Large wildfires in southwestern France and central Spain forced about 87,000 people to leave their homes. Some residents escaped by boat as fires spread through a popular tourist area near Cap Ferret on France’s Atlantic coast.
Key Facts
Wildfires are burning in southwestern France and central Spain.
Authorities evacuated roughly 87,000 people to keep them safe.
The fire has destroyed about 125 square kilometers (50 square miles) of land near Cap Ferret.
Cap Ferret is a peninsula known for its beaches, oyster farms, and resorts.
The fires began on Wednesday and are still out of control.
Several dozen firefighters have been injured battling the flames.
Some people fled the fires by boat when the flames approached the coast.
Cap Ferret is located 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the city of Bordeaux.
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Thousands of people in Delhi, India, protested calling for changes in education and asking a government minister to resign. Videos show security officers using pellet guns on the protesters, but officials have not yet explained the use of these guns or the injuries caused.
Key Facts
The protests in Delhi are called the "cockroach protests."
Protesters demand educational reforms and a minister’s resignation.
Security officers are seen firing pellet guns at protesters in videos.
The Central Reserve Police Force has not responded to questions about the pellet guns.
Officials said it is too early to comment and are investigating what happened.
The protests have drawn large crowds in the Indian capital.
The BBC is verifying and analyzing video evidence of events.
The reports were made by Merlyn Thomas and Shruti Menon, with production support.
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The U.S. and U.K. are planning a meeting in London to discuss forming an international group to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. This effort comes amid recent attacks by Iran on ships in the area and aims to reopen the strait for safe commercial passage.
Key Facts
The meeting will involve defense ministers and military leaders from Western and regional countries.
The exact date and plans for the meeting are not yet finalized.
The U.S. has launched daily strikes against Iranian military sites after Iran attacked ships in the strait.
No Iranian attacks on commercial ships have occurred in the past four days.
President Trump warned of bombing Iranian infrastructure if attacks continue.
Iran threatened to target infrastructure in U.S.-allied Gulf countries in response.
Talks between Oman, Iran, and Qatar on the strait recently failed but are resuming.
The U.S. seeks help from allies to provide ships, drones, and other assets to secure the shipping lanes.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to create new settler outposts and legalize existing ones in the occupied West Bank after deadly clashes that left six people dead. The government also plans raids in Palestinian villages suspected of hosting militants and promised a strong response to violence.
Key Facts
Two Israelis and four Palestinians died in clashes in the West Bank near the settlement of Havat Gilad and the Palestinian village of Tell.
Netanyahu’s government will establish new settler outposts and legalize more existing ones in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal by international law, but Israel disputes this, saying many settlements are legal under its own laws.
Violence has risen since a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which started the war in Gaza.
Israeli security forces and settlers were involved in the clashes, with reports of shots fired on both sides and a weapon stolen by a Palestinian during the fight.
Around 500,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements alongside about three million Palestinians.
Netanyahu plans to meet President Donald Trump in Washington and attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham.
The United Nations and activists say settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has been increasing recently.
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Wadi Dawan, a valley in Yemen known for its farms and palm dates, is dealing with a serious plastic waste problem. Plastic trash blocks irrigation channels, harms crops, and pollutes the air, with local people struggling to manage the waste due to poor collection services.
Key Facts
Wadi Dawan is a fertile valley in Yemen’s Hadramout province, famous for palm dates and honey production.
Plastic waste, including bags and bottles, litters farms, roadsides, and irrigation channels.
Floods spread the waste and block water channels, harming farm irrigation.
Farmers must clean the waste from channels before planting crops and after floods.
Waste collection services are rare or unreliable due to lack of funding and poor vehicle maintenance.
Many residents dump trash in flood channels because of missing or overflowing waste bins.
Local officials and agricultural researchers have started awareness campaigns about the environmental harm caused by waste.
Plastic pollution affects soil health and crop yields, sometimes causing farmers to lose entire harvests.
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Arkady Dvorkovich, president of the International Chess Federation (Fide), has paused his duties after being placed on the European Union's sanctions list due to his support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. The EU has banned his travel and frozen his assets because of his ties to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and involvement with chess events in occupied Ukrainian areas.
Key Facts
Arkady Dvorkovich is the president of Fide and a former Russian deputy prime minister.
The EU sanctioned him for publicly supporting Russia's annexation of Crimea and calling occupied Ukrainian cities part of Russia.
These sanctions include a travel ban and freezing his financial assets.
Dvorkovich decided to temporarily suspend his role at Fide but has not resigned.
Ukraine praised the sanctions as a victory against Russian influence in chess.
Russia’s national teams have been banned from international chess competitions since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Dvorkovich has been accused by Ukraine and its allies of increasing Russian influence within Fide, a claim he denies.
The Fide general assembly recently voted to keep sanctions on Russia and Belarus, rejecting a move to readmit their teams.
