South Korean President Lee Jae Myung suggested starting talks with North Korea to officially end the Korean War. He wants to replace the current ceasefire agreement with a peace deal and believes talks could help limit North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons program.
Key Facts
The Korean War has never officially ended, only paused by a ceasefire called an armistice.
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea is calling for new talks with North Korea.
The goal is to create a formal peace agreement to replace the existing armistice.
President Lee thinks dialogue could slow or stop North Korea’s expanding nuclear weapons development.
The proposal aims to improve security and peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea and often refers to its government.
The Korean War started in 1950 and ended in 1953 with an armistice, but no peace treaty.
A peace regime would mean a lasting, official end to the conflict between North and South Korea.
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Palestinian families in Qusra, near Nablus in the West Bank, say they are blocked from food and supplies due to a siege by Israeli settlers. The Israeli military has not acted to stop the settlers, highlighting political challenges in Israel.
Key Facts
Palestinian residents of three houses in Qusra have been cut off from food and supplies since Sunday.
Israeli settlers have surrounded these homes in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military has not intervened to remove or stop the settlers.
The situation reflects deep political issues within Israel, including a prime minister who has not condemned violent acts.
Qusra is located near Nablus, an area in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The event is part of ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in this region.
News coverage comes from France 24 and correspondent Noga Tarnopolsky.
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An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed seven people and injured three others on Saturday. This is one of the deadliest attacks since Lebanon and Israel agreed on a plan for Israeli forces to leave southern Lebanon and Hezbollah to disarm.
Key Facts
The airstrike occurred early Saturday in southern Lebanon.
Seven people were killed and three were wounded.
Paramedics are still searching for survivors in the rubble.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported the incident.
The attack is one of the deadliest since a June 26 agreement between Lebanon and Israel.
The agreement involves Israel withdrawing its forces from southern Lebanon.
It also calls for Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran, to disarm.
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Mohammad al-Halabi, a farmer from Gaza, lost his large farmland after it was destroyed in February 2024 during Israeli military actions. He now tends a small rented plot to grow crops for his family, while much of Gaza’s agricultural land and water sources remain damaged, severely reducing food production in the region.
Key Facts
Mohammad al-Halabi previously farmed about 40,000 square meters in northern Gaza but lost it due to destruction in February 2024.
His large farmland was bulldozed and is now covered with rubble and war remnants, needing major repairs before it can be farmed again.
Al-Halabi currently farms a small 300-square-meter plot in Nuseirat, growing limited crops mostly for family use.
Over 87% of Gaza’s agricultural land and greenhouses have been destroyed.
About 8,700 agricultural wells and 7,748 animal farms have also been damaged or destroyed.
Annual vegetable and fruit production in Gaza fell sharply from 524,000 tonnes to around 20,000 tonnes.
Gaza’s Ministry of Agriculture says damaged farmland needs soil healing, repaired water and irrigation, and fresh seeds and equipment to restart farming.
These damages are making it harder for farmers to earn a living and for the local market to have enough fresh produce.
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Heathrow Airport has limited access to Terminals 2 and 3 because of flooding. Passengers are advised to use trains and the subway instead of cars while airport teams work to fix the problem.
Key Facts
Flooding has blocked road access to Heathrow’s Terminals 2 and 3.
Passengers should travel by rail or subway to reach these terminals.
Airport staff are actively working to solve the flooding issue.
The disruption happened during a busy school holiday period.
July 19 was Heathrow's busiest day this year, with 267,000 passengers.
The airport recently faced problems after a water leak closed a railway tunnel.
Officials apologized for the inconvenience caused by the flooding.
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Myanmar’s government says it has identified over 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh as former residents of its Rakhine state and plans to accept their return when security improves. The Rohingya crisis began in 2017 after a military crackdown forced hundreds of thousands to flee to Bangladesh, but ongoing conflict and instability have delayed repatriation efforts.
Key Facts
More than 300,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were verified by Myanmar as former residents of western Rakhine state.
Myanmar aims to allow their return when the security situation in Rakhine gets better.
