Archive July 27, 2025

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,249

On Sunday, July 27, 2018, this is how things are going.

Fighting

  • The administration of the region’s south in Russia reported on Sunday that falling debris from destroyed Ukrainian drones had an impact on train and rail power supplies in some areas of the Volgograd region. According to the administration, Governor Andrei Bocharov was quoted as saying on Telegram that there were no injuries as a result of the attacks.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defense&nbsp reported that Russia had bombed 99 drones over 12 Russian regions, including the Crimean Peninsula and the Black Sea overnight.
  • According to Ukrainian officials, Russia also launched a barrage of drones and missiles over the weekend that left three people dead in Dnipro and the surrounding area. The air force of Ukraine reported intercepting 183 drones and 17 missiles, but hits from 10 missiles and 25 drones were recorded in nine locations.
  • According to the region’s governor, Oleg Melnichenko, drones have once more targeted Moscow, according to the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, and an industrial complex in the Penza oblast southeast of the capital. According to regional governor Alexander Khinshtein, two people were killed by Ukrainian drones in the Rostov region and another two were killed in the country’s Kursk region along its border.
  • The Zelenyi Hai in the Donetsk region and Maliivka inside the Dnipropetrovsk region were declared by Russia’s defense ministry on Saturday, along with two additional villages in eastern Ukraine.
  • A SBU security service official told the Reuters news agency that Ukrainian drones attacked a radio and electronic warfare equipment plant in Russia’s Stavropol region on Saturday night during a routine attack. Each production-related attack “slows down” production and weakens the military might of the enemy. The official told the agency, “This work will continue.” On Sunday, attacks on the plant continued.

Weapons and military assistance

  • The Indian company Ideal Detonators Private Limited, which shipped $1.4 million worth of the explosive compound octogen to Russia in December, announced on Saturday that it complies with Indian regulations and that the cargo was intended for civilian industrial purposes. Financial institutions should not encourage any sales of the substance to Moscow, according to the US government, which has declared the compound to be “critical for Russia’s war effort.”

Diplomacy

  • As the two former allies of the communist bloc try to strengthen ties following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia announced that it would launch direct passenger flights from Moscow to Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, on Sunday. Russian aviation blogs report that regular flights between the capitals have been running since the mid-1990s after the 10-day Moscow-Pyongyang passenger rail service was resumed in June.
  • Pope Leo and Metropolitan Anthony, a senior cleric in the Russian Orthodox Church, discussed the conflict in Ukraine on Saturday in an effort to sever ties between the two strained by Russia’s invasion.

Ceasefire

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry ‘haven’t been axed by Netflix after brutal calculation’

The staggering £75 million deal between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Netflix may allow for a new agreement to be struck, for a very specific reason.

According to an expert, Netflix may renegotiate a deal with the Sussexes.

The future of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ’s £78million mega-deal with Netflix is hanging in the balance, with a PR expert claiming it has also reignited talk of trouble within their marriage. The Duchess’ much-derided TV show, With Love, Meghan, has proved a spectacular flop, ranking at a lowly 383 in the platform’s most-watched titles between January and June 2025.

The wholesome series – which has pulled in just 5.3million viewers worldwide since it was first broadcast in March – showed Meghan cooking, gardening and hosting A-list pals. But in an embarrassing blow, it was outperformed by hundreds of lesser-known shows in the first six months of this year – including repeats of Meghan’s old TV drama, Suits, in which she starred before meeting Harry.

Harry and Meghan watching the Invictus Games
A PR expert believes Netflix may want to reopen a deal with Meghan and Harry for a potential exclusive(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

What happens next in the royals’ relationship with the streaming giant is the subject of much conjecture. But PR expert Dermot McNamara believes Netflix won’t sever ties with the Sussexes just yet, as they will want first dibs on that explosive first interview, should the couple ever divorce.

According to Dermot, “the fairytale narrative has stagnated, their creative output hasn’t delivered consistent returns, and audiences are becoming more skeptical.” There are only so many opportunities for Netflix to target them before it’s all just a waste of money.

However, Netflix is aware that the inside story will be in demand worldwide if cracks appear or the couple splits. Their value increases after that.

If the couple decide to split up, Dermot thinks Netflix will want to be “at the front of the queue.” He claims that there is a general consensus among industry circles that Netflix hasn’t cut ties to Harry and Meghan because, in reality, they might be stumbling upon the most valuable of all, “the fallout,” he claims.

The platform is no longer relying on them as creative talent, but they’re keeping the relationship warm by rumors that their Netflix contract won’t be renewed when it expires in September. Why? Because it would be the decade-long streaming coup if the Sussex marriage ever failed. Although Hollywood is involved, the calculation is brutal.

