Julia Shramko
At least 20 people have died as a result of a magnitude 7. 7 earthquake and aftershocks in eastern Indonesia. Tsunami waves up to 1 meter were recorded; the warning was lifted after three hours.
The United States is warning dozens of countries that they must choose between the US-led AI coalition and Beijing’s program. The Pax Silica initiative aims to secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors, and minerals.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Granada, Spain, damaging buildings and cars. The authorities declared an emergency; there were no casualties.
Over the past day, there were 233 combat engagements at the front, most of them in the Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk directions. The enemy carried out 71 airstrikes, deployed 10,626 kamikaze drones, and conducted 3,042 shellings.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the country had not made a decision on resuming talks with the US. He noted that exchanging messages through intermediaries does not constitute negotiations.
A forest fire in Croatia has engulfed the coast, claiming one life and injuring around 40 people. More than 1,200 people have been evacuated, and 10 are in intensive care.
On the night of August 15, Russia attacked Ukraine with 152 attack UAVs. The Defense Forces shot down or suppressed 127 drones; hits were recorded at 16 locations.
At the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase, the trailer for the film «Avengers: The Rise of Doctor Doom» was presented. Kevin Feige and actors Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell introduced it on stage.
As a result of a drone strike in Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district, a footwear factory building was destroyed, and the cafeteria, boiler house, and a vehicle caught fire. According to preliminary data, there were no fatalities or injuries.
At least five people were killed as a result of a magnitude 7. 7 earthquake on Indonesia’s Flores Island. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and the tsunami warning has been lifted.
The maker of the Claude chatbot reported revenue of more than $11. 5 billion in the second quarter, compared with $787 million a year earlier. The company is preparing for an autumn IPO in cooperation with Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs.
On August 14, an emergency shutdown of KEGOC JSC's 500 kV lines left Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan without power. Electricity has already begun to be restored, and power supplies have been fully restored.
Specialized teams from the Bulgarian Navy found a reconnaissance drone and its fragments on beaches near Primorsko and Lozenets. The fragments were transported to naval bases for examination.
The President of Ukraine held a meeting of the Staff, where defense financing for the autumn-winter period and needs for the latest weapons were discussed. Intelligence provided updated information on Russia’s plans; asymmetric countermeasures are being prepared.
The U. S. ambassador to Tokyo stated that the United States recognizes Japan’s sovereignty over the Northern Territories following Putin’s visit. Japan summoned Russia’s ambassador over the visit.
Polish Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk responded to opposition criticism of the transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine, calling such arguments crazy. He stressed that no decision had yet been made and that Germany is transferring significantly more equipment to Ukraine.
U. S. Vice President J.D. Vance said that the main priority is lowering fuel prices, not Iran's nuclear program. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added that new economic measures against Tehran are inevitable.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine struck the "NOVATEK-Ust-Luga" complex in the Leningrad region overnight on August 14, and a fire was recorded. Two processing units were hit; the extent of the damage is being clarified.
Due to the latest eruption of Mount Etna in Sicily, Catania Airport suspended flights until Saturday. Over the course of a week, hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed, with the impact on infrastructure being the strongest in 20 years.
In Kyiv, a 26-year-old man climbed into a barrel of tar to become unnoticeable and robbed a supermarket. Police spent more than 5 hours, 12 liters of oil, and 4 liters of cleaning solution washing it off him.
The Ministry of Education and Science announced the completion of the first stage of the admissions campaign. A total of 175,013 people have been admitted to bachelor's programs and medical master's programs, of whom 69,748 will study at public expense.
The Defense Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of two ground-based repeaters and five enemy UAV control points. The targets were located in the occupied territories and in the Russian Federation.
On August 10, the forced filling of the Katlabukh Reservoir in Odesa Oblast began due to a critical drop in the water level of the Danube. This is necessary to stabilize the water level, reduce environmental risks, and meet the needs of the population and the agricultural sector.
Strong winds caused a forest fire in the Croatian town of Omiš, which engulfed homes and forced around 1,000 people to evacuate. 36 people received medical attention, 14 were hospitalized, and seven are in serious condition.
Former Ukrainian Member of Parliament of the 5th and 6th convocations Yevhen Shaho has died at the age of 84. He served as First Deputy Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and headed the corporation “United Energy Systems of Ukraine.”
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC reported an attack on two of its vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred on Thursday evening; there were no casualties, and the situation is under control.
NATO confirmed that an Italian Eurofighter shot down a drone over Latvia and that fighter jets were scrambled in Romania due to drones entering its airspace. The Alliance stated its readiness to respond to threats around the clock.
The Ministry of Defence reported the full restoration of the Army+ app following a technical failure. Authorization has been restored, and all difficulties have been resolved.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the NSDC Center for Countering Disinformation, reacted to a post by Russia’s Defense Ministry featuring a photo of "Shaheds" and a "freeze".
In the village of Dariivka, Kherson district, Russian forces attacked a civilian car with a drone, injuring six people, including a 16-year-old boy. The injured were hospitalized, and an investigation into a war crime has been launched.