Taiwan's military has conducted its first live-fire exercise using first-person view (FPV) drones to strike armored vehicles. The drills, involving six units, aim to enhance asymmetric defense capabilities by adopting tactics observed in the Ukraine war.
President Donald Trump has ordered a substantial reduction in the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises with South Korea, citing his relationship with Kim Jong-un, despite military warnings that North Korea is applying new battlefield tactics learned in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reaffirmed support for Ukraine following Russian warnings of 'consequences' regarding the use of British-made drones in recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil and logistics infrastructure.
Russia warns the UK of consequences after confirmation that British-made drones were used in strikes on military and industrial targets inside Russia.
Japanese official Koizumi will embark on a three-day trip to Australia and India to discuss defense cooperation and potential equipment exports.
Donald Trump has ordered US defense secretary Pete Hegseth to substantially reduce joint US-South Korean military drills, citing his relationship with Kim Jong-un, despite warnings that North Korea is adapting battlefield tactics from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky mocked Vladimir Putin for relying on North Korean reinforcements and missiles, stating Russia cannot wage war alone. Meanwhile, Russian strikes caused casualties and fires in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia.
Russia sold significant gold reserves in 2026, dropping holdings to 73.4 million troy ounces to offset budget deficits caused by soaring defense spending for the war in Ukraine.
BP reports quarterly profits more than doubling to $5.73bn, driven by rising oil and gas prices from the Middle East crisis, as new CEO Meg O'Neill plans a major company overhaul.
Ukraine's UK ambassador Valerii Zaluzhnyi stated Ukraine will never join NATO, while frontline changes slowed in July and President Zelenskyy dismissed the US ambassador amid escalating drone and bombing strikes.
A bomb attack at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow killed three people, including the bomber, and wounded 21. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it a "brutal terrorist act." No one has claimed responsibility, but Russian war bloggers speculated a link to the Ukraine war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky states Russia is seeking 30,000 more troops and missile launchers from North Korea to aid in the war against Ukraine, with preparations underway in Russia's Voronezh region.
Laura Loomer, a prominent Donald Trump ally and conservative influencer, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after a dramatic reversal of her long-held skepticism towards Ukraine and its conflict with Russia. Her shift in perspective, following an air raid experience, could have political implications in Washington.
The EU unveiled its largest sanctions package in four years against Russia, leading FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich to suspend his activity. The measures target 218 individuals and entities, including banks, vessels, and military-industrial complex, while Ukraine faces ongoing attacks.
Top US and Russian diplomats, Marco Rubio and Sergey Lavrov, discussed the Ukraine war on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Manila, Philippines. Lavrov reiterated Russia's readiness for a political settlement and condemned Western arms supplies, while Rubio affirmed the US's willingness to play a constructive role in ending the conflict.
Secretary Rubio will meet Lavrov in Manila to discuss the Ukraine war and potential cooperation. He also discussed a South China Sea incident with China's Wang Yi, while ASEAN ministers negotiate a non-aggression pact.
Russia is actively recruiting foreign nationals from economically vulnerable regions for its war in Ukraine, often using deceptive promises of work or high wages. Many recruits, including Kenyans, Cubans, and Bangladeshis, face combat, death, or severe injury, with families struggling to recover bodies or find answers, prompting international concern.
Russia's extensive nuclear arsenal has proven ineffective in the Ukraine war, despite threats. The article argues tactical nuclear weapons are unlikely to be used due to historical ineffectiveness in non-nuclear conflicts, risk of radioactive fallout on Russian territory, and Moscow's claim over eastern Ukrainian oblasts.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev confirmed that former Russian and German officials held a secret meeting in Baku in mid-July to discuss the Ukraine war, a development of which Azerbaijan was unaware until after the fact. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated Putin continues to refuse negotiations.
The UN reports a sharp increase in civilian casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war, with 1,396 killed and 7,978 wounded in Ukraine in H1 2026, and 250 killed and 1,596 injured in Russia during H1 this year. Long-range missiles and drones are cited as primary causes. India protested a Russian strike on a ship near Odesa that killed 10, including four Indians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui, thanking Pyongyang for its support in the Ukraine war. Choe's visit, without an obvious occasion, fuels speculation she is coordinating a potential visit by Kim Jong Un to Russia, following Putin's prior invitation.
North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss ammunition and missile shipments for the Ukraine war, and prepare for a possible Kim Jong-un visit. Putin thanked North Korea for its support and for sending Korean People's Army soldiers to the Kursk region.
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss sanctions against Russia, with no agreement yet on the 21st package. Meanwhile, the 'Coalition of the Willing' convened in Paris to reaffirm support for Ukraine, focusing on military aid and defense cooperation. Drone strikes near Moscow reportedly killed at least three people.
Russia's budget deficit reached 2.5% of GDP in H1, while tensions rise between Iran and the US over alleged plots. Updates on the Ukraine war include Patriot missile production plans, drone attacks, and NATO discussions. Other news covers Iran's farewell ceremonies, Israel's actions in Gaza, and Turkey's S-400 sales.
