Oil prices fell more than 5% on Monday after the United States and Iran suspended attacks following two weeks of reciprocal strikes, according to a report published on July 27, 2026. The pause raised hopes for a diplomatic solution that could ease the conflict and allow shipping to resume through the Strait of Hormuz. At 08:04 GMT, Brent crude futures were down about 5.9% at $91.08 a barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 5.4% at $84.51 a barrel. Both markets were trading at their lowest levels after three weeks of gains. Supply reductions through Hormuz had pushed Brent to $100 a barrel, while the conflict later spread to the Red Sea, disrupting Saudi oil exports to Asia through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump paused US attacks to allow more time for diplomatic talks. Analysts cautioned that shipping through Hormuz may normalize slowly and only partially. Kpler data showed fewer than 10 cargo vessels a day crossed the strait over the weekend. Continued Red Sea disruption and Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian ships and refineries could keep supply risks and global inflation concerns elevated.

Hydrogen-powered trains are drawing growing global interest as countries seek cleaner rail transport amid climate change, air pollution and rising fossil-fuel use. The trains use hydrogen fuel cells rather than diesel or coal-based fuel to generate electricity for electric motors. The process produces mainly water and water vapour, with virtually no carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides or black smoke emissions, according to the source.

Hydrogen is stored in specialised high-pressure tanks and reacts with oxygen in fuel cells to generate power. Surplus energy is stored in batteries, while energy produced during braking can also be recovered, reducing waste. Germany tested the world’s first hydrogen passenger train in 2018 and commercially introduced the technology in 2022. France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden, China, Japan and South Korea have also begun development and trial operations.

India inaugurated its first domestically built hydrogen-powered train on July 17. The technology can operate on existing non-electrified tracks without overhead electric lines, but green hydrogen costs, dedicated storage and supply infrastructure, safety systems, investment and skilled personnel remain challenges. For Bangladesh, it could become a long-term option on routes where electrification is costly.

Global crude oil prices fell sharply on Monday after a two-week conflict between the United States and Iran was temporarily halted, raising hopes for a diplomatic solution and more normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude dropped $4.89, or 5.05%, to $91.89 a barrel, briefly falling below $90 early in trading. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate declined $4.67, or 5.23%, to $84.64 a barrel.

Both benchmarks reached their lowest levels in about a week after rising for three consecutive weeks. Earlier, the spread of conflict in the Middle East and disruption to oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz had pushed Brent to $100 a barrel. The conflict also affected the Red Sea, disrupting supplies from Saudi Arabia to Asia through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said President Donald Trump had decided to pause attacks to allow diplomatic efforts a chance. Shipping has not fully normalized: Kpler data showed fewer than 10 cargo vessels a day transited Hormuz over the weekend. Analyst Saul Kavonic said any recovery in shipping would be gradual and partial because many companies remain cautious about security risks.

Argentina lost the 2026 FIFA World Cup final 1-0 to Spain on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, according to the report. The article says criticism in international media focused more on Argentina’s conduct than its performance after the defending champions lost the title. Citing an analysis by the Los Angeles Times, it says Argentina lost not only the trophy but also professional standing built in international football.

Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for an aggressive foul in stoppage time. After the final whistle, Argentina players reportedly became involved in a confrontation with Spanish players. Leandro Paredes was accused of grabbing Spain defender Eric Garcia by the throat. The report also alleges that Argentina players stood with their backs turned toward Spain during the trophy presentation.

Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, reportedly left through a rear stadium exit rather than appearing in FIFA’s required mixed zone for media. Spain’s composed conduct and performance were praised in contrast. The report says Spain conceded only one goal in eight tournament matches. Coach Luis de la Fuente stressed human values and empathy, while Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni acknowledged the team must learn to accept defeat with courage.

Scientists analyzing NASA’s latest Juno spacecraft observations estimate that Europa, Jupiter’s enigmatic moon, may contain a salty ocean beneath its ice shell holding more than twice the combined water of all Earth’s oceans. The average thickness of Europa’s subsurface ice layer in the observed area was estimated at about 29 kilometers.

On September 29, 2022, Juno flew just 360 kilometers above Europa. Its Microwave Radiometer examined microwave radiation at different wavelengths to determine the ice layer’s thermal properties. Europa has a diameter of 3,120 kilometers, smaller than Earth’s Moon, but scientists estimate its buried ocean could be 60 to 150 kilometers deep. Ice thickness may vary across different regions.

The findings do not settle whether Europa can support life, because water alone is insufficient. Chemical energy, biologically necessary materials, and exchange between the seafloor and ice-covered surface are also needed. NASA’s Europa Clipper, launched on October 14, 2024, is expected to reach Jupiter’s orbit in April 2030 and conduct about 50 missions around Europa using radar, cameras, spectrometers and magnetic measurements.

