Prudential Life has already been found to have received about 3.1 billion yen improperly, including money allegedly taken from customers by employees. The company investigated after receiving requests from customers. The inquiry found another 790 million yen in improper receipts when Gibraltar Life, part of the same group, was included. The findings add to the known scale of problematic customer payments.
India’s HCLTech said on Friday that it will invest 142.57 billion rupees, or $1.48 billion, to establish its first artificial intelligence data center. The facility will be located in the eastern Indian state of Odisha. HCLTech will develop the project in partnership with homegrown startup Sarvam AI. The company also plans to open a technology hub with capacity for 5,000 seats.
The commentary portrays a tariff arrangement as a bridge constructed beside a cliff and at the limits of legality. It may seem to offer a path forward, but the image suggests that turning rules into stepping stones could make the fall come sooner. The piece uses the metaphor to question the stability and legal footing of the approach.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia would still achieve its goals even if the United States joined the European Union in burying the Alaska agreements. He said Moscow prefers a political and diplomatic settlement. His remarks presented diplomacy as Russia’s favored way of resolving the issue. The statement also conveyed confidence that Russia’s objectives would not depend on the fate of those agreements.
Chinese mathematicians Deng Yu and Wang Hong received the Fields Medals at the opening ceremony of the 2026 International Congress of Mathematicians in Philadelphia. Their awards recognized work solving problems that had endured for a century. The ceremony took place on Thursday. It marked the first time Chinese mathematicians have won the prestigious honor. The Fields Medal is described as the world’s top mathematics prize.
China’s hotel delivery robots made a strong impression on a Moroccan visitor at the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum. The robots’ service capabilities attracted attention during the event, highlighting a practical application of technology in the hotel setting. The visitor’s reaction underscored the appeal of China’s delivery-robot systems to international guests. The demonstration was among the notable technology experiences at the forum.
The 27th Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong opened Friday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organizers said the exhibition area expanded by 10 percent compared with previous editions. They described the result as the largest event in the fair’s history.
Deadly wildfires continued spreading through parts of France, Spain and Italy on Friday, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. Scorching temperatures and strong winds intensified the flames, while hundreds of firefighters fought the fires with support from water-bombing aircraft. Blazes near Madrid were among the affected areas. The emergency response remained under way as developments continued.
Three members of a family were attacked in a robbery at a home in Kamigawamachi, Tochigi Prefecture, leaving some dead or injured. A 16-year-old boy from Kawasaki, who was arrested as the alleged perpetrator, was a high school student when the incident occurred. Prosecutors indicted him on the 24th on charges including robbery-murder.
The US Coast Guard told CNN that all 11 people aboard a Kenmore Air seaplane have been accounted for. The aircraft, carrying one pilot and 10 passengers, made an emergency landing near Sucia Island in the San Juan Islands. The plane caught fire after landing. The status of those aboard was confirmed after the incident.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reshuffled senior government positions in an effort to strengthen his unpopular administration. He is seeking to improve its political fortunes before regional elections. In those contests, a far-right party could win a state governor’s office. The changes come as the government faces pressure from the party’s potential advance.
German politicsgovernment reshufflefar rightregional elections
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reshuffles top posts amid far-right advance
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BREAKING Several blasts sounded on Friday near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist reports
BREAKING Several blasts sounded on Friday near Erbil airport, which hosts US-led coalition troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, an AFP journalist reports
China’s accommodation consumption market experienced clear fluctuations during the first half of 2026, according to a recently released report from the China Hotel Association. The report points to changing conditions across the country’s hotel and accommodation consumption market during the period. Its focus is the sector’s performance in the first six months of the year.
China hotel industryaccommodation consumptionmarket fluctuations
Xiamen University has launched the seventh edition of its Maritime Silk Road Academy talent development program. The initiative began on Wednesday aboard the research vessel Jiageng. The ship served as the setting for the program’s launch, marking the start of this year’s edition. The academy is presented as a talent development effort linked to the Maritime Silk Road.
