Russian forces launched missile and drone attacks overnight in southeastern Ukraine and Kyiv, killing six people and injuring others. Ukraine and Russia both reported damage and casualties, with Russia stating it targeted military and transport facilities, while Ukraine said a children’s hospital in Kyiv was hit.
Key Facts
Six people were killed and 19 wounded in missile and bomb attacks in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
A ballistic missile struck Kyiv, causing damage and injuring one person.
A children’s hospital in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district was hit, resulting in a fire and one injury.
A drone attack in the southern city of Mykolaiv injured a 75-year-old woman.
Russia said its attacks targeted defense and logistics centers in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine claimed an overnight drone attack killed one person and injured two in Russia’s Voronezh region.
Russian air defenses destroyed 15 drones over Voronezh and surrounding areas.
Ukraine is facing challenges defending against attacks due to shortages of Patriot missile interceptors.
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A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia's coffee-growing region on Monday, killing at least 164 people. Rescue teams worked through the night on Tuesday to find survivors amid damaged buildings and collapsed homes in cities like Cali and Pereira.
Key Facts
The earthquake struck Colombia's coffee-growing area early Monday.
At least 164 people have died, with more casualties expected.
Cities like Cali and Pereira saw many buildings destroyed or damaged.
In Cali, around 85 people died, and some hospital floors collapsed, trapping patients.
Rescue workers, police, soldiers, and volunteers dug through rubble to find survivors.
Pereira reported 66 deaths and major damage, including to its airport.
A curfew was put in place in Cali and Pereira due to safety concerns, including reports of looting.
Authorities deployed 1,000 security forces to help maintain order and assist rescue efforts.
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Rescue teams in western Colombia continue working after a powerful earthquake caused buildings to collapse and homes to be destroyed. The number of deaths is expected to increase as search efforts continue.
Key Facts
The earthquake hit western Colombia and was the strongest in the country in many years.
Rescue workers are digging through rubble to find survivors.
Many buildings and houses were flattened by the quake.
The death toll is not final and may rise as more searches are done.
Emergency response is ongoing to help those affected by the disaster.
The earthquake has caused widespread damage across the region.
This event is one of the most serious natural disasters Colombia has faced recently.
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India’s relationship with Israel has grown stronger, including cooperation in military supply and production. Despite concerns about the conflict in Gaza and international criticism of Israel’s actions, India continues to support Israel and supply military components.
Key Facts
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s ties with Israel have become closer, especially in defense and strategic areas.
India used to mainly buy weapons from Israel but now helps produce weapons through joint ventures and partnerships.
Amnesty International revealed that Indian companies supplied many weapon parts to Israeli military suppliers during the Gaza conflict.
These parts included small arms components, artillery shell casings, drone warheads, and military vehicle parts.
Some Western countries have limited arms sales to Israel over concerns about the war in Gaza and humanitarian law violations.
United Nations commissions have accused Israel of committing genocide and war crimes in Gaza, and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite this, India’s government and public have not shown major opposition to the arms supply or Israel’s actions.
Analysts link India’s support to shared nationalist ideologies and political support from Modi’s voter base.
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Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to apologize to Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for a joke he made about Japanese melons during a comedy podcast. The comment caused media attention and political criticism in Australia, but Japan’s government said they saw no ill intent and called the media coverage exaggerated.
Key Facts
Albanese joked about receiving Japanese melons from Prime Minister Takaichi on a satirical podcast.
The joke included hand gestures and a reference to “two, as you do,” which some interpreted as a sexual innuendo.
Opposition parties in Australia demanded an apology, calling the remarks disrespectful.
Albanese rejected calls to apologize and highlighted the strong relationship between Australia and Japan.
A former Japanese ambassador criticized the joke as ungracious and damaging to the Australia-Japan bond.
The Japanese government sent a diplomatic message stating the remarks had no bad intention and media coverage was sensationalized.
Australian government officials defended Albanese and said the comments were misinterpreted.
