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Comprehensive coverage of international news and global events
France’s environment minister Monique Barbut announced she will resign after the French parliament approved a law allowing the use of pesticides harmful to bees. Barbut opposed the bill, saying it went against environmental protection efforts.
Key Facts
Monique Barbut is France’s environment minister.
She plans to resign and will submit her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.
The French parliament approved a law allowing pesticides harmful to bees back into use.
The pesticides acetamiprid and flupyradifurone had been banned in France since 2018 and 2019.
The new law lets France’s health and safety agency approve these pesticides conditionally.
Supporters say these pesticides help French farmers compete with other European countries.
Critics argue the pesticides are dangerous to bees and human health, including children.
Barbut said the government stopped any debate on removing the pesticide measure, and scientific studies still show risks.
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England’s new government announced it will cap single bus fares at £2 starting in January, down from £3. The government says the policy is fully funded through £454 million, mostly from changing climate finance investments to loans and budget savings.
Key Facts
The new £2 bus fare cap in England will start in January.
The cap lowers the current maximum bus fare from £3 to £2.
The government claims the policy is backed by £454 million in funding.
About £400 million comes from switching some climate finance investments into loans.
The rest of the money comes from cuts in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero budget.
A cut to VAT on household electricity bills from October will be paid for by cancelling a digital ID scheme.
Some critics say the digital ID scheme was never funded, questioning how the government will pay for new policies.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the government is confident all new spending is fully funded and fiscal rules will be followed.
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Winnie Ama, a singer from Belfast, was invited to perform her original song in an alien language for the new Supergirl movie. This was her first acting role, where she played a singing alien in a bar on the alien planet Bilquis.
Key Facts
Winnie Ama was performing in a bar when the film director invited her to join the Supergirl movie.
She had to translate her song "What Are We" into an alien language created by a language expert.
The alien language specialist also worked on famous fictional languages like Klingon from Star Trek.
Winnie’s character sings in an alien bar during a scene where Supergirl visits the planet Bilquis.
It took about four hours each day to apply makeup and costume for her alien role.
The Supergirl film centers on the superhero’s mission to save her dog, Krypto.
The movie is directed by Craig Gillespie and stars Milly Alcock as Supergirl and Jason Momoa as bounty hunter Lobo.
Winnie said the film shows Supergirl as a real person with emotions, not a typical superhero.
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A large amount of smoke from wildfires in western Ontario, Canada, is expected to continue spreading over many parts of the U.S. Midwest and Northeast through August. The smoke, driven by weather patterns like the jet stream, is causing poor air quality, which can affect the health of millions of people.
Key Facts
As of July 22, 2026, Canada has about 900 active wildfires burning, with nearly 3,950 fires having burned over 3.3 million hectares this year.
Western Ontario is a major source of the smoke affecting the United States.
Many fires are in remote areas, making firefighting difficult; rain is limited and expected to provide only minor relief.
Weather patterns, especially the jet stream, are pushing smoke southeast into the U.S., where it will continue for weeks.
States across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast are experiencing haze and unhealthy air conditions.
Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles called PM2.5, which can harm lungs and heart when inhaled.
Health experts warn that the smoke can cause coughing and increase risks of respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Significant improvement in air quality may not come until cooler weather and rainstorms arrive in late August or fall.
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Thousands of young people are protesting in Delhi, India, demanding changes in education and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protests continued despite police using force, and opposition leaders joined in, calling for government accountability after a harsh police crackdown.
Key Facts
The protests are led by a group called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), inspired by a controversial remark made by India’s chief justice.
Protesters want education reforms and the resignation of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Police used batons and tear gas, injuring at least 60 people during the protests.
Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, joined the protests and marched to Prime Minister Modi’s house.
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition members were briefly detained by the police during their protests.
The Congress party says the government refused to allow a debate on education reforms in parliament.
Minister Pradhan accused the Congress of using students for political gain and said the government is committed to education reforms.
