A Russian ballistic missile and drone strike on Kyiv killed at least 14 people and left 22 injured, according to Kyiv officials. The attack began after midnight on Wednesday. Air raid alerts sounded for more than an hour as multiple missiles hit residential buildings and warehouses in the city and its outskirts, said Timur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv's military administration. He reported nine deaths in the Boryspil district, four in Bucha district and one in Fastiv district. The strikes damaged several structures, including residential apartments and storage facilities. The Russian defence ministry said its missiles targeted logistics hubs and supply centres used for storing weapons, military supplies and the production and distribution of unmanned aerial vehicles, and claimed to have hit three cargo vessels near the Black Sea port of Odesa carrying weapons and military equipment. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that residents could be trapped under rubble and said four of the injured were in serious condition. He added that the attacks appeared aimed at civilian areas. Kyiv's military administration said Russia was deliberately striking civilians and civilian infrastructure. Both Russia and Ukraine have denied intentionally targeting civilians. In recent weeks, Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, including power facilities, while Russia has intensified attacks on Kyiv. A separate strike on a warehouse in the Moscow region killed five people and wounded 10, and a drone attack on a beach in Krasnodar killed seven and injured 58, according to Russian officials. Kyiv continues to seek additional U.S. Patriot missile defense systems as the conflict remains ongoing.
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The United States has depleted most of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles, including the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), during its five-month conflict with Iran, according to three people familiar with the data. The munitions, each costing more than $1 million, are used for accurate strikes from a distance and have been a key component of U.S. operations against Iranian targets. Two sources said the U.S. had used "virtually all" of the ATACMS and PrSM, while another source noted that less than half of its global Tomahawk supply had been consumed. The White House stated that the United States possessed far more munitions than needed and that defense companies were increasing production. Pentagon officials said the military had sufficient capabilities to execute operations as planned. A report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that about 65% of Patriot interceptors and 38% of THAAD interceptors had been expended since the war began. No request for a formal declaration of war or an authorization to use military force has been submitted to Congress. The situation highlights ongoing concerns about the sustainability of U.S. long-range strike capabilities and the potential need for additional procurement to maintain readiness for future contingencies.
Kalsang Lhamo, a 73-year-old retired nurse in Lhasa, practices Tibetan calligraphy at a community center for the elderly. She has spoken Tibetan her whole life but never learned to write it. Starting this year, Chinese authorities require schools and other institutions in Tibet to use Mandarin as the primary language, a policy framed as promoting ethnic unity. The law, implemented on July 1, bans activities that incite division among China’s 56 ethnic groups and calls for patriotism and national cohesion.
Critics say the measure deepens cultural assimilation for Tibetans and other minorities. Rights groups note similar language policies in Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia. James Leibold of La Trobe University and Tenzin Dorjee of the Tibet Action Institute wrote that minority communities may be forced into a “double life of public conformity and private reservations.”
The Associated Press traveled with a government‑organized delegation to Lhasa and Shannan in July 2026. Journalists were escorted throughout the visit and could not report independently. Government officials accompanied the group, and the AP retained full editorial control.
Chinese officials say the law codifies trends that have already reduced Tibetan language instruction. Benno Weiner, a historian of modern China at Carnegie Mellon University, said the policy “summarizes a trend that’s been going on for years” rather than creating new effects. Beijing maintains that the law improves educational access for minorities. Party leader Wang Huning visited Tibet around the same time, urging implementation of the unity law and the adaptation of Tibetan Buddhism to socialist society.
Signs promoting ethnic unity appear in public spaces, often in both Chinese and Tibetan, and large portraits of President Xi Jinping are displayed in squares and buildings. At the Jokhang Temple, visitors noted the absence of references to the Dalai Lama, who has been in exile since 1959. The Potala Palace, a historic seat of the Dalai Lamas, flies the Chinese national flag but shows no public mention of the exiled spiritual leader.
For many Tibetans, preserving language and cultural practices remains a priority. Qongqiu Quco, a 19‑year‑old student, said she speaks Tibetan at home but uses Mandarin at school. The new law raises questions about how cultural preservation will be balanced with the state’s push for national unity.
President Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be announced as early as Wednesday or Thursday, while Iran and Oman continue negotiations to resume shipping through the Persian Gulf. The strait carries about one fifth of global oil and natural gas traffic; shipping has been limited since Iran began attacking vessels in February. The United States has ruled out any agreement that would give Iran control over the waterway. A potential arrangement under discussion would have vessels enter the Gulf via an Iranian‑controlled route and exit through an Omani‑controlled route, with fees assessed for security and environmental protection, according to regional officials. Oil prices slipped 1.2% to $78.43 per barrel on the prospect of increased supply. Trump said he would not allow any tolls to be imposed and added that the United States would impose its own charges if necessary. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said progress has been made but no final agreement is in place. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the talks focus on establishing safe shipping lanes that respect sovereign rights and address security concerns, with results to be announced later. Iran maintains that it is only negotiating with Oman, not the United States. Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, spoke with Trump by phone, urging a diplomatic resolution. The president has faced pressure to end the conflict, which has contributed to higher fuel prices ahead of midterm elections. A cargo ship reported damage from an unspecified projectile in the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, and an Indian‑flagged vessel sank in the Red Sea after a Houthi attack, underscoring ongoing maritime tensions. The final shape of any agreement, including whether it will be linked to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iranian ports, remains undetermined.
The United States has revoked the visa of Brazilian ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, a move the State Department said does not require her expulsion. An anonymous State Department official told reporters on Tuesday that the visa was cancelled temporarily and would be restored if Brazil grants approval to Danny Perez, a Florida state representative and Trump ally nominated as ambassador. Without Senate confirmation, Perez cannot assume his post in Brasilia. The decision follows Brazil’s refusal to approve Perez’s nomination, a step Brazil said breached diplomatic protocol. Brazil previously denied visas to US officials from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor over concerns about election interference. The dispute underscores long‑standing tensions between Washington and Brasilia, the United States’ largest trading partner in South America. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking a fourth term, has framed his campaign around national sovereignty and warned against foreign influence in the October election. Flavio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, is his main rival. The visa issue remains unresolved and may affect diplomatic relations ahead of the Brazilian presidential election.
Seven months after the Trump administration's intervention in Venezuela, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced legislation to set national elections for 2026. The proposal aims to provide a framework for free voting, though details of the bill were not released.
At least 15 people were killed and dozens wounded in Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region overnight, Ukrainian authorities said. The attacks occurred on August 5, 2026, after Russia increased its missile launches more than twofold in July. In the Moscow region, separate strikes on Tuesday killed five and wounded ten, officials reported. Firefighters extinguished a fire at a warehouse in Kyiv following the missile impact.
A 38-year-old man was arrested Sunday at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, after police found a loaded pistol and ammunition in his vehicle. He had been taking photos and video of security preparations two days before President Donald Trump’s fundraising dinner for the Republican National Committee. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said the suspect, identified as Jeanine John Taele, was carrying a 16-round magazine and a gun in his car. A search of his home in Downey on Monday uncovered additional firearms, magazines, ammunition, body armor and notebooks that contained statements described as concerning by investigators. He was charged with second-degree robbery, possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun and a misdemeanor for carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle. Taele pleaded not guilty on Monday and was ordered to stay away from the golf course and refrain from possessing weapons. His bail was set at $250,000. The sheriff’s department said it had no credible threat to the community and that the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation by the El Segundo Police Department for a separate robbery incident. In 2025, a jury found a man guilty of attempting to assassinate Trump at a Florida country club, underscoring ongoing security concerns for the president’s public appearances.
The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States, a move that deepens a diplomatic dispute between the two nations over the pending appointment of the U.S. ambassador to Brazil.
A senior State Department official said the action was reciprocal because Brazil has not approved President Donald Trump’s nominee, former Florida House speaker Daniel Perez, as ambassador to Brasília. The official said the United States regrets the situation but maintains that reciprocity guides its actions. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s office said the U.S. justification was false, noting that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires prior notification and consent from the receiving government before a new ambassador is appointed. The United States announced the nomination before Brazil had granted consent, and while the Senate approved Perez in a hearing last month, the full Senate has not yet voted on the nomination.
Brazil previously denied visas to two senior State Department officials who had planned to assess the fairness of Brazil’s electoral system. The Brazilian statement said the U.S. officials intended to “cast doubt on the integrity of Brazil’s electoral process,” which it described as an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the country’s political affairs. The statement also said the United States had imposed sanctions and revoked visas of Brazilian court and senior officials based on what it called unfounded allegations that former president Jair Bolsonaro was subject to political persecution. Brazilian officials characterized the visa cancellation as a deliberate escalation driven by ideological motives, which they said conflict with a partnership built on mutual respect. A second State Department official, speaking without attribution, questioned the confrontational approach and noted that Lula’s standing in polls appears to rise each time Brazil resists Trump’s overtures. Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil’s first female ambassador to the United States, has served as a career diplomat and previously represented Brazil at the United Nations and in Germany. The State Department official said the ambassador’s visa could be restored if Brazil agrees to approve the U.S. nominee.
