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The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes for seven days, increasing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran attacked a water desalination plant in Kuwait, causing serious damage, while the Gulf Cooperation Council called Iran’s attacks on civilian areas war crimes.
Key Facts
The US Central Command has launched attacks for seven nights in a row targeting Iranian military and maritime sites.
Iran responded by striking countries near the Gulf, including Kuwait.
A water desalination plant in Kuwait suffered major damage from Iran’s strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz region is a key strategic waterway for global oil transport.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, a regional political group, condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian places and called them war crimes.
The conflict reflects rising tensions between the US and Iran over control in the Middle East.
Diplomatic efforts to ease the conflict are still being discussed but progress is limited.
The ongoing exchange of strikes threatens stability in the Gulf region.
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Belgium’s government has approved a ban on importing goods made in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. This decision follows similar moves by other European countries and comes amid calls for the European Union to adopt a common policy on the matter.
Key Facts
Belgium banned imports from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.
The decision was made before Belgium’s summer break and fulfilled a previous government promise.
The ban aims to respond to Israel’s attacks in Gaza and settlement expansion.
Investigations found many Israeli agricultural exports to Europe include products from settlements, often mislabeled.
Other European countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Ireland have also taken similar steps.
The EU, Israel’s biggest trading partner, has not agreed on a unified policy yet.
Some former European leaders urge the EU to adopt a block-wide ban to strengthen trade rules.
Several EU members have limited arms exports to Israel due to the Gaza conflict.
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A Legionnaires' disease outbreak in New York City's Upper East Side has caused the first reported death and sickened at least 67 people. Health officials are investigating the source, focusing on cooling towers atop many buildings where bacteria can grow and spread.
Key Facts
At least 67 people have been sickened in a Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Manhattan's Upper East Side.
One death has been reported, but details about the person have not been made public.
The outbreak began being tracked on July 2 after two initial cases.
Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires' disease, has been found in cooling towers on over 75 buildings in the affected area.
Cooling towers are large devices used to cool buildings and can spread bacteria through water droplets in the air.
The city has ordered all affected buildings to clean and disinfect their cooling towers.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia that is treatable but has about a 10% death rate.
The disease does not spread from person to person, usually spreading through inhaling contaminated water droplets.
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Midland is a country music group from Texas. They performed their song "Shooting Memories With Tequila" on CBS News Saturday Sessions. Their new album "Stages" has received positive reviews as a top traditional country album this year.
Key Facts
Midland is a trio, meaning it has three members.
The band is known for traditional country music.
Their album "Stages" is new and well-reviewed.
The song performed is called "Shooting Memories With Tequila."
The performance was shown on CBS News Saturday Sessions.
Midland has been nominated for a Grammy award.
They come from the Texas country music scene.
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Midland, a Grammy-nominated country music group from Texas, performed their song "Drinkin' Problem" on CBS News Saturday Sessions. Their latest album "Stages" is recognized as one of the best traditional country albums this year.
Key Facts
Midland is a country music trio from Texas.
They have been nominated for a Grammy Award.
Their song "Drinkin' Problem" was performed on CBS News Saturday Sessions.
Their new album is called "Stages."
The album "Stages" has received praise as a top traditional country album this year.
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French lawmakers have approved a law that allows adults with incurable illnesses to choose assisted dying. The law was supported by President Emmanuel Macron and reflects public support for this option in France.
Key Facts
The new law gives adults with incurable diseases the right to assisted dying.
President Emmanuel Macron supports the assisted dying law.
The topic has been debated politically in France for a long time.
Opinion polls show most French people agree with assisted dying.
The approval happened on July 18, 2026.
The article also mentions Macron's promise to replant the Fontainebleau forest after wildfires.
France celebrated its Independence Day with a fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower.
The Grand Mosque of Paris marked its 100th anniversary recently.
