Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain reinforced their status as Europe’s top team by defeating Aston Villa 2-1 on Wednesday to retain the UEFA Super Cup.
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.
An Associated Press investigation found that the United States’ decision to sharply cut foreign aid funding last year has increased pregnancy complications and deaths in Nepal.
Jury selection began Wednesday in Meta’s federal trial in California over claims that its platforms have harmed young people’s mental health and tracked children in violation of federal law.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is touring the UK to hear people’s financial concerns as living costs rise. Inflation stood at 2.8 percent in June, while energy and fuel prices pushed up household bills. Lower-income households are bearing the brunt, with 7.4 million unable to afford essentials this year.
Polling opened Thursday in an eastern England by-election pitting hard-right leader Nigel Farage against perennial joke candidate Count Binface. Philip Turle says a strong performance by Binface would reflect poorly on Farage.
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.
The US and Iran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz while mediators try to revive talks. Iran rejects Washington’s claim of control and says the waterway will stay closed until its demands on US aggression, reparations and sanctions are met. Shipping has fallen to a one-week low as Iran restricts passage, while the US maintains a naval blockade around Iranian ports.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States controls the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says it will not fully reopen the strait until Washington meets its conditions, while experts say the situation is much more complicated than Trump’s proclamation suggests.
The EU wants savers to move the €11 trillion held in bank accounts into stock and bond markets, directing more capital to businesses across the region. Yet progress has repeatedly been offset by setbacks.
European Unionsavingscapital marketsbusiness financing
The earthquake in Colombia will reach the 72-hour mark on Thursday morning. Journalist Rosa Perez says people are surprised that the government did not accept assistance from foreign rescue teams.
An explosion at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands killed one person and injured several others, according to a police spokesperson. The cause remained unclear and was under investigation.
An explosion at the Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands on Thursday killed at least one person and injured several others, local media reported. The blast occurred at about 11:30 a.m.; police said its cause remains under investigation as emergency services expanded their response.
Employees at SK Hynix’s South Korean operations formed a union on Thursday, aiming to connect workers across roles and sites and gain leverage in wage negotiations at the leading memory-chip maker, where talks have stalled.
SK Hynix employees form unified union as wage talks stall
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇬🇧 UK charity races to raise millions to buy historic English estate
A leading UK conservation charity is crowdfunding £30 million to buy a swathe of rolling moorlands and woodlands, in the largest land sale in England for three decades.
🇬🇧 UK charity races to raise millions to buy historic English estate
A leading UK conservation charity is crowdfunding £30 million to buy a swathe of rolling moorlands and woodlands, in the largest land sale in England for three decades.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia killed more than 260 people and injured thousands, creating the first major leadership test for President Abelardo de la Espriella just 72 hours after his inauguration. Rescue and aid efforts have been complicated by a failed government transition, slow official updates, damaged infrastructure and poor communications in isolated communities.
A new heatwave building across Europe is expected to bring temperatures above 35C to more than 135 million people, mainly in France, Italy, Spain and the UK. About 340 million Europeans could experience temperatures above 30C on Thursday. France and the UK are facing their fifth heatwave of the summer, while drought is adding pressure to water supplies. UK nurses report collapsing staff, heat-related seizures and inadequate ventilation in NHS workplaces.
Ideas for a possible moratorium on hostilities in the Black Sea have been conveyed through various channels, but Russia has received no formal proposals, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko says. He warns that ceasefires could let Ukraine regroup and build up forces, arguing that lasting peace requires addressing the conflict’s root causes.
The EU’s ban on public funding for utility-scale solar inverters from “high-risk” countries is expected to steer the market toward European suppliers, SMA Solar’s chief executive said on Thursday.
European UnionChinese solar invertersEuropean suppliers
The FSB says a Russian Defense Ministry serviceman died after a bombing in Sevastopol. A Russian citizen born in 1994 was detained and allegedly carried out the blast on instructions from Ukrainian special services. Operational and investigative measures are underway as authorities consider opening a criminal case.
Astra, an independent Russian Telegram channel, reported that an explosive device killed a man in Russian-occupied Sevastopol on Aug. 13. The pro-Kremlin Mash channel said it was placed in a trash can and killed him instantly. Unconfirmed reports identified him as Robert Shageev, a former Ukrainian Navy officer who defected to Russia. Ukraine has not commented.
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.
Lithuania’s Ministry of Economy and Innovation said Ukraine will build a NATO-standard ammunition assembly plant in the Prienai district and produce metal ammunition components at Alytus Industrial Park. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, with production expected to start in late 2027. The investment amount and ammunition specifications were not disclosed.
