Perez Hilton is "able to communicate" following hospitalization due to a distressing TikTok livestream where he appeared to self-harm, leading viewers to contact authorities. His family expressed gratitude for the public's support during this "incredibly difficult and emotional" time and confirmed he is receiving medical care. Emergency responders arrived at Hilton's home in Miami after reports of him livestreaming self-harm, which resulted in his TikTok account being suspended shortly thereafter.
Ukraine conducted multiple strikes on two oil refineries in Russia, specifically Bashneft-Novoil and Slavneft-Yanos, with President Zelensky stating that the attacks aim to curtail Moscow's oil revenue used for financing its war. In these strikes, regional governor Mikhail Evraev reported four injuries and noted it was the "largest enemy drone attack," while Russian military claims indicated they shot down 605 Ukrainian drones overnight. Additionally, at least 11 people were reported dead in Russian attacks across Ukraine, with Kherson experiencing a complete blackout and internet connectivity dropping to 31% before rebounding to 69%.
Trains in north-west England are severely disrupted after a power cut affected the signalling centre, leading to widespread cancellations and delays of over an hour for numerous services, including Northern and TransPennine trains. The outage occurred just before 2pm, causing trains to stop, and although power has been restored, a controlled restart of systems is in progress, with major disruption expected to continue throughout the day. Passengers in the Greater Manchester area can use Bee Network buses or Metrolink services without extra charges as they manage the travel challenges.
Saudi Arabia has appointed Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Salem Al-Shehri as the commander of a newly established multinational maritime defence alliance aimed at protecting navigation through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition, formed on July 30, includes 14 countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, and Turkey, and is designed to safeguard vital international trade routes and energy supplies, with an upcoming planning meeting scheduled for August 12-13 to finalize its framework. The coalition will welcome further countries to join and is responding to increased tensions related to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, which affects about 20 percent of global oil and gas supplies.
Andy Burnham's government is urgently identifying grooming gang perpetrators potentially eligible for early release due to a loophole in the sentencing changes affecting around 5,000 prisoners, reduced from 6,000 after excluding serious offenders like grooming gang members. Concerns arose when some individuals convicted in historical grooming cases, charged with crimes like indecent assault before anti-grooming laws were enacted in 2003, may not fall under the scheme's exemptions. Burnham suspended the release scheme following pressure from various groups, while the Prime Minister aims to ensure that the victims receive the justice they deserve through a thorough review of these cases.
President Donald Trump has committed to pursuing "leakers" following reports of severe depletion in U.S. munitions stocks amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, highlighting that approximately 80% of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors and about half of the Patriot interceptors have been depleted. Experts assert that restoring pre-war levels of these interceptors could take at least three years, and their current low levels are impacting U.S. military deterrence, particularly against adversaries like China. Trump has claimed that the U.S. has ample munitions and production capabilities, dismissing concerns over deficiencies, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has countered assertions regarding munitions shortages as false.
A drone bomb was discovered at Leipzig airport near a Ukrainian plane loaded with military ammunition, which German officials believe could have resulted in a catastrophic attack. The device, which had an inoperative homemade remote detonator and was suspected to contain semtex explosive, raised concerns over a potential escalation of threats from foreign nations, particularly Russia. The incident, treated as a “professional hybrid threat scenario,” led to the suspension of air traffic at the airport, with police noting that the drone had evaded detection and been on site for several hours before its discovery.
Since the ceasefire announcement on October 10, 2025, over 300 children have been killed in Gaza, with UNICEF reporting an average of one child death per day. The ongoing violence has led to more than 58,000 children losing one or both parents, and approximately 17,000 children are unaccompanied, highlighting a severe child protection crisis. As families face multiple challenges, including malnutrition and limited access to healthcare, UNICEF delivered over 600 pallets of school supplies in an effort to support the upcoming school year.
In just three weeks since the H5 bird flu was detected on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, locals are encountering sick or dead birds frequently, with dozens of suspected and confirmed cases reported. The situation has escalated in recent days, with council officers identifying sick birds daily, particularly greater crested terns, raising concerns that several threatened species, including fairy terns, are at high risk. Wildlife carers, already overwhelmed prior to the outbreak, are struggling to manage the influx of affected birds and are urging for more support and stronger measures to prevent further spread of the virus.
During the first week of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (Icac) hearings into the NSW Liberal party, Premier Chris Minns emphasized the importance of the process without taking political advantage, stating it should promote cleaner politics. The NSW government discreetly released three key documents, including a report on hate speech laws, while Liberal leader Damien Tudehope faced scrutiny over his past leaked communications and testimony, raising questions about his future. Meanwhile, the government announced it would not implement the Sackar review's recommendation to expand inciting hatred laws, citing the complexity of the issue, as the political landscape shifted amid ongoing revelations affecting the Liberal party's election prospects.
