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The United States launched a series of military strikes against Iran after preventing a surprise attack by Iranian forces. The U.S. response included multiple targeted attacks to counter the perceived threat.
Key Facts
Iran attempted a surprise attack against the United States or its interests.
The United States stopped the attack before it could cause harm.
In response, the U.S. carried out a series of strikes targeting Iranian locations.
The strikes aimed to weaken Iran’s military capabilities.
Retired Marine Colonel Mark Cancian provided analysis on the situation.
CBS News is covering ongoing updates related to the conflict.
The events reflect rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
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Wildfires in southern France have destroyed entire neighborhoods and forced nearly 80,000 people to leave their homes. Some residents are now being allowed to return to their homes as the situation improves.
Key Facts
Wildfires have caused severe damage in a town in southern France.
Many neighborhoods have been burned down to ashes.
About 80,000 people have been displaced by the fires.
Authorities are allowing thousands of people to go back home.
The fires are still affecting parts of southern France.
News coverage includes video reports and updates.
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Saudi Arabia has joined the United States in attacking Iranian-linked targets in Iraq, marking a new phase in Middle East conflict. The Kingdom plans to form an international coalition to protect the Red Sea from Yemen's Houthi forces, signaling a shift toward a collective defense approach in the region.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia carried out military strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Iraq alongside the U.S.
Riyadh wants to create an international defense coalition focused on securing the Red Sea trade route.
Yemen’s Houthi forces have imposed a naval blockade on the Red Sea, affecting trade between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Kuwait recently signed a defense pact with nuclear-armed Pakistan, following Saudi Arabia's lead.
Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar have historically positioned themselves as safe political and commercial hubs.
Recent drone attacks have pushed Saudi Arabia to take a more active military role, moving beyond diplomacy.
The proposed Gulf defense coalition is similar to NATO but without a formal treaty or shared command structure.
President Donald Trump has encouraged regional allies to take more responsibility for their own security and reduce reliance on the U.S.
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A strong earthquake hit southwestern Japan, killing at least 25 people and injuring 86. Rescue teams continue searching for survivors, but chances are fading, while many residents remain without water, electricity, or safe shelter.
Key Facts
The earthquake measured magnitude 6.8 and struck Kumamoto prefecture on Kyushu island.
At least 25 people have died, with nine more deaths likely linked to the disaster.
86 people were injured, five seriously.
Thousands of people are staying in evacuation centers without full access to water or electricity.
Emergency supplies like bottled water and food are running low in some areas.
Heatstroke is a growing concern due to hot weather and difficult living conditions at shelters.
Rescue efforts continue but the chance of finding more survivors is decreasing.
Damage includes collapsed buildings, destroyed homes, a factory chimney collapse, and an explosion at a shopping mall.
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Hundreds of small blue sea creatures called by-the-wind sailors have appeared on beaches in Cumbria. These creatures use a tiny sail to move across the ocean and can sting mildly, even when washed up on shore.
Key Facts
The creatures are called Velella velella, or by-the-wind sailors.
They have a small stiff sail that catches the wind and moves them on the ocean's surface.
They are related to Portuguese man o' war but are not jellyfish.
Each by-the-wind sailor is a floating colony made of many tiny animals working together.
They can sting mildly, so people are advised not to touch them.
Thousands can wash up on shores after strong, steady onshore winds.
These creatures are about 2 inches (5 cm) long and have a blue translucent sail.
The recent sightings were at St Bees beach in Cumbria.
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Fifteen elephants died near Amboseli National Park in Kenya after eating tomatoes sprayed with poisonous chemicals. Tests found cyanide in the elephants' bodies, and officials are investigating but have ruled out intentional poisoning by people.
Key Facts
Fifteen elephants were found dead or dying near Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
Preliminary tests showed cyanide poisoning in the elephants' bodies.
Ten elephants showed paralysis before dying; five were already dead when found.
Deaths happened over a one-month period from June 24 to July 24, 2026.
The area has more than 2,000 elephants according to 2025 data.
Wildlife officials said the poison does not pose an immediate risk to humans.
Expanding farms near the park may expose elephants to chemicals when they enter farmland for food and water.
This is the largest elephant death event in the region in decades, with no evidence of poaching or foul play.
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Heavy rain caused severe flooding in parts of the Northeast, with nearly a foot of rain falling in less than one day. This flooding led to major damage in affected areas.
Key Facts
The Northeast experienced historic flooding due to intense rainfall.
Almost 12 inches (one foot) of rain fell in less than 24 hours.
The flooding caused significant damage to homes, roads, and infrastructure.
Emergency services responded to the disasters caused by the floods.
The event is considered one of the worst flooding incidents in the region’s recent history.
Local authorities likely issued warnings and evacuation orders to keep people safe.
Recovery and cleanup efforts are ongoing in the hardest-hit locations.
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Hundreds of migrants have recently crossed by sea from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa. Local authorities say the arrival of migrants is creating a serious humanitarian and social crisis, with crowded reception centers and limited resources.
