The Republic in the Caucasus, navigating conflict, alliance ambitions, and reform
Preliminary results have shown United Russia securing about 57–58% of the party vote and roughly 349–355 of 450 State Duma seats after three days of voting. Turnout has been reported near 57–60%. Voting included polling in Crimea and four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow; Western governments and critics have denounced the vote as uncompetitive and illegal in occupied territories.
The House has cleared a key hurdle on bills to make daylight saving time permanent or standard time the year round. The debate centers on health, safety and daily life implications, with supporters arguing for more daylight and critics warning of darker winter mornings.
Ticket barriers of 6ft are being installed at major stations to deter fare evasion. The government says the taller gates will be rolled out over the next two years, with funding to ensure revenue is protected and services improve for paying customers.
The governor of Ardahan province has been removed by presidential decree on 17 July. Critics say he spent too much time on social media and cycling, while supporters highlight his work promoting sports and youth programs. A petition to reinstate him has gathered over 10,000 signatures.
A week of developments in Ethiopia shows a surge in climate resilience and digital security. The Green Legacy Initiative plants hundreds of millions of trees, while the government tightens cyber-security rules to protect critical infrastructure amid its digital expansion.
A journalist describes Yerevan’s Republic Square and Dancing Fountains, exploring the Pink City’s heritage, modern life, and recent tourism growth linked to direct flights from London and broader regional appeal.
Armenia’s Catholicos Karekin II and six senior clergy are facing up to two years in prison after refusing to reinstate a defrocked bishop, in a confrontation seen as part of broader tensions between the church and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. The trial began amid protests and international attention.
A 12-day Sri Lanka group tour, chronicled by a solo traveler, shows how organised trips now attract millennials while highlighting social dynamics, logistical hiccups, and evolving bonds with local guides. The narrative follows the writer’s shift from solo exploration to extended travel after meeting a guide, amid a backdrop of scenic sites and practical challenges.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
Ukraine has warned airlines and insurers that expanding Ukrainian drone strikes have made Russian airspace unsafe for civilian flights. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine is not targeting civilian aircraft but that "drone‑infested skies" require airlines to rethink routings. Moscow has called the warning "state terrorism" and pledged to protect airports and keep services running.
Flyweight champion Joshua Van has retained his title with a dominant rematch win over Alexandre Pantoja in Los Angeles. Van, the first UFC champion born in the 2000s, improves to 18-2, while Pantoja suffers a second straight defeat in the wake of an early elbow dislocation in their previous meeting.
Britain has announced a National Centre for Information Defence to detect, attribute and disrupt AI-enabled disinformation campaigns. The move follows a UN address by Prime Minister Burnham warning of an industrial-scale information assault and calls for closer cooperation with tech platforms and allies. The effort aims to shield the UK from foreign interference and bolster national resilience.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has sustained a knee hyperextension and will return to Madrid for treatment, casting doubt over his participation in upcoming Nations League matches and the Clasico.
France and Italy play to a 1-1 draw in Paris as Olise nets a late winner for France in a tense Nations League clash; Donnarumma and Bastoni rescue Italy with key saves and a late Upamecano red card alters the game.