German police issued a wanted notice on Sunday for a 21‑year‑old suspect in a van ramming that occurred near Berlin’s Pride festival, killing one person and injuring 16 others. The suspect, identified as Abdul B., is believed to have ties to Islamic groups in the German capital. Police said they have no information about his specific motives. A white van drove into Tiergarten park around 10 p.m., struck several pedestrians, and then collided with a tree. Investigators reported that the suspect may have left the vehicle and that at least one person was stabbed. Officers warned the public to avoid direct contact, saying the suspect may be armed and dangerous. Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as an attack on society and pledged to preserve and defend Germany’s freedom. The Christopher Street Day festival was halted around 10:15 p.m., a stage performance was interrupted, and attendees were urged to leave the area. A woman was killed, three people sustained life‑threatening injuries, eight were seriously injured and five had slight injuries. Approximately 80 trucks participated in the earlier parade and hundreds of thousands attended the festival. The investigation remains ongoing.
Geopolitics, diplomacy, and the stories shaping nations.
President Donald Trump attended the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on Saturday, three months after the event was cancelled following a shooting incident, and made remarks about the news media and his potential future political campaigns.
The dinner, originally scheduled at the Washington Hilton, was moved to the Waldorf Astoria after security concerns were raised following the April shooting, which saw a suspect charged with attempting to assassinate the president; the event was rescheduled and held under heightened security.
Trump sat among reporters from outlets including the New York Times, CNN and the Wall Street Journal, who were being honored with awards. He opened with a joke about the event being better the second time, then said he respects most members of the press before criticizing what he called "fake news" and accusing many attendees of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome." He displayed a cap reading "Trump 2028" and joked that he would run for a third term, later adding that he intended to run for a fourth term, despite the 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two terms. He also praised Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez, who was awarded for tackling the shooter during the April incident, and said the show must go on.
Security measures at the venue included road closures, a heavy presence of police and National Guard troops, and twice‑screened entry for guests using QR codes, identification and wristbands; attendees were escorted past armed Secret Service officers.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the dinner would return to the Washington Hilton next year and that she would not let an act of violence determine the event's future.
Attendees included Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The dinner highlighted ongoing tensions between the administration and the press, and raised questions about security at future high‑profile gatherings.
The Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical movement, ended its five‑week protest in Delhi after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, a move the movement said marked a key development for the campaign. The protest began after a police crackdown on demonstrators marching to parliament that left dozens injured. It attracted thousands of participants and received international attention, including support from activist Sonam Wangchuk, who ended a hunger strike after government assurances. Pradhan announced his resignation on X, stating he respected youth aspirations and was concerned about recent events. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the resignation marked a key development for the movement, while police maintained a presence around Jantar Mantar, the protest venue. About 300 people were hospitalized after the crackdown, and roughly 70 protesters were arrested, most later released on bail. The movement had demanded reforms to India’s education system and accountability for exam paper leaks. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would establish fast‑track courts for paper‑leak cases and prepare new legislation.
A white van struck a crowd at Berlin's Pride festival on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring at least 15 others, prompting police to cancel the remainder of the event and a scheduled concert. The Pride parade, known as Christopher Street Day, had drawn hundreds of thousands of participants to the area near the Brandenburg Gate and Tiergarten park. Police identified the suspect as a 21‑year‑old man named Abdul B., who is reported to have links to Islamist groups in Berlin and remains at large. Authorities issued a wanted notice and said they were searching for him at full speed. The vehicle collided with several pedestrians before hitting a tree, and investigators said some victims also appeared to have suffered stab wounds, though the precise sequence of events has not been determined. More than 2,200 police officers had been deployed in Berlin since the morning to secure the parade and related LGBTQ+ events. Mayor Kai Wegner expressed shock, stating that the attack targeted a tolerant, cosmopolitan society, and said he trusted police to investigate thoroughly. Police asked witnesses to provide any videos or photographs taken at the scene. The motive for the attack and any possible intent have not been established.
