Turkey’s Transport Ministry said the 22 crew members aboard the Ro-Ro vessel Nadezhda, including 13 Turkish nationals, were safely evacuated to Novorossiysk by Russian naval forces after a reported Ukrainian drone attack near the port. The ship remained on fire, with three crew members possibly in critical condition.
Iran abandoned plans to attack three facilities in Ukraine after Kyiv apologized for a strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, Iranian Supreme Leader adviser Mohsen Rezaee said, according to Press TV. He said Ukraine must be held accountable. Iran’s Foreign Ministry had earlier alleged the strike was deliberate despite Kyiv’s denials.
Streaming services are offering a range of new entertainment this week. “Ted Lasso” returns for a fourth season on Apple TV. Billie Eilish’s concert film also arrives on Paramount+, with James Cameron sharing co-directing duties. Other featured options include Stray Kids, “You Me & Tuscany” and “The Shards,” giving viewers several new choices across television, music and film.
Clergy members and activists were arrested on Capitol Hill while protesting the Iran war and concerns over voting rights. The group sought a meeting with Senate Majority Leader John Thune as part of its “100 Days of Action” ahead of the November elections.
The once-glamorous Orient Express ran between Sofia and Istanbul. Today, the Istanbul–Sofia Express quietly operates as an overnight train, preserving only a faint remnant of that legacy across borders and generations.
President Trump is considering removing Jeanine Pirro as US attorney for the District of Columbia, according to sources. The reported consideration is linked to a filing involving the Reflecting Pool. No further details about the filing or any possible decision were provided.
The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that six to seven Ukrainian drones attacked the Cameroonian-flagged vessel Nadezhda about 30 miles from Novorossiysk, injuring four sailors, including three Turks, and starting a fire. The ship was carrying fresh produce from Samsun to Novorossiysk.
Researchers are seeing more cases of age-related cancers among people aged 20 to 39. A Washington University School of Medicine study of more than 150,000 UK Biobank participants found that younger generations show a wider gap between biological and chronological age, which may be linked to higher early-onset cancer risk. The study shows correlation, not causation.
CancerEarly-onset cancerBiological ageMedical research
A drone crashed onto a crowded beach near Arkhipo-Osipovka on Russia’s Black Sea coast, killing seven people, including three children, and injuring 40, regional officials said. Krasnodar governor Veniamin Kondratyev accused Ukraine of deliberately striking civilians. Ukraine has not commented, and both sides deny deliberately targeting civilians.
Krasnodar Krai’s governor said a Ukrainian drone attack on Arkhipo-Osipovka near Gelendzhik killed six people, including three children, and injured about 40. Seventeen were hospitalized, four seriously. Videos show the drone coming down on a crowded beach, while residents and tourists said no warning sirens sounded and the local alert system may have failed.
Ukrainian drone attackRussian Black Seacivilian casualties
Prolonged hot, dry weather has driven the Danube to record-low levels, leaving nuclear plants in Romania and Hungary short of cooling water. Hungary’s Paks plant was running at about 10% capacity, while Romania’s military detonated exposed rock to improve water flow to the Cernavoda plant. Serbia’s hydropower output was also severely affected, putting pressure on power supplies and industry.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen says the EU must strengthen borders after tens of thousands of migrants reached Ceuta before most returned to Morocco. She urged action in five areas: cooperation with non-EU countries, external border controls, early warnings, dismantling smuggling networks and increasing returns.
As Donald Trump appears to retreat from allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense missiles, Ukrainian officials say Kyiv has sought licenses for nearly two years. They say the previous U.S. administration rejected the proposal without explanation, and that approval could have enabled Ukraine to produce interceptors needed against Russia’s escalating ballistic missile attacks.
The first-generation Kindle Scribe has a 10.2-inch, glare-free 300ppi E Ink display for ebooks, textbooks, and handwritten notes. Woot is offering the 16GB refurbished model with a Premium Pen for $149.99 through August 8 when using code KINDLE25, backed by a 90-day warranty.
A brutal heatwave across Europe has already pushed temperatures to record levels. The extreme conditions have also fueled deadly wildfires and forced mass evacuations. Now, the crisis may be widening, with the continent facing the prospect of an energy shortage. The warning points to a new consequence of the ongoing heatwave beyond immediate dangers from fire and extreme temperatures.
