Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella signed a decree allowing people with legal gun permits to carry their firearms in public again. This ends a ban that started in 2015, which had stopped even permit holders from carrying guns outside their homes without extra permission.
Key Facts
The decree removes a decade-old suspension that restricted carrying legal guns in public.
The original ban was introduced by President Juan Manuel Santos in 2015 as a temporary safety measure.
The suspension was extended yearly by three different presidents from different political parties.
About 700,000 people with legal permits will benefit from the new decree.
President de la Espriella said the rule change will not cause a gun free-for-all and that gun ownership rules remain strict.
Some politicians, like Senator Ariel Ávila, oppose the change, fearing legal guns could end up with criminals.
Security forces are focusing on illegal weapons, having seized over 15,000 guns this year mainly from rebel groups and criminal gangs.
The president said this action fulfills his campaign promise to be tough on crime.
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Women need blood transfusions more often than men and are more likely to have low iron levels. This causes problems during blood shortages, especially in summer. Experts also discuss how donating blood can provide useful health information.
Key Facts
Women are more likely than men to need blood transfusions.
Women are 10 times more likely to have iron deficiency. Iron deficiency means having too little iron in the body, which can cause tiredness and other health issues.
Blood shortages tend to happen in the summer.
Donating blood may help people learn about their own health.
The Red Cross is involved in managing blood donation and supply.
Norah, the show host, is a regular blood donor and has ways she rewards herself after donating.
Blood donation is important for saving lives and supporting medical treatments.
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) captured a U.S. Navy underwater drone called the Anduril Dive-LD in the Strait of Hormuz. The drone is an autonomous vehicle that can operate deep underwater for missions lasting up to 10 days. U.S. officials confirmed the capture but said the drone malfunctioned and that it did not contain sensitive technology.
Key Facts
The captured drone is an Anduril Dive-LD, an autonomous underwater vehicle used by the U.S. Navy.
It can operate underwater for up to 10 days and reach depths of 6,000 meters (about 18,000 feet).
The drone is around 19 feet long, weighs about three tons, and is designed for multi-day missions.
Iran’s IRGC took the drone near the Strait of Hormuz during a dawn operation.
Iranian media highlighted the drone’s advanced technology and modular design with parts made by 3D printing.
U.S. Navy officials said the drone was an older model using commercial technology without sensitive sonar or radar.
The capture marks the first known operational loss of an Anduril Dive-LD to Iran.
Access to this drone could help Iran improve its own underwater drone technology or share it with allies like Russia or China.
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Russian drones attacked a border crossing between Ukraine and Moldova, killing two people and injuring three. In response, Ukrainian drones struck the southern Russian city of Novorossiysk, killing four people and injuring others. Both countries have increased long-range strikes despite efforts to negotiate peace.
Key Facts
Two people died after Russian drones hit the Starokozache crossing on the Ukraine-Moldova border.
The border crossing was closed following the attack.
Four people, including a child, died in a Ukrainian drone strike on Novorossiysk, Russia.
The Russian defense ministry said it shot down 596 Ukrainian drones overnight.
The Novorossiysk attack damaged homes, a church, and a preschool.
Moldova has been affected by the conflict, with 17 drones striking its territory in August.
Ukrainian President Zelensky called for international support to stop the aggression.
Recent diplomatic talks involving President Trump and President Putin have focused on ending the conflict, but no date for peace talks has been set.
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The UK government is creating a new unit focused on addressing inequalities faced by white working-class people and others affected by class and economic background. This unit will replace the Social Mobility Commission and work on policies to reduce social and economic disadvantages across all groups.
Key Facts
A new government unit will focus on class and socioeconomic inequalities, especially for white working-class people.
The unit will be part of the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
The Social Mobility Commission, set up in 2010 to address social mobility, will be abolished.
The new unit will promote a socioeconomic duty requiring public bodies to consider how decisions affect lower-income families.
Plans include changing how deprivation is measured to improve funding for services like childcare and health.
The Social Mobility Commission had limited power, only advising ministers when asked.
A recent inquiry found white working-class children perform poorly in school and called for more support and access to successful schools.
The government aims to improve opportunities for disadvantaged groups without creating competition between them.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the U.K., but tensions with the British media and the royal family continue. A recent newspaper story wrongly said Harry and King Charles III had not spoken since Harry’s return, while the palace sent a letter confirming the couple’s status as non-working royals without giving them much notice.
