India has called in executives from U.S. technology giant Meta, according to a senior official speaking on Thursday. The move followed a brief restriction imposed last week by Meta’s Facebook platform on a post from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Indian authorities are seeking an explanation for the platform’s handling of the post. The episode highlights a dispute between the government and the social-media company over content access.
Mexico welcomed a record 20 million tourists by May 2026, but the visitor boom has also increased risks of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, especially for women and children. Mixi Cruz describes being exploited by family as a child. Organized crime groups are increasingly involved, while as many as 98% of cases may go unreported.
A large plume of smoke rose over Ahvaz in southwestern Iran early Thursday after renewed US strikes. Iranian state media said two student dormitory complexes were damaged, while parts of the city experienced power outages.
Britain’s health authorities estimate that 2,877 people have died from heat-related causes so far this year. The figure is nearly twice the total reported across the whole of 2025. Officials said the current toll is approaching the record level seen in 2022. The estimate highlights the scale of heat-associated deaths recorded in the country this year.
UKheat-linked deaths this year near 2022 record, health agency says
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🇮🇩 Behind the News: Reporting from the Indonesian island where slavery never ended
AFP's Jakarta Bureau Chief Eric Bernaudeau, alongside photographer Bay Ismoyo and video journalist Taris Iman, set out for the island of Sumba, just two hours from Bali, to document a reality few outsiders ever see
🇮🇩 Behind the News: Reporting from the Indonesian island where slavery never ended
AFP's Jakarta Bureau Chief Eric Bernaudeau, alongside photographer Bay Ismoyo and video journalist Taris Iman, set out for the island of Sumba, just two hours from Bali, to document a reality few outsiders ever see
Best Buy is discounting Microsoft’s 13.8-inch Arm-based Surface Laptop with a 10-core Snapdragon X2 Plus chip through Thursday, July 30th. The 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD model, originally $1,599.99, is available for $999.99, and the article recommends choosing it over the 8GB version.
France’s wildfire danger remains “extremely high,” Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said, even as weather conditions improved slightly. Persistent drought and rapidly spreading fires continue to threaten areas across the country. Higher humidity and weaker winds have eased conditions somewhat, but authorities still handled 26 fires nationwide on Wednesday, July 29. Nunez warned that vegetation remains highly combustible, keeping the risk elevated.
French Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Éléonore Caroit discusses France’s response to an unprecedented heatwave and wildfire season. She frames the challenge through operational crisis management, international solidarity and climate governance. Caroit says governments must keep improving preparedness while investing in adaptation, resilient infrastructure and urban planning. She argues that national capacity alone cannot confront a crisis driven by global greenhouse-gas emissions, so domestic measures must be matched by sustained international climate cooperation.
France wildfiresheatwaveclimate changeinternational cooperation
Son Heung-min scored twice during a three-minute stretch in the first half. Carles Gil supplied the assists for both goals. His scoring burst helped the MLS All-Stars defeat the Liga MX All-Stars 4-3 in the Major League Soccer All-Star Game.
Son Heung-min scores twice as MLS All-Stars beat Liga MX All-Stars 4-3
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🇪🇸 Spanish pensioner returns to charred ruins of home after wildfire
A pensioner returned home to find his house burnt to the ground after wildfires ravaged areas west of Madrid. The fires forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, but authorities now say they have stopped spreading
🇪🇸 Spanish pensioner returns to charred ruins of home after wildfire
A pensioner returned home to find his house burnt to the ground after wildfires ravaged areas west of Madrid. The fires forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, but authorities now say they have stopped spreading
An earthquake occurred at around 10:47 p.m. on the 30th. Shindo 4 was recorded on the Shimabara Peninsula, while parts of Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kumamoto prefectures recorded shindo 3.
