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Michael Gold, a former NASA official, said that NASA played a part in keeping the negative stigma around unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) for a long time. He spoke about how the agency’s approach may have delayed open discussions and investigations into these unusual sightings.
Key Facts
Michael Gold was a NASA associate administrator responsible for space policy and partnerships.
He said NASA helped sustain the stigma around UAP, meaning people viewed them negatively or with doubt.
This stigma made it harder for scientists and officials to study UAP openly.
Gold’s comments suggest NASA’s past actions influenced public and governmental reactions to UAP reports.
UAP stands for unidentified aerial phenomena, which are mysterious objects or events seen in the sky.
The discussion about UAP is becoming more common in government and science communities now.
NASA’s role in UAP investigations and communications may change in the future to be more open.
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The United States launched airstrikes in Iran, killing at least 14 people, after Iran hit Gulf countries earlier in the day. These attacks were the most intense since a ceasefire agreement was extended last month, and both sides raised tensions with threats and military actions around the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
The US carried out airstrikes on Iran overnight Thursday, killing at least 14 people.
Iran responded by launching missile attacks on Gulf countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, with no immediate damage reported.
The exchange followed a tentative ceasefire agreement signed on June 17, aimed at stopping hostilities and creating space for peace talks.
President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire agreement “over” due to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military said it targeted about 90 sites in Iran to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas.
Iran accused the US of war crimes for bombing bridges near the city of Mashhad, important for trade between Iran and China.
There were casualties in Iran including military personnel and civilians in various cities due to the strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major point of disagreement, with Iran wanting to charge fees for ships passing through and the US insisting it remains free international water.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced he will resign as leader of the Labour Party, triggering a leadership election. Andy Burnham, former mayor of Greater Manchester, is the only declared candidate and is seen as the likely successor who will become the next prime minister.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer became prime minister on July 5, 2024, after Labour won the general election.
Starmer announced his resignation on June 22 due to local election defeats and controversy over an ambassador appointment.
Labour leadership nominations require support from at least 20% of Labour MPs (81 MPs) and backing from affiliated organizations or local party branches.
Voting among Labour members and unions will take place from August 6 to 27, with results announced on August 29.
Andy Burnham is the only confirmed candidate; he recently won a parliamentary seat which allowed him to stand.
Burnham is popular within Labour and backed by key party figures, making him the frontrunner.
Potential rivals include Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, but neither has confirmed a run.
Burnham supports shifting some government operations to Manchester, as well as expanding social housing and social care.
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Millions of bottles of eye drops that help with allergies and inflammation are being recalled across the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says these eye drops may contain a foreign substance.
Key Facts
The recall affects millions of eye drop bottles.
These eye drops are commonly used for allergies and inflammation.
The recall is happening nationwide in the U.S.
The FDA is the agency overseeing the recall.
The reason for the recall is the possible presence of a foreign substance in the eye drops.
Users of these eye drops should check if their products are part of the recall.
The recall aims to protect public health by preventing unsafe use of the eye drops.
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Iran has held a six-day funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28 during conflict involving the US and Israel. Officials have not yet shown the new leader, his son Mojtaba Khamenei, in public. Meanwhile, the US and Iran have carried out strikes against each other, raising fears of a wider war.
Key Facts
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei of Iran died on February 28 during the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
Iran held six days of funeral ceremonies for him.
Mojtaba Khamenei, his son, was appointed successor but has not been seen publicly.
Fighting between the US and Iran has resumed, with both sides launching strikes.
The renewed violence could lead to a full-scale war, though neither side wants to appear as the loser.
Iran prepared for Khamenei’s burial amid ongoing military tensions.
The situation remains uncertain as the international community watches closely.
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Floods in western India caused thousands of gas cylinders to be swept away by strong water currents. Local people worked to recover these cylinders after recent gas shortages linked to conflicts involving the US and Israel with Iran.
Key Facts
Heavy flooding occurred in western India.
The floods carried away thousands of gas cylinders.
Residents retrieved many of the cylinders from the floodwaters.
Recent gas shortages affected the area.
The shortages are connected to the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
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Botswana has challenged the idea that poor countries cannot have free and fair political systems. Over 60 years since gaining independence, the country has shown it can develop while maintaining democratic institutions.
Key Facts
Botswana has been independent for 60 years.
Some people think poor countries can't have liberal political systems.
Botswana's experience shows this idea is wrong.
The country has stable and democratic institutions.
Botswana’s development contradicts myths about authoritarian rule being necessary for growth.
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Ofcom fined the company behind the porn site Fapello £630,000 for not checking if UK users are 18 or older, as required by law since July 2025. The company did not respond to Ofcom’s requests and later blocked UK visitors. Ofcom continues to monitor compliance and has fined several other adult sites for similar failures.
Key Facts
UK law requires porn sites to verify users are at least 18 using effective age checks since July 2025.
The operator of Fapello did not implement any age verification methods.
Ofcom fined the company £600,000 for not checking ages and an extra £30,000 for ignoring information requests.
The site blocked UK users after the fine, but Ofcom is still watching the company’s compliance.
Ofcom has fined other adult sites millions of pounds in total for failing to meet age check rules.