Media coverage of the joke continued several weeks after the podcast aired, but experts said it was not an issue in Japan.
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Yemen’s government forces said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles at the port city of al-Makha and the central city of Marib. The recent attacks follow deadly strikes that have worsened the ongoing civil war, which escalated after a Saudi air strike in July 2023 ended a truce.
Key Facts
Yemeni government forces accused the Houthis of ballistic missile attacks on al-Makha and Marib.
Previous Houthi missile strikes killed at least seven people and damaged al-Makha’s port area.
A Houthi drone strike killed two government soldiers and wounded seven in Shabwa province.
Yemeni forces responded by targeting Houthi sites in al-Jawf, Saada, and Marib provinces.
The conflict reignited after a Saudi air strike hit Sanaa airport in July 2023, ending a truce from April 2022.
Houthis retaliated with attacks on Saudi airports, shipping, and oil facilities, disrupting the economy.
The Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes and reinforced troops for a possible ground attack on Houthi areas.
The UN warned the fighting risks undoing progress from the 2022 truce and could escalate into a wider regional war.
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Five years after taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have developed diplomatic and economic relationships with several countries, although only Russia officially recognizes their government. Many nations, including some in Europe and Asia, engage with the Taliban mainly for practical reasons like trade and security, while demanding improvements in human rights before formal recognition.
Key Facts
The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan five years ago.
Russia is the only country to officially recognize the Taliban government.
Western countries want the Taliban to improve human rights before recognizing them.
Afghanistan maintains working relationships with countries like China, Japan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Britain.
Several Central Asian countries are involved in trade talks with Afghanistan to access sea routes.
The Taliban promotes cross-border infrastructure projects and expanded mining to boost the economy.
Foreign funding and investment remain limited due to lack of official recognition.
Taliban officials have traveled abroad for diplomatic talks, including negotiations with the European Union about returning rejected asylum seekers.
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The UK government faces a major decision about whether to approve new oil and gas drilling at two sites called Rosebank and Jackdaw. This decision is important because it involves balancing climate change goals with energy needs and economic factors.
Key Facts
Rosebank is a new oilfield about 80 miles from the Shetland coast, with 300-500 million barrels of oil and some gas supply.
Jackdaw is a gasfield 150 miles east of Aberdeen that could produce gas equal to 6% of the UK's North Sea supply.
The UK owns all oil and gas underground and gives licences to companies for drilling and extraction.
Shell owns the licence for Jackdaw; Rosebank is owned mostly by a joint venture between Shell and the Norwegian state company Equinor, with other investments from UK and Israeli companies.
Public consultations on whether to allow drilling at Jackdaw and Rosebank have recently closed or are closing soon.
Some officials and campaigners say new drilling would increase carbon emissions and go against UK climate targets like reaching net zero emissions.
The decision will be a key test for the UK government’s approach to climate and energy policy amid ongoing heatwaves and drought.
Fossil fuel firms argue the drilling could help energy security but face criticism about environmental impact and long-term benefits.
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President Donald Trump said it would be a "terrible mistake" to remove FIFA president Gianni Infantino. This statement came after several football confederations accused Infantino of breaking trust over a failed business plan called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE).
Key Facts
President Trump publicly defended FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
UEFA, Concacaf, and the Asian Football Confederation accused Infantino of "deception" related to the FFE proposal.
The FFE plan involved creating a new company to handle FIFA event commercial rights and selling 21% to a private investor.
The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, with Spain winning the tournament.
Trump praised Infantino for overseeing a successful World Cup, stating future events would not be as successful without him.
Trump said he had not spoken directly to Infantino about the FFE plans.
Thrive Eternal, linked to an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law’s brother), was expected to lead the FFE investor group.
The controversy about the FFE came to light on July 28, 2025.
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A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck Colombia, causing severe damage and destroying homes. Over 130 people have died, and many others are injured or missing.
