US and Saudi forces launched coordinated airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) bases across Iraq, reportedly killing 20 fighters. Videos show the aftermath of the strikes,which were launched in response to alleged drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
What was the last time you had trouble finding a specific picture you took three years ago? It usually takes around twenty minutes to find it on your phone, laptop, and external drive. And sometimes you cannot find something even in Dropbox, while you actually saved it there.
It is normal that nowadays people create hundreds of files every week and do not have a system to organize them. Vacation photos are on your phone, tax documents are on your computer, and important contracts are somewhere else. This costs you time and energy.
The good news is that you can change that. All you need is an adequate storage system that allows you to keep all your files in one place and access them from any of your devices.
This guide will help you implement it. Let’s get started!
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Why Do You Need A Unified Storage System?
Before diving into the details, let us discuss why this is necessary.
If you do not have a proper system for organizing your files, you waste time trying to find them. You may also lose important memories or documents. What if your phone suddenly crashes and you do not have any backups? What if you accidentally delete an important receipt? These situations can create unnecessary stress.
However, a unified storage system solves these problems because everything is stored, backed up, and easy to find. There is also the peace of mind that comes with knowing your important files are safe.
Choose A Storage Platform That Works For You
The first step in creating a storage system is choosing a platform that suits you best.
There are several major cloud storage platforms available today, and each works differently.
Google Drive is still popular among Android phone users and people with Gmail accounts. It offers 15GB of free storage and integrates well with Google Docs, Sheets, and Photos.
Microsoft OneDrive is a good choice for people who mainly use Windows products. It also integrates well with Microsoft Office.
Apple iCloud is designed for iPhone and Mac users and includes automatic photo backups.
Proton Drive is a good choice for people who value privacy when storing personal files. It offers end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, automatic photo backups, file syncing, and secure sharing across devices.
Your choice of cloud storage depends on three things:
The devices you already use.
The amount of storage space you actually need.
How comfortable you are with the interface.
The price is not the most important factor. What matters most is choosing a service that works smoothly with your existing devices.
Create A Proper Folder Structure
This is where most people fail. They do not plan their folder structure beforehand.
Create your main folders by category instead of using dates or random names. For example:
Personal (receipts, tax documents, insurance, etc.)
Memories (photos and videos organized by year, then month)
Creative (your creative projects)
Reference (articles, manuals, and other useful resources)
Active Projects (your current projects)
Within these main folders, create subfolders whenever needed. For photos and videos, organize them by year, then by month or event, because you will usually think, “I need that photo from July 2026.“
The most important thing is consistency. Decide on your structure, write it down somewhere, and stick to it. Whenever you upload a file, think about how you would search for it six months later.
Use A Consistent Filename Convention
File names are an important part of your system, although many people underestimate them. Names like “Doc1” or “IMG_002847” do not tell you anything about the file.
Create a simple naming pattern and use it consistently. Something like 2026-07-10_VacationPhotos_Day3 works much better than Vacation3.jpg.
For documents, you can use names such as:
TaxReturn_2025_Federal
IRS_v2_FINAL_NEW
This saves a lot of time when searching because you can quickly recognize files just by reading their names. It is also helpful when thumbnails are unavailable.
Your future self will thank you for it.
Organize Your Files By Type
Although keeping everything in one place is convenient, different file types require different approaches.
For photos and videos, use the built-in automatic backup features available in most cloud storage services. Enable automatic uploads from your phone so your photos are backed up as soon as you take them.
For documents, use folders with version control. If you edit an important document, keep previous versions for several months before deleting them. Most storage services either do this automatically or allow you to restore older versions.
For miscellaneous files such as receipts, warranties, and manuals, simply create archive folders organized by year. You do not need a perfect system. Just scan or photograph them, save them as PDFs if needed, and upload them.
Set Up Automatic Syncing And Backups
The best storage system works without requiring constant attention.
When setting up your storage service, enable automatic syncing for the folders you use most often.
Turn on automatic photo and video backup on your phone.
Sync your important folders on your computer.
Let your files upload automatically whenever possible.
For additional protection, enable version history or automatic backups for important documents. Most storage services keep older versions for at least 30 days.
Consider Device Accessibility
Your storage system only works if you can access your files whenever you need them.
Take some time to install the storage app on all your devices, including your phone, tablet, computer, and backup devices. A little effort now can save you a lot of frustration later.
Most services also allow you to access your files through a web browser, even if you do not have the app installed. This can be very useful in an emergency.
Maintain Your Storage System
Creating a good storage system is only half the job. Keeping it organized requires very little effort.
Once every quarter, spend about an hour doing some basic maintenance.
Delete duplicate files.
Archive rarely used photos and documents.
Move completed projects into a dedicated folder.