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The youth group of India’s Congress Party held a symbolic funeral for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and two cabinet ministers. This protest was in response to the government’s actions against young protesters on July 20.
Key Facts
The Congress Party’s youth wing organized the event.
The symbolic funeral targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and two ministers, including Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest relates to a crackdown on youth protesters on July 20.
This is a political protest expressing opposition to the government’s handling of the demonstration.
The event was a symbolic act, not an actual funeral.
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Over the past 20 years, the power of the U.S. passport has dropped from the most powerful to the 10th position worldwide. This ranking measures how many countries a passport holder can visit without needing a visa before travel.
Key Facts
In 2006, the U.S. passport was ranked number one in travel freedom.
In 2026, the U.S. passport is ranked 10th, sharing the spot with Iceland.
Americans can travel to about 179 countries without a visa in advance, which is about 92% of the world.
Thirty-six countries now rank above the U.S. in passport strength.
Some countries like Brazil, Venezuela, Turkey, Myanmar, and Ghana have recently required U.S. citizens to get visas.
Singapore has the strongest passport in 2026, with visa-free access to 192 destinations.
The United Arab Emirates has improved its passport strength the most, rising from 62nd to 2nd place.
There is a link between a country's peacefulness and the strength of its passport, meaning more peaceful countries tend to have stronger passports.
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Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House next Tuesday to meet with President Donald Trump. The visit coincides with Netanyahu attending the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham and comes amid rising tensions between Israel, Iran, and Lebanon.
Key Facts
Netanyahu’s visit to the White House is at President Trump’s invitation and will be his seventh visit during Trump’s second term.
Netanyahu will also attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Israel.
The meeting happens as the US-Israel conflict with Iran escalates after a ceasefire agreement fell apart.
The US is trying to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to reduce conflict, excluding Hezbollah from talks.
US Central Command has recently conducted multiple strikes against Iranian targets, and Iran has retaliated, including an attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan.
Israel continues military operations in Gaza despite a US-backed ceasefire, with many Palestinians still facing severe food shortages and casualties rising.
Violence is increasing in the West Bank, with deaths reported among both Palestinians and Israeli settlers.
New York City’s mayor has called for Netanyahu’s arrest based on International Criminal Court charges, but the US does not recognize the ICC and cannot enforce this.
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Clashes in the northern West Bank followed the killing of an Israeli settler, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinians. Israel responded by sending more troops to the area and preparing a large military operation targeting those suspected of attacks.
Key Facts
Violence erupted in the West Bank after an Israeli settler was killed.
Four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers died during the clashes.
Several people on both sides were injured in the violence.
Israel deployed additional troops to Nablus and other parts of the West Bank.
Israeli leaders called for demolishing homes and removing weapons from certain villages.
Israeli forces are searching for Palestinians suspected of attacking Israelis and have arrested two.
Some Israeli officials want to forcibly evacuate certain Palestinian villages.
Human rights groups warn the situation could worsen as tensions rise.
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Two Israeli soldiers died in a violent clash near the West Bank settlement of Havat Gilad and the nearby village of Tal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will respond strongly, as violence in the West Bank has increased since the Gaza war began in October 2023.
Key Facts
The clash occurred in the West Bank near Havat Gilad and Tal.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed in the fighting.
The incident is part of rising violence in the West Bank since October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a strong response.
The West Bank is a disputed area with frequent tensions.
The Gaza war, which started in October 2023, has influenced recent violence.
The article includes related news about regional tensions and conflicts.
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Ukrainian drones attacked several warehouses of Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, causing fires, casualties, and damage to facilities including one in Crimea. Ukraine aims to weaken Russia's military support and economy by targeting logistics sites linked to the war effort.
Key Facts
Wildberries is Russia’s biggest online retailer, similar to Amazon, selling a wide range of products.
Ukrainian drones struck multiple Wildberries warehouses, resulting in nine deaths and many injuries.
One attacked warehouse was located in Crimea, a region Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.
Wildberries was founded in 2004 by Tatyana Kim and operates many warehouses across Russia and neighboring countries.
The company handles over half of all online orders in Russia and works with 500,000 to 800,000 sellers.
Ukraine says the warehouses supported the Russian military by supplying equipment and technical parts.
Russia denies the claims and accuses Ukraine of hitting civilian targets.
Russian civilians continue to use Wildberries despite the attacks, valuing convenience even if prices rise.
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A storm system caused heavy rain and flooding in North Carolina and West Virginia. At the same time, Tropical Storm Bertha brought heavy rain and strong waves to Texas.
Key Facts
Heavy rain caused flooding in North Carolina.
West Virginia also experienced flooding due to the storm.
Tropical Storm Bertha hit Texas with several inches of rain.
Bertha caused high surf along the Texas coast.
The storms affected different parts of the United States at the same time.
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A ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana, killing 72 people with 76 rescued out of about 179 aboard. Rescue teams and divers from several countries are working to recover the ferry and investigate the cause of the accident.
