The US Senate has opened floor debate on a bill imposing sanctions on Russia. The legislation has remained stalled in Congress since April 2025. Its progress has unfolded as President Donald Trump’s approach to Russia’s war in Ukraine has continued to evolve. Senators could vote on the measure on Aug. 7.
Russia has invited BRICS countries to take part in developing the Northern Sea Route. Alexey Gruzdev, Russia’s deputy industry and trade minister, said the passage could become an effective alternative to traditional maritime routes. His remarks highlighted the route’s potential as an alternative channel for shipping.
The US employment report for July was released on Friday. The report highlights the main points from the latest employment data. The takeaways focus on the state of employment in the United States.
Justus Walker, an American farmer known as “The Merry Milkman,” says Russian authorities intend to expel him and his family. Walker lives on a farm in Russia’s Altai Krai. He said he was told that officials plan to revoke his residence permit. According to Walker, the notification came in a phone call informing him of the authorities’ intention. His account describes a possible loss of the family’s right to remain in Russia.
Mexico and Peru have restored diplomatic relations following a dispute over asylum. Their relationship had broken down after former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez sought refuge at Mexico’s embassy in November 2025. The embassy request became the central issue in the dispute. The two countries have now moved to re-establish diplomatic ties.
Peru and Mexico have agreed to restore diplomatic relations, according to a joint statement issued by the two countries on Friday. The announcement signals the resumption of official ties between the two governments.
Peru and Mexico have resumed diplomatic relations. The move restores official ties between the two countries. Their renewed relationship marks a change in the status of bilateral diplomacy. No further details were provided.
Russia-1 is set to premiere Airport, a film about the first battle for Donbass. The production combines archival footage with testimony from eyewitnesses. It recounts the harrowing 242-day battle and presents it as a turning point in the conflict.
Minnie Driver said in an Instagram video that she and her friend Ben were involved in a very serious car accident a few days earlier. She said the pair somehow made it out alive. Driver clarified that they did not walk away from the crash. Instead, she said, they crawled out of it.
Spain has warned that it could retaliate if Italy fails to remove border controls introduced after the Ceuta crossings. Spanish officials described Italy’s border action as “unjustified” following last week’s mass crossing of migrants from Morocco. The dispute centers on Italy’s response to the migration episode and the continued controls. Spain’s warning adds pressure to the disagreement between the two countries over the border measures.
Spain said on Friday it could impose reciprocal measures on travellers arriving from Italy. The warning depends on Rome lifting its border controls by Sunday. Italy introduced the restrictions last week after a mass influx of migrants into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave. Madrid is therefore pressing Italy to remove the measures or face retaliation.
The Spanish government has urged Italy to remove its border controls by August 9 at the latest. Spain is threatening to take “proportional measures” if the controls remain in place. The demand highlights a dispute between the two governments over restrictions at their border.
Bloomberg News Now brings together the day’s leading stories in a short audio report. It highlights weaker-than-expected jobs data, which eases pressure on the Federal Reserve. The program also reports that Senator Bill Cassidy supports Todd Blanche for attorney general. Coverage spans global business news and is updated throughout the day.
jobs dataFederal ReserveUS politicsglobal business
Canada added substantially more jobs than expected in July, according to data released on Friday. The unemployment rate also fell to its lowest level in two years. The figures offer another indication that the Canadian economy is managing to withstand the effects of U.S. tariffs and international tensions.
BRICS countries support initiatives put forward by Russia on metallurgy and critical minerals, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Alexey Gruzdev says. He describes Russia’s proposals as comprehensive. According to Gruzdev, they cover issues extending well beyond the supply of raw materials.
The yen strengthened sharply after the release of US employment data. Traders are watching for the possibility of intervention in the foreign exchange market. Their caution comes only days after Japanese and US authorities jointly stepped into currency markets. The prospect of another intervention is now shaping market attention.
UEFA is continuing its pressure campaign for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign. The Norwegian federation has also intensified its efforts, submitting three separate referrals to the federation’s ethics committee. Infantino’s apology has not led UEFA to abandon its boycott. The report describes the dispute as an escalating football-governance confrontation.
