Moscow experienced one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks since 2022, with Russian authorities claiming to have destroyed all drones targeting the capital. Ukrainian forces continue to advance in Russia’s Kursk region, striking bridges, airfields, and an oil depot. In Bryansk, Russian forces repelled a Ukrainian incursion. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin credited strong defenses for intercepting the drones. Russia reported downing 45 drones overnight, including 11 over Moscow, though these figures are unverified. Noah Prescott 22/08/2024 10:00 am
An attempt to use an extendable robot to remove a fragment of melted fuel from Fukushima Daiichi’s Unit 2 reactor was suspended due to a technical issue. Workers found that five pipes used to maneuver the robot were placed incorrectly and couldn’t be fixed within the radiation exposure time limit. The robot, which can extend up to 22 meters, was to collect a fuel fragment, marking the start of the challenging fuel debris removal phase. The mission’s new start date is undecided, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings. Ava Sinclair 22/08/2024 10:00 am
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a historic visit to Ukraine, focusing on economic, defense, and technological cooperation. Analysts suggest the visit aims to balance India’s perceived pro-Russia stance, following Modi’s recent Moscow trip and India’s historical ties with Russia. This visit, the first by an Indian PM to Ukraine, comes after Modi’s controversial meeting with Putin, which coincided with Russian missile strikes in Ukraine and drew criticism from Zelenskyy. Modi condemned attacks harming innocents but did not directly address the strikes. Noah Prescott 22/08/2024 10:00 am
CNN video shows thousands moving after Israel Defense Forces reissued evacuation orders for southern Gaza. People left Deir al-Balah on foot, donkey carts, and cars, carrying belongings. Streets were littered with IDF leaflets. UNRWA reports 84% of Gaza is under evacuation orders. CNN analysis shows the humanitarian zone in Gaza has shrunk by 38%, now covering just over 10% of Gaza. Satellite images reveal mass evacuations from these areas. Amid the latest evacuation, people swarmed a UN truck for food aid. Noah Prescott 22/08/2024 6:30 am
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine is significant as India balances its alliances with Russia and the West. Despite criticism for maintaining strong trade and diplomatic ties with Russia amid the Ukraine conflict, India has remained neutral. Modi’s trip, at Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s invitation, marks the first visit by an Indian head of state to Ukraine since its independence in 1991. This move indicates India’s intent to strengthen relations with Ukraine while managing its deeper relationship with Russia. Penelope Kingsley 22/08/2024 6:30 am
A Greek-flagged oil tanker, Sounion, was attacked in the Red Sea, likely by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, leaving it drifting and ablaze, the British military reported. The attack, involving small arms fire and four projectiles, occurred 90 miles west of Hodeida amid a Houthi campaign targeting ships due to the Israel-Hamas war. The vessel, with 25 crew members, lost power but reported no casualties. Later, a second ship was targeted in the Gulf of Aden by three explosions, causing no damage. Noah Prescott 22/08/2024 6:30 am
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were taken into custody overnight by Romanian police as part of an investigation into new allegations, including sex with and trafficking underage persons, money laundering, and attempting to influence witnesses. They were already awaiting trial for rape and human trafficking. The brothers, who deny all charges, were first detained in December 2022 and released from house arrest in August 2023. Police searched four homes, and the Tates were taken to DIICOT for questioning before being remanded for 24 hours. Ava Sinclair 22/08/2024 6:30 am
In Velykyi Bychkiv, Ukraine, 25-year-old soldier Vitalii Barelin, once fighting Russian troops, now hunts draft evaders on the Tisza River, a border with Romania. With Russia’s war in its third year, Ukraine enforces mass conscription for men aged 25-60, leading to tens of thousands fleeing since February 2022. At least 15,000 have escaped through Romania, using routes like the Tisza River. Barelin and fellow guard Artem Shakhovalov patrol the river, which is less than 300 feet wide in some areas. Noah Prescott 22/08/2024 3:00 am
Yes, there is famine in Sudan, according to United Nations-backed experts. However, no official declaration of famine has been made due to specific rules and regulations governing such pronouncements. The definition of famine was influenced by devastating events in the 1980s, including Ethiopia’s mid-1980s famine, which led to significant global awareness and fundraising efforts like the “We are the World” song. Penelope Kingsley 22/08/2024 3:00 am
Two weeks into the Ukrainian army’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow officials are adjusting to the situation, viewing it as a “new normal.” Despite the ongoing conflict, authorities are reluctant to cancel upcoming gubernatorial elections. Kremlin propagandists are working to normalize sending conscripts to border areas, while officials consider another mobilization. Initially shocked, Russian elites are now adapting to the Ukrainian forces’ presence, which, though far from regional centers, marks a significant and troubling development. Ava Sinclair 22/08/2024 3:00 am