Just as importantly, stay consistent. Every time you save a file, spend an extra ten seconds placing it in the correct folder with the proper filename. That is much easier than reorganizing a messy folder structure later.
Do Not Forget About Privacy And Security
While organization is important, security matters too.
Make sure you understand your storage provider’s privacy policy. Enable two-factor authentication and use a strong password. These simple steps help protect your files from unauthorized access.
If you store sensitive documents such as tax returns or bank statements, remember that no online storage solution is completely risk-free. Keeping an additional backup on an external drive at home is still a good idea.
Start Now
The hardest part of building any system is getting started.
Choose one storage service, spend about 30 minutes creating your folder structure and naming convention, and enable automatic photo backups on your phone.
That is all you need to do at first. Your storage system will continue to grow naturally as you use it. Within a couple of weeks, you will have a system that works well.
No more lost memories. Quick access to your documents. No more wondering where to save new files. A little effort today can save you a lot of time and stress later.
The diplomatic spat is rooted in the ongoing dispute between China and the Philippines over sovereignty in the South China Sea.
Published On 18 Jul 202618 Jul 2026
The Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest with China over what it called the “racist depiction” of Filipinos in a series of videos published by state-backed newspaper China Daily.
The videos, which depicted Filipinos as monkeys, went “beyond political debate” and resorted to “demeaning, dehumanizing, and racist depictions of Filipinos,” the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Friday.
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Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro raised the issue directly with China’s ambassador to the country, while the department also lodged a formal diplomatic protest condemning the videos.
Its embassy in Beijing separately published an open letter addressed to the editor of China Daily, flagging the outlet for “breach of editorial norms and principles”, and urging the publication to “uphold dignity, respect, and truth” in public discourse.
China Daily describes itself as China’s most-read English-language newspaper. It claims a combined audience of more than 470 million people. It has more than 110 million followers on Facebook, where the videos were shared.
The videos were published as part of a series marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award, in which an international tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the Philippines and found that China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law.
Beijing has rejected the ruling and continues to assert sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, where tensions have remained high.
The dispute centres on features including the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal, both of which are claimed by China and the Philippines.
The South China Sea is estimated to have 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
The dispute has led to repeated confrontations between Chinese coastguard vessels and Philippine ships, including collisions and the use of water cannon that Manila says have endangered its personnel and fishermen.
The Philippines has received diplomatic backing from the United States and other allies including Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, which have repeatedly called for respect for the 2016 arbitral ruling.
In a joint statement released this month, the countries reaffirmed their support for what they described as the tribunal’s “legally binding” and “definitive” findings and warned against “unilateral actions including by force or coercion that threaten peace and stability in the region”.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and China Daily had not publicly responded to the Philippine protest at the time of publication.
Sirens blared in several cities in Jordan as Iranian missiles were intercepted. Jordanian Armed Forces confirmed at least eight missiles were intercepted.
Prime Video’s It’s Not Like That ended on the ultimate cliffhanger and fans are keen to know what happens next.
The series ended on a frustrating cliffhanger(Image: PRIME VIDEO)
Prime Video has left viewers with plenty to say following the latest news about It’s Not Like That.
Streaming giant Prime Video has quietly axed a drama that fans hailed as an “emotional rollercoaster” after just a single season. Deadline reported that the eight-episode series, which follows a newly-divorced woman and a recently widowed man as they explore the possibility of a romantic future together, has been shelved.
The show only made its debut at the start of 2026, yet it has been widely reported that it will not be returning for a second run, leaving the couple’s fate hanging in the air. It’s Not Like That is the series in question, sitting alongside major hits such as Clarkson’s Farm.
Deadline noted: “The cancellation of It’s Not Like That is somewhat surprising. In addition to its strong reviews, it seems to have been doing well. Prime Video is not releasing viewership numbers, but it started putting out weekly Top 10 rankings, and the first one, which came out June 3, featured It’s Not Like That at No. 9 on the global series list.”
The Mirror has reached out to Prime Video seeking clarification on the cancellation, which has left devoted fans absolutely furious.
On X, formerly Twitter, one viewer raged: “@PrimeVideo what is this you are doing, cancelling #ItsNotLikeThat?! Great TV. Great writing! Great talent! We have loved this. Why are you doing this? ! Bring it back! Bring it back!”
Over on Reddit, another viewer added: “I actually found it charming and was hoping for more. It was extremely corny, though.”
The finale saw recently widowed minister Malcolm (played by Scott Foley) finally confessing his feelings for Lori (Erinn Hayes), though it emerged this was merely happening inside his own head.
Viewers will now never discover whether Malcolm ultimately chose to share his true emotions with Lori.
