First public comments attributed to Assad claim he never planned to leave Syria

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that monthly doses of ivermectin reduced malaria cases by 26% in children in Kenya, making their blood toxic to mosquitoes. Additionally, research on nitisinone revealed it could be lethal to various mosquito populations, suggesting both drugs may enhance malaria control efforts amid rising insecticide resistance. Want More Context? 🔎

UnitedHealth's Earnings Report UnitedHealth reported disappointing second-quarter earnings with a profit drop of 19% due to soaring medical costs, prompting a conservative forecast of at least $16 per share for 2025, down from an initial expectation of $30. The company, now led by Chairman Stephen Hemsley after CEO Andrew Witty's abrupt departure, anticipates a return to earnings growth by 2026. Want More Context? 🔎

Israeli TV personalities are mocking the dire situation of children dying from starvation in Gaza, with one individual controversially claiming that a mother consumed her baby. This behavior is part of a right-wing media effort that seeks to discredit reports of famine, framing it as a fabricated narrative. Want More Context? 🔎

The IMF has raised its global growth forecast for 2025 to 3.0%, citing increased trade activity amid reduced tariff tensions from the Trump administration, though cautions about a potential slowdown in the latter half of the year. Additionally, US growth for 2025 was slightly revised up to 1.9%, while China's growth was adjusted to 4.8%, reflecting stronger-than-expected performance despite ongoing domestic challenges. Want More Context? 🔎

An arcade operator in Singapore, The Arcade People, apologized to game publisher Origame for copyright infringement after using artwork from Origame's games in its carnival game, Kopitiam Hero. The operator has suspended the game, taken full responsibility for the lapse, and plans to destroy infringing materials while expressing willingness to collaborate with Origame in the future. Want More Context? 🔎

A gunman, 27-year-old Shane Devon Tamura, shot four people, including an off-duty police officer, in a Manhattan building housing the NFL headquarters, mistakenly taking the wrong elevator while targeting the NFL. Tamura, who had a documented mental health history and reportedly sought for his brain to be studied posthumously, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after barricading himself on the 33rd floor. Want More Context? 🔎