Anthropic says Claude’s text-marking system will use a version of Google DeepMind’s open-source SynthID-Text approach. By steering low-stakes word choices with a key, it creates patterns that readers cannot see but authorized detectors can identify. The feature is intended to meet the EU AI Act’s transparency requirements, alongside C2PA support for processed images.
US President Donald Trump said he ordered joint military drills with South Korea to be reduced out of respect for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The exercises nevertheless went ahead as planned on Monday.
United StatesSouth KoreaNorth Koreamilitary drills
US President Donald Trump called for US-South Korean military drills to be scaled back just hours before they began, describing North Korea as “unthreatening and respectful.” South Korea said it hoped Trump’s relationship with Kim Jong Un could help bring Pyongyang back to negotiations. The report examines North Korea’s military capabilities, expanding nuclear arsenal and closer ties with Russia amid the Ukraine war.
North KoreaUS-South Korea drillsnuclear arsenalRussia
US and South Korean forces began planned joint military exercises on Monday despite Donald Trump urging a reduction. Trump described the drills as too expensive and hostile toward North Korea, while critics cautioned that scaling them back could undermine South Korea’s security. They are scheduled to run through August 28.
United StatesSouth Koreamilitary drillsNorth Korea
US President Donald Trump said the United States would “greatly reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He also criticized Seoul for rejecting cooperation on US efforts to denuclearize Iran. South Korea said it was reviewing the remarks and would continue consultations with Washington.
US-South Korea drillsDonald TrumpNorth KoreaIran denuclearization
U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to substantially scale back joint military exercises with South Korea that started Monday, pointing to their cost and Seoul’s refusal to join actions against Iran.
United StatesSouth Koreamilitary exercisesDonald Trump
South Korean and US forces began the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises on Monday, and Newsis reported that they were proceeding as planned. President Donald Trump had earlier said he ordered the drills reduced, but South Korea’s Defense Ministry has received no official notice. About 18,000 South Korean troops are taking part, with the exercises scheduled through August 27.
South Korea-US relationsjoint exercisesUlchi Freedom Shield
President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon on Sunday to reduce military drills with South Korea, calling them “inappropriate and hostile.” He said the ally had failed to assist with the war against Iran and cited his “good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, calling them costly and an inappropriate, hostile signal. He also cited Seoul’s refusal to join U.S. actions to “denuclearize” Iran.
United StatesSouth Koreamilitary exercisesDonald Trump
US President Donald Trump said annual military exercises with South Korea send an “inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea. He ordered the Pentagon to substantially scale back the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills, scheduled for August 17 to 27, saying it was too late to cancel them.
US President Donald Trump says he instructed the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, calling them costly and an inappropriate, hostile signal. South Korea’s Defense Ministry says the Ulchi Freedom Shield drill is proceeding as planned.
Donald TrumpUS-South Korea relationsmilitary exercisesUlchi Freedom Shield
Donald Trump says he has ordered a substantial reduction in joint US-South Korea military drills, citing his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong-un and calling the exercises costly and hostile. Military officials warn North Korean forces are bringing back battlefield lessons from Ukraine, including drone, GPS-disruption and cyber tactics.
Donald TrumpUS-South Korea drillsNorth KoreaUkraine war
Donald Trump says he ordered the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, calling them costly and an inappropriate, hostile signal to North Korea. Seoul’s defence ministry says the scheduled drills will proceed as planned.
Donald TrumpUS-South Korea drillsNorth KoreaKorean Peninsula
President Donald Trump says in a Truth Social post that he instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea.
President Donald Trump said he told the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, suggesting the change was driven by frustration that the longtime US ally had not offered more support for his war with Iran.
President Donald Trump announced that the United States would scale back military exercises with key regional ally South Korea, citing his positive relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Seoul’s lack of assistance with Iran.
Donald TrumpSouth Koreamilitary exercisesNorth Korea
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had directed the Pentagon to substantially scale back joint military exercises with South Korea. In the same social media post, he referred to Seoul’s refusal to participate in actions against Iran.
