World News Highlights,22 July 2025: Vibrio bacteria pose seasonal risk in European bathing waters

Vibrio bacteria are creating a seasonal health risk for swimmers in European waters, particularly at popular bathing sites in the Baltic Sea, according to a report in Deutsche Welle. The bacteria, which cause an infection called vibriosis, thrive as water temperatures rise in the summer, with the Baltic's brackish and shallow characteristics making it an ideal environment for their growth. Infection primarily occurs when open wounds are exposed to contaminated water. Public health officials note that rising global temperatures are expanding the bacteria's habitat, leading to more frequent health advisories for the public in affected regions.

The British government announced new measures on Monday to impose financial sanctions on people-smuggling gangs and their enablers who facilitate migrant journeys across the English Channel in small boats, as per a report in AP. The new powers are designed to target not only the smugglers but also those who supply them with money and equipment. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the measures constitute the world's first sanctions regime specifically aimed at gangs involved in people smuggling and irregular migration.

Haitian businessman and former presidential hopeful Pierre Réginald Boulos was arrested by federal agents at his home in Miami late last week, AP said in a report. Boulos, a U.S.-born doctor who had previously renounced his American citizenship to run for president of Haiti, obtained U.S. residency in 2024 under the former Biden administration.

Venezuela's attorney general's office has initiated an investigation into El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele concerning allegations of mistreatment and human rights violations against Venezuelan migrants, AP said in a report. Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the probe was launched after some of the migrants informed Venezuelan authorities about the alleged abuse. According to the report, the migrants were held for months in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador following their deportation by the United States.

The UK government and OpenAI have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the deployment of advanced AI models in public sectors such as justice, security, and education, according to a report in The Guardian. The agreement, which follows a similar UK deal with Google, was signed on Monday by Sam Altman and UK Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. The non-binding MoU establishes a framework for future cooperation between the AI firm and the British government.

Climate change is the primary driver behind a global rise in severe 'fire weather,' which encompasses conditions like high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds that fuel wildfires, according to a report in The New York Times. These intensified conditions are making forest fires more frequent, widespread, and destructive across various regions, as seen in the record-breaking fire seasons of 2023 and 2024. The increase in large-scale fires not only devastates ecosystems and threatens human communities but also releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide, creating a feedback loop that further accelerates global warming.

The Metals Company (TMC) is pursuing U.S. permits for deep-sea mining, a move that follows a pledge by President Donald Trump to facilitate such activities in international waters, according to a report in The New York Times. This has prompted legal concerns from other countries, which argue that moving forward without a comprehensive international mining code from the International Seabed Authority (ISA) undermines global agreements. The situation is complicated by the fact that the U.S. is not a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), meaning any permits would be issued under domestic U.S. law rather than the international framework. These developments come as numerous countries, including Canada, continue to call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining due to environmental risks.

Iranian representatives are scheduled to meet with negotiators from Britain, France, and Germany on Friday, following a threat from the European trio to restore economic restrictions, The New York Times said in a report. The talks are a response to the E3 (Britain, France, and Germany) triggering the dispute resolution mechanism within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This action was prompted by Iran's ongoing breaches of the nuclear deal's terms, which have been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. These breaches, including exceeding limits on uranium enrichment, began after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018.

The United Nations' daily news briefing on July 21, 2025, will feature an update on the World Food Programme's (WFP) activities in Gaza, according to a report in Reuters. Ross Smith, the WFP's Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, is set to appear remotely as a guest briefer. He is expected to provide the update during the regular session hosted by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Israeli ground troops for the first time pushed into areas of Deir al-Balah on Monday, a central Gaza city that had largely been spared from major ground operations, AP says in a report. The incursion, which followed evacuation orders dropped at dawn, appears to be part of an effort to establish military corridors to divide the Palestinian territory. The move comes as the U.N. food agency issued a rare condemnation over the humanitarian situation. In related developments, Israeli forces detained the Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson and also conducted a strike on a rebel-held port in Yemen.

Greece is creating two new protected marine areas to safeguard its underwater wildlife, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Monday, according to a report in The Times of India. The decision fulfills a commitment Mitsotakis made during a United Nations oceans conference in southern France in June. He stated the goal is to "honour (Greece's) unique marine heritage and to protect it for generations to come."