Europe’s brutal heatwave brings record temperatures, deadly wildfires and a looming energy crisis
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Could Russia be preparing to test NATO's defenses through a military provocation or hybrid attack? Several Western intelligence agencies have recently warned of this scenario.
Could Russia be preparing to test NATO's defenses through a military provocation or hybrid attack? Several Western intelligence agencies have recently warned of this scenario.
US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said a long-term agreement with Ukraine on jointly producing Patriot systems will not be completed by the coming winter. He said Washington is prioritizing the rapid delivery of air defenses Ukraine needs while continuing work on a production deal.
An estimated 50,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week, while dozens died trying to reach it. The incident has triggered a political crisis in Spain and criticism from EU countries, highlighting divisions across Europe.
The European Commission has offered Morocco more support at the borders of Ceuta and Melilla and urged united EU action on border security. Interior ministers will hold an emergency video meeting Tuesday after tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta last week, causing tensions among member states.
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump lashed out Monday after Iran denied it was in negotiations with the United States, declaring in an angry social media post that a US military blockade will continue until there is a "Deal, or Total surrender."
🇺🇸 President Donald Trump lashed out Monday after Iran denied it was in negotiations with the United States, declaring in an angry social media post that a US military blockade will continue until there is a "Deal, or Total surrender."
AFP News Agency
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England and Wales both experienced the "driest July on record," the UK Met Office weather agency said, based on provisional figures.
📸 Justin Tallis
England and Wales both experienced the "driest July on record," the UK Met Office weather agency said, based on provisional figures.
📸 Justin Tallis
AFP News Agency
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🇵🇸 Rolling through the rubble in Gaza
Palestinian roller skaters lace up and practise their moves amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, where they say the sport offers release from displacement and daily hardship.
🇵🇸 Rolling through the rubble in Gaza
Palestinian roller skaters lace up and practise their moves amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings in Khan Yunis, where they say the sport offers release from displacement and daily hardship.
AFP News Agency
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🇳🇵 Outpouring of grief for late climber Nirmal Purja
Teachers, students and friends at climber Nirmal Purja’s former school have been paying tribute to the star, after he died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.
🇳🇵 Outpouring of grief for late climber Nirmal Purja
Teachers, students and friends at climber Nirmal Purja’s former school have been paying tribute to the star, after he died in an avalanche on Pakistan’s Broad Peak.
Holdout Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are backing an agreement with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. The deal would formally rescind an order that created an “anti-weaponization fund.” That fund could have directed $1.8 billion to allies of President Donald Trump. The agreement is likely to clear a path for Blanche’s confirmation as the nation’s top law enforcement officer.
US politicsTodd BlancheSenate confirmationJustice Department
A deal by New South Wales’ Labor government will deliver one-off toll cuts on a handful of Sydney motorways, but WestConnex and NorthConnex are excluded and WestConnex charges will continue rising by at least 4% annually. The state will spend more than $993m on widening the M2-M7 and settling the agreement, while toll costs paid by taxpayers exceed $1bn. Former competition regulator Allan Fels accused Transurban of blocking broader reform and putting profits ahead of the public interest.
Indonesian rescuers are searching for passengers who may still be missing after a ferry fire off Java on Sunday. The blaze killed at least five people. Officials have not established how many passengers, if any, remain unaccounted for. Search efforts are continuing in the area.
As the yen weakened sharply, Japan and the United States may have coordinated a yen-buying intervention for the first time in 28 years. Japan is believed to have committed roughly ¥5.33 trillion.
Russia’s Transport Ministry has created a headquarters to develop alternative logistics routes and redirect cargo to other transport modes after what it called enemy drone attacks on vessels in the Sea of Azov. It said the body would coordinate transport, protect economic interests and work with the Defense Ministry to improve navigation safety.
Sea of Azovdrone attackslogisticsRussian Transport Ministry
Russian Transport Ministry develops alternative logistics routes after Sea of Azov vessel attacks
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🇺🇸 Satirical gold trophy mocking Trump appears in New York
Laughing and taking pictures, New Yorkers stop by a mysterious 10-foot-tall golden trophy awarded to Donald Trump for his "enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war", designed by the anonymous art collective Secret Handshake.