The Rohingya fled Myanmar after a military crackdown in August 2017 following attacks by a Rohingya armed group.
Over 700,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh during the 2017 crisis.
Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as a legal ethnic group and claims many refugees are not verifiable or linked to terrorism.
Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed on a two-year plan for refugee repatriation in 2018, but the plan has not worked due to worsening security and military conflicts.
Fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army has continued, with the Arakan Army controlling much of Rakhine by 2023.
Some Rohingya refugees have tried to reach Malaysia and Indonesia by boat because of poor conditions and limited aid in camps.
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Health workers in eastern Congo are struggling to keep up with the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in the country’s history. Many new cases are found too late because the system to track and monitor people exposed to Ebola is falling behind the virus’s spread.
Key Facts
Ebola has caused over 2,200 deaths and more than 4,700 cases in eastern Congo.
About 60% to 70% of new Ebola cases are among people not previously monitored as contacts.
Health workers investigate dozens of alerts daily, trying to find and isolate infected people.
The outbreak is spreading faster than the 2014-16 West Africa Ebola epidemic.
Surveillance teams work long hours, often late into the night, to track contacts and educate communities.
The United Nations provided an extra $30.5 million to help fight the outbreak.
Health workers face risks while visiting homes and working in the affected communities.
Effective surveillance is crucial to controlling Ebola, as it helps find cases before the virus spreads further.
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The UK will see much cooler weather this weekend as a heatwave ends, with temperatures dropping by 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. This cooler weather will bring more chances of rain, especially in areas that have been very dry.
Key Facts
Thursday was the hottest day of 2026 in the UK, reaching 38.1°C (100.6°F) in Kew Gardens.
This year has had 39 days with temperatures of 30°C (86°F) or higher, breaking the previous record of 30 days from 1995.
Three of the nine times the UK temperature has reached 37°C (99°F) or more have occurred in 2026.
The heatwave has caused problems like wildfires, transport delays, and more heat-related deaths.
A cold front moving southeast brings cooler northwesterly winds and some rain.
Temperatures this weekend will generally be 16-24°C (about 61-75°F), close to the seasonal average for mid-August.
Some areas in southeast England might still be warmer, reaching 27-28°C (81-82°F).
Cooler and more changeable weather is expected to continue for the rest of August, with possible rain systems approaching.
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A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Flores island in eastern Indonesia, killing at least 20 people and trapping others under collapsed buildings. Rescue teams are working to find survivors while people evacuate to higher ground due to tsunami fears, which were later lifted.
Key Facts
The earthquake hit early Saturday off the north coast of Flores island.
At least 20 people died, six were injured, and others remain trapped under rubble.
The hardest-hit area is Nagekeo regency, close to the quake’s epicenter.
Landslides caused by the quake blocked several roads, slowing rescue efforts.
Residents fled to higher ground after the sea level dropped, a sign of a possible tsunami.
Authorities issued a tsunami warning but later canceled it, continuing to monitor sea levels.
The quake caused dozens of aftershocks, the strongest measuring magnitude 6.1.
Indonesia lies in the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
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A Sudanese refugee named Sahra fled the war in Sudan and now works as the head teacher at a primary school in a refugee camp in eastern Chad. The camp school serves over 1,000 students and helps children from both Sudan and Chad, offering education and protection after many fled violence in Sudan.
Key Facts
Sahra is a Sudanese refugee who became a head teacher in a Chadian refugee camp.
War between Sudanese Armed Forces and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces caused many Sudanese people to flee to Chad.
Chad now hosts nearly one million Sudanese refugees, making it one of Africa’s largest refugee-hosting countries.
The camp school opened in 2024 with over 1,000 pupils and 30 teachers.
Teachers, including Sahra, come from the refugee community, helping displaced families.
The school runs two shifts daily to accommodate all the students.
Teachers face challenges adjusting to Chad’s curriculum and languages, as Sudanese students mainly speak Arabic and Chadian children speak local dialects.
Education is seen as important not only for learning but also to protect children from violence and early marriage.