Human rights groups and monitors say Israel’s military is conducting an organised effort to crush and remove millions of tonnes of rubble from Gaza, including from cemeteries and sites linked to human remains. They warn the operation could erase evidence of alleged war crimes, destroy land markers and reshape the enclave’s urban landscape.
Antwerp’s diamond sector has rejected allegations that an 18-carat gold ring set with 321 diamonds, recently gifted to U.S. President Donald Trump, was linked to Europe’s diamond industry receiving an exemption from new tariffs weeks later.
Cuban Ambassador to Russia Enrique Horta Gonzalez says the United States has intensified its blockade against Cuba in recent months, reinforcing what he calls the isolation’s genocidal character. He says the energy embargo has caused profound humanitarian suffering and that Cuba will meet the challenges with dignity and resilience.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said political blackmail by hostile forces would not affect ties with Cuba and that Moscow would remain close to Havana. He said Russia plans to steadily deepen their multilateral strategic partnership despite attempts to curb cooperation through intimidation and pressure.
Customers in Beijing enjoy free access to AI tools at a bar that has become popular among developers, start-up founders, and investors through the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
🇨🇳 Beijing bar offers free AI tokens with beers
Customers in Beijing enjoy free access to AI tools at a bar that has become popular among developers, start-up founders, and investors through the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
Fulham left the field before a planned penalty shootout after their preseason match with Malaga ended 2-2. The clubs disputed whether a shootout had been agreed, while Malaga claimed the Costa del Sol trophy after scoring into an open goal. Fulham said both teams had agreed beforehand that no shootout would take place; coach Alvaro Arbeloa was sent off for confronting officials.
At least 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured in Ukraine in July, a 30 percent rise from the previous month and 70 percent increase from July 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission said. The UN has verified 16,874 civilian deaths since Russia’s invasion but says the total is likely a significant underestimate because casualties in Russian-occupied areas cannot be confirmed.
Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said four Ministry of Emergency Situations pyrotechnicians and a security guard were killed when Ukrainian munition detonated during disposal after an attack on the city. He said the specialists had neutralized thousands of shells and minefields and pledged support for their families.
The European Broadcasting Union and Bulgarian National Television have confirmed that Eurovision 2027 will run from 12 to 15 May in the Black Sea city of Burgas, with the final on 15 May. Burgas was chosen through a competitive process involving four Bulgarian cities after singer Dara won the latest contest.
Thailand’s economic growth is expected to have slowed sharply in the second quarter, with the economy contracting from the previous quarter, a Reuters poll of economists found. Weak household consumption outweighed support from exports and private investment.
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Japan’s claims to the Kuril Islands would change nothing and warned that those who failed to understand this would face “monstrous consequences.” He said the islands were, are and will remain Russian land, after Japan protested Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup had complicated the medium- and long-term restoration of relations between Tokyo and Moscow. Japan summoned Russia’s ambassador and strongly protested, maintaining that Iturup and the other Northern Territories are inherently Japanese territory.
Vladimir PutinIturupRussia-Japan relationsterritorial dispute
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time on Thursday. The Russian-controlled Pacific island chain is also claimed by Japan, prompting a protest from Tokyo.
Vladimir PutinKuril IslandsJapanterritorial dispute
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.
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong will call Pauline Hanson’s vision of a ‘monocultural society’ a ‘melancholic fantasy’ that could damage Australia’s national security and social cohesion. In a Lowy Institute address, Wong will defend multiculturalism, warn against politicians deepening racial divisions and highlight resilience amid foreign interference, disinformation and AI risks.
Australian politicsmulticulturalismracial divisionPenny Wong
The $109 billion investment fund behind Novo Nordisk has returned to full activity after reducing allocations earlier this year. Its chief executive says the fund is seeking opportunities in a US market that has become attractively priced.
The $109 Billion Fund Behind Novo Says US Renewables Are Now ‘Much More Attractive’
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⛏️ Afghanistan's gold rush upends lives and landscapes
In Afghanistan's northeast Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed.
⛏️ Afghanistan's gold rush upends lives and landscapes
In Afghanistan's northeast Badakhshan province, dozens of excavators operate day and night to extract gold from the mountains where villagers and their livestock once roamed.
Ukraine has received 261 bodies that Russia says belonged to Ukrainian service members, according to Kyiv’s POW Coordination Headquarters. Ukrainian investigators and forensic experts will identify the remains. Kyiv thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross, while officials alleged that Russia had previously returned its own soldiers’ bodies to avoid compensation or due to negligence.
