Russia and Ukraine exchanged 84 prisoners each, with the UAE mediating. Russia said its soldiers are in Belarus for medical and psychological care, while Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy confirmed that many returnees need treatment, including Mariupol defenders and civilians held since as early as 2014.
Typhoon Podul hit Taiwan with 191 km/h winds, leaving one missing and 143 injured. Over 5,500 people were evacuated, and hundreds of flights were canceled. The storm later reached southern China, causing heavy rain, transport shutdowns, and school closures in Hong Kong. China allocated 430 million yuan for relief, bringing the total to 5.8 billion […]
Firefighting efforts continue in Hama, Syria, as a forest fire that started five days ago rages across the Al-Ghab Plain. Strong winds, rugged terrain, and limited water supplies have hindered containment, and some homes have been damaged. White Helmets Director Samir Nassar said fire trucks have been positioned every 100 meters to prevent further spread, […]
In Spain, a volunteer firefighter has died battling forest fires in Castile and León, raising this week’s death toll to three. The latest victim was trapped near Nogarejas. About 6,000 people have been evacuated from 26 communities. Extreme heat and strong winds have fueled 24 fires nationwide, forcing road closures and suspending train services between […]
In Russia, a Ukrainian drone attack on Rostov-on-Don injured 13 people, two seriously, while footage showed a drone hitting a building. In Volgograd, an oil refinery supplying the Russian military caught fire after a separate attack, but firefighters quickly contained it and no casualties were reported. Ukrainian strikes have caused three Russian refineries to suspend […]
In the Netherlands, a hot air balloon carrying 34 people crashed in Friesland province, killing one person and injuring five others. Authorities reported the balloon hit the ground rapidly in a green area.
In Japan, the Perseid meteor shower, visible from mid-July to late August, was captured on camera in Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures. Formed by dust and rock particles from comet Swift-Tuttle, the meteors burned up upon entering the atmosphere, creating a striking visual display.
In Pakistan, chaos marred Independence Day celebrations in Karachi, leaving three dead and 75 injured. Gunfire erupted across multiple neighborhoods, including Liaquatabad, Korangi, Lyari, Mehmoodabad, Akhtar Colony, Keamari, Jackson, Baldia, Orangi Town, and Paposh Nagar. Police detained 20 suspects in connection with the shootings. Similar incidents have occurred in previous years, with 95 people injured […]
The ancient city of Kibyra in Burdur’s Gölhisar district, historically known as the “city of gladiators,” offered a stunning backdrop during the Perseid meteor shower on August 12-13. Renowned for its Roman-era structures and multi-layered history, Kibyra is on UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List since 2016. Visitors were treated to views of the Odeon, […]
Japanese authorities seized a record 1,046 tons of cannabis, worth around 5.2 billion yen (1.5 billion Turkish lira), in one of the country’s largest drug operations. The Narcotics Control Department, in cooperation with the Japan Coast Guard and Customs Agency, arrested three Vietnamese citizens who allegedly smuggled the drugs by sea to a warehouse […]