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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In the fiscal year 2025, over 1.3 million people received U.S. green cards, with Mexico being the top country of origin. Most green cards were given through family-based immigration, followed by employment and refugee statuses, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security covering October 2024 to September 2025.
Key Facts
A total of 1,320,080 green cards were issued in fiscal year 2025.
Mexico had the largest number of recipients, with 195,760 green cards issued.
Family-based immigration accounted for the majority, with 684,530 green cards given to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens.
Employment-based green cards were the third largest category, with 159,070 issued.
Refugees and asylum seekers received 116,470 and 60,390 green cards respectively.
The Diversity Visa lottery granted 52,470 green cards.
The data covers the end of the Biden administration and the start of President Trump’s second term.
Since January 2025, President Trump’s administration has introduced new immigration rules increasing scrutiny on green card applications and limiting some pathways to residency.
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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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Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, received a £5 million gift from a cryptocurrency billionaire that bankers reported to the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) over concerns of possible money laundering. Farage resigned his MP seat in Clacton to trigger a byelection but plans to stand again; he denies wrongdoing and says he was unaware of the NCA report.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage received a £5 million gift from Christopher Harborne, a cryptocurrency billionaire based in Thailand.
Bankers reported this large gift to the National Crime Agency due to concerns it might be linked to money laundering.
The National Crime Agency’s report is not proof of a crime but prompts further investigation.
Farage resigned his MP seat for Clacton to force a byelection, which other major parties are boycotting.
Farage has given different reasons for the gift and claims he was not required to disclose it because he was not a sitting politician when he received it.
Reform UK’s deputy leader accused the NCA of leaking private financial information to the media.
Farage denies any wrongdoing and says he trusts the source of the money.
The gift was partly received after Farage said he would not stand for parliament and partly before he reversed that decision.
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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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Marks & Spencer (M&S) held a fashion show on the Silverstone Formula One pit lane for the first time ever, showcasing their summer clothing line. This event is part of M&S’s new long-term partnership with Silverstone and the Williams F1 Team, aiming to attract a younger, global audience.
Key Facts
M&S staged a fashion show on an active F1 pit lane at Silverstone on July 2nd, 2026.
The show featured the "Dress to Thrill" summer collection with neutral colors and racing red highlights.
M&S has a long-term deal with Silverstone covering major events like the British Grand Prix and MotoGP.
M&S is the official travel kit partner for the Atlassian Williams F1 Team, providing clothing for drivers and staff at races worldwide.
The Williams partnership marks M&S’s first entry into Formula 1 and targets younger customers.
The 2026 British Grand Prix broke attendance records with 564,000 people over four days and a global broadcast reach of over 1.8 billion viewers.
M&S’s previous summer show in Ibiza attracted over 26 million viewers, showing their focus on large-scale cultural moments.
The fashion show helped engage new audiences by combining F1 and fashion in a unique way, aiming to grow M&S’s relevance and customer base.
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A family in Iowa is using their garden hose to make art by creating water shapes called "water silhouettes." They use this fun activity to cool down during hot weather.
Key Facts
The family is located in Iowa.
They use a garden hose to spray water in creative ways.
The water shapes they make are called "water silhouettes."
This activity helps them stay cool in hot weather.
ABC News reporter Danny News conducted the interview.
The story was shared by ABC News on July 8, 2026.
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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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President Donald Trump is pushing for a law called the "Save America Act" that would change voting rules, including requiring proof of citizenship and limiting mail-in voting. While the law faces challenges in Congress, Trump may use his presidential powers to challenge election results and influence the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump withdrew his nominee for director of national intelligence and opposed a bipartisan housing bill to pressure Congress on the "Save America Act."
The "Save America Act" demands proof of citizenship and restricts mail-in voting unless voters can justify in-person voting.
The Senate likely does not have enough votes to pass this act.
Trump may use his executive authority to question election results without needing new laws from Congress.
He has ordered federal agencies to create citizenship lists by state to determine voter eligibility.
New Postal Service rules restrict absentee ballot delivery in states not sharing voter data with the federal government.
The FBI has reopened investigations into the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia, despite no irregularities being found previously.
Analysts warn Trump might claim election fraud or foreign interference to delay or block certification of election results and push Congress to ignore certain outcomes.
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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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Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor for suggesting without proof that China caused a major Telstra outage in Australia. The outage disrupted mobile and emergency services, and officials confirmed it was due to a technical issue, not a cyberattack.
Key Facts
A major Telstra outage affected millions of Australians, disrupting mobile calls and data.
The outage also impacted emergency triple-zero calls, which triggered welfare checks.
Telstra said the problem was caused by a time-keeping server error and is now fully resolved.
Communications Minister Anika Wells rejected claims linking the outage to China.
Barnaby Joyce and Angus Taylor questioned if the outage was linked to a recent Chinese missile test without evidence.
Emergency services minister Kristy McBain criticized a senator for making unnecessary calls to the emergency number during the outage.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority will review the incident.
Opposition senator Sarah Henderson called for a quick government report and stronger rules for telcos.
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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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Virgin Media was fined £28 million by the UK telecom regulator Ofcom for making it difficult for customers to cancel their contracts between 2022 and 2024. The company admitted to mishandling millions of calls by delaying cancellations and rewarding staff for doing so.
Key Facts
Virgin Media was fined £28 million by Ofcom, the largest fine under its consumer protection rules.
The company delayed or blocked contract cancellations from January 2022 to September 2024.
Tactics included dropping calls on purpose, unnecessary transfers, and putting customers on hold without reason.
A staff commission system encouraged agents to prevent cancellations.
Around 2,000 complaints were made to Ofcom about this issue.
Virgin Media admitted fault and settled the case, leading to a 30% reduction of the fine.
The company has since improved staff training, commission schemes, and service monitoring.
Ofcom requires Virgin Media to compensate affected customers within six months.
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