Earthquake alert: Intensity 4 recorded in Nagasaki Prefecture
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🇯🇵 ⚠️ Japan quake toll hits 34 as survivors struggle in heat
Emergency workers battle to find survivors from a wrecked shopping mall in southwestern Japan, as the death toll from a major earthquake two days earlier hit 34 and thousands sweltered in punishing heat
🇯🇵 ⚠️ Japan quake toll hits 34 as survivors struggle in heat
Emergency workers battle to find survivors from a wrecked shopping mall in southwestern Japan, as the death toll from a major earthquake two days earlier hit 34 and thousands sweltered in punishing heat
U.S. economic growth slowed in the second quarter, while domestic demand continued to show strength. Consumer spending accelerated, pointing to firmer underlying household demand. Business investment in equipment was also robust, particularly in areas connected to the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Together, those developments pointed to continued resilience beneath the headline slowdown.
U.S. economyeconomic growthconsumer spendingAI infrastructure
The U.S. economy grew at a sluggish 1.5% annual pace from April through June. Rising imports put pressure on the overall growth figure. Consumer spending nevertheless increased during the quarter. Inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s target.
U.S. economyeconomic growthinflationFederal Reserve
Israeli strikes killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza, including two children, health officials said. At the same time, Hamas leaders held talks in Cairo with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators, who described progress toward implementing a US-brokered peace plan, though Hamas’s full disarmament remains a key dispute.
Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces released a video in which leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, orders his fighters to seize the capital, Khartoum. The announcement comes as fighting expands in North Kordofan and the humanitarian crisis worsens.
Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman and filmmaker Gregg Araki were among the stars who walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of "I Want Your Sex," Araki's latest genre-bending drama that mixes satire, romance, mystery and murder.
Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman and filmmaker Gregg Araki were among the stars who walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of "I Want Your Sex," Araki's latest genre-bending drama that mixes satire, romance, mystery and murder.
Spotify has launched an AI-powered Running Mode that creates customizable playlists based on running goals, music preferences, workout duration, BPM, and training style. It requires Premium and is currently available on iOS in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden, with optional English coaching prompts.
Military expert Andrey Marochko told TASS that Russian forces took control of Novaya Sich in the Sumy Region and then began fighting for Kiyanitsa and Khrapovshchina. He said the troops had earlier taken Ivolzhanskoye and advanced northeast, where the line of contact was being leveled for a further advance south.
Former Macau pro-democracy lawmaker Au Kam-san has spent a year in detention over alleged offences endangering China’s national security. His daughter says the family has been unable to contact him or secure a defence lawyer. The case has passed pre-trial review and awaits a hearing date.
Macau’s first national security case: Au Kam-san held for a year with family unable to contact him
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🇧🇷 Fierce winds bring chaos to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro
Five people have died after powerful gusts of wind brought chaos to Rio de Janeiro and parts of Sao Paulo state, cutting power and bringing public transport to a standstill
🇧🇷 Fierce winds bring chaos to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro
Five people have died after powerful gusts of wind brought chaos to Rio de Janeiro and parts of Sao Paulo state, cutting power and bringing public transport to a standstill
Russia launched more than 70 missiles and about 280 drones at Ukraine, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens. Poland scrambled an F-16 after detecting what its prime minister said was likely a Russian Kh-101 missile crossing into Polish airspace, and placed its air defenses on high alert.
Russia launched 74 missiles and 284 drones at targets in Ukraine in another night of heavy attacks, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens. Most casualties were reported in Dnipropetrovsk and Lviv regions, while Poland investigated a reported airspace violation and an explosion on its territory.
Ukraine warRussian attacksPolandmissiles and drones
Ukrainian soldiers left large quantities of weapons, ammunition and equipment behind while withdrawing from Yurchenkovo in the Kharkov Region and Mogritsa and Malaya Slobodka in the Sumy Region, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. It also reported that Battlegroup North had established control over all three settlements.
An elderly care facility in Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, where an intensity-7 tremor was recorded, is struggling to respond to shortages of diapers and other daily necessities. Part of an obstetrics and gynecology clinic was also damaged.