Russia transferred 261 bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine during an exchange, while 24 bodies of Russian soldiers were returned to Russia, war correspondent Alexander Kots reported.
Confederation of African Football chief Patrice Motsepe says Gianni Infantino’s future should be decided only through elections, after Ireland became the latest federation to withdraw its support for the embattled FIFA president.
Ukraine says North Korea is preparing to send up to 50,000 troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine and gain battlefield experience. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged South Korea to deepen cooperation with Kyiv, while South Korean experts cautioned that evidence for the reported deployment remains limited.
North Korea’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine is believed to have generated exceptionally high revenues, strengthening Kim Jong Un’s rule while benefiting only a small segment of society. Pyongyang’s brighter skyline, new housing and major projects reflect an apparent boom funded by munitions sales, troop deployments, trade, labor exports and alleged cybercrime. Ukraine says North Korea has supplied a large share of Russia’s ammunition and plans further military deployments.
Zambians are voting for president and parliament, with more than eight million people registered. President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking another five-year term, but unemployment and high living costs have weakened his appeal. The contest is largely seen as a race between Hichilema and challenger Brian Mundubile.
Zambiapresidential electionparliamentary electioncost of living
Voting has begun in Zambia’s presidential election, with incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema seeking a second term. The contest will test whether his government’s economic reforms can overcome widespread frustration over the rising cost of living. Voters are also electing 226 members of parliament.
Zambians have begun voting in a presidential election that will test whether President Hakainde Hichilema’s economic reforms can overcome widespread frustration over the cost of living.
Zambiapresidential electionHakainde Hichilemacost of living
As Zambia votes, President Hakainde Hichilema is seeking a second term while his feud with the family and supporters of late former president Edgar Lungu continues. Opposition leader Brian Mundubile and running mate Makebi Zulu have pledged to return Lungu’s body for a dignified burial. The Tonse Alliance also accuses Hichilema’s government of authoritarian campaign tactics, allegations his team firmly denies.
Zambians are voting Thursday in a general election that is widely expected to return President Hakainde Hichilema for a second term. The ballot will test public opinion of his economic record. Voters frustrated by the rising cost of living are expressing discontent, while opposition parties are seeking to turn that frustration into support. Their efforts are complicated by deep divisions among the opposition. The election therefore combines an expected presidential outcome with a broader test of economic satisfaction and political discontent.
Zambiageneral electionHakainde Hichilemacost of living
Roads around Energodar are inspected every day for mines allegedly placed remotely by Ukrainian armed forces’ drones, Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant communications director Yevgenia Yashina said. Devices found are cleared quickly. She said recent attempts were aimed at obstructing supplies and movement; a mine explosion on August 3 injured four plant employees.
EnergodarZaporozhye Nuclear Power Plantminesdrones
Microsoft once considered leaving China unthinkable, but geopolitical tensions are prompting it to reconsider its exposure. The artificial intelligence boom is helping the company keep a window open there.
Russia remains committed to keeping the Arctic a zone of low tension, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said. He argued that major disputes have been addressed through international law and said the Arctic’s growing contribution to Russia’s GDP is likely to continue increasing.
A vessel fire at Century Huahai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry in Fu'an, Fujian Province, left 12 people injured, including 10 firefighters. One firefighter later died despite rescue efforts. The blaze was brought under control, and authorities are investigating its cause.
Federal data show U.S. firefighting personnel have been overrun by wildfires at the highest rate in two decades this year. Six people have died and dozens have been injured during a record-setting fire season.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the United Nations is undergoing a prolonged crisis and that Moscow is paying attention to every candidate for secretary-general. He said the next leader must radically address Western dominance in the organization’s leadership, alleged partiality and double standards, stressing that concrete action matters more than promises.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow knows of no proposals from Vladimir Zelensky on settling the Ukrainian conflict, and that Washington has not passed any such proposals through diplomatic channels. He described the UN crisis as prolonged, said Russia is watching all secretary-general candidates, and condemned new US sanctions on Cuba.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the next UN secretary-general must heed Moscow’s demands or risk the organization sinking into oblivion. He stressed that Russia values concrete actions rather than words and assurances, warning that the UN’s existing crisis could worsen.
The European Broadcasting Union says countries involved in an armed conflict or sensitive geopolitical situation will no longer be eligible to host Eurovision. Israel may therefore be unable to host the contest, though it can still compete; an alternative host will be chosen if needed.
