Civilians in Ukraine and Russia are paying an ever-higher price in the warThe CIT recorded 2,650 civilian deaths in Ukraine in 2025 (297 in occupied areas and 2,353 in the rest of the territory). On the Russian side, the deaths amounted to 275. Those figures are based primarily on official records from regional governors, together with reporting from independent media. CIT classifies the data into three categories: Ukraine, occupied Ukraine, and Russia, while excluding attacks on military facilities.
https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-08-13/civilians-in-ukraine-and-russia-are-paying-an-ever-higher-price-in-the-war.htmlhttps://archive.ph/PqxjtSwedish union ends dispute with TeslaIn a statement, the union said the reason for its decision was that “Tesla has bought out all of our striking members at the company. With no members remaining at Tesla, our industrial action can no longer have an effect. “This does not mean that the fundamental issue behind the conflict has changed. Our goal remains that collective agreements should apply throughout the Swedish labour market, and IF Metall remains ready to fight for collective agreements wherever and whenever employers oppose them.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/swedish-union-ends-dispute-tesla Hungary uses sunken barges to raise Danube River to keep nuclear plant going Hungarian authorities are sinking the two barges to raise water levels so Paks, which provides the country with more than a third of its electricity, can continue to operate normally. The sinking began Saturday morning and Hungarian media are quoting the prime minister saying the water level at the plant has risen by 1 centimeter.
https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-barge-danube-river-nuclear-power-plant-paks/https://archive.ph/hSYZrFagan launches leadership bid with GMB supportThe launch in Glasgow came as he secured the support of the GMB union, taking him another step towards reaching his target of three affiliate nominations – two from trade unions – which he needs to book a spot on the ballot. “For two Budgets in a row, while other parties forced concessions from the SNP, we sat on the sidelines,” he told supporters, promising to work with the SNP to pass its budget if five tests are met, the first being progress on bringing buses “back under public control” and a £2 cap on fares.
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/fagan-launches-leadership-bid-gmb-supportSedition to anthem: Many lives of ‘Azadi’ chants in India’s youth protestsThe entry curve of the protest strip read: “#2026 Gen-Z REVOLUTION!!!” A man in his early twenties climbed a tree carrying a powerful loudspeaker and blasted a song. “Azadi, give me freedom! Azadi, give me freedom! Azadi, give me freedom!” The crowd followed the words, with their hands raised in the air. Azadi, translated as “freedom” in English, a popular hip-hop song from the Bollywood film Gully Boy, became the anthem of the student protests in one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government in years.
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/8/15/sedition-to-anthem-many-lives-of-aazadi-chants-in-indias-youth-protestshttps://archive.ph/WjVQbSenior citizens endure long wait for promised supportThe labor leader from San Andres, Manila had already submitted everything required for the government’s cash incentive for older Filipinos including her birth certificate, a valid ID and a photograph. No medical records. No income certification. The barangay officials handling the process are also senior citizens who know the community well which should hasten the process.
https://www.bulatlat.com/2026/08/08/senior-citizens-endure-long-wait-for-promised-support/Afghanistan marks 5 years under the Taliban with safer streets but pleas for jobs and educationAs Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers mark five years since sweeping back to power, some Kabul residents say they feel safer after decades of conflict and upheaval but stress the leaders should now focus on creating jobs and expanding access to schools in the country where girls above the age of 12 are banned from education.
https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-5year-anniversary-6179bb5805731f0c2b6b5b59ea322b6c Israel’s ‘pilot zones’: Withdrawal on paper, continued occupation of south Lebanon On paper, the pilot zones, whose implementation began on 20 July, are meant to work as a formula: a gradual Israeli withdrawal, paired with a handover of sovereignty to the Lebanese Army, and the end of Hezbollah's armed presence in these locations. But Daniel Meier, professor of political science and director of the Master in Middle Eastern Studies at Sciences Po Grenoble, says Israel has sought to use the mechanism for a different purpose.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-pilot-zones-withdrawal-paper-continued-occupation-south-lebanonUS pulls last aircraft carrier in Asia as Trump focuses on Iran and the Western HemisphereThe lack of a U.S. carrier in the Pacific may be short-lived if the Navy deploys another in the next couple of months. But it shows how the open-ended operations with Iran are running some American sailors ragged, analysts say, while the Trump administration further retreats from the Asia-Pacific region and focuses on the Western Hemisphere.
https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-china-pacific-iran-war-87cfb838de8c13464fa3cab1840ad87dMorocco arrests 111 migrants headed for Spain's Ceuta in security crackdownMoroccan police arrested at least 111 people on Saturday as they tried to enter Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, amid tightened security on both sides of the border after social media posts called for another mass migrant crossing.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/spain-boosts-security-ceuta-calls-appear-online-another-mass-border-rush-2026-08-14/Venezuelan Gov’t and US-Backed Opposition Faction to Renew Supreme CourtThe two parties will conduct a process aimed at transforming the judicial system as well as promoting the recovery of Venezuela’s gold reserves frozen at the Bank of England to support the country’s reconstruction following the June 24 earthquakes. The agreement on the judicial overhaul, presented in a joint press conference at the 5-star Melá Hotel in Caracas, effectively replaces the process the Venezuelan National Assembly had launched in May following a reform that increased the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) from 20 to 32 members and a preliminary evaluation of magistrate candidates.
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuelan-govt-and-us-backed-opposition-faction-to-renew-supreme-court/Colombia says 377 still missing three days after 7.4M earthquakeSo far, rescue workers and neighbors were able to rescue 348 people from the rubble alive and 3,826 people were injured. The earthquake, which was the strongest in a decade, destroyed 12,563 homes and damaged another 75,654. At least 172 apartment buildings collapsed, said Tamayo.
https://colombiareports.com/colombia-says-377-still-missing-three-days-after-7-4m-earthquake/