Maritime Silk RoadXiamen Universitytalent development
Russia’s Battlegroup North reportedly destroyed 24 Ukrainian drones in the Sumy area over the past day. The commander of a UAV company, using the call sign Amur, said Ukrainian forces used the neutralized drones for reconnaissance, adjusting fire, targeting weapons and carrying out strikes. The account describes the drones’ roles while attributing the information to the Russian unit’s commander.
Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys 24 Ukrainian drones in Sumy area over past day
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These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of July 24, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
These are the indicative estimates of Russia’s combat losses as of July 24, according to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Kyiv Independent
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The Trump administration imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, over allegations of lax enforcement of forced labor bans, just as a temporary 10% global tariff expired. David Lawder has more.
The Trump administration imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, over allegations of lax enforcement of forced labor bans, just as a temporary 10% global tariff expired. David Lawder has more.
Asian nations have pushed back against the Trump administration’s latest tariffs, calling them baseless and unjustified. Their criticism signals opposition to the policy and its stated rationale. Despite that stance, the countries have stopped short of taking retaliatory action. For now, the response remains verbal rather than an escalation into countermeasures.
The United States has announced tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on 60 trading partners. Washington says the affected economies have failed to effectively prohibit imports of products linked to “forced labor.” The measure covers the European Union, Japan, Taiwan and China. The tariffs took effect on Friday, July 24.
The Trump administration has imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China. Washington linked the measures to allegations that these partners were not enforcing forced-labor bans strictly enough. The tariffs arrived as a temporary 10% global duty expired. The move increases trade pressure over forced-labor enforcement while replacing the expiring global measure with targeted duties.
Donald Trump is reviving a tariff barrier through duties tied to forced labor. The measures target major US trading partners. The move places forced-labor tariffs at the center of US trade policy. It signals renewed pressure on international commercial relationships.
The Indian rupee held above a record low on Friday, traders said. The Reserve Bank of India was likely active in the market, helping curb pressure from a sharp rise in oil prices. Weak domestic equities also weighed on the currency. Renewed corporate hedging added another source of demand and pressure, but the intervention apparently helped the rupee stabilize rather than set a new record low.
Indian rupeeReserve Bank of Indiaoil pricesforeign exchange
A Cabinet Office project in Japan successfully brought up mud containing rare earths from the seabed off Minamitorishima in February. The project held a news conference on the 24th to announce its analysis of the mud’s composition. The results showed that it contained rare earth elements essential for high-tech products.
The US military said it had completed its 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iran. Hours later, Bahrain activated its sirens early Friday and urged residents to take shelter after fire was detected. The developments came as clashes over shipping routes intensified. Bahrain’s warning added to the tension surrounding the ongoing US-Iran confrontation.
United StatesIranBahrainshipping routesarmed conflict
US Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, announced that the US military had attacked Iran for the 13th consecutive day. It said the attack began at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time on the 23rd, or 7:45 a.m. Japan time on the 24th.
US Congress member Anna Paulina Luna said there have been attempts to set people in Russia and the United States against one another. She stressed that claims about Russian interference in the US presidential election were circulated in the United States as part of a political campaign. Her remarks focused on how those claims were disseminated and framed the issue as an effort to create division between the two populations.
US lawmaker says attempts were made to turn Russians and Americans against each other
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The Trump administration will withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times' journalists who reported on security concerns about the president flying on a Qatari-donated Air Force One, a prosecutor said at a court hearing. Reuters legal reporter Jack Queen has more.
The Trump administration will withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times' journalists who reported on security concerns about the president flying on a Qatari-donated Air Force One, a prosecutor said at a court hearing. Reuters legal reporter Jack Queen has more.
Adelaide airport has cancelled digital billboards placed by conservation groups to target Labor MPs attending the party’s national conference. The airport said the messages were “too political” and breached its rules on political advertising. Conservation groups are questioning why their advertisements were removed while campaigns promoting gas and mining remained in place. Labor politicians, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have been arriving through the airport for the weekend conference.