Protesters remain at the main protest site, Jantar Mantar, with a continuous sit-in despite the police dismantling their stage and tents.
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Morocco has asked Italy to explain the death of a Moroccan man, Abderrahim Fakir, who died during his arrest in Bologna. The incident sparked protests and clashes between police and demonstrators, while Italian authorities have opened an investigation into the case.
Key Facts
Abderrahim Fakir, a 42-year-old Moroccan living in Italy since childhood, died after police tackled him to the ground in Bologna.
Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances and responsibility for Fakir’s death.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a rigorous and impartial inquiry, condemning violence against police during related protests.
Clashes during protests injured 54 police officers and 11 demonstrators.
Police were reportedly responding to neighbors' concerns about Fakir's unusual behavior, describing it as a “psychiatric episode.”
A video shows Fakir asking for help as officers pressed him face down for several minutes.
Fakir’s family and local officials called for justice and truth about his death.
The case has drawn comparisons to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the United States, where police restraint led to death.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US is open to talks to end the conflict with Iran but believes Iran is not serious about negotiations. Meanwhile, the US has conducted attacks on Iran for 11 nights in a row, and tensions remain high over control of the Strait of Hormuz and threats against Iranian nuclear sites.
Key Facts
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US wants positive talks with Iran if Iran honors its commitments.
Rubio claims Iran is not serious about negotiating a peaceful end to the conflict.
The US has launched attacks on Iran for 11 consecutive nights, causing explosions in different areas.
Rubio opposes Iran controlling the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for global energy transport.
Iran rejects US threats and says it will retaliate if its nuclear facilities are attacked again.
Recent attacks have caused 50 deaths and wounded 500 people, according to Iranian health officials.
Rubio emphasized the importance of US relations with Southeast Asian countries as part of broader security and economic interests.
The US warns that Iran’s control of international waterways would set a dangerous global precedent.
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Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy fired the army chief and appointed a new general to lead a reorganization of the military. Meanwhile, EU ambassadors are meeting to try to finalize a new set of sanctions against Russia, but some member states have concerns about the impact on their own economies.
Key Facts
President Zelenskyy fired Ukraine’s army commander Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy appointed Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new head of Ukraine’s armed forces.
Zelenskyy also offered a prominent government role to Mykhailo Fedorov, the recently dismissed defence minister.
The changes come amid nationwide protests in Ukraine demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement.
Ukraine launched attacks on Russian logistics hubs supplying military equipment.
EU ambassadors in Brussels are trying to approve the 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
Some EU countries worry sanctions might harm their own economies.
Proposed measures on Russian fishing, visas for Russian citizens, and sanctions on a Russian religious leader were dropped or opposed.
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Explosions and fires were reported in Tehran and Behbahan, Iran, during a series of US military strikes. The US said it completed 11 days of consecutive attacks on Iran.
Key Facts
Explosions were heard over Tehran, Iran’s capital city.
Fires broke out in Behbahan, a city in southwestern Iran.
The incidents followed US missile attacks.
The US military reported completing 11 straight days of strikes on Iran.
The strikes are part of ongoing military actions between the US and Iran.
Air defenses in Iran were activated during these events.
The report does not mention casualties or further details about targets.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city cannot arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. He called on the U.S. federal government to take action instead, as they have the legal power to do so.
Key Facts
Mayor Mamdani planned to arrest Netanyahu if he attended the UN General Assembly in New York.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024, accusing him of war crimes related to the war in Gaza.
Mamdani said New York City does not have the legal authority to enforce the ICC warrant.
He urged the federal government to join the ICC and execute the warrant.
President Donald Trump stated publicly that Netanyahu will not be arrested in the U.S.
Israeli officials deny the war crime accusations, including targeting civilians and restricting aid.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN criticized Mamdani, telling him to focus on serving New Yorkers.
Netanyahu faces accusations from the ICC of using starvation as a method of warfare and crimes against humanity.
