Ukrainian forces attacked two large Russian oil refineries overnight, causing fires. These strikes are part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to weaken Russia’s economy and military during the conflict.
Key Facts
Ukraine targeted two major Russian oil refineries: one in the Perm region and one in Ryazan.
The Perm refinery is about 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) from Ukraine, and Ryazan is about 400 kilometers (180 miles) from the border.
Ukraine used drones and missiles developed within the country for these long-range strikes.
These attacks are happening nearly every day as part of a campaign to damage Russia’s oil industry.
The strikes have caused a fuel shortage in Russia.
Officials from Ukraine's Security Service and General Staff confirmed the attacks.
The attacks took place shortly after a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The campaign aims to increase pressure on Russia economically and militarily during the ongoing conflict.
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A drone struck a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s port of Damietta, signaling an increase in tensions in the Middle East. President Donald Trump promised to respond strongly to Iran after this incident, which is part of a growing conflict involving several countries in the region.
Key Facts
A drone hit a gas storage tanker owned by the U.S. at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta.
The incident was reported by the British maritime security company Ambrey.
President Donald Trump vowed to retaliate against Iran for the attack.
This event indicates the Middle East conflict is expanding beyond its main areas.
Other recent developments include US and Saudi strikes in Iraq and increased military actions around Iran.
The UK is considering forming a naval coalition to protect shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is part of ongoing tensions involving Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other nations.
President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have recently met amid the rising conflict.
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A man named Hadi Matar was found guilty of federal terrorism charges for stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022. Rushdie was seriously injured during the attack, which was motivated by a longstanding death threat against him linked to his novel "The Satanic Verses."
Key Facts
Hadi Matar was convicted on all terrorism-related charges linked to the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie.
Matar is already serving 25 years in prison for attempted murder from the same attack.
The stabbing occurred on an amphitheater stage where Rushdie was about to speak.
Rushdie was slashed 15 times, lost sight in his right eye, and was seriously wounded.
Prosecutors said Matar acted under Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini’s 1989 call for Rushdie’s death due to "The Satanic Verses."
Matar’s defense said there was no proof of his state of mind; Matar did not testify.
Rushdie’s book "The Satanic Verses" caused protests and violence worldwide due to perceived blasphemy.
Iran’s government never rescinded the fatwa, and a bounty remains on Rushdie’s life.
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The movie "I Want Your Sex" is a playful comedy about sex and relationships among young adults. Olivia Wilde stars as Erika Tracy, a strong and unusual character involved in a complicated, consensual BDSM relationship with a younger employee, played by Cooper Hoffman. The film explores themes of intimacy and generational differences with humor and drama.
Key Facts
"I Want Your Sex" is directed by Gregg Araki, known for New Queer Cinema.
Olivia Wilde plays Erika Tracy, a commanding and memorable character.
The story features a BDSM relationship between Erika and her employee Elliot, played by Cooper Hoffman.
The relationship is consensual but causes problems in Elliot’s personal life.
The movie addresses the lack of sexual intimacy experienced by Generation Z.
Other characters include Elliot’s best friend Apple and his girlfriend Minerva, played by Charli XCX.
The film mixes comedy, mystery, and drama including themes of betrayal and possible murder.
It opens in theaters on Friday and includes performances by Johnny Knoxville and Margaret Cho as detectives.
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Fifteen elephants died in southern Kenya after eating tomatoes contaminated with cyanide near Amboseli National Park. Wildlife officials found cyanide in the elephants and warned the poison could also harm local farm animals.
Key Facts
Fifteen elephants died in the last month in southern Kenya.
The elephants ate tomatoes contaminated with cyanide.
The contaminated tomatoes came from farms near Amboseli National Park.
Cyanide is a very dangerous poison, especially for elephants.
Kenya Wildlife Service detected cyanide in lab tests on the elephants.
Farmers have previously been suspected of poisoning elephants to protect crops.
Local livestock like goats and cattle could also be at risk from the poison.
Officials said the poison does not pose an immediate danger to humans.
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Jillian Segal, Australia’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, is testifying again at a royal commission about education and training related to antisemitism. Separately, three people died in a house fire in Sydney, and a national target to have 95% of First Nations children enrolled in early childhood education has been reached.
Key Facts
Jillian Segal was appointed special envoy to combat antisemitism by the Australian government in 2024.
She is giving evidence at a royal commission examining education and training on antisemitism.
Segal recommended Holocaust and antisemitism education be included in all school curriculums.
Three people died in a house fire in Wiley Park, southwest Sydney; police are investigating.
The Australian government launched a childcare safety training program aimed at preventing abuse.
The first phase of childcare worker safety training was completed by 99% of early educators.
Australia has reached a target of 95% enrolment of First Nations children in early childhood education.
Other social targets related to Indigenous Australians, such as child development and incarceration rates, are still worsening.
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US and Saudi military forces carried out airstrikes on bases belonging to the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) in Iraq. The strikes happened after alleged drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities and reportedly killed 20 fighters.
