Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, denied reports that he threatened to resign while negotiating with the US about the Strait of Hormuz. There is tension within Iran over a possible agreement that some fear would allow Iran to keep control over this important oil shipping route.
Key Facts
President Pezeshkian said he never threatened to resign and would officially announce it if he decided to quit.
Reports claiming his repeated resignation threats were made by Mohammad Bagher Kharazi, related to Iran’s supreme leader’s family.
Kharazi said Pezeshkian felt left out of decision-making due to the supreme leader’s low public profile for security reasons.
The supreme leader, who has not been seen publicly after an injury in a war, had his office deny the resignation claims as false.
The US and Europe want a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil shipments, with temporary terms involving Oman and Iran.
Some hardliners in Iran strongly oppose any agreement with the US and describe such talks as a betrayal.
Iranian officials supporting Pezeshkian say the rumors aim to create division and undermine democratic outcomes.
The disagreement highlights deep divisions in Iran about whether to negotiate with the US.
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A man was arrested for allegedly starting one of three large wildfires near Spokane, Washington. These wildfires have forced thousands of people to leave their homes as the fires continue to burn.
Key Facts
A man was arrested on suspicion of arson related to the wildfires near Spokane.
There are three major wildfires burning in the Spokane area.
Thousands of residents have been evacuated due to the fires.
The arrest followed a tip from someone who helped officials.
Wildfires are causing significant damage and concern in Washington state.
Local news outlet KREM is reporting on the situation.
Authorities are working to control the fires and protect communities.
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Police from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru arrested hundreds of people in a large operation against environmental crimes in the Amazon rainforest. The effort targeted illegal mining, logging, wildlife trafficking, and land grabbing, leading to the seizure of timber, minerals, equipment, and animals.
Key Facts
Operation Green Shield 2026 ran from July 15 to 31 and involved over 3,600 officers.
Authorities made 839 arrests and carried out 1,045 field actions.
More than 280,000 cubic meters of illegal timber were seized, enough to fill about 110 Olympic swimming pools.
The operation confiscated 195 metric tons of minerals and mining equipment, including gold, carbon, iron, and copper.
Over 3,000 live animals were rescued, and at least 430 dead animals linked to wildlife trafficking were recovered.
Criminal groups involved often combine illegal mining, logging, and wildlife trafficking and operate across borders.
The operation was coordinated from Bogotá by the International Initiative of Law Enforcement for Climate (I2LEC), supported by the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The total value of seized goods exceeded $280 million.
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Princess Eugenie, a member of the British royal family, gave birth to a baby girl in Lisbon, Portugal. The baby is Eugenie’s third child and first daughter, born on Monday weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces (3 kilograms).
Key Facts
Princess Eugenie is the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
She and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, have two sons named August (5) and Ernest (3).
The baby girl was born in Lisbon, Portugal.
The baby’s name has not been announced yet.
Princess Eugenie is the niece of King Charles III.
Buckingham Palace said the King, Queen, and royal family were happy about the birth.
The baby weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces (3 kilograms) at birth.
The birth was publicly announced by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday.
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Italy is experiencing very high temperatures this summer, leading the health ministry to issue a red alert for 27 major cities. To avoid the heat, people are advised to visit outdoor attractions early or late in the day, and to seek places like museums, churches, and parks that offer shade or air conditioning.
Key Facts
Italy’s health ministry issued a red alert for 27 major cities, including Milan, Naples, Venice, and Rome, due to extreme heat.
Some tourist sites, like the Colosseum and Pantheon in Rome, have extended evening opening hours to help visitors avoid daytime heat.
Cooling fans and more medical stations have been added at the Colosseum to protect visitors.
Tours are now offered late at night (e.g., 10 p.m. to midnight) and early in the morning around 8 a.m. to avoid the hottest times.
Museums, churches, and parks are popular places to escape the heat because they often have air conditioning or shade.
Popular activities like cooking classes and wine tastings happen indoors and attract people looking to stay cool.
Experts warn against visiting open archaeological sites during the hottest part of the day and suggest visiting indoor museums instead.
Local supermarkets offer air conditioning and quick food options that help beat the heat during outings.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not retreat from its positions in Gaza until Hamas is fully disarmed. This statement contrasts with a recent ceasefire deal proposed by the Trump administration that involved Hamas beginning to disarm and Israel starting to withdraw its forces. Meanwhile, Palestinians held a mass funeral for victims of a deadly Israeli strike in Gaza in 2023, as recovery efforts continue under the current ceasefire.