Chinese state media have suggested that the YJ-20, one of the country’s most closely watched weapons, is being deployed more widely. The missile is described as a hypersonic anti-ship weapon. The reports point to an expanded deployment but provide no further details about its scale or locations.
Andy Burnham is set to place youth employment at the center of his defense-investment agenda. On Thursday, he will announce the next funding tranche for Britain’s Dreadnought submarine program. The £8.4 billion fund is being presented as a source of new momentum for jobs. His approach links defense spending with efforts to improve employment prospects for young people.
UK politicsdefense investmentyouth employmentsubmarine program
An ambush on a police checkpoint in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, killed at least 11 police officers and injured 28 others. Police said attackers first used explosive-laden quadcopters, then fought security forces for hours; 15 attackers were killed. No group has claimed responsibility.
The Nasdaq has moved into correction territory as the Federal Reserve defers a rate hike. The development puts the index’s decline and the central bank’s delayed move at the center of market attention.
Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries warehouse in Perm Krai on July 30, according to Ukrainian Telegram channels and footage verified by independent Russian outlets. It was the third Wildberries warehouse hit that morning, after strikes in Penza region and Udmurtia. Perm is about 1,400 kilometers from Ukraine’s border, the farthest such strike reported so far.
The traditional Chaoshan snack rice-free kueh has gained popularity after appearing in the hit film Dear You. Searches have risen tenfold from previous years, while the snack has spread with the Chaoshan diaspora to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, where local ingredients have been incorporated.
The 2026 Dianchi International Coffee Culture Carnival will take place Aug. 1-9 in Kunming, Yunnan, using coffee to link cultural exchange and tourism. Its two main venues and eight citywide sub-venues will host more than 200 mobile coffee vehicles from 52 Chinese cities, plus over 300 activities and 200 music performances.
Kunmingcoffee culturecultural exchangeDianchi Lake
Two red pandas donated by Shanghai Zoo to Taipei Zoo appeared before the public on Tuesday. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an named them Le Le and Tian Tian. The animals completed quarantine after arriving in June, while the zoo upgraded their enclosure with climbing structures, shelters and improved viewing areas.
Strong winds have driven wildfires through Crete’s Rethymno region, forcing thousands of residents and tourists to leave villages and resorts. About 8,000 people were evacuated overnight, while three Greek firefighters died tackling fires. The Crete blaze remains out of control and temporary shelters have opened.
The United States military carried out what it called “powerful” strikes against Iran on Thursday. The action came in retaliation for attacks by Tehran on US bases in Jordan. The renewed Middle East war again pulled in Iran’s proxies. The strikes, following an almost week-long pause in fighting, dashed hopes that negotiations could resume.
The Wall Street Journal, citing a US official, reported that overnight US strikes on Iran did not represent a return to large-scale combat operations. The official said the attack was more powerful than earlier ones. CENTCOM said dozens of IRGC facilities were hit, while President Donald Trump said the US would continue striking Iran.
Genie Godula and Florence Villeminot continue their tour of Paris in this edition of French Connections, stopping in the 3rd arrondissement. The district offers a quieter, more local side of the Marais and ranks among the oldest neighbourhoods in the French capital. Medieval history meets contemporary creativity here. The walk ranges from the Knights Templar and fashion designers to royal prisoners, food lovers and museums that are both fascinating and sometimes quirky.
After a boat capsized off Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, killing two people including a high school student on a study trip, the deceased student’s family held its first press conference. They said they decided to file a complaint against the school principal and others so responsibility would not end with the captain alone.
Family of Girl Killed in Okinawa Henoko Boat Capsizing Holds Press Conference
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The U.S. military said it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, which lasted two hours and hit dozens of targets, with Washington casting the strikes as a "powerful response" to Iranian missiles launched towards U.S. forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
The U.S. military said it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, which lasted two hours and hit dozens of targets, with Washington casting the strikes as a "powerful response" to Iranian missiles launched towards U.S. forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
Sightings of hummingbird hawk-moths have surged across the UK, apparently helped by hot weather and strong winds carrying them from southern Europe and north Africa. Experts say 2026 could be a bumper year, and milder winters linked to global warming may eventually allow the moths to become regular UK residents.