Prince Harry in a grey suit next to Meghan Markle in a checkered jacket.
The couple’s Netflix deal will reportedly not be renewed(Image: Getty Images)

Unfortunately, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, have previously been the subject of rumors that their seven-year marriage is in trouble. The couple’s increasingly aggressive work schedules have only increased in recent months as the rumors about everything being fine have grown.

Harry jokingly addressed the speculation in December, blaming the difficulty of keeping up with the “alleged allegations made on social media.” At the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, he claimed, “Apparently we’ve bought or moved houses 10 or 12 times.” We’ve allegedly divorced, probably 10, maybe 12 times. So what’s the point, exactly?

Meghan’s current status, however, is that she frequently speaks glowingly about their union and appears to have nothing but praise for her husband. She was questioned about her belief that Harry and I will “marry forever” on The Jamie Kern Lima Show in her first ever podcast interview in April.

Meghan responded, “Yes. If you haven’t noticed, he’s also a fox. My husband is incredibly attractive. His heart, however, is even more stunning. When you have a partner who is completely in your shoes, something is not to be taken for granted.

“You know, H, that man loves me so much, I mean. And, you know, admire the work we did. We have two healthy, beautiful children, Lilibet and Archie, and we have a beautiful life.

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‘I dated Love Island’s Dejon Noel-Williams and these were my relationship red flags’

ExCLUSIVE: Love Island’s Dejon Noel-Williams has been the subject of a number of flirtatious, dramatized, and accusations of game-playing in the villa, and now a woman from his pre-villa life has shared her experiences.

Dejon’s ex-boyfriend speaks out about their time together, and he has been accused of game-playing in the villa.

As Love Island continues to deliver nightly twists, tears and tension, one Islander has left viewers divided – 26-year-old Londoner Dejon Noel-Williams.

Dejon, currently coupled up with Meg Moore, has been at the centre of flirtations, firepit dramas and accusations of game-playing. But now, one woman from his pre-villa life has claimed to new that his behaviour on-screen doesn’t come as a surprise. Georgia Mercer, 27, dated Dejon in the months leading up to his villa debut. Their brief relationship began late last year and fizzled out around spring – but in that time, she says, she saw a different side to the man now trying to win £50,000 and (hopefully) someone’s heart.

READ MORE: Love Island’s Emily Moran shares the affordable SPF skin tint behind the girls’ villa glam

Dejon and Meg
In the villa, Dejon and Meg are currently connected.

Speaking exclusively to new, Georgia shares the highs, lows and confusing middle ground of her time with Dejon and says she recognises the very same patterns playing out in front of the nation.

She admits, “He was really hot and cold during our time together.” He would “absolutely want to hang out,” he said, “but the next day I wouldn’t hear much.” It was quite strange to me.

Georgia and Dejon met online and their first real-life meeting came soon afterwards. “It was pretty quick to be fair… after about two weeks or so we went on a date,” she recalls. At first, things seemed promising. “In person, he made me feel super comfortable. I always felt really chill with him. He had a really warm energy when we were together,” she says. “That’s the part I liked about him – I didn’t feel anxious, which I usually do around new people. It was a strong eight on the feeling scale, to be fair.” But while the energy was there when they were together, Georgia says communication between dates was inconsistent. “Over text, it was different. He’d try and call me at random times and I’d be like, ‘I don’t know what you think this is, but… I’m not trying to be casual.’”

Georgia claims that after the romance lasted three months, something just wasn’t working out.

She says, “If it doesn’t feel like you’re serious, this isn’t really going to work,” she says in a message I sent him. He said, “Let’s talk on the phone,” but he wanted to do it at eleven in the evening. He just carried on the next day as though nothing had happened, I was like, no. I was like, “Are you just ignoring that enormous piece of information?”

It was Georgia who ended the relationship. “I felt like he really did seem to want something, and then the next day it’d be a bit… hot and cold again. Eventually I just said, ‘No, I’m not really feeling this.’”

And what happened afterward? He texted me, “Hi, how are you? ” a few weeks later. she asserts. He doesn’t seem to be a great communicator, I suppose.

Now, watching Dejon as he navigates Love Island, Georgia says there’s a sense of déjà vu. His connection with Meg – which began on day one – has looked solid at times. But viewers have picked up on his flirtations with multiple bombshells including Toni, Yasmin, Billykiss, Caprice and Malisha – and more recently, a jaw-dropping moment in a kissing challenge where he gave Yasmin a score of “zero”, prompting a wave of backlash from viewers.

Georgia responds, “Honestly, it doesn’t surprise me at all.” He is full-on, very affectionate when you’re in person. But when you take a step back or make a serious request, it seems like he isn’t really listening or he avoids it entirely.