Key Facts
The ferry MV Barima, 87 years old, sank near Essequibo coast while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
Official death toll is 72, with 76 survivors; up to 100 deaths are possible, making it Guyana’s worst maritime disaster.
The ferry was not insured; the government is covering funeral costs and related expenses.
Three people detained, including the captain, a crew member who tested positive for marijuana, and the marine superintendent.
Authorities say the ferry was not overloaded, but survivors claim otherwise; the vessel’s manifest listed fewer passengers than estimated aboard.
Rescue efforts involve divers from Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago searching for bodies and inspecting the ferry.
Government delayed replacing the old ferry because a new pier at Port Kaituma is not yet finished.
A criminal investigation is underway, and a commission of inquiry will review the findings once the investigation concludes.
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Prime Minister Andy Burnham has officially opened Number 10 North, describing it as a very important moment. Experts discussed how this new space might influence his government and looked at his decisions during the first week in office.
Key Facts
Andy Burnham is the Prime Minister.
Number 10 North has been opened by Burnham and is considered a significant event by him.
The Financial Times and The Times political experts joined the discussion.
They talked about whether Number 10 North is more than just a symbolic change.
The discussion reviewed Burnham’s announcements and actions in his first week as Prime Minister.
The program covering this is called Newscast, hosted by Adam Fleming.
Newscast offers daily political news analysis and is available on BBC Sounds and smart speakers.
Listeners can interact with Newscast via email, WhatsApp, and an online community.
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Recent satellite images show Israel building a large earthen barrier in Gaza. At the same time, some Israeli politicians and protesters are calling for annexing and settling parts of Gaza.
Key Facts
Israel is constructing a big earthen barrier that divides Gaza.
This construction has been confirmed by recent satellite photos.
Some Israeli politicians want to annex parts of Gaza.
Protesters in Israel are also pushing for settlements in Gaza.
These developments are happening amid ongoing political discussions.
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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has approved the biggest expansion of the military in recent years to fight violence from armed groups like militants and kidnappers. The plan includes hiring 28,000 new soldiers and creating four new army divisions to improve security and faster responses to attacks.
Key Facts
Nigeria will recruit 28,000 new soldiers and add four new army divisions, increasing total divisions to 12.
The military expansion aims to tackle violence from Islamist militants, separatists, and kidnappers.
Armed gangs recently killed at least 20 villagers in Zamfara state and abducted 46 students in Borno state.
The kidnapped students were rescued by the army shortly after being taken.
Three new army headquarters will be set up in the northeast and central Nigeria, areas with high violence.
President Tinubu also ordered armed groups to surrender or face strong government action.
The government budgeted about $4 billion for defense and security, including hiring 50,000 new police officers.
US and Nigerian forces recently carried out joint operations targeting jihadist groups in northern Nigeria.
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Rufaida, a Sudanese mother, fled her home country and now lives with her baby and husband in a crowded shelter in Beirut, Lebanon. They are among many migrant workers displaced again due to recent fighting between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon.
Key Facts
Rufaida is 28 years old and has a two-month-old son named Ahmad.
They live at Saint Joseph Church in Beirut with about 250 other displaced migrant workers.
Most people in the shelter are Sudanese, with some from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries.
Fighting between Hezbollah and Israel started on March 2, causing 1.5 million people in Lebanon to be displaced within the country.
Rufaida fled Sudan one year ago and now faces displacement again due to the conflict in Lebanon.
The shelter conditions are crowded, with people living among mattresses, laundry, and personal items in shared spaces.
Despite hardships and sleepless nights, Rufaida finds comfort in caring for her baby.
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A Russian missile strike hit the Kyiv region in Ukraine, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 100. The attack targeted an event related to weapons near the Ukrainian capital, and rescue teams are still working at the site.
Key Facts
The strike occurred on Friday in the Kyiv region of Ukraine.
At least 10 people died from the missile attack.
More than 100 people were wounded in the strike.
The target was an event involving arms near Kyiv.
Rescue operations are ongoing in the affected area.
The incident is part of ongoing conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.
The information was reported by officials and a France 24 correspondent.
The attack follows previous missile strikes on Kyiv by Russia in recent weeks.
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A youth movement called the Cockroach Janta Party has grown quickly in India, bringing together many young people who are unhappy with the government. The group is leading protests across the country, calling for change and showing their frustration with current policies.
Key Facts
The Cockroach Janta Party started as a small, satirical youth group a few months ago.
It has become a large movement representing disillusioned young people in India.
Protests are spreading to major cities, including Mumbai and New Delhi.
The Indian government and ruling party, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, face pressure from these protests.
Authorities have been accused of using harsh methods against peaceful demonstrators.
The youth movement continues to push for reforms despite talks with the government.
Issues like exam fraud and corruption have been highlighted during the protests.
The movement uses social and digital platforms to grow its influence.
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