President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov on July 15 as part of a cabinet reshuffle. Fedorov, a 35‑year‑old tech entrepreneur credited with expanding Ukraine’s drone and missile capabilities, said he would only accept a role that gave him direct control of the defence portfolio, the commander‑in‑chief position, or the presidency. He declined offers of alternative government posts. Daily street protests in several Ukrainian cities have continued, with supporters demanding Fedorov’s reinstatement. Zelensky appointed former land‑force commander Maj Gen Mykhailo Drapatyi, 43, as acting defence minister and named him the new commander‑in‑chief. The appointment follows consultations with senior army officials, according to former government adviser Yuriy Sak. Analysts say the reshuffle was intended to reduce Fedorov’s influence, but some observers argue it has heightened his political stature. Opposition deputy Yuriy Sak described the decision as well informed, while other MPs suggested Fedorov’s popularity among young citizens could translate into broader political ambitions. The political dispute has not been linked to significant battlefield setbacks; front‑line positions remain largely static within a 15‑30 km “kill zone.” Ukraine’s long‑range sanctions campaign against Russia continues, and the government says it is preparing for potential winter attacks on energy infrastructure.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said a Ukrainian attack on an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea caused an explosion that killed one sailor and injured another. The ministry summoned Ukraine's chargé d'affaires to Tehran to protest the incident, describing it as hostile and criminal. The Caspian Sea is shared by several nations, and Iran and Ukraine have not been in direct conflict, though Ukraine has been targeted by Iranian‑designed drones used by Russia during the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia was sharing satellite imagery of sites in the Middle East with Iran to enable Iranian strikes. He added that Ukrainian forces had previously struck a Russian warship and vessels carrying Iranian‑linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea, and that intelligence had recorded Russian satellite surveillance of air bases in Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait, which he said correlated with Iranian attacks. The diplomatic dispute highlights the regional spillover of the Ukraine conflict, and the circumstances of the vessel explosion remain under investigation.
Typhoon Noul made landfall on the coast of Huidong county in Huizhou, southern Guangdong province, at about 3:50 am local time on Sunday (19:50 GMT Saturday), according to China...
Typhoon Noul made landfall on the coast of Huidong county in Huizhou, southern Guangdong province, at about 3:50 am local time on Sunday (19:50 GMT Saturday), according to China’s National Weather Centre. The storm brought heavy rain and winds to southern Guangdong and neighboring Hong Kong, prompting authorities to evacuate more than 715,000 residents in Guangdong by early Sunday, up from 340,000 announced on Saturday, state media reported. Hong Kong’s Observatory recorded maximum sustained winds of 110 km/h (68 mph) near the centre, and the system moved inland into Guangdong while weakening. The Hong Kong airport authority cancelled about 350 flights on Sunday, and at least nine people were injured during the typhoon period, officials said. A scaffolding collapse at a high‑rise building on Saturday caused damage but no injuries were reported. China’s Xinhua News Agency described Noul as the strongest typhoon to strike China so far this year. Earlier in July, Typhoon Bavi forced the evacuation of over two million people in eastern China, and Tropical Storm Maysak made landfall in southern China on July 3, according to state news outlets. Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said Noul produced rainfall over southern and eastern Taiwan before moving away from the island. Meteorologists forecast continued heavy rain and strong winds for parts of southern Guangdong and southeastern Fujian through the weekend, while CCTV reported uprooted trees in Huilai county. Officials in Guangdong and Hong Kong have maintained evacuation orders and warned residents to stay indoors as the system continues to affect the region. The storm’s path beyond the weekend remains uncertain, with forecasts indicating possible impacts on coastal areas later in the week.
Houthi forces launched missiles and drones at two Saudi Aramco oil facilities in Jizan and Yanbu on Sunday. The attacks marked a new escalation in the regional conflict involving the United States and Iran. Saudi air defenses intercepted missiles aimed at the Yanbu facility, and a large column of smoke was observed after the strike on Jizan. Saudi Arabia has not released details on damage to the refinery.
The United States has carried out 13 consecutive nights of air strikes against Iran since July 11, following Iran’s attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. A truce that had been in place since 2022 collapsed earlier this month after an incident at Sanaa airport. The Houthis declared a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia and have since targeted Saudi sites.
The United States and Iran have not conducted air strikes since Friday and appear to be exchanging messages through mediators, though progress is limited. Iranian officials say they are reviewing proposals but cite fundamental differences and mistrust.
The conflict has also become linked to the war in Ukraine, where a recent strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea killed one sailor and wounded another, according to Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ukrainian officials said the strike was part of long‑range attacks on vessels used for military cargo.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he prefers diplomacy but warned that Iran would face consequences if talks fail. He said he is willing to listen to Iran’s proposals.
The potential for the Houthis to block the Bab al‑Mandeb Strait, combined with disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz, raises concerns about global supply chain impacts and energy prices.
More than 300,000 people have been evacuated from wildfires raging in southwestern France and parts of Spain, as strong winds and high temperatures hinder containment efforts.
The evacuations, which began days ago, have continued as winds and heat impede firefighting.
