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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia has widened its strikes to target Ukraine's data centres, adding critical digital infrastructure to the list of targets hit in its attacks on the country. The claim, reported by the BBC, underscores concern that Russia is now aiming to disrupt Ukraine's government services, communications and economy in ways that go beyond energy and civilian infrastructure.

Aid workers in Gaza are facing an enormous task: clearing an estimated 61 million tonnes of rubble left by the war, debris that is believed to conceal the bodies of up to 10,000 people. The recovery work is slow and delicate, complicated by unexploded ordnance and the sheer scale of destruction across the territory, as families continue searching for missing relatives.

New Russian strikes across Ukraine have killed at least eight people, according to updates in a Guardian war briefing. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of deliberately terrorising Ukrainian civilians as attacks continued against cities and infrastructure. The deaths add to a steady toll from ongoing strikes, underlining the persistent danger to civilians even as front-line fighting and international diplomacy continue without a breakthrough.

American intelligence reportedly gathered information that Russia may be preparing a drone attack on Spain, France, or Italy, and the CIA shared the warning with several European governments. The report, circulating widely across Spain, France, Italy and Russia, has raised fresh concerns about Russian activity targeting Mediterranean countries and prompted questions about how European capitals will respond.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that excessive reliance on artificial intelligence contributed to a missile strike that hit a school in Iran. The admission raises pressing questions about the use of automated decision-making systems in military targeting and accountability for errors in lethal operations. The disclosure is drawing scrutiny from defense analysts and the tech community over how AI tools are integrated into weapons systems and what safeguards should be required before strikes are authorized.

Russia's state-run RIA Novosti news agency has published an article declaring that Russia is facing a new 'special military operation', which the author Alexander Nosovich claims 'will be very short'. The announcement comes through Kremlin-controlled propagandists, echoing the language Moscow used when launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and is drawing alarm over what new military campaign Russia may be signalling.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has published an investigation identifying a Russian sniper accused of being the 'Butcher of Bucha', the figure linked to atrocities committed during Russia's occupation of the Ukrainian town in 2022. The report has drawn over a million engagements, with renewed attention on accountability for war crimes in Ukraine.

US intelligence, according to reports shared by the CIA with several European governments, has information that Russia may be preparing a drone attack on Spain, France, or Italy. The warning has spread rapidly across European social media, with users in Italy, Spain, and France debating the credibility of the intelligence and what a strike on a Mediterranean country would mean for NATO and European security.

Kyiv is on course to record its worst month for strikes since 2022, with more than 155 attacks already counted this month. Reported monthly figures show a sharp escalation, from 51 strikes in February and 21 in March to 83 in July, indicating renewed intensity in attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Observers note the trend marks the heaviest sustained pressure on the city in years.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a scathing address at the United Nations, denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in unusually harsh personal terms and accusing Israel of atrocities in Gaza. Members of Israel's delegation walked out of the hall during the speech in a dramatic protest. The confrontation underscores deepening tensions between Turkey and Israel and the widening diplomatic isolation of Netanyahu's government over the war.

Millions of Sudanese returning to Khartoum are finding a city barely able to sustain life, with widespread power cuts, destroyed buildings and rubble lining the streets. The capital, heavily damaged during two years of fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, lacks basic water and electricity services as residents attempt to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.

French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the United Nations, denouncing the situation in Gaza as "a spectacle that shames us all." His remarks mark one of the strongest criticisms from a Western leader of the international community's failure to stop the suffering in the territory. The speech is drawing wide attention as debates continue over humanitarian aid, ceasefire efforts and global inaction.

Ethiopia has publicly accused Eritrea and Sudan of supporting Tigrayan forces as fighting intensifies in the country's north. The claim marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the Horn of Africa neighbours, who already share strained relations over border issues and the two-year-old conflict in Tigray. Observers warn the accusations could further destabilise a region already grappling with cross-border tensions and displacement.

Russian strikes killed at least eight people in Ukraine, coming shortly after Moscow declared its intention to press on with the war. The attacks add to a steady toll of civilian casualties and underline the absence of any breakthrough toward peace negotiations. Officials in Ukraine have repeatedly called for stronger air defences and continued Western support as Russian bombardments target populated areas.

The Israeli army has killed four Palestinians in what are described as new violations of the Gaza ceasefire. The incident, reported by Anadolu Agency, adds to ongoing tensions over adherence to the truce in the enclave. The report has drawn attention amid continued international concern about the fragility of the ceasefire agreement.

Russian drone attacks killed two people at a market outside Kyiv, with three more deaths reported in other Ukrainian regions, according to officials. The strikes are the latest in Moscow's continued aerial campaign against Ukrainian towns and infrastructure, drawing renewed attention to the ongoing war's toll on civilians.

Air and missile strikes killed eight people in Ukraine and one in Russia, coming after Moscow rejected German calls to de-escalate the war. The exchange of fire underscores the continued stalemate on the battlefield and in diplomacy, with Western allies pressing for reduced hostilities while Russia shows no sign of stepping back. The deaths add to mounting civilian casualties on both sides as the conflict grinds on.

Israeli attacks have killed at least four people across Gaza, according to a report by Middle East Eye. The strikes reportedly hit multiple locations in the territory, adding to the toll of the ongoing conflict. Details on the victims and exact strike sites remain limited, and aid groups continue to warn of deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the enclave.

The Wall Street Journal published a piece arguing that China's economy under Xi Jinping is falling short for ordinary Chinese people. The article contends that despite the leadership's emphasis on growth and stability, households face weak consumer confidence, a property slump and job market pressures. The commentary is drawing attention as analysts debate the state of China's economic slowdown and its political implications.