A report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that smoking tobacco is linked to problems with fertility. The report brings together many years of research on how smoking affects the ability to have children.
Key Facts
The WHO released a report about smoking and fertility.
The report reviews decades of scientific studies.
It finds that tobacco smoke can cause fertility problems.
Both men and women who smoke may face difficulties having children.
Smoking affects the quality of eggs and sperm.
The report aims to raise awareness about smoking's impact on reproductive health.
Reducing tobacco use can help improve chances of conception.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denies ignoring a warning about Hamas's October 7 attack despite a book claiming he was informed by the UAE president beforehand. Election polls show Netanyahu’s chances of remaining prime minister have decreased ahead of the October 27 vote.
Key Facts
A book excerpt claims Mohammed bin Zayed, UAE president, warned Netanyahu weeks before October 7 about a planned Hamas attack.
The October 7 Hamas attacks killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.
Israel's military response in Gaza has reportedly caused over 80,000 deaths.
Polls suggest Netanyahu’s party, Likud, may lose up to one-third of its seats, with rival Gadi Eizenkot leading.
Netanyahu denies the warning call happened and says his team found no record of it.
Netanyahu plans legal action against the book’s authors and the newspaper Haaretz.
Netanyahu could still remain prime minister if he forms a coalition with support from at least 61 lawmakers.
The warning was said to come in a 45-minute conversation about the threat and regional concerns.
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Liz Truss, former UK prime minister, is restarting her podcast on a YouTube channel run by Mike Graham, a broadcaster known for controversial remarks. The new podcast will livestream twice a week and aims to reach a larger audience than her previous episodes, which had fewer viewers.
Key Facts
Liz Truss was UK prime minister but left after a failed economic plan called the mini-budget.
Her earlier podcast episodes often had fewer than 4,000 views, too low to earn money from ads.
She will now livestream her podcast twice weekly on UKLive, a YouTube channel run by Mike Graham.
Mike Graham was fired from TalkTV after an investigation into a racist post on Facebook, which he denied posting.
Graham’s channel gets an average of 24,000 views per video and has about 179,000 subscribers.
UKLive has posted about 1,700 videos in the past year, gaining 41 million views and making thousands of pounds from ads.
YouTube channels like UKLive are not regulated by the UK’s official TV watchdog, Ofcom.
Other controversial broadcasters, such as Laurence Fox, also appear on UKLive.
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Iran said it attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz, including two U.S. ships and eight oil tankers. This happened after the U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers a day earlier. The attacks occurred in a sea area Iran controls and was declared off-limits.
Key Facts
Iran targeted 10 vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
Among the targeted vessels were two U.S. ships and eight oil tankers.
The attacks happened in an area Iran declared off-limits.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out the strikes.
The attacks followed U.S. military action that destroyed five Iranian oil tankers the day before.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway for global oil transport.
The situation reflects rising tensions between Iran and the United States in the region.
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UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband disagreed with the UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis about the risks to British Jews following UK sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The sanctions aim to oppose settlements considered illegal under international law, but the move has led to debate within the UK Jewish community and a diplomatic dispute with Israel.
Key Facts
The UK government imposed sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the sanctions put British Jews at greater risk and called the move a "truly dark day."
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, a British Jew, rejected the chief rabbi’s view and said blaming British Jews for Israel’s actions is antisemitism.
Antisemitic incidents in the UK increased by 21% in the first half of 2026 compared to 2025, according to the Community Security Trust.
Different UK Jewish groups have varied reactions: the Jewish Leadership Council criticized the sanctions; Na'amod and Yachad supported them.
The sanctions damaged UK-Israel relations; Israel closed the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banned 11 British MPs and activists.
Israeli officials suggested denying entry to some British-linked organizations and individuals, including aid groups like Oxfam and Save the Children.
The UK Board of Deputies expressed concern that the sanctions might worsen community tensions and raised security worries during a major Jewish holiday.
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The UK government, led by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, announced a ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, stopping imports and services connected to those areas. Israel responded by closing the British consulate in east Jerusalem and barring several British lawmakers from entering Israel.