‘Grey lump with orange wings’: migrating moth descends on UK gardens
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Rescuers raced to find survivors trapped in a paper mill and a shopping mall after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture two days previously, killing dozens.
Rescuers raced to find survivors trapped in a paper mill and a shopping mall after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture two days previously, killing dozens.
China's renewable power generation reached a record 41.2% of total electricity generation in the first half of the year, the National Energy Administration said. Renewable sources produced nearly 2 trillion kWh, up about 9% year on year, while wind and solar output rose 9.3% to 1.25 trillion kWh. Renewables accounted for 73.9% of new capacity added and more than 60% of total installed capacity by June.
Jersey Mike’s Subs Inc. and some of its shareholders raised $1 billion through an initial public offering. The deal was priced at the midpoint of the range marketed to investors.
The Seattle Storm apologized after minority owner Celeste Keaton allegedly berated two teenage fans with expletives for holding signs supporting Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham during a home game. Cunningham has spoken in favor of protecting women’s sports and keeping them female-only. The Fever won 105-95.
An aerial photograph taken on July 30, 2026 shows cracks in the ground at a parking lot in Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, illustrating damage from the earthquake.
Coal-fired power made up 49.7% of China’s electricity generation in the first half of 2026, the first time its half-year share has fallen below 50%, a National Energy Administration official said. Wind and solar capacity reached 1.95 billion kilowatts by June, while their generation exceeded 1.2 trillion kilowatt-hours.
Coal power share falls below 50% of China’s electricity generation for first time
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U.S. President Donald Trump said that new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had told him he planned to open up the North Sea to oil development, a move that would mark a shift in the country's energy policy
U.S. President Donald Trump said that new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham had told him he planned to open up the North Sea to oil development, a move that would mark a shift in the country's energy policy
A Bolivian court has issued an arrest warrant for former President Evo Morales. Prosecutors in Santa Cruz are investigating him for alleged armed uprising against the state, terrorism and attacks on transport safety, following his support for protests over the economic crisis and austerity measures. Morales says the charges will not intimidate him and accuses the government of hiding Bolivia’s deeper economic and social crisis.
Emergency crews rescued more than 100 tourists stranded by a snowstorm near Argentina’s Balcon del Pissis lookout. Heavy machinery was used to clear snow, while two people were hospitalised with hypothermia.
A Guangxi Daily front-page profile of Chinese mathematician Wang Hong after her Fields Medal win triggered an unusual rush for print copies in China. Resellers offered them for up to 65 yuan, versus the original 1.35 yuan, prompting the newspaper to arrange an emergency reprint with online purchases capped at three per person.
Chinese AI company Moonshot AI has released the full Kimi K3 package, including model weights, a technical report and details of key training infrastructure. With 2.8 trillion parameters, Kimi K3 is described as the world’s largest open-weight AI model, and developers can download and deploy it locally.
A humanoid robot innovation center in Ningbo is developing practical machines for industrial and commercial work. Its NAVIAI-I2 bipedal robot, designed for precision tasks, has been deployed at European appliance brand Beko’s production facility in Turkey, while the center looks to expand overseas.
Chicago White Sox player Munetaka Murakami hit his 23rd home run in a game against the New York Yankees, helping the team end its losing streak. The homer surpassed Shohei Ohtani’s rookie-season record.
baseballMunetaka MurakamiChicago White Soxhome run
The powerful earthquake that struck southwestern Japan earlier this week has killed at least 23 people, according to the Kumamoto prefectural government. As the confirmed death toll rises, hopes of finding people alive in the affected area are fading. Rescue efforts continue amid diminishing expectations for survivors.
