EU approves $100bn loan to Ukraine

The European Union has approved a $100 billion loan to Ukraine after Hungary lifted its veto, marking a critical step in supporting Kyiv’s defense efforts. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains a volatile flashpoint as Iranian forces target cargo ships, undermining fragile ceasefire negotiations between Tehran and the United States. In Sudan, investigative findings implicate Colombian mercenaries, allegedly supported by the United Arab Emirates, in the violent takeover of El Fasher. Beyond geopolitical conflict, climate change poses a growing threat to global democracy, with extreme weather events increasingly obstructing access to polling stations. Amid these crises, a rare fossil fragment of the world’s oldest marine crocodile was discovered on the UK's Jurassic Coast, highlighting the intersection of historical discovery and contemporary reporting.