The United Arab Emirates has introduced a 10-year "Blue Visa" for individuals with proven contributions to environmental sustainability, according to a report in The Times of India. This residency permit does not require any property purchase or financial investment, making it accessible to global experts, researchers, and activists based on their environmental impact. The initiative, open to applicants worldwide, is part of the UAE's broader strategy to position itself as a global leader in climate action and green innovation, attracting top talent to support its environmental goals. Applicants can apply from anywhere and are provided a 180-day multiple-entry visa to facilitate the processing of their application.

Saudi Arabia is importing high-quality construction sand from nations including Australia and China to support its large-scale mega-projects under the Vision 2030 initiative, according to a report in The Times of India. The country's vast deserts contain sand that is too fine and rounded by wind erosion to be used in strong concrete, which requires coarser, more angular grains. This reliance on foreign sand highlights a growing global sand crisis driven by rapid development. In response, the kingdom is also exploring sustainable alternatives such as manufactured sand to ensure the quality of its future construction.

Venezuelan authorities are taking action against economists to control information about the country's worsening financial crisis, which is marked by surging inflation, according to a report in The New York Times. The crackdown comes amid renewed US sanctions under the administration of President Donald Trump. This targeting of economic experts is viewed as part of a wider government strategy to suppress independent data and critical analyses that challenge official narratives on the state of the economy.

A 16th-century 'Madonna and Child' painting by the artist Solario is being returned to its rightful owner, the Civic Museum of Belluno in Italy, 50 years after it was stolen, The Guardian said in a report. A woman in Norfolk, UK, Barbara de Dozsa, had come into possession of the artwork and initially argued for ownership on the basis that it had been bought in good faith. However, following persuasion by an art lawyer working pro bono, she has decided to hand over the painting, which was last seen at the museum in 1973.

Belgian police questioned two members of the Israeli army who were attending a music festival over allegations of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, the Federal Prosecutor's Office in Brussels stated on Monday, according to a report in AP. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that an Israeli citizen and a soldier on vacation in Belgium were taken for interrogation and released shortly afterward.

Three soldiers were killed and eight were injured after rebels used a drone to attack a military patrol in northeastern Colombia on Sunday, AP said in a report. The Colombian military has blamed the National Liberation Army (ELN) for the attack, which occurred in a rural area near the town of El Carmen in the Catatumbo region. The ELN, a group with approximately six thousand fighters, has been engaged in a conflict with the Colombian government since the 1960s.

The Russian army's Zvezda television channel broadcast a documentary showing teenagers helping to construct Geran-2 suicide drones intended for use against Ukraine, according to a report in Reuters. The footage displayed hundreds of completed drones inside a factory whose director claimed it is the world's largest producer of strike drones. The Geran-2 is widely understood by military analysts to be a Russian-produced version of the Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drone, highlighting ongoing military cooperation between Moscow and Tehran and Russia's efforts to ramp up domestic weapons production for its war effort.

Gaza’s civil defence agency stated that at least 93 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire while queueing for food aid near Gaza City, according to a report in The Guardian. The health ministry in Gaza reported that the incident occurred as people waited for UN aid trucks entering near the Zikim crossing with Israel, marking one of the deadliest events involving aid seekers. Following the reports, Pope Francis condemned the "barbarity" of the war. Concurrently, Israel issued fresh evacuation orders for other areas in Gaza that are densely populated with displaced individuals.

A coalition of 25 countries, including the UK, France, Australia, Canada, and Japan, issued a joint statement on Monday calling for the war in Gaza to "end now," AP says in a report. The foreign ministers of the signatory nations stated that the suffering of civilians has reached "new depths" and condemned what they described as the "drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children," who are seeking basic necessities like food and water. The statement explicitly calls for Israel to comply with international law.

A group of dozens of companies has pledged to invest €631 billion ($733 billion) in Germany over the next three years, signaling confidence in Europe's largest economy, AP says in a report. The pledge comes as the new German government, which took office on May 6, seeks to revitalize the economy following two consecutive years of contraction. The administration has made economic recovery a top priority, launching a new program and establishing a 500 billion euro fund to stimulate growth.

The Egyptian government is funding free train rides for hundreds of Sudanese refugees returning home to Khartoum, AP says in a report. The move follows the recent recapture of Sudan's capital by the Sudanese Armed Forces from the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war between the military and the RSF, which has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis and the deaths of over 40,000 people. On Monday, hundreds of displaced individuals gathered at a central train station in Cairo to begin the journey back to Sudan.