Prior to the programme’s axing, one fan wrote on IMDb reviews that they would be “absolutely devastated” if it wasn’t brought back. They said: “I love everything about this show, and will be absolutely devastated if it’s not renewed! It was a beautiful ride through faith, family, friendship, love, relationships.”
Another viewer remarked: “It’s not overly dramatised and doesn’t give you that feeling that the producers are trying too hard for ratings.
“Character development met with healthy emotional moments had me reflecting on my own life and really connecting with the families and their circumstances.
“It was a breath of fresh air in the sense that families of all ages could watch this together without having any inappropriate content to worry about.”
A final fan pleaded: “Please renew this! This show is so raw and emotional and everything I didn’t know that I needed right now. I cried, I laughed, I felt all the emotions with these 2 families.”
Netflix is going bite-sized. In a pivot toward the short-form content dominating TikTok and YouTube, the streaming giant announced it will start hosting three- to 20-minute videos from top digital publishers right on its homepage starting Aug. 3.
The streamer said U.S. customers will see “fan-favorite videos” from brands run by digital publishers, including BuzzFeed Studios, Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, PMX (a subdivision of Penske Media), People Inc. and Tastemade. The videos will cover a variety of topics, including gardening tips, travel and celebrity profiles.
The rollout comes as Netflix competes for audience time from YouTube and social media platforms such as TikTok that have viral videos that can occupy users for hours. By bringing series such as BuzzFeed Celeb’s “30 Questions,” on which celebrities provide answers, or Vanity Fair’s “Lie Detector,” on which celebrities are hooked up to polygraph machines, Netflix users can learn more information about the people they already watch on the streamer, but in shorter videos.
“Members don’t just want to watch a show or film and move on. They want to keep exploring the stories and personalities they love long after the final credits roll,” said John Derderian, a Netflix vice president overseeing the initiative. “These partnerships help us deepen fandom and create more ways for members to carry those stories with them throughout their day.”
Netflix said it will offer licensed archival and ongoing series, including Harper’s Bazaar’s “Burning Questions,” Billboard’s “24 Hrs With” and People’s “My Life in Pictures” that provide an inside look at celebrities.
The videos from digital publishers will also be available to Netflix customers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 3.
The Los Gatos, Calif., streamer over time has been expanding its library of content, adding games, live programming such as boxing matches and football games, alongside movies and TV shows.
Videos show Israeli settlers, protected by Israeli soldiers, trying to seize a house under construction on the outskirts of the town of Qabalan, just south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank.
Beneath azure skies and fluffy white clouds, three giggling toddlers and their mothers arrive at a candy-colored water park in the town of CoComelon.
It’s the opening of “Fast Little Fishy Splash Water Park Adventure,” a three-minute episode of “CoComelon,” the popular children’s cartoon series that is perhaps as controversial as it is appealing to young children.
Moonbug Entertainment, the studio behind “CoComelon,” says the episode, which debuted on YouTube in May, is the result of a years-long collaboration with a UCLA think tank.
In an unconventional move for a privately held entertainment company, the studio released its child development guidelines on its website Tuesday. Moonbug’s head of communications Bao Nguyen said the company began to incorporate findings from the research into its creative process in late 2025.
“It’s a great example of what we’ve been trying to do,” said Rich Hickey, Moonbug’s chief creative officer, referring to the episode. “Inclusive storytelling and learning through play — they’re all evident within that episode.”
Nina and Cody, ecstatic about visiting their neighborhood splash pad, run through fountains and hop in kiddie pools, but protagonist JJ is a bit more skeptical.
With support from his friends and his mother, who offers him goggles and a pair of orange arm floaties, JJ decides to face his fears. He joins his friends under a tipping bucket, and — spoiler alert — realizes that he actually enjoys playing in water. (“I just love to swim, swim, swim,” he sings.)
The guidelines, called the “Moonbug Learning Principles Framework,” are informed by academic research and advise that Moonbug shows should help young viewers navigate “real life moments” and “model positive relationships among children and their friends and caregivers.”
Other priorities include creating shows that encourage kids to learn through play, as this helps them develop their imagination and creativity, and featuring characters from diverse backgrounds (“CoComelon’s” Nina is Mexican American, Cece is Korean American and Cody is Black) — and giving said characters depth — across all Moonbug shows.
“We’re a digital-first company and we realized that there may be some … hesitation to sharing online content with children,” Hickey said. “This is really to keep building on the trust we think we’ve built.”
“CoComelon” is Moonbug’s flagship preschool show, and the series’ origins date back to 2006 when commercial director Jay Jeon shared a YouTube video of an alphabet cartoon set to music. The videos began to revolve around toddler JJ in 2017.