Adelaide airportpolitical advertisingconservation groupsLabor Party
The White House accused Chinese artificial intelligence company Moonshot AI of using distillation to replicate capabilities from Anthropic’s Fable AI model. It said the company used those capabilities to develop its Kimi K3 model. The allegation frames the model’s development as part of the wider US-China AI technology rivalry.
A basketball invitational tournament brought together teams from Hainan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. The event was held on Thursday in Haikou, the capital of south China’s Hainan Province. The tournament provided a sporting setting for teams from the four areas to compete in the coastal city. It was presented as a regional basketball gathering centered on competition in Haikou.
Oil prices were heading toward a weekly gain on Friday. Houthi attacks on tankers in the Red Sea raised fears that a second major shipping chokepoint could be closed. Kazakhstan also temporarily reduced production after the shutdown of its main export route. The disruptions added pressure to supply and helped support the rise in prices.
The Houthis’ blockade of Bab al-Mandeb threatens a vital route for global trade. Because the passage is important to international commerce, disruption there could affect trade beyond the Red Sea. The blockade therefore carries potential consequences for the wider world economy and supply chains.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu visited the United States from Wednesday to Thursday, according to China’s Foreign Ministry. The ministry disclosed the visit on Friday. The trip marks a diplomatic engagement between China and the United States, with no further details provided in the announcement.
China’s meteorological authority said Friday that a tropical depression east of the Philippines has strengthened into the year’s 12th typhoon. The storm, named Noul, is forecast to reach the coast of Guangdong and Fujian provinces on Saturday night or early Sunday. Its projected path places southern China in the focus of the approaching weather system. Officials identified the expected landfall area along the two provincial coastlines.
China launched a Lijian-1 Y15 carrier rocket on Friday. The rocket carried five satellites into space. The launch marked the deployment of all five spacecraft aboard the vehicle. The report identified the rocket as the Lijian-1 Y15 model.
Japan’s manufacturing activity remained broadly resilient in July, according to a business survey released on Friday. Factory output expanded at its fastest pace since February 2014. Despite the strong production reading, uncertainty surrounding the situation in the Middle East continued to weigh on companies. The survey pointed to firm activity alongside ongoing concern among Japanese firms about external risks.
Japan’s factory activity stays firm as July output surges, PMI shows
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'We end up crying': Venezuela shelter reunites pets and owners separated by quakes.
Hundreds of animals rescued from the rubble after the twin earthquakes in Venezuela remain in temporary shelters, waiting to be reunited with their families or adopted
'We end up crying': Venezuela shelter reunites pets and owners separated by quakes.
Hundreds of animals rescued from the rubble after the twin earthquakes in Venezuela remain in temporary shelters, waiting to be reunited with their families or adopted
A major landslide struck Pengshui County in Chongqing. Local authorities said the disaster has killed 11 people. Another 50 people remain missing following the incident. The report identified the affected area as Pengshui County, with the casualties and missing-person figure provided by local officials.
The once-familiar ripping sensation of opening an iPhone box has become a thing of the past. Apple has continued eliminating plastic while preserving what it considers a unique unboxing experience. The effort involves materials development and collaboration with Japanese companies. Behind the packaging changes lies a determined, decade-long pursuit of maintaining the feel of opening an Apple product while changing its materials.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted security cooperation in separate meetings with his Belarusian and Uzbek counterparts. The Chinese foreign ministry described the discussions in two statements released on Friday. The statements said Wang emphasised security ties with both countries. Beijing is urging closer cooperation with Belarus and Uzbekistan in the security field.
China diplomacyBelarusUzbekistansecurity cooperation
Rome is launching an initiative called “The Big Chill,” borrowing its name from the 1983 blockbuster movie. During the hottest part of the day, the program offers free screenings in air-conditioned cinemas. The effort gives people a way to escape an exceptionally hot summer while relaxing with a film. It combines a cultural outing with relief from the daytime heat.
The “Cockroach” revolt highlights a serious weakness beneath India’s rising economy. A surging number of young university graduates are unemployed, and economic growth is failing to absorb them. The movement reflects mounting frustration among India’s youth as opportunities fall short of their ambitions. Its emergence points to the social strain created when a growing economy does not generate enough work for educated young people.
