Reform UK's Nigel Farage is competing against Count Binface in a UK election. The contest highlights a contrast between two notable political personas and ideological contenders.

A Russian strike hit Izmail port in southern Odesa, causing a fire as emergency crews worked to extinguish it. Ukraine reports an acute Patriot interceptor shortage and says it has two-and-a-half times fewer interceptors this year than in 2025.

UK nurses report hospital and care home wards exceeding 30C, with limited ventilation, windows, fans, or cooling during Britain’s fifth heatwave. The RCN calls conditions inhumane, while London emergency services face record heatwave demand.

NPR’s Juna Summers interviewed Amanda Litman about Aug. 11 Democratic primary results in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The outcomes offer insight into recent Democratic primary performance and campaign strategy in both states.

Hungary plans Danube interventions to keep the Paks nuclear plant operating despite low water levels. Paks runs at about 10% capacity, while interventions may cost far less than a shutdown.

India’s AI ambitions are increasing pressure on its power grid, Bloomberg reports, citing Tata Power CEO Praveer Sinha. Reliable energy and grid resilience are important to India’s strategic push to integrate AI and power systems.

Researchers in China created a 2D flash memory chip that traps one electron at room temperature. The technology aims to reduce data-processing energy and could improve smartphone storage efficiency.

Taiwan is arming its coast guard with antiship missiles and intensifying naval drills amid tensions with Beijing. The changes strengthen Taipei's defense capabilities and signal a firmer regional security stance toward China.

California announced it will phase out paraquat, a widely used pesticide linked by health assessments to Parkinson’s disease. Farmers call paraquat essential for weed control and yields, highlighting tension between public health risks and agricultural needs.