A video of Tamil film star Vikram cuddling an endangered lar gibbon has prompted an investigation by Indian wildlife officials regarding the animal's possession and transfer. The investigation has traced the gibbon to a 2020 declaration of eight lar gibbons in Manipur, involving four males and four females, with the last transfer occurring on June 5 this year for adoption purposes. Lar gibbons are endangered, and to legally possess them, individuals must comply with strict regulations that include obtaining necessary permits, which officials have found lacking in this case.
Sohair al-Bordani, a mother of four living in a Gaza refugee camp, resorted to a khulu divorce option to expedite her separation from her ex-husband amidst the ongoing war, sacrificing her financial rights as legal proceedings faced significant delays. Since the war began in October 2023, Gaza's religious courts processed over 8,700 divorce cases by May 2026, despite being severely under-resourced with only one computer per court and ongoing power outages. The conflict has disrupted access to justice for many women, leaving them unable to pursue crucial legal rights related to child custody and financial support after separation.
Andrew Bragg has suggested that lower-income Australians should accept substandard housing in order to increase the number of homes built nationally, proposing to condense the National Construction Code from nearly 2,000 pages to just 80 to eliminate requirements for energy efficiency and accessibility. He stated that net overseas migration needs to be reduced to 180,000 per year, the lowest since the mid-2000s, to align housing supply with population growth, though specific visa cuts have not yet been detailed. Critics argue that prioritizing the construction of poor-quality homes will not address the housing crisis, highlighting that quality housing is essential for safety and affordability.
Adel Daraghmeh and his family, who recently lost their home to an Israeli bulldozer despite a court injunction, now find themselves homeless in the scorching heat with limited access to food, water, and essential medications. The July 28 demolition came unexpectedly while Kheirieh, Adel's wife, was home alone with their daughter, leading to her fainting as the bulldozer destroyed their house and belongings in a matter of minutes. Their lawyer, Tawfiq Jabareen, emphasizes the disregard for legal protections, noting that this second demolition followed an earlier one on July 2, which was also executed despite an existing court order.
UK economic growth slowed to 0.4% in the second quarter of the year, down from 0.6% in the first quarter, as the Iran war started affecting energy prices and overall economic conditions. The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.5% expansion in the services sector and a flat industrial production output, while June GDP growth was unexpectedly 0.3%, driven by increased consumer spending attributed to warmer weather and the World Cup. Analysts predict the UK's economic momentum is likely to fade in the latter half of the year, with rising energy costs and inflation expected to exert additional pressure on households and businesses.
Three students from Scots College in Sydney have been charged with sexual assault offenses related to the alleged assault of a 14-year-old girl in an alleyway last month. Two of the boys face two counts of aggravated sexual assault in company with others and aggravated sexual touching, while the third boy faces one count of the same offenses. All three teenagers have been released on bail and are expected to appear in a children’s court later this month.
The United States has designated Brazil’s two largest criminal organizations, Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), as "terrorist" groups, reflecting a political rather than purely security-driven decision amid ongoing Brazilian domestic politics. This move aligns with efforts by the Brazilian far right, particularly the Bolsonaro family, who are using the designation to undermine President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of the October elections, where a recent poll shows Lula at 42.4% and challenger Flavio Bolsonaro at 28.7%. The article argues that while PCC and CV are violent and influential criminal networks, their focus on profit and power, rather than political transformation, challenges the appropriateness of labeling them as terrorist entities.
Polling began on August 13, 2026, for Zambia’s presidential election, where incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema aims for a second term against 13 opponents, including key challenger Brian Mundubile from the former ruling Patriotic Front. With 8.7 million registered voters and an economic backdrop where over 70% of the population lives on less than $3 a day, the election reflects significant public concern over rising living costs despite a recent inflation drop to 6.8%. Voters will also select candidates for 226 parliamentary seats, with results expected by August 17; a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote to avoid a run-off.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited the Kuril Islands, specifically Iturup, marking the first time a Russian leader has done so, which has sparked protests from Japan, claiming the islands as part of its territory. The islands were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, leading to the deportation of around 17,000 Japanese inhabitants, with an estimated 20,000 Russians currently living there. The Kuril Islands remain a contentious issue between Russia and Japan, contributing to the lack of a formal peace treaty since WWII; diplomatic talks since the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991 have not resolved the dispute.
