncertain how to respond after a Ukrainian drone strike hit a key military site near Moscow. The strike targeted the Dubna Satellite Communications Centre, which Russia uses for intelligence and military work related to the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
A Ukrainian drone strike hit the Dubna Satellite Communications Centre near Moscow.
The center is used by Russia for gathering intelligence and managing military actions in Ukraine.
Leon Panetta, former U.S. Defense Secretary, commented on the situation.
Panetta said President Putin is unsure about how to react to the drone attack.
The strike occurred during ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on the attack.
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Victor Willis, co-founder and lead singer of the disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74. He co-wrote famous songs like “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy,” which became global disco hits and cultural icons.
Key Facts
Victor Willis co-founded the Village People and was the group's lead singer.
He co-wrote the group’s biggest hits, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy.”
The Village People were known for their costumes representing different macho characters like a police officer and cowboy.
The song “Y.M.C.A.” peaked at number 2 on the Billboard music chart and became a worldwide phenomenon.
In 2020, “Y.M.C.A.” was added to the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.
Victor Willis died after a short but aggressive illness at age 74.
President Donald Trump expressed condolences publicly on social media.
Willis also acted on Broadway and starred in the 1980 movie “Can’t Stop the Music.”
In 2015, a court ruled Willis was entitled to 50% ownership of Village People’s song copyrights.
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A wildfire in northern Greece killed a father and his 12-year-old son after burning down their home. Authorities asked people in two central Greek villages to leave as firefighters and aircraft worked to control the fire, while other smaller wildfires in Greece were quickly put out.
Key Facts
A father and his son died in a forest fire northeast of Thessaloniki, northern Greece.
The boy’s body was found inside their burned home; the father’s body was found nearby.
The boy’s mother is hospitalized with burn injuries.
Over 135 firefighters, 25 aircraft including planes and helicopters, are fighting a wildfire in central Greece’s Fthiotida region.
Residents of two villages in central Greece were told to evacuate for safety.
Three other wildfires started elsewhere in Greece but were quickly controlled.
Greece often faces wildfires during hot, dry summers but has avoided recent western Europe heatwaves.
Greece is using new satellite technology to detect and manage wildfires better amid climate change risks.
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Three people died from asphyxiation during large celebrations in Mexico City after Mexico’s soccer team won against Ecuador and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16. The victims were found near the Angel of Independence monument where thousands were celebrating.
Key Facts
Three people (two women and one man) died from asphyxiation during post-match celebrations.
The victims were aged 48, 44, and 19 years old.
Deaths occurred near the Angel of Independence monument in downtown Mexico City.
About 1 million people gathered to celebrate Mexico’s win and advancement in the World Cup.
Mayor Clara Brugada urged people to celebrate responsibly and avoid overcrowded areas.
Emergency crews responded quickly but the victims had already died.
The celebrations included fireworks and large crowds along a 3-mile stretch in the city center.
Authorities encouraged people to attend other events to reduce crowding near the monument.
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The government of West Bengal in India, led by the BJP party, has decided to stop serving eggs in school lunch programs by giving the contract to the Hindu group ISKCON, which serves strictly vegetarian meals. This change affects nearly 12 million students and has caused debate about food nutrition and politics in the state.
Key Facts
West Bengal’s BJP government handed the school lunch program contract to ISKCON, a Hindu religious group.
ISKCON provides only vegetarian meals and does not include eggs, which they consider similar to meat.
The midday meal program feeds nearly 12 million students in West Bengal daily.
India’s national midday meal program started in 1995 and helps increase school attendance.
About half of India’s states include eggs in their school meals, but West Bengal is now fully vegetarian in this program.
ISKCON has been involved in school lunch programs in several states but never ran a whole state’s program before.
Experts usually recommend meals be cooked locally to ensure freshness and community involvement.
Modi’s government renamed the midday meal program to PM Poshan in 2021 to highlight nutrition.
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Actor Danny Glover announced that he has been living with Alzheimer's disease for several years. He shared how the illness has affected him but emphasized the support he receives from his family.
Key Facts
Danny Glover is 79 years old and has Alzheimer’s disease, a brain illness that affects memory and thinking.
The disease has slowed his movement and changed his speech.
Glover spoke about his condition in an interview on NBC’s "Today" show.
Several family members appeared with him and said they want to help reduce the stigma around Alzheimer’s.
Glover is a well-known actor famous for movies like "Lethal Weapon" and "The Color Purple."
He received a humanitarian award at the Oscars in 2021, before he publicly revealed his diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s disease mostly affects older adults and currently has no cure, but treatments can slow its progress.
Scientists continue to research the disease to better understand and treat it.
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