Key Facts
Over 1,500 migrants, including adults and children, have arrived in Ceuta by sea in the past few days.
Migrants have been seen swimming across the border and entering the town.
Reception centers are full, with some facilities for unaccompanied minors operating at 2,400% capacity.
Around 200 migrants continue to arrive daily.
Spain’s government is increasing resources to manage security, migration control, and humanitarian aid.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska will visit Ceuta to monitor the situation.
Moroccan authorities are cooperating with Spain to prevent further crossings.
Spain’s Supreme Court ruled migrants intercepted at sea cannot be immediately returned under previous border rules.
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Fire weather in the European Union has been much worse than usual this year, causing large wildfires in countries like France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. These fires have burned large areas, forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate, and resulted in the deaths of three firefighters in Greece.
Key Facts
The wildfire season in the EU has been 43% more severe than the average for this time of year over the past 20 years.
About 435,000 hectares (over 1 million acres) have burned in 1,400 fires, which is roughly three times the usual area burned.
France has set a new record with 91,000 hectares burned so far this year, including a large fire near Bordeaux causing a rare thunderstorm.
Spain has seen 207,000 hectares burned, nearly five times the average, with its largest wildfire on record near Madrid.
Over 300,000 people in France and Spain have been forced to leave their homes due to the fires.
EU countries have sent firefighting help, including planes, helicopters, and crews from Romania and Greece.
The deaths of three firefighters have been reported in Greece while fighting blazes on Crete and the mainland.
Hot, dry, and windy weather, worsened by carbon pollution, is causing the fires and making them hard to control.
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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reading a papal letter about the ethics of artificial intelligence during his summer break. Merz, who leads the Christian Democratic Union, faces political challenges and sees AI as both a risk and an opportunity for Germany’s economy.
Key Facts
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been in office for 14 months and has faced several difficulties.
He is reading Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical titled *Magnifica humanitas*, which calls for strict ethical rules on AI.
The encyclical warns AI could be the biggest threat to humanity.
Merz acknowledges AI is a chance to boost Germany’s economy but also a source of public fear about job loss.
Germany is a global leader in applying AI, especially in industry.
Merz’s political troubles recently increased after a scandal involving a party leader’s use of surrogacy, illegal in Germany.
This scandal led to a major cabinet reshuffle and doubts about Merz’s leadership.
Merz faces upcoming state elections where far-right parties may gain support.
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French officials allowed 84,000 people evacuated due to a huge wildfire in southwest France to return home as weather improved with cooler temperatures and some rain. The wildfire has burned a large area, forced over 220,000 people to flee, and firefighters and volunteers are still fighting the fire.
Key Facts
The wildfire in southwest France has burned an area four times the size of Paris.
More than 220,000 people have been evacuated since last week; around 84,000 were allowed to return on Thursday.
About 60,000 people from suburbs near Bordeaux had already been allowed back earlier in the week.
The fire affected nine local areas that were evacuated but now see some residents returning.
Firefighters and volunteers are actively working, with 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft involved.
Volunteers help by putting out smaller flareups and smoldering spots underground.
Cooler weather, higher humidity, and some rain are helping to slow the fire.
A major highway closed during the fire was reopened, improving travel routes near Spain and vacation areas.
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Prague Zoo used large amounts of ice to help its animals stay cool during a heat wave in Europe. Polar bears Aleut and Gregor especially enjoyed rolling on the ice to beat the heat, as temperatures reached over 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Key Facts
Prague Zoo provided tons of ice to animals during a European heat wave.
Polar bears Aleut and Gregor played and cooled down on ice in their outdoor area.
The zoo started using ice for animals two years ago due to climate change and more hot days.
The bears were born 16 years ago in Nuremberg, Germany, and have adapted to Europe’s climate.
This year’s first heat wave hit early, with record temperatures reaching 41.9°C (107.4°F) on June 28.
Other animals like otters, elephants, parrots, and gorillas have also received ice to help them stay cool.
Some animals stay in shaded or indoor areas and use pools to manage the heat.
The zoo plans to prepare ice earlier next year because of unpredictable weather patterns.
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Malaysia has started checking and documenting thousands of Myanmar nationals held in detention centers as part of a plan to send them back to Myanmar. Myanmar has agreed to accept up to 5,000 of its citizens currently in Malaysia and some in Bangladesh, but officials say this only includes verified Myanmar nationals, not specifically Rohingya refugees.
Key Facts
Malaysia is screening about 4,000 Myanmar nationals in detention centers before moving them to a single site for security and paperwork.
Myanmar has agreed to accept 5,000 of its citizens from Malaysia and some from Bangladesh.
Malaysia hosts around 215,600 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UN, including about 126,000 Rohingya.
Malaysia does not officially recognize refugees under the UN Refugee Convention and treats them as undocumented immigrants.
Myanmar does not recognize Rohingya as an official ethnic group, calling them Bengalis instead and saying they are not part of this repatriation.
Officials in Myanmar say the repatriation focuses only on confirmed Myanmar citizens, not Rohingya refugees.
