10 Things Global News - 22 July 2025
News that matters from around the world
WHO Staff Housing and Warehouse Hit by Israeli Forces
Trump Surprised by Israeli Strikes in Syria and Gaza
Bolsanaro’s Son Defies Court After Asset Freeze
Russia Launches Massive Aerial Assault Ahead of NATO Talks
UK Imposes Sanctions on 135 Russian Oil Tankers
At Least 20 Dead After Military Jet Crashes Into School
White House Releases Thousands of MLK Files
S&P 500 and Nasdaq Hit New Highs
Wall Street Journal Banned from Press Pool
Near-Miss Between SkyWest Jet and B-52 Bomber
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Israeli forces struck its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, causing major disruption to aid operations. The residence was reportedly hit three times, triggering a fire and extensive damage. The WHO stated that Israeli troops entered the premises, forcing women and children to flee and detaining four people—three of whom were later released. The organization condemned the incident and demanded the release of the remaining staff member.
Deir al-Balah, now a humanitarian hub filled with displaced Palestinians, is under intensified Israeli assault. Tanks entered the area on Monday for the first time, amid claims it may house Hamas hostages. Strikes reportedly killed at least three civilians and wounded several others. Gaza’s health ministry said over 130 people died in the last 24 hours, with more than 1,000 wounded. The WHO warned the health system is collapsing under mass casualty influxes and shortages. Despite the attacks, the agency pledged to maintain operations. A call for an immediate ceasefire by over 20 countries was rejected by Israel, which defended its military campaign.
Sources: Arab News, The Guardian
President Donald Trump was reportedly “caught off guard” by recent Israeli military strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt. The operations, which included bombings in Damascus and the Druze-majority city of Sweida, as well as a strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church that killed three people, prompted immediate calls from Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the incidents.
Leavitt emphasized the president’s strong working relationship with Netanyahu but acknowledged that these actions disrupted U.S. diplomatic goals. Trump has been working to de-escalate conflict in Gaza and strengthen ties with Syria’s new Islamist government under President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who came to power after the ousting of the previous regime. A U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Syria was announced Friday. That same day, Netanyahu contacted the Pope, attributing the Gaza church bombing to a stray missile. Trump’s envoy to Syria said the Israeli moves came at a sensitive time, complicating Washington’s regional efforts.
Sources: Associated Press, Times of India
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has condemned a ruling by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes freezing his assets and accounts. The order was reportedly part of an investigation into Eduardo’s activities in the United States, where he has been lobbying in support of his father’s legal defense. Calling the move “arbitrary and criminal,” Eduardo accused Moraes of abusing power and vowed not to be silenced.
The former president himself faces mounting restrictions. Moraes has ordered him to wear an ankle bracelet and barred him from social media, with warnings of arrest for noncompliance. Bolsonaro, who denies leading efforts to overturn the 2022 election but admits participating in strategy meetings, called the social media ban “cowardice.” Tensions have escalated with Washington, where officials revoked visas for Moraes and several top justices. President Trump also threatened steep tariffs on Brazilian goods if charges against Bolsonaro are not dropped.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters
Russia carried out one of its most intense aerial assaults on Kyiv overnight Monday, just hours before a high-level meeting on weapons support for Ukraine. Ukrainian officials reported two dead and 15 injured, including a 12-year-old. Strikes damaged a subway station, supermarket, kindergarten, and warehouse facilities. The attack, which involved 426 drones and 24 missiles, was the first on the capital since the arrival of Trump’s envoy last week. Ukraine’s air force said it intercepted or jammed over 400 drones.
The assault coincided with a virtual meeting of NATO defense leaders, led by the U.K. and Germany, to implement Trump’s plan for European allies to deliver U.S.-made weapons, including Patriot systems. France’s foreign minister also met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss defense cooperation and Ukraine’s EU bid. Meanwhile, Ukraine continued drone attacks near Moscow. Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations are expected to resume Wednesday in Istanbul.
Sources: Associated Press, PBS
The United Kingdom has announced a fresh round of sanctions targeting 135 Russian oil tankers linked to what it calls Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” alongside two firms involved in shipping operations. British officials say these vessels have carried an estimated $24 billion worth of cargo since January, forming a vital part of Russia’s oil export strategy amid ongoing sanctions over its war in Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the measures are intended to dismantle President Vladimir Putin’s covert shipping network and reduce the financial resources fueling the war. The UK also sanctioned Intershipping Services LLC, which registers vessels under the Gabonese flag to transport Russian goods, and Litasco Middle East DMCC, a trader involved in shipping Russian oil.