Key Facts
US and Saudi forces worked together to launch airstrikes in Iraq.
The targets were bases of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
The PMF is a group supported by Iran.
The strikes followed drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities.
At least 20 fighters were reportedly killed in the airstrikes.
Videos have been released showing the damage caused by the strikes.
The action reflects ongoing tensions involving the US, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and armed groups in Iraq.
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A Caribbean court has allowed the U.S. extradition process to continue against Guyana’s main opposition leader, Azruddin Mohamed, and his father. They face charges in the U.S. for gold smuggling and money laundering, which they deny and have challenged in court.
Key Facts
Azruddin Mohamed leads Guyana’s second-largest party and became opposition leader in January 2025.
Both Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, were charged in Florida last year.
The charges include smuggling over 10,000 kilograms of gold to the U.S. and evading more than $50 million in taxes.
They have been out on bond since their arrest and deny the accusations.
The Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court for some countries in the region and ruled against them in this case.
Their lawyers argued some charges were not valid reasons for extradition.
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the Mohameds over the gold smuggling case.
Guyana’s current president, Irfaan Ali, has good relations with the U.S. despite this case, as the country is growing economically due to oil discoveries.
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Italy’s highest court ruled that children born with Italian citizenship do not lose it if a parent later becomes a citizen of another country. This decision strengthens citizenship claims by descendants of Italian emigrants worldwide, reversing a recent restrictive practice.
Key Facts
The Court of Cassation in Italy made the ruling to clarify citizenship laws.
The ruling says children who are Italian citizens by birth keep their citizenship even if a parent naturalizes abroad.
The decision ended a legal dispute called the “Minor Issue” affecting many ancestry-based citizenship claims.
Recent court decisions since 2023 had rejected many claims by saying citizenship was lost when parents naturalized elsewhere.
The ruling states children born in countries granting citizenship at birth (like the U.S.) keep their Italian citizenship.
This ruling allows these children to pass Italian citizenship to their descendants.
Lawyer Marco Mellone said the court’s decision reopens rights for many Italian-American and other descendant families.
The change could affect hundreds of thousands of families across countries with large Italian communities.
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Zendaya and Tom Holland attended the London premiere of their new film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day. They talked about their close relationship helping them work together and shared excitement about continuing their roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Key Facts
Zendaya and Tom Holland are married and star together in the new Spider-Man movie.
The film is called Spider-Man: Brand New Day and premiered in London.
Tom Holland has played Spider-Man since 2016 and enjoys bringing new ideas to the role.
Zendaya plays MJ, Peter Parker’s love interest, and is known for matching her outfits to her film themes.
The movie features new cast member Sadie Sink in a secret role.
The story continues from the last film where Peter Parker erased himself from his loved ones’ memories.
The film has a new director, Destin Daniel Cretton.
Early reviews praise the movie as one of the best Spider-Man films in over 20 years.
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Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with U.S. Vice President Vance to discuss recent joint strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. Despite these military actions, Saudi Arabia favors reducing tension with Iran and is managing regional conflicts, including talks with Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Key Facts
Saudi Arabia and the U.S. conducted joint military strikes against pro-Iranian militias in Iraq after attacks on Saudi targets.
Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met Vice President Vance at the White House to discuss the situation.
The strikes are a response to more than 30 recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabia by militias linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Saudi Arabia wants to defend itself but prefers to de-escalate tensions with Iran rather than escalate conflict.
Prince Khalid said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu favors escalation with Iran, but Saudi Arabia sees de-escalation as better.
Saudi Arabia is handling its conflict with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis on its own and is in negotiations with them.
The meeting aimed to share a message from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the war with Iran and regional stability.
The Saudi defense minister delayed his Washington visit due to the recent Iraq strikes but resumed it to clarify Saudi positions.
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A survey shows that young people in Africa are becoming more practical in how they see the influence of global powers. In other news, the constitutional court in the Democratic Republic of Congo approved a law that may allow President Felix Tshisekedi to run for a third term. There are also concerns about droughts and floods linked to the El Niño weather pattern affecting millions across Africa.
Key Facts
A survey indicates African youth are increasingly realistic about global powers.
The DRC’s constitutional court approved a referendum law related to presidential term limits.
The law could enable President Felix Tshisekedi to seek a third term in office.
The El Niño weather pattern may cause worse droughts and floods in Africa.
Millions of people across Africa could be affected by these changing weather conditions.
The news comes from a program called "Eye on Africa."
Other stories mentioned include protests in Iran, wildfires in France, and upcoming sports events in Africa.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he asked President Donald Trump for 300 Patriot missile interceptors to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks this winter. Although President Trump recently allowed Ukraine to produce its own interceptors, Zelensky believes it will take too long to complete.
Key Facts
President Zelensky requested 300 Patriot missile interceptors from President Trump.
The request is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defense during the winter.
Patriot interceptors are missiles designed to shoot down incoming threats.
President Trump approved Ukraine's ability to manufacture its own interceptors earlier in the month.