Donald TrumpU.S.-South Korea relationsmilitary exercises
President Donald Trump said the US would substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, arguing that they send a “totally inappropriate and hostile” signal to North Korea. He said he had instructed War Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut the drills and cited his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un.
Donald TrumpUS-South Korea drillsNorth Koreadiplomacy
President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, saying Seoul declined to assist efforts to denuclearize Iran.
Donald Trump says the United States will substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea, describing them as costly and sending an inappropriate, hostile signal. He also cited his very good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s recent refusal to join the US in Iran’s “denuclearisation.”
Donald TrumpSouth Koreamilitary exercisesNorth Korea
Explosive drones targeted the Kurdistan Regional Government prime minister’s office and the residence of its security and intelligence chief, according to the region’s security agency. The agency said the attacks were launched from Iranian territory and reported no casualties. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani called the attack “illegitimate and unacceptable.”
Two drones targeted the Kurdistan Regional Government prime minister’s office in northern Iraq on Monday, but no casualties were reported, according to the KRG security agency.
drone attackIraqi KurdistanKurdistan Regional Government
A stampede at a Hindu temple in India’s eastern Bihar state killed seven people and injured 19 as crowds gathered during the holy month of Shravan. It was the country’s second temple stampede this year.
A stampede at a Hindu temple in Bihar, eastern India, killed seven devotees and injured more than a dozen others. A snapped electric wire reportedly sparked panic among worshippers before the stampede.
At least six people died and several were injured at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai after an electricity pole reportedly fell and people were electrocuted, creating a “stampede-like” situation amid a rush of devotees. Officials said the precise cause remains under verification.
At least six devotees were killed and several others injured in a crush at the Ashok Dham temple in Bihar’s Lakhisarai district. A police officer said a fallen electric pole may have caused electrocutions and triggered the chaos, while a district official cited a broken barricade amid an unprecedented crowd. An investigation is underway.
Six people died and several others were injured in a “stampede-like” incident at the Ashokdham temple in India’s Bihar state, ANI reported, citing state police.
A fact-finding team of regional politicians allied with India’s governing party says Chinese forces have blocked Indian troops from key patrol points and encroached on land in Arunachal Pradesh. India’s army rejects the reports, while the Foreign Ministry stresses that border peace is vital to wider ties. The claims have triggered political anger in New Delhi and fury among local residents.
Sixteen-year-old Yasser Ayad is gaining attention on social media for cooking traditional Palestinian dishes in Gaza. After his father was killed and the family home destroyed in the war, Yasser continued the family cooking tradition, filming meals made with scarce supplies while living in a tent.
The Alternative for Germany is described with terms including right-wing, far-right, fascist and populist. Political scientist Armin Pfahl-Traughber says “far-right extremist” is more fitting because of what he sees as the party’s rejection of democratic values alongside an emphasis on ethnic identity. The glossary also explains right-wing conservatism and völkisch ideology.
More than 670,000 French taxpayers are being notified that their personal and tax information was stolen and allegedly put up for sale online. Authorities warn it could enable scams and identity fraud, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is convening a meeting on government institutions’ digital security.
MGIMO expert Oleg Karpovich says US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to visit Moscow with concrete ideas for resolving the Ukraine conflict. He described the trip as active Trump administration involvement, while saying Russia rejects a ceasefire or pause that could allow Ukraine to rearm.
Russian attacks killed at least nine people and injured 43 across Ukraine over the past day, Ukrainian officials said. A jet-powered drone struck a shopping center in Odesa Oblast, while a separate strike damaged port infrastructure and a Togolese-flagged civilian vessel. The Air Force said Russia launched 128 drones overnight, with 106 shot down.
Ushkuynik Research and Production Center CEO Alexey Chadayev says pairing the fiber-optic FPV Knyaz Vandal of Novgorod with the radio-controlled Knyaz Veshchy Oleg reconnaissance drone makes the strike drone 2.5 times more effective. He also described the use of the Knyaz Vladimir Svyatoslavovich loitering munition, whose range exceeds 50 km.
