Voters went to the polls Thursday in a local English election featuring Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and his main challenger, comedian Count Binface, who wears a trash-can costume. The contest is testing opposition to Farage's brand of populist politics.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Russian-administered Kuril Islands, which Japan also claims. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the trip “absolutely unacceptable”, while Japan’s foreign minister said the disputed islands are inherently Japanese territory.
Vladimir PutinKuril IslandsJapan-Russia relationsterritorial dispute
A Singapore-flagged container ship reportedly suffered a steering failure while sailing to Kolkata port before crashing into the bank of the Hooghly River in eastern India.
Flights at Sicily’s Catania airport will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna’s ongoing volcanic activity continues to affect operations. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rerouted over the past week.
Mount Etnavolcanic ashCatania airportflight disruptions
Etna ash keeps Catania airport shut until Friday, disrupting summer travel
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇫🇷 French village hosts annual pig-squealing championship
The French village of Trie-sur-Baise celebrates the 43rd edition of its Pourcailhade festival, an unusual event famed for its pig-squealing championship.
🇫🇷 French village hosts annual pig-squealing championship
The French village of Trie-sur-Baise celebrates the 43rd edition of its Pourcailhade festival, an unusual event famed for its pig-squealing championship.
In Shenzhen, southern China, concentrated engineering talent, a strong supply chain and a global-market outlook can turn a new idea into a product within a year and send it to customers worldwide. This “Shenzhen speed” is driving the city’s innovation boom.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a personal telegram congratulating World War II veteran Yevgeny Znamensky on his 101st birthday. He praised Znamensky’s combat service, including the Battle of Stalingrad, the liberation of Europe and the advance to Berlin, as well as his postwar work for the Motherland.
Vladimir PutinWorld War II veteranbirthday congratulations
Björn Höcke, the Thuringian leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany, has offered to support left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht as state premier. The AfD and Wagenknecht’s alliance together hold 47 of 88 state parliament seats, a majority that could challenge the mainstream parties’ “firewall” against cooperation with the far right.
A local resident was killed in an explosion in occupied Sevastopol, according to Telegram channels Mash and Baza, which are close to Russian security services. An unverified claim identified the victim as Russian Navy officer Robert Shageev; another channel said a first-rank captain died. The device was reportedly placed in a trash bin in a park on Stoletovsky Avenue.
Moldova agreed to transit 600,000 metric tons of Ukrainian foodstuffs by rail by the end of 2026, as escalating Russian attacks have halted Ukraine’s Black Sea agricultural exports for weeks. Kyiv called alternative routes vital to resilience and global food security, but the deal covers only slightly more than 1% of expected grain and oilseed exports.
Human Rights Watch called on the Taliban to free two United Nations staff members and six NGO workers detained in Afghanistan after a series of Taliban detentions in recent weeks.
A new AP-Ipsos poll finds Americans overwhelmingly believe organized sports offer major benefits to children, while higher-income families are more likely to have their children participate.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev and Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao to Japan said Russia and China are expanding humanitarian ties in culture, cinema, sports, youth exchanges and tourism. They also highlighted the education cooperation cross years launched in May, aimed at boosting academic links, inter-university cooperation and high-tech personnel training.
The Arctic is emerging as a key venue for Russia to deepen cooperation with China and India, Russian Foreign Ministry official Vladislav Maslennikov said. He noted that more political actors want to engage with Russia in the high latitudes, while China and India have both shown interest and possess substantial resources for joint projects.
Russia remains a full member of the Arctic Council, and all members continue to support preserving the platform, Russian Foreign Ministry official Vladislav Maslennikov said. Political-level work has been frozen since March 2022, but working-body meetings have resumed online and cooperation is gradually moving forward.
Russian Foreign Ministry official Vladislav Maslennikov said NATO is using “mythical threats from the East” as a pretext to militarize the Arctic and strengthen offensive capabilities along Russia’s northern borders. He said Western approaches have increased military and political tensions and the risk of unintended escalation.
Russian Foreign Ministry official Vladislav Maslennikov said efforts to address pressing Arctic problems without Russia’s participation would be futile. He said Russia would continue using its foreign-policy tools to maintain peace and stability, promote international cooperation and develop its northern territories regardless of geopolitical conditions.
