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Russian forces attacked port infrastructure in Odesa and Mykolaiv, killing at least three people. In response, Ukraine launched drone strikes on 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea to disrupt Russia’s supply routes.
Key Facts
Russian strikes targeted civilian, industrial, and port facilities in Odesa and Mykolaiv for five consecutive days.
At least three people died and three were injured in the attacks on Odesa.
Russia said it targeted sites used for storing fuel and assembling drones.
Odesa ports handle much of Ukraine’s grain exports and are vital to its economy.
Ukraine used drones to attack 17 Russian oil tankers, two gas tankers, and one tugboat in the Black Sea.
Ukraine’s drone commander claimed 116 Russian vessels were targeted over nine days.
Russia plans to reroute exports after repeated attacks on its shipping in the Sea of Azov.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to announce new plans for EU-Ukraine defence cooperation.
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The United States has restarted its naval blockade of Iranian ports after recent attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military launched strikes against Iranian military sites, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on US forces and allies in the Gulf region.
Key Facts
The US blocked traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
US Central Command said it struck dozens of Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz over seven hours.
Iranian media reported US attacks hit both civilian and military sites in Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched missile and drone attacks on US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan reported missile and drone attacks linked to Iran, with injuries and military responses.
Iran declared its agreement with the US was no longer valid after the blockade was reimposed.
The Iranian military warned it may stop all energy exports from the Middle East.
The US froze more than $130 million tied to Iran by sanctioning cryptocurrency wallets linked to Iran’s central bank.
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Kenya’s High Court rejected a request from the Rastafarian community to allow cannabis use in their religious practices. The court said the group did not prove that drug laws violated their constitutional rights, but noted that Kenya should have a wider discussion about cannabis laws.
Key Facts
The Rastafarian community in Kenya wanted cannabis use legalized for religious reasons.
They argued that banning cannabis broke their right to freedom of religion.
The High Court ruled against the Rastafarians’ petition.
Judge Bahati Mwamuye said the community did not prove the law violated their rights.
The judge suggested Kenya needs a national debate on cannabis legalization.
Supporters say legal cannabis could create jobs and increase tax revenue.
Cannabis is also discussed for its potential medical and industrial uses.
The court’s decision focuses on current laws while leaving room for future discussions.
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Ahmed El Attar, an Egyptian director, presented his play "Salma mon amour" at the Avignon theatre festival in France. The play explores how the Gaza war impacts a wealthy family in Cairo and focuses on a young woman named Salma to challenge common stereotypes.
Key Facts
The Avignon festival celebrated its 80th edition in southern France.
Korean culture was highlighted this year, featuring drama, dance, and literature.
Ahmed El Attar’s play "Salma mon amour" addresses the war in Gaza's effects on a Cairo family.
The main character, Salma, is a member of Generation Z who expresses feelings of injustice and anger.
El Attar aims to show a more detailed view of young people like Salma, beyond common clichés.
The play carries a humanitarian message about rage and resistance.
The festival also presented a show called "Maldoror," which uses high-tech effects to explore evil.
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The Ebola outbreak in Congo has reached 2,011 confirmed cases, with 754 deaths reported. Health officials say this is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record and face challenges tracking its spread.
Key Facts
There are 2,011 confirmed Ebola cases in Congo.
The outbreak has caused 754 deaths so far.
About 753 people are still in hospitals or isolation.
A total of 366 people have recovered from Ebola.
The outbreak started on May 15, 2026, and is linked to a rare virus type called Bundibugyo.
Health workers are struggling to trace people who may have been exposed; only 67% of contacts are identified.
The World Health Organization reported that 80% of new cases come from unknown transmission sources, making control difficult.
Congo’s health ministry and international groups are working to respond, but the virus continues to spread quickly.
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A deep sea expedition off the coast of Canada has created detailed 3D digital models of two historic shipwrecks linked to famous polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Robert Falcon Scott. Using advanced underwater imaging technology, the team mapped the wrecks of Shackleton’s Quest and Scott’s Terra Nova to preserve them digitally before the ocean reclaims them.