Age verification methods accepted include credit card checks, photo ID, and selfie-based age estimation.
Ofcom stresses that age checks must be accurate, reliable, and fair.
A new investigation is underway into another porn site, Bit Hive, due to concerns about its age verification methods.
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The US military carried out attacks on 90 targets in Iran, focusing on ports and infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran reported at least 14 deaths from these attacks and responded by launching drone strikes on locations linked to the US in Gulf countries.
Key Facts
The US military targeted 90 sites in Iran.
The strikes focused on ports and infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran says at least 14 people died after two nights of US attacks.
Iran responded with drone attacks on US-related locations in Gulf states.
The Gulf region includes countries bordering the Persian Gulf.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key shipping route for oil.
Both sides have increased military actions following the attacks.
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Paris Haute Couture Week showcased new fashion collections from top designers, including Pierpaolo Piccioli's first show for Balenciaga. The event featured creative ideas around showing or covering the body, using fantasy themes, and combining traditional craftsmanship with new technology.
Key Facts
Pierpaolo Piccioli debuted as Balenciaga’s couture designer with dramatic gowns and feathered looks.
The event lasted four days and included 30 fashion houses, with five showing couture for the first time.
Designers played with themes of showing skin, covering it, or making it disappear.
Some collections used fantasy elements like balloon shapes, feathers, and inflated latex designs.
New technology like particle accelerators and lab-grown silk were highlighted alongside traditional handmade techniques.
Couture pieces are very expensive and made for a small number of clients, but they help promote other luxury products like perfumes and handbags.
Major fashion houses are relying on new creative directors to bring fresh energy back to the luxury industry after a recent slowdown.
Well-known celebrities such as Demi Moore, Cynthia Erivo, Cate Blanchett, Pedro Pascal, and Tilda Swinton attended the shows.
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Lebanon and Israel have reached a U.S.-brokered deal aiming for Israeli troop withdrawal and peace, but the plan requires disarming Hezbollah first. This condition has caused strong opposition from Hezbollah and its supporters in Lebanon, raising fears of political crisis and possibly civil war.
Key Facts
Lebanon and Israel have been technically at war for nearly 80 years.
The new deal envisions Israel pulling its troops out of Lebanon.
Israel’s full withdrawal depends on Hezbollah disarming.
Hezbollah is an Iran-backed militant group that opposes disarmament.
Hezbollah supporters have protested by blocking roads in Lebanon.
A Hezbollah lawmaker warned of potential civil war if forced disarmament occurs.
Lebanon’s government is backed by Western countries and opposes Iran’s influence.
The deal is linked to broader U.S.-Iran tensions and recent conflicts involving Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun plans to discuss the deal at the White House on July 21.
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Brian Potter, a British songwriter and producer known for many popular 1970s songs, has died at age 87. He worked with American partner Dennis Lambert and helped create hits for artists like Glen Campbell, the Four Tops, and Take That.
Key Facts
Brian Potter was born in Essex, England, and trained as a drummer before becoming a lyricist.
He co-wrote the 1965 hit "Whatcha Gonna Do About It" for Small Faces.
Potter partnered with Dennis Lambert and moved to the U.S. to write and produce music.
They created hits such as "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell and "Baby Come Back" by Player.
Potter and Lambert helped refresh the Four Tops' sound, producing hits like "Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)".
They worked with several artists across genres including disco with Tavares and soul with Dusty Springfield.
"It Only Takes a Minute" was a disco hit they produced for Tavares and later covered by Take That.
Potter and Lambert received two Grammy nominations in 1976 for their work with Glen Campbell.
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Momentum stocks, which have been rising faster than the overall market, helped push stock prices up earlier this year. Recently, these stocks have started to lose value, especially after the Federal Reserve hinted it might raise interest rates.
Key Facts
Momentum stocks are shares that have increased and outperformed the market for about a year.
A popular momentum ETF gained about 33% over the last 12 months, beating the S&P 500’s 20% gain.
Chip and memory companies like Micron Technology, Intel, and AMD were among the top performers in momentum stocks.
Since July, momentum stocks have performed poorly, with the iShares MTUM ETF dropping more than 11% at one point.
The selloff started soon after the Federal Reserve, led by chairman Kevin Warsh, kept interest rates steady but signaled possible future increases.
Rising short-term interest rates can disrupt momentum stocks, which often perform worse during these rate changes.
The current market shift reflects broader economic uncertainties and changing Fed policies.
Oil prices increased due to tensions with Iran, which affects inflation and may influence the Fed’s decisions.
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Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services has revoked the license for the Provo Canyon School’s girls program due to safety and care failures. The school has faced long-standing abuse allegations, and former students like Hunter Rainer have spoken out about their difficult experiences at the facility.
Key Facts
Utah regulators closed the girls program at Provo Canyon School in Springville because of health and safety violations.
The program must stop operating by August 6 unless it successfully appeals the decision.
Hunter Rainer, a former student assigned female at birth, described being treated like a number and living under strict, controlled conditions.
Rainer and other survivors have accused the school of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment over many years.
Provo Canyon School is owned by Universal Health Services (UHS), which said it made changes after acquiring the school in 2009.
