Crude oil prices rose again in the international market amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States. On Thursday, Brent crude increased by 1.93 dollars or 2 percent to reach 96 dollars per barrel, marking its highest level since June 8. According to a report by Al Jazeera, the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also gained 1.44 dollars or 1.7 percent, trading at 88.27 dollars per barrel.

Earlier trading sessions had already seen Brent crude rise by more than 3 dollars to 94.07 dollars per barrel, while WTI climbed nearly 3 percent during the same period. Analysts cited renewed US military strikes in Iran and intensified attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on oil tankers in the Red Sea as key drivers of the surge. These developments have heightened strategic instability in the Middle East and disrupted supply confidence.

The report indicates that uncertainty in global oil supply chains continues to fuel price volatility, with markets reacting sharply to geopolitical risks in the region.

Meta has begun rolling out a redesigned version of WhatsApp for Mac, inspired by Apple’s “Liquid Glass” design language. The update aims to make the desktop experience more consistent with that of iPhone and iPad users. According to WABetaInfo, the update is being released gradually through the Mac App Store, with limited users currently having access. It is expected to reach all Mac users within the next few weeks.

The new version does not introduce major messaging or AI-based features but focuses on improving design and usability. Enhancements include a reorganized sidebar, refined chat bar, updated attachment menu, and smoother navigation aligned with Apple’s latest macOS design principles. Locked chats and Communities now have separate sections, with identity verification required before accessing locked conversations, mirroring iPhone privacy features.

Technology analysts view this update as part of Apple’s broader effort to unify user experiences across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Meta continues to invest in improving WhatsApp’s desktop version as its user base on desktop platforms expands.

The European Union’s naval mission ‘Aspides’ has advised commercial vessels linked to the United States, Israel, and Saudi Arabia to avoid the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The warning, reported on July 22, 2026, follows a sharp rise in the risk of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in these waters. The advisory urged ships connected to those three nations to steer clear of the region until the threat level decreases.

According to the EU mission, vessels associated with the US, Israel, and Saudi Arabia face the highest risk of being targeted by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The warning came shortly after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, claiming it was a response to Riyadh’s blockade of Yemen and airstrikes on its international airport.

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned the Houthi move and stated that it will take all necessary measures under international law to protect its commercial ships and national interests.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said that the world stands at the end of one civilization and the dawn of another. Speaking on July 16 at the Global Nobel Laureates Assembly on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear War in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, he argued that the current civilization has failed in its fundamental responsibilities. He identified environmental destruction and growing wealth concentration as the two main causes of this decline.

Dr. Yunus challenged the belief that new technologies will solve these problems, warning instead that artificial intelligence could accelerate wealth concentration and deepen inequality. He said the real issue is not job loss but a system that reduces people to job seekers, stressing that humans are inherently creative and not born to follow orders. Calling today’s youth the most powerful generation in human history, he urged them to define the world they wish to build.

The assembly brought together Nobel laureates, former heads of state, religious leaders, and youth delegates. Participants signed a joint declaration warning that the combined development of AI and nuclear weapons poses an unprecedented threat to humanity’s future.

The United States has fallen to 10th place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, losing its former position among the world’s most powerful passports. In 2006, the U.S. passport was among the strongest globally, offering travel freedom comparable to Denmark and Finland. The latest report shows that American citizens can now travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 180 destinations, up from 130 in 2006.

Singapore holds the top spot in 2026, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates share second place, each allowing travel to 188 countries. Sweden ranks third, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain jointly occupy fourth place. Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, though its visa-free access has increased from 12 to 22 destinations since 2006.

According to the report, passport strength reflects international trust, diplomatic relations, economic capacity, and political stability, with many peaceful nations appearing among the top-ranked countries.

US President Donald Trump reportedly wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to serve as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to a report by The New York Post published on July 22, 2026. The report states that the two became close during this year’s World Cup, and their relationship deepened after Infantino presented Trump with the FIFA Peace Award last December.

Citing sources close to Trump, the report describes Infantino as a globally respected figure with a strong ability to unite people around shared goals. The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, is set to complete his term in December this year. It remains unclear whether Infantino is interested in the position or how much Trump has discussed the matter with him.

According to the report, the UN Secretary-General is appointed following a recommendation from the Security Council and approval by the General Assembly. Other names reportedly under discussion include former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Global oil prices continued their upward trend as Brent crude futures rose by one dollar, or 1.1 percent, reaching 92.01 dollars per barrel. The price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude increased by 82 cents, or 1 percent, to 85.16 dollars per barrel. According to Reuters, the rise followed recent military actions involving the United States and Iran in the Middle East.

The report stated that US forces carried out attacks in southern and western Iran, while Iran targeted US installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. These developments pushed oil prices to their highest level in five weeks by Tuesday, when Brent futures settled at 91.01 dollars per barrel and WTI at 84.91 dollars.

The continued escalation of regional tensions has reinforced market concerns about potential disruptions to oil supply, sustaining the upward momentum in global crude prices.

Meta has announced a new safety framework for its AI chatbot that will alert parents if a teenage user’s conversation indicates signs of suicide or self-harm. The company said that when its artificial intelligence system detects such signs, the content will first be reviewed by Meta’s internal team. Depending on the assessed level of risk, parents will receive an immediate alert, and in severe cases, emergency services may also be contacted.

Meta emphasized that the protection of teenagers will take precedence over perfect accuracy. This means that alerts may be sent even when the system is not fully certain about the message’s meaning, to avoid potential risks. Although this could lead to some unnecessary notifications, Meta stated it will not compromise on safety.