The photonics industry in Suzhou New District is expanding rapidly. Its growth is supported by a comprehensive industrial ecosystem, efficient government services and sustained backing for technological innovation. Together, these factors are helping the district strengthen and accelerate development in the sector.
photonics industrySuzhou New Districttechnology innovation
Israel bombed Gaza after issuing displacement orders, killing two Palestinians. A UN official described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “desperate.” The official said Israeli violations of the “ceasefire” were intensifying. The strikes came as Palestinians in Gaza faced continuing displacement and a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The European Union has placed businessman Mikhail Gutseriyev on its blacklist. The measure also covers several Russian energy companies linked to Slavneft, including Baikit Oil and Gas Exploration Expedition, Slavneft-Nizhnevartovsk and Obneftegazgeologiya. Tatneft-Samara is also among the companies named in the blacklist. The report identifies the listed entities without providing further details about the restrictions.
About 12% of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, Iran’s allies are threatening to blockade the Middle East’s second key maritime route. Such a move could further disrupt global trade and intensify the crisis facing shipping in the Red Sea.
Bab el-Mandeb StraitHouthisRed Sea shippingglobal trade
Bab el-Mandeb: Could Houthi threats trigger a Red Sea shipping crisis?
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VIDEO: Tourists take to the skies on a giant swing perched 2,110 metres above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Resorts are expanding their summer attractions as climate change brings shorter and increasingly unpredictable snow seasons.
VIDEO: Tourists take to the skies on a giant swing perched 2,110 metres above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Resorts are expanding their summer attractions as climate change brings shorter and increasingly unpredictable snow seasons.
The United States will impose import tariffs of 12.5% on Russia, according to a document. The new duties are set to replace temporary global tariffs on American imports. Those temporary tariffs were introduced on February 24 for a 150-day period. The document provides no further details about the arrangement.
SAP’s finance chief said Thursday that artificial intelligence in enterprise software needs to progress beyond chatbots and coding tools. The next stage, she said, lies in handling more complicated business processes. Those applications place greater emphasis on clean data, reliability and controlling costs than on simply having access to the most powerful model. Returns will depend on that broader, more demanding deployment of AI.
On July 22, State Duma deputies approved two laws designed to ensure the “inevitability of punishment” for people evading Russian justice abroad. The measures would freeze the money of exiled critics, block their passports, and cut off consular assistance. Human rights advocates from First Department describe the rules as a route to the de facto stripping of citizenship from opponents of the ruling regime. Russian authorities are prosecuting those opponents under political articles of the Criminal Code.
Russia politicsState Dumaexiled criticscivil rights
The Pentagon said Thursday that it had reached an agreement with Oracle worth nearly $7 billion and lasting up to 10 years. The deal will combine the department’s on-premises software licenses under one contract. It represents the latest effort by the Pentagon’s technology chief to reduce spending. The strategy focuses on eliminating fragmented purchasing across the department.
Arkady Dvorkovich has suspended his duties as president of the FIDE chess federation. He considers the decision unlawful and unfair. Dvorkovich says the decision will be challenged immediately by every possible means. The dispute centers on the suspension of his presidential duties at FIDE.
Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted on Thursday to add the widely used peptide BPC-157 to a designated list. Inclusion would allow pharmacies to compound the peptide more broadly. The vote concerns how extensively pharmacies may prepare BPC-157 under the agency’s compounding framework. It does not itself describe broader regulatory action beyond the panel’s recommendation.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s involvement in clearing Folarin Balogun from a mandatory one-game suspension at the World Cup is expected to trigger a formal complaint. Norway is preparing to take the matter to FIFA ethics investigators. The dispute centers on how the red-card ruling was handled and on Trump’s reported role in removing the required ban.
The war in Sudan is placing cancer patients at risk. The conflict is worsening the dangers faced by people living with cancer. Their vulnerability is linked directly to the continuing war. The report focuses on the health consequences of Sudan’s conflict for this patient group.