The EU and UK have jointly moved to lower the crude oil price cap from $60 to $47.60 per barrel. Russia has previously denounced such sanctions as illegal and destabilizing to global energy markets.
Sources: Global Banking and Finance, Reuters
A Bangladesh Air Force F-7 training jet crashed into the Milestone School and College campus in Dhaka’s Uttara district on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring more than 170. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Toukir Islam, was among the dead. Authorities say the jet experienced a mechanical failure shortly after takeoff from a nearby air base and the pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from populated areas.
Many victims were students leaving the school when the plane struck a two-story building. Seventeen of the fatalities were children, and most of the injured suffered severe burns. Emergency responders, including the army and fire services, continued rescue operations throughout the day, while hospitals across the city treated victims. The government declared a national day of mourning on Tuesday and launched a formal investigation into what is now one of the country’s deadliest aviation disasters in decades.
Sources: BBC, Time
The Trump administration has released more than 6,000 documents—totalling nearly 250,000 pages—related to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fulfilling an executive order signed at the start of Trump’s second term. The National Archives posted the digitized files online Monday, which include FBI memos, interviews, and manhunt details concerning James Earl Ray, King’s convicted killer. Officials described the release as a transparency milestone, though some experts and King’s family warned against taking the documents at face value.
The files detail leads pursued by investigators, tips from the public, and surveillance summaries. However, FBI wiretap recordings remain sealed until 2027. King’s children criticized the original FBI campaign as predatory and disinformation-driven, urging researchers to contextualize the material. Historians noted little new insight in the release. The announcement follows prior JFK file disclosures and rising pressure from Trump’s supporters to release other classified records, including those tied to Jeffrey Epstein.
Sources: New York Times, NPR
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs on Monday, buoyed by gains in major tech stocks. Alphabet rose more than 2.5% ahead of its earnings report, helping lift the broader tech sector. Tesla, also reporting Wednesday, joined Alphabet in leading off earnings for the so-called “Magnificent Seven.” Analysts expect S&P 500 companies to post second-quarter earnings growth of 6.7%, with Big Tech driving much of the gain.
Verizon also saw a surge of over 4% after raising its full-year profit forecast. While the Dow finished flat, sentiment remained upbeat. Market strategists pointed to resilient corporate earnings, a strong labor market, and manageable inflation as signs of continued strength in the U.S. economy. Investors now await Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s Tuesday speech for further signals on the outlook for interest rates. The S&P 500 closed above 6,300 for the first time, underscoring continued investor confidence.
Sources: Bloomberg, Marketscanner
The Trump administration has removed the Wall Street Journal from the press pool for President Trump’s upcoming trip to Scotland, citing “fake and defamatory conduct” related to the paper’s recent reporting on Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Trump over a July 17 article describing a birthday message allegedly sent to Epstein, which Trump denies authoring. The White House press secretary confirmed the Journal would not be among the 13 outlets traveling with the president.
The move marks the second time the administration has retaliated against a major outlet, having previously removed the Associated Press from pool access over its use of the term “Gulf of Mexico.” Critics, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, condemned the action as a threat to press freedom and urged the Journal’s reinstatement. The Journal has defended its reporting and declined to comment on the access restriction, while First Amendment groups labeled the move retaliatory and unconstitutional.
Sources: CNN, Politico
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a near-collision involving a SkyWest-operated Delta Connection flight and a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber near Minot, North Dakota. The regional jet, en route from Minneapolis, executed an “aggressive maneuver” on approach after the pilot spotted the bomber on a converging path. The pilot later told passengers that the B-52 was moving significantly faster and apologized for the abrupt turn, which caught many on board by surprise.
Passengers described being thrown sideways during the maneuver, unaware of the danger until the pilot addressed them post-landing. Minot International Airport, classified as a non-radar facility operating under visual flight rules, had cleared the jet for approach. However, Air Force officials confirmed that tower personnel failed to inform the B-52 crew of the inbound commercial aircraft. Both SkyWest and the FAA have launched investigations into the incident, which occurred near the Minot Air Force Base.