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Over 5,000 people have died after two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela’s Caribbean coast in June, especially in the coastal state of La Guaira. Venezuela has received $346 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help with emergency relief and humanitarian needs.
Key Facts
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within one minute on June 24.
Most deaths and damage occurred in La Guaira, a coastal state with a major airport, seaport, and many apartment buildings.
Over 16,700 people were injured; most have left hospitals.
Rescue efforts have been slowed by aftershocks, equipment shortages, and command confusion.
About 20,000 people are still displaced, living in crowded shelters without consistent access to clean water or sanitation.
Venezuela secured $346 million in emergency aid from the IMF, released from the country’s reserve funds.
The IMF and World Bank restored relations with Venezuela in April after suspending them in 2019.
Some survivors and international observers say the government was slow to respond immediately after the quakes, while officials deny these claims.
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Large smoke clouds appeared in Kuwait after several Iranian attacks hit areas in Mangaf. The strikes targeted a power plant and a facility that turns seawater into drinking water. Kuwaiti officials have asked people to save electricity when they can.
Key Facts
Iranian attacks struck multiple places in Mangaf, Kuwait.
The targets were a power generation plant and a water desalination plant.
The attacks caused large plumes of smoke to rise over the area.
Kuwaiti authorities advised citizens to conserve electricity.
These events affected essential services like power and water supply.
The attacks are part of ongoing regional tensions involving Iran and its neighbors.
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The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes targeting key infrastructure and military sites, escalating tensions in the region near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has announced it will stop following its part of a recent interim agreement with the U.S., while attacks have caused damage to water plants and oil facilities in countries including Kuwait and Iran itself.
Key Facts
Iran said it suspended commitments under an interim deal with the U.S. amid ongoing military strikes.
The conflict focuses on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for about one-fifth of the world's crude oil.
U.S. military strikes have targeted Iranian surveillance sites, military infrastructure, weapons storage, and naval facilities.
Iranian missile and drone attacks have hit infrastructure in Kuwait, damaging a desalination plant and an oil facility, injuring several people.
Kuwait depends heavily on desalination plants for drinking water; these attacks caused power outages and fires.
Iraq and Jordan reported shooting down Iranian drones and missiles; Bahrain and Saudi Arabia experienced air raid sirens.
U.S. airstrikes damaged Iranian electricity and desalination plants, cutting off water supply to thousands and damaging key transportation routes.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned countries hosting U.S. forces to expect retaliatory responses.
At least 50 people have been killed and over 500 injured in recent weeks due to U.S. strikes; U.S. service member injuries have also increased.
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Iran's supreme leader warned of serious consequences if the United States continues its attacks and called President Donald Trump's signature invalid. Recent military strikes between the two countries have targeted infrastructure and water facilities, escalating tensions around the important Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
Iran’s supreme leader issued a warning against continued U.S. attacks and dismissed President Trump’s signature as worthless.
Tehran announced it is suspending its commitments to a peace deal signed about a month ago.
Both the U.S. and Iran have carried out strikes targeting military and infrastructure sites.
Iranian strikes damaged a water desalination plant and oil facility in Kuwait, injuring several people.
Kuwait relies on desalination plants for 90% of its drinking water; two plants were hit recently.
The U.S. Central Command reported hitting surveillance and weapons sites in Iran for seven consecutive nights.
The Gulf Cooperation Council accused Iran of war crimes for attacking civilian infrastructure.
Air defenses in Iraq, Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia intercepted Iranian drones and missiles on the same day.
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The U.S. military reported two soldiers killed and one missing after Iran attacked a base in Jordan with missiles and drones. The conflict continues to escalate, with Iran suspending its commitments to a recent peace agreement and striking facilities in Kuwait and Iran, while regional countries boost their defenses.
Key Facts
Two U.S. troops died and one went missing in an Iranian missile and drone attack on a base in Jordan.
Four other U.S. service members were injured but later released from hospitals.