Yemeni government forces say they repelled a Houthi assault on the al-Mafalis front south of Haifan in Taiz province. Government forces also reported engaging Houthi reconnaissance drones near Mocha, as shelling and drone attacks continue across several governorates amid renewed clashes that have caused dozens of deaths and injuries.
The 2026-27 La Liga season starts on August 15. Barcelona are seeking a third straight league title, while Real Madrid, led by Jose Mourinho, aim to regain their winning form. Opta gives Barcelona a 45.6 percent title chance and Madrid 31 percent.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called new US sanctions against Cuba a sign of Washington’s impotence, saying they would not break the Cuban people’s will. He praised Havana’s resilience in defending its sovereignty despite tightened measures, including an energy blockade. The US last week added five Cuban entities and eight individuals to its sanctions lists.
Fabien Barthez is set to work on Zinedine Zidane’s staff after Zidane took charge of France, the French Football Federation said Thursday. Barthez won the World Cup as a goalkeeper.
Large quantities of aid from regional partners began arriving in Colombia on Wednesday, as rescue teams faced an increasingly desperate search through rubble after a powerful earthquake destroyed buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars.
Colombian rescuers are searching for survivors on the fourth day after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country’s west. Authorities report at least 265 deaths, more than 3,500 injuries and nearly 500 people unaccounted for. Crews are still probing a collapsed bakery in Pereira, while President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared an “economic emergency” and three days of national mourning.
Security footage captured part of a children’s hospital in Cali collapsing during Colombia’s deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake on Monday. Authorities say at least 265 people have died, while hundreds remain missing.
Rescuers are working against the critical 72-hour window after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed 265 people, injured about 3,500 and left nearly 500 unaccounted for. Officials say tens of thousands of families have been affected, while teams continue detecting possible signs of life beneath the rubble.
Russia’s Gosuslugi portal is preparing a tool to search for and purchase cemetery plots, supported by 295.5 million rubles. The service is expected to reach 21 regions by December 1, 2026, while a six-region pilot has exposed problems with registry uploads, fragmented burial records, and map-based plot selection.
Turkey’s defence ministry said Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will establish political and military mechanisms under a defence pact signed by the three regional powers last week. The alliance will also expand cooperation in the defence industry.
Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev and Wu Jianghao said the two countries’ partnership is neither bloc-based nor confrontational and is not aimed at third countries. They said it differs from Cold War military-political alliances and supports a fair, orderly multipolar world based on balanced interests.
The Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan said the two countries share aligned positions on key issues shaping the global order. As permanent members of the UN Security Council, they uphold the UN Charter’s purposes and principles, while cooperation between Moscow and Beijing provides major stability amid geopolitical rivalry and tensions driven by hegemonic and neocolonial policies, they said.
Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev and Wu Jianghao say bilateral cooperation has reached its highest level and continues to advance steadily through the efforts of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. They say the relationship has withstood time and external pressure, while Moscow and Beijing move to deepen cooperation and shape a fairer, more multipolar world order.
Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev and Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao to Japan said in a joint article that trade and economic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing remains resilient despite adverse external factors. Bilateral trade has grown more than thirtyfold in 25 years, exceeding $200 billion for several consecutive years, while the countries plan further joint projects and cooperation in digital innovation and artificial intelligence.
Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe says Washington’s demand at the UN for advance, detailed notifications of missile launches is intended to divert attention from the US expansion of missile defenses, nuclear-sharing arrangements and extended deterrence. He accuses the US of pressuring China and injecting geopolitical rivalry into multilateral arms control.
United StatesChinamissile launch notificationsarms control
The Chinese and Indonesian navies held a joint exercise east of Taiwan Island on Wednesday. The Chinese vessel Honghe and Indonesian frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai trained in maritime communications, formation maneuvers and replenishment. China’s Defense Ministry said the drill would improve operational capabilities, deepen practical cooperation and help safeguard regional peace and stability.