New research from Save the Children reports that one in 10 infants and very young children in Afghanistan is suffering from acute malnutrition, a condition affecting 3.7 million children under five, which has surged by 14 percent over the past four years. The organization highlighted a 74 percent funding gap in humanitarian aid, with aid dropping nearly 70 percent since 2022, leading to the closure of around 600 essential healthcare facilities that supported about 4 million people. The crisis is exacerbated by the Taliban's restrictions on humanitarian aid delivery, particularly affecting women and children, amid a 12 percent increase in Afghanistan's population since September 2023 due to the return of Afghans from neighboring countries.
Polls have opened in the Clacton byelection, featuring 34 candidates, the longest ballot in UK history, including Nigel Farage and novelty figures like Count Binface. Farage, who resigned in July amid a scandal over a £5 million gift from a crypto billionaire, is under investigation regarding financial support allegations, and if he fails to declare gifts, he may face removal from Parliament. The constituency has a significant economically inactive population of one-third, and 70% voted leave in the EU referendum, with Farage previously winning the seat in 2024 with a majority of 8,400, capturing 46.2% of the vote.
Yvette Cooper criticized Labour's recent governance under Keir Starmer, admitting that the party "did not do government very well" and felt sidelined during the launch of a key immigration policy in May 2025, which was presented by Starmer without her input despite her significant contributions. She contrasted Starmer's leadership style, which she described as "bring me solutions, not problems," with the more collaborative approach of Andy Burnham, highlighting the need for dialogue and engagement to drive change in politics. Cooper emphasized her ambition to create a national consensus on social care and reintroduce Sure Start-style children’s centres, indicating the importance of addressing these issues to avoid future crises for the NHS.
The UK government will cease using an additional 13 hotels for housing asylum seekers, bringing the total closures this year to 44 as part of a pledge to terminate hotel use altogether by the end of the parliamentary term. The Home Office indicates there remain less than 160 hotels still in operation, while Andy Burnham pointed out that asylum seekers comprise 0.29% of individuals in the most deprived local authorities compared to 0.05% in the least deprived areas. Despite a general consensus across the political spectrum that these hotels should close, reports reveal that conditions were often cramped and unsanitary, and private accommodation providers have profited significantly, earning £146 per minute over a five-year period.
Three men are scheduled for lethal injection on the same day, August 13, 2026, in Tennessee, Alabama, and Oklahoma, marking a rare occurrence for simultaneous executions. In Tennessee, Anthony Darrell Hines is set to be executed for the 1985 murder of motel maid Catherine Jean Jenkins, while Alabama's Jeremy Williams is facing death for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland, and an Oklahoma man will die for killing his girlfriend. This aligns with a trend where 11 states conducted executions in 2025, with a notable rise in executions as world executions nearly doubled in the U.S. last year.
Since April 2020, the illuminated area in central Pyongyang has tripled, indicating that North Korea's regime has prioritized electricity supply in urban areas, with Kim Jong Un announcing plans for 50,000 new apartments by 2021. North Korea reportedly earns between $7.7 billion and $14.4 billion from munitions sales to Russia, and an additional $8 billion from other trade and criminal activities, amounting to over $14 billion in military support for Russia between 2022 and 2025. Additionally, between 16,000 and 22,000 North Korean soldiers are assisting Russia in Ukraine, with plans to increase their presence by up to 50,000 troops.