Organizers in Italy have canceled a concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev that was scheduled for a summer festival at the Royal Palace of Caserta near Naples, AP said in a report. The cancellation on Monday followed protests against providing a stage to the conductor, who has been widely barred from European venues for failing to condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine. The regional governor, Vincenzo de Luca, had previously defended the invitation, stating that "the logic of preclusion … does not help peace."

World Rugby confirmed on Monday that it launched an immediate investigation after England's Rugby Football Union (RFU) filed an official complaint about players suffering racist abuse from spectators during their win over Argentina in San Juan on July 12. The RFU lodged the complaint on July 15. The global governing body stated that despite the investigation, the individuals responsible for the abuse could not be identified.

The United Nations has voiced concern regarding the arrest of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban for their alleged failure to adhere to the authorities' prescribed dress code, as per a report in AP. This development signifies a more aggressive enforcement of rules established after the Taliban took power in 2021. A decree from May 2022 had previously called for women to show only their eyes and recommended they wear a head-to-toe burqa in public.

South Korea's Unification Ministry is exploring the possibility of allowing individual tourism to North Korea, stating that such tours would not breach international sanctions, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The proposal aims to differentiate these trips from past large-scale, corporate-run projects, such as the now-suspended Mount Kumgang tours, by focusing on smaller, individual travel. This initiative is being considered as a way to create new avenues for engagement, even as broader inter-Korean relations remain strained and denuclearization talks are stalled. The ministry's assessment that individual tourism is exempt from sanctions, which primarily target bulk cash transfers to Pyongyang, could face scrutiny from the U.S. and other nations that maintain a strict sanctions regime against North Korea.

Government offices, banks, and businesses in Iran's capital province of Tehran will close on Wednesday due to an intense heat wave and the need to conserve energy, according to a report in AP. With temperatures in the capital expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), the government has advised citizens to remain indoors during peak heat hours. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani also urged residents to take measures to reduce electricity consumption to prevent strain on the power grid.

Vietnam has placed coastal provinces on emergency alert and canceled flights as the country braces for Typhoon Wipha, which is expected to make landfall early Tuesday, according to a report in AP. The storm is forecast to bring powerful winds and heavy rainfall, creating a high risk of flash floods and landslides in northern Vietnam's mountainous areas. Urban centers, including the capital city of Hanoi, are also preparing for potential flooding from the typhoon.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region's economy is projected to grow by 3.2% in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026, driven by a strong non-oil sector and the anticipated easing of OPEC+ oil supply cuts, according to a report in The Times of India. The World Bank report emphasizes that prudent fiscal spending and strategic reforms are crucial for the region to achieve its goals of diversification, sustainability, and increased employment. However, the outlook faces potential challenges from global trade conflicts and the volatility of oil prices.

French authorities have launched a criminal probe into the social media company X, the platform has confirmed, as per a report in the Financial Times. The investigation centers on accusations of 'algorithm manipulation' and 'fraudulent' data extraction.

A coach at National Taiwan Normal University has apologized for "pressuring" students to give blood, according to a report in BBC. The apology followed an official investigation at the university which concluded that blood sampling had taken place for the purpose of "research projects."

EU Justice Commissioner Michael McGrath has expressed shock at the toxicity and dangers of some products sold by Chinese online retailers Shein and Temu and vowed a crackdown on the sale of illegal goods, according to a report in The Guardian. McGrath is awaiting the results of a secret shopper investigation into the platforms, a move that comes as 12 million low-value parcels enter the EU daily from outside the bloc.

Authorities in Pakistan have arrested 11 suspects in connection with an "honour" killing after a video of a man and woman being fatally shot went viral, according to a report in The Guardian. The couple was reportedly killed last month in the southwestern Balochistan province for marrying against their families' wishes. Provincial authorities stated the killings were carried out on the orders of a local tribal council, and an investigation was launched after the video gained widespread attention on social media.

Energy company BP has named Albert Manifold as its next chair, taking over from Helge Lund amidst a significant strategic shift for the company away from its net zero ambitions, The Guardian says in a report. Manifold, the former chief executive of the building materials firm CRH, is set to join the BP board as a non-executive director and chair-elect on September 1, 2025. He will officially assume the role of chair on October 1, a move that comes as BP refocuses its strategy on its core fossil fuel business.