As rising land prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area make it harder to secure sites for condominium projects, Itochu Corporation and JR East are joining forces in the real-estate business. They will establish a new company called JR East Itochu Real Estate Development. Using the distinctive Crevia brand, the company plans to focus on high-value-added offerings. Easing constraints related to asset efficiency is expected to support a stronger push for expansion.
Two residents of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region told Reuters on Thursday that a merchant ship seized last week in Yemeni waters in the Gulf of Aden is now being held by Somali pirates. Their account places the vessel in pirate custody after the reported hijacking off Yemen. The report links the incident to waters near Yemen and the Puntland region.
Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development is encouraging internet users to install SSL certificates produced domestically. The ministry says the measure will help Russian websites continue loading properly in foreign web browsers. According to business daily RBC, officials describe the installation as safe and say it will not change how users’ devices function.
A Government Accountability Office study released Wednesday found that a growing number of Amazon employees and gig economy workers earn too little to cover basic needs. The workers rely on public assistance to put food on the table and obtain health coverage. The findings point to widespread dependence on government support among low-paid workers in these sectors.
Fedorov has turned down offers from Zelensky and says he would return only in the role of defense minister. After talks with Lavrov in the Philippines, Rubio said “new ideas” are needed to reach a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. Zelensky said the dismissed generals Syrskyi and Hnatov will remain in advisory roles for the new army command. The developments were reported on July 23.
Sweden’s government has classified the mining of critical metals and rare earth minerals as a national security interest. The decision was announced on Thursday. Officials said a new mining strategy was needed to counter the country’s dependence on China. The move places mineral extraction at the center of Sweden’s response to that dependence.
An independent autopsy has been unable to establish why a Mississippi teenager died in waters off the Mississippi coast. The teenager was found after taking a Fourth of July boating trip with friends. Investigators and others are awaiting the results of a state autopsy conducted earlier this month. Those findings could provide clues about what happened.
Donald Trump says the US-Saudi civilian nuclear cooperation deal depends on Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords. The United States and Saudi Arabia have reached an agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation. The reported condition links the nuclear deal to a broader diplomatic arrangement.
Donald TrumpSaudi Arabiacivilian nuclear cooperationAbraham Accords
The US president says a landmark agreement to help Saudi Arabia develop nuclear energy depends on the kingdom joining the Abraham Accords. Trump is therefore linking the proposed nuclear cooperation to Saudi recognition of Israel. The condition would make progress on the energy agreement contingent on a political step involving Israel. His remarks frame the accords as necessary for the deal to move forward.
A poll suggests that only 6% of Britons would volunteer to join the armed forces if war broke out. Confidence in the military also appears limited among respondents. Fifty-three percent said they did not trust the armed forces, while 38% said they did. The findings point to a clear divide in public trust and willingness to serve.
Poll: Only 6% of Britons would volunteer to enlist if war broke out
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🇻🇪 Venezuela shelter reunites pets and owners separated by quakes
Hundreds of animals rescued from the rubble after the twin earthquakes in Venezuela remain in temporary shelters, waiting to be reunited with their families or adopted.
🇻🇪 Venezuela shelter reunites pets and owners separated by quakes
Hundreds of animals rescued from the rubble after the twin earthquakes in Venezuela remain in temporary shelters, waiting to be reunited with their families or adopted.
Two Israeli banks are expected to stop working with their Palestinian counterparts in the coming months, according to Israeli officials. They cite risks linked to possible terrorism financing and money laundering. The planned move is intensifying fears that the Palestinian economy could face a crisis. The banks’ decision would further strain financial links between Israeli and Palestinian institutions.
More than 100 millionaires in the United Kingdom are asking new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to increase the taxes imposed on them. The group, calling itself the “Patriotic Millionaires”, says wealth and power have been concentrated among a small group for too long. Its appeal places pressure on the new government to address that concentration through taxation and redistribution.
