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World News

Fresh news brought to you daily from around the world. Hot news, breaking stories as they happen.

Spain Wins World Cup After Late Extra-Time Strike

Spain claimed their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win over Argentina in a tight final decided in the second half of extra time.

After 120 minutes of tension, Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to break a prolonged stalemate and give Spain the trophy. Argentina pressed for an equaliser late on but could not find the net, with Lionel Messi on the losing side.
Torres’ goal ends the deadlock
Torres provided the decisive moment after Spain had dominated the contest for long spells. He finished a chance after receiving a pass from Nico Williams, converting to send Spain ahead in extra time.
The goal came after neither team had managed to find a breakthrough through normal time and the earlier stages of extra time, leaving the match finely poised until Torres struck.
Spain defend after taking the lead
Argentina stepped up their attacking play as the closing stages approached, seeking a leveller to keep the game alive. Spain, who had controlled much of the match, responded by absorbing pressure and maintaining their shape.
Despite sustained efforts in the latter part of the match, Argentina were unable to break through, and Spain held on to secure the win.
First World Cup final halftime show
The final also featured what organisers described as the first World Cup final halftime show, bringing a lineup of international stars on to the pitch.
Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, Shakira and other performers appeared during the interval, creating a highly visible spectacle amid the build-up to a closely fought match.
Trump attends; trophy handover expected
The American president, Donald Trump, was present at the final along with other world leaders. It is anticipated that Trump will help hand over the trophy to the winning team after Spain’s victory.

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20 July 2026
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Trump Airport Rename Faces Funding and Legal Hurdles

Florida’s effort to rename Palm Beach International Airport as a “Trump” branded facility is progressing unevenly, after a state funding shortfall and legal challenges raised questions about how much the county will pay for the change.
State law sets timeline for “DJT” code
The airport’s new name, associated with President Donald J Trump, is due to be formally reflected in aviation industry designations from 18 August. The three-letter code that will replace the former identifier is “DJT”, using Trump’s initials.
The renaming followed legislation signed in March by Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who has backed Trump at times. The law required changes that the state directed to a county commission that had been reluctant to approve the arrangement.
In May, Palm Beach County’s commission voted 4-3 to approve a trademark and licensing deal with the Trump Organisation. Some members of the board said they feared potential consequences, including financial exposure, if the agreement proceeded.
Signage changes limited by budget gap
While the switch has been reflected on some digital channels and external branding, the rollout inside the terminal has been less visible. The airport’s website and certain digital displays now refer to the “Donald J Trump” name, and highway signage leading to the airport has been updated.
But many physical signs and references in public areas still show the former name, Palm Beach International (PBI). There is no clear timetable for when all remaining signs will be replaced.
Money is a central issue. DeSantis’s $117.6bn budget, signed last month, set aside $2.75m for the name change, described as about half of an estimated $5.5m total cost. Palm Beach County has said it will not cover the shortfall.
Joseph Abruzzo, the county administrator, said on 9 July—when “Trump Force One” carrying Eric Trump landed shortly after 5am to become the first aircraft to arrive under the airport’s new name—that the county could meet baseline, necessary signage changes using the $2.75m. He said the county would need the additional state funding to complete the more extensive signage programme.
At the same time, an airport statement said that, beyond the state money, the remaining costs would be paid using the county’s Department of Airports operating budget and capital improvement programme. Critics say the difference between the statements has raised concerns that funds intended for other uses, including safety upgrades across the department’s four airports, could be redirected to support the rebranding.
Opponents seek to prevent operational spending
County commissioner Joel Flores, one of three commissioners who voted against the trademark arrangement in May, said he would attempt to block any reallocation of operational funds toward the branding. He argued that the state should cover the costs and said he had not seen federal budgets that addressed additional funding.
Flores said he agreed the project could proceed in phases until further funds are identified, but he said county money should not be used for a rebrand that he said the board did not approve.
Rebeca Krogman, the public information officer for the Palm Beach Department of Airports, said the airport is updating signage in phases to match available resources. She said digital updates have already begun, including the airport’s website, social media platforms and terminal digital signage, and that temporary signage is being installed across the campus pending permanent replacements, including a large welcome sign on Turnage Boulevard.
Krogman said the department aims to continue through normal budgeting and to pursue external funding sources, including the recent state allocation, legislative appropriations and grant funding. She said the Florida Department of Transportation did not respond to a request for comment.
Legal action filed over name change authority and safety
Two lawsuits have been filed to halt the Trump-branded renaming. Retired pilot George Poncy argued that changing the airport identifier from PBI, which he said has been embedded in air traffic control and aviation navigation and management software for decades, could cause confusion and create a safety hazard.
The second suit, brought by trademark attorney Victoria Doyle, argues the state had no authority to impose the name change on a county-owned and operated airport. Doyle, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for a congressional seat in next month’s primary election, said the case has been granted a trial date next year.

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20 July 2026
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US attacks under-construction Iran nuclear plant, Iran says

Iran said the United States struck a nuclear power plant under construction, while Kuwait reported that a power generation and water desalination facility had been hit for the second time in two days.

Iranian officials did not provide additional details in the account referenced on Monday, beyond saying the facility under construction was hit by the US. The claim added to mounting tensions in the region, as both Iran and the United States traded allegations over actions and attacks.
Kuwait meanwhile said its affected facility, which produces electricity and provides desalinated water, had been struck again. The statement cited that the location was targeted for the second time in as many days, without specifying the nature of the strike or the extent of any damage.
CENTCOM reports US death in Iraq
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said one US service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday. The announcement came a day after CENTCOM reported that two US soldiers were killed, one was reported missing, and others were wounded in Jordan during an attack on a military facility.
CENTCOM’s account linked the incidents in Jordan to an Iranian attack, and described the sequence of events over the two-day period as the latest in a wider cycle of hostilities.
The reports underscored how quickly developments moved across multiple countries, with US military fatalities and injuries being described alongside separate claims by Iran and Kuwait about strikes involving critical infrastructure.
Iranian commander warns of response
A top Iranian commander warned the United States that any aggression would be met with a decisive and damaging response from Iran’s armed forces, according to the message attributed to him.
The warning was issued as the competing claims about strikes continued. Iran’s statement about the under-construction nuclear plant and Kuwait’s account of the second attack on a combined power and desalination site were presented as separate developments, but together they reflected heightened concern over the targeting of facilities tied to energy and water supplies.
No additional information was provided in the accounts about specific targets beyond the types of sites cited by the respective sides, or about operational details related to the strikes.
Claims and counterclaims continue
With Iran describing a US attack on its nuclear project and Kuwait saying its facility was targeted again, the situation remained characterised by assertions from multiple governments rather than verified shared details. The US military-related reports from CENTCOM, meanwhile, focused on casualties involving US forces in Iraq and on the earlier incident in Jordan.
The developments were framed by Iran through its commander’s warning, and by the United States through CENTCOM’s casualty statements, as all sides continued to describe actions in the context of ongoing confrontation.


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20 July 2026
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US Arrest Tate Brothers After 38 New UK Charges

Controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate have been arrested in the United States following a decision by British prosecutors to bring new charges against them.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it authorised 38 additional counts against the brothers, bringing the total to 59.
The arrests were carried out in the US as extradition proceedings begin, the CPS said, after the brothers were taken into custody by US authorities.
New UK charges
The CPS said Andrew Tate, 39, faces seven further counts of rape, along with charges relating to sex trafficking and indecent images of a child.
Tristan Tate faces two counts of rape and three charges of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.
The CPS said the alleged offences are said to have taken place between July 2010 and August 2017. The Tates have previously denied wrongdoing.
According to the CPS, the charging decisions followed receipt of a further evidence file from Bedfordshire Police and mean there are seven alleged victims in the case.
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire police have been investigating what they described as a “complex investigation”. As a result of the additional work, 38 new charges were authorised.
The CPS said the brothers’ UK caseload now totals 59 counts: Andrew faces 42 charges and Tristan faces 17.
US custody and extradition steps
US Marshals confirmed to the BBC that the brothers had been taken into custody, while a US Department of Justice spokesperson said the arrests were “pursuant to extradition proceedings”.
The CPS said that, following their arrest, prosecutors will start the legal process to extradite Andrew and Tristan Tate, who hold dual British and US citizenship, to the UK to face the charges.
Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said the CPS charging decisions were based on the additional evidence and that the total number of alleged victims in the case is seven.
Legal disputes and earlier court ruling
After the arrests on Saturday evening, lawyer Joseph McBride, who represents the Tates, said they were innocent and argued the additional charges were aimed at countering a defamation action brought by the brothers in the US. He also said he expected the case to be dismissed when a judge reviewed the facts.
In 2024, Bedfordshire Police secured European arrest warrants to have the brothers returned from Romania, where they are based and under criminal investigation.
Earlier this year, in June, the brothers lost a legal bid to be told the names of their UK accusers. The CPS said it was necessary to withhold the names until legal action formally started.
Matt Jury, a lawyer representing several alleged British victims of Andrew Tate, welcomed the new charges, saying the brothers are accused of serious offences including multiple counts of rape and human trafficking and that they should face justice.


