Russian president and veteran intelligence officer
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has flown to Moscow for an unannounced meeting with Russian intelligence chief Sergey Naryshkin. Moscow says President Vladimir Putin was briefed but did not meet Ratcliffe. U.S. and Russian statements conflict over whether Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO allies or discussed restarting U.S.-mediated talks to end the war in Ukraine.
A Russian drone strike on a warehouse near Kyiv’s western suburbs has caused a large fire, damaged dozens of homes and a care facility, and killed dozens of people. Ukrainian officials say criminal negligence is being investigated as evacuations continue and both sides widen long-range attacks.
The Coalition of the Willing has convened in Kyiv to reinforce Ukraine’s defence with air-defence supplies and long-range missiles. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, joined by France and Germany, chairs the meeting, with leaders stressing continued steadfast support amid intensified Russian missile strikes. EU funds are released to bolster Kyiv’s defences as battles continue around Kharkiv and in other fronts.
Houthi attacks on Yemen’s Red Sea coast have intensified, striking Mocha and al-Makha ports as government forces and militants trade strikes across Marib, Taiz and the western coast. The violence threatens shipping lanes, raises regional tensions, and risks drawing in regional powers as talks for a ceasefire stall.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup (Etorofu) in the disputed Kuril Islands, watched Pacific Fleet naval drills including live-fire missile launches, and toured a fish-processing plant, hospital and school. Japan has summoned the Russian ambassador and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi have called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," reaffirming Tokyo's claim to the islands.
President Min Aung Hlaing has visited Moscow this week and has held talks with Vladimir Putin that have expanded Russian interest in Myanmar’s energy and port projects, including plans tied to the Dawei Special Economic Zone. The trip follows a regional charm offensive in which Myanmar’s generals have met Thai and Indian officials while the junta faces accusations of rights abuses and mounting isolation.
A PanStar Acro voyage from Busan has begun testing Arctic passage to Europe, with stops in Felixstowe, Rotterdam and Gdansk. Governments see potential for shorter routes and reduced travel time, but environmental and political risks persist.
Ukraine reports intensified Russian aerial and drone attacks, with numerous strikes on Kyiv and other cities. Officials warn of continued energy and logistics disruptions as winter nears, and Kyiv braces for potential broader offensives aimed at pressuring civilian life.
Petrol queues have stretched across Moscow and surrounding regions as Ukrainian drone strikes press refineries and logistics bottlenecks worsen fuel supply. Authorities have imposed purchase limits and tightened enforcement as demonstrations and fines accompany the crisis. The situation has deepened regional strain amid ongoing sanctions and the war in Ukraine.
French journalists Gaël Mocaër and Sebastián Perez Pezzani, with Togolese fixer Fred Vedomey, remain in pre-trial detention in Lomé after being arrested on July 27 in Kara while filming a documentary. Authorities allege missing permits and drone use; supporters say permits were obtained and the case is a press-freedom concern.
The drills Ulchi Freedom Shield are being halted ahead of planned meetings with North Korea, following President Trump’s order to scale back the exercise amid regional tensions.
Ukraine has suspended elections under martial law as war with Russia continues. A former defence minister has called for wartime elections, prompting a presidential debate. Zelenskyy says elections during war are a risk that could split the country, while allies discuss conditions to conduct votes safely.
Sunao Takami, 58, has been hanged after being convicted for the 2009 Osaka pachinko-parlour arson that killed five and injured ten. Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi says the punishment reflects “careful and thorough considerations” amid ongoing global scrutiny of capital punishment. Takami’s execution is the first under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government and comes as Japan faces renewed calls for transparency.
The Pacific Fleet has fired Bastion coastal missiles from Etorofu, simulating an attack on enemy ships at about 300km. A submarine and a guided-missile cruiser took part, with exercises running from 4 August to 29 August and prompting protests from Japan over regional territorial disputes.
Russian missiles and drones have struck Kryvyi Rih, Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia amid intensified fighting. Ukrainian officials report dozens dead or injured, with rescue operations ongoing and the UN warning of a high civilian toll.
A daytime Russian drone strike has hit a busy shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, in two waves. Rescue teams have continued searching the rubble; authorities have reported at least 14 dead, about 121–130 wounded and several people missing, including children. Kyiv has renewed appeals for more air-defence support.
Ukraine has expanded its drone campaign against Russia’s e-commerce sector, targeting Ozon in addition to Wildberries. Attacks have disrupted logistics hubs in several regions, prompting evacuations and halting operations at Ozon’s Samara center. Moscow and Kyiv trade statements as the campaign intensifies, with analysts watching the wider impact on Russia’s economy.
Prime Minister Takaichi has reframed the official residence as a workplace, reinforcing office functions and posting policy updates on X. Critics say the arrangement highlights work-life balance concerns as she pursues controversial reforms; her routine has coincided with falling support amid economic and gender-equality debates.
The United States is shifting strategy in the Iran conflict, moving from kinetic strikes to economic isolation, while Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps controls key energy chokepoints. Analysts warn that the pivot faces hurdles as major economies resist aggressive oil and energy trade disruption.
Ukraine has launched a 40-day drone campaign to pressure Moscow by striking energy infrastructure and cargo chains, while Russia responds with strikes on Ukrainian energy and grain routes. The two countries are clashing over Black Sea routes, threatening global grain supplies and heightening regional instability.
Russia’s forces are pressing the Donbas front as Zelensky reports potential 2027 mobilization up to 500,000 and warns of winter Russian strikes that could strain Ukraine’s energy grid. Kyiv seeks continued Western interceptors and air-defense support amid funding gaps.
Former Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin has left London after seven years in the post. Moscow has not named a replacement, and both sides describe ties as deteriorating. The UK says it stands with Ukraine as it faces Russia’s war and threats of escalation.