Russian authorities say a man will stand trial for passing information about soldiers who were killed to Kyiv’s secret services. Officials said his alleged illicit activities began in October 2024. The case centers on the reported transfer of intelligence to Ukraine’s side, while no further details of the charges were provided.
A riot at prison facilities in Sri Lanka has left three people dead and 23 others injured. Authorities suspect that narcotics dealers and rivalries between gangs were behind the violence. The incident plunged the facilities into chaos as the prison unrest unfolded.
The U.S. Patriot air defense system was first used during the 1991 Gulf War.
Demand for the system has surged sharply this year.
The war between Ukraine and Russia has depleted stocks of interceptor missiles.
The widening conflict in the Middle East has added to pressure on global supplies.
Patriot systemair defense missilesUkraine warMiddle East conflict
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration is seeking experienced financial executives for its advisory council. The proposed members include a former senior UBS Group executive in the US, Lazard’s former global head of investment banking and Bank of America’s New York City president. The administration wants these business leaders to join the council advising his government.
New York CityZohran Mamdanibusiness advisory councilbanking
Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have concluded a mutual defence agreement. Under the arrangement, an armed assault against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack on all three. The deal comes as Saudi Arabia works to broaden its security partnerships after repeated attacks on critical infrastructure during the war in Iran. France 24 correspondent Jasper Mortimer reports from Turkey with further insight into the pact.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey signed a mutual defence pact on Friday. In a joint statement, the allies said aggression against any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all three. The agreement, however, does not clarify whether the parties would be required to take any particular military action in defence of one another.
The Saudi crown prince, the Turkish president and the Pakistani prime minister have signed a joint defence agreement. The signing took place in Mecca. The agreement brings the three countries together in a defence arrangement. No further terms of the pact were given.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to a mutual defense pact modeled on NATO. The deal comes as the conflict involving Iran escalates. No further details about the agreement or the countries’ next steps were provided.
An expert says the alliance linking Ankara, Riyadh and Islamabad is rooted in geopolitical considerations. Earlier, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan formally signed a trilateral defense agreement.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan say an attack on any one of them will be regarded as an attack on all three. A joint statement issued after the Mecca summit said the agreement is intended to strengthen their shared deterrence. The arrangement is framed as a response to any aggression. The statement did not identify a specific potential adversary.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a defence pact. Pakistan says an attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all of them. The agreement comes amid conflict in the Middle East.
Officials say Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a defense agreement. The deal is described as deepening cooperation among the three countries. It comes as security concerns are growing. The agreement marks a significant step in their defense ties.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye have signed a defence agreement as turmoil continues across the region. Pakistan says the pact treats an attack on any one of the three countries as an attack on all three. The arrangement sets out a mutual-security commitment among the parties. It was concluded against a backdrop of heightened regional tension.
Saudi ArabiaPakistanTürkiyedefence agreementregional turmoil
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have signed a joint defense agreement. The deal brings the three countries together in defense cooperation. No further details about the agreement or its implementation were provided.
An explosion struck the upscale Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow on the evening of August 1. Within two hours, Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee said it was a bomb blast. The following morning, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin labeled the incident a terrorist attack and pledged that those responsible would be found. Authorities then fell silent, apart from one social-media post by the Russian Embassy in Italy. Questions about the incident remain unanswered.
Several concerts by musicians accused of supporting former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have been called off this summer in towns across Syria. In Homs, people tore down posters advertising performances by Mohamad Iskandar and Hossam Jneed. They denounced the singers’ previous links to the regime. One of the artists has publicly apologised.
Twenty-three members of Afghanistan’s women’s football team, now living abroad, have travelled to New Zealand for a training camp. They are also set to play two unofficial friendly matches against the Cook Islands. The players are banned from competing at home. This is their first gathering since FIFA ruled in April 2026 that they could represent Afghanistan in official matches in the future.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said he will support Todd Blanche as the next attorney general. His backing is likely to clear a path for Blanche’s confirmation. The endorsement strengthens the prospect that the nomination will be approved.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination to serve as attorney general. Her position narrows the confirmation path for President Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Justice Department. Blanche is Trump’s pick for the post. The development concerns the Senate’s consideration of the nomination.