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20 July 2026
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Burnham to Drop Starmer Digital ID in Priority Reset

Labour’s incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, is expected to scrap Keir Starmer’s plans for a national digital ID scheme when he takes office on Monday, a move his team described as a “reset of priorities”.

According to details provided by Burnham’s side on Saturday, resources earmarked for the programme will be redirected towards measures to ease the cost of living.
The decision is also intended to distance Burnham from choices made by Starmer’s administration. A petition opposing the introduction of digital ID cards after they were announced last year attracted about 3m signatures.
Reset of priorities
Burnham’s spokesperson said the new government would focus on “creating breathing space” and delivering changes people could feel in daily life.
They said time and funding allocated to a national ID scheme would instead be used on support for the cost of living.
The spokesperson also argued that power should be returned to communities rather than held in Whitehall.
Starmer’s “Brit card” plan
Starmer announced the digital ID proposals last September, saying they would be introduced to tackle illegal working. The scheme was planned to be rolled out by 2029.
Under the plans, the “Brit card” would have been compulsory for people needing to prove they were allowed to work in the UK. The cards were intended to include information such as residency status, name, date of birth and nationality, alongside the holder’s photograph.
Starmer said the rollout would make it tougher to work illegally and would strengthen border security.
However, it has been unclear how much money would be saved if the project is dropped, because Starmer’s government did not publish a clear budget for the initiative.
The Office for Budget Responsibility suggested the scheme could cost about £1.8bn, but that figure was rejected by officials.
Backlash and earlier rollback
The issue has been shaped by a history of ID policy in the Labour Party. Tony Blair’s government introduced legislation in 2006 intended to enable ID cards, drawing criticism from privacy campaigners. Those plans never took effect and were ultimately scrapped by the coalition government in 2011.
After Starmer’s proposals, Labour-aligned organisations including the Tony Blair Institute welcomed the idea of using digital ID to improve public services and build trust.
At the same time, opposition politicians and civil rights groups criticised the scheme. Conservative MP David Davis said governments and technology firms had repeatedly failed to protect personal data, arguing that Whitehall would not do better.
Labour’s political opponents also disputed the policy. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the announcement as a “throwaway” move designed to distract from Burnham’s “leadership manoeuvrings”, while the Liberal Democrats said they could not support a mandatory system forcing people to hand over private information to go about their daily lives.
Civil society groups warned the plan could amount to a surveillance infrastructure. Jim Killock of the Open Rights Group said Labour risked creating a “pre-crime state” in which people would constantly have to prove their identity.
Earlier this year, the government rolled back the ID-card plans and clarified that they would be voluntary, with workers able to verify their identity using existing documents such as passports. In May, Karen Bradley, chair of the Conservative home affairs select committee, said the announcement had been a “fiasco” that raised fears of government overreach and left the public with few answers.
Right-to-work checks remain
Sources close to Burnham said that, despite scrapping the digital ID project, he would still back the previous government’s crackdown on illegal working, which resulted in almost 9,000 arrests last year.
Right-to-work checks are expected to remain mandatory for employers. New legislation is also expected to extend verification requirements to parts of the gig economy, including parcel couriers and delivery drivers.
Lisa Smart, the Liberal Democrats’ cabinet office spokesperson, said people would be “hugely relieved” that they would no longer be forced to provide data for everyday activities.
The move to abandon the scheme may further unsettle technology experts already angered by Burnham’s wider plans to reshape Whitehall, including proposals to abolish the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Burnham has asked officials to develop plans to absorb much of the department into a more powerful business department.



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19 July 2026
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Russia Launches Ballistic Missile Strikes on Kharkiv and Kyiv

Russia has carried out a wave of ballistic missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, killing four people and injuring at least 36, officials said.

In Kharkiv in the north-east, three people were killed and 20 others were injured. In Kyiv, one person died and 16 were hurt.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strike on the capital was among the most extensive ballistic missile attacks on Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Air defences intercept missiles and drones
The Ukrainian military said air defences in Kyiv shot down 18 of 41 missiles overnight. It also said 108 drones were intercepted.
Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov said the strikes hit a postal terminal in the city’s suburbs, killing three men aged between 24 and 62. He said three injured people were in a serious condition.
Zelensky also said that in the past week Russia used about 1,450 strike drones, more than 1,640 guided bombs and 99 missiles of various types against Ukraine.
Damage across Kyiv region
Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said residential and non-residential buildings were damaged, including a supermarket and a dormitory. Firefighters were working at fires at two warehouses, and Ukraine’s emergencies ministry said a logistics hub in the Bucha district, near Kyiv, was hit, with two people injured.
The Ukrainian air force said the Kyiv strikes involved a range of Russian systems, including Iskander and hypersonic Zircon missiles, as well as 125 drones.
Ukraine retaliates with attacks on Russian targets
While the ballistic strikes were reported, Ukraine said it continued operations against Russian sites. Zelensky said SBU security service units struck three oil depots in the Stavropol region and that Armed Forces units hit another fuel-sector facility in the same area.
He also said precise strikes damaged three Russian “shadow fleet” tankers in the Black Sea.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which ships Kazakhstan’s Caspian oil to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, said its terminal had been hit. It said two tankers were damaged and that oil loading was suspended. The consortium said there were no injuries or oil spills.
Stavropol’s governor said a drone attack caused a fire in an industrial park.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s actions came after Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and cities and communities.
He later linked the broader campaign to Russia’s energy links, saying Ukraine has intensified long-range drone attacks on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, contributing to fuel shortages. Kyiv said earlier this month that nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been “disabled” as a result; the BBC has not independently verified that figure.
Wildberries warehouse blasts follow earlier drone attacks
The latest wave of strikes on Kyiv followed Ukrainian drone attacks on two warehouses belonging to Wildberries, which Zelensky said killed eight people and caused major fires.
In Tambov, about 295 miles (475km) south-east of Moscow, the emergencies ministry reported seven deaths and 25 injuries at a facility. In Elektrostal near the capital, it reported one death and 37 injuries at another warehouse.
Wildberries is often described as the Russian equivalent of Amazon. Forbes Russia valued the RWB group, which combines Wildberries with advertising company Russ, at about $12.6bn (£9.3bn) in 2026.
Kyiv seeks more ballistic missile defences
Kyiv has asked European allies for more ballistic missile interceptors. Zelensky said on Sunday that protection against ballistic missiles is its top priority and that interceptors are needed every day.



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19 July 2026
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EU Entry System Triples Wait Times for Some UK Travellers

The EU’s new Entry Exit System (EES) has nearly tripled the time it takes some UK nationals to pass passport control, even after technical improvements, the boss of Rome’s main airport has said.

The comments come as Ryanair warned passengers travelling to Europe this summer to expect longer delays at border checks. The airline said the EES rollout had failed and was creating unnecessary queues.
In Portugal, border police at Faro airport told the BBC that the technology behind the system had suffered from software problems, though officials said any disruption there should ease quickly.
The European Commission said disruptions in most EU airports had been limited and that it will continue to support member states with implementation.
How the Entry Exit System works
The digital EES requires non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area, which includes 29 European countries, to record fingerprints and a photograph on arrival. The recorded data is then checked when travellers leave.
In many airports, the process is carried out using standalone automated “kiosks”. Border officers may also conduct checks, including for children under 12 who cannot use the self-service route.
The system and related machines have been phased in since October.
At several European airports, passenger numbers processed through passport control have led to queues lasting hours. Some travellers reported missing flights as they waited to clear border checks.
Rome Fiumicino: delays still higher than before
At Rome Fiumicino, airport officials have concluded it is difficult to process large volumes of passengers solely through the kiosks, which cost €12m. In response, UK nationals can now enrol their biometrics at passport e-gates rather than having to use the standalone machines.
The airport’s chief aviation officer, Ivan Bassato, said integrating the process with e-gates improved matters “significantly”. However, he said the added complexity still increased the average time for UK travellers to reach the border from seven minutes to 20 minutes.
Bassato said the process had not yet returned to its pre-EES quality and that waits of one or two hours were unacceptable for an airport “well set with technology”.
He also argued that authorities should remove duplication within the process, and said he would like to see more countries adopt the EU’s pre-registration app. Only Sweden and Portugal are currently using the tool.
Countries can suspend EES under exceptional circumstances. Airports and airlines have been urging the Commission to allow earlier, proactive suspension during peak periods, but a meeting earlier this month did not lead to changes.
Travellers in Rome reported delays consistent with the airport’s concerns. People questioned near the Piazza di Spagna described taking around 45 to 50 minutes at passport control, and others said queues were close to an hour, with boarding and departures affected.
Faro: queues vary; “bugs” linked across states
Faro airport superintendent Pedro Oliveira said the number of passengers, including many arriving from the UK, can make queuing unavoidable. However, he said the time for some travellers had risen from about 10 minutes to more than 30 minutes at times.
He said queues exceeding an hour were uncommon, but could occur if more flights than expected arrive at the same time. Oliveira said automated machines were generally the quickest route.
He added that EES has been affected by bugs and that the system’s dependence on interconnected servers can spread faults across member states. He said crashes can occur simultaneously and require a reboot across affected systems, though he noted this problem was happening less often than earlier on.
More staff have been recruited to help manage the checks. In Portugal, children under 16 are directed to border police staff to have their biometric information recorded, rather than using the self-service machines.