Key Facts
Prince Harry says the British media caused many problems that led him and Meghan to leave royal life.
After returning to the U.K., Harry and Meghan corrected an inaccurate report by the Daily Mail about meeting celebrity friends.
The Daily Mirror published a front-page story claiming Harry and King Charles III had not spoken since Harry’s return.
Newsweek reported that Harry and Charles did talk during Harry’s first week back.
Harry and Meghan are non-working royals and their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles are not currently used.
The palace sent a letter confirming their non-working royal status to government and royal representatives shortly before sharing it with the media.
Harry and Meghan’s team wanted a phrase changed in the letter from “private citizens” to “public figures,” but the change was not made.
Tensions remain between Harry, Meghan, the British media, and the royal family as they adjust to life back in the U.K.
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Oil prices rose above $100 per barrel on Wednesday, driven by ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The U.S. military destroyed five Iranian oil tankers, leading to increased uncertainty about oil supply.
Key Facts
Brent crude oil prices reached about $100.57 per barrel on Wednesday.
U.S. Central Command said it destroyed five oil tankers belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran warned that all oil tankers in the waters near Kuwait and Bahrain should leave the area.
U.S. oil prices also rose, trading at about $95 per barrel.
The rising prices reflect concerns over supply due to tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Brent crude is a main benchmark used to set global oil prices.
These events are part of an ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
The situation is still developing, and updates are expected.
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Many people in Cuba are struggling with daily problems like heat, water and power shortages, lack of fuel, broken homes, and poor public services. These hardships are causing stress and sadness, with no clear solution as the U.S. energy embargo continues and economic problems grow worse.
Key Facts
Cuba has nearly 10 million people facing difficult living conditions.
Residents suffer from frequent blackouts, water shortages, and crumbling infrastructure.
Fuel supplies are low, affecting transportation and daily life.
People experience emotional distress and have few places to express their feelings.
Children often do not know the full extent of the hardships to protect them from worry.
Workshops and activities offer brief relief to families and children.
The U.S. energy embargo is one factor worsening Cuba’s economic and social issues.
Health officials in Cuba report increased demand on doctors who also provide emotional support.
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China and the Philippines exchanged strong statements over claims in the South China Sea. The Philippines’ Defense Secretary criticized China’s rejection of a 2016 legal ruling that said China’s claims there were invalid, while China accused the Philippines of causing trouble and harming their relations.
Key Facts
The Philippines’ Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro spoke at a defense forum in South Korea about the South China Sea dispute.
Teodoro highlighted a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that declared China’s claims in the South China Sea illegal.
During his speech, Teodoro received a note from someone purportedly representing China, stating it did not accept the ruling.
China said it does not recognize the ruling and urged the Philippines to stop causing problems.
The South China Sea is a busy global trade route with several countries disputing claims, including China and the Philippines.
In 2013, the Philippines started arbitration against China, which China refused to join.
Recent incidents include a Filipino sailor being injured by China’s coast guard, which Beijing denied, accusing the Filipino side of aggression.
The U.S. and other countries have supported the tribunal’s 2016 ruling, calling China’s claims illegal.
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Many young people in Argentina are struggling with rising debt, which is limiting their ability to study and find work. This growing debt problem challenges the support for President Javier Milei and has led opposition lawmakers to propose government actions to help people manage their debt.
Key Facts
Nearly half of Argentina’s 45 million people owe money, with over 5 million behind on payments.
People under 25 have the highest rate of missed payments, at 37.6%.
Martín Taborda, an 18-year-old law student, is unemployed and owes about $1,300, making it hard to afford transportation and study materials.
The debt often grows larger because of interest on unpaid loans.
Young voters who supported President Milei are facing financial difficulties, creating political pressure.
Opposition lawmakers want Congress to limit interest rates and create ways to help people repay debts.
President Milei opposes government relief, saying debt issues are private matters between lenders and borrowers.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo says banks are easing repayment conditions but warns against making debt relief public policy.
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A top Pentagon official said that America's closest allies do not have the same resources or experience to use artificial intelligence (AI) in their militaries as the US does. The Pentagon is helping these allies avoid mistakes made by the US while quickly adopting new AI tools to improve military decisions and actions.