Elon Musk’s paper wealth fell by roughly $650 billion to $700 billion in five weeks, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. At the close of trading on July 23, the index estimated his wealth at about $738 billion. Six weeks earlier, after SpaceX completed its initial public offering on June 12, the company’s valuation reached $2.64 trillion and Musk’s paper wealth rose to around $1.45 trillion.

Much of the loss was tied to SpaceX shares, which fell 41.41 percent from their June 16 peak through the July 23 close, dropping from $201.80 to $118.24. The company’s market capitalization stood at $895.24 billion, more than $1 trillion below its peak valuation. The report cited news of a Starship launch delay, fading IPO enthusiasm and broader market reconsideration of high valuations for AI-related companies.

Tesla provided a second setback despite reporting $28.24 billion in second-quarter revenue and record deliveries of 480,126 vehicles. Its non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.33 missed the $0.5367 analyst forecast, while operating income declined 56.88 percent year on year. Tesla shares closed July 23 at $319.69, down 14.52 percent for the day. Musk nevertheless remained the world’s richest person, with about $650 billion more wealth than the second-ranked individual.

Uganda’s Olara Otunnu joined the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general as the seventh candidate on Saturday. The UN said Otunnu, 75, was presented to member states following his nomination by Uganda. He is seeking to succeed Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who will leave office on December 31. The new secretary-general is due to take office on January 1, 2027.

Otunnu served from 1997 to 2005 under then Secretary-General Kofi Annan as an under-secretary-general and special representative for children and armed conflict. He has also been Uganda’s ambassador to the UN and briefly served as the country’s foreign minister. In Uganda’s 2011 election, he ran for president for the opposition Uganda People’s Congress but lost to longtime leader Yoweri Museveni.

Other candidates include Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Senegal’s Macky Sall. The Security Council’s 15 members will hold their first secret, anonymous straw poll on July 30. A candidate needs nine required votes and must avoid a veto by the five permanent members before the name is sent to the General Assembly for formal approval.

UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese has called on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Israel and deploy peacekeeping forces, according to a report published on July 26, 2026. In a post on X, she raised the issue in connection with what the report described as illegal settlement construction, displacement and arrests of Palestinian residents in the occupied West Bank.

Albanese said Israel has no legitimacy to ensure law and order in territory that is “illegally occupied.” She urged the international community to intervene and said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres should invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter to formally bring the threat to peace to the Security Council's attention.

She said the Security Council should impose sanctions on Israel and send peacekeepers. If this is blocked by a member state's veto, she said the UN General Assembly should adopt a “Uniting for Peace” resolution. Albanese also described Israel as an apartheid regime and called on the international community to halt all trade and arms supplies with the country.

University of Rochester professor Adam Frank and NASA scientist Gavin Schmidt developed the “Silurian Hypothesis” to examine whether an advanced civilization could have existed on Earth before humans and left detectable traces. Their discussion began in 2017, and they published a paper in 2018. The researchers say the project was not intended to prove such a civilization existed, but to identify what subtle evidence scientists should seek if one had existed and disappeared millions of years ago.

The inquiry links Earth’s unusual climate episodes with present-day human-driven warming. About 55 million years ago, during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, carbon emissions were associated with a global temperature increase of up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, though the precise cause remains unknown. Texas Tech University climate researcher Katharine Hayhoe, who was not involved, called the idea a thought experiment that highlights humanity’s potential vulnerability.

The researchers argue that surface structures and fossils may be difficult to preserve because of tectonic shifts, volcanic eruptions and erosion. They therefore consider chemical changes in sedimentary layers as possible evidence. Plastic, synthetic agricultural hormones, toxic chemicals and heavy metals used in electronics could remain as future markers of human civilization. Geologist Jan Zalasiewicz said cities, metal smelting and plastic waste would leave a clear footprint, and rejected the prior existence of a similarly energy-intensive civilization.

The International Olympic Committee has rejected a complaint accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of breaching political neutrality, saying the case falls outside the jurisdiction of its ethics commission. An IOC spokesperson said on Friday that the commission had reviewed FairSquare’s complaint in detail but could not accept it because its central issues concerned FIFA’s internal administration, relations with governments and decision-making as an international football body.

FairSquare filed the formal complaint on July 13. It alleged that Infantino, an IOC member since 2020, had repeatedly expressed public political support for US President Donald Trump, contrary to the Olympic Charter’s principle of political neutrality. The complaint also called for an investigation into allegations of Trump’s influence in the lifting of a red-card suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun at the 2026 World Cup.