Key Facts
The UK will ban all goods imported from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
British companies are barred from providing services (like financing, construction, infrastructure, real estate, and advertising) to these settlements.
The ban will take effect within nine months.
Israel closed the British consulate in east Jerusalem and banned entry to 11 British lawmakers in response.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized the UK and ended UK participation in a joint military center and training for Palestinian Authority security forces.
The UK’s chief rabbi criticized the government’s decision, calling it “gesture politics,” but Foreign Secretary Miliband disagreed.
Other countries such as France and Canada have said they will consider similar bans to limit settlement expansion.
Several European countries have either banned goods from settlements or support similar actions.
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Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the far-right AfD party for promoting "ethnic cleansing" through its push for "remigration," which means deporting immigrants based on origin and skin color. The AfD recently won nearly 44% of the vote in a state election, but Merz said their policies would harm essential parts of the German economy and society.
Key Facts
Chancellor Merz accused the AfD of seeking ethnic cleansing by pushing mass deportations.
"Remigration" is described as a racist term focused on deporting people by their origin or skin color.
The AfD won almost 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, the highest for a far-right party since the Nazi era.
Merz warned that deporting working immigrants would damage hospitals, care homes, restaurants, and skilled trades in Germany.
The AfD is classified as right-wing extremist by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.
Merz emphasized the importance of distinguishing between immigrants who work and contribute to society and those who do not have legal residency.
Merz also criticized the AfD for opposing military support to Ukraine and suggested the party aligns with Russian interests.
The AfD’s lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, aims to form a state government despite not winning an absolute majority.
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Reece Weaver, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, made her first appearance on Broadway in the musical Chicago, playing the role of Roxie Hart. Although some people questioned whether she got the part because of her celebrity status, many audience members enjoyed her performance.
Key Facts
Reece Weaver was a well-known cheerleader featured in the Netflix show America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
She recently made her Broadway debut in Chicago at New York's Ambassador Theatre.
Weaver plays Roxie Hart, a character known as a murderess in the musical.
Some critics said Weaver was cast because of her fame, a practice called stunt casting.
Audience members who saw the show said Weaver did well, especially considering it was her first Broadway role.
Stunt casting can help boost ticket sales for long-running shows like Chicago.
Theatre experts say stunt casting helps attract fans but warn it should not replace trained theatre actors.
Earlier this year, rapper Megan Thee Stallion was also cast in a major Broadway role, which increased interest in that show.
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said it will keep rescuing asylum seekers crossing the English Channel, despite attacks on its staff and false rumors about its work. The RNLI explained that only a small part of its rescues involve small boats in the Channel, and shared stories from volunteers who saved people from dangerous situations at sea.
Key Facts
The RNLI helps people in trouble at sea, including some asylum seekers crossing the Channel.
Attacks against RNLI volunteers include both online abuse and physical threats.
False rumors said the RNLI houses asylum seekers or secretly moves them, but the charity denied this strongly.
In 2025, RNLI lifeboats launched 9,058 times, with only 109 of those related to small boats in the Channel (about 1.2%).
Nearly 95% of small boat crossings were handled by the UK Border Force in 2024.
RNLI volunteers describe rescuing people from overcrowded, unsafe boats and life-threatening situations.
International maritime law requires vessels to help anyone in danger at sea, which guides RNLI operations.
Although the RNLI faces protests, it remains committed to saving lives without judgment.
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A social media account will share updates every minute on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The creator prepared more than 400 posts to provide detailed information throughout the day.
Key Facts
The social media account will post live updates on 9/11.
Posts will happen every minute during the day.
Over 400 posts have been prepared in advance.
The account aims to provide detailed information about the events of 9/11.
This effort coincides with the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
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The article discusses how some organizations and governments are still focused on old security threats, like those from 9/11, and have not adapted to new dangers. This failure to update their understanding of risks can make them vulnerable to future attacks or challenges.
Key Facts
The article refers to the 9/11 attacks that happened 25 years ago.
It says institutions have not changed their approach to security threats enough since then.
Threat models are ways to predict and prepare for possible dangers.
