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Middle East live: US air strikes on Iran's Qeshm island kill three people

Middle East live: US air strikes on Iran's Qeshm island kill three people

Summary

The US military carried out air strikes on Iran’s Qeshm island, killing three people including a child. The strikes were in response to Iranian attacks on US military bases in Jordan. Jordan also intercepted missiles launched from Iran, and the US imposed new sanctions related to Iran.

Key Facts

  • US air strikes on Qeshm island in Iran killed three people, including a two-year-old child.
  • The US said the strikes were retaliation for Iranian attacks on US bases in Jordan.
  • Jordan’s air defenses shot down five missiles fired from Iran with no reported casualties.
  • US and Saudi strikes in Iraq killed at least 20 members of a pro-Iran armed group called Hashed al-Shaabi.
  • Iraq warned it will protect its land and stop it from being used against other countries.
  • The US imposed new sanctions on groups linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards for attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
  • President Donald Trump stated the US would respond strongly to attacks on US forces in the region.
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MI5 agent murder report led to secret police phone checks

MI5 agent murder report led to secret police phone checks

Summary

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) conducted secret checks on the phone of journalist Brian Rowan after he reported on the murder of Denis Donaldson, who was an MI5 and police agent. This spying was part of an operation called "Operation Mally" and involved monitoring Rowan’s communications to find his sources. The PSNI chief has offered to meet Rowan to discuss the matter, and the family of Denis Donaldson are concerned that they may also have been watched.

Key Facts

  • Denis Donaldson was a police and MI5 agent inside Sinn Féin.
  • Journalist Brian Rowan’s phone was secretly monitored by PSNI after he wrote about Donaldson’s murder.
  • The spying searched for contacts between Rowan’s phone and police phones to identify sources.
  • This operation, called "Operation Mally," happened around 2006 and was not previously disclosed.
  • The Chief Constable of PSNI, Jon Boutcher, has offered to meet Rowan to address concerns.
  • The family of Denis Donaldson suspect they might have also been monitored in some way.
  • An independent review found PSNI’s spying on journalists was not widespread or systemic but identified several unlawful cases.
  • Since a law change in 2015, no further unlawful access to journalists’ phone data by PSNI has been reported.
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Jordanian air defenses shoot down 5 missiles launched from Iran, state-run news agency says

Jordanian air defenses shoot down 5 missiles launched from Iran, state-run news agency says

Summary

Jordan’s air defenses shot down five missiles fired from Iran, according to Jordan’s official news agency. The U.S. military responded with strikes on numerous Iranian Revolutionary Guard targets after Iran attacked a U.S. base in Jordan. No casualties were reported from the missile interceptions or air strikes.

Key Facts

  • Jordan intercepted and destroyed five missiles launched from Iran.
  • No one was hurt by the missile attacks in Jordan.
  • The U.S. carried out air strikes against many Iranian Revolutionary Guard locations.
  • President Donald Trump promised a strong response after Iran targeted the U.S. base in Jordan.
  • Iranian media reported injuries from attacks on the island of Qeshm and explosions in Khuzestan province.
  • The U.S. and Saudi Arabia attacked Iran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 26 people including Iranian advisers.
  • Drone strikes caused fires on two natural gas vessels at the Egyptian port of Damietta; the responsible party is unclear.
  • The ongoing conflict risks escalating into a wider war and impacts the global economy.
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Record-low Danube River affects tourism and industry as drought and heat grip Central Europe

Record-low Danube River affects tourism and industry as drought and heat grip Central Europe

Summary

The Danube River in Central Europe is at record low water levels due to a long drought and extreme heat. This low water level is causing problems for tourism, industry, and local residents in the ten countries the river passes through.

Key Facts

  • The Danube River runs through 10 countries from Germany to the Black Sea.
  • Water levels in the river are at their lowest ever recorded in many places.
  • In Budapest, the water level measured 23 centimeters (9 inches), beating the previous record low of 33 centimeters (13 inches) from 2018.
  • Low water revealed rocks, sandbars, and old shipwrecks that are usually underwater.
  • The drought and heat are linked to climate change and have lasted for most of the year.
  • Temperatures in the region are expected to reach over 38°C (100°F) soon.
  • The low water disrupts boat traffic, tourism, and industries that rely on the river.
  • No significant rain is forecasted to improve the situation immediately.
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War and shortages push Gaza hospitals to breaking point

War and shortages push Gaza hospitals to breaking point

Summary

Hospitals in Gaza are struggling to care for patients needing dialysis due to ongoing war and shortages of medical supplies. Many dialysis machines have stopped working, and the number of hospitals treating kidney failure patients has dropped, leading to many deaths.