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she will vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general.\nThe Alaska senator said in a statement that she has concerns about the choice.\nShe pointed to the possibility that President Donald Trump’s administration could move ahead with a proposed fund.\nThe fund would compensate Jan. 6 rioters, despite Blanche’s pledge to…
US politicsattorney general nominationLisa MurkowskiTodd Blanche
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she plans to vote against Todd Blanche’s nomination to become attorney general. Her opposition narrows Blanche’s path to confirmation.
Trade turnover between China and Russia climbed 26.3% during the first seven months, reaching $159 billion. Russia recorded a $13.56 billion trade surplus with China over the same period. The surplus was 1.7% higher than in the corresponding period of 2025.
An appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump must obtain approval from Congress before building his proposed White House ballroom. The court ordered construction to stop. The decision puts the project’s authority and continuation under congressional review. It directly affects the planned ballroom’s construction.
Donald TrumpWhite House ballroomappeals courtCongress
A U.S. federal appeals court ordered the Trump administration on Friday to halt construction of a $400 million ballroom. The project is planned for the site of the White House’s demolished East Wing. The ruling represents a major setback for the Republican leader. It also puts presidential authority at the center of the case.
Donald TrumpWhite Houseappeals courtpresidential authority
Iran says a shipping agreement with Oman is nearing completion. Analysts caution that sanctions and security concerns could constrain what the deal achieves. Conflicting objectives held by the United States and Iran may also limit its impact. The prospective arrangement therefore faces significant obstacles despite the reported progress toward finalization.
Journalist Don Lemon has asked a judge to dismiss an indictment connected to his presence at a protest in a Minnesota church earlier this year. Lemon argues that the charges violate the First Amendment. He also says the prosecution is vindictive. The case stems from his attendance at the church protest. No further details of the indictment are provided.
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark took responsibility after the team’s overtime defeat to the Aces. Sitting at the dais Thursday night, she focused on the numbers in front of her and replayed her performance. Clark pointed to eight turnovers and two missed free throws with seven seconds remaining in regulation. Her comments centered on the mistakes she believed contributed to the loss.
Milos Jovanovic, chairman of Serbia’s opposition New Democratic Party, said Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Serbia works against Belgrade and damages its relations with Russia. Jovanovic argued that the Serbian people have firsthand experience of the destructive effects of interventions carried out by Western powers. His comments framed the visit as harmful to both Serbia’s position and its relationship with Moscow.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Moscow and Astana believe the sanctions imposed on them are illegitimate. He stressed that the two countries continue to have alternative ways to cooperate despite the restrictions. Galuzin characterized the measures as an attempt to gain geoeconomic advantages through unfair competition.
A poll indicates that 60% of Ukrainians oppose ceding Donbas to Russia. The same proportion supports freezing the war if security guarantees are provided. The findings also show that 33% of respondents would be willing to give up territory in eastern Ukraine. That territory includes Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
The United States has released employment data that can affect exchange rates and stock prices. Employment outside the agricultural sector declined in July, contrary to market expectations, and the drop was substantially larger than anticipated. Expectations that the Federal Reserve would move quickly to raise interest rates have eased. The yen has consequently strengthened while the dollar has weakened.
Wall Street’s main stock indexes moved higher on Friday after data showed that the U.S. economy unexpectedly lost jobs last month. The figures cast doubt on whether the Federal Reserve might raise interest rates in September. Investors responded to the weaker employment picture by reassessing the outlook for monetary policy. Rate-hike expectations became less certain following the payroll decline.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the EEC must draw up a plan for implementing the scientific development strategy. He identified further strengthening industrial cooperation as a priority. The statement places industrial cooperation alongside the strategy’s implementation planning. No additional measures were specified.
Stuart Norval welcomes Steven Ekovich, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the American University of Paris. The Michigan Democratic Senate primary offers a revealing example of the tension between ideological conviction and electoral pragmatism. Ekovich says progressive candidates are growing stronger in Democratic primaries, especially in urban and heavily Democratic constituencies. Yet converting that enthusiasm into victories in competitive swing states is a much harder task. He argues that divisions within the party could affect Michigan and the Democrats’ wider prospects of taking control of the US Senate.