Not updating these threat models means being unprepared for new risks.
The article suggests that focusing only on past threats can cause surprise when new threats appear.
It implies the need for organizations to adapt their security strategies over time.
No specific new threats or institutions are mentioned in detail.
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North Korea has built a new two-storey uranium enrichment facility at its main nuclear complex, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The building can hold machines that increase uranium's purity, which is used to make nuclear bombs, raising concerns about North Korea's growing nuclear program.
Key Facts
The new uranium enrichment building is part of North Korea's Yongbyon nuclear site.
It can hold up to 28 cascades of centrifuges, machines that enrich uranium.
The IAEA uses satellite images for monitoring since it has no inspectors in North Korea.
North Korea also started using an expanded annex at another uranium site called Kangson.
North Korea’s nuclear activities violate UN Security Council resolutions.
Leader Kim Jong Un visited the site in June 2026 and praised the expanded production capacity.
North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests under Kim’s leadership.
South Korea’s president proposed talks to end the Korean War and address North Korea’s nuclear program, but North Korea has not responded.
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Courts in Missouri have issued conflicting decisions about which congressional map to use in the November election, creating confusion less than two months before the vote. One map, supported by President Donald Trump and Republicans, aimed to help their chances but was blocked by the Missouri Supreme Court, while a federal judge ruled that the old map could not be used either.
Key Facts
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the new congressional map must be approved by voters before it can be used.
This new map was redrawn with support from President Donald Trump to give Republicans an advantage.
A conservative Supreme Court justice, Brett Kavanaugh, denied Missouri's request to use the new map for the upcoming election.
A federal judge in Missouri temporarily blocked using the old congressional map.
The revised map changes the district boundaries, notably targeting the 5th district held by Democratic representative Emanuel Cleaver.
The 5th district was reshaped to include more rural, Republican-leaning areas and to reduce parts of Kansas City in the district.
These legal disputes create uncertainty about how Missouri’s congressional districts will be drawn in time for the November midterm elections.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the far-right AfD party after its strong election win in Saxony-Anhalt, calling its migration policies harmful and extreme. AfD leader Alice Weidel said the election showed voters rejected Merz's government, but it is unclear if AfD can form a state government since they lack a majority.
Key Facts
AfD won nearly 44% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt, a state in eastern Germany.
Chancellor Merz said AfD's migration policy would harm skilled workers and called it ethnic cleansing.
AfD is considered right-wing extremist by German intelligence and supports deporting irregular migrants.
No far-right party has ruled in any German state since World War Two.
AfD leader Weidel said Merz’s coalition government had failed and urged his resignation.
AfD has not secured an outright majority and needs other parties’ support to govern.
President Donald Trump praised AfD’s election success, linking it to Germany’s immigration rules.
Bundestag sessions were disrupted by loud arguments between AfD and Chancellor Merz’s party.
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An airstrike hit a prison run by the Houthis in northern Yemen, killing at least 23 people with seven still missing. The strike increased fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, causing more attacks and worsening the conflict in the region.
Key Facts
The airstrike destroyed a Houthi-run prison in the city of Hazm, located in northern Yemen’s Jawf province.
Four more bodies were found by rescuers, raising the death toll to 23.
Seven people are still missing after the prison collapsed.
The Saudi-led coalition carried out the airstrike targeting Houthi-held areas.
In response, Houthis launched missile and drone attacks on southern Saudi Arabia, wounding 73 people.
The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has been ongoing since 2014.
The war has caused at least 150,000 deaths and displaced many people.
Recent fighting has broken a four-year truce and led to over 194 deaths and 880 injuries between August 23 and September 5, according to the World Health Organization.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on countries to increase pressure on Russia because of ongoing attacks on civilians in Ukraine. Russia has launched many missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, causing many deaths and injuries. The United Nations reports these attacks have caused the highest number of civilian casualties since the war began.
Key Facts
Russia has carried out heavy missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine since the invasion started over four years ago.
The strikes aim to break the spirit of Ukrainian civilians by targeting residential areas.