Key Facts
The earthquake in Colombia measured 7.4 in strength.
It caused heavy damage, including homes being destroyed.
More than 130 people have died due to the quake.
Dozens of people are injured or unaccounted for.
A family filmed the earthquake and the destruction of their house.
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Author Peter James has moved back to Sussex from Jersey with 57 animals. He relocated to a home near Pulborough, West Sussex, which has enough space for his many animals, but he left behind his pygmy goats due to travel concerns.
Key Facts
Peter James is known for writing the Roy Grace book series.
He lived on the island of Jersey for eight years before moving back to Sussex.
James relocated to a home near Pulborough in West Sussex.
He moved 57 animals, including budgies, guinea pigs, and rabbits, in several vehicles due to ferry rules limiting five animals per vehicle.
Jersey ferry law allows only five animals per vehicle, with no difference between types of animals.
He had to leave behind his pygmy goats as they might not survive the trip.
James is a patron of the RSPCA in Sussex and regularly cares for animals.
He moved to West Sussex because it is quiet and has enough land for his growing group of animals.
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A 200-year-old sword was found sticking out of a lake at Chiddingstone Castle after water levels dropped due to hot weather and drought in England. The sword, possibly from the early 1800s, was discovered when volunteers cleared fallen branches from the lake’s edge.
Key Facts
The sword has a curved blade and a gilded hilt with a lion design.
It may be a Victorian bandsman's sword from the early 19th century.
The lake at Chiddingstone Castle was built in the 1800s.
There are several ideas about how the sword got into the lake, including connections to World War Two troops or former castle owners.
England is experiencing severe drought, with 71.3% of the country now officially declared in drought status.
Over 45 million people in England live in drought areas, and more than 27 million face water use restrictions.
The drought is due to the driest July on record since 1836, with hot weather continuing.
Satellite images show significant drops in water levels across Kent, Sussex, and Surrey.
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Italy’s sparkling wine industry is harvesting grapes about 10 days earlier than usual because of extreme heat and dry weather. Winemakers now pick grapes before dawn under floodlights to avoid damage from the hot midday sun and maintain grape quality.
Key Facts
The Franciacorta wine region in northern Italy is experiencing earlier grape ripening due to high temperatures and low rainfall.
Harvests are happening about 10 days earlier than last year and a month earlier than 30 years ago.
Hot weather with temperatures around 37-38°C (99-100°F) has forced winemakers to pick grapes very early in the morning.
Regional labor rules stop work during midday heat, but the afternoon is still too hot to harvest grapes.
Berlucchi, the oldest Franciacorta producer, started harvesting on August 2, earlier than their original plan of August 10.
Mild winter and hailstorms also contributed to earlier grape maturation this year.
Workers pick grapes under floodlights before dawn to keep grapes from overheating before pressing.
The quality of the grapes remains good despite the challenging weather and early harvest.
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A strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and damaging about 1,600 buildings. Rescue teams, soldiers, and local people worked together to find survivors trapped in the rubble.
Key Facts
The earthquake hit cities including Cali, Quibdo, and Pereira.
About 1,600 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
At least 111 people died, and over 2,700 were reported missing.
Rescue workers and volunteers formed human chains to remove debris.
The town of El Cairo, near the epicenter, had 80% of its buildings damaged.
President Abelardo de la Espriella sent military, police, engineers, and search dogs to help with rescue efforts.
The region of Choco, near the epicenter, is poor and hard to access, making rescue difficult.
The government announced rental help for people whose homes were damaged.
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A large fire broke out at Libya’s Zawiya oil refinery after a drone attack, causing heavy damage but no serious injuries. Libya’s national oil company warned it may stop refinery operations if such attacks continue, amid ongoing conflict between rival governments.
Key Facts
A drone attack caused a major fire at the Zawiya refinery, Libya’s largest refinery.
The fire started in a tank holding about 4.5 million liters of gasoline, which collapsed due to the blaze.