The visa revocation remains in effect pending a resolution, and the two countries have not indicated a timeline for restoring diplomatic relations.
Donald Trump warned that the Strait of Hormuz would open soon and that Iran would face consequences if it remains closed, as oil prices slipped to a three‑week low.
Donald Trump warned that the Strait of Hormuz would open soon and that Iran would face consequences if it remains closed, as oil prices slipped to a three‑week low. He made the remarks during a visit to California, speaking to Fox News. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations had progressed and that shipments could resume later this week. Brent crude fell about 5 percent to under $80 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate dropped more than 5 percent to $76, the lowest level since mid‑July. The U.S. Central Command said the southern route through the strait remains free for commercial vessels. Rubio said progress had been made but final agreement was not yet reached, and Bessent added that a deal could be reached on Tuesday or Wednesday. Iran said it is not negotiating with the United States and is instead engaged in talks with Oman, a mediator that described the discussions as positive. Qatar, another mediator, said it continues to work with other parties to find a diplomatic solution but no direct talks are currently planned. U.S. officials reported that nearly all of the global stockpile of long‑range precision missiles has been used. The Strait of Hormuz has handled about one‑fifth of global oil and LNG supplies before the conflict began. A blockade on Saudi ports in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels since July has increased reliance on the strait, which has seen a series of attacks on vessels, including a recent incident in which a projectile sank an Indian‑flagged ship near Yemeni waters and all 14 crew members were rescued. The disruptions have pushed fuel prices higher, with UK petrol reaching £1.60 per litre and U.S. gasoline averaging above $4 a gallon and diesel near $5.40 a gallon. Major oil companies such as BP, Shell, Chevron and Exxon Mobil reported higher profits. Trump warned on Monday that Iran had its last chance to agree to a deal allowing commercial shipping to resume. U.S. stock markets rose on Tuesday after lower oil prices and strong corporate results from artificial intelligence firms. Investors remain cautious about the fragility of the negotiation process.
Hundreds of people gathered in the Moroccan town of Fnideq near the border with Spain’s Ceuta on Tuesday, holding photos of missing relatives in the hope of locating them. The crowd’s presence follows a mass movement of roughly 72,000 individuals into Ceuta last week, which resulted in at least 88 deaths in the Spanish territory and 11 in Morocco, while dozens remain unaccounted for.
Spanish interior minister announced that about 70,000 of those who entered Ceuta have been returned to Morocco in recent days, and that roughly 2,000 people remain in Ceuta, including at least 862 unaccompanied minors. Human rights organizations have expressed concern that some of the children may have been returned before they could apply for asylum. A video circulated on social media showed a 12‑year‑old boy pleading with a soldier not to be sent back to Morocco; the operation was halted after bystanders intervened, citing Spanish law.
Authorities in Ceuta have opened an office to collect reports of missing persons, and EU interior ministers convened via video conference to address the ongoing situation. Ceuta’s conservative leader, Juan Jesús Vivas, suggested that Morocco may have encouraged or permitted the crossing, a claim rejected by a senior Moroccan official who said law‑enforcement forces were overwhelmed by the volume of migrants and that the “pull effect” was strong. Morocco’s interior ministry attributed the influx to “exploitation of the digital sphere” and the spread of misinformation, while Spain’s migration minister said no prior warning of the scale of the event had been received.
Relatives in Fnideq continue to wait, some hopeful after recent accounts such as that of Fatima, whose brother was able to call her after his phone battery was restored. The ultimate cause of the mass crossing and the fate of the missing remain unclear.