Previous repatriations happened in 2021 and 2022, bringing over 1,100 Myanmar nationals back from Malaysia.
Coordination between Malaysia and Myanmar on numbers and timing of repatriation is still ongoing.
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More than 1,500 people have died in the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, with over 3,400 cases reported since it began in May 2026. The outbreak is mainly in Ituri province and is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.
Key Facts
The Ebola outbreak started on May 15, 2026, and has caused 1,521 deaths out of 3,442 cases as of late July.
About 797 patients are currently isolated or hospitalized, and 615 people have recovered.
Contact tracing is only at 78%, below the 95% target needed to control the spread.
Violence, armed conflict, and illegal mining in the region disrupt response efforts and make tracing contacts harder.
The outbreak mainly affects Ituri province but has spread to five other provinces, including Kisangani, one of Congo’s largest cities.
This outbreak is faster and deadlier than the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
The World Health Organization says global spread risks are low due to Ebola spreading through direct contact with bodily fluids, not through the air.
Attacks on health facilities and misinformation about Ebola are blocking health workers and causing some aid groups to withdraw temporarily.
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Four people died while trying to cross the English Channel in small boats, according to French officials. One man died when a boat capsized near France’s northern coast, and three others were found dead on another boat launched from Dunkirk.
Key Facts
A man in his 30s or 40s died after a boat capsized near Hardelot on Wednesday night.
A one-year-old child and six others were injured in the capsizing incident.
Three people were found dead on a small boat near Dunkirk on Thursday morning.
Hundreds of people crossed the Channel into the UK on Wednesday despite these dangers.
Between January and mid-July 2026, over 12,000 people crossed the Channel by small boat.
Small boats have become the most common way for people to enter the UK illegally since 2020.
Many who arrive by small boat claim asylum, which allows them to stay while their claims are processed.
At least 84 people died trying to cross the Channel in 2024, highlighting the high risks of these journeys.
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A large wildfire broke out at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk, England, causing thick smoke and flames. Firefighters worked through the night to control the fire, and some homes and a caravan park were evacuated for safety.
Key Facts
The fire started on Wednesday afternoon at Dunwich Heath near Leiston in Suffolk.
Around 90 firefighters from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service fought the blaze.
Thick smoke plumes were visible at the scene.
A major incident was declared due to the severity of the fire.
Overnight evacuations included several homes and a caravan park.
Authorities asked people to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.
The fire occurred on heathland, a type of open, uncultivated land with shrubs.
Updates about the incident were shared on local social media and news outlets.
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Researchers and policymakers are increasingly studying how food choices affect the environment and health. Food production, especially livestock farming, contributes significantly to climate change, and better eating habits combined with improved farming and less food waste can help address these challenges.
Key Facts
Food systems are now a major focus in climate change discussions alongside energy and industry.
Livestock farming produces a large share of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Healthier diets and more efficient farming can improve both climate and public health.
The 2026 Global Nutrition Report calls for linking food, health, and nutrition policies.
Climate Diet is a nonprofit that educates people about how food impacts the environment and health.
Food connects many areas: agriculture, land use, water, nutrition, and climate.
Everyday food choices are seen as practical actions to support environmental sustainability.
Public interest is growing in easy lifestyle changes that help the climate without major costs.
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David Cifaldi injured himself when a trekking pole pierced his side near the top of Montana's highest mountain, Granite Peak. Instead of waiting for rescue, he and his two friends hiked about 10 miles down the mountain to get help, and he later received medical treatment at a hospital.
Key Facts
David Cifaldi was climbing Granite Peak, Montana’s tallest mountain at 12,800 feet.
He accidentally fell and a steel-tipped trekking pole went through his side but missed vital organs.
Cifaldi works as a nurse specializing in wound care and assessed his injury on the spot.
The group used a satellite device to notify local authorities but decided to self-rescue.
They hiked for over six hours, covering about 10 miles and descending 5,000 feet.
Search and rescue teams monitored their progress but did not intervene as Cifaldi chose to hike out.
After reaching the trailhead, Cifaldi went to the hospital, where doctors removed the pole.
Cifaldi returned to work shortly after receiving treatment.
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Israeli air strikes have killed at least four people, including children, in the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire agreement. The attacks have injured dozens and damaged homes, while talks continue between Hamas and mediators to implement the ceasefire.
Key Facts
At least four people, including a man, an eight-year-old child, and an 18-month-old baby, were killed in recent Israeli strikes in Gaza.
Dozens of people were injured, and homes of displaced families were damaged in the attacks.
The attacks targeted areas including Khan Younis, Bureij refugee camp, and Gaza City.
Over 1.2 million people in Gaza have lost their homes due to an ongoing siege.
Ceasefire talks involving Hamas, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey are stalled mainly due to disputes about Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.
Hamas seeks amendments to protect government employees’ rights and wants to manage its weapons through a Palestinian body.
Israel has restricted humanitarian aid supplies despite a ceasefire agreement requiring daily aid deliveries.
Since October 7, 2023, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 174,000 wounded in the conflict.
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