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19 July 2026
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Israeli Ministers Plan New Gaza, West Bank Settlements

Israeli ministers have announced plans to expand settlement activity in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition faces elections on 27 October. The moves include new “Nahal” outposts in northern Gaza and funding for additional Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Election campaign and push to expand control
Defence Minister Israel Katz and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich outlined steps to increase settlement presence before the end of the current government’s mandate, according to Israeli reporting. The announcements come as the coalition seeks to entrench control of land in occupied Palestine while Palestinians face displacement pressures.
Katz calls for three Nahal outposts in Gaza
Katz said he intended to establish three “Nahal” outposts in northern Gaza. Nahal communities have historically been used as an initial stage for later Israeli civilian settlements, according to land-grab monitoring groups.
The defence minister presented the Gaza plans during a visit to Israeli-controlled parts of the territory, telling Channel 14 that the outposts were to be set up in places that had previously been Israeli settlements.
Smotrich announces funding for West Bank construction
Smotrich said the cabinet allocated 1.3bn shekels (about £318m) to finance dozens of new Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israeli media reported the decision was kept secret when it was approved last month due to expectations of US opposition.
Military chief praises extremist “security partners”
Maj Gen Avi Bluth, who commands Israeli forces in the West Bank, told residents of extremist outposts that he “appreciates their work” and described them as partners in security with the military. Bluth spoke at a meeting of the Farms Association, a group representing settlements that are considered illegal even under Israeli law.
Critics said such outposts play a role in campaigns that they link to violence and the displacement of Palestinians across the West Bank.
UN rights office and activists warn of violence and impunity
The UN human rights office for Palestine said in a report published this week that settlers were used to lead annexation efforts and that systematic impunity has helped violence continue.
Hagit Ofran of Peace Now said bulldozers were working on at least seven settlements that she said could be populated before polling day. She described the government’s approach as a “reckless pre-election sprint” aimed at creating “facts on the ground”.
Dozens of figures from Israel’s political and military elite, including former prime ministers and former heads of security services, have threatened legal action over support for “Jewish terrorism” in the West Bank, according to the report.
Control of Gaza and casualty figures under scrutiny
Katz also highlighted the scale of Israeli control in Gaza, where Maj Gen Tamir Yadai, Israel’s deputy chief of staff, said Israel now controls 65% of the strip. Yadai’s assessment was described as exceeding the 53% figure agreed under a ceasefire brokered last year by US President Donald Trump.
The officials’ account places about 2 million Palestinians in the remaining third of Gaza’s territory. Yadai said Israel had “killed over 70,000 terrorists”, framing the situation as “victory”.
On casualties, Israel’s military has said a database of Gaza’s war dead compiled by Palestinian health authorities is broadly accurate. It contains more than 73,000 named people, including more than 21,000 children, more than 10,000 women under 60 and more than 5,000 elderly people. When asked whether women, children and elderly people were counted as “terrorists”, the Israeli military declined to comment directly. A military spokesperson said the IDF was still assessing and categorising casualties, adding the work had not been completed or briefed to civilian officials. The spokesperson also declined to comment on Bluth’s backing for settler militants, saying settlement decisions were political.
Nahal outposts framed as a “first phase”
Dror Etkes, founder of Kerem Navot, said Nahal outposts were not intended for long-term military use and that they function as a first phase preparing sites for future settlement. He said the model was first applied in the 1950s in border regions, including around the Gaza Strip, before being used in the occupied West Bank after 1967, initially along the Jordan valley and then in other areas.

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19 July 2026
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Iran Strike on Jordan Kills Two US Service Members

Two U.S. service members were killed and one remained missing after Iran struck two military bases in Jordan on Friday, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) said.

Centcom also said four American service members were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan following the attack and have since been discharged. Other troops who reported minor injuries were assessed and returned to duty.
Centcom statement on casualties
In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, Centcom said it was withholding further information out of respect for the families of those affected. It said it will not release additional details, including the identities of the two service members who died, until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.
The statement did not provide further detail on the circumstances of the deaths or the status of the missing service member beyond saying the person remained unaccounted for.
Injured troops treated and back on duty
Centcom said the four service members transferred to hospitals were later discharged. It added that other personnel with minor injuries were examined and had returned to their duties.
No further medical information was provided in the update.
US-Iran tit-for-tat continues
The attack came amid a broader escalation between the United States and Iran in recent weeks, with both sides conducting strikes in what has been described as tit-for-tat action.
The exchanges have been linked to alleged breaches of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed last month that introduced a temporary ceasefire while negotiations were under way.
President Trump has said his administration has no plan to renew the talks at this time.
US officials respond; Iran warns of wider conflict
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was praying for the families of the service members killed, for the recovery of those injured and for the safe return of the missing service member.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also posted a message acknowledging the news, saying the sacrifice would strengthen the resolve of American forces.
Iran has warned that it could move towards wider conflict if U.S. strikes do not stop. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, blamed the United States for repeated breaches of the ceasefire agreement and accused Washington of undermining the understanding agreed between the two countries’ leaderships. In a subsequent message, he warned the United States that Iran and allied forces would respond to any further escalation, saying it would bring “unforgettable lessons”.
Khamenei took over after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February on Tehran killed his father. He has not made public remarks since assuming the role.


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19 July 2026
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Mamdani Weighs Netanyahu Arrest if He Visits NYC

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he is considering whether the city could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he travels to New York this fall for the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday’s episode of The New York Times podcast “The Interview”, Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu should be dealt with through international courts, adding that the matter involves an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The ICC warrant and a possible arrest
Mamdani said Netanyahu “belongs in The Hague” and described him as a war criminal, referring to charges brought by the ICC. He said the view reflects what he described as years of actions he said have caused harm in Palestine.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant in 2024 for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the war in Palestine. The warrant covers allegations including “starvation as a method of warfare” and “other inhumane acts”.
Asked about the prospect of arrest in New York, Mamdani said his administration is reviewing whether it could take such action under the city’s legal framework.
What Mamdani said in his campaign
Mamdani, a Democrat, said during his mayoral campaign last year that he would order the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu. At the time, he also characterised the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza as a genocide.
In Saturday’s interview, he reiterated that his position was tied to the existence of the ICC warrant and the weight he said it carries as a formal charge.
Netanyahu dismisses the threat
Netanyahu recently responded to the mayor’s remarks during a radio interview, accusing Mamdani of supporting Hamas. Mamdani denied the accusation.
The prime minister said Mamdani was aligned with groups he described as terror actors, and he argued that those who oppose Israel also ultimately oppose the United States.
UN trip expected in September
World leaders from member states are expected to travel to New York in September for the UN body’s annual session, when Netanyahu has taken part in past years.
Mamdani told The Times he would “follow the laws” of the city. When pressed on what that meant, he said the matter was under discussion with the city’s legal department.
“We’re not talking about a personal assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu,” Mamdani said. He said the focus was on the ICC warrant and on the responsibilities of the mayor under New York City law.

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19 July 2026
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Ukraine Drone Strikes Kill Eight at Russian Warehouses

Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses used by Wildberries, Russia’s largest online retailer, killing eight people and injuring 62 others, Russian officials said. The attacks hit a Wildberries logistics site in Tambov, about 295 miles (475km) south-east of Moscow, where seven people died and 25 others were hurt, according to the regional governor.