Key Facts
Netanyahu declared Israeli forces will remain in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed.
A ceasefire deal had been proposed where Hamas would start disarming and Israel would begin withdrawing, but Netanyahu rejected it.
Netanyahu stated Israel would continue taking necessary actions to protect its people and territory.
Palestinians held a mass funeral for more than 100 victims of a 2023 Israeli airstrike in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood.
That airstrike killed over 300 people, with many bodies buried under rubble until recently recovered during ceasefire conditions.
The current ceasefire began in October 2023, allowing some recovery of victims’ remains.
Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages taken.
Since then, more than 73,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli retaliatory attacks according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
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Peter Gill, a well-known British theatre director, playwright, and actor, has died at the age of 86. He worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre, where he helped bring attention to plays by DH Lawrence and contributed significantly to British theatre.
Key Facts
Peter Gill was born in Cardiff in 1939 and was proud of his Welsh roots.
He started as an actor at 18, performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and acted in films like HMS Defiant and Zulu.
Gill became associate director at the Royal Court Theatre in 1970 and helped revive interest in DH Lawrence’s plays.
In 1976, he became artistic director of Riverside Studios and helped establish it as a major theatre venue.
He was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for his contributions to theatre.
Gill founded and led the National Theatre Studio from 1984 to 1990.
Welsh actor Luke Evans credited Gill with giving him a key acting role that changed his career.
Theatre colleagues praised Gill’s intelligence, kindness, and lasting impact on British theatre.
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Israel is preparing for elections in October amid a sharp increase in building settlements in the West Bank. This growth in settlements, many considered illegal under international law, is linked to political efforts by Israel’s hard right to strengthen control over the area before the vote.
Key Facts
Israel plans to hold elections in October 2024.
Settlement activity in the West Bank has reached record levels according to the United Nations.
Israeli settlers, sometimes with military help, have increased attacks and set up new settlements and outposts.
The hard right, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, supports expanding settlements to deepen Israeli control over the West Bank.
Since 2022, Israel has approved over 100 illegal settlements and about 160 settlement farms in the West Bank.
The E1 settlement project aims to connect East Jerusalem with another settlement, reducing the possibility of a Palestinian state.
Smotrich created a Settlements Administration within the Defense Ministry to strengthen settler influence on policy.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on support from the hard right and settlers amid his own political and legal challenges.
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India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost a byelection in a seat it had held for 30 years, following student protests over exam paper leaks. Prashant Kishor’s new Jan Suraaj party won in Bankipur, Bihar, signaling growing concern about education and unemployment among young voters.
Key Facts
The BJP lost the Bankipur byelection in Bihar, a seat it held for three decades.
The loss followed nationwide student protests against exam paper leaks and the education minister’s resignation.
Prashant Kishor, a political strategist, led his Jan Suraaj party to victory in Bankipur.
The BJP lost two of three byelections this week; Congress held Datia, and BJP won Manjalpur in Gujarat.
The Cockroach student movement, with over 26 million Instagram followers, grew from a derogatory comment about unemployed youth.
Young voter issues like education scandals and unemployment influenced the election outcome.
BJP leaders criticized the Cockroach protesters, calling them a “virus” during the campaign.
The government is concerned about foreign tech companies' influence, highlighted by a dispute with Meta over a missing Modi video.
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Vitalina Yarovenko, a 20-year-old Ukrainian student and volunteer medic, was killed in Kyiv by a Russian missile strike while helping wounded victims of an earlier attack. Hundreds of people attended her funeral, honoring her with a procession similar to those for fallen soldiers.
Key Facts
Vitalina Yarovenko was a fourth-year psychology student at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
She volunteered with a Ukrainian medical group called the Hospitallers, which provides frontline medical help during the war.
Yarovenko was killed in a Russian missile strike while assisting victims of a previous attack at the same location.
Her family requested mourners wear white or traditional Ukrainian clothes instead of black.
The funeral procession passed through Kyiv’s central streets and Independence Square, stopping traffic for several minutes.
Drivers and passersby showed respect by kneeling, standing silently, or placing a hand over their heart.
Ukrainian officials say Russia often targets rescue workers with a “double tap” tactic, hitting the same place twice to cause more casualties.
Yarovenko’s mother asked for her funeral to be conducted like those for soldiers who died defending Ukraine.