Knyaz Vandal drone’s effectiveness rises 2.5-fold when paired with scout drone — Ushkuynik Center
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🇵🇱 Polish village puts faith in Europe's tallest Virgin Mary statue
Europe's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary towers over farmlands around the Polish village of Konotopie. At 55 metres, the figure is the second tallest in the world behind the 98.15 metre Mother of All Asia effigy in the Philippines
🇵🇱 Polish village puts faith in Europe's tallest Virgin Mary statue
Europe's tallest statue of the Virgin Mary towers over farmlands around the Polish village of Konotopie. At 55 metres, the figure is the second tallest in the world behind the 98.15 metre Mother of All Asia effigy in the Philippines
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia last week, killing dozens, injuring hundreds and damaging more than 900 buildings. Nearly 13,000 people have been displaced, many remaining in tents while rescue teams work and hospitals treat the wounded.
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in eastern Indonesia has killed at least 54 people and injured more than 100. Around 500 homes were damaged, landslides blocked roads and about 12,800 people on Flores remain unable to return home. Residents say they urgently need aid; a tsunami warning was later lifted.
As harvest approaches, Canada’s durum, spring wheat, canola and pulse crops are facing a widespread, costly disease threat linked to the country’s first wet year of the decade.
Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov said the republic should become a hub of Russia’s emerging unmanned economy and called for a unified center of competence for low-altitude economy development. He said expertise-sharing and joint initiatives could underpin a long-term Russian-Chinese partnership in the sector.
France’s back-to-school period also marks the rentrée littéraire, when thousands of new books arrive in shops nationwide. French bookseller Isabelle Claret Lemarchand, who runs a London bookshop, discusses this year’s styles and trends, compares French and British releases, and considers the publishing industry’s challenges.
The Trump administration is intensifying diplomacy to secure a Gaza peace plan. US envoy Jared Kushner is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to persuade him to support the proposal. With Netanyahu facing significant political and personal stakes ahead of a possible re-election, the meeting’s prospects for a breakthrough and its implications for all sides are under scrutiny.
US envoy Jared Kushner is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt aimed at reviving a US-backed Gaza peace plan. Israel has so far rejected the plan, raising the stakes of Kushner’s visit.
Jared Kushner is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promote a 15-point Gaza plan rejected by Israel. A day earlier, Trump’s son-in-law met Hamas political leaders in Egypt and held talks with Qatari, Turkish and Egyptian mediators in an effort to break the diplomatic deadlock.
Hamas called on mediators and the US-created board overseeing the ceasefire to “compel” Israel to approve Donald Trump’s latest Gaza peace roadmap. Trump’s envoys met Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators in Cairo and were due to meet Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel continued airstrikes in Gaza.
US envoy Jared Kushner is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday after talks with Hamas leaders in Egypt. The discussions seek to revive a US-backed Gaza peace plan that Israel has so far rejected.
As enthusiasm for artificial intelligence spreads across China, Beijing bar owner Song De hopes his AI-themed venue can benefit. He says AI and alcohol share three traits: hallucinations, bubbles and distillation.
Andrei Klepach, chief economist at state-controlled development bank VEB, was fired after criticizing Russia’s economic outlook and warning that Moscow could not win a prolonged economic war of attrition with Ukraine. He had said Russia was falling behind China, the US and, in some respects, Ukraine.
Russia’s state development corporation VEB.RF dismissed chief economist Andrei Klepach after media circulated his remarks that Russia could not win the economic “war of attrition.” Sources linked the move to his criticism of Russia’s economic and political course, while VEB.RF confirmed his departure without giving a reason.
RussiaVEB.RFAndrei Klepacheconomic war of attrition
A team led by Chilean researchers has created the most complete genetic map yet of one of only two flowering plants that naturally grow in Antarctica. The work could support efforts to develop crops able to withstand extreme weather.