Key Facts
Cameron Stanley is the chief digital and AI officer at the Department of War.
Stanley said NATO countries and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance lack the scale, experience, and resources the US has for AI in the military.
The US is working with allies to help them avoid the same errors the US made when adopting AI.
Since January, the Pentagon launched GenAI.mil (an AI chatbot used by 1.7 million people) and Agent Network (a system to speed up intelligence decisions).
Pentagon leaders are tracking how fast AI tools are deployed as part of expanding military computing power.
The AI targeting program, Project Maven, was used heavily during a US air campaign against Iran in 2026. It helped strike over 13,000 targets in 38 days.
Some US Congress members have demanded answers about civilian casualties from AI-guided strikes, including a strike on an Iranian school reportedly killing many children.
Stanley emphasized that old ways of working are risky, and the military must change to get AI tools to soldiers faster.
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The article shares a personal story about the author's childhood memories of visiting the Twin Towers in New York City before they were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks. The author reflects on a second-grade school project about the Twin Towers and the meaning the buildings held for their family.
Key Facts
The author found a pennant and a second-grade report about the Twin Towers saved by their parents.
The school assignment was to write about the author's favorite place in New York City, which was the Brooklynn Heights Promenade overlooking the Twin Towers.
The Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in New York until their destruction in 2001.
The observation deck was on the 107th floor and took 58 seconds to reach by elevator.
The author remembers the excitement and nervousness of going so high in the towers for the first time.
The Twin Towers symbolized New York pride and the American Dream to the author’s family.
The author’s high school prom was held at 3 World Trade Center, part of the original complex.
The article ties personal memories to the approaching 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
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Bangladesh is facing a large measles outbreak that has killed nearly 1,000 children this year. The country has launched emergency vaccination campaigns but continues to see a high number of suspected and confirmed cases.
Key Facts
Nearly 1,000 children have died from suspected measles cases in Bangladesh in 2026.
Since March, over 166,000 suspected measles cases were reported, with 19,835 confirmed by lab tests.
Bangladesh started an emergency vaccination program in March to stop the outbreak, focusing first on children aged 6 months to 5 years.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that causes fever, rash, and breathing problems, and can be fatal for young children.
Vaccinating 95% of the population is needed to stop measles from spreading and protect those too young or unable to be vaccinated.
The outbreak worsened after pandemic disruptions and political problems slowed down vaccination efforts in Bangladesh.
Families are traveling long distances to get specialized treatment for sick children in crowded hospitals in Dhaka.
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The United States government accused Chinese AI companies of illegally copying advanced AI technologies from U.S. companies. China denied these claims and called for cooperation between the two countries on AI development. Talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to include discussions about managing AI technology.
Key Facts
U.S. security agencies said Chinese firms used “distillation” to copy functions from U.S. AI models like OpenAI’s GPT and Google’s Gemini.
The accused Chinese companies include DeepSeek, Alibaba, Moonshot AI, and Z.ai.
The U.S. agencies believe the Chinese government is aware of these activities.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the accusations and said China’s AI progress comes from its own technology and effort.
The Ministry called for stronger cooperation between the U.S. and China on AI.
The U.S. advisory said Chinese firms bypass rules by routing requests through different paths and sharing paid subscriptions to access U.S. AI tools cheaply.
Chinese AI models like Moonshot’s Kimi K3 are becoming popular in the U.S. as alternative AI tools.
AI governance and related concerns will likely be discussed during upcoming talks between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a large victory in the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, weakening Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In parliament, AfD’s leader Alice Weidel challenged Merz, who responded that the AfD would not win a majority in Germany and criticized their policies on Ukraine and migration.
Key Facts
AfD achieved its biggest win yet in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
Chancellor Merz’s CDU lost about half its support in that regional election.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of AfD, said voters want a change and predicted future AfD election wins.
Merz said AfD needs an absolute majority to govern and that they have not and will not get one in Germany.
Merz called AfD a "destructive force" and disagreed with their policies.
AfD opposes aid to Ukraine and wants to lift sanctions on Russia.
Two more German states, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, have elections scheduled soon.
The election results show voter dissatisfaction beyond immigration issues, including the economy.