Georgia continues, “There were times when I believed he was being truthful, and perhaps he was,” but it became apparent later that it was just easier for him to ignore his feelings. I once told him, “I’m also very chill, just be honest.” But he won’t, as he won’t make me stay put.

Georgia
Dejon and Georgia met on social media.

Dejon, a personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, is the son of former Premier League striker Gifton Noel-Williams, and has played for clubs including Oxford United and Bedford Town, as well as competing in HYROX events. Friends describe him as “driven and competitive” – traits that have served him well in sport and reality TV alike.

He has asked her to be his “girlfriend” after they have sex since they have teamed up with Meg, and they have exchanged private messages. However, many viewers have questioned his loyalty, especially after Casa Amor, where Dejon confronted new women and exchanged questions with her before making an apology for which he had doubted.

Georgia admits, “He’s charming.” There is no disputing that. You feel as though you are the only one in the room because of his energy. But then he leaves, leaving you unsure of your position.

Georgia says she’s not bitter. “I’m not surprised by anything he’s doing. It’s just who he is. I think, deep down, he’s probably a nice guy, but when it comes to commitment, he gets in his own way.” Does Georgia think Dejon and Meg are the real deal? “I think if he really likes her he needs to show it more, not just say it when it’s convenient. But it’s hard to know – because that’s the thing with Dejon, you never really know.”

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At least six killed in crowd crush at Hindu temple in India’s Haridwar

A large crowd gathered at a well-known Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, northern India, killing at least six people and injuring dozens more in a crush.

A high-voltage electric wire reportedly fell on a temple path in Haridwar city on Sunday, causing panic among the congregation.

Local police official Ritesh Saha, who spoke to The Times of India newspaper, claimed that the sight of the wire falling immediately sparked a panic and a desperate attempt to flee.

A senior government official in Uttarakhand, Vinay Shankar Pandey, confirmed the deaths. According to Indian media reports, hospital officials reported that one person died in the electrocution that followed, while another died in the stampede.

After the incident, police and emergency services arrived on the scene and immediately launched a rescue operation. According to officials, a nearby hospital transported about 35 injured people.

Pandey called The Associated Press news agency from Haridwar and said, “The situation is now under control.” However, “the panic had tragic repercussions.”

In Haridwar, India, on July 27, 2025, relatives are gathered outside a hospital while the injured are transported.

Authorities are looking into whether proper crowd control measures were in place and what caused the overhead wire to collapse. Millions of people visit the temple town annually.

Uttarakhand’s chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami posted on X: “It is very depressing to learn about a stampede on the way to the Mansa Devi Temple in Haridwar.”

In India, large crowds frequently gather at temples or pilgrimage sites, sometimes enraging the local infrastructure and security measures, at religious gatherings.

At least three people were killed and several others were hurt in a sudden crowd-surge at a Hindu festival in the coastal state of Odisha in June. Six people were killed in Goa, western India, the day before they were killed by thousands of people for a well-known fire-walking ritual.

Shields retains undisputed title in dominant win

Images courtesy of Getty

With a unanimous decision over Lani Daniels in Detroit, Michigan, Claressa Shields won the undisputed heavyweight title.

In a largely one-sided contest, which was reportedly attended by 15, 000 spectators at Little Caesars Arena, the American, 30, was levels ahead of New Zealander Daniels.

Early on, Daniels exhibited little attacking intent, veering off, and avoiding Shields entirely.

Shields asserted her dominance as the fight progressed, landing cleanly in the middle rounds, particularly with body shots, before snapping the 37-year-old’s head back in the seventh round as her movement faded.

Shields, who refers to herself as the “Greatest Woman of All Time,” was a clear and deserved winner in the later stages of the fight.

She improved her professional record to 17-0 with scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91.

She didn’t really engage until the final three rounds, Shields told the broadcaster DAZN. “I thought she wanted to fight.

Could Laila Ali lead the charge in the next shockfight?

Shields, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, stepped up to heavyweight earlier this year and unified the division by defeating Danielle Perkins. She also won two other five-weight titles.

She previously won all four belts at middleweight and light-middleweight, making her a three-weight undisputed champion. Savannah Marshall’s only professional defeat was in 2022, which she avenged.

Shields is expected to lower his weight in search of more competitive or well-known fights because there is only so much competition at heavyweight.

She continued, “Anyone can get it.” The best and biggest fights are what I want to produce.

She has been linked to an unlikely fight with Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila.

Even though Ali, 47, hasn’t fought professionally since 2007, promoter Dmitry Salita claims an offer is being considered. With a record of 24-0, including 21 knockouts, the former WBC super-middleweight champion, she finished unbeaten.

related subjects

  • Boxing

Megan McKenna’s shock phonecall amid ‘tough’ setback

Megan McKenna, a former reality star, turned singer, and author of the bestseller “The X Factor,” discusses motherhood, her love life, and the song that means a lot to her.