Key Facts
The shipwrecks of Shackleton’s Quest and Scott’s Terra Nova were found over 1,000 feet below the Labrador Sea.
The expedition started on July 2 and lasted 21 days, led by John Geiger of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS).
The submersible Alvin, known for visiting the Titanic wreck, was used to explore the shipwrecks.
Both Quest and Terra Nova were important ships in early 20th-century polar exploration.
Shackleton died on the Quest during an Arctic expedition in 1922; the Quest sank in 1962 and was discovered in 2024.
Terra Nova carried Scott’s team during their 1910 South Pole attempt; after Scott’s death, the ship was used in seal fishing before sinking in 1943.
A Canadian company, Voyis, provided technology to create precise 3D digital twins of the shipwrecks.
The project aims to preserve the ships digitally as physical wrecks will eventually deteriorate underwater.
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England and Argentina will play a World Cup semifinal match, renewing a strong rivalry linked to the 1982 Falklands War. The competition is intensified by Argentina's ongoing claim to the islands and recent oil discoveries near the Falklands.
Key Facts
England and Argentina have a long soccer rivalry connected to the 1982 Falklands War.
The war lasted 74 days and resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides, with Britain winning.
Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win over England was seen as symbolic revenge for the war.
The upcoming World Cup match is their first meeting since 2002 in the tournament and first overall since 2005.
Argentine players have publicly referenced the Falkland Islands during this World Cup, despite FIFA rules against political messages.
The Falklands, called Las Malvinas in Argentina, have fewer than 3,700 people living there.
New oil projects near the islands could bring significant wealth, with production expected to start in 2028.
The Sea Lion oil project is the largest deep-water oil development in the South Atlantic outside Brazil.
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The United States carried out air, drone, and naval strikes on several military targets in southern Iran near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by attacking U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, leading to continued tensions despite a recent ceasefire agreement.
Key Facts
The U.S. military operation lasted seven hours and targeted dozens of sites in southern Iran.
The strikes occurred alongside a renewed U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran reported explosions and activated air defenses in multiple southern cities and islands.
The IRGC claimed it attacked U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, damaging a major U.S. naval base and destroying aircraft shelters.
Jordan intercepted and destroyed three Iranian ballistic missiles.
This conflict escalation happened less than a month after a ceasefire extension and an agreement to hold talks.
President Donald Trump said attacks would continue until he decides to stop and threatened to target Iranian infrastructure like power plants and bridges.
The U.S. deployed around 21 naval vessels to enforce the blockade near the Strait of Hormuz.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv to announce plans for new projects to connect the defense industries of Europe and Ukraine. The visit came after military parades involving European and Ukrainian forces, while fighting continued with drone strikes on Russian ships and Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports.
Key Facts
Ursula von der Leyen is in Kyiv to present new ideas for closer cooperation between European and Ukrainian defense industries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and von der Leyen both attended a military parade in Paris on Bastille Day.
Ukraine reported its drones struck 20 Russian ships in the Black Sea overnight.
Russia launched attacks on Ukrainian ports in Odesa and Chornomorsk.
Serbia’s President Aleksander Vučić traveled to Kyiv despite his country’s close ties with Moscow.
EU ambassadors in Brussels are trying to finalize the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, with disagreements over some measures like a price cap on Russian oil.
Germany’s politician Friedrich Merz plans to hold a press conference regarding government matters.
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Keir Starmer is holding his last Cabinet meeting and final session as Leader of the Opposition in the UK Parliament. Meanwhile, Andy Burnham is close to becoming the new Labour Party leader and is expected to announce his team soon.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer chairs his final Cabinet meeting and attends his last Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session today.
Tony Blair once described his last day in Parliament as a time for respect and no serious debate, but today’s session may be more contentious.
The government blocked a Tory attempt to delay the parliamentary summer recess for Andy Burnham to speak.
The official start of the parliamentary recess is tomorrow, despite opposition attempts to change it.