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A documentary reveals that the French army secretly used chemical weapons during the Algerian war of independence, violating international law. The film shows evidence from archives and testimonies that France attacked Algerian fighters and civilians with poison gas between 1956 and 1959.
Key Facts
The French army used chemical weapons in Algeria during the independence war, against international rules.
Evidence includes a 1956 letter from a French army commander mentioning chemical weapons use.
France created a Special Weapons Unit in late 1956 to use CN2D gas on Algerian fighters in caves.
Around 8,000 to 10,000 chemical attacks happened, but only 440 have been documented so far.
One attack in March 1959 killed about 150 civilians at Ghar Ben Shatouh.
France did not officially ban chemical weapons until 1993, decades after Algeria became independent.
The chemical used, CN2D gas, was also employed by France in World War I.
The 1925 Geneva Protocol prohibits the use of chemical weapons, which France broke during this conflict.
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Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi was released after being detained during large student-led protests over recent exam paper leaks and the education system. The protests, organized mainly by students and the social media group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), call for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Key Facts
Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were detained during a protest outside Prime Minister Modi’s residence in New Delhi.
The protests followed a leak of medical school exam papers, causing over two million students to retake exams and linked to at least 12 student suicides.
Protesters demand educational reforms, government accountability, and the resignation of Modi and the education minister.
Police used tear gas and batons to stop protesters marching to parliament, injuring around 60 civilians and 118 police officers.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a student and social media movement, has rapidly gained millions of followers in two months.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk supported the protests by starting a hunger strike before being moved to a hospital by police and later to a private hospital after a court order.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Gandhi of using students for political disruption but said the government is committed to reforms and accountability.
Protests occurred in multiple cities including New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with hundreds continuing to camp at a New Delhi protest site.
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Mr Motivator, a well-known TV fitness figure from the 1990s, visited a care home in Huddersfield to lead a fitness class for elderly residents. The session focused on gentle exercises designed to improve movement and wellbeing, with an emphasis on the importance of staying active in later life.
Key Facts
Mr Motivator is 73 years old and still leads fitness sessions with energetic movements.
He led a chairobics (chair aerobics) session for nine residents at Lindley Park Care Home.
The care home has 61 beds and provides care for people with dementia.
Physical activity for older adults is recommended by the NHS to improve health.
Research shows many people over 55 do not get enough exercise.
Bailey Greetham, aged 23, runs a business providing fitness classes in care homes.
The fitness sessions aim to help residents regain independence and improve mood.
Participants enjoyed the session and appreciated the opportunity to move and socialize.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that if Iran is allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz and charge ships a fee, it would create a risky situation. He said this could lead to serious problems not only in the Middle East but around the world.
Key Facts
Marco Rubio is the US Secretary of State.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway used for global shipping.
Iran wants to control the Strait and charge fees to ships passing through.
Rubio called this move a "dangerous precedent."
He believes this could cause problems beyond the Middle East region.
The Strait of Hormuz is important for transporting oil and other goods.
Controlling such a key route can affect global trade and security.
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Ukrainian drones have again attacked warehouses of Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, injuring 10 people. Ukraine says these warehouses are used to supply parts for Russian drones and military equipment.
Key Facts
Ukrainian drones struck Wildberries warehouses in Krasnodar and Stavropol overnight.
10 people were injured and workers had to be evacuated.
This is the second attack in four days; previous strikes hit warehouses in Tambov and Elektrostal, killing 8 and injuring 62.
Ukraine claims these warehouses supply components for Russian drones and navigation gear.
Wildberries owner Tatyana Kim expressed sadness over the attacks but emphasized continuing work.
Ukrainian officials say the strikes aim to disrupt Russia’s military supply chain and logistics.
Such attacks may affect the Russian economy and public support for the war.
Wildberries’ website has reportedly been used by Russian volunteers to buy military gear.
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Japan experienced its first day with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F), a level called "kokushobi" or "cruelly hot day" by the Japanese weather agency. The heat is expected to continue, and authorities have issued warnings to help people stay safe from heatstroke.