A major rescue operation is underway in Italy's Piedmont region to extract a cave explorer who was injured by falling rocks and trapped approximately 40 meters (over 130 feet) below the surface, as per a report in AP. The accident occurred on Sunday while the man was with a group of friends. Medical teams have reached the explorer and are treating him for a head injury inside a heated tent, as the injury prevents him from exiting the cave independently. To facilitate the rescue, crews are using explosive charges to widen three narrow points within the cave.

Automotive manufacturer Stellantis is projecting a net loss of €2.3 billion, attributing the financial downturn to the impact of US tariffs, as per a report in the Financial Times. The company, which owns brands including Fiat, Jeep, and Peugeot, had previously suspended its financial guidance. The loss is linked to increased raw material costs from US tariffs on steel and aluminum, which were initiated during a prior administration and remain in effect.

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed onto the campus of the Milestone School and College in Dhaka's northern Uttara area on Monday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring others, AP said in a report. The crash occurred while children were present on the campus, and television footage showed significant fire and smoke billowing from the site. The incident was confirmed by military and fire officials.

Prominent Kenyan activist and photojournalist Boniface Mwangi is facing terrorism charges related to his alleged role in recent widespread anti-government demonstrations, BBC says in a report. The protests were initially sparked by opposition to the country's proposed Finance Bill 2024. Rights groups have condemned Mwangi's arrest, characterizing it as an attempt by the government to suppress dissent. This development occurs amid a broader context of an increased government crackdown on activists and protesters following the recent unrest.

Police in southwestern Pakistan arrested 11 suspects on Monday following the circulation of a viral video showing the murder of a young couple, AP said in a report. The couple was reportedly killed for marrying without their families' approval, an act often referred to as an 'honor killing.' The video, which surfaced on social media over the weekend, prompted a public uproar and calls from activists for swift justice against the practice of killing family members who defy traditional customs.

Russia conducted one of its largest recent aerial assaults on Kyiv, killing two people and wounding 15, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as per a report in AP. The overnight drone and missile attack occurred just hours before the United Kingdom and Germany are set to co-chair a meeting on military aid for Ukraine. The assault underscored the urgency for more Western support, particularly in air defense, with the talks expected to address plans related to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.

European executives and policymakers are expressing growing concern over the continent's dependence on US companies for critical digital infrastructure, according to a report in the Financial Times. This reliance spans key sectors including cloud computing, enterprise software, and data storage, prompting strategic efforts by the European Union to enhance its "digital sovereignty." Key initiatives aimed at addressing this issue include the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to regulate large tech platforms, the development of a sovereign data infrastructure through projects like GAIA-X, and ongoing negotiations surrounding transatlantic data flows to ensure compliance with European privacy standards.

Indigenous green vegetables, often dismissed as 'weeds', are experiencing a surge in popularity in Kenya for their culinary and nutritional value. This growing demand is creating economic opportunities for local farmers. However, they face a significant challenge from current agricultural laws that restrict the traditional practice of swapping or selling seeds that are not officially certified, highlighting a conflict between the formal seed system and the burgeoning market for traditional crops.

Defending 200m freestyle world champion Siobhan Haughey announced her withdrawal from the world championships in Singapore due to an ongoing back injury, according to a report in Reuters. The four-time Olympic medallist from Hong Kong became the city's first swimming world champion after her victory in the 200m event at the 2024 championships in Doha.

A report has found that extreme climate events are directly linked to price hikes for essential food items globally, including rice, corn, cocoa, coffee, and potatoes, Al Jazeera says in a report. These price increases are attributed to the growing frequency and intensity of weather phenomena like droughts, floods, and heatwaves, which reduce agricultural yields and disrupt supply chains. Recent examples illustrating this trend include record-high cocoa prices caused by severe weather in West Africa and olive oil shortages resulting from prolonged droughts in the Mediterranean. These climate-induced shocks contribute to volatility in global commodity markets and heighten concerns about food security and the cost of living for consumers worldwide.

Owen Farrell is set to captain the British and Irish Lions in their final midweek game of the Australian tour against the First Nations and Pasifika XV in Melbourne on Tuesday, according to a report in AP. This marks Farrell's first starting appearance of the 2025 tour after he was brought into the squad late as an injury replacement by head coach Andy Farrell, his father. The former England captain previously appeared as a second-half substitute in a match on July 12.