There were no serious injuries; most treated cases were from smoke inhalation.
The refinery has been targeted by several drone strikes over recent days.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation warned it might declare force majeure, meaning it could suspend operations if attacks continue.
Libya has two competing governments: one in Tripoli and another in the east backed by a military leader, Khalifa Haftar.
The Tripoli government held meetings to address security and protect vital infrastructure.
A parliamentary committee condemned the attack and called for better protection of oil facilities.
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China’s Long March 7A rocket exploded soon after launch from the Wenchang site in Hainan. The explosion destroyed the satellite the rocket was carrying.
Key Facts
The rocket involved was China’s Long March 7A.
The launch took place at the Wenchang launch site, located in Hainan province.
The rocket exploded shortly after liftoff.
The satellite on board the rocket was destroyed in the explosion.
This incident affects China’s space launch efforts.
The explosion happened in 2024.
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A Sydney court heard that an alleged victim of broadcaster Alan Jones told his brother about indecent assaults that involved Jones grabbing his penis. The alleged victim reported the assaults to police in 2024 after Jones was arrested; Jones denies the charges.
Key Facts
The alleged victim, known as complainant J, told his brother the assaults were “not too bad” but included inappropriate touching and kissing.
J reported the assaults to police after Jones’s arrest because he wanted to teach his child “right from wrong.”
Jones faces 20 indecent assault charges and 2 sexual touching charges linked to six complainants.
J told his brother Jones would ask if the touching was okay, and when J said he was uncomfortable, Jones changed the subject.
J said he did not disclose the abuse earlier due to fear of losing money and support.
J’s brother has met Jones several times but never saw Jones act inappropriately toward J.
J watched Jones’s arrest on TV nearly two years ago before deciding to report the abuse.
J did not tell his mother about the abuse because he feared not being believed in court.
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Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s Reform UK party, is running as the favorite in a special election in Clacton, England, after quitting his parliamentary seat. His main opponent is a comic candidate called Count Binface. Farage faces questions about his finances while presenting his campaign as a fight between the people and the establishment.
Key Facts
Nigel Farage leads the anti-immigration party Reform UK.
He quit his seat in Parliament to trigger the special election in Clacton.
Other major political parties boycotted the election, leaving Farage to run mainly against independents and joke candidates.
Count Binface, a candidate who wears a trash can on his head and acts as a comic space alien, is Farage’s main opponent.
Farage is known for his role in Brexit and his strong stance against immigration.
He won his seat in 2024 and is under investigation over undeclared money from a cryptocurrency billionaire.
Farage says the money was a personal gift used for security and not related to politics.
The election frames a conflict between Farage’s image as an outsider and his current position as a political insider.
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Many people find it harder to sleep well during their first night in a new place. This is called the "first-night effect," where the brain stays more alert, causing lighter and shorter sleep.
Key Facts
The first-night effect makes people fall asleep slower, wake up more, and sleep less overall in a new environment.
This effect is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation to stay alert in unfamiliar places.
Studies show the brain’s frontal lobe is more active during sleep in new places, leading to lighter sleep.
On average, people sleep about 20 to 30 minutes less on the first night away from home.
The effect is stronger in children, teens, and older adults, and less in people in their 20s.
Stress, travel, and environmental factors, like noises or lights, can make the effect worse.
People who are naturally anxious may have more trouble sleeping the first night.
The first-night effect usually fades after the first night in the new place.
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A drone attack caused a fire at Libya’s largest oil refinery in Zawiya. No one was hurt, but ongoing drone strikes have made Libya’s National Oil Corporation think about stopping its work at the refinery.
Key Facts
A drone strike hit the Zawiya oil refinery in Libya.
The refinery is Libya’s largest working oil facility.
The attack set gasoline on fire at the refinery.
No casualties or injuries were reported from the attack.
Multiple drone strikes have occurred over several days.
The National Oil Corporation of Libya may suspend refinery operations because of the attacks.
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