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Kenya has set a limit on how many carbon emission credits it can sell to overseas buyers, establishing a 10 million metric ton cap through 2030. The country introduced a detailed rule book to guide carbon trading projects that helps protect its climate goals under the Paris Agreement.
Key Facts
Kenya limits overseas sales of carbon credits to a total of 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.
The new carbon market guide sets an annual cap of 1.67 million metric tons for carbon credit sales.
The guide creates a clear process to approve carbon trading projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Kenya wants to avoid selling too many carbon credits so it can meet its own climate targets, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Priority projects include renewable energy, transportation, and waste management; forest projects are excluded for now.
The framework aims to make approval decisions more predictable and transparent for investors.
Kenya has become a major African destination for carbon market investments like clean cooking and mangrove restoration.
The government hopes the new rules will protect climate integrity and benefit local communities involved in carbon market projects.
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Three lionesses at Tokyo’s Tama Zoological Park died from suspected heatstroke during a record heatwave affecting East Asia. The extreme heat has caused deaths and illnesses in South Korea, Japan, and North Korea, with officials warning that severe weather will likely continue due to climate factors.
Key Facts
Three lions at Tokyo’s largest zoo died from suspected heatstroke amid high heat and humidity.
South Korea declared a national disaster after record temperatures and at least 19 deaths linked to heat.
Over 2,000 people in South Korea have suffered heat-related illnesses since mid-May.
South Korea recorded its highest temperature ever at 42.5°C (108.5°F) in Yangsan.
North Korea faces ongoing heat advisories, but casualty data is unavailable due to strict media control.
Japan had nearly 18,600 heat-related hospitalizations in one week, with 45 deaths on arrival.
Scientists say human-driven climate change is making heatwaves hotter, longer, and more frequent.
The UN warns a strong El Nino will increase global temperatures and disrupt rainfall patterns further.
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Farmers, firefighters, and some politicians in England and Wales are asking for a temporary ban on disposable barbecues to reduce the risk of wildfires. The request comes as dry, hot weather has increased wildfire dangers, affecting crops, wildlife, and landscapes across the UK.
Key Facts
Farmers and landowners warn that disposable barbecues can start wildfires, destroying crops and farmland.
Firefighters and political groups like the Liberal Democrats and Labour MPs support banning disposable barbecues.
Dry weather caused by climate change and droughts has made vegetation very flammable.
Disposable barbecues are still sold in some small shops and online, though major supermarkets have stopped selling them.
Wildfires have burned over 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) across the UK this year, affecting places like Wales, Scotland, and near a nuclear plant in Suffolk.
Farmers want local authorities to stop BBQs and campfires in public areas to reduce fire risks.
Some experts say controlled burning, a method to clear dry plants safely, should be allowed again to prevent larger wildfires.
Conservationists and experts disagree about rewilding’s role in wildfire risk, with some saying it actually helps reduce the danger.
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Princess Eugenie gave birth to a baby girl on Monday at a hospital in Lisbon, Portugal. The baby weighs 6 pounds 9 ounces and is the couple’s third child. The new baby is 15th in line to the British throne.
Key Facts
The baby girl was born at 18:20 BST in Lisbon, Portugal.
Princess Eugenie is married to Jack Brooksbank.
They have two sons: August (born 2021) and Ernest (born 2023).
The baby will not have the title "Her Royal Highness" (HRH).
The baby will be 15th in line to the throne, ahead of Prince Edward.
The King and Queen, and other royal family members, were informed and happy about the news.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank live partly in Portugal and partly at Kensington Palace.
Eugenie announced her pregnancy in May 2026 with a photo of her sons holding a baby scan.
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Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have welcomed their first daughter, born on August 3, 2026, in Lisbon, Portugal. The family shared the first photos of their baby girl one day after her birth, and she is now 15th in line to the British throne.
Key Facts
Princess Eugenie gave birth to her first daughter on August 3, 2026, at 6:20 p.m. in Lisbon.
The baby weighed 6 pounds 9 ounces at birth.
The baby girl joins two older brothers, August (5 years old) and Ernest (3 years old).
The couple announced the birth and shared photos on Instagram.
The new baby is 15th in line to the British throne, after Princess Eugenie who is 12th.
The King, Queen, and other royal family members were informed and pleased by the birth.
Princess Eugenie and her sister Princess Beatrice have non-working royal roles and keep their children protected from family controversies.