Mum-of-one Megan has come a long way since her Ex On The Beach days(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Megan McKenna is feeling more confident and settled since becoming a mum, she tells us. The Essex-born star may have made a name for herself on reality TV, but these days she’s better known for her stunning singing voice and delicious cooking, in what appears to be a complete career change.

Now living in Germany with her footballer husband Oliver Burke, 28, and their nine-month-old son, Landon, it’s clear that 32-year-old Megan – who tied the knot with Oliver in June – is feeling at ease in her new life, as she sits down with OK! for an exclusive interview.

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Megan KcKenna on stage on The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019
Megan won The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019(Image: ITV)

“Motherhood has undoubtedly improved my freedom. I no longer worry about the little details. As we chatted at the London landmark The Shard before taking the stage with acclaimed songwriter Toby Gad, you have the most amazing gift already, so everything else is fine.

The former Ex On The Beach star has been carving out a career in music since winning The X Factor: Celebrity in 2019. In the show, fronted by Simon Cowell, Megan debuted her original song This, which later went to No.1 on the iTunes charts, and made it into the UK Official Charts.

And now that Landon and Oliver have quality time with her, she’s ready to get back into the business. She says, “I moved to Berlin and took a break from music for obvious reasons, so I’ve had a lot on my plate.” I took a break, to be honest, because I don’t enjoy doing things halfheartedly. I want to do what I do because I have a lot of passion for it.

She continues, “This performance is exciting because it’s my first since becoming a mother.” Grammy-winning musician Toby performed alongside other well-known guests, including Paloma Faith, along with other celebrities.

Simon Cowell
Music moghul Simon called Megan personally to break the bad news about her record deal(Image: Getty Images)

She adds, “I would say definitely The X Factor helped with people realising that I’ve grown up a lot,” she says of the talent contest, which came after her drama-filled stints on Celebrity Big Brother and TOWIE.

“People saw that I could write music and not just a karaoke singer. Because of my own stories, I write so passionately, which is why I won The X Factor.

Megan’s song, This, is often used on social media for engagement and pregnancy announcements, including her own special pregnancy announcement with Oliver in April last year, which came after various fertility struggles for the couple. “I hear my song all the time and get tagged in so many videos using it. It’s really lovely,” she says.

Of course, not only is she embracing the brave new world of motherhood, Megan is also embracing a different culture, as the family-of-three made the move to the German capital to be close to Oliver’s football team, German Bundesliga club Union Berlin.

When we inquire about living abroad, Megan says, “I’m not in Germany full-time, though.” “We moved there, but I’m flying a lot, back and forth”!

Megan McKenna on stag/hen do with now husband Oliver Burke
Megan and husband Oliver moved to Berlin to be close to his football team(Image: meganmckenna/Instagram)

It’s obvious that her parents are the only ones who care about her.

She confirms, “My mother has always been so encouraging of me.” She is also my closest companion. Because I travel a lot, having family close is everything. Thank God for FaceTime in the inbetween moments! Even using social media to stay connected to UK friends and family, I believe I’d find it difficult to stay connected.

Megan’s proud parents were in attendance for her performance at The Shard, where she performed Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry alongside Toby, the song’s author. But, according to Megan, they’ve also witnessed her experience the difficulter aspects of her musical journey.

Winning The X Factor: Celebrity meant that the Barking native was awarded a record deal by music mogul Simon Cowell, but she admits that things didn’t quite go to plan.

It was difficult because the label shut down after I won, so it was. I worked so, so hard, so it was difficult. However, our relationship was good. He actually called me to tell me that the label was closing, which was crazy because it’s not typical for Simon Cowell to call you. I’m sorry, but you need to find a new home, he said. However, it’s not simple to do.

Megan McKenna singing on stage
Megan is still devoted to her music – as well as her career in cooking(Image: Getty Images)

Megan says she’s prepared to take on the industry once more now that Landon is a little older, despite what might have seemed like a huge setback. “Many times are changing, and releasing music without a record label is a breeze,” he said.

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Meanwhile, she’s being kept very busy with plenty of other ventures, including her blossoming culinary career. With a Sunday Times bestseller cookbook (and autobiography) already and millions tuning into her mouthwatering recipe videos on social media – in which she whips up everything from comfort food classics to gluten-free dishes – Megan has made quite a name for herself as a cook.

“I adore cooking. It seems so natural to me. It’s normal to share my recipes because I always prop my phone up and film while doing it. I look horrendous the majority of the time! I always consider, “Oh, maybe I should try and put some lipstick on,” but at the end of the day, I realize, “Oh, that’s impossible!” She exclaims, “I love cooking, I love singing, Landon, and I love Ollie,” before continuing. Really, that’s all I need.