Cuba on Thursday commemorated revolutionary leader Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday as the country faced one of the gravest economic and political crises in its history. The crisis has been worsened by Washington’s oil embargo and tighter sanctions.
Cuba marks Fidel Castro centenary amid deepening economic crisis
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🇬🇹 Maya community celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day
With flowers and candles, Indigenous Maya people conduct a thanksgiving ritual on an archaeological site near Guatemala City and honor their ancestral traditions on the UN's international Indigenous Peoples' Day.
🇬🇹 Maya community celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day
With flowers and candles, Indigenous Maya people conduct a thanksgiving ritual on an archaeological site near Guatemala City and honor their ancestral traditions on the UN's international Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Buildings near Treuchtlingen station in Bavaria were evacuated as a precaution after a suspicious object found on the tracks was assessed for a possible explosive hazard. Federal Police specialists X-rayed it, while rail traffic in the area remained suspended.
More than 50 Muslim and Christian leaders signed an interfaith peace accord in Abuja and launched a new body aimed at promoting religious harmony across Nigeria.
Ukraine’s Air Force will stop including the exact numbers of Russian ballistic missiles launched and intercepted in its daily morning updates, citing security and communications concerns. Critics say the change undermines transparency, while spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said totals will still be released monthly and real-time launch warnings will continue.
Ukraine’s military command has stopped listing the number of Russian ballistic missiles launched and intercepted in its morning reports, Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said. The Air Force will continue reporting air threats, the nature of attacks, and combat results, while media will receive aggregated weapons data. The change came amid a shortage of air-defense systems and was described by a Bloomberg source as a security measure.
Latin America is preparing for what experts warn could be the strongest El Niño on record, prompting questions about the climate phenomenon’s potential impact on the world’s leading food-exporting region.
A Louisiana grand jury declined to indict a former law enforcement officer accused of planning a mass shooting at a New Orleans festival targeting Black people. He was released after the decision.
A former law enforcement officer accused of planning a mass shooting targeting Black people at a New Orleans festival was quietly released this summer after a grand jury found insufficient evidence to charge him with a crime.
Former NBA MVP and triple-double record holder Russell Westbrook has announced his retirement after 18 seasons. He recorded 209 career triple-doubles, including a full-season triple-double average in his 2016-17 MVP campaign, and made nine All-Star teams.
Air India will introduce mandatory substance testing for all pilots on Thursday, extending checks beyond regulatory requirements after a pilot involved in a serious mid-air incident tested positive for marijuana.
Less than two months after twin earthquakes killed more than 6,000 people, Venezuela’s government is urging residents to conserve electricity and water. With El Niño approaching, people are preparing for more severe power and water cuts.
Russia and Malaysia have agreed to expand cooperation between special economic zones, including joint participation in international advanced development territories in Russia’s Far East. The countries are also focusing on trade and investment, agriculture, energy, tourism, cultural exchanges, science and education.
Russia’s Federal Security Service says it detained a 55-year-old Crimea resident accused of sending Ukraine’s Security Service information about military units, equipment and air-defense positions. The suspect was also allegedly instructed to prepare sabotage and terrorist attacks against railway facilities, but was arrested before carrying out the orders. A court ordered two months’ detention in a high-treason case.
Millions across Europe watched the skies on Wednesday as the Moon moved across the Sun during a rare solar eclipse. Totality occurred in parts of Iceland and northern Spain, while France, the UK and much of Europe experienced a striking partial eclipse, with over 90% of the Sun obscured in many areas.
The first total solar eclipse visible in Europe in nearly 30 years crossed the continent on Wednesday evening. Millions of tourists went to Spain, where the Moon fully covered the Sun along the path of totality, while about one in eight people worldwide saw a partial eclipse.
Britain and Europe experienced what was described as the most spectacular solar eclipse in nearly 30 years. About 90% of the Sun was obscured across most of the UK, rising above 95% in Cornwall, while parts of Spain saw a total eclipse lasting less than two minutes.
A rare total solar eclipse crossed Europe on Wednesday, drawing millions of viewers. The path of totality passed over Greenland, Iceland, Spain and northeastern Portugal, with darkness lasting more than two minutes in some places, while parts of France, the UK, Germany and Croatia saw a partial eclipse. Scientists used the event to study the solar corona and its effects on Earth’s atmosphere.
total solar eclipseEuropeastronomyscientific research
Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Russia has all the means needed to safeguard its security and international stability in the Arctic, including by expanding its military capabilities. He accused NATO countries of seeking to turn the region into an arena of military rivalry and said Russia would continue strengthening its forces.
