Ukraine has made the past few months difficult for Vladimir Putin. But many Russians fear that this month will be even worse for the president as he endures the sting of the “August curse”.
“August is a cursed month for our country,” declared the far-right, pro-Kremlin nationalist Tsargrad TV, warning Russians to prepare to be tested by enemies. “Ukraine and its Western handlers are planning another large-scale atrocity for the last month of summer.”
Another outlet cited mystical tradition, esotericism and astrology to declare August “not just a month but a temporal portal where the boundaries between worlds are thinned” and the “world enters a phase of chaos”. The forecast for Russia’s “most terrifying month of 2026” is “grim”, 7info concluded.
Others explored the sociology of the phenomenon, asking whether Russians’ penchant for a holiday in August led to reduced oversight, more errors and more accidents, or if it were psychological biases that had created the month’s “dismal reputation”.
The Russian superstition of “black August”, a time when bad news is more frequent, began with the attempted coup by hardline communists in 1991. A succession of disasters followed, including plane crashes, financial collapses, a deadly submarine accident and the start of wars with Georgia and Chechnya. Sergei Naryshkin, director of Putin’s foreign intelligence service, dubbed it the month of invasions and provocations in 2015. Two years ago, Ukraine launched its cross-border incursion into Kursk in August.
Nick Kyrgios banned from tennis after positive cocaine test
Nick Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine.
The Australian submitted a sample during the Mallorca Open on 22 June that was later found to contain benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
What you need to know
- Kyrgios has been provisionally suspended since 4 August.
- The International Tennis Integrity Agency said Kyrgios could appeal against the provisional suspension “but has not done so to date”.
- In a post on Instagram, Kyrgios said he made “a huge mistake” and takes “full responsibility” for it.
What the suspension means
Kyrgios cannot play, coach at or attend Grand Slams or any events sanctioned by the men’s and women’s tennis tours.
The 31-year-old has played just four singles matches this season, having struggled with injuries. He last played in the men’s doubles at Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round.
Years of injuries take toll
My body hasn’t been able to do what my mind expects it to do. Coming to terms with being near the end of my career has been harder than I ever imagined. None of that excuses what I did.”
said in a written statement
How worried should you be about UK salmonella outbreak
One person has died and more than 200 have fallen ill amid a UK-wide salmonella outbreak, with health officials linking the cases to the consumption of imported eggs.
Source being investigated
The patients affected appear to have eaten the contaminated eggs in restaurants and cafes, not at home. Those affected include babies and people as old as 90.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has ruled out UK-produced eggs or poultry as the source and said the evidence suggests imported eggs are responsible.
Where have the cases been?
Most cases have been in England, including 47 in London and 38 in Yorkshire and the Humber. There have been six cases in Scotland, one in Wales and another in Northern Ireland.
Officials have found that all of the cases are linked to a single strain of salmonella.
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How worried should you be?
- More than a third of those affected have needed hospital care – however, most people get better without treatment.
- Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, though vulnerable people may experience severe illness.
- There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella, including washing your hands after using the bathroom and before handling food.
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What are the symptoms?
- Hannah Charles, the UKHSA’s lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections said: “Symptoms of a salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever.
- “Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out-of-hours service in the first instance.”
- To prevent the spread, she advised: “Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly.
- “If you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible.”.
The mispronounced words Britons struggle with the most
The most commonly mangled words in the UK have been revealed in a new survey, as well as our attitudes surrounding pronunciation.
Here is everything you need to know.
What you need to know
OnePoll has conducted a survey on the most commonly mispronounced words in the UK.
The research was commissioned by Czech car manufacturer Skoda to highlight the fact that many Britons pronounce the brand’s name wrong – “S-co-der” instead of the correct “Sh-co-da”.
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Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 1Acai: Ah-sigh-ee
- 2Segue: Segway
- 3Charcuterie: Shar-koo-tuh-ree
- 4Quinoa: Keen-wa
Mispronounced words – and the correct pronunciations
- 5 Gnocchi: Nyock-kee
- 6 Worcestershire: Wus-ter-sher
- 7 Chipotle: Chi-poht-lay
A closer look at the survey
The survey also revealed how Britons feel about mispronounced words.
- 85 per cent of respondents had someone correct them after a mispronunciation, with 25 per cent feeling embarrassed afterwards.
- 27 per cent admitted they continued using the wrong pronunciation anyway.
- 52 per cent thought it shows respect for language, while 38 per cent thought it made them appear more knowledgeable.
- 34 per cent thought it made them seem more professional.
- 38 per cent said that the way someone pronounces words could affect the impression they have of them.
Ikea is set to launch its own second-hand selling site later this year, which will allow shoppers signed up to its membership to buy and sell pre-owned Ikea items locally.
