Slovakia is getting ready to elect its fifth prime minister in just four years, and with Kremlin sympathizer Robert Fico's opposition party leading the polls, it is one being watched with alarm in the West.

Amouranth may make a killing after investing in Activision Blizzard in March 2022

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is preparing to pass a new budget

It is unclear how much Amouranth's parents know about what she does; they have visited her residence but not the hot tub area

Virginia's Gov. Glenn Youngkin is encouraging Republicans to vote absentee by mail or early in-person ahead of his state's pivotal legislative elections this year.

A "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse will put on a show from Oregon to Texas this Saturday -- as long as clouds don't spoil the fun.

Ukrainian special forces reported on Tuesday that they had struck two Russian military airfields, following the first-time deployment of long-range ballistic missiles supplied by the US. The details of the weapons’ delivery has been shrouded in secrecy – unlike previous aid provided to Ukraine from the Biden Administration. The missiles – which Ukraine has reportedly been petitioning the US to deliver for months – may prove key to helping Ukrainian forces in the months of conflict ahead. Here’s what we know. What are ATACMS and why does Ukraine need them? The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a long-range guided missile that gives operational commanders the “immediate firepower to win the deep battle”. Produced by US global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin, the missiles carry a 500lb (227kg) class blast fragmentation warhead. The weapons are fitted with a specialised GPS system and have a maximum range of 300km (around 190 miles) – though the ones supplied to Ukraine have a shorter range and carry cluster munitions. When fired, the clusters open in the air, releasing hundreds of bomblets rather than a single warhead. Ukraine says the missiles will help fuel their counteroffensive as it heads into the muddy and colder winter months, enabling troops to strike behind Russian lines while staying out of firing range. The ATACMS have been key in Ukraine’s ability to hit an airfield in Berdyansk since it is within striking distance of the shorter-range version of the missile, and the cluster munitions would be effective in hitting multiple targets. The closest Ukrainian troop positions on the western bank of the Dnieper River are just about 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Berdyansk. What have they been used for? On Tuesday, president Zelensky confirmed the ATACMS had been used on the battlefield against Russia and "executed very accurately” during an offensive known as “Operation Dragonfly”. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces claimed that a nighttime attack on targets in eastern and southern Ukraine destroyed nine Russian helicopters and other military equipment and personnel at two airfields in Russia-occupied regions – including the one at Berdyansk. The missiles also struck an airfield in Luhansk, an occupied city in eastern Ukraine. The special forces also managed to successfully damage airfield runways, Ukraine said. “The ammunition depot in Berdyansk detonated until 4am. The detonation in Luhansk continued until 11am,” Ukrainian Special Operations Forces said in a statement. “Losses in the enemy’s manpower amount to dozens of dead and wounded. Bodies are still being pulled from the rubble.” How many ATACMS has the US provided? After many months of dragging its feet, the Biden administration greenlit the delivery of a “small number” of the missiles last month, following continued pressure from Ukraine. The delivery of the missiles was made quietly and US officials have refused to discuss it publicly. The expectation was that the first public acknowledgment would come when the missiles were used on the battlefield. An official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the missiles got into Ukraine within the last few days. The US has refused to provide any details on how many missiles have been delivered, although officials had suggested that the plan was indeed to send a small number – roughly two dozen. During his Tuesday address, Mr Zelensky said: "Today I express special gratitude to the United States," adding that the missiles "have proven themselves." Why the secrecy? That intense secrecy is a marked change from previous US weapons sent by the Biden administration. In nearly all other cases, the US has publicly announced its decision prior to the weapons and equipment being shipped overseas. The hesitancy may be, in part, to do with the range of the missiles, with concerns that Kyiv could use the weapons to hit deep into Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the conflict. Lingering US concerns about escalating tensions with Russia are reportedly the reason that the ATACMS version that went to Ukraine has a shorter range than the maximum distance the missiles can have. The small number of missiles sent also underscores the US reluctance to send the powerful weapons. Sending the cluster munition version will mark the second time the Democratic administration has moved to send that type of weapon. Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s forces suffer blow as helicopters destroyed by missile strikes, says Kyiv Experts reveal what the winter will bring for the Ukraine war – and why Putin will be banking on Trump

'Mindset is everything…make it Mamba,' Gracie Hunt wrote on her tribute post

Tropical Storm Norma has formed off Mexico's western Pacific coast

Italian authorities have warned people to stay out of the sun from 10am until 6pm as temperatures reach over 40C. A red alert has been issued for 17 cities amid the third punishing heatwave in just two months and temperatures are it is expected to start on Wednesday. This is the most severe warning meaning that even the young, fit and healthy are at risk of adverse effects from the intense heat. Several of Italy's biggest cities such as Rome and Florence saw temperatures reach 38C today and the mercury is expected to reach 40C on Thursday. This has prompted authorities to warn people to avoid the sun, europe/italy-issues-red-alert-for-17-cities-as-another-heat-wave-expected-from-wednesday/2972888">Anadolu Ajansi reported. While Britain has been hit with torrential rain and stormy conditions for most of the summer, Europe has been hit with record-breaking heatwaves with the mercury reaching 48C in southern Italy. The heat was so intense that several cities last month were hit by power cuts due to heat damage to underground cables. Between 200,000 and 300,000 people were left without power or running water around the city of Catania. Italy and other parts of southern Europe have also had to contend with wildfires. Major wildfires were burning in Greece and in Spain's Canary Islands on Monday, with hot, dry and windy conditions hampering the efforts of hundreds of firefighters battling the blazes. Two of the fires have been burning for several days. European Union officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017. In Greece, authorities said the body of a man was recovered from a sheep pen in an area in the central Viotia region under evacuation as a wildfire approached. Local media reported the man apparently died of smoke inhalation while trying to save his livestock. Last month, a wildfire on the resort island of Rhodes forced the evacuation of some 20,000 tourists. Days later, two air force pilots were killed when their water-dropping plane crashed while diving low to tackle a blaze on Evia. Another three wildfire-related deaths have been recorded this summer. In Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa, a wildfire that police say was started deliberately last Tuesday in Tenerife continued to burn out of control. More than 12,000 people have been evacuated and about 13,400 hectares (33,000 acres) of pine forest and scrubland have burned. European forecast High pressure dubbed a “heat dome” has moved in across mainland Europe and has extended down to the Mediterranean and is expected to push through on Thursday when temperatures are expected to reach their highest. Parts of the Iberian peninsula could reach close to 45C while southern France and northern Italy will see highs of 30s to low 40s. In France, weather warnings are also in place this week where temperatures in the south and east have already reached highs of 40C. Also, there are warnings for high temperatures in Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Hungary Austria and Lithuania. Spain announced a heatwave Sunday and expected to last until at least Thursday. But Spain and France should avoid some of the worst heat by the weekend. Read More Mapped: Where are the wildfires in Tenerife as blaze forces thousands to flee The five charts alarming scientists about the climate crisis ‘Out of control’ wildfire on Spanish island of Tenerife leads to evacuation of villages Why do heatwaves in the UK feel hotter than abroad? The startling and grim discoveries unearthed by the climate crisis Earth’s CO2 hits highest recorded level in human history

After ingesting hallucinogenic mushrooms, Lamorne Morris mistook Jon Hamm for the Devil

By David French, Anirban Sen and Sabrina Valle (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil is in advanced talks to acquire Pioneer Natural Resources