Andy Burnham is expected to announce his new Labour Cabinet team on Monday.
Other events today include a Reform UK press conference, a BBC leadership hearing, and Labour’s Greater Manchester mayor candidate launching a manifesto.
Dan Jarvis, the UK Defence Secretary, is visiting Yorkshire this afternoon.
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Smoke from wildfires in Canada is spreading into the United States, causing air quality alerts in several states. Health officials warn that the smoke can make breathing harder, especially for children, older adults, and people with lung or heart problems.
Key Facts
Canadian wildfires are producing large smoke clouds moving south into the U.S.
States like Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, New York, and possibly Illinois have air quality alerts.
Massachusetts and other New England states are seeing hazy skies from the smoke.
The National Weather Service issued warnings about fine particle pollution called PM2.5 in the smoke.
PM2.5 can cause breathing problems and worsen asthma or heart conditions.
Sensitive groups include children, elderly people, and those with existing health issues.
The smoke traveled hundreds of miles from the wildfire areas.
The situation is ongoing and officials are monitoring air quality closely.
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Dr. Hassan Khalil Almukayed, a vascular surgeon in Gaza, was detained by Israeli forces in October 2024 without being charged. He is one of at least 15 Palestinian doctors held by Israel during the conflict, and families say they were misled by Israeli promises that doctors would be safe.
Key Facts
Dr. Hassan Almukayed worked at Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza during the 2024 conflict.
He was arrested by Israeli soldiers who promised doctors they would not be harmed or arrested, but the promise was broken.
Almukayed has been held in Israeli detention for nearly 21 months without any charges.
He was initially detained at Israel’s Sde Teiman prison for seven months.
At least 15 Palestinian doctors from Gaza are currently detained by Israel.
Another detained doctor, Hussam Abu Safia, has been held for over 18 months and reportedly faces severe abuse.
The United Nations has called for the immediate release of imprisoned Palestinian doctors.
Dr. Almukayed’s family remains displaced in southern Gaza, unaware he does not know his father has passed away.
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A pontoon boat sank near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco, resulting in one death and three people missing. Sixteen others were rescued after the boat capsized during a memorial service.
Key Facts
The boat was a three-deck pontoon vessel carrying mostly family members.
It sank on Tuesday near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco.
One person rescued from the water later died.
A dog on the boat also died.
Three injured people were hospitalized after falling from the boat.
Rescue teams used divers, helicopters, and boats to search for the missing people.
The search took place near the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge and continued overnight.
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed search and rescue efforts were ongoing.
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In July 2016, a group within the Turkish military tried to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government but failed. The event killed many people and led to big changes in how the military and civilian leaders work together in Turkiye.
Key Facts
The coup attempt began on July 15, 2016, and involved tanks and fighter jets.
About 250 people died and over 2,200 were injured during the coup attempt.
Thousands of civilians, police, and loyal soldiers stopped the coup within hours.
Turkiye’s military had a history of intervening in politics, including coups in 1960, 1980, and other actions in 1971 and 1997.
Founders of the Turkish Republic intended for the military to stay out of politics.
After the coup attempt, the government accused Fethullah Gulen’s group (FETO) of planning it and took legal action against many involved.
Military schools were replaced and the armed forces came under greater civilian control.
Experts say another military coup is unlikely in Turkiye today.
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A large moorland fire near Dove Stone Reservoir in Greater Manchester has merged with another fire several miles away at Tintwistle Moor. Firefighters expect to be on site for several days due to dry, windy conditions and limited rainfall.
Key Facts
The fire near Dove Stone Reservoir began on Saturday, July 12, 2026.
It joined with a fire that started on June 24 at Tintwistle Moor near Glossop.
Firefighters are using helicopters, drones, and aircraft to fight and monitor the fire.
About 70 firefighters, 11 fire engines, and 4 wildfire units are involved in the effort.
Dry weather and strong winds are causing the fire to spread.
A 20-year-old woman, Shania Care-Slede, has been charged with arson and dangerous driving.
The fire has been declared a major incident by local authorities.
