Ukrainian forces have been targeting key Russian infrastructure, including energy sites and logistics hubs, in a series of recent attacks. On August 14th, Ukrainian drones struck the Olya seaport, reportedly damaging a ship carrying Shahed drone components and ammunition from Iran, a crucial location for importing military supplies. Other attacks include the LUKOIL-Volgogradneftepererabotka refinery and the Unecha oil pumping station, both critical to Russia’s fuel production and military supply chains. Furthermore, Russia’s air defenses claim to have intercepted numerous Ukrainian drones across various regions, including those over the Samara region where an oil refinery was also targeted.
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Vectus Global, a security firm led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince, is preparing to deploy hundreds of combatants from the US, Europe, and El Salvador to Haiti to combat the country’s gangs. The firm has been operating in Haiti since March and aims to help authorities regain control of key areas, with a 10-year deal reportedly including a role in Haiti’s tax-collection system. This deployment, which includes snipers, specialists, and equipment, has sparked concerns from human rights advocates who worry about the outsourcing of solutions and a further weakening of Haitian institutions. Despite Vectus’s existing presence and drone deployment, gangs continue to hold strategic dominance, raising questions about the effectiveness of this private military intervention and its impact on the Haitian police and the UN-backed security force.
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Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has initiated a child protection lawsuit against Roblox, alleging the platform facilitates sexual exploitation and endangers minors. The suit claims Roblox enables the distribution of child sexual abuse material, lacks adequate safety controls, and withholds vital risk warnings from users. Murrill highlighted the presence of explicit content within some games on the platform and cited cases in Louisiana linked to Roblox-based interactions. The lawsuit demands restitution, damages, and attorney fees, while urging significant platform changes or shutdown, due to a lack of age verification and similar safeguards.
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As of August 15, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff reported that Russia had suffered a staggering loss of 1,068,040 troops since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, including 940 casualties in the past day. In addition to the immense troop losses, the report details significant equipment destruction, including thousands of tanks, armored fighting vehicles, artillery systems, and various other military assets. The tally also encompasses losses of airplanes, helicopters, and naval vessels, underscoring the extensive impact of the ongoing conflict on Russia’s military capabilities.
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A Russian soldier, Artem Kulikov, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Ukrainian court for the murder of two civilians near Kupiansk. Kulikov, drafted from a Russian prison, was deployed to the Kharkiv region where he and another soldier abducted the civilians and executed them after they refused to provide information on Ukrainian military positions. This sentence comes as the UN reported the highest casualty count in the war since May 2022. The investigation also revealed Kulikov provided evidence against his commanders who ordered the killing of civilians.
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Attorneys representing Payton Gendron, the perpetrator of the Buffalo supermarket shooting, have moved to dismiss the federal charges against him, citing a lack of minority representation on the grand jury. They claim that the grand jury that indicted Gendron did not accurately reflect the demographic makeup of the community. Judge Vilardo, while noting the irony of the claim in a hate crimes case, did not immediately rule on the motion. The prosecution maintains that any disparities were within acceptable guidelines and not a systematic exclusion, while the defense argues the opposite.
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In response to pressure from the Trump administration, Eli Lilly & Co. has increased prices for its diabetes and anti-obesity drugs, including Mounjaro, in Canada and the UK. The company is aligning prices in these markets to offset potential lower revenue in the United States, where the administration aims to reduce drug costs. Consequently, the wholesale price of Mounjaro has more than doubled in Canada, with the Kwikpen format now costing up to $773 per dose depending on the dosage, which has raised concerns about accessibility. Although Lilly supports the administration’s goal of maintaining the US as a leader in biopharmaceutical research, the company does not support tariffs, which could raise costs and limit patient access.
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Japan’s Economy Ministry revealed a scheme where high-precision manufacturing equipment was sold to Russia through Chinese companies, circumventing sanctions. This investigation followed a warning from Ukraine that Russian forces were using Japanese-made machine tools, critical for weapon component manufacturing. The probe found over 300 precision machine tools from Tsugami Corp. missing after being sold to seven Chinese companies, with approximately 30 traced to Russia. Japan has ordered Tsugami to terminate contracts and cease support for the equipment, while a parallel investigation targets Ferrotec Holdings Corp., whose products also reached Russian defense contractors.
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Khitam, a seasoned journalist with over three decades of experience, currently serves as Chief News Editor, focusing on UAE, GCC, and Arab affairs. Beginning her career as a translator, she steadily advanced into editorial roles. Her responsibilities include monitoring breaking news in the UAE and Arab regions to ensure timely and accurate dissemination. A childhood encounter with Margaret Thatcher, where she shared her family’s displacement, shaped her dedication to journalism and highlighting stories impacted by regional conflicts.
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Rolling Stone reported that President Trump has privately expressed skepticism about accusers speaking out against him regarding his connection to Jeffrey Epstein. According to sources, Trump has dismissed some accusers as politically motivated and potentially in league with Democrats or liberal groups. He reportedly believes they are trying to make him look bad or imply wrongdoing. While the report did not name specific individuals, it noted that several Epstein accusers and their relatives have recently criticized the administration’s handling of the case.
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John Q. Hosedrinker