What happened
Germany has accused Russia of orchestrating a drone operation at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month, saying investigators have found evidence linking Moscow to the incident.

A drone equipped with an explosive was discovered at the eastern German airport on 4 August near Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The device did not detonate, apparently because it malfunctioned. Investigators believe another drone struck a nearby cargo plane, while a third was reportedly located close to the facility 10 days later.

The airport is an important logistics centre for German and Nato military supplies, and is also used by Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines.

Who said what
Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack matched a “well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe”. Russia has rejected the accusations as “absurd”. So “how will Germany respond?” asked Matt Ford on DW.com. Dobrindt insisted that Germany was “not at war”, yet was “a daily target of hybrid warfare”. Therefore, he said, Germany would respond to the attack in Leipzig in a “proportionate and measured, yet resolute manner”.

What next?
Germany plans to close Moscow’s consulate in Bonn, end a Russian House contract in Berlin and tighten entry rules for Russian citizens. Berlin also plans further action against Russia’s sanctions-busting oil fleet, while the EU is preparing additional sanctions.

What happened
The first baby to be identified through Scotland’s Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) screening programme has begun treatment. The pilot scheme that launched in March, the first of its kind in the UK, offers an optional check for the rare genetic condition as part of the routine newborn blood spot test. This baby was diagnosed at five days old and then referred to specialist services.

Who said what
SMA, which affects about 70 infants a year in the UK, causes “progressive muscle weakness and wasting” that can affect movement and breathing, said Sky News. Newborn screening means SMA can be detected and treated in its earliest stages, “profoundly improving quality of life”, said Scotland’s Minister for Public Health Maree Todd.

This “milestone” demonstrates “the real-life impact” such checks can have, said Dr Sarah Smith, director of the Scottish Newborn Screening Laboratory in Glasgow, which carries out the testing.

What next?
The pilot scheme, funded by the Scottish government and pharmaceutical company Novartis, will run for two years. The UK National Screening Committee will then decide whether SMA testing should be offered nationwide.

A notorious rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in Santa Clarita, California has been shut down following claims that two people suffered brain injuries while riding it. An investigation by CNN found a dozen serious complaints spanning two decades, including customers who suffered life-altering disabilities or fell into comas after riding the X2 – with two dying of their injuries.

The Six Flags Magic Mountain website had described the X2 rollercoaster as a “right (sic) of passage for the ultimate daredevil”. What distinguishes this type of rollercoaster from others is its fourth-dimensional quality, meaning that seats are rotating 360 degrees around the track, turning riders upside down as the carriages reach speeds of nearly 80mph (129km/h) for approximately two minutes.

Pamela Guillen said she lost consciousness after banging her head against the seat’s headrest “multiple times” during an X2 ride in July. A CT scan revealed that she had a severe subdural haematoma (bleeding inside the brain) and brain compression. A few days later Naomi Greer-Wilkinson rode the X2 and lost consciousness. She was admitted to hospital with a traumatic brain injury and remains in a coma.

Last month the family of Christopher Hawley, who died after riding the rollercoaster in 2022, reached a settlement with the park and ride manufacturer S&S Worldwide Inc, said KTLA. During his ride the coaster “suddenly, abruptly and violently jolted to a halt”, according to the lawsuit filed by the family. Afterwards, Hawley was rushed to hospital where a CT scan showed that he had suffered a catastrophic right subdural haematoma, which the lawsuit alleged was caused by the X2, and he died the following day. His father, William Hawley, said legal action was the only way to get answers, adding: “We want to make sure that ride isn’t going to kill somebody else.”