In a large-scale overnight drone strike on July 19, Russian forces launched over 20 unmanned drones at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, killing one resident and injuring six others, including a child, according to Mayor Hennady Trukhanov and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy . A multi-storey apartment building caught fire, with smoke and flames visible on upper floors as emergency crews rescued civilians, including parents carrying children wrapped in blankets . The assault is part of a broader wave of more than 30 missiles and 300 drones targeting multiple regions, underscoring Ukraine’s urgent need for improved air defences. (PC: Reuters)

  In the early hours of July 19, a Nissan Versa crashed into a crowd outside the Vermont Hollywood nightclub on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood, injuring approximately 30 people, mostly women waiting in line . The car struck a taco truck and valet podium, with seven in critical condition, several seriously injured, and others stable . Paramedics also found one person with a gunshot wound, though its connection to the crash remains unclear . Club attendees rushed to aid victims before the arrival of the Los Angeles Fire Department and LAPD, who are now investigating the cause of the incident. (PC: AP)    

Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, and two journalists. The suit targets a WSJ article alleging Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a lewd birthday letter in 2003 featuring a nude drawing. Trump called the report false, defamatory, and politically motivated. He denied any such letter existed, slamming the Journal as “fake news.” This legal move escalates Trump's battle with major media houses and coincides with growing pressure on the U.S. government to unseal Epstein-related court documents. Murdoch’s media empire has yet to officially respond. (PC: AFP)  

A devastating incident unfolded early Saturday in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, when a vehicle plowed into a crowd on Santa Monica Boulevard. The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed over 20 injuries, with at least four victims in critical condition and eight seriously hurt. The driver reportedly lost consciousness before crashing into a taco cart and striking pedestrians outside a nightclub. Emergency responders treated approximately 31 individuals, coordinating triage and transport. Many victims were lining up for food or entry into the club. The scene was described as chaotic, with dozens of firefighters and medics deployed. Authorities are investigating the cause as the city reels from this multi-casualty event.

India secured the US terror designation for Pakistan-backed The Resistance Front (TRF) just weeks after the Pahalgam attack. “India acted within 3 days of the attack and provided us with concrete proof,” said a senior Indian official. Intelligence linked TRF to Lashkar-e-Taiba and mastermind Sheikh Sajjad Gul. The US designation validates India’s evidence and exposes Pakistan’s terror links. “This is a setback for Pakistan’s attempt to shield TRF,” sources said. However, India faces resistance at the UN from China and Pakistan. TRF remains central to Pakistan’s proxy war in Kashmir under the false guise of local insurgency. (PC: News18)

A Coldplay concert turned scandalous when the ‘kiss cam’ caught Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot canoodling at Gillette Stadium, Boston. As the crowd watched, frontman Chris Martin joked the pair “must be having an affair.” The footage showed Byron with his arms around Cabot as she quickly covered her face and turned away, while Byron ducked to avoid the spotlight. The incident has gone viral, sparking workplace gossip and media frenzy over the alleged affair between the tech tycoon and his HR chief. Neither Byron nor Cabot have commented on the incident so far. 

Three Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies were killed in an explosion at the Biscailuz Center Training Academy in East Los Angeles. The blast occurred at 7:30 am near a Bomb Squad vehicle. While initial reports suggest it may have been accidental, the FBI has launched a probe. The facility, used for specialized law enforcement training, was evacuated as a precaution. California Governor Gavin Newsom has been briefed, and state support has been offered. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed federal agents are on-site. Authorities are investigating potential safety lapses and the presence of hazardous materials at the scene. (PC: HT)

Lashkar-e-Taiba and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF), are relocating their headquarters from Muridke to Bahawalpur in Pakistan’s Punjab, sources told India Today TV. The move follows the US officially designating TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). Indian agencies say the Pakistani Army is facilitating the co-location of both terror groups. TRF, behind the Pahalgam attack killing 26 civilians, operates as a Lashkar proxy under the guise of Kashmir militancy. Intelligence reports indicate TRF acts under orders from Pakistan’s military. The US cited the attack while reaffirming its commitment to fight global terrorism. (PC: India Today)

North Korea has abruptly banned foreign tourists from visiting its newly opened Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, weeks after its grand launch on July 1. The resort, featuring hotels, malls, and a water park, was part of Kim Jong Un’s tourism push. Russian tourists had just begun visiting, with Moscow-Pyongyang flights set to start soon. Despite earlier promotion for foreigners, North Korea’s tourism site now says the ban is “temporary.” Human rights groups have long criticized the resort’s labor practices. Last year, Pyongyang briefly allowed Russian and Western tourists after its pandemic tourism freeze but halted visits without explanation. (PC: BBC)

A young woman was brutally attacked inside a crowded Kyiv metro train in Ukraine on July 17 after she allegedly shouted pro-Russian slogans like "Glory to Russia." Viral footage shows a man repeatedly slapping and kicking her as bystanders watched. Ukrainian media claimed she provoked the assault with anti-Ukrainian remarks. Russian outlet RT accused Ukraine of hypocrisy, saying the crowd justified the violence. Police in Kyiv have launched an investigation to identify everyone involved. Authorities urged citizens to report crimes to police rather than take matters into their own hands. The woman was eventually forced off the train.