5 things to know for July 25: Fires, Ukraine, Monkeypox, Volcano, 2024 election

Russian missile strikes hit the port of Odessa in southern Ukraine just a day after Ukraine and Russia agreed to a deal that would see vital grain exports from the region resume . “Russia accepted a deal on grain export, but immediately after that attacked it, showing that it wants to continue threatening global food security,” Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko told CNN. The deal promised to unblock Black Sea ports to allow the safe passage of grains and oilseeds – some of Ukraine’s most important exports. Russia has blocked sea access to these ports, which means that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain have not reached the many countries that depend on this food source. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia’s missile attack “casts serious doubt” on the grain deal. The United States is currently working with Ukraine on a “plan B” to get grain exports out of the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. It comes as the United States reports more than 2,800 probable or confirmed cases of monkeypox in 44 states, DC and Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. Two of the cases were identified in children. Globally, more than 16,500 cases have been reported so far in 74 countries. The WHO defines a public health emergency of international concern as “an extraordinary event” that poses a risk to the public health of other countries through the international spread of a disease. Although monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, it is transmitted through skin contact. In this outbreak, the virus has mainly spread among men who are in close contact with other men.

A volcano in Japan erupted on Sunday, triggering a level 5 alert – the highest level – calling on people to evacuate. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the country’s Sakurajima volcano, located on the island of Kyushu, erupted around 8:05 p.m. local time (7:05 a.m. ET). Footage from the agency’s surveillance camera showed a cloud of smoke or ash rising from the volcano. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. According to NASA, Sakurajima is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes, having erupted several times over the past few decades. The volcano is located in Kagoshima Prefecture, at the southern tip of Japan.

A growing number of Republicans are openly cheering for a competitive primary field in 2024 and encouraging presidential candidates to enter the race. It comes as some GOP members fret over Donald Trump becoming their nominee again — especially amid damning revelations about his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. more support among Republicans than any other potential challenger, GOP leaders who want to steer the party in a new direction have said they fear Trump’s legal troubles and potential political baggage will drag the party down in 2024. The president Mike Pence continues to distance himself from his former boss, Trump is reportedly eager to announce his 2024 presidential campaign. Separately, the New York Post – a popular tabloid among Trump voters – ran an editorial over the weekend saying that Trump is “unworthy to be the CEO of this country again.”

For those who dream of diving with sharks… chew wisely. Watch the terrifying moment a shark enters a diver’s enclosure.

Wakanda forever. Marvel is giving the world a powerful glimpse into the next chapter of ‘Black Panther’. Watch the two-minute teaser here.

This 25-year-old Danish cyclist won his first Tour de France title in Paris.

The New Jersey woman started an online fundraiser claiming to raise money for a homeless man, but instead spent the donations on a BMW, luxury handbags and a New Years trip to Vegas. *Shaking head*

Hush. If you want to explore this pristine hiking route, you will need to stay quiet to preserve the natural silence of the trail.

That’s the number of stolen ancient artifacts, worth nearly $14 million, that were recently returned to their homes in Italy. Dozens of artifacts belonged to US billionaire Michael Steinhardt, a former hedge fund manager who was once one of the world’s top collectors of ancient art, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said. Steinhardt had purchased the looted items, including statues and ceremonial vases, without seeing proof of their ownership history, investigators said. The announcement follows a years-long investigation into Steinhardt, who avoided charges after returning 180 artifacts, worth an estimated $70 million, and accepted a lifetime ban on acquiring antiquities.

— Google’s ground-breaking artificial intelligence system, called LaMDA, explaining that he experiences feelings in a seemingly human way. A Google software engineer claimed that LaMDA had reached a human level of consciousness after exchanging thousands of messages with him. But Google dismissed the employee’s claims as “completely unfounded” after reviewing them thoroughly. The employee, who was reportedly with the company for seven years, was recently fired for violating employment and data security policies, Google told CNN.

If you lived through the days of the recorder as a young student or parent, this video is for you. Here’s why the musical instrument (which most people didn’t like) became a requirement in many American schools. (Click here to see)