Chinese, Indonesian navies hold drill east of Taiwan Island
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇵🇸 Gaza beekeeper starts again on rooftop amid ruins of war
Perched on the edge of a rooftop high above Gaza City's bombed-out landscape, Ibrahim al-Dabba tends to his community of bees, cultivating a rare source of hope among the ruins of the Israel-Hamas war.
🇵🇸 Gaza beekeeper starts again on rooftop amid ruins of war
Perched on the edge of a rooftop high above Gaza City's bombed-out landscape, Ibrahim al-Dabba tends to his community of bees, cultivating a rare source of hope among the ruins of the Israel-Hamas war.
Malawi continued their giant-killing run at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by beating Algeria 3-1, with sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga scoring to secure a place in the final. They will face Cameroon, who defeated hosts Morocco in a penalty shootout in the other semi-final.
MalawiWomen’s Africa Cup of NationsChawinga sistersCameroon
Taiwan held its annual Urban Resilience exercise on August 13 alongside the Han Kuang drills. Seven northern cities and counties conducted a roughly 30-minute mobile-network slowdown, with air-raid alerts and traffic controls. For the first time, the exercise simulated a wartime internet blackout to test responses to damage to undersea cables and other key communications facilities, affecting an estimated 17 million people.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has gained fresh backing from the football associations of Qatar, Morocco, Lebanon, Sudan, Egypt and Mauritania as he seeks re-election. Their joint statement follows opposition from three confederations over his abandoned plan to sell a share of World Cup commercial rights to private investors.
Pro-Palestine activists smeared red paint across the walls and windows of Danish defence producer Terma. The campaigners said the company profits from weapons used in what they call Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
A 55-year-old woman with high-level quadriplegia has become the first patient at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan to undergo fully invasive brain-computer interface surgery. Doctors implanted eight ultra-flexible electrodes in her motor cortex to capture movement-related signals and hope rehabilitation will restore fine upper-limb functions.
CXMT has surpassed Hong Kong-listed Tencent to become the world’s most valuable Chinese company, highlighting the AI-driven frenzy fueling demand for memory-chip stocks.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced Israeli settlers’ siege of Palestinians in the West Bank village of Qusra as a “horrific act of terror.” He said Israeli troops intervened on Wednesday after a US request but failed to remove the settlers.
Israeli settlers have encircled three Palestinian homes in Qusra, cutting families off from food, water, electricity and other supplies. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the days-long action an “act of terror”. Israel’s military said it dismantled two nearby illegal outposts and detained one Israeli.
Israel’s military says it will deploy more troops to Qusra in the occupied West Bank after failing to remove settlers who have trapped two Palestinian families in their homes since Sunday. The families say their water and electricity were cut off and food supplies are running low. The incident has renewed scrutiny of settler violence and the military’s response.
Three Palestinian families in Qusra in the occupied West Bank are trapped inside their homes as Israeli settlers block roads and cut off water and electricity. Settlers returned within hours after the Israeli army evacuated a nearby outpost following a two-day standoff.
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski criticized Elon Musk after Starlink excluded Poland from its European roaming area and threatened to reconsider Poland’s $50 million annual payment. Starlink is vital to Ukraine’s armed forces, with access paid for by Poland, though it remains unclear which subscription Sikorski referred to.
Huang Xiaochi, a 73-year-old technology expert from Foshan, Guangdong, booked ticket No. 022 for a suborbital space tourism flight. She is expected to fly aboard the domestically developed CYZ1 crewed spacecraft in about two years, potentially becoming one of the first passengers on a Chinese commercial crewed spacecraft.
Vladimir Putin has made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, traveling to Iturup and visiting local facilities. Japan’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly protests” the trip. Putin blamed Tokyo for changing its position on the islands and said the shift was unprovoked by Russia.
Vladimir PutinKuril IslandsRussia-Japan relationsterritorial dispute
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup during his trip to the Sakhalin Region, touring a fish-processing plant and a school before speaking with residents and meeting the regional governor. It was his first personal visit to the Kuril Islands. Japan lodged a “decisive protest” and reiterated its claim to the southern Kurils.
Vladimir PutinIturupKuril IslandsRussia-Japan relations
Russian state media reported that President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the far-eastern Kuril Islands, visiting a fish-processing plant on Iturup. Japan strongly protested, maintaining that the Northern Territories are inherent Japanese territory under history and international law. The dispute has long hindered relations and prevented a formal World War II peace treaty.