Japan has expressed strong protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup, one of the four disputed islands in the Kuril chain, which both Japan and Russia claim. Japan's foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, reaffirmed that these islands are "inherently Japanese territory," with the dispute dating back to World War Two, when the Soviet Union annexed the island chain and deported around 17,000 Japanese residents. The Kuril islands are of strategic military importance to Russia, highlighted by recent joint naval patrols with China and military drills conducted near the islands.
Russian forces targeted Ukraine's Izmail port in Odesa, causing damage and a fire to port infrastructure just a day after Ukraine attacked Russia's Novorossiysk port, resulting in three fatalities. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy stated that the country needs 5 percent of the US's Patriot interceptor missiles to survive the winter and 10 percent to eliminate all Russian ballistic projectiles, highlighting a significant shortage with only 1 percent currently available. Last month, Russia launched over 450 missiles at Ukraine, with nearly 200 being ballistic, illustrating the increased intensity of their attacks amid Ukraine's struggles to intercept them.
Alan Jones is facing a trial for 20 charges of indecent assault and two charges of sexual touching involving six complainants, which he has pleaded not guilty to. During the trial, the defense accused the complainant's ex-girlfriend of having financial motives for her testimony, which she denied, asserting she was motivated by J's desire to tell his truth. Judge Glenn Walsh rejected the intimidation claim against the defense and allowed questioning about the ex-girlfriend's $1,200 fine, stating it was relevant to the defense's theory of financial motive behind the evidence.
Ministers in England and Wales are exploring the upgrade of security at men’s category C and women’s prisons to alleviate overcrowding, particularly by diverting male prisoners serving short sentences or on remand from category B prisons, which number 30 across the estate. Approximately one-fifth of the prison population is made up of remand prisoners, and about half of the 86,000 inmates are held in category C prisons that are intended for work preparation and resettlement. Experts have expressed concern that converting the security of women’s prisons to accommodate more men could further erode the rehabilitation purpose of incarceration and delay needed solutions to the overcrowding crisis.
Rio Tinto has struck a $2.5 billion deal with the federal and New South Wales governments to ensure that Australia’s largest aluminium smelter will operate entirely on renewable energy by 2033, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7.1 million tonnes annually, which accounts for 1.5% of Australia's climate pollution. The agreement includes a 10-year below-market power supply guarantee starting after the smelter's existing coal contract ends in December 2028 and commits Rio Tinto to invest $1.1 billion in the facility over the next 12 years, with $100 million allocated specifically for decarbonization activities. The deal is expected to support nearly 3,000 megawatts of new renewable capacity and is seen as vital for maintaining local economic stability, as the Tomago smelter is a major electricity consumer and employer in the region.
Novaya Gazeta, co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov, has ceased operations following a Kremlin decree that nationalized its printing presses and revoked its registration, reflecting a broader crackdown on free speech in Russia, particularly since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Muratov noted that at least 1,500 people have been imprisoned for opposing state policy, a figure three times higher than during the KGB's most intense repression in the USSR. He also mentioned that nuclear weapon discussions have surged in Russian media, with at least 500 mentions since the beginning of the year, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the Kremlin's intentions.
Thousands of students across Australia are set to participate in walkouts to protest against Pauline Hanson and her far-right policies, with flyers from the National Union of Students promoting a "Say No to Pauline Hanson" campaign. A recent Roy Morgan poll indicates that One Nation's primary vote has increased to 26% over the past year, prompting students to rally against what they perceive as harmful impacts on education and social justice. Despite calls from politicians like federal education minister Jason Clare for students to remain in school, many are prioritizing the protest, viewing it as a crucial stand against rising far-right sentiments.
Rescue efforts in Colombia following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake have entered a critical phase, with the death toll reaching 265 and over 3,500 people injured. Nearly 500 individuals are still missing, and more than 9,550 homes have been destroyed as crews work to rescue survivors before the 72-hour mark passes. President Abelardo de La Espriella, who was inaugurated just days prior to the disaster, has promised to establish an emergency fund for rebuilding efforts and has declared an economic emergency to address the aftermath.