Coalition leader Angus Taylor says the opposition will support the Albanese government’s proposed NDIS overhaul only if it first closes a loophole dubbed the “widow tax” in investment-property taxation. He calls further delay in repealing the measure “unconscionable” as the government seeks Senate support for the bill.
Kirill Dmitriev warned that Europe’s refusal to acknowledge mistakes in its migration policies could further undermine the continent. Commenting on a video about the impact of migrant arrivals in the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, he accused legacy media of hiding the issue and labeling such coverage “Russian propaganda.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was booed by dozens of residents during a Monday visit to Le Porge in southwestern France, where wildfires have devastated the region. The protest reflected anger over the government’s handling of the country’s worst wildfire crisis in decades.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said he will sign an agreement with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa allowing visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic and service passports. Lavrov said the measure would expand government contacts across diplomacy, the economy, trade, investment, humanitarian exchanges and education.
Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial is working with a Hong Kong-based venture that offers artificial-intelligence models developed by Chinese companies the U.S. administration has flagged over national security concerns.
Two days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara, thousands of people remain displaced and await aid. At least 54 people were killed and 135 injured, while more than 1,300 homes were damaged. Rescuers are searching affected areas and airlifting food, water, clothing and medical supplies to isolated communities.
Indonesia earthquakeEast Nusa Tenggararescue operation
At least 53 people were killed and about 5,000 displaced after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Flores island. Aftershocks, landslides and blocked roads are disrupting aid, while damaged hospitals are treating patients in tents and survivors report shortages of food and clean water.
The UNCCD’s COP17 opened in Ulaanbaatar, with China’s decades-long desertification control efforts receiving particular attention. A UN official cited the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program as evidence that land degradation can be reversed at scale. China proposed an International Grassland Day and is presenting its practices through a “China Corner” and nearly 20 side events.
Government figures show that Ebola has killed 2,325 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, exceeding the 2,299 deaths recorded in the 2018–2020 outbreak. The UN calls the current outbreak the fastest-growing on record, saying it is killing one person every 30 minutes. It began in Ituri and has spread to five other provinces.
Democratic Republic of CongoEbolaoutbreakpublic health
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history, with 2,235 deaths reported. Confirmed infections have reached 4,945, including 101 cases identified in the past 24 hours, the public health institute said.
Public health officials say the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 2,325 people, overtaking the country’s 2018-2020 outbreak as its deadliest. Caused by the rare Bundibugyo species, the epidemic has spread to six of the country’s 26 provinces, with no approved vaccine currently available.
Government data showed on Sunday that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 2,325 people, exceeding the death toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak and becoming the deadliest in the country's history.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed 2,325 people, overtaking the 2018–2020 outbreak as the country’s deadliest. Confirmed infections have reached 4,945, including 101 new cases in 24 hours. A UN official calls for speed, scale and solidarity as the outbreak grows at a record pace.
Government data shows that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 2,325 people, surpassing the death toll from the 2018-2020 outbreak and becoming the deadliest in the country’s history.
Government data says at least 2,325 people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, exceeding the toll from 2018-20. Confirmed cases have reached 4,945, including 101 identified in the previous 24 hours, with six provinces affected. Uganda has also reported at least 20 cases.
EbolaDemocratic Republic of the Congooutbreakpublic health
The European Commission says Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg will stop recognizing Russian non-biometric passports on October 1, 2026. Sweden will allow some holders to enter through year-end if they already have a valid EU or Schengen visa or residence permit; the other three countries have no transition period. The move brings the number of such European states to 15.
India said it signed a contract with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian high-altitude, long-endurance drones to the Indian Navy for 30 months at a cost of 19.43 billion rupees, or $203 million.
Bloomberg News Now offers a comprehensive audio briefing on the day’s top stories, with updates throughout the day and global business news delivered in a few minutes.
Bloomberg News Now is an audio roundup of the day’s leading stories, including a reported warning from Jamie Dimon to the UK, Donald Trump’s move to reduce military drills with South Korea and other global business news. It is updated throughout the day and runs for a few minutes per edition.
