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AFP 21 Jul, 2025 03:46 AM4 mins to read Iranian diplomats will meet counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany, after the trio warned that sanctions could be reimposed on Tehran if it does return to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme. Photo / Arash Khamooshi, the New York Times Iran confirmed fresh talks with European powers to be held on Friday in Istanbul, the country’s state media reported, the first since the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities a month ago. Iranian diplomats will meet counterparts from Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, after the trio warned Read More

By Aaron Boxerman, Ephrat Livni and Rawan Sheikh Ahmad New York Times· 21 Jul, 2025 03:15 AM6 mins to read Bodies of Palestinians killed waiting for aid at a US aid distribution point in the western part of Rafah, are brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Photo / Getty Images Bodies of Palestinians killed waiting for aid at a US aid distribution point in the western part of Rafah, are brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Photo / Getty Images Palestinians trying to secure food were shot and killed in the Gaza Strip in two separate episodes in the past two days when Israeli forces opened fire on crowds. Yesterday NZT, the soldiers shot Palestinians near a food distribution site in Rafah, in southern Gaza. Today, they fired at Read More

Home / World By Anna Malpas AFP· 21 Jul, 2025 02:39 AM4 mins to read British public health officials urge people to get their children vaccinated. Photo / 123rf British public health officials urge people to get their children vaccinated. Photo / 123rf A child’s death from measles has sparked urgent calls from British public health officials to get children vaccinated, as the United Kingdom faces an onslaught of misinformation on social media, much of it from the United States. Measles is a highly infectious disease that can cause serious complications. It is Advertisement Advertise with NZME. Read More

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Millions of residents across the U.S. have been facing mounting piles of uncollected trash this month as a strike by Republic Services waste workers—spearheaded by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters)—spread from the greater Boston area to cities and landfills from Los Angeles to Ohio, Washington, Illinois, and Georgia. The disruption, which began in early July in Boston and has since snowballed into a multi-state action, has left millions without regular trash pickup. “Our demands have been the same since these strikes started—wages that are consistent with the cost of living, affordable and accessible health care benefits, and enhanced union protections,” Victor Mineros, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division, told Newsweek. Republic Services told Newsweek: “…our wage offer is higher than our local competitors, but the Teamsters were unwilling to compromise on their demands.” Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Associated Press/Canva/Getty Why It Matters Garbage disposal strikes can cause trash to accumulate on streets, accompanied by a foul odor, especially during the summer. This was evident during a trash collection strike in Philadelphia in early July. What To Know The strike, led by Teamsters Local 25 in Boston, has since expanded, with more than 2,000 workers either striking or honoring picket lines across California, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington, according to the union. Los Angeles residents and neighborhoods in Rosemead, Inglewood, Compton, Whittier, and Santa Fe Springs, as well Santa Ana and Anaheim saw service interruptions as Southern California workers joined the protest, according to ABC7. In Youngstown, Ohio, trucks and trains from New York City and New Jersey would be unable to unload 12 million pounds of garbage daily at one of the largest landfills in the country due to the action, Teamsters said in a press release. A photo shared by Teamsters on social media shows trash piling up by the roadside. “Scenes like these will continue and escalate until our members secure fair contracts,” the union said on July 15. International Brotherhood of Teamsters In Bellevue, Washington, residents hauled trash to temporary drop-off sites as curbside collection halted, resulting in long lines, as reported by KOMO News. City officials provided free garbage disposal at a local park and school. In Massachusetts, CBS News reported that six towns—including Canton, Danvers, Gloucester, Beverly, Peabody, and Malden—brought legal action to compel Republic Services to restore services after 17 days without regular trash removal. This map highlights areas affected by the action. Newsweek/International Brotherhood of Teamsters What People Are Saying In a statement to Newsweek, Republic Services said that along with Greater Boston, Teamsters-led work stoppages were ongoing at locations in Cumming (Georgia), Ottawa (Illinois), Manteca (California), and Lacey (Washington). “A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve. We empathize with customers who have been impacted by the Teamsters’ decision to stop work. It is clear that the Teamsters are unwilling to negotiate in the best interest of our employees. Instead, they are focused on disrupting service for our customers. We’ve taken several steps to continue providing service, including securing Republic Services employees from other areas, prioritizing routes and optimizing routing efficiencies,” it said. “Republic Services is committed to providing our front-line colleagues with wages and benefits that are market-competitive and sustainable, and maintaining reliable service in the communities we serve. We will continue to pursue strong contracts that benefit our employees and our customers.” Victor Mineros, director of the Teamsters Solid Waste & Recycling Division, told Newsweek that in addition to the aforementioned cities, the union has “more than 2,000 members who are honoring picket line extensions by not reporting to work. This expands the impact of the strikes exponentially. These picket line extensions are in the Central Illinois, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Joaquin Counties, Calif.; the Puget Sound Region, Wash.; the San Francisco Bay Area, and Youngstown, Ohio.” What Happens Next Republic Services told Newsweek that a meeting with some Teamsters members for negotiations could take place on Friday, which the union confirmed. Read More

By Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, with a focus on infrastructure and technology. He has covered technological and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., such as the rise of Elon Musk and other tech figures within the conservative movement, and the development of high-profile international construction projects. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates. You can get in touch with Theo by emailing t.burman@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Theo Burman Live News Reporter 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. Both clinicians and patients are using artificial intelligence more and more to help diagnose illness and injuries, but many in the health care industry see the technology’s adoption as a double-edged sword. A new study of over 2,000 medical professionals found that the adoption of generative AI tools is becoming far more prevalent in health care, but that misinformation about conditions and diagnoses was also impacting patients. Why It Matters In 2024, the global health care AI market was estimated at more than $26 billion, and it’s expected to grow to over $187 billion by 2030. Rapid developments in the abilities of generative AIs such as ChatGPT mean that health care professionals have more AI-powered tools than ever before to help them with their work, but the same is also true for their patients. What To Know According to Elsevier’s Clinician of the Future 2025 survey, 28 percent of clinicians said they did not have enough time to deliver quality care to each patient, with 69 percent now seeing more patients than two years ago and nearly half (47 percent) admitting that fatigue has impaired their care delivery. The survey, which was conducted with 1,781 doctors and 425 nurses from across the world, revealed that as the ability of clinicians to spend time with patients diminishes, patients have begun turning to AI-powered chatbots and generalist diagnostic tools to seek answers for their health concerns. Fifty-one percent of health care professionals said that most patients will self-diagnose with AI tools available online rather than see a clinician in 2-3 years’ time. However, this coincides with growing fears in the industry that false information and misdiagnosis are making doctors have to work harder. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva Seventy-four percent of U.S. clinicians who responded say that medical misinformation is hindering patient compliance with recommended treatments, while 53 percent report spending appointment time to correct patient misconceptions based on false or misleading health information. Additionally, professionals are not keeping up with the rate at which patients are using AI. Although 95 percent of clinicians in the Elsevier survey saw benefits in using generative AI to assist with clinical activities, only 16 percent said they currently use AI in direct decision-making. An additional 48 percent expressed a desire to further incorporate AI tools into their clinical determinations. Only 32 percent of surveyed clinicians felt their institution provided adequate access to AI technologies, and only 30 percent said they had received sufficient training in their use. Patients seeking to self-diagnose often have access only to public, general-purpose AI chatbots, which may lack clinical oversight and up-to-date scientific training. Despite these limitations, the accuracy achieved by AI platforms in recent studies has driven further patient engagement with these tools. Seventy-five percent of clinicians highlighted the need for factual accuracy from AI in clinical contexts. What People Are Saying Jan Herzhoff, president of Elsevier Health, said in a statement given to Newsweek: “As the health care industry grapples with increased demands and limited resources, clinicians have identified numerous ways AI can enhance care quality and patient outcomes faster. “This is a transformative period, and we aim to collaborate with the health care community to harness the full potential of AI for patients.” What Happens Next As AI tools become more widely available, health care organizations are expected to further invest in their integration, as well as in governance and clinician training. fairness meter fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Click On Meter To Rate This Article Top stories About the writer Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, with a focus on infrastructure and technology. He has covered technological and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., such as the rise of Elon Musk and other tech figures within the conservative movement, and the development of high-profile international construction projects. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates. You can get in touch with Theo by emailing t.burman@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Theo Burman Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, … Read more Read More

By Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on trending topics on the Internet, he covers viral stories from around the world on social media. Jack joined Newsweek in 2021 and previously worked at The Irish Post, Loaded, Den of Geek and FourFourTwo. He is a graduate of Manchester University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Jack by emailing j.beresford@newsweek.com Jack Beresford Senior Life and Trends Reporter 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. When a mom received an email from her son’s daycare informing her about something that had happened that day, she initially feared the worst. “When I got the email I got a little scared,” Lizeth Alvarado from Escondido, California, told Newsweek. Childcare in the U.S. is almost prohibitively expensive. Figures published by the Department of Labor show families spend between 8.9 percent and 16.0 percent of their median income on full-day care for just one child, with annual prices ranging from $6,552 to $15,600. Given that kind of outlay, it’s important for parents to feel happy that their child is being well looked after while they are at work. That’s something Alvarado undoubtedly feels when it comes to the care her 2-year-old son Isaiah receives. “Isaiah has Down syndrome and we are thankful for his daycare staff for being open, understanding and loving him very much,” Alvarado said. “He truly enjoys going and as his parents we truly appreciate all the staff there for making it a fun and safe environment.” Isaiah, aged 2, looked decidedly different when he got back from daycare. TikTok/losalvarados21 That didn’t stop her heart from skipping a beat when she received an email alerting her to something that had happened that day. “I honestly thought it was an injury report and did scare me a bit, but I knew they would call me if it was something serious,” Alvarado said. “But when I read it and saw the picture attached it made me crack up.” As the series of pictures Alvarado included in a video posted to her TikTok, @losalvarados21, show Isaiah had been enjoying himself that day. “My son was at day care and the children were provided easels and paint,” Alvarado explained. “Well, my son decided to have a grand old time on the blue paint.” Seeing the picture of Isaiah covered in blue paint had his mom in stitches. “I thought it was the funniest thing and had to share it with everyone,” Alvarado said. “I thought it was just too funny not to share. I also saw the reaction of my family and how it made them laugh.” The video went viral, amassing close to 10 million views already. Though he was left decidedly blue in the clip, Alvarado is pleased to report that, after much cleaning, all of the paint came off. “The girls at daycare wiped him down with baby wipes and when he got home he soaked in a bath and everything came off,” she said. “Luckily water based paints were used.” Isaiah is due to turn 3 later this month. His mom might want to think twice before getting him any paints for his birthday. Isaiah painted himself a distinct shade of blue. TikTok/@losalvarados21 Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on trending topics on the Internet, he covers viral stories from around the world on social media. Jack joined Newsweek in 2021 and previously worked at The Irish Post, Loaded, Den of Geek and FourFourTwo. He is a graduate of Manchester University. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Jack by emailing j.beresford@newsweek.com Jack Beresford Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on … Read more Read More

By Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, with a focus on infrastructure and technology. He has covered technological and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., such as the rise of Elon Musk and other tech figures within the conservative movement, and the development of high-profile international construction projects. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates. You can get in touch with Theo by emailing t.burman@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Theo Burman Live News Reporter 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. The Grand Inga Hydropower Project is moving forward after years of delays in a bid to solve southern Africa’s electricity and water scarcity. Delivery of the project, which would be the largest power station in the world if completed, was accelerated after officials convened in Zimbabwe on July 3. Newsweek contacted the organization responsible for the delivery, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for more information on the progress via email. Why It Matters The Grand Inga Hydropower Project, with a potential capacity of up to 70 gigawatts, is designed as the centerpiece of Africa’s Mission 300 initiative, which seeks to connect 300 million Africans to clean energy by 2030. The average household in the U.S. uses just under 11,000 kilowatt-hours a year, meaning that if Grand Inga reaches its projected scale, it could generate enough electricity to power nearly half of all homes in the U.S., though it will be used solely for homes in Africa. What To Know The Grand Inga Dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) would be a series of seven hydroelectric power stations at Inga Falls in the Congo River. SADC ministers responsible for energy and water agreed to push forward with the Grand Inga Hydropower Plan and the Congo River Water Transfer Concept at a meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, on July 3. On June 3, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved a $250 million creditas the first phase of a previously announced $1 billion long-term commitment to support preparation and local development efforts for Inga 3, DRC’s largest power project to date. The Inga electricity production site along the Congo River on December 16, 2013. Getty Images Constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, the Inga I and II provided a foundation, yet both function at about 80 percent capacity. Grand Inga, which would be the third structure at the site, has attracted multiple rounds of international interest, but progress has repeatedly stalled because of high costs, governance concerns and the withdrawal of major partners, such as China’s state-owned Three Gorges Corporation. The projected $80 billion cost of completing the Grand Inga plan remains a huge barrier for the DRC, which is one of the world’s poorest countries. South Africa, Nigeria, Guinea and Angola have expressed formal interest in purchasing power from Grand Inga, tying the project to transnational energy security. The Grand Inga initiative is part of the Mission 300 program, which aims to supply electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. World Bank President Ajay Banga called the wider project “a crucial component” for economic growth and development across the continent and predicted that it could draw as much as $85 billion in private investment. What People Are Saying Bob Mabiala, head of the ADPI-DRC, told the World Bank on June 3: “The electricity generation potential at the Inga site is one of the largest in the world. The development of Inga 3’s hydropower will be transformative for DRC. By increasing access to clean, renewable, and affordable energy for Congolese households and industries, it will serve as a motor for inclusive growth and jobs.” Albert Zeufack, World Bank division director, in a press release on June 3: “By supporting DRC’s vision for Inga through this program and complementary investments in governance, education, and infrastructure, the World Bank Group, together with partners, can significantly contribute to converting DRC’s natural resources into economic growth, jobs, and human development for the Congolese people.” What Happens Next SADC ministers are expected to present progress updates on the Grand Inga and Congo River Water Transfer initiatives at the next SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Madagascar, scheduled for August. Is This Article Trustworthy? Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article. Slide Circle to Vote No Moderately Yes VOTE Top stories About the writer Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, with a focus on infrastructure and technology. He has covered technological and cultural issues extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., such as the rise of Elon Musk and other tech figures within the conservative movement, and the development of high-profile international construction projects. Theo joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously written for Dexerto, PinkNews, and News UK. He is a graduate of Durham University and News Associates. You can get in touch with Theo by emailing t.burman@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Theo Burman Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, … Read more Read More