US politicsDemocratic PartyMichiganSenate election
Stuart Norval welcomes Steven Ekovich, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the American University of Paris, for a discussion. The Michigan Democratic Senate primary illustrates the tension between ideological conviction and electoral pragmatism. Ekovich says progressive candidates are gaining strength in Democratic primaries, particularly in urban and heavily Democratic constituencies. Yet converting that momentum into victories in competitive swing states remains much harder. He argues that divisions inside the Democratic Party could affect both Michigan’s outcome and the party’s wider chances of controlling the U.S. Senate.
US politicsDemocratic PartyMichiganSenate election
Samsung’s first foldable carrying the Ultra name is not simply a more powerful version of the regular Fold 8. The standard Z Fold 8 has a shorter, wider design, while the Fold 8 Ultra keeps a thin external display and a square inner panel. Its appeal comes from refining that established form rather than replacing it with a radically different one.
A man was injured in an explosion involving a Ukrainian drone in Russia’s Belgorod Region. The regional emergency response center said he suffered multiple shrapnel wounds. The injuries affected his head and body. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Five civilians were injured in Ukrainian attacks on Russia’s Belgorod Region. A Ukrainian drone struck a vehicle in the Belgorod municipal district, leaving a man wounded.
The counter-disinformation group 411 says social media channels connected to the Pravda network helped amplify messages during the early phase of the Ceuta migration crisis. Its analysis found that accounts linked to the Russian military promoted far-right content that reached more than 500,000 people. Russia-linked accounts frequently circulate destabilising narratives in Europe, often advancing far-right talking points about immigration.
Ceuta migration crisisdisinformationRussia-linked accountsfar right
Authorities say a teenage shooter in Thailand first killed his grandparents at their home. He then opened fire at his school, killing five teachers. Seven people were killed in the two locations. The incident involved both a family home and a school.
Berlin’s clubs continue to attract crowds, but their business model is changing. Nights are becoming shorter, alcohol sales are declining and operating costs are rising. As bar revenue weakens, door fees are increasingly becoming the clubs’ main financial lifeline.
The US State Department said late Friday that Donald Trump’s administration plans to provide Colombia with $1 billion in security assistance. The announcement came as Abelardo De La Espriella, the country’s new right-wing president, was sworn into office. The aid pledge links Washington’s security support to the start of Colombia’s new administration.
United StatesColombiasecurity aidpresidential inauguration
Navigation on the Danube between Giurgiu in Romania and Ruse in Bulgaria has been suspended, according to radio reports. Many vessels on the route are carrying flammable or toxic cargo. The shipments include chemical fertilizers and coal, creating a significant hazard of incidents.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced unified rules for marketplace operations within the Eurasian Economic Union. He said the document is designed to protect the interests of both sellers and buyers. The announcement concerns common standards for marketplace activity across the bloc.
Naftogaz says seven of its oil and gas production facilities in eastern Ukraine were damaged overnight. The company describes the damage as serious and says operations have been halted. Its statement does not specify what caused the damage or how extensive the wider impact is. The affected sites are part of Naftogaz’s production infrastructure in the east.
NaftogazUkraineoil and gas facilitiesoperations halted
Naftogaz facilities sustain serious damage, halt operations
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇨🇳 🤖 Chinese school trains robots to join workforce
China has launched its first robot school which is training an initial cohort of 30 robots across the industrial, service, security, and entertainment sectors. They undergo physical assessments, specialised coursework and final skills certification
🇨🇳 🤖 Chinese school trains robots to join workforce
China has launched its first robot school which is training an initial cohort of 30 robots across the industrial, service, security, and entertainment sectors. They undergo physical assessments, specialised coursework and final skills certification
The chief of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region says Hong Kong will further strengthen cooperation with ASEAN. The statement points to closer engagement between Hong Kong and the Southeast Asian bloc. No specific cooperation areas or measures are given.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the Eurasian Economic Union fully meets demand for nearly all agricultural products. He called for expanding the list of products covered.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said Russia is open to integration projects involving localization in countries belonging to the Eurasian Economic Union. He added that projects of this kind are difficult to find. His remarks focused on the prospects for cooperation within the bloc. No specific project was identified in the statement.
Bloomberg has introduced a news quiz aimed at risk-takers. Players can wager their points, use their bets strategically and answer the questions carefully. A new quiz is made available each week for readers to play.