The announcement reflects the royal family’s growing next generation amid public attention.
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Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted strongly on Monday, causing lava and ash to flow down its slopes. Hundreds of people living nearby have evacuated to shelters due to the risk from lava and volcanic debris.
Key Facts
Fuego volcano is Guatemala’s most active volcano, rising 3,763 meters (12,346 feet) high.
The eruption caused lava rivers and ash clouds rising six kilometers (3.7 miles) into the sky.
At least 350 residents from villages near the volcano were evacuated to a nearby municipality.
Evacuees are staying in community centers with makeshift beds, and more people moved to other towns.
Authorities warned about hot volcanic debris flowing down the slopes and advised evacuations.
Schools near the volcano suspended face-to-face classes because of safety concerns.
A road around the volcano that connects key towns was closed to protect travelers.
Similar eruptions caused mass evacuations in past years, and a major 2018 eruption killed over 200 people.
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Negotiations between Israel and Lebanon, sponsored by the United States, are currently not making much progress. The talks face challenges beyond technical issues, including military situations, political limits within both countries, less U.S. involvement, and regional conflicts.
Key Facts
The negotiations have reached their seventh round but show signs of stagnation.
The original framework agreement was signed in June but is difficult to implement.
The problems now involve complex military and political factors, not just technical details.
Domestic politics in Israel and Lebanon limit what can be agreed upon.
American involvement in the talks has decreased over time.
Regional tensions, including the Iran-US conflict, affect progress.
The wider strategic situation influences these negotiations.
Hezbollah, a powerful group in Lebanon, rejects the recent round of talks.
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A mass funeral was held in Gaza for 112 people, including 40 children, killed in a deadly Israeli airstrike in November 2023. The remains were recovered recently due to ongoing Israeli strikes despite a ceasefire in October, and many victims are still missing under the rubble.
Key Facts
The funeral took place in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, with over 100 coffins wrapped in Palestinian flags.
The airstrike on 22 November 2023 destroyed a residential block in Gaza City and killed over 300 people.
Rescue workers only recently recovered 112 bodies from the rubble; 157 people are still missing from that attack.
Since the October 2023 ceasefire, Israeli strikes have slowed but not completely stopped.
Around 7,400 people are still believed to be buried under rubble in Gaza, with estimates likely higher.
Human Rights organizations and UN reports accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.
More than 73,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the war on 7 October 2023.
Ceasefire talks have stalled, with disagreements over Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawal.
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This summer is currently the third hottest on record, behind 2024 and 2025. However, scientists warn that due to a strong El Nino weather pattern combined with human-caused global warming, 2026 could become the hottest year ever by the end of the year.
Key Facts
Wildfires and deadly heat waves are affecting parts of North America and Europe.
The world’s oceans are the hottest recorded for this time of year.
El Nino, a climate phenomenon that warms the Pacific Ocean and influences global weather, is unusually strong in 2026.
So far, 2026 ranks as the third hottest year, after 2024 and 2025.
Scientists estimate about a 35% chance that 2026 will surpass 2024 as the hottest year.
Experts agree 2027 is very likely to become the hottest year on record, surpassing previous records by a large margin.
Ocean temperatures influence global air temperatures with a delay of about 1.5 months.
Climate change driven by human activity is steadily increasing global temperatures and the frequency of extreme weather events.
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Health officials in the UK have reported a sharp increase in cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal infection caused by a parasite, among travelers returning from Mexico. At least 67 cases were reported between late April and mid-July, with most patients having visited popular Mexican tourist areas. Meanwhile, the US is also experiencing a large outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce from Mexico.
Key Facts
Cyclosporiasis is caused by a parasite named Cyclospora cayetanensis.
Between April 30 and July 15, 67 cyclosporiasis cases were reported in the UK among travelers returning from Mexico.
Most of these UK cases involved stays in Cancún and Riviera Maya regions.
From 2022 to 2025, the UK saw about 93 cases annually on average, so the current number shows a sharp rise.
In the US, over 18,000 cases have been reported across 45 states in 2026, including 6,707 confirmed by lab tests and 423 hospitalizations.
A multi-state outbreak in the US has been linked to iceberg lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms, grown in central Mexico.
Taylor Farms recalled all iceberg lettuce from central Mexico due to the outbreak.
Officials say it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where contamination happens — on farms, during processing, or along distribution.
Increased testing and awareness may partly explain why more cases are being found now.
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