One person was also killed and 37 injured at another Wildberries warehouse in Elektrostal, in the Moscow region, officials said.
Tambov strike leaves multiple fatalities and injuries
In Tambov, governor Evgeniy Pervyshov said seven people working the night shift were killed on the spot. He added that 25 people were injured, including seven in serious condition, and that most injuries were caused by shrapnel.
Pervyshov said 28 drones were shot down while approaching the facility and called it the largest attack on the region in terms of the number of drones used and the number of casualties.
Unverified images circulating from the scene showed flames and large plumes of black smoke rising from a logistics building, with dozens of workers seen fleeing into a car park area.
Moscow region warehouse attack injures 37 people
In the Moscow region, governor Andrei Vorobyov said eight people injured in the Elektrostal strike were in serious condition.
Vorobyov said 48 drones were intercepted in the region overnight. He also said an oil depot was struck by a falling drone and described the incident as one with “the most serious consequences”, adding that firefighters and emergency services were continuing their work at the site.
Zelensky separately said Ukraine had also struck an oil facility.
Zelensky links strikes to logistics for drone components
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the drone attacks targeted “major logistics facilities” used to supply “sanctioned components for drone production and navigation equipment”.
In his comments, Zelensky also said Ukraine struck targets in the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea and Crimea, which Russia annexed.
Zelensky said Ukraine’s actions were in response to Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure and on cities and communities.
He also said that overnight into Wednesday, 14 people were killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine.
Wildberries says eight died as drone strikes escalate
Wildberries, often described as Russia’s equivalent of Amazon, is part of the merged RWB group, which combines Wildberries with advertising company Russ. Forbes Russia valued the group at about $12.6bn (£9.3bn) in 2026.
Wildberries chief executive Tatyana Kim said it was a “terrible night” for Russia and for the company. In Tambov, Pervyshov said the seven fatalities occurred among night-shift workers.
Energy campaign and Putin’s admission on shortages
Ukraine has recently increased long-range drone strikes on Russia’s critical energy infrastructure, which Kyiv says has contributed to fuel shortages. Earlier this month, Kyiv said nearly 43% of Russia’s oil refining capacity had been “disabled” by attacks. The BBC said it had not independently verified that figure.
Ukraine argues that Russian oil and gas facilities are legitimate targets because Russia relies heavily on fossil fuel exports to fund its full-scale invasion, which began in February 2022.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare admission that fuel shortages were caused by Ukrainian attacks. He also signed into law a bill intended to boost supplies to Russia’s domestic fuel market in early July.

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18 July 2026
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Venice Protests Meet U.S. Envoy Fertitta’s Superyacht

Several hundred protesters marched on Friday in Venice to oppose the arrival of Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire American ambassador to Italy, as his luxury yacht berthed in the city. As the demonstrators neared the vessel, they briefly clashed with riot police and were pushed back.

Activists described Fertitta’s visit as an unwelcome display of American wealth and influence, arguing that the Trump administration has been reshaping the post-Second World War international order in ways many Italians disapprove of.
Protesters clash with riot police
The marchers shouted “Shame!” as they approached a double line of riot police guarding access to the superyacht. Protesters had raised their arms to indicate they would remain peaceful, but police used their shields to force them back when the demonstrators did not stop.
Inflatable beach toys and water items were thrown during the clash. After the confrontation, protesters directed “Shame!” at Fertitta, the mayor and the police.
The demonstrators carried inflatable water toys and beach balls behind a banner reading “Venezia non si USA”, a wordplay on “Venezia non è USA” meaning “Venice is not for the US”, with the letters USA capitalised.


Picture courtesy of AP
Security for the Coastal Diplomacy stop
Fertitta arrived earlier in the day, mooring in St. Mark’s Basin as part of a coastal diplomacy tour marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. Police boats were positioned around the yacht, and a heavy security presence accompanied the protest.
The yacht, which dwarfed buildings along the lagoon, featured a large security cordon. Protesters also held signs including “Make America Read Again” and “Oligarch in saor”, referring to “saor”, a Venetian dish made with sardines.
The tour, labelled “Coastal Diplomacy 250”, covers 13 Italian coastal regions by superyacht. Fertitta said online that it is meant to celebrate shared history, economic partnership and cultural ties underpinning US-Italy relations.
Fertitta declined a request for an interview about the tour and the planned demonstration. In a brief statement, he said he supports the right to protest peacefully, adding that the programme had allowed him to meet Italians from different walks of life while celebrating 250 years of US independence and long-standing friendship with Italy.
Opposition from groups linked to earlier protests
In Venice, some of the same activist groups that took part in demonstrations against the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez last year also mobilised against Fertitta’s arrival. Fertitta’s yacht, the 117-metre Boardwalk, is described as having two helipads, two swimming pools and a spa and gym.
On 4 July, organisers unfurled a banner as long as Fertitta’s yacht to illustrate what they called “the dimensions of his arrogance”. Activists later expressed alarm at the scale of the vessel in the lagoon, with one protester describing it as “gross”.
Emanuele Lepore said the sight of the yacht triggered anger, pointing to a long-running campaign to ban cruise ships from the Giudecca Canal and parts of the historic centre. He argued that the message was clear that “new oligarchs” were being allowed to travel and, in his view, normalise “war and fascism” with local backing.
Fertitta’s role and next stop
Fertitta was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025. His fortune is linked to the hospitality industry, including restaurants, hotels and casinos. He also owns the Houston Rockets. His official biography lists his net worth at $11.3 billion and says Forbes ranks him among the 100 wealthiest Americans.
Details of which people he will meet in Venice have not been released. He is expected to attend the Redentore festival on Saturday, which commemorates the end of the plague in 1576 and includes fireworks over St. Mark’s Basin.
Before arriving in Venice, Fertitta stopped in Cefalù in Sicily, where his family roots trace back to 1566, and met the governor in Palermo. His route also included the Calabrian port of Le Castella, as well as cruising along the coasts of Puglia and the Adriatic en route to Venice.
Political analyst Giovanni Orsina said the image of an ambassador travelling along the Italian coast in a diplomacy trip was unusual, noting that such travel is typically not done with an ambassador’s own yacht and resources.
Fertitta’s tenure comes as relations between Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Trump have cooled, after the US President made a series of social media attacks on her. Meloni, previously seen as a close ally of Trump in Europe on issues including immigration, did not attend the 250th celebrations at the US embassy.


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18 July 2026
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Burnham Delays Cabinet Choice Ahead of PM Handover

Andy Burnham said he has not yet settled who will serve in his cabinet as he prepares to become prime minister on Monday, after taking over from Sir Keir Starmer following a reception with King Charles III.

Speaking to reporters when asked why he had not announced his senior team, Burnham said it would be premature to begin reshaping roles before he formally takes office. He added that he is “finalising” his decisions and will reach conclusions “very shortly”, before making announcements on Monday.
Speculation has continued about Burnham’s first appointments, with Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood widely viewed as potential contenders to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor.
Cabinet decisions and speculation
Burnham returned to Parliament a month ago after winning a by-election, and his selection as Labour leader earlier this week was backed by 379 Labour MPs and all 11 trade unions affiliated to the party.
Asked directly about who would be in the cabinet, he said he would announce the arrangements after he assumes office. In his first speech as Labour leader at the TUC headquarters in central London, he said the make-up of his cabinet would reflect “all parts of our party” and “all communities”.
Early messages to Labour and devolution
Burnham used the speech to set out themes for his premiership, including a pledge to restore “hope” to working-class communities he said had been overlooked by the political class. He reiterated his plan to devolve power away from Westminster to the regions, presenting devolution as a central element of his approach.
He also said the government he leads would bring the biggest change in decades and move away from “neoliberal” policies pursued over the past 40 years, including during his own time in government. Burnham said he would reindustrialise the country.
In a message to Labour MPs, he urged party unity, warning that infighting would prevent Labour from defeating Britain’s “new right”. He said he wants a culture of “one Labour team” and described his style of government as “problem-solving rather than point-scoring”. He told the audience he has a plan and that he knows what he wants to do in office.
Social care reform set as priority
While his TUC speech focused more on direction than detailed policy, he told reporters that reforming social care would be a top priority. He said he would commit substantial political effort to a sector he described as long neglected.
Social care is devolved, meaning any reforms Burnham advances would apply to England. In discussing the scale of the challenge, he pointed to the fact that, unlike the NHS, social care is not free at the point of use. He said high costs can lead people to sell their homes to pay for care.
Burnham has previously called for major change. As health secretary under Gordon Brown, he published a white paper in the weeks before the 2010 general election proposing a National Care Service that would be free at the point of use.
Opposition and union reactions
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said Burnham “comes in with absolutely no mandate of any kind at all” and called for an immediate general election for voters to decide the country’s direction.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed Burnham’s call for more collaborative politics, adding that his party’s “door is open”. He said the Lib Dems would particularly want changes to the water industry, support for the NHS, and reform of social care, including more help for family carers.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said Burnham should recall Parliament, which is currently in recess until September, so MPs can put questions to him about his plan. Linda Hobson, from Unison, said Burnham must “get this right” and deliver the hope he has promised.
Burnham’s rise to the premiership follows a rapid shift in Labour’s leadership trajectory after Starmer resigned last month, saying he was not best placed to lead the party into the next general election. Labour has trailed Reform UK in opinion polls for about 18 months, with heavy losses in May’s local elections before Burnham secured a by-election victory in Makerfield last month.
On Friday, Burnham paid tribute to Starmer, citing improvements to workers’ and renters’ rights, lower NHS waiting lists and bringing rail back under public control.