Iran’s supreme leader warned the U.S. of consequences if attacks continue and dismissed President Trump’s peace deal as invalid.
Iran announced it will no longer follow the peace deal signed roughly a month ago to stop the fighting.
Iranian strikes hit a water desalination plant and oil facility in Kuwait, causing fires and injuries.
Kuwait closed its airspace temporarily and rescheduled flights due to missile threats.
Iraq and Jordan shot down Iranian drones and missiles, and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia experienced air raid sirens.
The U.S. conducted airstrikes inside Iran, damaging water and electricity infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil route.
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The U.S. military launched new airstrikes against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to punish them for a recent attack in Jordan that killed two American soldiers and injured others. These strikes aim to reduce Iran’s ability to control oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil supplies. Tensions remain high as Iran’s leaders threaten retaliation and suspend parts of a recent peace agreement.
Key Facts
The U.S. carried out airstrikes targeting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard after an attack in Jordan killed two U.S. service members and injured others.
The strikes focus on limiting Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes.
Since the war’s start, 16 U.S. soldiers have died and over 430 have been wounded.
Iran’s supreme leader warned of "unforgettable lessons" if the U.S. continues attacks and criticized President Trump’s peace deal as invalid.
Iran suspended its commitments to a recently signed interim peace deal aimed at ending the conflict.
Iranian strikes hit a water desalination plant and an oil facility in Kuwait, causing injuries and a fire.
Kuwait closed its airspace temporarily, and several Gulf countries reported missile attacks or defenses against missiles from Iran.
The Gulf Cooperation Council accused Iran of war crimes for striking infrastructure in the region.
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The United States and Iran have exchanged attacks targeting important military and infrastructure sites in the Middle East. The conflict centers on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil supplies, with no ceasefire currently in place.
Key Facts
The U.S. Central Command reported hitting surveillance sites, military logistics, weapons storage, and maritime facilities over seven nights.
Iran struck a water desalination plant and an oil facility in Kuwait, causing injuries and power outages.
Key locations hit include places in Iran (Hormozgan province), Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and U.S. military bases in the region.
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, disrupting global oil transportation.
Iran demands sole control of the strait and seeks fees from vessels passing through it.
President Donald Trump threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges to pressure Iran on the strait.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned countries hosting U.S. forces to prepare for possible retaliations.
The conflict has involved attacks on hospitals, bridges, airports, ports, and other civilian infrastructure.
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More than 50 million people in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic face severe weather risks this weekend, including strong winds, hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding. At the same time, smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota has worsened air quality over a large part of the U.S., affecting at least 19 states.
Key Facts
Severe weather warnings cover areas from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, including cities like New York, Philadelphia, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Cleveland.
Possible weather hazards include damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes, and flash flooding.
A cold front moving into the region may cause scattered flash flooding, especially in urban areas with lots of runoff.
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility in the Midwest and Northeast.
At least 19 U.S. states are experiencing the effects of the wildfire smoke.
Conditions are expected to improve after the cold front passes through the East.
Tens of thousands attending the World Cup final may see better air quality, but concerns remain if rain does not clear the smoke.
Texas is recovering from heavy flooding that caused damage and ongoing rescue efforts.
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Smoke from large wildfires in Canada and Minnesota has spread over parts of the U.S., causing poor air quality especially in the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions. The smoke has made it hard to see landmarks in Washington, D.C., led to event cancellations, and raised health warnings for vulnerable people.
Key Facts
Wildfires in northern Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota's Boundary Waters area are producing heavy smoke.
The smoke has caused unhealthy air quality across many U.S. states, including around Detroit and New York City.
Washington, D.C., was covered in an orange haze, obscuring landmarks like the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial.
Health officials advise people with heart or lung problems, older adults, and children to stay inside until air quality improves.
The wildfires have forced evacuations, destroyed a First Nation community in Canada, and continue to burn uncontrolled.
