UK, Canada and France Move to Ban Trade With Israeli Settlements
Britain has imposed an import ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and Canada has joined the move, while France said it will launch a process to ban settlement products. British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accused Israeli "settler terrorists" of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" with the tacit backing of the Israeli government, saying it had "turned a blind eye" to violence against Palestinians. The coordinated measures mean at least 12 governments, including 11 European states and Canada, have now endorsed sanctions on settlement goods.
Israel responded by closing Britain's consulate in East Jerusalem and calling the sanctions a "big mistake". Palestinians strongly back the ban. Australia declined to join the initiative; members of the Labor Friends of Palestine criticised the federal government and urged Foreign Minister Penny Wong to mount a stronger response to violence against Palestinians.
Trump Gave $45,000 Cash Holiday Gifts to White House Aides
New financial disclosures released by the administration show President Donald Trump gave cash holiday gifts to White House aides, including $45,000 to executive assistant Natalie Harp and additional cash gifts to at least two other aides; some forms list four recipients in total. A White House spokesperson said Trump has a longstanding practice of giving Christmas gifts to people in his orbit and described the payments as personal and legal.
Hong Kong Court Jails Tiananmen Vigil Organizers for Years
A Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy activists Chow Hang-tung, Lee Cheuk-yan and Albert Ho to prison terms of about five to seven years after convicting them of "incitement to subversion" for organising annual vigils commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The sentences were handed down under the national security law imposed by Beijing. The convictions have drawn condemnation from the United Nations, human rights groups and foreign governments.
August 2026 Ties for Hottest Month Ever Recorded
August 2026 tied with July 2023 as the hottest month globally on record, with global temperatures reaching 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels, according to the EU's Copernicus climate service. Scientists attributed the record to climate change and a strengthening El Niño, and warned that further heat records could be broken in coming months.
Manchester United Score Four in Champions League Return
Manchester United scored four goals to defeat Sabah FK at Old Trafford in their return to the Champions League, recording the club's biggest victory in the competition since 2020. The match marked the Azerbaijani club's debut in the tournament after a rapid rise from non-existence a decade ago to the domestic title.
Trump Headlines Made-for-TV Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas
President Donald Trump headlined a made-for-TV Republican midterm convention in Dallas, where he boasted of his accomplishments and predicted Republican victories in November. During the event he promised to send every adult citizen $5,000 if Republicans maintain control of Congress, drawing a strong response from House Democrats. The gathering featured no nominations or formal party business, unlike a traditional presidential convention.
Houthi Rebels Seize Strategic Red Sea Port in Yemen
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have seized Yemen's Red Sea port of Mokha, about 50 miles from the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, after routing Yemeni government forces. Houthi and Yemeni officials confirmed the takeover of the strategic port, which strengthens the rebels' position to threaten shipping through the vital waterway.
San Francisco Mayor Declares Emergency Over Soaring Rents
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a rent emergency and proposed reforms aimed at curbing evictions and preventing rent spikes. The announcement came after the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city topped $4,495, compared with a national median of $1,900, amid an AI-driven housing frenzy.
Norway Bids Farewell to King Harald V at Oslo Funeral
Norway held a funeral for King Harald V in Oslo, concluding 13 days of national mourning following his death last month at the age of 89. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets as a nationwide minute of silence was observed. European royals and world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Prince of Wales and three Nordic kings, attended the ceremony.
Two Arrested in London on Suspicion of Assisting Iran's Foreign Intelligence Service
Counter-terrorism police in London arrested a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man on suspicion of assisting Iran's foreign intelligence service. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests followed searches at addresses in north and north-west London on 24 June and are not connected to earlier incidents linked to Jewish and Iranian communities in the city.
Anthropic Blocks Suspected Bioweapons-Related Use of Claude AI
Artificial-intelligence company Anthropic said it blocked scientists who used its Claude AI models in ways that could support biological weapons development. The company said it could not determine whether the research was legitimate or nefarious, leading it to shut down the work.
Data Show Pilot Warned of Speed Before Amazon Cargo Crash
Flight data show one pilot of an Amazon cargo plane repeatedly warned the other that the aircraft was coming in too fast for nearly two minutes before it crashed off a runway in Miami. The warnings about excessive speed were met with an uneven response even as alarms sounded.