President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a video on social media showing a drone chasing a street vendor in the Kherson region, resulting in injuries. The footage, geolocated by BBC Verify to a market near a roundabout in the Tavriiskyi district, shows the drone hovering, the vendor moving away, and then being struck as the drone explodes on impact. The vendor, identified as Yuriy, a 52‑year‑old vegetable seller, sustained shrapnel wounds, a concussion and trauma, a doctor said. Yuriy said he and his wife were arranging crates of vegetables when the drone’s buzzing was heard; his wife ran away, and the drone turned toward him. He held up vegetables to the camera to show he was not filming. The video was first shared by a pro‑Ukrainian Instagram account and later circulated online. Zelensky called the incident evidence that Russia has become "mad" and urged international condemnation, describing it as a "barbaric war crime." Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the attacks constitute a deliberate and systemic Russian strategy intended to intimidate civilians. The Kherson regional governor posted a separate video of Yuriy speaking from a hospital bed. The United Nations noted that publishing videos of civilians being killed or injured amounts to a war crime of outrages upon personal dignity and said such drone tactics have been recurrent in the area. Russia launched a full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and denies targeting civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel will not withdraw from its current lines in Gaza until Hamas disarms, rejecting a draft agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The draft, based on an October ceasefire, called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and withdraw from about 60% of Gaza. It had stalled on several fronts.
Netanyahu, who faces re‑election in October, said the draft was not his government’s proposal and that Israel would continue to act to protect its territory and citizens. He made the remarks in a video posted on social media.
The agreement had been viewed as a possible breakthrough toward ending the war, but his comments have raised doubts about its implementation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinians held a mass funeral for more than 100 people killed in a 2023 Israeli airstrike on a residential block in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood. The Civil Defense reported that 112 bodies, including 40 children, were recovered and that 157 remain missing.
The funeral, which drew hundreds of mourners, took place after remains were recovered over several days in areas where the ceasefire permits limited access. The ongoing conflict has resulted in more than 73,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and at least 1,252 deaths since the ceasefire began.
Israel says its operations target militants who threaten its soldiers or civilians, while Hamas insists Israel must end strikes and withdraw before any disarmament. Both sides accuse each other of violating the truce.
Most of Gaza’s 2 million residents remain displaced, many living in tent camps where poor conditions have led to health issues such as chickenpox. Israel reports five soldier deaths since the ceasefire, and the United Nations and independent experts consider the Health Ministry’s casualty figures generally reliable.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, warned that Pyongyang would adopt additional military options after Japan test‑fired a United States‑made Tomahawk cruise missile. The warning was delivered in a statement carried by the state news agency KCNA on Wednesday. Kim said Japan had shifted from a defensive posture to a capability that could conduct preemptive strikes. She added that the United States was supporting Japan’s missile buildup by supplying Tomahawk missiles and modifying vessels for their operation. Kim said the United States was behind the military moves. The statement follows a series of KCNA commentaries since July that condemned joint military activities by the United States, South Korea and Japan as threats to regional security. Analysts said the rhetoric aims to portray Japan’s military modernization as a direct security risk to justify North Korea’s own weapons development. Yang Moo‑jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the comments seek to frame Japan’s steps as part of a U.S. effort to strengthen its proxy capabilities. Lim Eul‑chul, a professor at Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted that the messaging could precede future missile tests or displays of undersea strike capabilities.
Qatar said on Tuesday that mediators are making progress in talks to end the United States‑Iran war, a development that pushed oil prices lower, though Iran denied that negotiations were underway. The war, now in its fifth month, has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz and disrupted shipping, raising concerns about U.S. military readiness. Qatar, Oman and Pakistan are mediating while the United States and Iran exchange contradictory statements about the status of discussions. The Emir of Qatar spoke with President Donald Trump, stressing adherence to a June memorandum that called for an immediate halt to military operations. Trump said on Monday that talks had started and that Iran faced a “last chance” to reach a deal, but Iranian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, said no negotiations with the United States were taking place and that talks with Oman over shipping lanes were ongoing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal to reopen the Strait could be reached by Tuesday or Wednesday, though no final agreement has been confirmed. The United States has used much of its stockpile of long‑range precision missiles, prompting questions about future combat capability. Shipping risks remain, with a cargo vessel struck near the Strait and an Indian ship sunk off Yemen, underscoring continued danger to maritime traffic. The diplomatic effort continues as Qatar, Oman and Pakistan coordinate proposals, while the timeline for a resolution and its impact on global oil supplies remain uncertain.
U.S. District Judge dismissed the Justice Department’s bid to prosecute members of the Oath Keepers militia in a case related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
The department had requested dismissal, arguing that the indictment was not warranted, while the defense attorneys welcomed the ruling. The judge’s decision follows a series of legal filings concerning the group’s alleged involvement in the breach of the Capitol building.