The government of Guatemala has officially denied that a man was deported to its country by United States authorities, AP said in a report. The denial contradicts a story from The Morning Call of Allentown, Pennsylvania, which reported that Luis Leon, a legal U.S. permanent resident who won asylum in 1987, was handcuffed at a Philadelphia immigration office and subsequently ended up in Guatemala. The newspaper's account was based on information from Leon's family, who said he was trying to replace his lost green card.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held their first official meeting in Washington to discuss key bilateral issues, according to a report in The Washington Post. The leaders focused on the USMCA trade agreement and future economic partnership, alongside security cooperation within NATO and NORAD. The meeting is the first between the two administrations following the tenure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A joint statement released after the discussion outlined commitments to continued collaboration on shared economic and defense priorities.

A new mural honoring U.S.-French entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker has been unveiled in a diverse northeast Paris neighborhood, according to a report in AP. Created by urban artist FKDL as part of a street art festival, the mural commemorates Baker nearly 50 years after her death. Born in the U.S., Baker moved to France in 1925, where she became a celebrated entertainer and later spied for the French Resistance during World War II.

The bear JJ4, which killed a 26-year-old jogger in the Trentino region of Italy in April 2023, has been relocated to a wildlife sanctuary in Germany's Black Forest, Deutsche Welle says in a report. The move concludes months of legal challenges initiated by animal welfare groups, which successfully blocked an initial euthanasia order from the provincial government. The case sparked intense debate across Italy regarding human-wildlife coexistence and the management of the region's growing bear population.

Foreign assistance to Southeast Asia is set to fall by more than $2 billion next year, with the poorest nations in the region expected to be most impacted, according to a report in Al Jazeera. The decline is attributed to a shift in priorities among Western donor countries, which are redirecting development funding towards increased defense budgets, partly in response to geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine, and to address domestic economic issues. This reduction in aid could hinder progress on development goals and increase financial pressure on nations like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste, which rely on such support for essential services and infrastructure.

Canada is experiencing a significant measles outbreak, with confirmed cases nearly three times higher than in the far more populous United States, according to a report in BBC. Public health officials attribute the surge to a combination of factors, including cases imported via international travel, a decline in national vaccine coverage to below the 95% herd immunity threshold, and the clustering of unvaccinated individuals in specific communities, particularly in Quebec and Ontario. In response, Canadian public health agencies have issued alerts and are urging citizens to ensure their vaccinations are current, especially before traveling.

Iran is scheduled to hold nuclear talks with three European powers—France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—on Friday, as per a report in Al Jazeera. These nations, along with China and Russia, are the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The talks are part of ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning the agreement, which was significantly impacted by the unilateral withdrawal of the United States in 2018.

World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab has rejected the findings of an internal misconduct probe, deepening a dispute within the organization, according to a report in the Financial Times. Schwab stated that an agreement to maintain media restraint regarding the matter was breached. His comments follow the appearance of excerpts from a draft of the probe's report in the Swiss press, escalating the internal conflict at the global forum.

Kenyan rights activist Boniface Mwangi is accused of 'facilitation of terrorist acts' following his arrest on Saturday, investigators said Sunday, according to a report in The Guardian. The charges are linked to protests against President William Ruto's government that occurred in June. The specific demonstration mentioned was on June 25, during which at least 19 people were killed. That protest was organized to commemorate victims of police violence from a similar event on the same date in the previous year.

Unnamed US officials are reportedly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over strikes in Syria, with some allegedly labeling his actions as reckless, The Times of India said in a report. The reports, which cite anonymous sources, indicate growing frustration within the Trump administration and the White House regarding Netanyahu's recent military actions. This development highlights increasing tensions between the two allies over regional strategy, particularly concerning actions that the US views as potentially destabilizing and undermining efforts to prevent a wider conflict in the Middle East.

During a visit to northern Cyprus on Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed his country's support for a two-state solution to the long-standing dispute on the island, The Times of India says in a report. The visit marked 51 years since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Erdogan called on the international community to accept the reality of the island's division, stating, "We fully support the vision based on a two-state solution."

Jake Larson, a 102-year-old American D-Day veteran who survived the Normandy landings in 1944, has passed away, according to a report in AP. In his later years, Larson became a prominent social media personality, amassing 1.2 million followers on TikTok by sharing his personal stories of World War II to commemorate the event and his fallen comrades. His granddaughter announced his death, noting he was “cracking jokes til the end.”