Jul 28, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported that air defence systems destroyed more than 390 Ukrainian drones overnight, preventing most from reaching the capital, though unconfirmed reports suggested a steel plant in the surrounding region was hit. The barrage comes amid Ukraine's expanding long-range aerial campaign, which recently targeted Russian oil facilities, export terminals, and logistics infrastructure.

Concurrently, Russian forces maintained aerial strikes on Ukrainian cities. Local officials confirmed one death and nine injuries in Kharkiv, while three individuals sustained injuries in Kyiv following overnight raids.

Amid the escalating strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow intends to deploy 30,000 North Korean military personnel to the Voronezh region. Zelenskyy added that Pyongyang is also providing new ballistic missile launchers to support Russian operations.

Sources: Hartpunkt, ORF, Sweden Herald

Firefighters in southwestern France and Spain are struggling to contain vast wildfires fueled by extreme heat and gusty winds, pushing flames toward the outskirts of Bordeaux. Over 42,000 hectares have burned in the Gironde region, where local authorities evacuated 220,000 residents and suspended regional rail links. In the Var department, officials opened arson investigations following three simultaneous ignitions.

Displacement figures vary across reporting outlets: BBC News and France24 report over 250,000 people fleeing their homes, while Helsingin Sanomat cites figures exceeding 325,000. French meteorological officials noted an atmospheric pyrocumulonimbus cloud creating isolated winds and lightning, further hampering containment efforts. Two firefighter fatalities have been reported.

Local authorities acknowledged emergency personnel "are far from having the fire under control."

Sources: BBC News, Der Standard, France24, Helsingin Sanomat, Le Figaro

An Iranian news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has published a video suggesting locations to target former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump.

According to reports, Tasnim News Agency released a video titled "Where to Kill Melania," which highlights several high-end retail stores she allegedly frequents. English subtitles in the video state that "These locations may be suitable for operations by global freedom fighters," while describing her interest in fashion as her "greatest weakness." The publication comes amid ongoing security concerns and tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Sources: Sweden Herald

German automaker Mercedes-Benz has reduced its full-year sales forecast following a sharp decline in second-quarter earnings driven by weakening demand in China.

During the second quarter, the luxury car manufacturer recorded a 30 percent drop in Chinese sales. This slump contributed to a 26 percent fall in adjusted operating profit compared to the same period last year.

The financial results increase pressure on Chief Executive Officer Ola Källenius. Mercedes, alongside European rivals such as BMW, faces growing challenges in China, where domestic automobile producers have engaged in an aggressive market price war.

Sources: Sweden Herald

Major Asian stock indexes experienced significant declines during trading, driven by steep sell-offs across the region. South Korea's benchmark Kospi index suffered the heaviest losses, tumbling nearly 10 percent by midday. Semiconductor giant SK Hynix saw its shares fall more than 12 percent in Seoul trading.

In Japan, key market indicators also retreated sharply, with the Nikkei 225 dropping 4.4 percent and the broader Topix index falling 2.8 percent. Chinese equities followed the downward trend, with main indexes in Shanghai and Shenzhen slipping 1.4 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, while Hong Kong shares also posted losses.

Sources: Sweden Herald