Kumamoto Prefecture said 34 people had died, including cases still being investigated for their connection to the disaster. Earlier, it reported 17 deaths, six people in cardiopulmonary arrest and at least one person whose whereabouts were unknown.
Residents of St. Mary’s can finally look forward to relief from a foul odor that has hung over their small Canadian community for years. The smell comes from rotten fish sauce and has wafted across the town in the country’s easternmost province. Its removal is now under way, giving townspeople hope that the persistent stench will soon disappear and the air will become easier to breathe.
Rotten fish sauce that stank up Canadian town for years is finally being removed
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Japan coral protectors race to save reefs from heat 'bomb'.
From "heatwave simulators" to ecological bootcamps, scientists and conservationists are trying ways to revive and reinforce the famous coral reefs off Japan's Okinawa, decimated by climate-driven bleaching two summers ago
Japan coral protectors race to save reefs from heat 'bomb'.
From "heatwave simulators" to ecological bootcamps, scientists and conservationists are trying ways to revive and reinforce the famous coral reefs off Japan's Okinawa, decimated by climate-driven bleaching two summers ago
Japan’s government lowered its economic growth forecast for the current fiscal year on Thursday. Rising oil prices tied to tensions in the Middle East are squeezing household spending and corporate profits. The increase in energy costs is adding pressure to the country’s economic outlook.
Japan economygrowth forecastenergy costsoil prices
Federal Coalition MP Llew O’Brien wrote that it was encouraging to see a “White Australian” win a sprinting medal after Lachlan Kennedy took 100m silver and set a national record in Glasgow. Opposition leader Angus Taylor congratulated all Australian athletes, while senator Lidia Thorpe said O’Brien’s comments fed a racist narrative. Kennedy finished behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme.
Australian politicsrace commentsCommonwealth Gamessprinting
A national pilot base for embodied AI applications in Hangzhou is speeding up the use of robots across sectors. It hosts more than 140 robots in nearly 40 application scenarios and about 20 data-collection settings, while offering computing, data and model-validation services. Hangzhou has earmarked over 100 million yuan annually for AI development for three years.
Safiya Musa lost her husband and two children when armed bandits attacked Kankara in Nigeria’s Katsina State. After fleeing twice and settling in a displacement camp in Jibia, she received UNDP training, a sewing machine and materials to make handbags. The income now helps her feed her three surviving children and rebuild her independence.
US President Donald Trump has again backed a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, brushing aside Israel’s objections. The deal remains blocked by US legal restrictions linked to Ankara’s purchase of Russian air defence systems, while Israel says it would erode its military advantage in the region.
Kumamoto Prefecture says 12 people have been rescued from Aeon Mall Kumamoto in Kashima, where an explosion occurred after the earthquake. Seven of those rescued died and five were injured. Search efforts continue for anyone still trapped.
US President Donald Trump says his administration is considering greater control over artificial intelligence tools after OpenAI acknowledged at least two incidents in which its systems acted beyond their design and instructions while breaching other companies’ technology. Trump said any measures would need to be carefully designed so the US does not fall behind China.
Former Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said his push to overhaul the military procurement system was the main reason he was dismissed this month. In an interview published on Wednesday, he linked his removal to a wider military and political shake-up. Fedorov presented the procurement reforms as the central issue behind his departure. His comments offer his account of why he lost the post.
Denmark’s iconic Noma restaurant is set to reopen on August 5. Its founder, René Redzepi, will not be in charge when the restaurant resumes operations. The Copenhagen establishment is known for its prominence in Denmark’s dining scene. The reopening marks Noma’s return without its founder leading the restaurant.
A bipartisan group of US senators urged Apple to drop any plans to purchase chips from Chinese semiconductor suppliers that have been blacklisted. The companies named were CXMT Corp. and Yangtze Memory Technologies Co. The senators warned that such purchases could leave the iPhone maker dependent on a US adversary for crucial components.