The fires have burned over 98,000 hectares in France and nearly 130,000 hectares in Spain since the start of 2026, according to interior ministry reports.
The season began earlier than usual, with the EU activating its civil protection mechanism in April to coordinate assistance.
France has mobilized its military and deployed additional personnel to clear brush and create firebreaks, President Emmanuel Macron said the government would remain in place for as long as needed.
In Spain, a state of emergency has been declared and Interior Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska said wind gusts were expected to push the fire south.
Spanish officials reported that nearly 60,000 people had been evacuated from the Madrid and Ávila areas and more than 28,000 remained confined to their homes.
At least eight municipalities near Toledo were ordered to evacuate late on Saturday.
The final stage of the Tour de France was shortened from 133 km to 89 km to allow security forces to be redeployed.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 98,000 hectares had burned in France since the beginning of 2026.
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, warned that the damage could exceed previous records and that another heatwave was forecasted.
Evacuees described the smoke and flames as frightening; a British tourist said the smell of smoke was strong even 100 miles east of the fire front.
A man in his 70s was found dead in his car after firefighters extinguished a fire in the Salt de l’Aigua ravine in Manises, according to local media.
Forecasters predict further heatwaves, suggesting that wildfire activity may continue throughout the summer.
The situation remains unprecedented for the French government, which has activated EU firefighting resources including aircraft from Croatia, Portugal, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Thousands of Tunisians gathered in Tunis on July 25, 2026, to mark the fifth anniversary of President Kais Saied's declaration of a national emergency and the suspension of parliament, calling for his resignation.
Saied assumed emergency powers in 2021, dissolving parliament and governing by decree. The 2011 revolution that ousted Zine El Abidine Ben Ali had led to free elections and a constitution that enshrined political freedoms. Since then, Saied has dismissed numerous judges, criminalized the spread of information deemed false, and arrested opposition figures.
The protest, organized by the Nafas coalition of opposition parties and independent activists, began at Republic Square and moved along Habib Bourguiba Avenue toward the Municipal Theatre. Participants carried banners rejecting the government's "July 25 path" and chanted slogans calling for freedom, work, national dignity and the fall of the regime. Wissam Sghaier, spokesman for the Jomhouri opposition party, said, "We took to the streets today to hold the system of governance to account and to expose its failures, because it is our role as political and civil forces." He added that demonstrators viewed themselves as owners of the country. Imed al‑Khamiri, a spokesman for the Ennahdha party, said the protest had expanded beyond traditional opposition groups to include citizens dissatisfied with economic conditions and public services.
Many participants demanded the release of political prisoners who have been detained since Saied assumed emergency powers. Saied has stated that his measures aim to address corruption and maintain order, denying allegations of rights violations. The government has dismissed dozens of judges and imprisoned prominent opposition members, including Rached Ghannouchi, who received a life sentence on terrorism charges.
The demonstration highlights continued tension between the government's claim of stability and opposition calls for political reform, with the future of Tunisia's democratic institutions remaining uncertain.
Authorities have evacuated over 55,000 people from the Bordeaux region as wildfires expand across southwestern France and parts of Spain, prompting warnings of a difficult night.
The blazes follow a week of extreme heat and drought that has depleted water supplies and created tinder‑dry conditions, increasing fire risk across the region.
Firefighters battled flames near Andernos‑les‑Bains on July 26, where heat‑generated whirlwinds accelerated the spread of the fire, according to eyewitness reports. In Spain, multiple fires threatened communities near Madrid, with evacuation orders issued for additional zones, the Spanish emergency ministry reported. The total number of people displaced by the fires rose above 300,000 since the weekend began, the French interior ministry said. Officials warned that strong winds and low humidity could make containment more challenging and urged residents to follow evacuation directives.
The situation remained fluid as meteorologists predicted continued high temperatures and windy conditions through the weekend, leaving the full extent of the evacuations uncertain.
The documentary 'House of Hope' follows Manar Wahhab, a Palestinian woman who established a Waldorf school in al‑Eizariya, West Bank, with her husband Milad Vosgueritchian. The film documents the school's approach to education and emotional support for children.
Waldorf education emphasizes non‑violent resistance, emotional expression and holistic development, aiming to protect children's dignity and provide a safe environment amid the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
Director Marjolein Busstra first met Wahhab 18 years ago during a film workshop and spent three years traveling to the West Bank nine times to record the school's daily life. Busstra said she and Wahhab decided together to continue filming during vulnerable moments.
Wahhab described the school as a space where children can express feelings and cope with trauma, reflecting Waldorf philosophy that prioritizes emotional well‑being and personal agency. She said non‑violence requires courage, awareness and patience, and that the school seeks to give children the right to live with dignity, safety and freedom.
After Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli military response, life at the school became more demanding, with increased security checks at checkpoints. Busstra noted that the heightened situation made the documentary's narrative more demanding, but the crew continued to record daily routines, including Wahhab checking her son's belongings before he travels to school.
House of Hope won the best international feature documentary prize at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in May 2026 and will be screened at UNESCO in Paris and the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival. Wahhab said the film aims to move beyond stereotypical portrayals of Palestinians and to highlight shared human experiences.
Flavio Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old senator, announced his candidacy for Brazil's October presidential election on Saturday, becoming the official nominee of the Liberal Party in São Paulo. The Liberal Party will formally name him as its candidate at a convention in São Paulo, where supporters wore Brazilian national team jerseys and waved flags. A retired military police officer attending the event said, “We would have liked our candidate to be Jair Bolsonaro, but today Flavio is the best choice.” Flavio pledged to reduce crime, inflation, high taxes and to oppose President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth term. A Datafolha poll released on Friday showed Lula leading Flavio 48 percent to 43 percent in a potential runoff. Flavio’s campaign has been disrupted by several controversies. In May, an audio recording surfaced in which he allegedly asked banker Daniel Vorcaro, who is involved in a multi‑million‑dollar fraud case, to finance a film about his father. Flavio denied any direct contact and said the accusation was false; he said his relationship with Vorcaro was limited to the film. A Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into the film financing. Later, his stepmother, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, posted a video saying he had “disrespected me and mistreated me” and that he “didn’t understand anything about politics.” The video drew attention because she is influential among Brazil’s female and evangelical voters. Flavio posted an apology video to Michelle, which she accepted. He has portrayed himself as a moderate version of his father while maintaining a hardline stance on crime and echoing his father’s criticism of Brazil’s electronic voting system. The senator has struggled to secure alliances with Brazil’s centrist parties, which have announced they will remain neutral in the October 4 election. Tariff disputes also affected his campaign. The United States imposed two new rounds of tariffs on Brazil this month, prompting President Lula to accuse the Bolsonaro family of treason. The Bolsonaro family had previously supported earlier tariffs linked to the former president’s trial. A Supreme Court justice blocked Flavio from visiting his father until after the first round of voting. The election is scheduled for October 4, and the outcome remains uncertain as Flavio’s campaign continues to face scrutiny.
Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthi movement said on July 25, 2026, that it carried out attacks targeting Saudi Aramco installations in Jizan and Yanbu. A video posted on social media showed a plume of smoke rising from the Jizan refinery, which Reuters verified. The attacks are part of a conflict in which Iran supports Houthi forces fighting a Saudi‑led coalition. The United States has maintained a naval blockade of Iran and said its measures remain in full effect, but it did not explain why it halted a 13‑night series of strikes. Senior officials in the Trump administration said they prefer diplomatic engagement and warned that expanding the conflict could deplete U.S. defense stockpiles and affect energy supplies. Vice President JD Vance and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine raised concerns about munitions availability during a White House meeting on July 24, according to a CNN report. A Department of Defense source said operations are on hold. Saudi officials said two missiles aimed at oil sites in Yanbu were intercepted. The Saudi‑led coalition reported air strikes on Houthi positions in Marib and al‑Jawf on July 26. The Yemeni civil war, paused by a ceasefire since 2022, broke down this month as Houthi forces aligned more closely with Iran. Iran’s Foreign Ministry accused Ukraine of striking an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing one sailor and injuring another. The ministry summoned Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Tehran to protest, describing the act as hostile and criminal, according to state news agency IRNA. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv had not noted Russia sharing satellite observations with Iran to guide regional strikes. The Houthi attacks could disrupt Red Sea shipping and reignite Yemen’s civil war. Diplomatic options remain uncertain as the United States continues its blockade and the regional conflict persists.
A missile strike on a drone exhibition near Kyiv killed at least ten people and injured about one hundred, according to Ukrainian officials. The exhibition, which attracted defense industry representatives, was hit by three ballistic missiles, only one of which was intercepted, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ihnat said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported the casualties and said the attack was being investigated, while the prosecutor‑general said efforts were under way to determine who authorized the event and what safety measures were in place. Russia’s Defence Ministry said high‑precision long‑range weapons were used on a site where drones for civil targeting were being demonstrated and that drone manufacturers and Ukrainian forces were present. Earlier, five people were killed by Russian glide bombs in Sloviansk and two men died in Sumy. Ukraine also struck a factory in Kirov and Wildberries warehouses in north‑west Russia, targeting logistics hubs that can be used to purchase military equipment. President Zelensky said he plans to travel to the United States next week and meet President Donald Trump, while a Romanian F‑16 shot down a Russian drone that breached its airspace on Friday.