A wildfire is racing through a tourist peninsula near the Dune du Pilat and Cap Ferret in France’s dry southwest. The area, dubbed the “Hamptons of France,” has seen thousands of people forced to evacuate. Firefighters are struggling to bring the blaze under control as it spreads extremely quickly. France 24’s Christopher Bockman, reporting from Toulouse, explains why the fire is advancing so fast.
'A recipe for disaster': France's dry southwest struggles to contain wildfire
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🇧🇬 Bulgarian doctor still on-call at 90
“For now I feel fine,” says Kiril Apostolov who, at 90-years-old, is still doing the rounds as the only doctor in the Bulgarian village of Skrat, climbing steep mountain roads as he carries out at-home patient visits.
🇧🇬 Bulgarian doctor still on-call at 90
“For now I feel fine,” says Kiril Apostolov who, at 90-years-old, is still doing the rounds as the only doctor in the Bulgarian village of Skrat, climbing steep mountain roads as he carries out at-home patient visits.
AFP News Agency
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Our new Tree of Life family bundle is now available.
The Tree of Life is one of Ukraine’s oldest embroidery symbols, representing the connection between our ancestors and the generations yet to come.
Our new Tree of Life family bundle is now available.
The Tree of Life is one of Ukraine’s oldest embroidery symbols, representing the connection between our ancestors and the generations yet to come.
Kuwait’s Defence Ministry said a drone attack struck the Abdali border crossing with Iraq. The incident caused damage at the crossing, according to the ministry. No casualties were reported. The attack affected a border facility linking Kuwait and Iraq, while the statement provided no further attribution for those responsible.
Kazakhstan has temporarily reduced its oil production, according to the country’s Energy Ministry. The move followed a suspension of loading operations at the port of Novorossiysk in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai. The ministry linked the disruption to Ukrainian attacks on a Russian Black Sea port. The production cut is therefore presented as a temporary response to interrupted port loading.
Kazakhstan temporarily cuts oil production after Ukrainian attacks on Russian Black Sea port
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🇳🇱 Elite 'speedcubers' face off at the Rubik's European Championship in The Netherlands
Welcome to the world of competitive Rubik's Cube solving -- "speedcubing" for insiders -- where players compete in disciplines ranging from the blindfold challenge to solving cubes while wearing oven gloves.
🇳🇱 Elite 'speedcubers' face off at the Rubik's European Championship in The Netherlands
Welcome to the world of competitive Rubik's Cube solving -- "speedcubing" for insiders -- where players compete in disciplines ranging from the blindfold challenge to solving cubes while wearing oven gloves.
Wang Huning, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, met Tomio Okamura in Beijing on Thursday. Okamura is the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic. The meeting brought together senior political figures from China and the Czech Republic. It took place in the Chinese capital.
Police say a hostage situation is underway at a bank branch in Regensburg, Bavaria. One person has suffered life-threatening injuries, according to authorities. The standoff has not ended, while special units are being sent to the scene. Investigators believe the suspect may be carrying a knife. The situation remains ongoing.
An Angolan court has convicted two Russian men of terrorism and spying. They were accused of plotting a coup and helping organise deadly demonstrations over fuel prices last year. Lev Lakshtanov received an eight-year prison sentence, while Igor Ratchin was sentenced to 11 years. Both men rejected the accusations, saying they had been in Angola for cultural and business activities.
AngolaRussian nationalsterrorism allegationsspying case
The British army has cancelled a planned training exercise in Kenya after the Kenyan government declined to ratify a bilateral defence agreement. The exercise, scheduled for September, was called off amid disagreements over funding and jurisdiction. The UK government had sought to renew the existing arrangement, while Kenyan lawmakers pressed for changes giving local authorities greater powers to hold British soldiers accountable for criminal offences committed in the country.
Russia’s steel production fell 3.4% in June to 5.6 million metric tons, according to the World Steel Association. Total steel output across Russia, the CIS countries and Ukraine reached 6.8 million metric tons during the month. The figures point to a decline in Russian production within the wider regional output reported for June.