Key Facts

  • Gaza’s medical system is under severe pressure from war and limited resources.
  • About half of the dialysis machines in Gaza are not working because of a shortage of necessary medicine.
  • The number of hospitals that can treat kidney failure has decreased from seven to four.
  • Over 470 kidney failure patients have died due to missed treatments and lack of medications.
  • Al-Aqsa Hospital has 51 dialysis machines but 25 are out of service, affecting 240 patients.
  • Reduced dialysis sessions cause patients to suffer from weakness, breathing problems, and dangerous health issues.
  • A 14-year-old patient named Ruwaa depends on dialysis but receives fewer treatments than before.
  • Israel is preventing Ruwaa from traveling abroad for a kidney transplant, despite having a willing donor.
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How serial killer James Desborough preyed on vulnerable homeless men

How serial killer James Desborough preyed on vulnerable homeless men

Summary

James Desborough was found guilty of killing two homeless men, Claudio Aquilino and Daniel Coleman, whose bodies were found in woodland near Desborough's property in Cornwall. Desborough was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole after a seven-week trial.

Key Facts

  • Claudio Aquilino and Daniel Coleman were vulnerable homeless men who disappeared after last being seen with James Desborough.
  • Aquilino was last seen alive on April 18, 2025, and his burned remains were found months later near Desborough’s woodland.
  • Coleman was last seen alive on June 3, 2025, after drinking with Desborough; his remains were also found near the woodland.
  • Desborough denied the murders, claiming the deaths were "unfortunate circumstances," but was convicted by a court.
  • Both victims had troubled backgrounds, including addiction, mental health issues, and past trauma.
  • Police are investigating four other unexplained deaths linked to the homeless shelter where Desborough had stayed.
  • Desborough owns the woodland where the victims’ remains were found, having inherited it from his grandfather.
  • Both men were close to their families and regularly communicated with relatives until they disappeared.
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Judge orders Amy Winehouse’s father to pay nearly £1m to her friends

Judge orders Amy Winehouse’s father to pay nearly £1m to her friends

Summary

A London court has ordered Mitch Winehouse, father of late singer Amy Winehouse, to pay nearly £1 million to two of her friends. Mitch Winehouse had sued them for auctioning Amy Winehouse's personal items, but the court ruled in favor of the friends.

Key Facts

  • Mitch Winehouse lost a legal case against two friends of Amy Winehouse.
  • The friends auctioned 155 personal items belonging to Amy Winehouse between 2021 and 2023.
  • The auctioned items included clothes, ballet slippers, handbags, earrings, makeup, and a dress from her last tour.
  • The friends said the items were gifts or loans from Amy Winehouse.
  • The court found Mitch Winehouse knew about the sales but sued the friends for money after the auctions.
  • The judge criticized Mitch Winehouse for making serious accusations that harmed the friends’ reputations and well-being.
  • Amy Winehouse died in 2011 at age 27 from alcohol poisoning.
  • The judge noted Amy Winehouse was very generous to her friends and others.
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Israel building new land barriers in Gaza and displacing families

Israel building new land barriers in Gaza and displacing families

Summary

Israel has built new land barriers inside the Gaza Strip, moving concrete blocks that mark the boundary known as the Yellow Line further into Gaza. This caused the displacement of Palestinian families who live in those areas, and the military said the changes were for security reasons following a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

Key Facts

  • Israel originally agreed to control up to the Yellow Line, about 53% of Gaza, under a US-brokered ceasefire from last October.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has said the military now controls more than 60% of Gaza and aims for 70%.
  • Concrete blocks marking the Yellow Line have been moved westward into Gaza, overlapping areas where Palestinians live.
  • Israel has built a network of earth barriers over 42 km long along the line, with some barrier sections extending more than 1.5 km inside Gaza.
  • Hamas accuses Israel of breaking the ceasefire by changing the boundary; Israel rejects these claims, saying the moves protect Israeli citizens and stop Hamas rebuilding its forces.
  • The Israeli military calls the Yellow Line marking a way to reduce conflicts but denies moving the line or entering Gaza beyond it.
  • Palestinian families have been forced to leave homes multiple times as Israeli forces push boundaries and issue evacuation orders.
  • Displaced Gazans report ongoing military attacks and feel unsafe despite the ceasefire agreement.
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UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military

UK government reviews why police ceding criminal cases to US military

Summary

The UK government is reviewing why British police have allowed US military personnel accused of serious crimes in the UK to be investigated and tried by the US military instead of British courts. This review began after reports showed several cases where US service members were prosecuted under US military law, which offers different protections and definitions of crimes compared to UK law.

