Satellites have measured that Greenland and Antarctica have lost about 12.5 trillion tons of ice since 1979. Most of this ice melted because warmer ocean water is melting the ice sheets from below and the sides, which may cause sea levels to rise in the future.
Key Facts
Greenland and Antarctica lost around 12.5 trillion tons (11.3 trillion metric tons) of ice in 47 years since 1979.
The amount of melted ice would cover the continental United States 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep.
Most ice melt (about 5/6) is caused by warmer ocean waters, not just warmer air temperatures.
Warmer water melts the ice sheets from underneath and around the sides.
Melting glaciers flow into the ocean, contributing to rising sea levels.
The findings were published in the journal Scientific Data.
The melting of ice sheets is linked to Earth's warming climate.
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Amnesty International says Iranian authorities committed serious human rights violations, called "crimes against humanity," during protests in 2022 that killed hundreds of people. Amnesty also reports that Iran’s recent crackdowns on protests this year show similar patterns but have affected even more people.
Key Facts
Amnesty International investigated the Iranian government's actions during the 2022 protests.
Hundreds of protesters were killed in Iran during these crackdowns.
Amnesty calls these actions "crimes against humanity," meaning widespread abuse against civilians.
The group says the way Iran suppressed protests in 2023 and 2026 shows the same features but on a larger scale.
Amnesty International urges the creation of an international court or system to hold those responsible accountable.
The protests in Iran are linked to demands for human rights, including women’s rights.
Amnesty’s report is based on research and interviews with witnesses and victims.
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Syria’s parliament has officially ended the al-Assad-era Counter-Terrorism Court and canceled its previous rulings. At the same time, protests erupted in the Kurdish region over rising fuel prices and government efforts to integrate Kurdish forces into the national army.
Key Facts
Syria’s parliament voted to abolish the Counter-Terrorism Court, which was created in 2012 under the former al-Assad regime.
The court prosecuted thousands of Syrians for terrorism-related offenses, but was criticized for unfair trials and human rights abuses.
The new Syrian parliament convened for the first time in July 2025 after al-Assad was removed from power in December 2024.
President Ahmed al-Sharaa dismissed 67 judges associated with the abolished court in June 2025.
Kurdish protests blocked a major highway near Tal Tamr, halting oil trucks due to a sharp rise in fuel prices.
The fuel price increase followed Syria’s takeover of Kurdish-held oilfields and ended fuel subsidies previously provided by Kurdish forces.
The government blamed global fuel price rises linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran and refinery repairs for the price hikes.
Kurdish students protested new rules making Kurdish an official language for some school classes, a historic first but limited in scope.
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Saudi Arabia accused Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels of trying to attack the holy city of Mecca with a drone, which Saudi forces said they destroyed before it reached the city. The Houthis denied the attack. Saudi Arabia called Mecca a “red line” and is seeking more military help from its allies amid ongoing regional conflicts involving Iran.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia says Houthis fired a drone toward Mecca, which was intercepted and destroyed.
The Houthis denied launching the drone attack on Mecca.
Mecca is Islam’s holiest city and Saudi Arabia declared it a “red line” not to be attacked.
Saudi Arabia has faced multiple Houthi attacks on its infrastructure and shipping routes recently.
The Houthis are supported by Iran, a rival of Saudi Arabia in the region.
Saudi Arabia is part of a new defense pact with Turkey and Pakistan but has not yet formally requested their military support.
Saudi Arabia is asking other allies, including France and Britain, to help defend against missile and drone attacks.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack as a violation of the sanctity of holy sites.
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Eight women’s bodies were found near an international airport in South Africa, raising fears about a possible serial killer. Police have not confirmed a connection between the deaths but issued warnings for women to be careful and travel in groups while investigations continue.
Key Facts
Eight women’s bodies were discovered near O.R. Tambo International Airport in the Ekurhuleni area.
Police warned women not to walk or run alone in isolated places and to stay vigilant.
The women were found half-naked and showed signs of bruising or stab wounds.
Only two victims, Elizabeth Moselakgomo and Itumeleng Kekana, have been publicly identified.
Investigators have not confirmed if the deaths are linked or caused by one person but are investigating thoroughly.
South Africa has high levels of gender-based violence and has declared it a national disaster since 2025.
President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered police to give highest priority to these cases.
Police are investigating separate incidents in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, and KwaThema.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin asked citizens to vote in the upcoming parliamentary election as a way to show support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The election will choose members of the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, and is the first since the war began in February 2022.
Key Facts
The parliamentary election in Russia starts on Friday and lasts for three days.
It is the first election since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in February 2022.
The election will select 450 members for the State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament.
Most anti-war candidates have been excluded from the election ballot.
President Putin said voting will show national unity and support for Russian soldiers.
The ruling party, United Russia, backed by Putin, is expected to keep control of the parliament.
Putin described the vote as a response to external pressures on Russia and a way to defend the country’s sovereignty.
