Israel and Hezbollah exchange fire despite US-Iran deal

The US and Iran have signed a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities, yet ongoing skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon threaten the fragile ceasefire, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at odds with international allies. Political tensions overshadowed a World Cup football match between Iran and New Zealand in Los Angeles, reflecting deep divisions within the Iranian diaspora. In the United States, bipartisan backlash is mounting against the environmental impact of massive AI data centers, with voters abandoning party lines over concerns regarding water and energy consumption. Conversely, researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, are leveraging AI to accelerate the cataloging of plant specimens to combat global extinction. Additionally, ambitious plans to transform Sierra Leone’s Sherbro Island into a global business hub face significant infrastructure hurdles, while sculptor Anish Kapoor’s new London exhibition explores the intersection of physical space and emotional void.