The BBC has hired 26-year-old entrepreneur Brandon Relph to its strategy team to help connect with younger audiences who increasingly prefer platforms like YouTube and TikTok over traditional broadcasting, with less than half of 16 to 24-year-olds watching live TV regularly. Relph, who started his first company at 13 and has been recognized by notable figures like Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, aims to address the BBC's challenges by prioritizing digital content and adapting to the shifting media consumption habits of younger demographics. While the BBC remains a significant media presence for 16-34-year-olds, reaching 63% of this group, executives acknowledge that a broader institutional shift is necessary to maintain relevance in a rapidly changing media landscape.
The Reserve Bank's interest rate hikes have resulted in a decline in property prices, with forecasts suggesting an average drop of 7.8% across capital cities by April next year, making it one of the steepest falls in the past four decades. Specifically, Sydney and Melbourne are expected to see peak-to-trough declines of about 10%, while mid-sized capitals could experience drops of 2% to 4%. Analysts believe that changes to property investor taxes and higher interest rates may usher in a new normal of stagnant price growth, affecting the long-term affordability of housing in Australia.
The UK culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has approved Paramount’s £85bn ($110bn) acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery after securing several guarantees, including that Channel 5 will operate as a public service broadcaster until 2034 and maintain editorial independence. Paramount has committed to keeping its linear and on-demand services in Britain distinct for five years, and it will not reduce the number of UK content commissioners. Despite these approvals, the deal still faces challenges, including a legal suit from US writers' guilds on antitrust grounds, with a trial scheduled for March 2027.
Trump denied reports of a U.S. munitions shortage in the conflict with Iran, asserting that the country has "massive amounts" of ammunition and is ramping up manufacturing. CNN reported that the U.S. military has "nearly exhausted 80%" of its stock of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptors, which has strained Trump's military strategy regarding Iran. The White House and Pentagon have dismissed the claims of weapon shortages and the alleged confrontation between Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as “fake news.”
As SpaceX's shares were unlocked, early employees with stock options are poised to experience significant financial gains. One former employee plans to use their windfall to renovate a brewery in Italy. The article highlights the impact of this event on employees, emphasizing the substantial value of their stock compensation.
At least 30 Yemeni government troops have been killed in Houthi rebel attacks on military camps in central Yemen. The strikes targeted several camps in the al-Ruwaik area of Marib province and the al-Abr area of Hadramawt. The Houthis claimed their attacks were directed at "large Saudi military build-ups," while the Yemeni Health Minister condemned the actions as "treacherous."
A US Senate committee has voted along party lines to hold former health official Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination over 100 times during a hearing regarding his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Republican-led committee, chaired by Senator Rand Paul, plans to refer the case to the Justice Department, although it is uncertain whether charges will be pursued. Fauci, who has a pre-emptive pardon from former President Joe Biden for actions between 2014 and 2025, could still face legal consequences for actions taken after that date.
Real Madrid has signed 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig for a reported club-record fee of 140 million euros ($161 million) including bonuses, securing him until June 30, 2033. Diomande, who was named the Bundesliga young player of the season after scoring 12 goals and providing eight assists last year, was also pursued by Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool. This acquisition marks Madrid's sixth preseason signing as they aim to revamp their squad following two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.
UEFA has unanimously voted to withdraw from all FIFA events due to dissatisfaction with FIFA's failure to meet the conditions for collaboration, specifically regarding the plan to sell minority stakes in World Cups. Despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino's withdrawal of the proposal, UEFA stated that two primary conditions remain unmet: the absence of future plans to commercialize major competitions and assurances against such actions in the future. UEFA's boycott first impacts the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup, scheduled for September 5, 2026, while UEFA has also issued a document preservation letter to ensure no evidence is destroyed for potential legal actions.
Israeli prosecutors have indicted West Bank settler Yinon Levi for reckless manslaughter connected to the 2025 killing of Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen, making it the first such indictment in nearly three years. During a July 2025 confrontation that followed settlers operating heavy machinery in the Palestinian village of Umm al-Khair, Hathaleen was shot, and video evidence reportedly shows Levi firing a weapon in his direction. Since October 7, 2023, at least 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, including 240 children, amidst heightened violence and accusations of impunity toward settlers and soldiers.
Mata Hari, born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle on August 7, 1876, rose to fame in Parisian high society by portraying herself as an exotic temple dancer, despite being Dutch and having fabricated her backstory. Her performances, characterized by dancing nude behind veils, captivated audiences and led her to interact with influential diplomats and military officers across Europe, although her success waned with the advent of World War I. Ultimately, driven by financial hardships, she accepted an intelligence-gathering offer from the German consul, which led to her arrest and execution as a spy in 1917.