Russia’s Federal Security Service says it detained more than 20 people working at cryptocurrency exchange offices in Moscow City. The FSB described the exchanges as illegal and alleged that fraudulent call centers in Ukraine used them to transfer money stolen from Russian citizens out of the country. Some of those detained reportedly believed they were working for the FSB, adding another layer to the alleged scheme.
Russia increased its exports of grain and grain products to Turkey by 67% during January–July 2026, the regulator reported. Total shipments in that period reached 6.7 million tonnes.
A visual report examines how Americans view the economy as the midterm elections approach. It presents economic sentiment as one of the week’s biggest stories, highlighting public opinion ahead of the vote.
Yemen’s government says a Houthi strike on Marib killed two civilians. Health Minister Qassem Bahaibah reported that 14 other people were wounded. He accused the group of targeting residential neighbourhoods and displacement camps. The statement described the alleged targets as civilian areas.
A Thai student says she was standing directly in front of her teacher when the teacher was shot. The attack killed five teachers. The pupil recalls fearing that she might never see her mother again. Her account describes the immediate terror caused by the school shooting.
Local police said a shooting at a school in Thailand left five people dead. Another 23 people were injured in the incident. Authorities released emergency details about the attack.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged to introduce a new firearms control law within hours of a deadly shooting rampage on the outskirts of Bangkok. The announcement came as the country responded to the school shooting. Thailand is described as Southeast Asia’s largest gun-owning nation. The proposed legislation would make firearms control a central government response to the attack.
A deadly shooting at a school outside Bangkok ended after police said the suspected gunman, a 14-year-old student, killed himself. Authorities said the teenager began the attack at home by shooting his grandparents before going to the school. Police said the weapon belonged to his grandfather. The student reportedly fired 26 rounds and had another 34 rounds of ammunition. No motive has yet been established, and the attack is among Thailand’s deadliest mass killings since 2022.
A student opened fire at a high school in Thailand on Friday, according to police. The shooting killed at least six people and left others injured, authorities said.
A student opened fire inside a school in Thailand, killing at least eight people. Fifteen others were injured in the shooting. The incident involved gunfire on school premises, with no further details provided about the circumstances or motive.
Media reports say police have revised the toll from a school shooting in Thailand. Five people were killed and 23 others were injured. The shooting took place on Friday at a school in Nonthaburi Province. The report identifies the incident as occurring at a school in Thailand.
A shooting occurred on the 7th at a school near Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Police said six people, including the suspected shooter, died in the incident. More than 20 others were injured. The person who opened fire was reportedly a 14-year-old boy.
A teenage gunman opened fire at a school on the outskirts of Thailand’s capital, killing at least five people before taking his own life. Police said he had fatally shot his grandparents earlier. The incident was described as the country’s worst mass killing in nearly four years.
Thai police said a shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi school, north of Bangkok, left seven people dead and 15 others injured. The student who opened fire was among those killed, according to police. The teenager had also fatally shot his grandparents, reports said. The incident was described as Thailand’s worst mass shooting since 2022.
Media reports say a gunman in Thailand fired 26 shots during an attack at a school. The reports state that the shooter first killed his grandparents. No further details about the attack are provided in the report.
A shooting took place at a school in the suburban area northwest of Bangkok. At least six people were killed in the incident. The suspected gunman was reportedly a 14-year-old boy, who was also shot dead.
Thai police say a student opened fire at a high school in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, on Friday. Six people were killed in the shooting, including three teachers and three students. Thailand has one of the region’s highest gun-ownership rates. Recent promises to tighten gun laws have not stopped repeated shootings.
A shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Thailand has left several people dead. The incident occurred in Bang Kruai district, within Nonthaburi province. The location is just north of Bangkok, the country’s capital. Authorities have not provided further details in the report.
Officials said a shooting took place at a school north of Bangkok on Friday. A student opened fire, killing at least one teacher and injuring four other people. Authorities said the shooter then died by suicide.
Police said a shooting at a school in Thailand left a teacher dead and four other people injured. The gunman was a student, according to police. He later killed himself, authorities said on Friday. The incident involved multiple victims at the school.