Already trialled in other countries
The scheme follows trials of online second-hand marketplaces in Spain and Norway.
It also comes five years after the world’s biggest furniture retailer began buying and selling used Ikea items in some of its UK stores.
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Perks for users
- On the Spanish version, selling is made easier with price suggestions given by Ikea and pre-filled product descriptions.
- Ikea also offers sellers 15 per cent extra on the price of the item if they agree to be paid with an Ikea gift card.
- A similar system to Vinted of paying a 5 per cent “protection fee” is being implemented in Spain from January next year to fund various costs related to the sale.
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How some prostate cancers ‘can be diagnosed without biopsy’
Researchers at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) have found MRI scans can be used to detect cancer in some men with a high degree of certainty.
What the research found
- Men may not need to have a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer.
- Radiologists looked at scan results combined with the patient’s age and their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) score.
- Of the 69 patients deemed to be “99 per cent certain” they had a tumour via their MRI scan, all of them had cancer confirmed through biopsy.
- Researchers said this indicates certain men may not need to have invasive biopsies.
What does this mean?
UCLH consultant radiologist Alex Kirkham said the research indicates prostate cancer could join the list of cancers which can be diagnosed with a scan alone.
Consultant urologist and professor of interventional oncology Mark Emberton said it is particularly important as prostate cancer incidence is only set to rise.
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Th expert reaction
Avoiding unnecessary biopsies is an important goal in cancer care, because they can be painful, invasive and can cause infections… Using MRI alone to diagnose these cancers could make the process much safer and easier for men, and less costly for the NHS.
Dr Matthew Hobbs, director of research at Cancer UK
Why better sleep could keep people working for longer
Researchers in Finland examined data from people aged between 50 and 68 to look at the correlation between sleeping habits and the ability to continue working.
The story in numbers
13 years, five months
Regularly disturbed sleep was linked to leaving the workforce months early.
People who reported no disturbances had a working life expectancy of 13 years and five months.
Six years, five months
The shortest working life expectancy was found among men in routine jobs with low levels of education who slept for more than nine hours a night.
They had an average of six years and five months left in work after the age of 50.
What does this tell us?
Researchers said the findings, published in the journal , suggest healthy sleep (under seven hours but undisturbed) may help people keep working as they age.
“To promote older adults’ participation in working life, supporting sleep of recommended length and good quality may be required,” they added.
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How the UK’s child ADHD diagnosis rates compare to the rest of the world
The former president of the Royal College of General Practitioners has said she would “ban the label ADHD” and that it should be treated as a “social construct” instead of a neurodevelopmental condition.
What is the situation?
Speaking to ahead of the Channel 4 documentary The Great ADHD Myth?, Dr Iona Heath criticised overdiagnosis and argued there is no scientific evidence that those diagnosed have neurological differences.
Earlier this year, then-health secretary Wes Streeting said there was an “overdiagnosis” problem and launched a review.
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What does the UK data reveal?
- and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) put the UK rate of childhood ADHD at 5 per cent, and 3 to 4 per cent for adults.
- One study found ADHD diagnoses increased in the UK from 2000 to 2018.
- By 2018, the highest rates were in boys aged 10 to 16 – 3.5 per cent had been diagnosed. Back in 2000, this number was 1.4 per cent.
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How we compare with other countries
In the US, 11.4 per cent of children aged three to 17 years old were diagnosed with ADHD in 2024. In Europe, a 2023 French study indicated 3.68 per cent of children (800,000) have ADHD compared with 5.5 per cent of adults (1.4 million).
Meanwhile, in Spain, estimates of ADHD prevalence in children range from 5.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent.
A closer look at the review
The ongoing Government review is led by Professor Peter Fonagy, national clinical adviser on children’s mental health.
An interim report, published in March this year, identified rising diagnosis rates as an issue alongside people with ADHD and autism failing to get the support they need.
The final report is set to focus on how to make more support available that is “less dependent on diagnostic thresholds” and “more responsive to functional need”.
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And as his ill-judged war in Ukraine claims more lives, Putin is facing his worst August in years. At the weekend, Kyiv bombarded several regions including Moscow with more than 800 drones in its largest attack so far this year, the latest strike in its escalating campaign to bring the war home.
“The ‘August curse’ meme is one that is half believed in Russia, half raised tongue-in-cheek,” said Dr Mark Galeotti, the historian and Russia expert. This August, as Muscovites leave the city for their country dachas, “there’s a weird mix: the start of the election campaign for the September polls and yet also the tempo of political life otherwise slowing”.
The mood in Russia is souring
Superstition or not, Putin is undoubtedly facing a difficult convergence of military, economic and political problems. His carefully cultivated image as the man keeping Russia safe is being exposed as a lie.