Key Facts

  • UK police often let US military investigators handle cases involving US personnel accused of crimes on UK soil.
  • Cases tried by the US military use the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), which defines some crimes like rape more narrowly than UK law.
  • This leads to some US service members being charged with lesser offences in military courts rather than serious charges in UK courts.
  • An example case involved US pilot Capt Jacob Wulfson, who was convicted of strangulation but acquitted of sexual assault in a US court martial held on a UK base.
  • Victims have fewer protections and may receive less justice under US military trials than in British courts.
  • UK ministers and police chiefs are now reviewing the process to ensure victims are treated properly and cases are referred to UK prosecutors when appropriate.
  • The UK government is pressing the US to provide full details on these cases and improve cooperation.
  • Multiple cases of alleged sexual offences by US military personnel on UK soil have come to light, raising concerns over jurisdiction and justice.
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‘Lenin was an enemy of humanity’: Why Kyiv wants to put Cossack chief statue in place of Soviet leader

‘Lenin was an enemy of humanity’: Why Kyiv wants to put Cossack chief statue in place of Soviet leader

Summary

Ukraine removed a statue of Soviet leader Lenin in Kyiv during the 2014 Maidan revolution. President Zelenskyy proposed replacing it with a statue of Ivan Mazepa, a historic Cossack leader who fought for Ukrainian independence, as part of Ukraine’s ongoing effort to reclaim its national identity away from Russian influence.

Key Facts

  • The Lenin statue in Kyiv was toppled and damaged during the 2014 Maidan revolution.
  • President Zelenskyy announced plans to put a statue of Ivan Mazepa in its place.
  • Mazepa was a Cossack leader who broke with Russia and sought Ukrainian independence in the early 1700s.
  • Ukraine has been removing Soviet-era monuments as part of a “decommunisation” process since gaining independence in 1991, accelerating after Russian aggression since 2014.
  • Ukrainian experts say this is part of a broader effort to reclaim national identity and resist Russian claims that Ukrainians and Russians are one people.
  • Mazepa is seen as a complex but important figure in Ukrainian history, once allied with Russia but later opposing it.
  • Statues of Russian cultural figures seen as symbols of imperialism, like poet Pushkin, have also been taken down in Ukraine.
  • The change reflects Ukraine’s desire to tell its own history without outside influence or distortion.
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A quarter of young Africans believe USAID cuts could be positive, survey finds

A quarter of young Africans believe USAID cuts could be positive, survey finds

Summary

A new survey found that about 25% of young Africans think cutting U.S. foreign aid might help their countries by encouraging local leaders to solve problems themselves. However, almost half of the youth worry these cuts will harm healthcare and other vital services in their countries.

Key Facts

  • The survey interviewed nearly 5,000 young people aged 18 to 24 across 16 African countries.
  • In Ghana and Nigeria, around 40% of young people saw aid cuts as potentially positive.
  • The U.S. government under President Trump cut over 90% of USAID foreign contracts, reducing $60 billion in aid worldwide.
  • Other countries like the UK, France, and Germany have also reduced their foreign aid budgets.
  • Africa has the youngest population globally, with a median age of about 19.5 years, and will have over 40% of the world’s youth by 2030.
  • About 46% of African youth think the aid cuts will damage their countries, especially healthcare services.
  • Some young Africans feel foreign aid can be demeaning and believe their governments should take more responsibility.
  • Youth activists are increasingly holding their leaders accountable and looking to African leaders as role models.
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BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop category

BTS boycott Grammys after introduction of new Asian pop category

Summary

South Korean pop group BTS announced they will not submit their music for the next Grammy Awards. They made this decision because the Grammys introduced a new category called Best Asian Pop Music Performance, which BTS feels limits artists by region or language.