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President Donald Trump said he plans to declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory following a promise to defeat Iran. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister responded by saying the Strait will remain under Iranian control and only Iran can open or close it.
Key Facts
President Trump announced he would soon claim the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory after defeating Iran.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected this, saying the Strait has always been and will remain Iranian.
The UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company reported one of its vessels was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz but no injuries occurred.
Iran has not yet agreed to restart talks with the United States.
Separate talks with Oman focus on defining sea routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. has deployed a record number of Navy forces in operations related to Iran.
The situation is part of ongoing tensions involving economic sanctions and military actions between the U.S. and Iran.
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This summer's heatwaves have caused severe damage across western Europe, visible in satellite images that show dried rivers, retreating glaciers, and large wildfires. Climate change has made these extreme heat events more frequent and intense, affecting landscapes and human activities.
Key Facts
Western Europe experienced its hottest June-to-July period on record, confirmed by the EU's climate monitoring service, Copernicus.
The Danube River has reached its lowest water levels in 30 years, revealing things like mammoth bones and a sunken WWII ship.
Some nuclear power plants along the Danube have shut down or reduced output because they can't use the river water to cool their systems.
Alpine glaciers are melting faster due to less winter snow and early heatwaves; the Rhone Glacier has retreated by about 50 meters since last year.
Over 90,000 hectares of land have burned in France this summer, the worst wildfire season on record there.
The largest fire in the Gironde region near Bordeaux burned 42,000 hectares, roughly the size of the Isle of Wight.
Climate change is causing more frequent and intense wildfires by drying out vegetation and soil faster.
Satellite images clearly show large areas of brown, dried-out land compared to previous years.
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The BBC was warned by whistleblowers that true crime author Christopher Berry-Dee claimed to have had the missing clothes of Karen Hadaway, a child murder victim from 1986, which the BBC lost. The clothes were last confirmed in BBC custody in 1991 but went missing later, and Berry-Dee said he obtained and burned them. Multiple women have accused Berry-Dee of sexual and violent crimes, which he denies.
Key Facts
Karen Hadaway and her friend Nicola Fellows were murdered in Brighton’s Wild Park in 1986.
The clothes Karen was wearing were collected by journalist Martin Bashir in 1991 for a BBC documentary but were later lost by the BBC.
The loss of the clothes was acknowledged by the BBC, which apologized and paid compensation to Karen’s mother.
Christopher Berry-Dee, a true crime author, claimed in the 1990s and 2000s that he had Karen’s clothes and offered DNA testing to the family.
Berry-Dee reportedly received the clothes with the family’s permission before they were given to Bashir, but then again claimed to have obtained them later and said he burned them.
Berry-Dee has faced allegations of sexual and violent offenses but has not been convicted.
The BBC’s whistleblowing unit and senior leaders were informed about Berry-Dee’s claims but decided to take no further action after investigation.
Tim Davie, then BBC director general, apologized publicly for losing the clothes after being questioned by parliament.
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Several countries are increasing diplomatic contact with the Taliban government in Afghanistan despite the group’s record of human rights abuses. The Taliban have banned women from education and work, persecuted minorities, and suppressed activists, yet nations like India, China, Russia, and some European countries are engaging with them for regional security and immigration control reasons.
Key Facts
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, in 2021 after 20 years of conflict.
Since taking power, the Taliban have banned women from universities and most jobs.
Minorities and activists face persecution under the Taliban regime.
Countries including India, China, Iran, Qatar, and Russia have increased diplomatic ties with the Taliban.
Russia recognized the Taliban government and signed a military cooperation deal last year.
The European Union held talks with the Taliban about returning failed asylum seekers.
Some human rights groups worry that diplomatic contacts weaken international pressure for improvements in women's rights and human rights.
Engagement with the Taliban is motivated by concerns about regional security, managing immigration, and acknowledgment that the Taliban will remain in power for now.
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Morocco has increased security with new barbed wire and more police near the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. This move comes after online messages encouraged a large group of migrants to cross the border. Some local people say stricter border controls do not solve the reasons why young migrants try to leave.
