Civilian deaths in Ukraine rose by 26% in 2025 due to Russian strikes, says Action on Armed Violence (AOAV). Reports show 2,248 civilians killed and 12,493 injured by explosions. Each strike injured or killed an average of 4.8 civilians, 33% higher than 2024. The worst attack was in Dnipro on June 24, where Russian missiles hit a passenger train, homes, and schools, killing 21 and injuring 314 people, including 38 children. Iain Overton, AOAV’s executive director, said the figures show “Ukraine fits a wider collapse of restraint that is now visible across multiple wars,” adding that “respect for the distinction of proportionality in war has broken.” In health news, Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old from Chicago battling aggressive cancer since late 2024, died recently. Her father Ruben Torres Maldonado was detained by immigration authorities in October, but a judge later ruled his detention illegal. Days before Ofelia’s death, deportation for Torres Maldonado was blocked due to family hardship, opening a path to permanent residency. North Korea unveiled a new housing district in Pyongyang named Saeppyol Street for families of soldiers killed fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine. Leader Kim Jong-un toured the area with his daughter, praising the “young martyrs” who sacrificed for their country. North Korea has sent troops and weapons to support Russia in the Ukraine war. Other updates: the wreck of a sought-after 150-year-old ship was found in Lake Michigan; Google faces criticism for hiding AI medical advice warnings; US skier Lindsey Vonn is returning home after a tibia fracture; and Italy’s Lovers’ Arch collapsed after storms. On the entertainment front, the new film "Wuthering Heights" grossed $76.8 million globally in its opening weekend, the year’s biggest so far. In the US, the largest medical body plans to review respiratory vaccine safety as the government stops updating recommendations. Ezekiel Emanuel called it a government “abdication.” In Cuba, a severe economic and social crisis worsens, with fears of US pressure through economic strangulation. Reassessment of America’s Next Top Model highlights growing concerns over its toxic environment revealed in a recent Netflix docuseries. Meanwhile, the Trump administration’s new climate policy aims to cut regulations but may raise gas prices, contradicting its claims. Finally, former President Obama clarified he has no proof of alien contact after sparking speculation on a podcast by stating, “They’re real but I haven’t seen them.”