Jamie DimonUnited KingdomUS-South Korea drillsglobal business
A US Navy guided-missile destroyer spent four days last month without working toilets, galley services or air conditioning after losing power in the blistering heat of the South China Sea.
Russian media says the United States and Iran are choosing a war of attrition as their 60-day ceasefire expires on August 17. Coverage also highlights Moscow’s request for clarification over possible Turkish re-exports of US-made weapons to Ukraine and claims that Kyiv is using attacks inside Russia to divert attention from air-defense shortages. Experts say Iran can sustain the conflict, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining central.
US-Iran conflictceasefireStrait of HormuzUkraine attacks
The Kyiv Independent is recruiting a breaking news reporter for its growing War Desk. The role calls for fast, accurate coverage of important developments in Ukraine, along with the context audiences need to understand them.
Chinese Ambassador to Moscow Zhang Hanhui said Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping seek to raise Russian-Chinese relations to a higher level amid global instability. He highlighted the 30th anniversary of their strategic partnership and the 25th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness, Friendship, and Cooperation.
Cameroon beat tournament newcomers Malawi 3-0 in the final to claim their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Eto added the third. Both finalists, Morocco and Algeria qualified for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The organizers said the 18th Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, scheduled for 2026, has been postponed until 2027 for reasons beyond their control. The dates for next year’s festival will be announced later.
Somalia’s National Armed Forces killed at least 30 al-Shabaab militants and captured several others after repelling an attack on positions in Baidoa, the Defense Ministry said. The assault involved vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and militias loyal to Southwest State President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen. Security operations were still underway.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said US and Israeli interference, security obstacles, the number of parties involved and sabotage have delayed negotiations with Oman on a Strait of Hormuz security agreement. Tehran and Muscat are working on a mechanism to protect the two coastal states’ rights and ensure safe passage for merchant vessels.
Conflicts and climate change have sharply increased transport costs on key maritime and river routes, the Financial Times reports. Rates for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Asia reached a record $15.22 per barrel last week, amid the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, droughts and disruption around the Panama Canal, Red Sea and Black Sea.
shipping costsStrait of HormuzPanama Canalclimate change
The South African rand strengthened against the U.S. dollar in early Monday trading as investors awaited inflation figures due later this week for indications of the health of Africa’s largest economy.
A Ukrainian missile strike killed six people and wounded four, including a child, in Russia’s border Belgorod region, the acting governor said Monday. The attack came as Russia struck port infrastructure overnight in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region.
A Ukrainian missile strike on Koloskovo in Russia’s Belgorod Region killed six civilians and injured four others, including a 14-year-old child, acting Governor Alexander Shuvayev said. A building burned down and a car was damaged. Two injured people were hospitalized, while prosecutors opened scrutiny and investigators worked to identify the missile type.
A Ukrainian missile strike on Koloskovo village in Russia’s Belgorod region killed at least six people and wounded four others, including a 14-year-old, according to the acting regional governor. Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine killed at least four people and injured 19.
Acting Belgorod Governor Alexander Shuvaev said a Ukrainian missile strike killed six people in Koloskovo village, in the Valuysky district. Four people were injured, including a 14-year-old; two received treatment at the scene and two were hospitalized. A local Telegram channel said the strike occurred the previous evening.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz fell to a weekend low after reports that three Abu Dhabi National Oil Company vessels were attacked. Kpler data showed five commercial vessels crossed on August 15 and none on August 16, compared with 31 over the previous weekend.
The Kyiv Independent is seeking a confident on-camera Video Journalist to research, script, host and report stories, while working with producers and editors on journalism for its YouTube channel. Applicants are asked to submit a CV, portfolio or showreel, and cover letter.
Russian military expert Alexander Stepanov said Iran’s ongoing campaign has fundamentally challenged the effectiveness of US carrier strike groups, calling them an expensive and vulnerable means of projecting power. He added that the USS Abraham Lincoln’s more than 260 days at sea had taken a toll on its crew.
