Poland says a missile that left a 10 metre crater in a field, roughly 80 kilometres from the border, was likely a Russian missile fired during Moscow's latest mass overnight attack on Ukraine, which killed at least eight people and wounded dozens more. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland wasn't the target, but confirmed two objects had violated Polish airspace. NATO said Polish jets and support aircrafts were scrambled in response, and that its Supreme Allied Commander had spoken directly with Poland's defence chief. European Council President Antonio Costa said the breach shows Russian aggression endangers the whole of Europe.
It's one of several incursions into NATO territory since Russia's war on Ukraine began in 2022, and comes as European leaders stress the security of the alliance's eastern flank. The incident adds pressure on NATO to reassure member states like Poland that its air defences can respond quickly to spillover from the war next door.
Also today
- 15 Luxembourgish firefighters have deployed to France's Gironde region for a week to support crews there. Although the Luxembourgers will not participate in direct action against the wildfires, they will focus on protecting buildings from the blazes, and stepping in for incidents such as car accidents to ensure no personnel shortages.
- The US launched heavy strikes on Iran after fresh attacks on Jordan, which shot down incoming missiles for a second straight day; Kuwait was also struck, killing one person, while Saudi Arabia joined US strikes in Iraq and Egypt came under fire for the first time. Mediator Pakistan says talks are continuing, with reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the main focus.
- Esch-sur-Alzette has banned all open fires and barbecues in public spaces from today until further notice as heat and drought raise the wildfire risk.
- Wildfires continue to rage across southern Europe: new blazes have broken out in western Spain and on Crete, while hundreds of firefighters battle flames along Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coast near Antalya, Fethiye and Ayvalik. France and Spain, meanwhile, are seeing a reprieve, with tens of thousands of evacuees allowed back home.
- Elon Musk is reportedly preparing a major spending push to help Republicans hold onto Congress in November's midterms, reviving the America PAC operation that backed Donald Trump's 2024 win.
- Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye is in intensive care after collapsing in court yesterday. The 70-year-old, who's been in custody facing treason charges over an alleged plot against President Yoweri Museveni, rejected state-appointed lawyers during the hearing and was seen visibly angry moments before he collapsed.
- Russia has added Telegram founder Pavel Durov to a blacklist of "terrorists and extremists", only days after saying it was seeking his arrest over accusations he let his platform be used by Ukrainian intelligence.
- Two people have been arrested in connection with the killing of a 29-year-old student found dead in her Trier apartment nearly two weeks ago.
- European football's governing body UEFA said Thursday it would boycott the World Cup should FIFA press ahead with its private investor plan.
On air
DB3 was joined by two very special musical guests Olivia Cox and Maz Univerze, for another two great episodes of Artist Takeover.
Figure of the day
Record-breaking heatwaves in May and June led to an estimated 2,877 excess deaths in England, the UK Health Security Agency said Wednesday.
- The provisional figure is almost double the total for the whole of the summer in 2025, which was 1,504, and represents "a substantial public health impact," the UKHSA government agency said.
- In May there were 753 extra deaths and in June, when there was a rare red heat warning, there were 2,124.
- The excess mortality figure is calculated by comparing average numbers of deaths on days when the temperature exceeds 20C with average numbers on cooler days.
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