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Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Houthi rebel group in Yemen for over a decade but has not stopped them. Recently, the Houthis captured key areas near an important sea trade route, raising tensions and threatening global shipping. Experts say the conflict could lead to costly negotiations or further fighting, affecting Saudi stability and global oil exports.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia started its war in Yemen over 10 years ago to stop the Houthis from gaining power.
The Houthis recently took control of the port of Mokha and some islands in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Bab el-Mandeb is a vital shipping route that handles about 12% of global trade, including Saudi oil exports.
The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities and oil infrastructure.
Saudi forces claimed to stop a drone attack toward Mecca, but the Houthis denied it.
The conflict has hurt Saudi Arabia’s oil exports and plans to attract global investors.
Experts suggest Saudi Arabia may need to negotiate with the Houthis, possibly offering money and political rights in return for peace and safe shipping.
Any agreement would help Saudi Arabia avoid further damage but might not fully end the war in Yemen.
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Turkish courts have jailed 62 LGBTQ activists and supporters after recent police actions. An expert said President Erdogan views LGBTQ people as a threat to his vision of a strong, traditional male-led state.
Key Facts
Turkish courts have put 62 LGBTQ activists and supporters in custody.
These arrests happened after a police crackdown during a weekend.
The information comes from a legal rights group reporting on the situation.
Koen Slootmaeckers, a politics expert at City St George's, University of London, spoke about the issue.
Slootmaeckers said President Erdogan wants to promote a strong and masculine Turkish state.
According to Slootmaeckers, Erdogan sees LGBTQ people as opposing this ideal.
The situation concerns human rights and political issues in Turkey.
The article is based on reporting from France 24 and includes expert commentary.
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European laws called the Industrial Accelerator Act, or "Made in Europe," aim to reduce China's role in European industry but may exclude British businesses from EU contracts. The UK government wants this law discussed in future talks with the EU to protect trade and is pushing to include it on the agenda before agreeing to a new summit.
Key Facts
The Industrial Accelerator Act prioritizes EU suppliers in industries like car manufacturing and defense.
The law was not part of the original UK-EU reset plan agreed in May 2025.
A planned July 2026 summit on the UK-EU reset was canceled after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer resigned.
The UK government is seeking to add “Made in Europe” to the agenda for restarting talks with the EU.
UK ministers worry the law could exclude UK goods from key EU contracts, risking billions in trade.
France leads efforts to pass the law by the end of 2026 but may consider including third countries like the UK later.
Some EU countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Italy support including the UK in the law, but France is hesitant.
The UK hopes progress on this law could help unlock deals on other issues, like youth mobility programs with the EU.
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Sweden's centre-left opposition narrowly won the recent parliamentary election, defeating the current right-wing government. Almost all the votes had been counted when the public broadcaster SVT announced the result.
Key Facts
The election was held in Sweden.
The centre-left opposition won by a very small margin.
The right-wing governing group lost the election.
Results were reported by Sweden's public broadcaster SVT.
99% of the votes had been counted at the time of the announcement.
The election took place on Sunday before the announcement on Wednesday.
This result changes the balance of power in Sweden's parliament.
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Saudi Arabia said that Yemen’s Houthi group attacked the holy city of Mecca by sending a drone, which Saudi forces claim to have shot down. The Houthis denied this and called Saudi Arabia’s statement false.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia accused the Houthi group from Yemen of targeting Mecca with a drone attack.
The attack was described by Saudi officials as "cowardly."
Saudi forces said they intercepted and shot down the drone before it reached Mecca.
The Houthis denied launching a drone attack and called the accusation a lie.
Mecca is the holiest city in Islam and hosts millions of pilgrims annually.
The event caused anger in the Muslim world.
The conflict involves regional tensions, including interests of Iran and the strategic Red Sea area.
This incident is part of the ongoing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis in Yemen.
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Robert Kraft, owner of Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, supports Israel and has spoken out against antisemitism. He objected to rapper Macklemore’s pro-Palestinian remarks during Ed Sheeran's concert at his stadium, which led to Macklemore being removed from the tour. Kraft has a long history of philanthropy and advocacy for Jewish and Israeli causes.
Key Facts
Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments at Ed Sheeran’s New Jersey concert and showed images from Gaza.
Robert Kraft stated Macklemore’s actions were offensive to the Jewish community and decided to remove him from Gillette Stadium shows.
Kraft is a vocal supporter of Israel and has funded anti-antisemitism campaigns through the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate.
Kraft was born into a Modern Orthodox Jewish family and remains active in Jewish philanthropy.
He has donated millions to Jewish and Israeli charities and won the 2019 Genesis Prize for his advocacy.
Kraft has publicly expressed concern about civilian suffering during conflicts but supports Israel’s right to self-defense.
He has close ties with Israeli leaders and organizations and supports sports and community projects in Israel.
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The EU has offered Canada a new kind of partnership called "associate membership" to strengthen ties in a challenging global environment. This deal could serve as a model for other countries, including the UK, which currently does not have such a relationship with the EU after Brexit.
Key Facts
EU President Ursula von der Leyen proposed Canada becoming the EU's first "associate member" during her State of the Union speech.
This partnership aims to build closer links among allies amid global tensions and an assertive China.
Canada is important to the EU because it has rich supplies of critical raw materials (CRM) and rare earths needed for industries like car manufacturing and defense.
The EU is looking to reduce dependence on China for these resources by diversifying its supply.
The UK, once an EU member, does not have associate membership due to Brexit, but the Canada offer may inspire new partnership ideas.
Experts say associate membership is a flexible model that could include cooperation in trade, security, and prosperity.
The UK government wants to reset its relationship with the EU but has made only modest progress so far.
Political leaders in the UK, such as Andy Burnham, currently focus on domestic issues and avoid reopening Brexit debates.
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Comedian Stephen Colbert told Jimmy Kimmel that he does not miss hosting his late-night show on CBS. He said that discussing the news every day felt like drinking "a cup of poison."
Key Facts
Stephen Colbert used to host CBS’s “The Late Show.”
He appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.
Colbert said he does not miss being a late-night host.
He compared talking about the news daily to drinking poison.
Colbert’s appearance included a beard, similar to David Letterman’s look after leaving the show in 2015.
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The European Union (EU) has offered Canada a new type of partnership called "associate membership" as Canada tries to reduce its trade dependence on the U.S. This offer comes after trade talks between the U.S. and Canada fell apart, leading to tariffs between the two countries.
Key Facts
The EU proposed a new "associate membership" status to Canada, which does not currently exist in EU law.
This idea was presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her State of the EU address.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Europe seeking closer economic and security ties with the EU.
Canada wants to lessen its reliance on the U.S. after trade tensions increased under President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
About 70% of Canadian exports currently go to the United States.
The EU offer includes cooperation in manufacturing, technology, energy minerals, and defense industries.
Canada is not seeking full EU membership but a unique alliance instead.
The trade conflict between the U.S. and Canada has led to tariffs on Canadian goods by the U.S.
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Nato’s secretary general says the alliance faces the toughest security challenges in a generation and urges the UK and Europe to increase defense spending. The UK has pledged to raise its military budget but is currently behind the target set by President Trump and other Nato members to match US defense levels by 2035.
Key Facts
Nato includes 32 countries working together on military defense.
Nato’s secretary general called the current security situation “the most dangerous and complex in a generation.”
The UK has promised to increase defense spending but plans to reach only 2.7% of GDP by 2030, below Nato’s 3.5% target by 2035.
President Donald Trump pushed for Nato members to spend more on defense and share the financial burden more equally.
The UK spends about £3 billion yearly helping Ukraine with weapons amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
Germany is expected to double the UK’s defense budget by 2029, making it the second largest in Nato.
The UK is upgrading its nuclear weapons system, Trident, and its conventional forces.
The Nato chief praised the UK’s role in pushing back against Russian provocation and sabotage in Europe.
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New photos show big damage at several U.S. locations in the Middle East after attacks by Iranian missiles and drones. The photos highlight how much destruction occurred across these sites.
Key Facts
The damage happened at multiple U.S. positions in the Middle East.
The attacks came from Iranian missiles and drones.
New images reveal the scale of the destruction.
CBS News reported on the photos and provided analysis.
National security experts help explain the situation.
The attacks show ongoing tensions involving Iran and U.S. forces.
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A body has been found during the search for three-year-old Noah Woods, who went missing from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk. Police recovered the body from a nearby pond and are treating the death as unexplained but not suspicious.
Key Facts
Noah Woods disappeared around 3 p.m. from a playground in Brantham, Suffolk.
He was non-verbal and partially deaf, which made the search more urgent.
Over 1,300 people, including police and volunteers from other regions, helped in the search.
The body was found in a pond about 320 meters from the playground.
Police confirmed the family has been informed but formal identification is pending.
Emergency services involved included dive teams, helicopters, dog units, and several rescue groups.
Public support was large, with volunteers organizing from local centers.
The police are allowing the family privacy after the discovery.
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Actor Michael B. Jordan is featured on the cover of Vogue magazine in a new photoshoot. The photoshoot highlights his physique and has gained media attention.
Key Facts
Michael B. Jordan appears on the cover of Vogue magazine.
The photoshoot showcases his muscular chest.
The event was covered by ABC News.
The photoshoot is described as "pec-tacular," referring to his chest muscles.
Vogue is a well-known fashion and culture magazine.
Michael B. Jordan is a popular actor known for his film and TV roles.
The coverage was part of a broader news segment called “GMA” Pop News.
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The U.S. government is about to approve a $2.8 billion arms deal for Israel. This deal includes 40,000 large bombs and is one of the biggest weapons sales in recent years.
Key Facts
The arms package is worth $2.8 billion.
It includes 40,000 one-ton bombs.
Types of bombs include 20,000 MK-84s, 20,000 BLU-117s, and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads.
The weapons are among the most powerful in Western military stockpiles.
The deal is paid for with U.S. taxpayer money.
Approval of the deal is expected soon in Washington.
The sale targets Israel amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.
The news was reported by U.S. media, including The Washington Post.
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