IranUS aircraft carrierMiddle East military operations
In a message to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto marking Indonesia’s Independence Day, Vladimir Putin said Moscow and Jakarta would continue expanding mutually beneficial ties bilaterally and through international structures. He said relations were developing successfully and looked forward to meeting in Vladivostok in early September.
Britain’s new premier has pledged to ease hardship for millions unable to afford essentials. In London, Donna O’Hara relies on food banks, struggles with medical and household costs, and expects eviction. Andy Burnham’s 10-year response includes more social and affordable housing, Universal Credit reform and investment in local economies.
United Kingdomcost-of-living crisiswelfare reformhousing
Finnish outlet YLE reports that Yandex covered a military installation near Kronstadt with copied forest fragments in a satellite image. The outlet described it as a new way to conceal military sites. Expert Marko Eklund said the tactic makes no operational sense and suggested Russian authorities may have ordered Yandex to hide certain locations.
Yandex digitally adds forest to maps to hide Russian military site
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🇲🇲 Severe monsoon floods displace thousands in Myanmar
Severe monsoon flooding has swamped villages and paddy fields across central Myanmar, forcing people out of their homes, including many already displaced by war
🇲🇲 Severe monsoon floods displace thousands in Myanmar
Severe monsoon flooding has swamped villages and paddy fields across central Myanmar, forcing people out of their homes, including many already displaced by war
Wildfires are spreading across Europe, prompting evacuations, deaths and major damage. Greece, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the UK have faced severe fires, while Croatia has reported multiple blazes and arrests over suspected arson.
Fires killed two people on Greece’s Salamina island and a soldier in Spain’s Aragon region. Belgium faced its largest modern-day wildfire, which expanded to nearly 3,000 hectares near the German border and prompted a partial evacuation. Portugal, Croatia and France were also battling wildfires.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service says a Western country, coordinating with what it calls its “Ukrainian stooges,” plans to accuse Moscow of supplying weapons to drug cartels and other organized crime groups in Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico. The SVR says fabricated audio, video and documents are being prepared as alleged evidence.
A cold front moving in from the Atlantic is expected to end western Europe’s prolonged heat, with temperatures potentially more than 15C lower than last Thursday. Parts of southern England have gone 62 days without rain and could see substantial rainfall this week, while extreme heat warnings remain in effect across the southern US.
A batch of upgraded Tigr-M armored vehicles has been delivered to the Russian Pacific Fleet’s anti-sabotage units in Kamchatka, the fleet’s press service said. The vehicles carry a remote combat module, ballistic protection, communications equipment and jamming systems. Similar vehicles were also supplied to units in Primorsky Region.
The low-budget Chinese animated film Niu Lai went viral because of its baffling plot and crude animation, attracting fans who embraced it ironically. Its box office climbed from 7,705 yuan in its first ten days to more than 11.4 million yuan, while its unexpected success drew criticism over cinema bookings and falling quality standards.
Low-budget animation Niu Lai has surged from 7,705 yuan in its first 10 days to more than 11.4m yuan after social media users embraced its confusing plot and poor graphics. Cinemas added screenings, though state-owned Beijing News warned that promoting such films could erode audience trust and standards.
Russia’s Battlegroup North says its artillery units carried out more than 200 fire missions overnight in Ukraine’s Kharkov and Sumy Regions. The strikes reportedly destroyed 10 Ukrainian UAV control posts and nine all-terrain vehicles, while eliminating more than 50 personnel.
Russia-Ukraine conflictartillery strikesKharkov RegionSumy Region
The UFLPA entity list added 43 Chinese companies in one day, bringing the total to 187 and extending restrictions across chips, food and apparel. Josef Gregory Mahoney argues that labeling consumer goods firms as linked to forced labor lacks factual basis, portraying the escalation as political calculation aimed at suppressing Chinese industries and disrupting supply chains.
As a 7.7-magnitude earthquake shook eastern Indonesia and damaged homes, buildings and bridges, Maria Florida Nogo Kelen gave birth to her daughter. She said she was “grateful” after the emergency delivery.