A Thai school shooter has committed suicide, according to a newspaper report. The report says two people were killed. Updated figures indicate that 15 others were injured.
Authorities report that a shooting at a high school northwest of Bangkok killed one person and injured four others. The alleged gunman was a student, officials say. He reportedly shot and killed a teacher at the school before taking his own life. The incident occurred at a high school in the area, according to authorities.
A school shooting in Thailand has left two people dead and more than 20 others injured, according to a report citing Khaosod. Law enforcement officers and emergency service personnel are at the scene. The report gives no further details about the circumstances of the shooting or the identities of those affected.
Police say they are responding to a shooting at a high school in Thailand’s Nonthaburi province. Thai news outlets report that several people were injured in the incident. The shooter was reportedly still inside the school. Police operations at the scene were continuing.
At least two people were hurt in a shooting at a school north of Bangkok on Friday, according to authorities. Officials said a student opened fire at the school. The incident involved injuries, but no further details were provided in the report.
One of Ukraine’s largest football stadiums was damaged during a Russian strike on Odesa. The attack took place at about 3:30 p.m. local time. Shortly beforehand, Ukraine’s Air Force had warned that jet-powered drones were approaching Odesa Oblast.
Ukrainian land checkpoints are experiencing major traffic jams as the country’s seaports remain idle. A total of 6,835 vehicles are reported at the borders, with the majority gathered along the frontier with Poland.
Ukraine has completely halted agricultural exports through the Black Sea, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said. Before July, he stated, about 85% of the country’s agricultural exports were routed through Black Sea ports. The minister’s remarks describe a major change in the route used for Ukrainian farm shipments.
Russian lawmaker Alexander Voloshin said the European Union has ended up exhausting its own arsenals rather than weakening Russia. He stated that virtually all surplus conventional weapons accumulated over decades had already been transferred to Kyiv. The remarks frame European military support for Ukraine as a depletion of its long-held stocks. Voloshin presented the transfer of those weapons as the central result of the policy.
Russia has dropped a record number of glide bombs on Ukraine as the conflict continues. Moscow’s troops are suffering a high rate of losses, according to the report. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed an air campaign against Russia. The fighting is accompanied by a mounting casualty toll.
Zelensky acknowledged that Ukraine is facing a difficult situation near Slavyansk. He said the Ukrainian military needs to perform better in this direction of the front. His remarks point to continuing difficulties for Ukrainian forces in the area. No further operational details were provided.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemns both Ukraine and Russia as attacks between the two sides intensify. He calls for the escalation to be reversed through de-escalation and a ceasefire. The appeal comes as the war enters a more intense phase. Guterres’ statement addresses both parties rather than assigning blame to only one side.
Russia’s top military leadership says Russian troops liberated eight communities during operations in Ukraine over the course of a week. The statement says Russian forces carried out two massive strikes against Ukrainian military sites. It also reports 12 combined strikes using precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles. The strikes were directed at Ukrainian military facilities.
Cloudflare shares climbed 16% before trading began on Friday. The cloud services company lifted its forecasts for the full year. It is counting on increased enterprise investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure to boost demand for its networking and security offerings. The revised outlook fueled the premarket rise.
This week’s positive environmental stories arrive in unexpected forms. Hungary is experiencing an accidental solar revolution, while marmots have attracted attention through crowdfunding. In Rome, a major snake has finally received a long-overdue upgrade. Together, the developments show that good news can emerge from unusual places.
India’s Ola Electric said on Friday that its first-quarter loss had narrowed. The company attributed the improvement in part to stronger sales of electric two-wheelers. Lower operating expenses after a restructuring last year also helped reduce the loss. The results point to an improvement supported by both higher sales and reduced costs.
Werewolf converted several older gadgets that originally lacked USB-C ports so they can now run from a USB battery. The modified devices include a 27-inch desktop monitor used for filming gadget videos, equipment for playing Japanese SNES games with friends, and an old external hard drive. The changes offer a workaround when the monitor is moved to a garage or the hard drive’s AC adapter is lost.