Legal analysts noted that the dismissal may affect ongoing efforts to hold the Oath Keepers accountable, though the department may appeal the decision. The case remains a focal point in the broader investigation of the Jan. 6 events.
The ruling leaves open the possibility of future charges, and the outcome will be closely watched as the nation continues to examine the aftermath of the Capitol attack.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a 113 million shekel ($37 million) allocation to take control of more than 70 historic sites in the West Bank, a plan approved by a government steering committee on Tuesday. The funding expands a 250 million shekel ($83 million) initiative approved in May to claim archaeological and heritage sites across the West Bank, the Jordan Valley and other areas. The committee said the Settlements Ministry will receive 157 million shekel ($52 million) in direct funding and an additional 142 million shekel ($47 million) in commitment authorisations. Smotrich said the initiative will include new visitor centres and research facilities. Palestinian media reported that the plan targets Solomon’s Pools near Bethlehem. The West Bank contains thousands of archaeological and heritage sites dating back centuries, and Israeli authorities designate them as Jewish heritage locations to extend state control over Palestinian property and territory. Israeli settlements are considered illegal under international law. Since 2022, Israeli approvals have included about 104 settlements and 160 outposts in the West Bank. The allocation comes as Palestinian media report more than 11,000 settler and military attacks in the region this year.
The United States revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador, a State Department official said Tuesday, as diplomatic tensions rose ahead of Brazil's presidential election in October. The official added that the visa decision could be reversed if Brazil promptly approves President Donald Trump's nominee, Florida Republican Daniel Perez, for the ambassadorship.
Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Brazil's ambassador to the United States, was not declared persona non grata and was not ordered to leave the United States, the official clarified.
Brazil's office of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned the action as part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures motivated by ideology.
The nomination of Perez, made in early June, awaits confirmation by the U.S. Senate and Brazilian approval before he can assume the post.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said that insinuations that the visa move was a political ploy to undermine Brazil's election were baseless lies.
Brazil previously denied visas to two U.S. officials seeking to discuss election integrity and religious freedom with Brazilian authorities, citing concerns about political exploitation.
Flavio Bolsonaro, a right‑wing candidate in the October election, has repeated claims that Brazil's electronic voting system is insecure, while former president Jair Bolsonaro faced restrictions on running for office in 2023 after similar allegations and was later convicted for plotting a coup.
The situation remains unresolved, with the Senate confirmation pending and Brazil yet to respond to the visa revocation.
Hundreds of residents living on the slopes of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano evacuated after an eruption on Monday sent lava and ash four miles into the sky, prompting the government to raise the alert to its second-highest level. Fuego, Central America’s most active volcano, had previously shown signs of activity, but the eruption on August 4 marked a significant escalation. The alert level, which ranges from green to red, was raised to orange, indicating a high risk of further eruptions and hazardous conditions. The National Institute for Seismology and Volcanology reported that ash fell across nearby towns, including Escuintla and Chimaltenango, and that lava flows were observed on the volcano’s western flank. Local authorities opened shelters in the city of Antigua and deployed civil protection units to assist displaced families. Officials said the evacuation affected approximately 500 people, though exact numbers remained unconfirmed. No injuries or fatalities have been reported. The government urged residents to remain away from the affected zones and to follow instructions from emergency personnel. International aid organizations have offered logistical support, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs monitored the situation. The eruption underscores the ongoing volcanic hazards faced by communities near active volcanoes, and authorities indicated that monitoring will continue as the alert remains at the orange level.
A fast‑moving wildfire destroyed about 230 homes in an Indigenous community near Vernon, British Columbia, officials said Tuesday. The blaze, known as the Bradley Creek wildfire, burned through much of the Okanagan Indian Band reserve.
Canada has experienced increasingly destructive wildfire seasons in recent years, with smoke drifting across North America and prompting air‑quality alerts.
The fire began late Friday and was driven by wind gusts of up to 115 kilometers per hour, according to Dan Wilson, chief of the Okanagan Indian Band. The rapid spread left some residents with only five minutes to evacuate. Aerial crews dropped water on the fire, helping to protect a daycare center and a newly built school.
About 8,000 people have been evacuated across British Columbia, Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene said. On Tuesday, there were 37 evacuation orders, with conditions changing hourly. The BC Wildfire Service reported roughly 120 wildfires burning in the province, about 50 of which were out of control, including the Bradley Creek fire and major fires near Boston Bar, Clinton and Kimberley.
Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media expressing thoughts for those affected, noting that the Bradley Creek wildfire had forced thousands to leave their homes in recent days.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and officials continue to monitor evolving weather conditions.
Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region killed at least 15 people and wounded 42, the State Emergency Service reported.
Fourteen people died and 27 were injured in the Kyiv region, including Brovary, Bucha and Fastiv districts, officials said.
Fires broke out at multiple locations, including warehouse fires in Brovary and in the villages of Velyka Dymerka, Kvitneve and Peremoha, as well as a vehicle fire in Fastiv.
Crews extinguished the vehicle fire and battled warehouse fires in Chaiky and in a logistics facility in Sofiivska Borshchahivka.
In Kyiv, one person was killed and 15 were wounded, and emergency crews put out fires in Obolonskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Holosiivskyi and Desnianskyi districts, the Kyiv City Military Administration said.
Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s president on defense technology development, said the war of attrition has entered a new phase, with the enemy attacking retail warehouses, food storage facilities, logistics hubs, enterprises and building materials warehouses.
The attacks follow a series of significant ballistic missile strikes that have become frequent this summer; Ukraine’s limited stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles makes it difficult to intercept volley attacks.
The limited Patriot system, supplied by the United States, remains the only air defense capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.
Ukraine has increased its own strikes on Russian oil refineries and energy infrastructure in response.
Ukrainian forces attacked several Wildberries logistics sites in Russia overnight Monday, resulting in at least five deaths and ten injuries, according to regional officials. The strikes hit facilities in the St Petersburg and Tver regions, as well as a site near Moscow in the Chekhov district, where a warehouse reportedly linked to Wildberries was damaged. A separate warehouse in the Samara region was reported destroyed on Sunday, with all stored goods lost, the Russian state agency Tass said. Ukrainian officials say the depots supply the Russian military, a claim Moscow denies. Russia’s defence ministry reported that it intercepted and destroyed 320 drones overnight, but did not specify whether any of the attacks targeted Wildberries sites. Local officials in the Moscow region said a warehouse caught fire after being struck, injuring ten people, seven of whom were in moderate condition and one in serious condition. The governor of the Tver region also confirmed damage to a Wildberries facility there. Video verified by Reuters showed a Wildberries warehouse burning with a large plume of dark smoke. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian strikes killed an 89‑year‑old woman and injured two girls in Mykolaiv, killed a woman and two girls in Sumy, wounded two people in Bilhorod‑Dnistrovskyi, and set a food warehouse on fire in Dnipro. A drone strike on a beach in the Krasnodar region killed seven people and injured 58, according to Russian officials. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians, while Russian authorities deny intentional targeting of non‑combatants. Both sides have not provided evidence to substantiate claims of deliberate civilian attacks.
Thousands of migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 31, underscoring the enclave’s role as the EU’s only land border with Africa and reviving diplomatic concerns between Spain and Morocco. Ceuta and Melilla are Spanish territories on the northern African coast, administered by Spain and part of the European Union, and are surrounded by Moroccan land. The influx followed a Supreme Court decision that limits Spain’s “hot return” policy to land crossings, a ruling that some migrants interpreted as making immediate repatriation more difficult when reaching the enclaves by sea. Spanish and Moroccan officials linked the decision to the recent surge, while migration experts cited broader migration pressures and circulating misinformation. The episode reflects the intertwining of migration management with Spain-Morocco relations, which have been strained at times, notably in 2021 when Spain allowed Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali to receive medical treatment in Spain, prompting Rabat to accuse Spain of a diplomatic setback. Spain accused Morocco of easing border controls during that episode; Morocco denied responsibility. International law recognises Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish sovereign territory; they are not listed as Non‑Self‑Governing Territories by the United Nations, and no court has ruled on sovereignty, leaving the dispute a political disagreement. For the European Union, the enclaves constitute the sole land connection with Africa, making migration flows and border security central to EU policy. The sovereignty dispute influences diplomatic negotiations and cooperation on migration control. The latest crossing illustrates how legal rulings, migration pressures and historic sovereignty claims continue to shape the status of Europe’s African border.