Local groups, like Micklehurst Cricket Club, have been providing food and drinks to firefighters.
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A Russian strike on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa killed three people and damaged buildings. At the same time, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv to announce plans to strengthen cooperation between European and Ukrainian defense industries.
Key Facts
The Russian attack targeted the Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing three people and injuring three more.
Residential buildings and port infrastructure used for fuel storage were damaged.
Russia said it used precision-guided weapons and attack drones in its strike on Odesa and nearby ports.
Four Russian vessels carrying cargo for the Ukrainian military were hit in the ports of Chornomorsk and Dnipro-Buh.
Ukrainian forces struck 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea, including 17 oil tankers and two gas tankers.
Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv to announce new efforts to integrate European and Ukrainian defense industries.
Russia has increased attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, which are important for trade and the war economy.
Recent drone attacks in the region killed two people and damaged a civilian vessel registered under the Marshall Islands flag.
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Experts warn that new buildings in England could overheat dangerously without improved government standards and climate-focused planning. Research shows many local plans lack effective cooling strategies, which puts vulnerable people at risk during heatwaves linked to climate change.
Key Facts
Around 2,700 people died in heatwaves in England and Wales during May and June.
Only about half of local building plans require cooling or ventilation to prevent overheating.
Nearly all councils plan to include green features like trees, but only a quarter use tools to ensure enough green space.
The "future homes standard" starting in 2028 aims to regulate home temperature but excludes buildings like hospitals and care homes.
Permitted developments, such as office-to-home conversions, often lack proper ventilation and can overheat easily.
England has one of Europe’s lowest levels of tree cover, with many urban areas having less than 10% tree shade.
Trees help cool neighborhoods, and low-income areas suffer most from a lack of tree cover.
Planning experts highlight a gap between climate goals and actual cooling measures in new building projects.
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Catherine Turnbull, a woman diagnosed with sleep apnoea, has received a new treatment called hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) at Great Western Hospital in the UK. This implanted device helps keep her airway open during sleep by moving her tongue forward, improving her breathing and sleep quality.
Key Facts
Sleep apnoea is a condition where breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.
Symptoms include waking often, loud snoring, gasping, feeling tired, and trouble concentrating.
Traditional treatment uses a CPAP machine, which some patients find hard to tolerate.
HGNS is a new treatment where a small device is implanted in the chest and activates a nerve to move the tongue forward.
The device is controlled by a remote switched on before sleep.
Great Western Hospital is one of five UK trusts offering HGNS, mainly for patients with severe cases who cannot use CPAP.
Around 125,000 people worldwide have received HGNS surgery.
Sleep apnoea can cause distress, affect work and driving, and lead to relationship problems due to symptoms like brain fog and loud snoring.
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The UK is considering a new law called the Representation of the People Bill, which could change voting rules and limit big political donations. The bill’s discussion was delayed by the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to allow his team to review it, especially amid concerns about large donations affecting UK politics.
Key Facts
The Representation of the People Bill aims to extend voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and adjust voter registration rules.
Nigel Farage received a £5 million donation from a billionaire in Thailand, which sparked questions about big money in UK politics.
Andy Burnham, the new prime minister, paused the bill’s debate to review its contents before passing it into law.
A large donation of £9 million was made to the Reform UK party, which is unusually high compared to typical donations.
Many Members of Parliament worry that large donations may be harming the fairness of the political system.
The death of politician Ann Widdecombe has raised concerns about politicians’ security and the effects of party finance rules.
Reform UK’s funding mainly comes from a small group of wealthy donors.
The bill’s delay gives the new administration time to possibly change the law on political donations.
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President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure if an agreement is not reached soon. Meanwhile, US forces are already carrying out bombings along Iran’s southern coast, affecting local communities.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure unless a deal is made by next week.
The US is currently bombing locations along Iran’s southern coastline.
The bombings are impacting communities living in that coastal region.
The article focuses on the effects of these attacks on the diverse population there.
The situation is part of ongoing tensions between the US and Iran.
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