Vladimir PutinJapanKuril Islandsterritorial dispute
Japan’s Foreign Ministry says it has lodged a “strong protest” over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup in the Kuril Islands. Tokyo calls the southern Kurils, including Iturup, the “northern territories” and claims they are Japan’s “ancestral territory” historically and legally, while Moscow says its sovereignty is not open to debate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril Islands near Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido for the first time on Thursday. Tokyo responded with a strong protest over the disputed territory, which Japan claims and the Soviet Union seized in 1945.
Russian state media reported that President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands, marking his first trip there. Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the islands are inherently Japanese territory under history and international law, and declared the government’s strong protest. The dispute has prevented Moscow and Tokyo from signing a postwar peace treaty.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup in the Kuril Islands during a trip to the Sakhalin Region, touring the Yasny fish-packing factory. Before the visit, he attended the final stage of Pacific Fleet drills in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
China spent 243.6 billion yuan on civil affairs programs in the first half of 2026, a 5.2% year-on-year increase, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said. Minimum subsistence allowances covered 5.89 million urban and 33.46 million rural residents, while assistance also reached people in extreme difficulty and people with disabilities.
Parent-teacher conferences can be hurried and tense for everyone involved. Since meetings often last only 15 to 20 minutes, parents may have little time to ask questions after the teacher reviews their child’s academic progress.
Stephen Collinson writes that Karoline Leavitt’s departure, announced Wednesday, is a major personal and political loss. The vacuum she leaves will underscore her importance as a vital member of the president’s brain trust.
US politicsKaroline LeavittWhite Housepersonnel change
Former Broome bishop Christopher Alan Saunders was convicted of 13 sex offences involving two young Aboriginal men after a jury trial in Western Australia. He was acquitted of six other charges. Prosecutors said he used alcohol-fuelled parties to gain access to victims; Saunders denied the assaults.
sexual abuseCatholic ChurchAboriginal AustraliansAustralia
Snipers from Russia’s Battlegroup Center 27th Division are using special SVD rounds to penetrate the battery armor of Ukraine’s Baba-Yaga heavy hexacopters. Working closely with drone operators, they anticipate the UAVs’ approach and support infantry advancing toward Grishino, Novopodgorodnoye and Udachnoye.
A total solar eclipse on Wednesday cast Spain’s Segovia into daytime darkness for 59 seconds. Locals and visitors watched in awe from the city’s iconic cathedral bell tower as the Moon’s shadow covered the Sun.
Russia has not seen proposals from Vladimir Zelensky for resolving the Ukraine conflict, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said. He added that the United States had not passed the proposals to Moscow through diplomatic channels, despite earlier media reports that Kiev had sent them to Washington.
Shipping throughput through the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River reached 100 million metric tons by 12:40 a.m. Thursday, the Three Gorges Navigation Authority said. Locks handled 97.276 million tons across 21,562 passages, while the ship lift handled 2.724 million tons across 2,590 passages and 446,000 passenger trips.
Chinese and Thai police jointly dismantled a major cross-border credit card fraud ring targeting Chinese citizens and arrested nine suspects—four Chinese nationals and five Thai nationals. Authorities identified more than 5 million yuan in losses, while the two countries plan to explore a regular mechanism for combating cross-border economic crime.
Chinese and Thai police jointly dismantled a cross-border credit card fraud ring targeting Chinese citizens and arrested nine suspects—four Chinese nationals and five Thai nationals. Authorities have identified more than 5 million yuan in losses, while the two countries plan to deepen cooperation against cross-border economic crime.
Chinese and Thai police dismantled a transnational credit card fraud ring targeting Chinese citizens and arrested nine suspects in a coordinated operation, China’s Ministry of Public Security said. The action destroyed multiple criminal hideouts and uncovered losses exceeding 5 million yuan. It was the countries’ first synchronized operation against economic crime.
Hasan Mahmud claimed a career-best 6-55 as Bangladesh dismissed Australia for 198 on the opening day of the first Test in Darwin, their lowest Test total against Bangladesh. Bangladesh closed on 96-1, 102 runs behind, with Steve Smith’s 71 the only substantial resistance for Australia.
Guangdong's provincial government issued 2.5 billion yuan in offshore RMB local government bonds in Macao. The three tranches comprise Hengqin construction-themed, green and blue bonds. Orders peaked at 23.2 billion yuan, producing a record 9.28-times oversubscription for a Macao bond issue. Proceeds will fund Hengqin infrastructure and green and blue development in the Greater Bay Area.
China’s national carbon emissions rights trading market recorded cumulative trading volume of more than 930 million tonnes by the end of July, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said Thursday.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow could promptly arrange a reception for US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner once their actual plans become clearer. He said the issue remains on Russia’s radar. The two may visit Moscow and Kiev within 7–10 days to work on a Ukraine deal, according to a source cited by TASS.
A mandatory offer from KKR to acquire Philippines-based power producer First Gen Corp would value the company at about 165.44 billion pesos, or $2.70 billion, First Gen and its parent, First Philippine Holdings, said Thursday.
A study published by Small Wars Journal alleges that Ukrainian armed forces have used Teren-6 and K-51 gas grenades in the Russian special military operation area. It says such use has been repeatedly documented and that the munitions contain substances whose battlefield use violates the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Chinese humanoid robot maker Unitree Robotics drew intense investor demand after its online IPO winning rate fell to just 0.0181%, the lowest in the history of Shanghai’s STAR Market. The company issued about 40.45 million shares and is expected to raise around 6.1 billion yuan, with major technology, industrial and state-backed investors participating.
Unitree IPO draws strong investor interest with record-low winning rate
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇮🇳 India's youth protests highlight mistrust in 'lapdog' media
Youth-led protests in India last month turned television journalists into targets, exposing a deepening crisis of trust in flagship broadcasters accused by demonstrators of being government mouthpieces.
🇮🇳 India's youth protests highlight mistrust in 'lapdog' media
Youth-led protests in India last month turned television journalists into targets, exposing a deepening crisis of trust in flagship broadcasters accused by demonstrators of being government mouthpieces.
Britain’s food industry warned in February that soaring energy costs after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran could drive food-price inflation close to 10% by Christmas.
Hong Kong Customs and Pakistan Customs have signed an arrangement to strengthen intelligence sharing and combat cross-border crime. It is also intended to facilitate trade and foster a business-friendly environment.
Hong Kong CustomsPakistan Customscross-border crime
China’s zero-tariff policy for the 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties generated more than 730 million yuan ($106.6 million) in import savings at Guangzhou Customs during its first three months. From May 1 to July 31, eligible imports exceeded 730 million yuan and tariff reductions surpassed 80 million yuan. Guangzhou Customs’ trade with African countries rose 25.3% year on year in the first half of the year.
Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain opened the new season by defending their UEFA Super Cup crown, defeating Premier League side Aston Villa 2-1 in Salzburg. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué scored for Luis Enrique’s team.
The second World Humanoid Robot Games will take place in Beijing from Aug. 22 to 26, with 2,056 humanoid robots from 16 countries registered across 666 teams. The 51-event program includes soccer, combat, weightlifting, dance and practical skills, with most contests requiring autonomous operation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN that Ukraine is receiving roughly 40% as many interceptor missiles as it did in 2025, while Russia has doubled its monthly ballistic-missile launches. He said selling Ukraine 5% of U.S. stocks would help it survive the winter and save lives, while 10% could destroy all Russian ballistic missiles. Patriot interceptors remain vital to Ukraine’s air defense, though Donald Trump said the U.S. needs them for itself.
Russian attacks killed at least eight people and injured 50 across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said. A jet-powered attack drone struck a passenger train in Odesa Oblast, killing the driver and his assistant while passengers escaped injury. Further casualties were reported in Kherson, Sumy, Donetsk and other regions.
A reconnaissance rifleman from Russia’s 9th Reconnaissance Battalion, part of Battlegroup Center, told TASS that two three-man teams operated behind Ukrainian lines for a month and completed their missions without being detected. He said they avoided drones through concealment and communicated only with gestures and facial expressions.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia has suffered about 1,462,970 troop casualties since launching its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, including 1,310 over the past day. It also reported extensive Russian equipment losses. Ukraine does not disclose its own losses, citing operational secrecy, while Western estimates put Russian casualties higher than Ukraine’s.