Zelensky believes making interceptors in Ukraine will take more time than needed.
The request relates to Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
Ukraine is seeking urgent military support to protect itself from Kremlin attacks.
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An election in Pakistan-administered Kashmir aimed to improve democracy faced serious problems as violence broke out during voting. Protests by a banned group demanding election changes led to clashes with security forces, resulting in many deaths. The government says any election reforms need a change to the constitution.
Key Facts
The election was intended to strengthen democracy in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
Violence occurred during voting, with dozens killed in clashes between protesters and security forces.
The protesters belong to a banned group seeking changes to the election process.
The government in Islamabad requires a constitutional amendment to allow any election reforms.
This unrest is one of the biggest political crises in the Kashmir region in nearly 80 years.
Weeks of demonstrations preceded the violence.
The situation raises questions about the future political stability of the region.
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A study suggests that eating little sugar before the age of two might lower the risk of dementia later in life. Researchers studied people born before and after sugar rationing ended in the UK and found those who were toddlers during rationing had a lower chance of dementia.
Key Facts
The UK ended sugar rationing in September 1953, doubling average sugar intake from about 41g to 80g per day.
The study analyzed nearly 65,000 people from the UK Biobank project.
Toddlers who ate less sugar during rationing had a 23% lower risk of developing dementia.
The diagnosis of dementia in this group was delayed by about two and a half years.
The study cannot prove that sugar causes dementia; it only shows a link.
Experts warn that many factors affect brain health, so more research is needed.
The findings may not fully apply to children today because nutrition and weaning practices have changed.
Eating a healthy diet at any age supports brain health according to Alzheimer's Research UK.
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The United States is using a large amount of missiles and interceptors in its conflict with Iran, causing its supply of these weapons to lower significantly. Experts warn this could become a problem not just in the Middle East but also for possible future conflicts in other parts of the world.
Key Facts
The U.S. has launched many expensive missile interceptors like Patriot and THAAD to protect bases against Iranian attacks.
Patriot interceptors cost about $4 million each, and THAAD interceptors cost about $12 million each.
Iranian missiles and drones are much cheaper, with drones costing as little as $7,000 to $50,000.
The U.S. has dropped its reserve of Patriot interceptors from roughly 2,500 units to about 1,000.
THAAD interceptor stocks have fallen from around 360 to between 70 and 170.
The U.S. faces political challenges since public support for the conflict with Iran is low, limiting the administration’s options.
Experts say enough weapons remain for the ongoing conflict, but supplies could be inadequate for future wars with countries like China, North Korea, or Russia.
Allies like NATO have expressed concern about the depleted U.S. munitions inventory.
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A Palestinian man named Awdah Hathaleen was shot and killed by an Israeli settler, Yinon Levi, in the West Bank in July 2025. A detailed investigation found evidence linking Levi to the shooting, but he has not faced serious legal consequences and remains free.
Key Facts
Awdah Hathaleen was filming when settler Yinon Levi shot him in the chest, killing him.
The bullet that killed Hathaleen matched the nine-millimetre handgun Levi carried.
Levi claimed self-defense, but evidence shows Hathaleen posed no threat and no Palestinians there were armed.
Levi and other settlers were carrying out unauthorized land work on private Palestinian land.
Police and soldiers did not arrest Levi at the scene and released him under house arrest for only three days after international pressure.
Ambulances were blocked from reaching Hathaleen, and his body was withheld from his family for 10 days.
Levi is known to harass Palestinians and operates an illegal settlement outpost supported by an Israeli volunteer group.
The report argues there is a system protecting settlers from law enforcement in this region.
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A study by the University of Basel found little proof that simply owning a pet improves overall physical or mental health. Instead, how much time people spend with their pets and the emotional support they feel from them may affect their well-being more.
Key Facts
The study surveyed 2,328 adults in Switzerland about their pet ownership and health.
Researchers looked at pet ownership, contact with animals, emotional attachment, and perceived support from pets.
Pet ownership alone was not linked to better physical health, mental well-being, lower loneliness, or higher life satisfaction.
Women, dog owners, and those spending more time with pets reported stronger emotional bonds and more support.
Surprisingly, pet owners reported slightly worse health and smoked a bit more than non-owners.
People with greater emotional support from pets sometimes had lower psychological well-being and more loneliness, possibly because those struggling may rely more on pets.
The study was observational, so it cannot prove that pets cause any health effects.
Spending more time with animals was linked to better psychological well-being, showing that different parts of the pet relationship matter.
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A group of Palestinian students in Gaza started an ice cream shop called Flora to help pay for their university fees and support their families. The cafe also provides them with a break from the difficult conditions caused by ongoing conflict in the region.
Key Facts
The ice cream shop is named Flora.
It was opened by Palestinian students living in Gaza.
The shop helps students pay for their university education.
The business also supports the students' families financially.
Working at Flora gives the students some relief from the challenges of living in a war-affected area.
Gaza is currently experiencing ongoing conflict and difficult living conditions.
The students work long shifts to run the cafe successfully.
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