The August 4 Michigan primary offered a key test of Democratic voters' views on Israel ahead of the 2026 election. The primary took place amid ongoing debate within the party about U.S. policy toward Israel following recent hostilities in the Middle East. Candidates answered questions about their positions, with some emphasizing firm support for Israel and others calling for a balanced approach that addresses humanitarian concerns. The results will provide early insight into how the issue influences Democratic primary dynamics as the party prepares for the 2026 congressional and presidential contests.
Mathematician Norbert Wiener, born in Columbia, Missouri on November 26, 1894, developed cybernetics in the 1940s, a field that later influenced artificial intelligence research. Wiener earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics at age 14, completed his PhD at Harvard at 18, and joined MIT as a professor in his twenties. His 1948 book "Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine" described how control and information processing in humans, animals and machines could be compared. During World War II, Wiener applied cybernetic principles to develop an anti‑aircraft defence system that could adjust in real time, representing an early example of adaptive machine behavior. He argued that intelligence emerges from the interaction between an entity and its environment, a view that combined mathematics, engineering, information theory and psychology. Between 1946 and 1953, the Macy Conferences on Cybernetics brought together scientists including von Neumann, Claude Shannon and psychologist Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider, who later led DARPA and supported internet development. Wiener supervised Walter Pitts, whose 1940s work laid foundations for neural network models. Although cybernetics declined in prominence, its concepts contributed to connectionist approaches that underpin modern large language models such as ChatGPT and Claude. Wiener warned early that fully automated societies might cause mass unemployment and that machines could replace humans only if people were treated as machines. He refused to participate in the Manhattan Project and, after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, published an open letter pledging to limit research that could be used for weapons. His concerns about technology's social impact remain relevant as companies cite AI to justify workforce reductions. While the term cybernetics is less common today, Wiener’s interdisciplinary insights continue to inform discussions about the trajectory of artificial intelligence.
A 38-year-old man was arrested at the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on Sunday, days before President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance at a Republican fundraiser on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Officials said the man, identified as Jeanine John Taele, had been photographing and filming the grounds while appearing to monitor security preparations. He was found with a loaded handgun, a 16-round magazine, a second loaded magazine in his vehicle, and later an illegally modified rifle, a pistol, body armor, high-capacity magazines, bulk ammunition and other equipment at his Downey home, according to detectives working with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The sheriff’s department said it had not identified any credible threat to the public and that Taele is being held without bail while prosecutors evaluate possible charges. Trump’s visit is part of a campaign swing through California and Nevada ahead of the November midterm elections.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is scheduled to strike the Moon’s northern hemisphere near Einstein Crater at approximately 2:35 a.m. Eastern time (06:35 GMT) on August 6, 2026, producing a visible plume of ejecta. The rocket launched in January 2026 carrying two lunar landers; the booster returned to Earth while the upper stage remained in orbit to propel the landers. Scientists say solar activity and gravitational forces have placed the stage on a collision course with the Moon. Benjamin Fernando of Los Alamos National Laboratory said the impact could generate a sunlit plume of debris that may be observable with telescopes. Researchers estimate the upper stage weighs about 4,000 kilograms (8,800 pounds) assuming propellant is depleted and will strike at roughly 8,690 kilometers per hour (5,400 miles per hour). NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell stated there is no danger to Earth and that NASA will track the booster for training and later observe the impact site for scientific study. Julianna Scheiman, director of NASA Science and Dragon Programs at SpaceX, explained at a news conference that the stage was maneuvered to remain safe per regulations, but solar activity and gravity altered its trajectory toward the Moon. The research paper, led by Fernando, encourages professional and amateur astronomers to view or record the collision, noting that data could improve methods for locating lunar impact sites, studying dust and plume dynamics, and assessing hazards from artificial debris. In the 1970s, NASA deliberately crashed rocket stages during the Apollo program to collect seismic data, a practice that informs current observations. The event underscores ongoing efforts to monitor space debris in lunar orbit as NASA plans a sustained human presence on the Moon.
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior said it had arrested an unemployed man and a student in Cairo and Giza on suspicion of running a fraud ring that impersonated judges. The pair confessed to collecting money from citizens by claiming they could assign government housing and to staging fake court proceedings. Investigators said they used falsified judicial titles, a judicial sash, a firearm and identity documents bearing false titles. The man also admitted filming inside a courthouse to bolster his credibility. Prosecutors said a second suspect acknowledged participation in producing and publishing the videos, and several court employees were detained after alleging they had been instructed by the main suspect to assist the scheme. The suspects were referred for an expedited criminal trial.