Key Facts

  • BTS is a famous South Korean pop group known worldwide.
  • The Grammys added a new award called Best Asian Pop Music Performance.
  • BTS said they will not enter the Grammy contest next year because of this new category.
  • BTS’s latest album, ARIRANG, is mostly in English but explores Korean themes.
  • The new Grammy category requires songs to use at least one Asian language.
  • Grammy CEO Harvey Mason Jr said the category highlights Asian artists but does not prevent them from winning other awards.
  • Critics say the new category separates Asian artists from broader global recognition.
  • BTS has supported social causes like UNICEF and spoken out on issues like anti-Asian hate.
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Evo Morales defiant after new Bolivia arrest warrant

Evo Morales defiant after new Bolivia arrest warrant

Summary

Bolivia has issued a new arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales, accusing him of leading an armed uprising and causing transport blockades during recent protests. Morales denies the charges and says the government is trying to hide the country's deep economic and social problems.

Key Facts

  • A court in Bolivia issued an arrest warrant for Evo Morales, charging him with armed uprising, terrorism, and attacks on transport safety.
  • The charges relate to Morales's support for protests by farmers and truckers opposing economic problems and austerity policies.
  • Morales called the charges an attempt to cover up Bolivia’s economic and social crisis.
  • Morales served as Bolivia’s first Indigenous president from 2006 to 2019, when he resigned amid election fraud allegations.
  • He faced earlier accusations in 2024 related to trafficking a minor and statutory rape; these charges sparked nationwide protests.
  • Morales has refused to attend court hearings and was found in contempt of court in May 2026.
  • Supporters have blocked roads, causing shortages of food, fuel, and medicine in Bolivia for over 50 days.
  • The government declared a state of emergency in June to address the protests and unrest.
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French student pleads guilty and is fined for a straw-licking stunt in Singapore

French student pleads guilty and is fined for a straw-licking stunt in Singapore

Summary

A French student in Singapore pleaded guilty and was fined 600 Singapore dollars for licking a straw from a juice vending machine and putting it back. The incident was recorded as a social media stunt, and the student admitted his mistake in court.

Key Facts

  • The student’s name is Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, aged 19.
  • The act took place in March at a shopping mall in Singapore.
  • He was charged in April with public nuisance; another mischief charge was considered during sentencing.
  • The public nuisance charge can lead to up to three months in jail, but he received a fine instead.
  • Prosecutors wanted a higher fine but accepted 600 Singapore dollars due to mitigating factors like no harm caused and early guilty plea.
  • The student studies business in Singapore and will spend part of the year in France for studies.
  • The vending machine operator replaced all 500 straws and plans to upgrade machines to improve hygiene.
  • Singapore has strict laws about public cleanliness and behavior with strong penalties for offenses.
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The Mediterranean’s warming waters are drawing hundreds of invasive species

The Mediterranean’s warming waters are drawing hundreds of invasive species

Summary

Scientists report that climate change is warming the Mediterranean Sea, causing hundreds of invasive fish species to enter and harm native marine life. This change threatens the sea’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on fishing.

Key Facts

  • The Mediterranean Sea is warming due to climate change caused by burning fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas.
  • Water temperatures in the Mediterranean could rise by 2 to 6 degrees Celsius (3.6 to 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100.
  • The Mediterranean is an enclosed sea, so it traps heat more than open oceans, making warming faster and stronger.
  • Hundreds of invasive fish species, such as the spotted puffer fish and the lionfish, are moving into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.
  • These invasive species prey on and outcompete native fish, reducing the sea’s natural biodiversity.
  • The spread of invasive fish has accelerated since the early 2000s as the sea temperature rose.
  • Coastal communities, like those in Cyprus, are already experiencing the effects as their traditional native fish stocks shrink.
  • Scientists say many of the changes to the Mediterranean’s marine life may be permanent and irreversible.
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Montana man hikes out of the mountains to get help after he was impaled by a trekking pole

Montana man hikes out of the mountains to get help after he was impaled by a trekking pole

Summary

David Cifaldi was hiking Montana’s Granite Peak when he slipped and got a trekking pole stuck through his side. After checking his injury and using a satellite device to call for help, he and his friends hiked about 10 miles down the mountain to reach safety before getting medical care.

Key Facts

  • David Cifaldi was climbing Montana’s highest peak, Granite Peak, with two friends.
  • He slipped and the steel tip of his trekking pole went through the flesh under his left arm and out his back.
  • The pole missed vital organs, causing a serious but not immediately life-threatening injury.
  • Cifaldi, a nurse who works in wound care, assessed his injury and found little pain or blood and that the pole was stable.
  • The group used a Garmin inReach satellite communicator to inform local authorities and plan a self-rescue.
  • They hiked about 10 miles and descended 5,000 feet over six hours along an unmarked path to reach a trailhead.
  • A friend had a vehicle waiting at the trailhead to take them to receive medical treatment.
  • The incident happened near Roscoe, Montana, on July 20, 2026, and local search and rescue teams monitored the situation.
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Voters in Manchester choose a mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street

Voters in Manchester choose a mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street

Summary

Voters in Manchester are choosing a new mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left the position to become Britain’s prime minister. The election is also seen as a test of support for the Labour Party, which has faced recent challenges.

