Israel and Hamas have agreed to a three-day ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate the polio vaccination of approximately 640,000 children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has coordinated the effort, scheduling the vaccinations to begin on Sunday. To ensure a safe environment, three separate ceasefires will be implemented in designated zones, each lasting from 6 am to 3 pm local time. This temporary pause in fighting aims to protect the vulnerable population from the threat of polio, and the WHO's efforts have led to a rare moment of cooperation between the conflicting parties.

Yemen's Houthis have released a video showing their fighters boarding and detonating explosives on the oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. The Greek-flagged vessel, carrying nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil, was attacked earlier this month. The Houthis claim the ship violated their blockade against Israel-bound vessels. The group has been targeting alleged Israel-linked ships to pressure Israel to end the Gaza war, which has killed over 40,600 Palestinians. The attack raises concerns about a potential major oil spill and environmental catastrophe, as well as navigation risks in the region.

The United Nations has called for immediate de-escalation as Israeli forces continue their raids in the West Bank for the second consecutive day. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported 12 deaths in Jenin and Tulkarm, with the Palestinian health ministry confirming 16 fatalities. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Israel to halt its operation, citing the worsening situation. The IDF claimed to target militants linked to recent attacks, including Mohammed Jaber, a leader of the Tulkarm Brigade. The ongoing violence has raised concerns of expanding conflict and potential EU sanctions against Israeli officials.

Ukraine is leveraging Western technology and finance to enhance its long-range drone strikes within Russia, despite NATO's reluctance to provide advanced munitions. Ukrainian firms now produce hundreds of affordable drones monthly, significantly impacting Russia’s war economy. Key players include Terminal Autonomy, which builds drones like the AQ400 Scythe, and Palantir, which aids with software for targeting and navigation. These strikes target military and strategic sites, with drones reaching up to 1,000 km inside Russia. Despite Western concerns over escalation, Ukraine plans to escalate its drone attacks further.

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.