Israel’s military said on Thursday that it had deployed additional troops to a West Bank village where Jewish settlers have confined Palestinian families to their homes. Palestinians say the siege is intended to force them off their land.
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.
Singapore, which imports more than 90% of its food, is considering a proposal to raise about $500 million for a fund aimed at strengthening climate resilience across Southeast Asia’s supply chains.
Singapore Studies $500 Million Fund to Climate-Proof Food System
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🇵🇭 Manila begins cleanup of trash-choked river
Workers in the Philippines wade through a garbage-filled river in the capital Manila, collecting waste and debris that washed into the waterway during days of heavy rain.
🇵🇭 Manila begins cleanup of trash-choked river
Workers in the Philippines wade through a garbage-filled river in the capital Manila, collecting waste and debris that washed into the waterway during days of heavy rain.
Russia says it will retaliate if unfriendly countries seize its merchant vessels and is prepared to host US presidential envoys for another round of Ukraine talks. Brent crude is forecast to average 25% higher in 2026 than the previous year, making the issues leading stories in Russian newspapers.
After former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji’s death, Taiwanese discussion has focused on his warning before the 2000 presidential election that those pursuing Taiwan independence would meet a bad end; commentators say it ultimately helped Chen Shui-bian win. Hong Kong and Macau voices instead highlight Zhu’s support during the Asian financial crisis, market opening and regional development. His state-sector reforms are also criticized for causing mass layoffs and heavy social costs.
Zhu RongjiTaiwan electionHong Kong financial crisiseconomic reform
Dineth Fernando, 13, moved from Sri Lanka to Melbourne with his family in February and has now won the 2026 World Youth Scrabble Championships in Nairobi. He played 24 games against more than 130 competitors from 15 countries, becoming only the third Australian representative to claim the title.
The UK has defended the seizure of the Russian-linked shadow fleet tanker MT Smyrtos in the English Channel, saying Royal Marines and law-enforcement officers acted in full accordance with international law. Vladimir Putin warned Russia would respond in kind to Western vessel seizures.
A new Al Jazeera film profiles Ali Safiuddin, head of Civil Defence in Tyre. He lost his daughter in an Israeli strike during the 2006 war and later rescued a girl from the Beirut explosion rubble. Despite a ceasefire, bombing and shelling continue along the “Yellow Line”, putting first responders at risk.
Online fast-fashion platform Shein lost its London lawsuit on Thursday against rival Temu, which it had accused of infringing copyright in photos of some of its products.
Russia sold 75 new luxury cars in July, up 3% from a year earlier and 17% from June, according to Autostat. Rolls-Royce led brands with 27 vehicles, followed by Bentley with 23 and Lamborghini with 18. January–July sales rose 13% year on year to 444 cars.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Russia’s Bashkortostan overnight on Aug. 13. It said the facility can process up to 10 million tons annually and supports Russia’s occupying army. A Wildberries warehouse in the region was also hit.
Birth rates across the Maghreb have fallen sharply in recent years. Most women now have fewer than three children, compared with the seven to eight children per woman that was typical in the 1970s.
Great Patriotic War veteran Yevgeny Znamensky, who turned 101 on August 13, recalled writing “Serpukhov, Znamensky” on the Reichstag during the Battle of Berlin. He later repeated the “Serpukhov” inscription on a Reichstag replica at the Moskino film park.
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
Jamal Elshayyal of Al Jazeera moderates a panel featuring academics and leaders from four countries on what postcolonialism looks like in Southeast Asia.
Incheon airport handled 38.39 million international passengers in the first half of 2026, overtaking Heathrow and Singapore’s Changi to top the global ranking for the first time. Airport officials attributed part of the rise to Middle East disruption from the US-Iran conflict, which diverted transfer traffic to East Asia.
Incheon airportinternational aviationIran warSouth Korea
China’s State Council will revise 12 administrative regulations and revoke three others to align the rules with the Ecological and Environmental Code, which takes effect Saturday. Premier Li Qiang signed the decree. The 1,242-article code covers pollution control, ecological protection and green, low-carbon development.
Europe’s fifth heatwave of the summer is expected to constrain about 15% of France’s total nuclear capacity on Friday, with six reactors forecast to be fully offline, according to operator EDF data.
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Paris Saint-Germain retain Super Cup title after beating Aston Villa