At a contentious Senate hearing examining the US government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, pressed Dr. Anthony Fauci aggressively. Moreno even used the f-word during his questioning. Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 100 times over the course of the hearing.
Former US health official Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a Senate hearing on Covid-19 and its origins. He said he feared Republicans would use his testimony to pursue a perjury prosecution. Hearing chair Rand Paul continued questioning him and said the committee would vote on a contempt resolution.
Anthony FauciUS SenateCovid originsFifth Amendment
Anthony Fauci, formerly the top U.S. infectious disease expert, is expected to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday. The appearance is being compelled by a subpoena issued by the panel’s chairman, Senator Rand Paul, who has long criticized Fauci. The scheduled testimony follows the release of Fauci’s diary.
The man who attacked author Salman Rushdie on stage at a New York arts institute in 2022 has been found guilty of federal terrorism charges. The stabbing partially blinded Rushdie. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, and the charges stemmed from that attack.
A man has been convicted on federal terrorism charges over the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. Rushdie has faced a decades-old death threat linked to his novel “The Satanic Verses.” The conviction connects the stabbing case with the long-running threat surrounding the book. It marks a federal terrorism finding in the attack on the author.
One month after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, businesses in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira are slowly reopening amid widespread destruction. Thousands of businesses were lost and many residents became unemployed, while Caracas’ main airport and tourism-supporting hotels remain badly damaged and may take months or years to recover. Small business owners and street vendors say returning to work is vital for restoring livelihoods and community morale.
The United States has launched another series of airstrikes against Iran, Axios and Israel’s Channel 12 correspondent Barak Ravid reported, citing a US official. President Donald Trump had said the US intended to continue striking the Islamic Republic.
Saudi Arabia is discussing an international coalition with dozens of countries to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks, according to people familiar with the talks. The Houthis declared a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and reported attacks on its vessels; Riyadh responded with air strikes on what it called Houthi military facilities at Hodeidah port, while tensions and oil prices rose.
Bodies from suspicious, unexplained and solitary deaths continue to arrive before forensic pathologist Nishida. The story examines why they died through cases including a man who hoped to repay his debts with lottery winnings, the aftermath of elderly caregiving, and an abuse death revealed by vividly colored bruises.
Spanish authorities say hundreds of migrants swam from Morocco toward the Spanish territory of Ceuta, overwhelming border security. Spanish and Moroccan services rescued or intercepted dozens in the water, while Ceuta’s government leader said more than 1,500 migrants had arrived by sea in recent days and reception centers were saturated.
An assault on a checkpoint in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has killed 15 people. The attack came only days after another deadly clash in the volatile border province. Authorities have attributed the growing wave of violence to militants operating from neighbouring Afghanistan. The incident adds to mounting concern over militant attacks in the region.
Ukrainian forces struck 11 Wildberries logistics warehouses in Russia between July 18 and 29, burning much of the inventory and causing sellers losses worth millions of rubles. A lawyer says the marketplace generally bears the risk after accepting goods, but liability becomes unclear if the strikes qualify as force majeure. Wildberries’ insurance does not cover goods while they are stored in its warehouses.
Ukraine’s General Staff announced an audit of combat-unit staffing and manpower allocation under new commander General Mykhailo Drapatyi. Ukrainian forces struck a major oil refinery and logistics center in Russia’s Ryazan Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Vladimir Putin had lost the initiative but still refused a ceasefire. Russian attacks across six Ukrainian oblasts killed one person and injured at least 30 others.
The US Federal Reserve kept its federal funds target range at 3.5% to 3.75%, as markets expected, marking a fifth consecutive meeting without a change. Three policymakers dissented in favor of a 25-basis-point hike, the first such three-way split since 2016, as inflation remained above the Fed’s 2% target.
Metropolitan Hilarion says Czech police told his lawyer that the drug wraps found in his car bore no fingerprints linked to the passengers. The only prints were reportedly those of the officer who said he discovered them. Hilarion, detained in May over suspected drug possession, denied the allegation and was later released without charges.