By Jordan King is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her current focus is on religion, health, food safety and population. She has covered the persecution of religions in the global south, fertility and birth rate issues around the world, multiple disease outbreaks in the U.S. and ongoing vaccination discourse. Jordan joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Evening Standard and had previously worked at Metro.co.uk, she has background in international human-interest stories and is a graduate of Kingston University, in London. You can get in touch with Jordan by emailing j.king@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Jordan King US News Reporter 🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur. President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to attempt to rebuild their nuclear facilities, after he claimed recent U.S. military strikes in June “completely destroyed” Iran’s sites. The President wrote on Truth Social on Saturday: “All three nuclear sites in Iran were completely destroyed and/or OBLITERATED. It would take years to bring them back into service and, if Iran wanted to do so, they would be much better off starting anew, in three different locations, prior to those sites being obliterated, should they decide to do so. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Why it Matters The stakes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program remain high for U.S. national security interests and for stability across the Middle East. President Trump’s warning comes against a backdrop of ongoing debates about the effectiveness of U.S. strikes and the future of diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. What To Know On June 21, the U.S. military—under an operation code-named Midnight Hammer—conducted airstrikes against three of Iran’s principal nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Trump and defense officials publicly claimed that all three sites were “completely destroyed,” saying that Iran would require years to reconstitute its nuclear program if it tried to rebuild. Trump reiterated this with his message on Saturday. But some U.S. intelligence assessments have challenged the administration’s narrative. Only one out of three of Iran’s nuclear sites was destroyed with the other two surviving enough to be able to resume nuclear enrichment within several months if Tehran wants it, according to NBC News, which cited five current and former U.S. officials familiar with the assessment. The Defense Department and the White House have pushed back, asserting that their own intelligence showed all three facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Purnell said: “President Trump was clear and the American people understand: Iran’s nuclear facilities in Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz were completely and totally obliterated. There is no doubt about that.” “The credibility of the Fake News Media is similar to that of the current state of the Iranian nuclear facilities: destroyed, in the dirt, and will take years to recover.” Iran maintains that its nuclear program serves peaceful purposes, despite long-standing Western suspicions. Iranian diplomats are set to meet in Europe next week for discussions about a possible nuclear deal, according to the Institute for the Study of War. “Iran has not softened its position on its right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil, which makes it unlikely that Iran will accept a nuclear deal that includes a zero uranium enrichment demand,” the Institute said in its most recent report. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a press briefing with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the White House in… AP What People Are Saying Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell previously told reporters that American strikes had “degraded (Iran’s) program by one to two years.” He said: “We believe, and certainly, all of the intelligence that we’ve seen have led us to believe that Iran’s—those facilities especially, have been completely obliterated.” Trump said in an interview on Fox News‘ Sunday Morning Futures: “It was obliterating like nobody’s ever seen before. And that meant the end to their nuclear ambitions, at least for a period of time.” What Happens Next The debate over the true impact of the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear capabilities is likely to persist, with calls for independent verification of the destroyed facilities. Iran’s response to both the military strikes and diplomatic overtures remains uncertain, as tensions in the region continue to simmer. fairness meter fairness meter Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Newsweek is committed to journalism that’s factual and fair. Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter. Click On Meter To Rate This Article Top stories About the writer Jordan King is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her current focus is on religion, health, food safety and population. She has covered the persecution of religions in the global south, fertility and birth rate issues around the world, multiple disease outbreaks in the U.S. and ongoing vaccination discourse. Jordan joined Newsweek in 2024 from The Evening Standard and had previously worked at Metro.co.uk, she has background in international human-interest stories and is a graduate of Kingston University, in London. You can get in touch with Jordan by emailing j.king@newsweek.com. Languages: English. Jordan King Jordan King is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. Her current focus is on religion, health, food safety and … Read more Read More