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The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said Saudi-backed forces launched 32 airstrikes across four Yemeni provinces after the Houthis attacked Saudi oil facilities, injuring 73 people. Separately, Iran's state media reported strikes on several oil tankers and two U.S. ships in response to U.S. attacks on Iranian tankers, highlighting rising tensions in the Middle East.
Key Facts
Houthi rebels claimed Saudi-backed forces conducted 32 airstrikes in Taiz, Hodeida, Jawf, and Marib provinces in Yemen.
Houthi attacks on Saudi oil facilities caused fires and wounded 73 people.
Iran said its forces struck eight oil tankers and two U.S. ships after U.S. strikes on Iranian tankers.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations Center reported incidents involving merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
The U.S. Central Command destroyed five Iranian crude oil tankers after missile attacks on a U.S. warship.
Saudi authorities have not yet responded to the airstrike claims made by the Houthis.
The conflict follows weeks of increasing clashes, ending a four-year truce in Yemen.
The British Consulate in Jerusalem will close within 30 days due to the UK’s ban on trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
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A large sinkhole about 30 feet wide opened up near Nicolas Cage’s house in Malibu after recent heavy rain. The sinkhole caused the driveway to collapse and led to a gas leak, but no injuries were reported.
Key Facts
The sinkhole measured about 30 feet by 30 feet.
It appeared after heavy rain linked to Tropical Storm Marie in Southern California.
The sinkhole caused much of the driveway to fall in, with broken asphalt and debris inside the hole.
Emergency services fixed a gas leak caused by the collapse.
Malibu officials said at least five homes nearby are unsafe and that emergency access is difficult because the road partly collapsed.
Nicolas Cage bought the Malibu home in 2024.
Nearby residents first noticed a smaller sinkhole about 8 feet wide before it expanded dramatically.
The ocean waves can be seen moving into and out of the sinkhole near the home.
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Comedian Alan Carr received a Special Recognition award at the 31st National Television Awards. He spoke about feeling emotional and mentioned feeling bad about "murdering" singer Paloma Faith in the TV show The Celebrity Traitors.
Key Facts
Alan Carr won the Special Recognition award at the National Television Awards.
The award was presented at the 31st annual event.
This award was not chosen by public vote.
Alan Carr appeared emotional and spoke when receiving the award.
He referenced the TV show The Celebrity Traitors from 2025.
In the show, he "murdered" singer Paloma Faith, which he said made him feel bad.
The National Television Awards celebrate achievements in TV entertainment.
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Schools in South Sumatra, Indonesia, have closed and switched to online classes because of thick smoke from forest and peatland fires, which have made the air unhealthy. The fires, worsened by El Nino and dry weather, have affected over 1.4 million students across Indonesia and caused health problems in the region.
Key Facts
The thick haze from fires forced schools in Palembang, South Sumatra’s capital, to move to remote learning for over 250,000 students.
The smoke contains toxic particles that can cause breathing illnesses, especially in children.
Indonesia’s forest and peat fires have worsened due to an intensifying El Nino weather pattern and a long dry season.
The smoke has traveled far, reaching the Philippines and Malaysia, where it triggered an emergency in one Malaysian town.
Around 12,800 schools in Sumatra and Borneo islands stayed closed because of poor air quality.
The wildfires are mainly in Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) and Sumatra, with Central Kalimantan as the worst affected area, showing 2,459 fire hot spots.
Officials said they will keep checking the air and reopen schools when it is safe.
Save the Children said the situation risks children's health and education and called it a child rights issue.
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A technical problem in the UK’s air traffic control system caused the cancellation of over 1,750 flights, leading to major travel disruptions. The issue has been fixed, but delays continued as airlines worked to rebook passengers and reposition planes.
Key Facts
The UK air traffic control system faced a flight processing issue starting Tuesday.
More than 1,750 flights were canceled across Britain.
Passengers were stuck on runways and in airport terminals for hours.
The problem was resolved by National Air Traffic Services (NATS), which runs the system.
Airlines Ryanair and Wizz Air called for the head of NATS, Martin Rolfe, to resign.
Martin Rolfe apologized and defended the safety and efficiency of the UK system.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander demanded further explanations and a meeting with Rolfe.
Flights were still delayed on Wednesday as airlines managed the backlog.
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