Middle East crisis: US military says first 24 hours of war were almost double the scale of 2003's 'shocking and terrifying' Iraq operation
The US military announced that in the first 24 hours of the war against Iran, almost twice as many strikes were carried out as in the 2003 attacks on Iraq, while so far it is claimed that around 2,000 targets have been hit and a large part of the Iranian naval fleet has been destroyed.
The conflict has caused hundreds of casualties in Iran, massive displacement in Lebanon, and a sharp increase in oil and gas prices, also shaking international financial markets.
Meanwhile, political tensions have risen in the US and international leaders have called for immediate de-escalation.
Trump denies Israel forced US to launch attacks on Iran
Donald Trump denied that the United States attacked Iran because Israel forced them to, insisting that the decision was to prevent a potential Iranian attack on American forces.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statements that Washington knew about the Israeli action and acted to avoid more serious consequences sparked anger among Democrats and suspicions even among Trump supporters that the war was being waged in Israel's interests.
Democrats criticized the briefings as unclear and called for a debate in Congress on authorizing the use of force, while the administration was accused of not clearly explaining the goals of the war.
Italian ambulance driver investigated on suspicion of murdering five patients
Prosecutors in the city of Forlì in Italy are investigating a 27-year-old ambulance driver, suspended by the Italian Red Cross, on suspicion of killing five elderly patients during or immediately after ambulance transport.
Investigators suspect he may have administered harmful substances during routine transfers between hospitals and care homes, and the number of possible victims could rise as the investigation expands.
His lawyer denies the allegations, saying that the patients were in very serious health conditions and that some of them died days after transport.
More than 220 million children will be obese by 2040 unless drastic measures are taken, report warns
A report by the World Obesity Federation warns that without drastic measures, by 2040 over 220 million children worldwide will be obese and more than half a billion will be overweight.
According to data, obesity is increasing rapidly, especially in low- and middle-income countries, increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular problems and hypertension from an early age.
The report calls on governments to intervene with taxes on sugar, restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy foods and policies that encourage a more active lifestyle for children.