The state found issues including neglect, improper use of restraints, and poor staffing at the girls campus.
The boys program at Provo Canyon School remains open and was not affected by this order.
The school disputes the state’s decision to revoke its license for the girls program.
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The UK government is reviewing the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a disability benefit for people with long-term health conditions, after plans to cut payments faced strong opposition. Changes to Universal Credit (UC), a broader welfare program, have already reduced some payments for new claimants with less severe disabilities starting April 2026.
Key Facts
PIP supports 3.7 million people in England and Wales with physical or mental disabilities.
PIP has two parts: daily living (up to £114.60 per week) and mobility (up to £80.00 per week).
Plans to tighten PIP assessments were announced, but existing claimants will not be affected.
The government originally aimed to save £5.5 billion a year through benefit cuts by 2030.
Experts say changes to PIP will likely not result in net savings by 2029-30.
Universal Credit provides £424.90 monthly for single adults over 25.
From April 2026, new UC claimants with less severe disabilities will get half the previous health-related payment.
Changes to UK welfare can affect Scotland’s budget, even though it has its own disability benefit system.
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President Trump threatened to stop all trade with Spain, which caused Spain’s stock market to drop and raised concerns among investors. The trade conflict relates to disagreements over NATO spending and Spain’s position on Iran, but the legal and practical details of such a trade cutoff remain unclear.
Key Facts
President Trump said, "We don't want to do any trade business with Spain anymore," renewing a conflict over NATO and Iran.
Spain’s main stock index fell 2.7% after the announcement, the largest drop since a similar threat in March.
Investors saw Spanish government debt as riskier compared to Germany’s, pushing up the cost of holding that debt.
Cutting trade with one European Union country could disrupt the recent U.S.-EU trade agreement.
The U.S. currently exports more goods to Spain than it imports from them.
In Trump’s first term, there was a tariff on Spanish black olives for "anti-dumping," but this was partly reduced later.
Any trade cutoff could increase prices in the U.S. for products like medicines and olive oil, adding to inflation worries.
The White House did not comment on the trade threat when asked.
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An 11-year-old girl was raped and murdered in the Indian state of West Bengal, leading to violent protests and unrest in the area. The police arrested several suspects and formed a special team to investigate, while local leaders promised justice amid rising tensions and political controversy.
Key Facts
The girl went missing after going out to buy a gift and was found dead in a pond the next day.
Police initially did not act quickly, causing anger among the family and villagers.
A man named Prabhash Mondal was arrested and later killed by police; three other men remain in custody.
The post-mortem showed that drowning was the cause of death, suggesting she was alive when dumped in the pond.
Violent protests erupted, resulting in damage to property and the death of an innocent young man beaten by a mob.
The state government formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the case.
The case has created political tension and sparked debate about women's safety in West Bengal.
There are also religious tensions because the victim was Muslim and the suspects are Hindu.
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In Japan, air conditioners are widely used in daily life, with all subway lines and most apartments having cooling units. The government supports heavy use of air conditioning when temperatures go above 31 degrees Celsius, but some authorities are now questioning this dependence.
Key Facts
100% of Japan’s subway lines have air conditioning.
About 90% of apartments in Japan have air conditioners, often one in every room.
The government encourages people to use air conditioning during hot weather above 31°C (about 88°F).
This widespread use of air conditioning is part of daily life in Japan.
There is growing concern among officials about being too dependent on air conditioners.
The news was reported from Tokyo by Ayana Nishikawa, Mélodie Sforza, and Adam Hancock.
The heatwave is a factor prompting both use and scrutiny of air conditioning in Japan.
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The head of 14 Greek airports has said the European Union’s new border checks are causing long lines and problems for travelers. He called for the system to be improved, suggesting people should be able to register before arriving at the airport to avoid delays.
Key Facts
The EU’s entry-exit system (EES) requires non-EU passengers to provide fingerprints and photos each time they enter or leave the Schengen zone.
Greek airports run by Fraport have had to set up tents (gazebos) to protect waiting passengers from the sun due to long queues.
Vulnerable travelers are given priority to ensure their safety during the checks.
Police in Greece likely will not check UK travelers even though there is no official exemption for biometric tests.
Border police can temporarily pause checks during busy times, but this option will end in September.
Airlines and travel groups, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), warn the system causes delays and missed flights in various countries.
The UK’s Dover port experienced long vehicle delays due to these checks and expects even more traffic during the peak summer season.
EU officials recognize the system has issues but have declined to pause the checks, noting only a few border points cause significant problems.
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Andy Burnham is the only official candidate to replace Keir Starmer as leader of the UK's Labour Party and is moving closer to becoming the next British prime minister. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, is running in an election in Clacton against a candidate named Count Binface.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is seeking to become the next leader of the UK's Labour Party.
He is the only Labour Member of Parliament to publicly announce candidacy so far.
The Labour leader election is to replace Keir Starmer.
Nigel Farage is the leader of the Reform UK party, which is described as right-wing populist.
Farage is running in an election in Clacton.
He will compete against a candidate called Count Binface.
The article includes a mention of other European and international news but focuses mainly on UK politics.
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