Zelenskyy criticized the international community for reacting too slowly and urged stronger actions against Russia.
The United Nations reported that in July 2026, more Ukrainian civilians were killed or injured than in any month since March 2022.
Since the start of the invasion, over 16,800 Ukrainian civilians have died and more than 51,000 have been wounded.
Recent attacks damaged a 22-story residential building in Kyiv, injuring several people and causing fires.
Russia claims it targeted military and logistical sites, including a drone factory warehouse in Kyiv and fuel storage in Mykolaiv.
Ukrainian officials continue to report casualties and damage from ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes.
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic scheduled an early parliamentary election for October 25, 2026, following nearly two years of protests against his government. Since Vucic cannot run for another presidential term, he plans to run for prime minister instead. The election will test his continued hold on power amid political tensions and demands for government accountability.
Key Facts
President Aleksandar Vucic dissolved the Serbian Parliament and called for early elections on October 25, 2026.
Vucic has served two presidential terms and cannot run for a third, so he aims to become prime minister.
Large protests have been ongoing for nearly two years after a train station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024, killing 16 people.
Protesters demand government accountability and an end to corruption tied to poor renovation work.
Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party face accusations of limiting democracy and links to organized crime, which he denies.
Serbia’s EU membership bid has stalled, partly due to Vucic’s close ties with Russia and China and recent honors for war criminal Ratko Mladic.
A new opposition group called the Students’ List, made up of university experts, is gaining support from voters dissatisfied with current leaders.
Vucic blames political unrest partly on foreign interference but has not provided evidence for this claim.
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A volunteer firefighter died and several people were injured while fighting a large wildfire in Antalya, Turkey. The fire started on Monday, spread quickly due to strong winds, and caused many residents to evacuate their homes.
Key Facts
A volunteer firefighter named Hasan Kahya died from a heart attack after smoke exposure while fighting the wildfire.
The wildfire began in Aksu district and spread to Kepez district, both in Antalya province.
Hundreds of residents had to leave their homes because of the fire.
Two people were hospitalized with leg burns, and six others were treated for smoke inhalation.
More than 100 dogs were evacuated from an animal shelter in Aksu.
Firefighting efforts involved at least three planes, nine helicopters, 169 fire trucks, and over 1,000 firefighters.
The fire's intensity had been reduced but was not fully controlled yet.
Another wildfire is being fought in Kozan district, Adana province, with hundreds of people evacuated there as well.
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The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam has opened a large exhibition showcasing the work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who died in August 2026 at age 97. The exhibition highlights Kusama’s famous use of polka dots and reflects her exploration of mental health and the infinite universe.
Key Facts
Yayoi Kusama died on August 14, 2026, at the age of 97.
The exhibition is a posthumous tribute to Kusama’s life and artwork.
Kusama was known for her use of polka dots and repetitive patterns in her art.
One key installation is titled “Infinity Mirrored Room — The Hope Of The Polka Dots Buried In Infinity Will Eternally Cover The Universe.”
Kusama used art to cope with hallucinations and mental health challenges from a young age.
Her work often explores themes of infinity and humanity’s connection to the universe.
Kusama had ties to the Netherlands and participated in the Dutch ZERO art movement in the 1960s.
The museum features Kusama’s famous pumpkin sculpture and polka dot decorations on the building and nearby trees.
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Archaeologists from Egypt and Spain found a 4,300-year-old tomb near Cairo. The tomb belonged to Yunmen, an ancient judge, and his father, Ity, a senior scribe, both officials during Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty.
Key Facts
The tomb was found at Saqqara, a large burial ground south of Cairo.
It dates back to Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi’s reign in the 24th century B.C.
Yunmen was a judge who listened to people’s complaints and ensured justice.
Ity, Yunmen’s father, managed farmland and offerings for the state.
The tomb is a mastaba, a flat-roofed tomb used for important officials.
The site has well-preserved colorful paintings and reliefs showing daily life and funeral scenes.
The discovery supports Egypt’s efforts to boost tourism through new archaeological finds.
The find was made during a summer excavation by a joint Egyptian-Spanish team.
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