The UK has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine as Prime Minister Burnham travels to Kyiv to chair the coalition of the willing, attend Independence Day events and highlight UK arms and diplomatic assistance. London says Ukraine’s security is Britain’s security, and Moscow warns of consequences as the UK advances defence collaboration.
Ukraine has expanded drone strikes against Russia’s e-commerce logistics, broadening from Wildberries to Ozon. Attacks have damaged multiple Ozon hubs across Dagestan, Krasnodar, Adygea and nearby regions, sparking evacuations and sharp declines in Ozon shares. Analysts say the campaign is aimed at disrupting Russia’s fragile wartime economy.
Western nations are accelerating support to Ukraine amid intensified Russian strikes. Britain and France are licensing missile production and sharing blueprints, while Ukraine builds local assembly lines. Analysts warn real impact depends on rapid, scalable production and defense-industrial collaboration.
European and NATO forces face shortages of Patriot interceptors as US stocks have shifted to the Middle East. Officials warn that gaps could leave NATO vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks, with Ukraine bearing the brunt and allies racing to rebound stockpiles by 2030. The issue follows recent moves by Kyiv to secure more air defense and discussions around SCALP missile support from France and the UK.
Russia faces continued drone campaigns targeting oil refineries and logistics hubs. A government decree expands state involvement in damaged infrastructure to secure safety and speed repairs, while Kyiv presses for deeper strikes on Moscow's capabilities. The move signals a push to protect critical assets amid sustained pressure.
The UK has established an AI partnership with Ukraine to access the Avengers AI Lab database. The goal is to train models that strengthen national security and protect critical infrastructure, with pilots at defence sites and potential rollouts to airports, prisons, railways and energy facilities.
Bradley Townsend, a 33-year-old fisherman from Barnsley, has died while fighting for Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. Reports indicate he joined Russian-backed forces in April, was granted citizenship, and was killed during a drone-assisted operation in Donetsk on 10 June. UK officials are confirming the death and emphasising consular limits while urging vigilance amid online recruitment for foreign fighters.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Interior Department to change the U.S. federal name for Lake Ontario to "Lake America" and has said the change is effective immediately. The move comes as Washington and Ottawa have imposed 50% tariffs on billions of dollars of each other's goods and Canadian leaders have rejected the renaming.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has visited Moscow after a U.S. C-17 transport landed at Vnukovo, flight-tracking data shows. Russian and U.S. officials have not detailed the meetings. U.S. sources told Axios that Washington asked Kyiv to pause strikes while the delegation travelled; Moscow later confirmed Ratcliffe met Russian security officials.
Iran and Oman have agreed a phased framework to create a temporary navigational corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and to clear mines, while technical talks continue on a permanent route, traffic management and revenue sharing; Tehran says full reopening depends on US concessions, and Washington opposes fees and any shared control of exit routes.
Trump has said the CIA director’s trip to Moscow is “semi-routine,” while expressing a desire to end the Ukraine war. Kremlin says Ratcliffe met with security services, not Putin, during the visit. Ukraine and Russia remain locked in conflict as US sanctions and diplomatic channels continue to shift.
The government has launched a national resilience drive to help households prepare for extreme weather, cyber threats and potential foreign-state actions. Officials say the plan aims to protect the vulnerable by encouraging practical steps, including stocking bottled water and tinned food, while authorities update risk assessments amid tension with Russia and drought-driven food pressures.
Russian forces have intensified operations around Donetsk’s fortress belt, advancing on Sloviansk and nearby Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk, while Ukraine reshapes its command to defend the region. Western analysts remain skeptical of Russia’s battlefield gains as Kyiv seeks to hold critical strongholds amid ongoing fighting.
Russia has warned Britain that any involvement in Ukraine using British weapons could trigger responses labeled as escalation. Moscow cites recent Ukrainian strikes with Storm Shadow missiles and accuses Britain of fueling the conflict as it deepens military support to Kyiv.
A Russian military officer has been killed and his wife injured when their car exploded in the Pushkinsky suburb of St. Petersburg. Investigators have opened a criminal probe; Kyiv has denied involvement in the attack, while Moscow has blamed Ukraine for previous assassinations. The incident follows a series of high-profile blasts targeting Russian military figures.
The six-month Iran-US war remains volatile as US strikes on Iranian launchers are followed by Iranian missiles at US bases in Jordan. The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as ships face threats, sanctions escalate, and regional powers weigh diplomacy and defense options.
Guinea-Bissau has held a referendum to approve a new constitution shifting from a parliamentary to a presidential system. The military junta says the reform aims to stabilise institutions ahead of December elections, while opponents warn it concentrates power and risks undermining civilian rule. Voter turnout surpassed 55%, with results expected soon.
A Russian drone strike on a Kyiv-area warehouse has killed at least 27 people, injured dozens, and prompted new calls from President Zelensky to hold perpetrators to account. Officials say the blast caused significant damage to nearby infrastructure and prompted mass evacuations in the Bucha district.
Ukraine reports a deadly weekend after a warehouse explosion west of Kyiv, with 38 confirmed dead and more missing. Russia says it will launch massive strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in response to Kyiv’s attacks on Moscow’s civilian targets. Leaders discuss accelerating drone and missile campaigns ahead of winter; Kyiv seeks to shore up energy resilience.
Leaders of China, Russia, India and Iran are attending the Bishkek summit, with discussions expected on strengthening non-Western ties. While Moscow and Beijing promote a multipolar world, analysts note disagreements among members and limited concrete outcomes. The event marks SCO’s 25th anniversary as it rows against Western-led blocs.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan has brought together leaders from China, Russia, Iran and other members, with Indian PM Modi attending. Analysts say the gathering marks a visible shift away from U.S.-dominated security structures as regional powers seek new blocs.