Russia’s international reserves edged down 0.01% in July, reaching $720.348 billion, according to the Central Bank. Foreign-currency reserves rose 1.43% to $6.036 billion. The value of monetary gold held within the reserves declined 2.05%, falling to $292.854 billion.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has acknowledged that Armenia cannot simultaneously be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union. He said that strengthening cooperation with EAEU countries is among Armenia’s priorities. The statement frames closer ties with the Eurasian bloc as a central priority for the country. It also recognizes that membership in both organizations is impossible at the same time.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia has no obligations to the European Union that conflict with its relationship with the Eurasian Economic Union. He thanked his EAEU counterparts for recognizing Yerevan’s right to develop relations with various partners. The remarks defend Armenia’s ability to maintain different external partnerships. They also underline the EAEU colleagues’ recognition of that position.
Nikol Pashinyan said that a referendum on Armenia’s membership in the European Union is not possible at present. He stated that there is currently no subject for such a referendum. The comment rules out holding the vote under present circumstances, without providing further details.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia understands that simultaneous membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union is impossible. He said the strategic purpose of adopting the law that begins the republic’s EU accession process is to create an alternative for the country. The statement frames the legislation as an alternative-making step rather than a claim of immediate membership.
ArmeniaNikol PashinyanEurasian Economic UnionEuropean Union
America’s political climate may make it seem that the country is returning to an era of intensive oil, gas and coal use while abandoning wind and solar projects. Yet renewable energy in the United States appears to be entering a golden age. The trend is unfolding not merely despite the prevailing political winds, but partly because of them. The contrast challenges the expectation of a broad retreat from clean-energy development under Trump.
Donald TrumpUnited Statesrenewable energyenergy policy
CNN analysis says Democrats’ effort to win a Senate majority has become more difficult and uncertain. Republicans, meanwhile, are encountering their own pronounced problems in trying to hold the House. The assessment presents both parties’ congressional battles as uphill struggles. It focuses on the competing challenges facing the GOP and Democrats as they seek control of the two chambers.
US politicsSenateHouse of Representativesmidterm elections
Farmers in Kenya’s Kimana area are challenging claims that cyanide poisoning killed 15 elephants. Kimana lies next to Amboseli National Park. The farmers say the pesticides they use do not contain cyanide. They therefore dispute that the toxin could have caused the elephants’ deaths.
Iraq’s deputy minister for culture, tourism and antiquities, Qasem al-Sudani, said more than 5,000 artifacts had been smuggled out of the country since 2003. The agency is tracking the appearance of Iraqi artifacts at state and private auctions. Officials are monitoring these sales as locations where the objects may surface.
Farmers in England had to contend with the driest July ever recorded by the Met Office, with falling yields and food security concerns in the headlines. Some are experimenting with more drought-tolerant crops, such as chickpeas
Farmers in England had to contend with the driest July ever recorded by the Met Office, with falling yields and food security concerns in the headlines. Some are experimenting with more drought-tolerant crops, such as chickpeas
At the end of July, Meduza asked readers for their views on Ukrainian army strikes against Wildberries warehouses and published a selection of their letters, most from readers in Russia. Hundreds of additional messages arrived in the following days from readers in different countries. They shared their opinions about what was happening, with many of the letters coming from Ukraine. Meduza presents some of those Ukrainian readers’ views.
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo said seven people aboard a river boat stopped near Kinshasa tested negative for Ebola. The results ease fears that the virus could have spread among those on board. Those concerns arose after another passenger died while suspected of having the disease. The testing outcome reduces immediate concern about transmission on the boat.
The Rhine and Danube have fallen to historic low water levels. Shrinking supplies are disrupting shipping, agriculture and ecosystems. The conditions are also increasing concern about the future availability of drinking water. Extreme drought is imposing a growing cost across Europe.
A masseur says Diego Maradona was bloated, confined to bed and resigned before his death. Seven healthcare professionals have been facing trial in Argentina since mid-April. The proceedings concern possible negligence. The trial is continuing.
President Donald Trump said Todd Blanche would remain acting attorney general if the Senate rejects his confirmation. Blanche’s prospects for continuing to lead the Department of Justice have narrowed further after another Republican broke ranks. The statement outlines Trump’s intended response to a possible confirmation failure. It also highlights growing opposition within the Republican camp.
Donald TrumpTodd BlancheDepartment of JusticeUS Senate
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