August 18: Kharkiv Strike and Meta’s Youth-Harm Trial

In Ukraine A Russian strike in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region has killed at least 10 people, according to the regional governor. The region remains partly occupied by Russian forces and has faced sustained attacks since the full-scale invasion began. Ukraine’s parliament is also reconvening with permanent defence and foreign ministers still not appointed, a month after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister. In Gaza and the West Bank Israel’s war and siege are severely disrupting breast cancer treatment in Gaza, with women facing worsening access to care, according to Al Jazeera. In the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian Red Crescent says video shows Israeli settler children blocking and attacking one of its ambulances. The organization released the footage as violence and obstruction of Palestinian emergency services remain a concern. In North American trade Canadian officials are seeking last-minute relief from President Trump’s threatened 50 percent tariffs. The talks come as the deadline nears and political pressure rises in Canada over the potential economic damage. In U.S. government policy Two counties and two cities are suing the Trump administration over an effort to tie national-security funding to the adoption of sweeping election procedures. The case challenges the federal government’s ability to attach election-rule conditions to security funding. In tech and youth safety Meta is due to face trial in a case brought by 29 state attorneys general, who accuse the company of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive and harmful to young users. The states are seeking up to $200 billion.