An oil spill off Oman from the tanker Caroline Bezengi has contaminated beaches along a 40 km (25 miles) stretch of coastline and is anticipated to reach Masirah Island, affecting an additional 10-20 km (6-12 miles) of shoreline. The spill covers nearly 400 square kilometers (154 square miles), with an estimated 800,000 barrels of crude oil onboard, prompting warnings from environmental groups like Greenpeace about the potential for an "unprecedented oil disaster" if not contained. The Caroline Bezengi, under sanctions in multiple countries, has been aground since June 8, following a suspected explosion, and is linked to Russia's shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil.
V of BTS revealed he has been receiving treatment for hearing loss in his right ear, which he described as only functioning at 30% compared to his left ear's 100%, a condition he has struggled with for about two and a half years. He disclosed this during a livestream as the band continues its highly-anticipated world tour, the first time all seven members have reunited since their hiatus for military service, which included V's enlistment in 2023 and expected discharge in June 2025. Bandmate Jungkook also shared his own health concern during the livestream, mentioning a shin injury that puts him at risk for a stress fracture as the tour progresses through various cities, including Los Angeles and Buenos Aires.
Hakainde Hichilema, aged 64, is seeking a second term as president of Zambia in an election overshadowed by the feud with the family of his deceased predecessor, Edgar Lungu, who died in June 2025. During the current campaign, allegations of authoritarian tactics by Hichilema's government have surfaced, including the detention of 36 members from the opposition led by Brian Mundubile, while Hichilema’s team claims he has improved freedoms compared to Lungu's presidency. Under Hichilema's leadership, Zambia's economy has stabilized, with annual inflation dropping to 6.5% from 24.6% in July 2021, and improvements in areas such as free primary and secondary education introduced in 2022.
India's surge in proposed coal production is set to increase global coal supplies by 2.5 billion tonnes annually, marking an 11% rise compared to the previous year, despite a plateau in global demand for coal. Driven mainly by the states of Odisha and Jharkhand, India aims to boost its coal output nearly by 100 million tonnes to 1.15 billion tonnes in the 2025-26 fiscal year to meet rising electricity demands amidst severe heatwaves. This increase contrasts with a significant decline in new coal mining operations globally, particularly in China and Australia, where new projects dropped by 44% and 96%, respectively, signaling a broader shift toward renewable energy sources.
An official review by the victims’ commissioner for England and Wales has revealed that bereaved families and seriously injured victims of road crime feel neglected, believing their experiences are treated with less seriousness than other serious crimes. In the year leading up to June 2025, almost 30,000 individuals were killed or seriously injured on roads, including 1,579 fatalities—three times the number of homicide victims—while an estimated 25-30% of these collisions involve criminal driving. The report highlighted issues such as lengthy investigations, poor communication, and inadequate support, urging the government to implement stronger standards and trauma-informed practices to better assist victims.
Israeli settlers have besieged three Palestinian families in the West Bank village of Qusra, cutting off water and electricity in an effort residents claim is aimed at stealing their land. Qusai Abu Rida, one of the trapped residents, reported having supplies for only two to three days left and highlighted the inaction of Israeli soldiers, who allegedly prayed with settlers instead of intervening. The Israeli military has announced the deployment of an additional infantry battalion to the area following previous incidents of land seizure and has deemed such activities by settlers illegal and unacceptable.
A Ukrainian drone and missile strike on Russia's Novorossiysk port has damaged two major grain export terminals and the last significant Russian naval base on the Black Sea, resulting in three fatalities, including an eight-year-old child, and 24 injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv's operation involved rockets, jets, and naval drones, and highlighted the significant loss of interceptors, with Ukraine having "two and a half times less" than in 2025 while Russia's missile output has doubled. The attack underlines the ongoing conflict's impact on grain exports, as Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, may see an August export decrease of over 50% compared to the same month in the last five years.