Mata Hari, born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle on August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, captured the Parisian high society's attention starting in 1905 with her exotic performances that feigned an Indian heritage, despite being Dutch. Her rise to fame included performances at prestigious venues and engagement with influential elites, yet her popularity faded with the onset of World War I, leading her to accept a role as a spy for Germany due to financial struggles. Ultimately, her life ended tragically; she was executed by firing squad in 1917, accused of espionage and collaboration with Germany during the war.
Christopher Wright, 73, was sentenced to a minimum of 35 years in prison for the murder of his lodger, Richard Dyson, 55, whom he shot in November 2019 and subsequently dismembered, hiding the remains in a barrel filled with concrete for over five years. Dyson's disappearance was treated as a missing person case until 2025, when police, acting on new evidence, discovered the barrel on Wright's farm. Wright’s accomplice, Karl Schwalbe, received a three-year sentence for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, while the court noted the emotional toll on Dyson's family throughout the lengthy investigation.
India-Bangladesh relations have soured further after Bangladesh accused India of permitting exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been sentenced to death for "crimes against humanity," to speak to journalists in New Delhi, which they deemed a platform for a "convicted genocider." Hasina expressed her intent to return to Bangladesh in December, marking the anniversary of the country's independence, despite ongoing threats to her safety, claiming that "they may put me in a cell. They may kill me." Bangladesh's foreign ministry expressed outrage at the speech, denouncing it as an affront to their sovereignty and renewing calls for India's extradition of Hasina, who has been absent from the country since fleeing in 2024 amid protests.
David Owori, a 27-year-old top Ugandan footballer and captain of Sports Club Villa, was killed after being attacked by robbers armed with paving stones in Kampala while resisting a theft of his mobile phone. After being found unconscious and taken to a nearby hospital, he was later pronounced dead. Owori, who played for the national team and helped his club secure a record 17th Uganda Premier League title in 2024, is mourned by the Ugandan football community, which held a minute of silence in his honor.
Lebanese and international rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have accused Israel of intentionally targeting journalist Amal Khalil, who was killed on April 22, and critically injuring photojournalist Zainab Faraj, while obstructing medical assistance. Investigations revealed that Israeli strikes on a shelter containing the journalists constituted war crimes, with groups asserting that Israeli military personnel were aware they were civilians, as they tracked them with drones. In 2025, Israel was responsible for over two-thirds of journalist fatalities worldwide, accounting for 84 out of 129 deaths tracked by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Two human rights groups, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, classified an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon that resulted in the death of journalist Amal Khalil and serious injury to camera operator Zeinab Faraj as an apparent war crime. The incident occurred on April 22 during three strikes aimed at Hezbollah operatives, with the first strike killing two men known to the journalists, while subsequent strikes injured Khalil and ultimately destroyed the building where they sought refuge. Khalil died from cardiac arrest around 19:00, with a report indicating she likely still had signs of life when paramedics were forced to retreat from the scene due to attacks on their rescue efforts.
In central Sri Lanka, farmers are struggling with elephants trampling their crops as they prepare for the spring rice sowing season, often resorting to measures like firecrackers to push the animals back. Encounters between elephants and farmers have resulted in hundreds of deaths on both sides in recent years, exacerbated by the loss of elephant habitats to intensive agriculture. With around 7,400 elephants living freely across Sri Lanka, the conflict poses a dual threat as both farmers and elephants suffer from the changing landscape and encroachments on their territories.
Palantir Technologies, a US data analytics company, reportedly engineered its corporate structure to pay no federal corporate income tax, achieving a global effective tax rate of only 1.4 percent in 2025, despite a 93 percent revenue increase to $1.94 billion in the second quarter. The Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR) noted that Palantir recorded a mere £2 million ($2.7 million) corporate tax charge in the UK for 2024 after securing more than £670 million ($900 million) in government contracts. The report raises ethical concerns about Palantir's tax practices and its provision of technology to contentious agencies, but it does not claim any illegality in their arrangements.
Jordan's players and staff received overdue prize money for their participation in the 2025 Arab Cup, which they had been waiting for since December, according to the Jordan Football Association’s president, Prince Ali bin Hussein. He criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino for allegedly trying to leverage support in exchange for resolving financial issues, as he stated that FIFA's support suddenly came after eight months of delays. Despite receiving the funds, Ali expressed ongoing concerns about FIFA leadership and stated that the Jordan FA would not endorse or vote for Infantino in the upcoming presidential election.