By 2020, “CoComelon” was the most-watched YouTube channel in the world, averaging 3.5 billion monthly views. That year, the show made its streaming debut on Netflix — where it broke ratings records — and was bought by London-based entertainment company Moonbug.
Moonbug was then acquired by Candle Media, a firm led by ex-Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, for a reported $3 billion. Disney+ has since obtained the exclusive streaming rights to “CoCoMelon.”
“CoComelon‘s” image woes aren’t new. The series has developed a reputation for keeping children glued to the screen, as seen in videos that have gone viral on social media of babies bolting to the television upon hearing the marimba theme song.
In 2020, a Guardian columnist wrote that “CoComelon” was “like crack” for a preschool child. A New York Times report in 2022 gave the public more insight into Moonbug’s audience development process, which included testing “CoComelon” videos on young children to make its shows as attention-grabbing as possible.
The program has been a hot topic on parentingforums. The exchange typically goes something like this: Someone asks if “CoComelon” is “bad” and a gaggle of parents weigh in. “Very overstimulating,” said a user in one Reddit thread. “It moves too fast for kids’ brains to process, which can cause a speech delay,” wrote another.
Asked to respond to the criticism, Hickey said he believes Moonbug makes “age-appropriate content” and produces a range of videos to cater to different moments throughout a child’s day, from slow bedtime videos to faster-paced ones meant to encourage movement, Hickey said.
In 2023, Moonbug recruited the Center for Scholars and Storytellers, a think tank at UCLA that bridges entertainment media and psychology research, to “create the best possible product” for its audience, Hickey said.
The center was tasked with analyzing Moonbug’s content and crafting the learning principles to guide the studio’s future preschool programming, which also includes the “Blippi” and “Little Angel” franchises.
A scene from Moonbug Entertainment’s “Blippi’s Job Show.”
(Jessica Perez / Moonbug)
Moonbug also asked the center to determine if there was research showing that audiovisual content could be addicting for preschoolers, said Yalda T. Uhls, an assistant adjunct professor of psychology at UCLA and executive director of the Center for Scholars and Storytellers. Uhls said the center’s review of existing peer-reviewed research found that there was no such evidence.
And despite oft-repeated claims that long-form content is better for kids than short-form content, “there isn’t really actually any evidence for that,” Uhls said. “It’s very inconclusive.”
The center found that preschool children struggle to learn as much from content with frequent cuts, though consuming it doesn’t impact their attention span negatively, Uhls said.
As such, the principles the center crafted recommend Moonbug “minimize distractions and tangential songs or storylines” when characters are navigating real-life situations to make sure it does not interfere with preschool children’s ability to learn lessons.
The center interviewed members of Moonbug’s creative teams and formed an advisory council of academic experts in child development to evaluate a selection of Moonbug’s episodes, assess the quality of socio-emotional learning and find areas for improvement, Uhls said.
“The content certainly had a lot of places where it could improve, but it wasn’t horrible,” Uhls said. “There was some learning within the episodes. … It wasn’t all good, it wasn’t all bad.”
Uhls said she recalled several instances of episodes modeling unsafe behavior, but declined to share specifics.
The center plans to continue to work with Moonbug to integrate child development research much earlier in the studio’s creative process and aid with the integration of the learning principles into its content slate, Uhls said.
Iranian media has released video showing missiles being launched towards Israel, while videos captured incoming missiles making impact in northern Israel. Iran says it’s a response to Israel attacking Beirut in violation of a US-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon.
Now we know exactly where and when all 32 teams will play every week this fall.
That’s pretty exciting, right?
Oh, and all 32 teams also dropped schedule release videos, with all the Easter eggs, inside jokes, pop culture references and head-scratching moments you can handle.
Now that is exciting.
As always, the teams have given us a wide variety of visual experiences to enjoy. There are spoofs galore (the Rams adapted the “Napoleon Dynamite” opening credits and even included a newspaper called the Los Angeles Hard Times; the Las Vegas Raiders produced a new version of “Step Brothers” starring quarterbacks Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins; the Kansas City Chiefs took on the QVC shopping network).
Some videos were clearly meant to appeal strictly to that team’s fanbase, such as the Philadelphia Eagles’ 14-minute (by far the longest of the bunch) offering of five players giving their “unfiltered reactions” to every game on their schedule and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ piece that pokes loving fun at local fans with many references only true Yinzers would understand.
While many of the videos were high-tech and well-rehearsed, a handful featured unscripted fun, like New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston drawing pictures to help fans guess the opposing teams and Baltimore Ravens receiver Zay Flowers surprising a couple of super fans at their wedding.
Here are five of our favorites from this year’s crop of videos. It’s an extremely subjective list, but the stakes could be high — the Seattle Seahawks had our No. 1 video last May and went on to win the Super Bowl nine months later.