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18 July 2026
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Canadian Wildfire Smoke Blankets US Midwest And East

Tens of millions of people across the US are again facing smoky skies and poor air quality as wildfire smoke from Canada drifts over the midwest, mid-Atlantic and north-east. About 109 million people were expected to experience another day of unhealthy conditions on Friday, with air pollution linked to fires in Ontario spreading south and east, according to air-quality updates from US government sources.
Hazardous air over the Great Lakes and north-east
Cities including Chicago and Detroit were blanketed by smoke, and residents were told to limit time outdoors after the US Air Quality Index (AQI) reached “hazardous” levels of 361 on Friday, the AirNow website said.
Smoke moved into the Baltimore and Washington DC area overnight. By 6am eastern time, AQI readings were listed at 281 in Baltimore and 247 in Washington DC, which correspond to “very unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” categories respectively.
In New York City, where smoke has been present since Tuesday, air quality was recorded at 184 early on Friday, classified as “unhealthy”. It later improved to 124, which falls under “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”.
Philadelphia and Cleveland recorded readings of about 260, described by officials as “very unhealthy”. Other parts of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin also reported AQI values in the “hazardous” range.
Guidance for residents and expected changes
Michigan officials advised residents to reduce indoor exposure by keeping windows closed, limiting door openings and using heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems rated Merv-13 or higher.
They also recommended that anyone who must be outside for short periods wear an N95 or P100 respirator marked with NIOSH, according to a state alert.
Some parts of the north-east and New England are expected to see improvement later on Friday as stronger winds from Quebec, outside the main wildfire area in north-western Ontario, push smoke away.
Mark Parrington, a senior scientist at the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, said wildfire activity in Canada has intensified in recent weeks. He added that forecasts show smoke continuing to move east across the North Atlantic and could reach Europe, underlining the scale of cross-border pollution.
Organisers of the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are monitoring smoke patterns, with officials and sources telling ABC News that smoke currently over the mid-Atlantic could move back towards the north-east.
However, a storm system approaching from the west bringing severe thunderstorms could worsen conditions by drawing smoke from higher levels down to the ground via rain. Air quality is expected to improve after the system passes late on Saturday, with authorities aiming for conditions suitable for a 3pm Sunday kick-off, while also monitoring whether smoke plumes could affect the match.
Parrington said another smoky air mass could follow after the rain, and that increased fire intensity through Saturday could add more smoke to the atmosphere.
Wildfires Spread Across Western US
Canada’s largest wildfire near Wabakimi provincial park in Ontario has spread across 787,802 acres (318,812 hectares), the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center said. It is one of 194 out-of-control and large fires burning as of Thursday.
Parrington said smoke plumes from wildfires in Canada’s north-west territories have reached the Arctic Ocean as well as other parts of the country. Nearly 6m acres are estimated to have burned, less than a quarter of the area consumed during Canada’s wildfire smoke episode in the US in 2023. In northern Minnesota, fires have burned more than 63,000 acres.
In the west of the US, wildfires have also been reported in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Forecaster Colin McCarthy said tens of thousands of lightning strikes across the Pacific Northwest have ignited dozens of new fires across Oregon and Washington.
A 2025 study by Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business estimated that wildfire smoke and prescribed burns caused $200bn in health damages in 2017 and were associated with 20,000 premature deaths. Co-author Nicholas Muller said research has linked fire smoke to higher morbidity and mortality risks, similar to other air pollutants.
At the other end of the country, heavy rainfall in south and central Texas, including Texas Hill Country, exceeded 20in (50cm) in some places since Monday. The Guadalupe River near Comfort in Kerr county crested at 37ft above flood stage, AccuWeather said.
AccuWeather’s Global Weather Center put a preliminary estimate of damage and economic losses at between $11bn and $13bn. It said the extreme rainfall aligns with findings from its climate research unit that rainfall totals above 4in in 24 hours have increased by 70% since 1995. Jonathan Porter, AccuWeather’s chief meteorologist, said describing extreme rainfall as “1-in-1,000-year” depends on probabilities that change as the climate warms, meaning such events can occur more often than past statistics suggest.


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18 July 2026
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Israeli Strike Kills Seven at Gaza Funeral

An Israeli strike on a funeral in the Gaza Strip has killed at least seven people and injured another 22, according to Al-Awda hospital, a local medical facility.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Al-Awda hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp said the strike hit the funeral of a Palestinian who had been killed in another Israeli attack earlier on Friday. The hospital confirmed the number of casualties, including at least seven deaths and 22 people injured.
Ceasefire in place since October
Israel and the Hamas militant group agreed to a ceasefire deal in October intended to halt their two-year-long war. The heaviest fighting has since subsided, but Gaza’s health ministry said at least 1,123 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
The ministry says it keeps detailed records of casualties, which UN agencies and independent experts describe as generally reliable. An independent UN inquiry has also found that Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza.
Ongoing attacks and deaths on both sides
Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel said its strikes were carried out in response to such attacks and other violations.
Israel’s campaign has continued under the ceasefire framework, with five Israeli soldiers killed since it began, according to the account cited in the reporting.
Background to the war
The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. In that attack, about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to the figures referenced in the report.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, including those killed since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health ministry said.

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18 July 2026
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Astronomers Find Atmosphere on Rocky Exoplanet

A team of astronomers has reported strong evidence that the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b, located a few dozen light-years from Earth, has an atmosphere rich in helium. The finding, published in Science, adds to evidence that some worlds beyond the Solar System may have conditions consistent with habitability.

Researchers said the planet meets three broad criteria associated with life as understood on Earth: it appears rocky, it orbits within its star’s habitable zone where liquid water could exist at the surface, and it now shows signs of an atmosphere.
Collin Cherubim, a planetary scientist who recently completed his doctorate at Harvard University, said there is no evidence of life on the planet. However, he said the observations indicate that key components relevant to habitability are present.
A rocky planet in the habitable zone
LHS 1140b was first identified in 2017. It orbits a star at a distance that places it in the habitable zone, described as neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist on the planet’s surface.
The exoplanet is cooler than Earth, but larger in both size and mass. Although it is often labelled Earth-like, astronomers say there are important differences between the planet and our own world, including how it moves and rotates relative to its star.
Helium signals point to a real atmosphere
The new data indicate that LHS 1140b likely has a helium-rich atmosphere. The research team said the detection provides the first clear evidence for a potentially habitable planet with an atmosphere.
An atmosphere is considered important for habitability because it can help a planet retain water, regulate climate conditions and protect the surface from harmful radiation. Scientists have confirmed atmospheres around giant gas planets, but have previously had less certainty about whether rocky planets can hold on to gases over time.
Helium escape appears to change over time
Cherubim previously built a theoretical model of how a rocky planet’s atmosphere might behave. His calculations suggested that lighter elements, including helium, may escape more easily under certain conditions. He argued that LHS 1140b is a candidate for active helium loss to space.
LHS 1140b orbits a red dwarf, the most common type of star in the galaxy. Red dwarfs are smaller and cooler than many other stars, which can make rocky planets around them easier to detect. At the same time, such stars can be energetic, emitting flares that may strip atmospheres from nearby planets.
Cherubim said the star hosting LHS 1140b appears less active than typical red dwarfs. In 2024, he and colleagues observed the planet transiting in front of its star using a telescope at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Their measurements showed helium at high altitudes, suggesting helium was escaping from an atmosphere that is otherwise difficult to detect.
In 2025, the team observed the system again during another eclipse, but this time reported no sign of helium escaping.
Shreyas Vissapragada, a planetary scientist at the Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, California, and an author of the new study, said the change in results was surprising but not entirely unexpected. He noted that differing amounts of helium have been seen in the atmospheres of gas giants and that the new work represents the first time the effect has been observed on a rocky exoplanet.
Vissapragada said the observations amount to tracking changes in a planet’s atmosphere over time.
Earth-like, with key differences
Astronomers describe LHS 1140b as Earth-like, but it diverges from Earth in several ways. The planet completes an orbit in less than 25 days, compared with Earth’s 365 days. It also always shows the same face to its star, meaning it does not experience a regular day-night cycle in the way Earth does.
The planet’s atmosphere is expected to be helium-rich, while Earth’s atmosphere is dominated by nitrogen.
In 2020, Sara Seager of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology led research suggesting that yeast and E. coli could survive in an atmosphere of pure helium. While that does not establish that life exists on LHS 1140b, it illustrates that such an environment has been considered plausible in laboratory-based scenarios.
Vissapragada said finding an atmosphere on LHS 1140b is a step towards characterising exoplanets that may be truly Earth-like.