The IOC said international federations have their own administrative independence, preventing it from investigating FIFA’s internal decisions or its relationships with governments. FairSquare had submitted complaints to both the IOC and FIFA following controversies involving Infantino and Trump during the World Cup. A separate complaint filed with FIFA’s ethics committee remains unresolved, with FIFA yet to announce a final decision.

Meta is introducing a free verified badge on Facebook to curb the spread of AI-generated fake content, impersonation profiles and low-quality posts. Facebook chief Tom Alison announced the system on July 24. The badge is intended to confirm that a real person is behind an account, and users will not have to pay for the verification.

Under the new process, users must submit a selfie video. Facial-recognition technology will compare the video with an existing profile picture to verify identity, a process Meta said may take only a few minutes. Applicants must be at least 18 and their accounts must comply with Facebook’s Community Standards. Once verified, the badge will appear across areas including Facebook Marketplace and Dating.

Meta said the badge does not signify endorsement of a celebrity, organization or content, and it is not a replacement for its paid Meta Verified service. Pages and promoted accounts will not qualify. The feature will begin rolling out gradually from Monday in a limited number of markets before expanding elsewhere. Meta also announced testing of a TikTok-style full-screen immersive video experience for selected Facebook users.

The UN General Assembly renewed Volker Türk’s mandate as high commissioner for human rights for another four years on Friday, despite strong objections from the United States, Russia and Israel. Acting on a proposal by Secretary-General António Guterres, 144 countries voted in favour, 10 opposed and 13 abstained. Türk’s new term will begin on October 12, 2026.

Russia had proposed a shorter extension only until December 31, 2026, but the alternative was rejected by a large margin. A US request to postpone the vote was also not accepted. US ambassador Jeff Bartos, the representative for management and reform, criticized the decision on procedural and policy grounds and alleged that Guterres had rushed the process.

French ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont praised Türk as a “voice of conscience,” saying he had served with firmness and impartiality in his first term. The Austrian lawyer has held the post since October 2022. During his tenure, he has spoken on human rights conditions linked to Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, Sudan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nicaragua.

US President Donald Trump said China and Russia have pledged not to provide weapons to Iran, warning that any such supply would be “very bad.” In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping gave him the assurance during a recent meeting in Beijing, stating that China would neither provide nor sell weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran under any circumstances. Trump said the commitment also covered Chinese companies.

Trump also claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered a similar assurance that Russia would not sell weapons to Iran, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. He said China and Russia were the major countries most often discussed in connection with Iran, but that he did not believe either was involved. Trump said supplying Iran with weapons would not be in their interests.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said he believed Xi and Putin would keep their promises. Asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier statement that Russia and China were “helping” Iran, Trump said he was not sure they were doing so. He added that both leaders had sufficient reasons to honor their commitments and would not want him to be disappointed in them.

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan has been removed through a vote by the Assembly of States Parties over allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision was reported on July 25, 2026, nearly two years after the allegations first became public. The 56-year-old British barrister had stepped aside from his duties in June, while member states later approved his removal.

Khan’s legal team said a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation found no evidence of misconduct or dereliction of duty, and said an independent judicial panel unanimously reached the same conclusion. Lawyer Tayab Ali called the process unfair and politically motivated. However, an oversight panel of the Assembly of States Parties had concluded that Khan committed “serious misconduct.” The woman identified only as Sarah alleged to CNN that Khan’s conduct became increasingly intimate and aggressive; Khan has consistently denied the allegations.

Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the episode as part of a broader attack on the ICC. The removal has no immediate effect on arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, as only ICC judges can withdraw them. Deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameem Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang will jointly run Khan’s office pending a new election, which is unlikely before next year.

BTS member Jimin’s outfit worn during a World Cup final halftime show has drawn the highest bid in a FIFA and Global Citizen charity auction organised by Christie’s. In the sale, titled “One Goal: An Auction to Benefit the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund,” the outfit had reached $14,000 before bidding closes on July 29. The auction is intended to support education and sports opportunities for disadvantaged children worldwide.

The bid for Jimin’s outfit is about 1.73 million Bangladeshi taka. Lionel Messi’s autographed jersey and gloves used by Madonna during the halftime show had each jointly reached $6,000, or about 741,000 taka. Other lots include the official match ball used in the Spain-Argentina final, Shakira’s halftime-show outfit, Madonna memorabilia, items used by other BTS members, and jerseys signed by players from different national teams.

More than 40 historic World Cup items are included in the auction. Organisers expect the sale to raise about $100 million for the FIFA and Global Citizen Education Fund. The full proceeds are to be used to provide quality education for children in underserved communities and expand access to sports.