Key Facts
"Kokushobi" means a day when temperatures reach 40°C or higher.
Temperatures hit this level on Tuesday in Tajimi, Gujo, and Toyoda cities.
Nearly 300 of Japan’s 914 weather stations recorded temperatures over 35°C on that day.
Heatstroke alerts were issued in more than 40 prefectures.
Tokyo hospitals treated 287 people for heatstroke on Tuesday, the highest number this year.
The Tokyo Fire Department warned about ambulance overload and advised heat precautions.
Japan’s summers are getting hotter; last year, 1,803 people suffered heatstroke at work and 19 died.
Tokyo officials suggest office workers wear cooler clothing like T-shirts and shorts to cope with the heat.
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Prince George will turn 13 on July 22 and will soon start boarding school at Eton College in September. This change marks a key step in his education, moving from preparatory school to one of the United Kingdom’s most famous fee-paying boarding schools.
Key Facts
Prince George’s time at Lambrook School ended on July 4.
He officially starts at Eton College in early September, when the new school term begins.
Preparatory school usually ends at age 13, after which students continue their education at boarding schools like Eton.
Eton College is a selective boarding school where boys live on campus during term time until age 18.
George celebrated his 12th birthday with an official portrait and family video.
Over the summer, George stayed out of public view, a royal family tradition during their break at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
He appeared at key public events last year, including the Festival of Remembrance and his mother’s Christmas carol service.
Starting at Eton is a major transition that has been described as both exciting and challenging.
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The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, where a major jewelry theft happened in October 2025, will reopen to visitors on Wednesday. The valuable jewels stolen remain missing, and no jewelry will be shown in the gallery as it returns to its original 17th-century role as a state gallery.
Key Facts
The Apollo Gallery was the site of a jewelry heist in October 2025.
Jewelry worth 88 million euros was stolen from the gallery.
The gallery will reopen without any jewels on display.
The gallery will return to its historical use as a state gallery from the 1600s.
The Louvre plans to build a new secure vault elsewhere in the museum for remaining precious items.
The theft exposed serious security problems at the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum.
Following the heist, the Louvre’s president was replaced.
The museum is visited by about nine million people each year.
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The US military has carried out 11 nights of air strikes against Iran, targeting military sites amid ongoing conflict. President Donald Trump warned of intensified attacks, including plans to hit an underground nuclear facility known as Pickaxe Mountain. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, worsening tensions in the region.
Key Facts
The US completed its 11th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, focusing on aircraft hangars and drone storage sites.
President Trump threatened to heavily target Pickaxe Mountain, an underground nuclear site in Iran.
Iran’s military sees an attack on Pickaxe Mountain as a major escalation.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia at the Red Sea coast.
Saudi Arabia depends on a pipeline to the Red Sea to export oil due to a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s interior minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in the conflict.
The US war in Iran has cost about $37.5 billion and resulted in more than 500 wounded US personnel.
Oil prices rose, with Brent crude reaching over $92 per barrel amid the conflict.
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Pakistan-administered Kashmir is preparing for regional elections amid recent protests and violence. The election dates have been spread out over several days due to security concerns related to ongoing unrest, especially in the Poonch area.
Key Facts
Pakistan-administered Kashmir is holding elections for its provincial legislature after weeks of protests and violence.
The election schedule was changed so different areas vote on different days: Mirpur on July 27, Muzaffarabad and refugee seats on August 2, and Poonch on August 10.
Protests are focused on removing reserved seats in the legislature for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir.
The Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a protest group, was banned in June.
Residents are divided: some support the protests but are reluctant to vote because they see candidates as corrupt.
Pakistan-administered Kashmir has a semi-autonomous government with its own president, prime minister, and Supreme Court.
The Kashmir region is disputed territory claimed by both Pakistan and India with a history of conflict.
The election campaign displays flags of major Pakistani political parties like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party.
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