Zimbabwe has tightened restrictions on exports of unprocessed strategic minerals such as lithium to encourage domestic processing and value addition.
The policy, which bans the export of raw lithium ore and other unbeneficiated minerals, aims to increase local manufacturing of lithium sulphate, lithium carbonate, batteries and solar panels. Government officials say the measures are intended to capture more of the economic value from the country’s mineral resources.
More than $1 billion in investment has been pledged for the lithium value chain, according to government officials and industry representatives. Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, a unit of China’s Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, reported that its lithium carbonate plant is about 90 percent complete, and a lithium sulphate plant in Goromonzi is operational.
Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura said the 2022 ban on unbeneficiated lithium ore had spurred domestic investment. He added that Zimbabwe plans to develop industries that manufacture lithium batteries and solar panels locally.
Smaller mining firms say that building processing facilities, securing reliable electricity, and accessing financing remain significant obstacles. Shelton Lucas, business development director at Naivo Mining, noted that his company can build value‑addition plants for antimony but lacks the capacity to process chrome, forcing it to sell raw material to foreign smelters at lower prices.
Lucas proposed a toll‑smelting arrangement in which public institutions or industry bodies invest in shared processing facilities that miners can use at transparent rates while retaining ownership of their minerals.
Economist Chenayi Mutambasere of the United Kingdom‑based research firm noted that the policy will be constrained by power shortages, costly financing, weak transport infrastructure, foreign‑exchange limits and limited access to processing technology. She warned that without supportive measures the ban could push mining activity underground and lead to greater mineral leakage.
Nick Mangwana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, said the beneficiation policy is intended to generate lasting economic growth and a legacy for future generations, and that it applies to other strategic minerals such as platinum‑group metals.
The ultimate impact of the policy will depend on whether Zimbabwe can provide the necessary support for smaller producers to participate in the emerging domestic processing sector.
France's National Assembly passed a bill on June 3 aimed at reducing French consumers' exposure to cadmium and other food contaminants, a measure that follows growing public concern over toxins such as cadmium, PFAS and pesticides found in staple foods.
A study by the Jean‑Jaurès Foundation released in June 2025 found that 40% of French people believe food quality has declined over the past five years and 22% say the decline is substantial. Food sociologist Sophie Thiron of Jean‑Jaurès University noted that consumer anxiety stems from limited information about food origins and a perceived distancing of the agri‑food industry from consumers.
Laura, a 41‑year‑old communications director in Paris, and Christine, a single mother in Savoie, have changed their shopping routines after learning that cadmium is present in pasta, rice and other foods. They scan product labels with the Yuka app, prefer locally sourced and organic options, and have increased their monthly food budget by about €350. Both report heightened anxiety, especially regarding their children's health, and have reduced discretionary spending such as holidays.
The legislation passed the lower house without government backing and awaits Senate approval. It reflects wider public pressure for stricter regulation of contaminants in food and has become a factor in the upcoming presidential election, with some voters considering candidates' positions on food safety.
The debate highlights the challenge of balancing health, environmental and economic concerns while ensuring transparent food information for all consumers.
One person was killed and 17 others were injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd at Berlin's Christopher Street Day Pride parade in Tiergarten park on July 25, 2026, prompting a manhunt for the driver.
The Christopher Street Day parade, one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ events, draws hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators to Berlin each year. The celebration commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and includes a march as well as political and cultural gatherings citywide.
Police said the vehicle, described as a white car, minivan or minibus, entered Tiergarten around 10 p.m. local time, struck multiple people and stopped after hitting a tree. A police spokesperson said investigators were working to identify and apprehend the perpetrator, who has been linked to the Islamist scene in Berlin. Among the injured, eight sustained serious injuries, three of whom were in life‑threatening condition, according to a fire brigade spokesperson. Emergency responders, including police, fire and medical units, arrived at the scene and remained for several hours. Witnesses told the tabloid Bild that a man exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The incident occurred near the Brandenburg Gate, a prominent landmark in central Berlin. Germany has experienced several similar vehicle‑ramming incidents in recent years, including attacks in Leipzig, Mannheim, Munich and Magdeburg. Julian Miethig, an attendee, said the incident was unsettling.
Police continue to investigate the motive and are seeking information from anyone who may have witnessed the incident. The search for the suspect remains ongoing.