Civilian casualties are ticking up. A drone struck a crowded Black Sea beach this month, killing seven; 13 were killed in an oil refinery attack last week; nine died in weekend drone strikes. There are now regularly devastating fires at energy hubs, ports and military sites. Russians are queuing for petrol while social media is awash with angry entrepreneurs who say their livelihoods have been wiped out by attacks on online retail warehouses.
One video showed a woman sobbing that she had been left with nothing. “That’s it. I’m officially broke,” she complained. “My goods burned in the warehouse. Thank you, Ukrainians.”
“My sense is that as people in Russia feel the war encroaching more on to their lives, it is leading to an impatience, a desire to see it over,” said Galeotti.
Ella Paneyakh, senior research fellow at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre (Nest), said: “Gasoline shortages caused by strikes on oil refineries, as well as fires visible in major cities, have already contributed to significant rise in anxiety and pessimism.”
Anxiety, on the rise since April, became the dominant public mood by July, according to the Kremlin-linked Public Opinion Foundation, with 55 per cent of Russians saying anxiety was the prevailing mood among family, friends and colleagues, up from 40 per cent in 2025. This summer, for the first time since 2022, Russians’ negative expectations for their futures and the future of their country outweighed positive ones, according to the Levada Centre, labelled a foreign agent by the Kremlin.
In March and April, state pollsters found Putin’s personal approval ratings had hit their lowest since 2022. Shortly afterwards, those pollsters changed their methodologies.
Paneyakh linked Putin’s falling approval ratings to “increasingly disruptive” Kremlin restrictions on mobile communications, payment services and popular messaging apps, along with “controls on economic freedom” and a “stagnating economy”. Russians have started withdrawing billions from the country’s banking system, the country’s central bank data showed, over fears the Kremlin will seize deposits for the war, according to a report. This is causing liquidity problems and overstretching the financial sector.
Some senior economic and business officials have become more vocal in their criticism of the war’s adverse effects on the economy. War spending is rising, as is the deficit, while the central bank is struggling to tame inflation. At the weekend, Andrei Klepach was dismissed from his role as chief economist at the state development company VEB after warning that Russia’s worsening economy would lead to a “social crisis [ . . . ] when nobody expects it” like that of the Russian revolution of 1917 or end of the Soviet Union.
John Lough, head of foreign policy at Nest, pointed out that while there was no indication that anti-war sentiment was growing, “it is likely that more questions are being asked both in the elites and society about the purpose of the war and how long will it last”.
This August is a delicate moment
Keir Giles, a Russian affairs commentator and author, says that while “the August curse is a nice idea, I’m not aware that anybody’s ever actually done the number crunching to compare whether there was actually more bad news in August compared to any other month”.
“The curse might just be a function of August being a slow news time elsewhere, so stuff gets more attention now. It’s a country which generates quite a lot of bad news year round,” he added.
But this August – cursed or not – is a particularly sensitive time for Putin in the run-up to next month’s State Duma elections. While the result is – as with all elections in Russia – a foregone conclusion, the government must maintain at least a semblance of choice. The banning of Yabloko, the remaining anti-war party, suggests the Kremlin is particularly jumpy about public opinion and the possibility of a protest vote against the war.
“The Ukrainian air campaign is creating an unpleasant background for the Kremlin ahead of parliamentary elections next month,” said Lough. “While these are not free and fair, they measure public attitudes towards the authorities. In recent months, Putin’s rating has fallen as has that of the Kremlin’s political party, United Russia.”
There is also real concern that Putin could order a second wave of mobilisation to top up dwindling manpower. “Obviously the threat of mobilisation is a shadow over the country,” said Galeotti.
Russia has incurred 1.4 million casualties including an estimated half a million dead. This year, casualties outstripped new recruits. Putin has so far resisted another mobilisation after a previous one in 2022 prompted an exodus from Russia, but difficulties on the battlefield may have changed the calculus, and a new wave is “currently society’s top concern”, said Lough. “There is widespread speculation that Putin will order another wave of mobilisation after the elections.”
However, Sergei Medvedev, a Russian political scientist and affiliated professor at Charles University in Prague, dismissed the suggestion that the worsening situation within Russia would prompt any serious backlash.
“Society is so atomised and apathetic that people don’t care until it hits them directly,” he told The i Paper. “They don’t care about war, civilian casualties; it is somewhere far, on the TV.
“Putin (like Stalin before him) is blessed with an amazingly pliant, flexible and adaptive people that are ready to accept anything that the state throws at it, from mobilisation and hundreds of thousands killed to drones flying over your head and probably ruining their business. They cannot and will not protest… any change in Russia comes from above, or from the side, but not from the people.”
If the situation in Russia deteriorates much further this August, Putin may be thankful that his population has a “curse” to blame instead of the man who got his country into this mess in the first place.