Israel and Hamas have agreed to three separate three-day pauses in fighting across the Gaza Strip to allow for the vaccination of over six hundred thousand children against polio, according to World Health Organization (WHO) senior official Rik Peeperkorn. The campaign will begin on Sunday in central Gaza, followed by southern and northern Gaza. The humanitarian pause in each zone may extend to a fourth day if necessary. The WHO confirmed that Gaza reported its first type two polio case in twenty-five years, prompting the urgent vaccination effort to prevent further paralysis cases among children.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer confirmed his government is considering a ban on smoking in outdoor venues, including pub gardens, sports areas, and hospital grounds, due to the "huge burden" smoking places on the NHS and taxpayers. The proposal aims to prevent over eighty thousand annual smoking-related deaths. "This is a preventable cause of death, and we've got to take action," Starmer stated. Although supported by health campaigners, the plan faces opposition from the hospitality industry, which fears economic damage. Critics argue that further regulations could lead to closures and may over-regulate personal freedoms.

Twenty-one-year-old Houston Community College student Muna Pandey, originally from Nepal, was found dead in her southwest Houston apartment on Monday, after being shot multiple times during an armed robbery. Authorities identified and arrested fifty-two-year-old Bobby Sinh Shah in connection with the murder. Shah was apprehended during a traffic stop in northwest Houston and is charged with capital murder. Pandey’s body was discovered after an anonymous tip. The Nepalese Association of Houston is assisting her mother, who had been trying to reach her for days. A fundraiser has raised over $14,000 to cover funeral expenses and bring her mother to Houston.

US Vice President Kamala Harris has a strained relationship with her 86-year-old father, Donald J Harris. Despite living just a mile from the White House, he has never visited her or attended her public events. Donald, a retired Stanford professor with Marxist views, has distanced himself from Kamala, critiquing her political career. In her Democratic National Convention speech, Kamala acknowledged her father's advice to be "fearless," but emphasized that her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, played a central role in her upbringing. The estrangement, rooted in her parents' divorce, remains significant.

In Volos, Greece, hundreds of thousands of dead fish have flooded the tourist port after being displaced by last year’s severe flooding. The dead fish, creating a stench and environmental hazard, have spread across the port and into the Pagasetic Gulf. Authorities have collected over forty tonnes of fish in the past day, but the situation remains critical. The flooding from last year expanded a nearby lake, leading to the fish's displacement into saltwater, which they could not survive. Local businesses face severe impacts, and an investigation is underway.

Swedish authorities have confirmed the identification of two British men, Juan Cifuentes and Farooq Abdulrazak, whose remains were found in a burnt-out car in Malmo. The pair, aged 33 and 37, were reported missing in July after a business trip to Denmark and Sweden. An arrest has been made in connection with the case, with investigations ongoing in both Sweden and the UK. Autopsy reports suggest at least one of the victims was shot before the car was set on fire. The case is being treated as a homicide, with further details yet to be released by authorities.

Ukraine has increased long-range strikes on Russian territory, targeting military sites such as airbases, oil depots, and command centers. Western technology and financing have supported these efforts, despite NATO's refusal to permit the use of Western-supplied munitions. Ukrainian companies are now producing hundreds of low-cost, armed one-way attack drones monthly, which have been used to launch simultaneous strikes on strategic targets several times a week. This approach has allowed Ukraine to achieve a significant impact on Russia's war economy at a relatively low expense, with one company reporting a disproportionate effect compared to the cost.

The UK government is considering extending the indoor smoking ban to outdoor spaces, including pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, and sports grounds, according to leaked Whitehall documents. The proposed measures aim to reduce smoking-related illnesses and are part of a revised tobacco and vapes bill. The plans would prohibit smoking outside hospitals, universities, and children's play areas, as well as on pavements next to restaurants and clubs. Additionally, the sale of tobacco would be banned to those born on or after January 2009. The proposals are part of a broader effort to reduce smoking rates and improve public health.

Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder of Telegram, is under formal investigation in France for suspected organized crime on the messaging app. He was detained at Le Bourget airport and released under judicial supervision, with conditions including a €5m deposit, twice-weekly check-ins at a police station, and a ban on leaving French territory. A Russian-born French national, Durov has not been charged and will be required to comply with the conditions until the investigation is complete, which is being overseen by Paris prosecutors.

NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore, initially set to return to Earth on Boeing's Starliner, will now come back in February 2025 on a SpaceX capsule. Their return was delayed due to helium leaks and thruster issues on the Starliner, which will now return empty. NASA administrator Bill Nelson cited safety concerns for the decision, emphasizing that "space flight is risky" and "safety is our core value." The astronauts will remain on the International Space Station until February, when they will hitch a ride back to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle.