Airlines avoid Mideast airspace and cancel Israel flights

Airlines are avoiding Iranian and Lebanese airspace and cancelling flights to Israel and Lebanon, as concerns grow over a possible conflict in the region after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah this week, reports Reuters.

UPDATE // Officials suspected of spying for the interests of the Russian Federation, placed in custody for 30 days

An employee of the Parliament and an official of the Border Police - suspected of espionage and conspiracy against the Republic of Moldova, will spend the next 30 days in penitentiary no. 13. The decision was taken by the magistrates of the Chisinau Court based in Ciocana on August 2, in the absence of the accused.

Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Israel: Our citizens are protected

In the Middle East the situation is uncertain, that is why the citizens of the Republic of Moldova must take into account the alert messages issued by the authorities in Chisinau, said the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Israel, Alexandr Roitman. The diplomat advises citizens to avoid any travel to Israel unless there is an urgent need.

The new Hungarian visa regulations are causing discontent in Brussels

The European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, is concerned about the new regulations adopted by Hungary regarding the visa regime for foreign workers from Russia and Belarus, reports dpa.

Extreme heat claims more than 175 000 lives annually in Europe, WHO

Over 175,000 people die as a result of the effects of extreme heat every year in Europe, the region on the globe that warms the fastest, reads a statement published on Thursday by the European division of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Navalny was part of prisoner exchange talks, the White House

White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said on August 1 that the United States had been working on a prisoner exchange to include Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny prior to his death.

US recognizes Maduro’s rival as winner of Venezuelan election

The United States on Thursday night recognized Venezuela’s opposition presidential candidate, Edmundo González, as the winner of the country’s disputed election, writes The New York Times.

EU welcomes the release of some prisoners by Moscow

The European Union welcomed Moscow's release of "unjustly persecuted" prisoners, which came amid a wide-ranging exchange between Russia and the West, demanding the release of all political prisoners, reports AFP.

American journalist Evan Gershkovich was allegedly released by Russia in a prisoner exchange with the US

Russia is freeing Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan as part of a major prisoner swap with the U.S., according to people familiar with the situation cited by Bloomberg.

Ukraine will receive a $3.9 billion grant from the US

Ukraine will soon receive a grant from the United States, worth almost 3.9 billion dollars. The Minister of Finance of Ukraine, Serhiy Marchenko, and the Regional Director of the World Bank for Eastern Europe, Bob Som, signed an agreement in this regard, reports the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine.

Apartment block in Russia collapses after gas explosion

A gas explosion occurred in a five-storey building in Nizhnyi Taghil (Russia). According to emergency services data, nine people are injured, including five children, informs Meduza.

Farmers seek resignation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry Vladimir Bolea

The Farmers' Force Association seeks the resignation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, Vladimir Bolea, after, yesterday, the official explained to them that they will be able to access more European funds once the country joins the EU bloc and urged them to participate in the autumn referendum. The members of the association qualified these statements as a political PR.