Key Facts

  • Andy Burnham was mayor of Greater Manchester for nine years before becoming prime minister.
  • Burnham won a special election to join Parliament and then became Labour leader after Keir Starmer resigned.
  • Burnham established a branch of the prime minister’s office in Manchester called “No. 10 North.”
  • Greater Manchester has about 3 million people and includes Manchester and nearby towns.
  • Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, is Labour’s candidate to replace Burnham as mayor.
  • Other candidates include Sian Astley from the anti-immigration Reform UK party.
  • Labour recently lost votes to the Green Party in Greater Manchester, increasing pressure on its leadership.
  • A strong Labour win in Manchester would boost Burnham’s political standing.
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Hanoi’s residents endure upheavals as it transforms itself to match Vietnam’s economic ambitions

Hanoi’s residents endure upheavals as it transforms itself to match Vietnam’s economic ambitions

Summary

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, is undergoing a large transformation with many construction projects aimed at modernizing the city and preparing it for climate challenges. This development includes building new roads, bridges, flood defenses, and an Olympic sports area, but it is also forcing residents to leave their homes and disrupting communities.

Key Facts

  • Hanoi spent $2.4 billion in the first half of 2026 to clear land for about 1,500 construction projects.
  • The redevelopment aims to support economic growth and adapt to climate change effects like floods and pollution.
  • The city is one of the most polluted in the world and faces frequent extreme weather events.
  • Many buildings, including old colonial villas and traditional shops, are being demolished.
  • A $28 billion project along the Red River will create new urban areas with flood control systems.
  • A $35.2 billion Olympic sports complex, featuring a 135,000-seat soccer stadium, is under development.
  • Authorities plan to create new transport hubs to reduce crowding in the historic city center.
  • Residents affected by demolitions face uncertainty about compensation and relocation.
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Rescue operation in Argentina to free more than 100 snow-trapped tourists

Rescue operation in Argentina to free more than 100 snow-trapped tourists

Summary

Emergency teams in Argentina rescued over 100 tourists who were stuck by a heavy snowstorm near the Balcon del Pissis lookout. Two people were taken to the hospital with hypothermia, and rescue workers used large machines to remove the snow.

Key Facts

  • More than 100 tourists were trapped by a snowstorm near Balcon del Pissis in Argentina.
  • Emergency services carried out a rescue operation to free them.
  • Two tourists suffered from hypothermia, a condition where the body gets too cold.
  • Rescue teams used heavy machinery to clear the snow and reach the tourists.
  • The incident took place in a remote area known for its lookout point.
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Anthony Fauci’s diaries take aim at News Corp journalist Sharri Markson’s ‘nonsense’ Covid-19 investigation

Anthony Fauci’s diaries take aim at News Corp journalist Sharri Markson’s ‘nonsense’ Covid-19 investigation

Summary

Dr. Anthony Fauci criticized a book by journalist Sharri Markson that supports the theory Covid-19 started from a lab leak, calling it nonsense in his recently released diaries. Fauci and Senator Rand Paul appeared at a Senate hearing about the pandemic, where Fauci refused to answer questions and denied claims linking him to controversial research funding.

Key Facts

  • Dr. Anthony Fauci was the chief medical adviser in the US at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Fauci described Sharri Markson’s book supporting the lab leak theory as “a bunch of nonsense.”
  • Senator Rand Paul subpoenaed Fauci to appear at a Senate hearing on Covid-19 and Fauci’s handling of the pandemic.
  • Fauci refused to answer questions at the hearing and called Paul’s campaign against him “unhinged.”
  • Markson’s book claims China’s Wuhan lab conducted dangerous coronavirus research, but Fauci disputed these claims in his diary.
  • The report that Chinese military scientists planned to use coronaviruses as weapons was based on a discredited and conspiracy-filled source.
  • The origins of Covid-19 are still debated, with two main theories: natural animal origin or lab leak.
  • Markson said intelligence agencies now mostly support the lab leak theory and accused Fauci’s agency of secretly funding risky Wuhan lab research.
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