Aug 8, 2026, 09:00 PM UTC

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have formally signed the trilateral Mecca Joint Defense Agreement during Erdoğan's working visit to Saudi Arabia.

According to statements from Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Turkish media reports, the pact establishes a mutual defense commitment among Ankara, Riyadh, and Islamabad. Under the terms of the agreement, an armed attack targeting any one of the three signatory nations will be treated as an assault against all of them. The alliance aims to strengthen joint security and reinforce stability across the region amid escalating turmoil in the Middle East. Global news outlets, including Reuters, have highlighted the agreement's potential to reshape regional security architecture.

Sources: Anadolu Ajansı (Anadolu Agency), Bianet, Cumhuriyet, Defence Turk, TRT Haber (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation)

In an interview with the BBC's Newsnight, Hunter Biden disclosed that former US President Joe Biden's prostate cancer has metastasized further into his bones and other areas, describing the condition as extremely painful and difficult for the family. The former president's diagnosis was previously made public last year.

During the broadcast, Hunter Biden also addressed the full presidential pardon granted to him by his father shortly before leaving office in January 2025. He acknowledged the political controversy surrounding the move, stating that while the decision protected his family, it was ultimately "not good" for his father's legacy, the US Constitution, or the American public.

Sources: Aftenposten, DR, NRK, TV 2 Nyheter, VG

A teenage student opened fire at a secondary school in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, after reportedly killing his grandparents at home. Discrepancies persist among officials and media regarding the total casualties and the condition of the shooter.

Initial reports indicate the suspect, identified as either 14 or 15 years old, used a handgun taken from his home. Casualty counts vary, with sources reporting between seven and eight deaths in addition to the grandparents, including both teachers and students, and between 15 and 23 people injured.

While several media outlets reported that the attacker died by suicide at the scene, conflicting accounts from local authorities indicated he was transported to a hospital in critical condition.

Sources: Canarias7, Diário de Notícias (DN), El Mundo, Expresso, La Repubblica.

Record-breaking heatwaves continue to impact Europe, driving significant economic losses and operational adjustments. According to the European Environment Agency, extreme heat has cost the European economy €800 billion since 1980, with a quarter of those losses occurring over the past five years. In France and Spain, severe wildfires have destroyed over 42,000 and 80,000 hectares of land respectively.

In Czechia, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported that 77 percent of long-term weather stations recorded new absolute temperature highs this year. In response to extreme health risks, the Czech armed forces have shifted strenuous training to mornings and evenings, modified equipment, and enhanced fire safety measures. Meanwhile, a recent Median survey indicates that nearly three-quarters of respondents in Czechia believe the government is failing to adequately prepare society for escalating climate extremes.

Sources: Seznam Zprávy, Deník N, Ekonomický deník, iROZHLAS, Český rozhlas Plus.