The European Central Bank has left its base interest rates unchanged. It said it was closely monitoring the shock to energy prices. The war against Iran has driven energy costs higher, pushing inflation above the ECB’s targets. The central bank’s response reflects concern over the inflationary effects of the energy shock while rates remain on hold.
European Central Bankinterest ratesinflationIran war
Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said jewellery seized by police during an investigation was a personal gift given to him years ago. The jewellery was valued at €1.3 million, or about $1.5 million. Zapatero said it was a courtesy gift and had never been meant to generate financial gain.
Anish Gawande, a national spokesperson for the Nationalist Congress Party, says India’s student protests mark a generational rupture in the country’s politics. He describes the protesters as a politically fearless youth challenging what he calls the decade-long “architecture of fear” under Narendra Modi’s government. Gawande argues that the movement is about accountability, not education policy. In his view, it highlights a widening divide between a government used to political dominance and a generation unwilling to accept opacity or state intimidation.
India politicsstudent protestsyouth movementNarendra Modi
South Africa has described a petition by Ghanaians to the International Criminal Court over attacks on migrants as “opportunistic.” The petition argues that violence against migrants in South Africa could amount to crimes against humanity. Its claim puts the treatment of migrants at the centre of an international legal complaint. South Africa’s response rejects the petition’s framing while the alleged violence remains the subject of scrutiny.
South AfricaGhanaInternational Criminal Courtmigrant attacks
South Africa calls Ghanaians’ ICC petition over migrant attacks ‘opportunistic’
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🇦🇲 Armenian apricots become battleground between Russia and EU
Angered at Yerevan's pivot away from Moscow, the Kremlin has imposed bans and restrictions on the imports of a wide range of Armenian goods, including fruits, vegetables and flower.
🇦🇲 Armenian apricots become battleground between Russia and EU
Angered at Yerevan's pivot away from Moscow, the Kremlin has imposed bans and restrictions on the imports of a wide range of Armenian goods, including fruits, vegetables and flower.
Benchmark oil prices have risen above $100 a barrel again for the first time in two months as the Middle East conflict escalates. The sharp increase reflects fears that disruption to global supplies could worsen. Markets are concerned that Yemen’s Houthi militia might choke off Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. At the same time, tensions between the US and Iran over oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are intensifying.
oil pricesMiddle East conflictStrait of HormuzHouthi militia
Snakes first emerged during the age of dinosaurs, but the fossil record for many early species is highly fragmentary. That has made it difficult for scientists to reconstruct how snakes evolved as a group. A well-preserved fossil discovered in southeastern Brazil is now offering new clues about the history of these slithering reptiles and their early development.
Dinosaur-era fossil sheds light on snake evolution
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🇭🇰 Survivors warn of loopholes in Hong Kong sexual offence reforms
Long-awaited reforms to Hong Kong's sexual offence laws will introduce stricter penalties for sexual crimes, but survivors warn that the proposed changes don’t go far enough to protect victims.
🇭🇰 Survivors warn of loopholes in Hong Kong sexual offence reforms
Long-awaited reforms to Hong Kong's sexual offence laws will introduce stricter penalties for sexual crimes, but survivors warn that the proposed changes don’t go far enough to protect victims.
The Venice International Film Festival, one of the world’s three major film festivals, will open in Italy in September. Two films from Japan, directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and Shin’ya Tsukamoto, have been selected for the competition section. They will compete for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion. The selection places both Japanese directors in the festival’s main awards race.
Venice Film FestivalHirokazu Kore-edaShin’ya Tsukamotofilm competition
China’s securities regulator pledged on Thursday to guard against risks in key areas. A readout of the meeting said it would also strengthen its policy reserves. The measures are intended to help respond to fluctuations in global markets and the transmission of risks across borders. No specific policy tools or implementation timetable were given.
China securities regulatorfinancial risksglobal markets
Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped sharply last week to 187,000, their lowest level since 1969. Layoffs remain historically subdued even as uncertainty clouds the global economy. The figures point to continued resilience in the American labor market. The decline marks the latest sign that job losses remain limited.
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