The euro rose above 98 rubles on Russia’s interbank market for the first time since March 20, 2026, trading data showed. At 10:45 a.m. Moscow time, it was up 1.51% at 98.683 rubles, while the dollar gained 1.27% to 84.99 rubles.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc plans to present what she called its largest-ever package of sanctions against Russia in the fall. If approved, the number of sanctioned individuals, companies and organizations would rise by one-third. She also voiced hope that EU and US positions would converge.
EU’s chief diplomat says bloc will unveil ‘largest-ever sanctions’ on Russia in fall
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🇲🇦 Moroccan authorities intercept migrants near border with Ceuta
Scores of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, are intercepted in northern Morocco near the border with the Spanish territory of Ceuta, according to an AFP correspondent.
🇲🇦 Moroccan authorities intercept migrants near border with Ceuta
Scores of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, are intercepted in northern Morocco near the border with the Spanish territory of Ceuta, according to an AFP correspondent.
The UN delivered aid to Qusra after Israeli settlers cut several Palestinian families off from food, water and electricity. Residents describe months of harassment and attacks, while rights groups accuse settlers of trying to drive Palestinians from the area. Critics warn that Israel’s proposed transfer of West Bank law-enforcement powers could deepen its control there.
South Africa’s Thungela Resources said its half-year profit more than doubled as higher thermal coal prices and stronger export sales benefited the company, while the Middle East conflict disrupted energy markets.
Virgin Trains has secured track access approval to operate up to 20 daily return services from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam through the Channel tunnel from 2030. It still needs access to other rail networks and safety approvals before launching the services.
Removing red tape for Wall Street has been a priority for the Trump White House. Europe’s banks want comparable deregulation and are now more hopeful about getting it than they have been in a long time.
Iraq’s proposal to export oil through a pipeline crossing Syria, intended to guard against future disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, could take four years to build and cost at least $15 billion, according to people familiar with the project.
Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on Russia, striking a Wildberries warehouse and other sites. Russian attacks on Ukraine continued at the same time, destroying civilian and industrial areas and bringing the war closer to civilians on both sides.
Tatarstan Head Rustam Minnikhanov said China is the republic’s leading investment partner and that bilateral trade reached a record $3.35 billion in 2025. Speaking at the SPROUTS forum in Kazan, he said cooperation is helping create production chains, promote innovation and support economic growth.
TatarstanChinese investmentRussia-China tradeSPROUTS forum
Maharashtra has warned three leading Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, to stop appearing in surrogate advertising for a brand largely linked to a banned betel nut product as the Indian state steps up its food safety campaign.
Police detained several people outside Russia’s Supreme Court in Moscow before a hearing on Yabloko’s appeal against its removal from the State Duma election. Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov said there were no grounds to exclude the party and vowed to prove it.
A surprise defeat for Narendra Modi’s BJP in Bihar’s Bankipur constituency, following student protests led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, has exposed the party’s difficulty connecting with Gen Z on social media. Analysts describe its response as a battle for perception, not a fundamental policy shift.
Soaring fuel prices are making boat journeys to school on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap lake harder for poor families. Thirteen-year-old Sou Sreynich sometimes misses classes to gut fish or pick chillies for income, while aid groups warn that prolonged war could push millions more children into poverty and expose them to hunger and exploitation.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping urged his people to show an “indomitable fighting spirit” in a bullish speech on Monday, while praising the ruling Communist Party’s decision to clamp down on the Tiananmen democracy protests.
Ferrari said a bespoke one-off version of its Luce, the Italian luxury sports-car maker’s first fully electric vehicle, sold for $40 million at a charity auction. The proceeds will support education projects for young people.
Ferrari’s first fully electric car, the Luce, sold for $40m at a Sotheby’s charity auction in California, setting a record for a new car sold at auction. The bespoke model has unique styling and parts, while proceeds will support the Ferrari Foundation’s educational programmes. Its launch had drawn criticism from some commentators over its five-seat electric design.
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