Two Afghan asylum seekers have been charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Ahmad Mulakhil has been charged with rape, while Mohammad Kabir faces charges of aiding and abetting rape, as well as strangulation and kidnap. Local sources allege that Warwickshire Police advised officials not to reveal the asylum seeker status of the suspects, fearing it would inflame community tensions, a claim the police have defended. Both men resided in taxpayer-funded housing managed by Serco, which has a contract with the Home Office to house asylum seekers.
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Hamas has stated it will not disarm until a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital is established, rejecting a key Israeli demand for a ceasefire. This response follows reports attributed to US envoy Steve Witkoff suggesting Hamas was willing to lay down its weapons. The group’s statement comes amid stalled negotiations and pressure from Arab governments urging disarmament, especially after Western countries announced plans to recognize Palestine. Amidst these ongoing conflicts, the United Nations reports that at least 1,373 Palestinians have died seeking food since May, primarily near aid distribution sites.
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Last week, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) successfully eliminated Salah al-Din Za’ara, a high-ranking Hamas terrorist. Za’ara, killed on July 24, 2025, served as the deputy commander of the Al-Furqan Battalion. Prior to this role, he commanded the battalion’s combat support company. He was responsible for orchestrating numerous terror attacks targeting both Israeli civilians and IDF forces within the Gaza Strip.
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In a significant ruling, a court in Karnataka, India, has sentenced former MP Prajwal Revanna to life imprisonment. The conviction stems from the rape of a domestic staff member, with the verdict delivered on Saturday. Revanna’s case gained national attention in 2023 due to the circulation of explicit videos implicating him, though he initially denied the accusations. Following his conviction on Friday, Revanna had pleaded for leniency.
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Mykyta and Sofiia Lamekhov, both 23, along with their two-year-old son Lev and their unborn child, tragically lost their lives in a Russian missile strike on Kyiv on July 30-31. The family, originally from Sloviansk, Donetsk Oblast, had relocated to Kyiv in 2022. Their bodies were discovered in the rubble of their apartment, which was hit by a missile. This attack resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals, including five children, while also injuring 159 others.
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The family of Khamis Ayyad, a 40-year-old U.S. citizen killed in the West Bank, is demanding the Trump administration launch an investigation into his death, describing it as a murder. Ayyad, a former Chicago resident, is the second American citizen to be killed in the West Bank this month, with no arrests made in the previous case. Relatives believe Ayyad died from inhaling tear gas and smoke after settlers set fire to cars outside his home, amidst escalating settler attacks and Israeli military actions. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) highlights this as part of a pattern of violence, emphasizing the need for U.S. action to protect its citizens. Despite previous calls for investigations, including one in a previous case of a slain U.S. citizen, Washington has resisted probes into Israeli actions.
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On August 2, Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) announced a joint operation with local partisans that resulted in the explosion of a minibus carrying five Chechen soldiers from the Akhmat unit in occupied Melitopol, killing all five. The blast also wounded two Russian soldiers in a nearby vehicle and destroyed an electronic warfare system. HUR previously reported successful operations in Melitopol and Skadovsk, targeting Russian forces and personnel. These actions are part of a larger effort by Ukrainian partisan groups and intelligence agencies to disrupt Russian operations within occupied territories.
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The Russian ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has criticized the West for undermining its relationship with India through threats and sanctions related to India’s dealings with Moscow. Alipov stated that the US and EU’s actions, particularly sanction threats, reveal them as unreliable partners. He argued that these actions are perceived as illegitimate and are not fostering trust, while emphasizing that India’s energy security will guide its foreign policy decisions. Alipov further asserted that Russia has never pursued its relationship with India at the expense of others, unlike the US, which is undermining not only Russia’s interests but also India’s.
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A second Hamas propaganda video featuring hostage Evyatar David was released with his family’s approval, showcasing his severely deteriorated physical condition. The footage depicts David appearing emaciated and documenting his limited food intake, primarily lentils with many days of no food. In the video, David claims he has been without proper food and water for an extended period, stating he was forced to dig his own grave and appealing to Israeli authorities for his release. His family issued a statement accusing Hamas of intentionally starving him for propaganda purposes and called for urgent intervention to save his life.
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Northern European countries are experiencing “truly unprecedented” heat, with the Arctic Circle in Norway recording temperatures above 30C (86F) for multiple days in July, and Finland enduring its longest heat streak since 1961. Scientists attribute these prolonged heatwaves, driven by hot waters and high pressure systems, to climate change, noting the increasing frequency and severity of such events. These extreme temperatures, which are 8-10C above seasonal norms, have led to wildfires, infrastructure strain, and the opening of ice rinks for relief, impacting both locals and tourists. Experts warn that these severe heatwaves will intensify as climate change progresses, posing significant challenges for the region.
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John Q. Hosedrinker