Major League Baseball postponed a game in Cleveland due to poor air quality from the smoke.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Canada’s forest management and threatened tariffs in response to the smoke situation.
Forecasters say the smoky conditions will last at least a week, depending on wind patterns, with some relief possible from weekend storms.
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Actors Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway star in a new version of "The Odyssey," an ancient story by Homer. They worked with director Christopher Nolan to bring this old poem to modern audiences.
Key Facts
"The Odyssey" is an ancient epic poem written by Homer.
Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway are the lead actors in this new adaptation.
Christopher Nolan, an Oscar-winning director, is directing the project.
The actors discussed their experiences working on the film in an interview.
The project aims to renew interest in this classic story by making it accessible today.
The content was featured on CBS News.
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A Malian army convoy was attacked by rebels in the northern Gao region. Two groups, the jihadist JNIM and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), said they carried out the ambush, causing many soldier deaths, captures, and equipment losses.
Key Facts
The attack happened in a remote area north of Gao, Mali.
Both the JNIM, linked to al Qaeda, and the FLA separatists claimed responsibility.
The rebels reported many soldiers were killed or captured alive.
Army vehicles, including armored cars, were destroyed or captured.
Videos showed soldiers surrendering and some being shot, but these videos could not be verified independently.
The FLA was formed in 2024 by merging Tuareg separatist groups seeking independence for Azawad.
JNIM and the FLA have worked together in attacks against Malian forces recently.
Mali is in the Sahel region, which faces ongoing extremist violence and conflicts over territory.
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Lake Mead, one of the largest reservoirs in the U.S., is expected to drop nearly 33 feet by June 2028 due to ongoing drought and low snowfall. This situation highlights growing water shortages for the region and could worsen if dry conditions continue.
Key Facts
Lake Mead is one of the largest water reservoirs in the United States.
It is expected to lose almost 33 feet of water by June 2028.
The drop is mainly caused by a continuing drought and very low snowpack levels.
Snowpack refers to the amount of snow that collects in the mountains and melts to supply water to rivers and reservoirs.
The decreasing water levels in Lake Mead mean less water is available for hundreds of thousands of people and farms.
This situation reflects a long-term trend of water shortages in the western U.S.
If drought conditions get worse, the water level could fall even more than predicted.
Water management officials are closely watching the situation to plan for future supply challenges.
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Smoke from wildfires in Canada is covering large areas of the United States, including regions around the Great Lakes and the Mid-Atlantic. Meanwhile, heavy rains have caused dangerous flooding in the Texas Hill Country.
Key Facts
Wildfires in Canada are producing smoke that is spreading across parts of the U.S.
The smoke affects areas from the Great Lakes region to the Mid-Atlantic states.
Texas Hill Country experienced heavy rain leading to serious flooding.
The flooding in Texas has resulted in deadly consequences.
Air quality in affected U.S. areas is impacted by the wildfire smoke.
Weather forecasts continue to monitor air quality and flood conditions.
The events involve both natural disasters: wildfires in Canada and floods in Texas.
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Jens Spahn, a German politician and chair of the CDU party, resigned after using surrogacy in the US to become a parent, despite his party's strict opposition and Germany’s ban on surrogacy. His decision led to criticism over hypocrisy, as he had previously opposed surrogacy and the CDU maintained the ban while his child was being carried abroad.
Key Facts
Jens Spahn used a surrogate mother in the US to have a child with his husband.
Surrogacy is illegal in Germany and can lead to prison or fines.
Spahn had previously criticized surrogacy publicly and supported the ban as a CDU politician.
The CDU party voted in February to keep the surrogacy ban.
Spahn faced criticism for acting against the rules he supported politically.
Several CDU members called for his resignation due to lost credibility and double standards.
Spahn resigned as chair of the CDU parliamentary group, stating family happiness conflicted with his political role.
CDU leader Friedrich Merz said Spahn’s resignation was necessary to maintain political credibility.
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