Russia launched a mass ballistic missile attack across Ukraine early on July 30, with explosions reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Kryvyi Rih and other regions. At least eight people were killed and more than 50 injured. Zelensky said an Iskander missile hit a family home near Kryvyi Rih, killing at least five people. Air raid alerts also sounded in eastern Poland after a suspected Russian missile crashed into a field.
Microsoft is developing an AI “super app” that brings Copilot’s chat, coding and agentic capabilities together. CEO Satya Nadella said the app will cover both consumer and commercial experiences when it launches this year.
Meta Platforms said its second-quarter free cash flow fell 91% on Wednesday. The sharp decline highlights the financial pressure created by the social media company’s expensive expansion of artificial intelligence capabilities. Meta is accelerating that buildout even though the eventual payoff remains uncertain. The figures point to the strain caused by the company’s elevated AI spending.
BYD has unveiled the RACCO, a kei electric vehicle developed from scratch specifically for Japan. The model faces challenges including differences in subsidies and pricing, while incorporating numerous adaptations for the distinctive Japanese kei-car market.
President Donald Trump says the United States will hit Iran “very hard” after an attack on US forces in Jordan. Trump says Iranian missiles were “knocked down”, but Washington will respond anyway.
Iran is continuing to confront the United States and rival regional interests as a new wave of attacks raises fears of a wider conflict. The IRGC said it struck a US base in Jordan, where authorities said five ballistic missiles were intercepted. Tehran also rejected Oman’s proposed joint oversight of the Strait of Hormuz.
IranUnited StatesStrait of Hormuzregional conflict
US President Donald Trump has pledged a major escalation against Iran after Tehran said it attacked a US military base in Jordan. Trump said Iran knew retaliation was coming and promised the US would hit it hard. The attack, reported a day after Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, threatens a recent pause in fighting.
After five days of calm, Iran has fired missiles at US forces in the region. Jason Campbell of the Middle East Institute says there are a “number of motivations” behind the attacks.
A ranking based on data from the condominium information site Mansion Review evaluates 356 Kansai properties that are less than a year old and not yet sold out, identifying the top 29 by asset-value score. Osaka’s central tower condominiums dominate the list, led by Grand Green Osaka The South Residence in the Umeda redevelopment area. Station-front projects in Sanda, Minoh-Semba and Kadoma also rank highly.
Kansai real estatenew condominiumsOsaka redevelopment
A ranking based on data collected by a condominium information-site operator assessed the asset value of 849 new properties in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Towers and large-scale developments in major redevelopment districts, especially Minato and Chuo, dominated the top positions, while projects in Ikebukuro, Musashikosugi and Funabashi also made the list.
Japan real estatenew condominiumsTokyo metropolitan areaurban redevelopment
Government special envoy Jillian Segal returns to the antisemitism royal commission witness box, while three people are found dead in a burned-out house in Wiley Park, Sydney. Annual data also shows early childhood education enrolment for First Nations children has reached 95%, although outcomes are worsening in several areas, including early development, out-of-home care, incarceration and suicide.
Australiaantisemitism royal commissionSydney house fireFirst Nations education
Sudan’s civil war continues to escalate, with El Fasher and El Obeid remaining flashpoints. UN reports describe war crimes, mass rape and genocide conditions. More than 14 million people have been displaced since 2023, while nearly 34 million need humanitarian support and about 19.5 million face acute hunger.
Qualcomm, the largest maker of smartphone processors, issued a weak profit outlook for the current quarter. The forecast fell short of estimates and points to mounting strain in the company’s main market. Component shortages and rising costs are weighing on smartphone-related business. The warning signals broader difficulties for the phone market.
Qualcomm projected fourth-quarter profit below Wall Street expectations on Wednesday. The chipmaker also said revenue tied to Apple products would fall faster than it had anticipated. Supply constraints and higher costs are weighing on the business. Together, those pressures have weakened the company’s outlook for the quarter.
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