Key Facts
Morocco added new barbed wire near the Spain-controlled area of Ceuta.
The country deployed additional police officers to secure the border.
The security increase was in response to online calls for a mass crossing of migrants.
Ceuta is a small Spanish territory located on the north coast of Africa, bordering Morocco.
Residents believe tougher border rules do not fix the issues causing young people to attempt migration.
Young migrants risk their lives trying to cross into Europe through this border area.
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A strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Indonesia early Saturday, causing at least five deaths. The quake triggered landslides and blocked roads, and many aftershocks followed in the area.
Key Facts
The earthquake measured 7.7 in magnitude.
It occurred off the coast of eastern Indonesia.
At least five people died because of the earthquake.
The quake caused landslides, which are sudden movements of earth or rock.
Roads were blocked due to these landslides.
Dozens of smaller tremors, called aftershocks, shook the region after the main quake.
Emergency workers are responding to the situation.
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Taiwan’s opposition-led parliament approved a $93 billion budget after a record delay of 266 days, keeping funding for a key drone defense program. The parliament had clashed over spending, but ultimately preserved the drone funding despite earlier threats to cut it.
Key Facts
Taiwan’s parliament is controlled by the opposition Kuomintang party.
The budget approval was delayed 266 days, passing after the legal deadline.
The total budget is $93 billion for the year.
Funding for Taiwan’s drone program, important for defense against China, was retained.
The Kuomintang initially wanted to cut drone funding by 70% but dropped that plan after review.
Other cuts included 60% less for government agency heads’ special allowances, 2.5% less for military equipment and facilities, and 50% less for media policy and publicity.
Taiwan had been using a provisional budget to pay government workers before this vote.
China claims Taiwan as its own and has increased military pressure in recent years, including ordering many drones, while Taiwan’s military has fewer than 5,000 drones.
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A strong earthquake measuring magnitude 7.7 hit near Indonesia’s Flores region early Saturday, causing buildings to collapse and killing at least five people. Authorities first issued a tsunami warning but later canceled it after monitoring showed no dangerous sea level changes.
Key Facts
The earthquake occurred at 5:58 a.m. local time near Flores, East Nusa Tenggara province.
The epicenter was 42 miles north-northwest of Ende city.
At least five people died: two in Sikka Regency and three in Manggarai Regency.
Buildings, including parts of a port terminal and an assembly hall, were damaged or collapsed.
Power outages have made communication and rescue work difficult.
Patients were evacuated from hospitals, with medical equipment moved outdoors.
Aftershocks followed the main quake.
Panic spread to nearby areas, including Bima city and parts of Sulawesi island.
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A new trailer for the movie "Avengers: Doomsday" was shown at the D23 Disney fan event. The trailer features actors including Robert Downey Jr. and highlights the film's release date on December 18, with tickets already available.
Key Facts
The new "Avengers: Doomsday" trailer debuted at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell presented the trailer.
Robert Downey Jr. plays Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in the film.
The movie will be released in theaters on December 18.
Tickets for "Avengers: Doomsday" are on sale now.
D23 is a fan event held every two years where Disney previews upcoming movies, shows, and products.
This year’s D23 event is taking place at the Anaheim Convention Center from Friday to Sunday.
The cast shown includes characters such as Shuri, M’Baku, Ben Grimm (The Thing), Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), and others.
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Iran has not decided whether to restart talks with the United States to end the ongoing conflict. The two countries disagree on ceasefire breaches and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route.
Key Facts
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has not decided to resume negotiations with the U.S.
Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are communicating with Iran but this does not yet mean official talks.
Iran claims the U.S. caused a return to violence despite an earlier agreement made in Pakistan in June.
Iran is working with Oman to create new shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, dependent on political agreements.
President Donald Trump said he will declare the Strait of Hormuz as U.S. territory after defeating Iran.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz belongs to Iran and will remain so.
The UAE’s state oil company reported an attack on one of its ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. plans to increase economic sanctions on Iran, aiming to isolate its economy and block port access.
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