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17 July 2026
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China Slams British Steel Nationalisation Over Treaty

China has condemned the British government’s move to take control of loss-making steelmaker British Steel, saying it “firmly opposes” the decision and is “strongly dissatisfied”.

The UK announced on Thursday that placing the company into public hands would protect jobs and safeguard what it called a “vital national capability”. It said bringing the Scunthorpe business under state control would help manage the company’s future after years of losses.
UK takes control as ownership remains abroad
The government took charge of British Steel’s operations at Scunthorpe last year, but the firm was still owned by China’s Jingye Group. That structure had limited ministers’ ability to steer how the plant develops.
On Wednesday, Parliament passed legislation allowing the government to bring the steel industry into public ownership when a public interest test is met. The new powers were then used to nationalise British Steel.
Beijing cites “legitimate rights” and treaty obligations
China’s commerce ministry said on Friday that the steps “seriously infringed upon Jingye’s legitimate rights and interests and severely undermined the confidence of Chinese companies investing in the UK”.
It also urged Britain to “faithfully fulfil” its obligations under the China–UK Bilateral Investment Treaty. The treaty, signed in 1986, is designed to promote and protect investment between the two countries.
The ministry said the UK had ignored Jingye’s contribution to the economy and society and had “forcibly took control of the company in the name of national security”.
The statement added that Beijing would monitor developments closely and support Chinese firms to protect their rights, but it did not set out what that support would involve.
Potential strain as leadership change approaches
The nationalisation is likely to add pressure to relations between London and Beijing at a time when Andy Burnham is due to become prime minister on Monday. The incoming leader will face the task of balancing the issue with the potential economic benefits of maintaining links with the world’s second-largest economy.
Jingye is seeking compensation, after previously saying the business was losing £700,000 a day. The BBC said it was unable to obtain a response from Jingye regarding Thursday’s announcement.
State control set to be temporary
Taking British Steel into public ownership gives the government the power to decide how the Scunthorpe plant is run, while keeping its blast furnaces operating. The government is not expected to continue operating the business long term because it faces significant daily costs.
The National Audit Office said in March that the steelworks was costing the government about £1.3m a day. A separate estimate cited in the wider reporting suggested the cost could be more than £1m daily.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle told the BBC that the government would need to cover running costs “for the immediate future”, as it implements the new arrangements.

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17 July 2026
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Trump Claims White House Documents Show Voting Risks

President Donald Trump said in a primetime address on Thursday that the White House has published documents on its website which he said are aimed at showing vulnerabilities in electronic voting systems.

Trump, speaking after the White House press secretary previewed an announcement about election integrity, also accused China of compromising voter data from the 2020 US presidential election. He has previously pushed claims of election wrongdoing despite findings by officials that no widespread voter fraud changed the outcome.
Documents on Vulnerabilities
Trump said the White House release consists of what he described as a set of previously classified assessments from the US intelligence community and other reports.
He said the material shows weaknesses in electronic voting, framing the publication as part of a wider effort to protect electoral processes. The White House later released details online, in line with his remarks.
Democrats and some Republicans have been watching closely for any implications of the speech for voters ahead of future elections, with Trump positioning the message as focused on election security and transparency.
China and Voter Data Claims
In his speech, Trump accused China of compromising voter data tied to the 2020 election. He did not provide additional publicly confirmed evidence in the text of the remarks provided, but the allegation aligned with his longer-running narrative that foreign actors sought to influence the election.
Earlier reporting included that officials in the first Trump administration had described efforts by Iran, China and Russia to influence the 2020 vote, while later determining that none of their interference would have altered the result.
Press Secretary Ties It to Election Integrity
Ahead of Trump’s address, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she expected the president to discuss “protecting the integrity of our elections” during her daily briefing, offering few details beyond that focus.
When asked about worries among some Republicans that Trump might be “litigating” the 2020 contest again and turning off swing voters, Leavitt said he would instead concentrate on secure elections as a foundation for American democracy.
Leavitt urged reporters and the public to listen to the speech, arguing that it would be backed by facts and evidence that the president would present. When pressed further about the political concerns raised by Republicans, she said people should wait until they heard the remarks.
Democrats Criticise the Timing
Democrats launched a pre-emptive response on Thursday. Senator John Ossoff called the speech “a prime-time presidential sour grapes address”, saying it would pursue Trump’s previous grievances about the 2020 election.
Trump’s remarks come after years in which he has maintained claims that his 2020 defeat involved fraud. US officials have said they found no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
In the days leading up to the address, Trump told supporters on his social media platform that the announcement was “really big news” and stressed the importance of “free and fair elections”. He also said from the Oval Office that it would be a major disclosure.
The speech also arrives as Trump has made changes in national security personnel. He recently installed loyalist Bill Pulte, who has not previously held national security experience, to lead the Director of National Intelligence. Trump has also said he wanted Pulte to declassify information and remove senior career staff.

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17 July 2026
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London Mayor Sadiq Khan Named to House of Lords

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been named as one of 26 new peers who will take seats in the House of Lords, in one of Sir Keir Starmer's final acts before leaving office as prime minister.

Sir Sadiq is among 16 Labour nominees, alongside broadcaster June Sarpong and former Trades Union Congress general secretary Christina McAnea. The appointments also include five Liberal Democrat peers, three Conservatives and two cross-bench members.
Although membership of the House of Lords could make Sir Sadiq eligible to serve as a government minister, the BBC understands he is not seeking a post in Andy Burnham's incoming administration.
Cross-party appointments announced
Downing Street released the list of nominations, saying the King had "been graciously pleased to signify his intention of conferring peerages" on those selected.
The appointments come just days before Sir Keir is due to leave office on Monday, when Andy Burnham is expected to become the UK's next prime minister.
The BBC understands the nominations were prepared before Sir Keir announced his resignation as Labour leader last month. Rather than being a traditional resignation honours list, they are political peerages agreed across the parties.
Among the two cross-bench appointments are former Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald and retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson.
Khan to remain focused on London
Sir Sadiq, who was first elected London mayor in 2016, is serving his third term in office. The BBC has been told he has not yet decided whether he will seek re-election for a fourth term in 2028.
A government source described him as "a brilliant mayor who has transformed London for the better", citing reductions in violent crime, cleaner air, the delivery of the Elizabeth Line and increased council house building as reasons the peerage was deserved.
A spokesperson for the mayor said Sir Sadiq was "honoured" by the appointment and remained committed to serving the capital.
"He is excited about what more can be delivered in the years ahead and he will devote his time and energy to standing up for our city and building a fairer, safer and greener London for everyone," the spokesperson said.
Reform debate continues
Reform UK did not receive any peerages in the latest appointments. Party leader Nigel Farage criticised the list, calling it "the uniparty writ large" and arguing it left the upper chamber even less representative.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed his party's five new peers, including agricultural economist Julia Aglionby, former Barnsley councillor Hannah Kitching, economist Tim Leunig, campaigns director Dave McCobb and offshore wind entrepreneur Mark Petterson. He said they would help hold the government to account and support efforts to reform the House of Lords.
The Conservatives' new peers include former head of the Army General Sir Patrick Sanders, Carphone Warehouse co-founder David Ross and University of Warwick professor Swaran Singh. The party said all three would bring valuable expertise from defence, business and healthcare.
Calls for House of Lords reform
Members of the House of Lords are formally appointed by the King on the advice of the prime minister once nominees have completed the vetting process.
Labour pledged in 2022 to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a new second chamber, but later softened that commitment. Instead, the party promised to consider wider reform while immediately removing the remaining hereditary peers, a change completed earlier this year.
Andy Burnham has continued to argue for a fundamental overhaul of the unelected chamber, saying it is difficult to justify having half of the UK's national legislature made up of unelected members.
The Electoral Reform Society also questioned the latest appointments, saying Labour supporters would be puzzled by the expansion of the Lords while the party continues to promise reform. The group's chief executive, Darren Hughes, urged the next prime minister to create a smaller, democratic upper chamber that is more representative and accountable.

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17 July 2026
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Trump Administration Sets Four-Year Student Visa Limit

The Trump administration has issued final notice of plans to introduce tighter visa rules for foreign students, including limiting how long they can remain in the United States without federal permission.

