Who are the Druze and why is Israel bombing Syria to ‘protect’ them? | Conflict

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Education Minister Erica Stanford will hold a press conference today at an Auckland school to discuss significant changes to New Zealand's secondary school assessments. Stanford recently announced the abolition of NCEA, which will be replaced by two new qualifications for Years 12 and 13, marking the most substantial update to the assessment system in over 20 years.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nus_Yn8uLgs Want More Context? 🔎

On a notable day at the White House, Apple CEO Tim Cook gifted President Trump a unique glass engraving, produced in the U.S., during a ceremony promoting Apple's "American Manufacturing Program." In return, Trump announced that companies like Apple, which invest in U.S. manufacturing, would be exempt from an upcoming 100% tariff on semiconductors, while Apple committed an additional $100 billion to its $500 billion investment plan in the U.S. Want More Context? 🔎

France's largest wildfire in years has devastated the Aude region, burning over 39,500 acres and resulting in one death and numerous injuries, including 11 firefighters. With 2,100 firefighters battling the blaze amid hot, dry, and windy conditions, local authorities have evacuated villages, while military support is set to bolster firefighting efforts as investigations into the fire's cause continue. Want More Context? 🔎

A man named Elias Rodriguez has been indicted on federal hate crime and murder charges for the shooting deaths of Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in Washington, DC, an act prosecutors describe as calculated and planned. Rodriguez, who reportedly confessed to the killings and expressed anti-Semitic motivations, faces nine counts, including a hate crime resulting in death, and the possibility of the death penalty. Want More Context? 🔎

Earth experienced its third-warmest July on record, with average temperatures reaching 16.68°C, 0.45°C above the 1991-2020 average, and a record national temperature of 50.5°C in Turkey. Although there was a pause in breaking global temperature records, scientists warn that climate change continues to have severe impacts, urging governments to accelerate CO2 emission cuts to mitigate extreme weather events. Want More Context? 🔎

The UN reported that access for medical professionals to the Gaza Strip remains highly restricted, with over 100 health workers denied entry since March, impacting emergency medical teams. The humanitarian situation is described as "beyond catastrophic," with rising casualties and malnutrition-related deaths, while Israel continues to block essential supplies and shelter materials. Want More Context? 🔎