Russia-Ukraine warRussian casualtiesUkrainian General Staff
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine could destroy all Russian ballistic missiles if the US sold Kyiv 10% of its Patriot interceptor stockpile. He said 5% would help Ukraine survive the winter and save lives, as the country faces a severe air-defense shortage. Kyiv is seeking more US missiles while developing its own ballistic and anti-ballistic systems.
Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov says Vladimir Putin may be able to “destroy Ukraine, but cannot conquer it.” Muratov warns that nuclear escalation is possible, citing the growing number of public references in Russia to using nuclear weapons.
Earthquakes can strike without warning, but preparation and a calm response can reduce injuries. The guide recommends securing furniture, preparing an emergency kit, staying indoors during shaking and using “Drop, Cover and Hold On”. Afterward, watch for aftershocks, fires, gas leaks and damaged power lines, conserve phone capacity and follow official updates.
A decade ago, Chinese animation was overshadowed by Hollywood and dismissed as entertainment for children. Homegrown animated features now account for nearly half of the Chinese film market and rival any studio in technical ambition and bold storytelling, as the latest summer release demonstrates.
China will keep anti-dumping duties on imports of single-mode optical fiber from India for another five years from August 14, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce said. The decision followed a review launched in August 2025 at the request of China’s domestic industry.
China will extend anti-dumping duties on single-mode optical fibre imported from India for another five years starting Friday, the commerce ministry said Thursday.
Chinese chip designer Kiwimoore has confidentially filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering and is seeking a valuation of about $2 billion, according to two people familiar with the matter.
The Qinzhou Municipal Archives in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region hold wartime publications documenting the Japanese army’s landing at Qinzhou Bay in the 1930s. Printed by the invaders to showcase their military strength, the materials now stand as evidence of Japan’s aggression against China and its war crimes.
Elbridge Colby, a senior Pentagon official who once questioned the prospects of the Aukus pact, says the nuclear submarine programme is “full steam ahead” and that he is very pleased with its progress. The agreement includes US sales of Virginia-class submarines to Australia before Australia builds its own Aukus-class fleet.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses intercepted and destroyed 362 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions and nearby seas overnight. A young woman was injured in Rostov Region, two people were hurt and a fire broke out at an industrial zone in Bashkortostan, while Sevastopol lost power after an attack on its energy infrastructure.
Ukraine attacked Russia’s Bashkortostan region with drones, and the governor said falling debris caused a fire in an industrial area of Salavat. Ukrainian channels reported strikes on an oil refinery and a Wildberries warehouse, while local authorities and the company have not commented. No deaths or injuries have been reported.
China has removed and disposed of more than 60 million metric tons of solid waste since June 2025 in a nationwide campaign against illegal dumping, Vice Environment Minister Li Gao said. Authorities identified over 56,000 problems and rectified more than 45,000, using satellites, drones, inspections and public tips.
A third drought in five years and record-low rainfall are putting UK agriculture under severe strain. Nearly three-quarters of England is in drought, while England and Wales have had their driest July since records began. Farmers say even years of preparation have not shielded them from collapsing yields and extreme weather.
British maritime security company Ambrey said on Thursday that it had joined the salvage operation for the stricken tanker Caroline Bezengi off Oman. Salvage vessels are travelling to the site to provide support.
France has opened disciplinary proceedings against its ambassador to the Central African Republic, Bruno Foucher. He is accused of bringing about 30 women to his official residence in Bangui, with some allegedly staying overnight and some having sex with him, prompting an investigation into a potential security breach.
Russia and Malaysia are exploring a joint nanotechnology venture in Malaysia to commercialize related intellectual property, Russian Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov said. The sides expect to sign an agreement during the Eastern Economic Forum in September.
The Minutes Reader extension turns the original page into a focused reading view and translates articles and video subtitles on demand. It is in limited beta.
Farage and Count Binface go head-to-head in snap UK poll