Under the changes, which are set to come into effect in September, foreign students on F-1 and J-1 visas will no longer be allowed to stay for the full duration of their studies under the existing “duration of status” approach. Instead, the rules will introduce a time limit on length of stay, restricting how long students can remain in the country before they must obtain permission from the US Department of Homeland Security.
Restrictions on transfers and extensions
The Department of Homeland Security said the policy would also narrow student options to switch programmes and transfer between universities and colleges.
Until now, higher education institutions had the authority to grant visa extensions for students. The new rules reduce that flexibility, placing tighter controls on how students maintain their status while studying.
DHS said the policy “combats rampant visa abuse, and strengthens national security through regular vetting”.
New grace period after graduation
The new framework also changes the period students have after completing their course.
Foreign students will be given 30 days to leave the US after graduation or to change to another visa category. This is a reduction from the previous 60-day grace period.
Department officials argued that the previous system allowed students to remain in the US indefinitely. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that, “for decades, foreign students have been admitted into the US indefinitely, allowing thousands to abuse our immigration system by perpetually enrolling in courses to avoid having to leave the US.”
Duration-of-status set to end
Under the prior rules, F-1 and J-1 students were able to remain in the US as long as it took to complete their degrees. The new policy replaces that approach with a cap, preventing students from staying for more than four years unless they receive permission from the federal government.
Most undergraduate programmes in the US are typically four years, but graduate studies, including doctorates, often take longer to complete. The administration said this could affect fields where students frequently need additional time, particularly in science and technology disciplines.
Graduate courses often require more time and involve research activities that can extend study periods. DHS also noted that funding shortfalls and personal circumstances can lengthen the time needed to finish a programme.
Criticism from international education group
NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a non-profit that advises schools on foreign student enrolment, criticised the new rules.
Fanta Aw, its chief executive, said the policy “injects uncertainty, bureaucracy, and fear into a system that has long worked effectively. It is a solution in search of a problem.”
The new rules form part of a wider Trump administration effort to reduce the number of foreign students in the US and tighten immigration controls. The administration has sought to cap the number of students at some elite colleges and has also moved to revoke visas of students who have been critical of US foreign policy.

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17 July 2026
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Teen Charged Over Alleged Russian Sabotage in Poland

Polish prosecutors have charged an 18-year-old Ukrainian man with carrying out sabotage acts on behalf of Russian intelligence, allegedly aimed at stoking tensions between Poland and Ukraine.

The suspect, identified as Illia K under Polish privacy rules, faces 47 criminal charges covering the period from November 2024 to August 2025, when he was arrested.
Alleged acts targeting memorials
Prosecutors said the alleged operations included the desecration of memorials for Polish victims linked to the Volyhnia massacre, which they said was carried out by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) during the Second World War. The UPA is widely known for involvement in mass killings of Polish civilians in areas that were then part of Poland and are now in western Ukraine.
Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) said the objective was to “incite ethnic tensions” between the two countries.
Prosecutors also said that although the defendant allegedly acted for financial reasons rather than ideology, most of the alleged sabotage was carried out for the benefit of foreign intelligence.
Espionage investigations rise
In May, the ABW said it had launched 48 espionage investigations in 2024, more than double the number started the previous year. It said Russian intelligence services had focused on discrediting Poland internationally and exploiting “historical ethnic antagonisms”, particularly in Polish-Ukrainian relations.
The charges against Illia K included alleged vandalism at the Monument to the Jewish Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto in Warsaw, as well as damage to memorials to Polish victims of the Volyhnia massacre in Domostawa and Wrocław. Prosecutors said the defendant placed inscriptions and symbols that, they alleged, glorified the UPA.
Drone plan and alleged recruitment via crypto
Prosecutors further alleged that the man made preparations to fly a drone over President Karol Nawrocki’s vehicle during the Polish Armed Forces’ Day parade in Warsaw on August 15. They said he was arrested three days before the event.
ABW said the suspect allegedly recruited people to take part in the crimes, using cryptocurrencies registered in Russia and China to pay participants.
According to prosecutors, Illia K received tasks from an unidentified handler through a messaging service. He then allegedly sent back photos to show the tasks had been carried out.
If convicted, he faces life imprisonment.
Long-running dispute over UPA legacy
The Volyhnia massacre took place between 1943 and 1945, as the UPA fought to create an independent Ukraine for Ukrainians. Prosecutors said up to 100,000 members of the minority Polish population were killed during the conflict.
The issue continues to affect relations between the neighbours. At times, Kyiv has blocked Polish requests to exhume victims’ remains from mass graves, although exhumations have resumed.
The dispute came to the fore again in May, when President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree naming a Ukrainian military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA”. In response, Nawrocki removed Poland’s highest state honour, the Order of the White Eagle, from Zelensky. The action had previously been taken only once in more than 300 years.
A Polish academic specialising in eastern affairs, Wojciech Konończuk, director of Warsaw’s Office for Eastern Studies, said Poles and Ukrainians view the UPA differently. In a recent interview with the BBC, he said many Ukrainians regard the group as heroes for fighting the Soviet forces, while in Poland the UPA is seen as a criminal formation responsible for killings of Polish civilians.

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17 July 2026
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Energy Drinks Banned for Under-16s in England From April

Children under 16 in England will be prevented from buying high-caffeine energy drinks from April under new government rules, ministers have said. From that date, drinks containing more than 150mg of caffeine per litre will be illegal to sell to children and younger teenagers in shops, restaurants, cafés, vending machines and online.
What the ban will cover
The restriction applies only to higher-caffeine drinks above the 150mg threshold. Lower-caffeine soft drinks, such as Diet Coke, would not be covered, and the rules would not extend to tea and coffee.
Several widely sold energy drink brands would fall above the limit, the government said, including Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and Prime.
Ministers said the legislation is intended to reduce consumption by children and younger teenagers, rather than placing additional controls on products for adults.
Why ministers say the change is needed
The government said the measures are aimed at tackling obesity and reducing potential health harms linked to energy drinks, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety and difficulties with concentration and school performance.
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson said the ban showed the government’s commitment to improving children’s health. She said the proposal had originally been put forward last year.
The government also cited concerns raised by experts about caffeine effects on young people, noting that children can be more sensitive because they have smaller bodies and because their brains are still developing.
It said around 100,000 children in England consume energy drinks every day, and that the drinks can affect pupils’ ability to focus at school. It added that some popular products contain more caffeine than two cups of coffee or four cans of cola.
The government also highlighted potential risks associated with excessive caffeine intake, including headaches and sleep problems, as well as reports of more serious effects such as a rapid heart rate, abnormal heart rhythms and seizures. It said deaths linked to excessive caffeine have been reported, although they are rare.
Enforcement and consultation
The ban is subject to parliamentary approval and will be introduced through secondary legislation using powers from the Food Safety Act 1990.
Local authorities will enforce the rules, and businesses that break the law could face fines of up to £2,500.
The government said the decision followed a consultation that received 1,100 responses, with strong support for introducing an age limit.
At present, drinks (other than tea or coffee) with more than 150mg of caffeine must carry a label warning that they are not recommended for children or for pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Ministers also referenced advice for adults, saying that for most people up to 400mg of caffeine a day is considered safe, which they equated to about four cups of instant coffee or five cups of tea.
Reactions and wider UK approach
Katharine Jenner, executive director of the Obesity Health Alliance, welcomed the policy and said restricting sales to children at a “vital time” was common sense.
The British Soft Drinks Association said the ban was unnecessary. A spokesperson said that since 2010 its members have agreed not to market or promote energy drinks to under-16s and that high-caffeine beverages carry a “not recommended for children” label.
The government said a previous Conservative administration had planned a similar restriction but abandoned it in 2022, and that it had argued consumption should be a personal choice.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are also considering bans.

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17 July 2026
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White House Teleprompter Operator Faces $100K Betting Probe

A White House teleprompter operator is under investigation after allegations that he used inside information to place bets on US President Donald Trump’s upcoming remarks, earning nearly $100,000, according to reports.
Gabriel Perez, who worked at the White House from 2016, is accused of making trades tied to the specific words Trump would use in major public addresses. The alleged betting included wagers connected to the State of the Union speech.
The trades were placed on Kalshi, a prediction markets platform that allows users to bet on real-world outcomes. Kalshi said it reported the activity to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the agency that regulates the platform.
Kalshi later froze Perez’s account before any gains could be withdrawn, according to the reports.
Bets on Words Trump Would Mention
The company said its analysts identified unusual activity on “mention markets” in March. These contracts are designed to predict whether a speaker will use common terms, including references to specific countries, economic phrases, or campaign slogans.
Kalshi said the wording used by political figures, such as presidents and Federal Reserve chairs, can move financial markets, including foreign exchange, oil futures and stocks.
Using account information, Kalshi concluded that the bettor was a federal employee who operated White House teleprompters.
After connecting the trading to the alleged federal role, the exchange froze more than $90,000 before the funds could be taken out, the reports said.
Kalshi Reports Trading to Regulators
Robert DeNault, Kalshi’s head of enforcement, said the firm flagged the trades and provided evidence to regulators.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that President Trump was aware of the teleprompter operator and that Perez had been put on unpaid leave. She added that Perez would no longer work at the White House.
The allegations were first reported by ABC News and have been confirmed by CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Sources cited in the reporting said Perez has been “fully cooperative” with the CFTC.
ABC said federal prosecutors in Manhattan declined to open a criminal case.
CFTC Will Not Confirm Probe
When contacted by the BBC to confirm whether it was investigating, the CFTC said it could not “confirm or deny” any probe.
Kalshi has said it turned the matter over to regulators after identifying the trading activity on its platform.