Initially, the feature is being rolled out to families in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada who use Instagram’s parental supervision tools. Meta plans to expand the feature to other countries later this year. The company has also tightened content controls to prevent its AI chatbot from responding to sensitive or inappropriate questions from teenagers.

Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s latest film, “The Odyssey,” is currently dominating theaters worldwide. In an interview with U.S. outlet Today, Nolan revealed that the physically and mentally demanding production has left him exhausted, prompting him to take a three-year break before starting his next project. The film, based on the Greek epic, explores themes of love, war, homecoming, and destiny on a grand cinematic scale.

Nolan described the filming process as extremely challenging, citing sequences such as the Cyclops’ cave and stormy sea voyages that tested the entire crew. He shot the entire movie on IMAX 70mm film for the first time in his 25-year career, aiming to immerse audiences directly into the world of Odysseus. The cast includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Tom Holland.

Following the success of “Oppenheimer,” the three-hour epic is projected to earn around $200 million globally in its opening weekend. Nolan said he now plans to rest and recover from the intense filmmaking experience before returning to the big screen.

Concerns are rising over Meta’s new AI-powered smart glasses, which experts say could pose serious risks to child privacy and safety. The device allows users to record photos and videos hands-free, raising fears that children could be filmed without consent and that such footage might be misused through artificial intelligence. Meta’s Vice President of Wearables, Alex Himel, said he used the glasses to record his daughter’s performance, highlighting their convenience. However, critics warn that the same technology could enable covert recording by malicious users.

Although Meta’s glasses display a small LED light when recording, most people remain unaware of this signal. Experts and child rights advocates warn that AI-generated fake content using children’s images is becoming a growing threat. The Internet Watch Foundation has cautioned that such material could normalize violence and increase real-world abuse. Some nurseries and schools have already banned the glasses over safety concerns.

Specialists are urging stronger privacy laws, clearer recording alerts, and accountability for misuse. They also recommend regulatory frameworks similar to those used for drugs or food to assess potential social harm before launching new technologies.

International oil prices fell slightly on Tuesday as reports emerged of mediation efforts to ease tensions between the United States and Iran. Brent crude dropped by 35 cents, or 0.4 percent, to 88.87 dollars per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery remained nearly unchanged at 82.47 dollars. The decline followed a recent surge that had pushed prices above 90 dollars per barrel earlier in the month.

The price movement came amid heightened geopolitical developments. Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, raising concerns about disruptions to oil supplies from one of the world’s leading exporters. A senior Iranian official said Tehran had received a 10-day ceasefire proposal from mediators aimed at building on a June 17 interim agreement. However, hostilities continued as the US launched new strikes on Iranian cities, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on American military sites in the Middle East.

Analysts noted that while the ceasefire discussions have temporarily eased price pressures, uncertainty remains over whether the negotiations will yield lasting results.

Global crude oil prices fell slightly after Iran announced that diplomatic communication with the United States was continuing through mediators, despite renewed conflict in the Middle East. Earlier, Brent crude for September delivery had surged nearly 4 percent overnight to 91.42 dollars per barrel, the highest in a month, before easing to around 90.20 dollars.

Since early July, the benchmark oil price has risen about 30 percent. According to SPI Asset Management analyst Stephen Innes, the market is reacting to two opposing forces: geopolitical risks driving prices higher and signs of easing inflation and a cooling labor market in the United States suggesting that the energy shock may not trigger a new inflationary cycle.

Over the past week, reciprocal attacks between Washington and Tehran had pushed crude prices up sharply, raising concerns about long-term disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried about one-fifth of global oil supply before the conflict.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining tool. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Philippines on Sunday, Rubio said it is clear that Iran seeks to control the strait and leverage it for negotiation. He emphasized that the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of global maritime navigation.

Rubio also called on world powers to share responsibility for securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He said that while the United States will fulfill its duties, other countries must also step forward by providing equipment or financial assistance to support this mission.

The remarks, reported by Al Jazeera, come amid ongoing tensions involving Iran and maritime security in the region, highlighting Washington’s call for broader international cooperation in maintaining freedom of navigation.

Google has failed to release its much-anticipated new artificial intelligence model within the promised timeframe, prompting widespread speculation in the technology sector. The company had announced during its annual developer conference in May that an advanced version of its AI model would be made publicly available in June. However, by July, no official announcement had been made. CEO Sundar Pichai had earlier stated that the model was already being used internally and would be released after necessary testing.

According to Bloomberg, the delay has caused frustration among some Google engineers, AI researchers, and managers, who fear it could affect the company’s competitive position in the rapidly evolving AI market. Mashable reported that Google said the model is still being tested with partners, with additional models and safety checks underway to ensure reliability and security before public release.

Analysts suggest the delay may stem from the time needed to integrate the new AI technology across Google’s products and from the company’s cautious approach to ensuring competitiveness against rival models recently launched by Anthropic, OpenAI, and a Chinese firm.

Lionel Messi acknowledged Spain’s superiority after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat in the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium. Spain secured victory through Ferran Torres’s goal in the first minute of extra time’s second half. The Argentine captain, emotional after the match, said he was sorry for the loss but proud of his team’s effort, thanking his country and teammates for their support.

Throughout the match, Spain dominated possession, passing, and shot attempts, leaving Argentina struggling to create chances. Spain recorded 20 shots compared to Argentina’s 2, with the South Americans failing to register a single on-target attempt in the first 90 minutes. Messi, 39, was largely neutralized by Spain’s pressing and midfield control, managing only two touches in the opening 21 minutes and no shots on goal.

Despite the final loss, Messi’s overall tournament performance was outstanding, scoring seven goals and assisting four in six matches. His leadership and creativity carried Argentina to the final, and his gracious acceptance of defeat underscored his enduring sportsmanship.