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17 July 2026
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Zelenskyy Defends Dismissal of Ukraine’s Defence Minister

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has defended his decision to dismiss Ukraine’s popular defence minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, and said relations had broken down between the ministry and senior military leadership.

Zelenskyy, speaking in Kyiv with British prime minister Keir Starmer, confirmed that his administration had faced a difficult exchange between Fedorov and the commander in chief, Col Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi. He said he wanted unity but that it had not been reached, adding that the problem also lay with him.
“[I] would very much like to see unity. The sides have not found it. And the problem lies not only with the sides, but with me as well,” Zelenskyy said. “But things are as they are. And in such a situation, you have a choice: either one side or the other.”
Acting defence minister appointment
Zelenskyy said he had appointed Yevhenii Khmara, the acting head of Ukraine’s security service, as acting defence minister. He also asked parliament to approve him for the role.
The president said the dialogue between Fedorov, described as a reformist and moderniser, and Syrskyi had been challenging. He added that he had made his choice following the breakdown.
Civil society groups and foreign partners reacted strongly to the move, with some seeing it as backing Syrskyi over Fedorov.
Protests in Kyiv
More than 1,000 protesters gathered outside the presidential office on Thursday, calling for Fedorov to stay and chanting against Syrskyi.
Demonstrators carried placards supporting Fedorov, including messages reading “For what?” and “Is your head screwed on?” Chants of “Syrskyi out” echoed near central Kyiv, according to the report.
It was only the second time since Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion in 2022 that large numbers of people have taken to the streets in anti-government protests. A similar backlash followed Zelenskyy’s earlier decision, later reversed, to close two anti-corruption agencies.
The domestic dispute unfolded as Starmer ended his farewell visit to Kyiv before leaving Downing Street on Monday. The two leaders laid wreaths at the Wall of Remembrance and then held one-on-one talks in the garden of the presidential palace.


Picture courtesy of The Guardian
Starmer visit and UK backing
At a joint press conference, Zelenskyy awarded Starmer the Order of Freedom, Ukraine’s highest foreign honour. Starmer, appearing emotional, presented Zelenskyy with a framed Ukrainian flag that had hung above Downing Street in February 2022 as Russian tanks advanced towards Kyiv.
Starmer said he would soon step away from the political stage but that British support for Ukraine would not change. “It is in our bones,” he said, adding that flags are displayed across the UK in churches and town halls.
He also said Ukrainian drone strikes on long-range targets inside Russia had shifted the war’s momentum. Putin was “losing”, Starmer said, pointing to a more optimistic mood in Ukraine over the past six or seven months and attributing it to “hard work, guts, resolve and courage”.
Asked about whether frequent turnover of British prime ministers affected Ukraine, Zelenskyy said relations with the UK would remain strong. He added that he hoped to meet Starmer’s successor “as soon as possible”.
Zelenskyy and Starmer embraced warmly after their meetings and walked back into the palace for an official lunch.
Fedorov criticises military brass
Fedorov held his own press conference, accusing Ukraine’s top brass of obstructing reforms and using methods he described as Soviet-style. He said decisions on which military brigades to support, including with drones, were made based on “loyalty” rather than data.
“It’s impossible to develop the system on this basis,” he said, adding that Ukraine’s general staff opposed his plans to create centres of excellence and to change the army’s organisational structure.
He said the general staff instead blocked initiatives and engaged in “bureaucratic wrangling”, and he claimed that he had proposed replacing Syrskyi, a move that appears to have contributed to his dismissal on Wednesday. Fedorov also said Zelenskyy had offered him a role as a government adviser, but that he turned it down.
In his remarks, Fedorov paid tribute to Syrskyi for thwarting Russia’s plans to seize Kyiv, but said the commander in chief refused to discuss disagreements openly. He said Syrskyi “weaved intrigues” that “divide the country”.
Reshuffle and battlefield progress
Fedorov’s comments suggested the political dispute over Zelenskyy’s reshuffle was likely to widen. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s parliament accepted the resignation of prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko after Zelenskyy said his government needed a reboot. Her replacement is expected to be Serhiy Koretskyi, head of energy company Naftogaz.
During Fedorov’s six months in office, Ukraine’s battlefield position improved, with Kyiv repeatedly striking Russian oil refineries, which it said embarrassed the Kremlin and contributed to nationwide fuel shortages. Ukraine also destroyed key land and sea routes, targeting tankers and ferries as part of efforts to isolate occupied Crimea.
Demonstrators who had gathered outside Kyiv’s Ivan Franko theatre speculated that the 35-year-old minister was removed because he was seen as a potential presidential rival. In 2024, Zelenskyy dismissed Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi and sent him to London as ambassador.
One protester, Andrii Dligach, said Fedorov represented a new type of politics focused on openness, transparency and modernisation. He said: “Syrskyi is an old-fashioned general. Some of the people around him are allegedly corrupt and have their own drone projects. The problem is that Zelenskyy opposes anybody who shows political ambition.”
Dligach added that he believed only a small number of people influenced the president’s thinking and that most were against Fedorov, preferring “an old-fashioned management style, similar to the one in Russia, with a tsar”.


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17 July 2026
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US Hits Iran Targets as Tehran Attacks Gulf Bases

The United States military launched another wave of strikes on Iran, while Tehran said it retaliated with missile and drone attacks against US military assets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.

Iran’s Health Ministry said at least 35 people were killed and more than 300 injured since fighting resumed last week.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the Middle East, said it carried out an evening operation that began as part of a wave of strikes against Iran, concluding at 9pm ET on Wednesday (01:00 GMT on Thursday).
CENTCOM says 90-minute strike
CENTCOM said the 90-minute mission targeted what it described as Iranian command centres, air defence sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities. It said the aim was to reduce Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The command said the operation hit Bandar Abbas, a southern port city and naval hub overlooking the waterway. It also targeted coastal defence and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb island, one of three islands near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian air defences were activated over Tehran, according to state media reporting attacks across much of the country.


Picture courtesy of Al Jazeera
Iran reports attacks across multiple provinces
Explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm island in the south. Iranian media also reported strikes in Sirik, Chabahar and Konarak on the southeastern coast, along with attacks further inland in Rask, Khondab, Khorramabad and Semnan.
Iranian authorities said there were no casualties in Pakdasht or at the Parchin military complex near Tehran. In Semnan, the state broadcaster IRIB, citing a senior security official, said there were no deaths or injuries following the attack.
Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera said a civilian airport building in Semnan was attacked, with only minor damage reported. The network said a storage facility in the same city was also hit.
In Khuzestan province, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it intercepted and shot down a US MQ-9 drone over Andimeshk.
Retaliation claimed across Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan
Iran said it carried out retaliatory missile and drone attacks against facilities used by US forces in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The Iranian army said its missiles targeted US radar and air defence systems in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Kuwait’s military said its air defences were confronting attacks by “hostile drones”. It said any explosion sounds were the result of interceptors handling the attacks.
Kuwait said it intercepted four cruise missiles and 21 drones launched from Iran between Wednesday and early Thursday.
Iranian state media said missiles struck Patriot missile batteries and fuel tanks used by US forces at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. The Iranian army added that drones targeted communications equipment, Super Hawk radar systems and Patriot air defence installations used by US forces at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. It also claimed missile and drone attacks on Jordan’s al-Azraq Air Base.
Jordan’s military said earlier on Wednesday it intercepted eight Iranian missiles. In a statement addressed to the Jordanian public, the IRGC said it had “targeted and destroyed” what it called a fighter jet storage ramp and a new command and control centre in West Asia at a “very large base” in Al-Azraq, using Khyber-Shakan ballistic missiles.
Iran’s army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned that attacks “will spread to new areas” if the US continues its strikes, saying Iran’s response would be commensurate and exceed expectations.
Blockade enforcement and Trump comments
The latest escalation comes less than a month after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding extending an April ceasefire and setting out plans for negotiations to end the war that began on February 28, following Israeli and US strikes on Iran. Both sides have since accused the other of violating the agreement.
Separately, CENTCOM said US forces disabled an oil tanker attempting to sail towards an Iranian port. It said the Curacao-flagged M/T Belma was observed transiting towards Kharg Island despite warnings, and that a US aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. CENTCOM said the vessel stopped transiting towards Iran, and that during the first 24 hours of enforcement it redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel.
Reporting from Washington, Al Jazeera said President Donald Trump has indicated he could broaden US military operations beyond targeting Iranian military facilities, including storage and naval assets, and has raised the possibility of striking parts of Iranian infrastructure, such as power plants and bridges.


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