🇺🇸 Satirical gold trophy mocking Trump appears in New York
Laughing and taking pictures, New Yorkers stop by a mysterious 10-foot-tall golden trophy awarded to Donald Trump for his "enthusiastic involvement in the Iran war", designed by the anonymous art collective Secret Handshake.
Helicopters dump water to fight a wildfire in Kryo Pigadi, about fifty kilometres west of Athens, while Greek firefighters continue battling multiple blazes.
Helicopters dump water to fight a wildfire in Kryo Pigadi, about fifty kilometres west of Athens, while Greek firefighters continue battling multiple blazes.
AFP News Agency
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🇦🇹 Vienna beer lovers attempt world record for biggest simultaneous pour
More than 600 beer enthusiasts gather at Vienna's Ottakringer Brewery in a bid to break the world record for the largest number of people pouring a beer at the same time.
🇦🇹 Vienna beer lovers attempt world record for biggest simultaneous pour
More than 600 beer enthusiasts gather at Vienna's Ottakringer Brewery in a bid to break the world record for the largest number of people pouring a beer at the same time.
India’s imports of Russian crude rose to 2.8 million barrels per day in July, the highest level since 2022, accounting for 55.5% of its oil purchases, The Times of India reported. Kpler put India’s total crude imports at just over 5 million bpd. Saudi and Iraqi supplies increased, while UAE shipments declined.
The Hilltop Youth, a radical religious Zionist movement largely made up of young Israeli settlers, seeks to seize Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. Al Jazeera says the group has expanded attacks including vandalism, arson and physical and sexual assaults, while receiving growing government support through funding, infrastructure, legal measures and military protection.
Hilltop Youthoccupied West Banksettler violenceIsrael
Hilltop Youth: A group intent on taking over the West Bank by violence
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🇲🇽 Mexico steps up effort to clear up sargassum on Riviera Maya
Mexico is deploying specialised navy ships to fight a massive influx of sargassum on the country's Caribbean beaches, as the smelly seaweed threatens the crucial tourism sector.
🇲🇽 Mexico steps up effort to clear up sargassum on Riviera Maya
Mexico is deploying specialised navy ships to fight a massive influx of sargassum on the country's Caribbean beaches, as the smelly seaweed threatens the crucial tourism sector.
AFP News Agency
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🇵🇸 Gazans ‘not optimistic’ about Hamas disarmament deal
In central Gaza's Deir el-Balah, displaced Palestinians question whether a deal announced by US President Donald Trump for Hamas to hand over its weapons and Israeli forces to withdraw will be implemented
🇵🇸 Gazans ‘not optimistic’ about Hamas disarmament deal
In central Gaza's Deir el-Balah, displaced Palestinians question whether a deal announced by US President Donald Trump for Hamas to hand over its weapons and Israeli forces to withdraw will be implemented
Britain’s hard-right Reform UK party has unveiled a plan to deploy the Royal Navy against small migrant boats crossing the Channel. It described the proposed effort to return the boats to France as the largest military operation in the waterway since World War II. Experts and rival political parties quickly dismissed the proposal. The announcement comes while Reform UK and its leader, Nigel Farage, face a series of scandals.
Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party said on Monday that it would seek to stop asylum seekers if it won an election. The party described its proposed response as the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two. The announcement comes as Reform UK confronts declining popularity. It is also facing questions about how its activities are funded.
The article says EY-Parthenon estimates that the United States, the Eurozone and the United Kingdom would need an additional $23.6 trillion over 25 years to largely eliminate dependence on Chinese supply chains in key industries by 2050. It argues that relocation is costly and that Chinese companies are deeply embedded in high-end manufacturing, citing Chinese auto-parts suppliers following European automakers into Morocco.
China supply chainsdecouplingnearshoringMorocco auto industry
Big Walk, the next game from Untitled Goose Game developer House House, is a co-op multiplayer adventure on a large island. Players rely on proximity voice or text chat to navigate, discover tools and landmarks, and solve puzzles together. Its open-ended exploration can be rewarding, though long hikes and the need for another player may become tedious.
Former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained since the 2021 military coup, met an International Committee of the Red Cross representative in Naypyidaw. The ICRC said she was able to speak privately with him. Her son called the visit a positive first step but urged further humanitarian access and her unconditional release.
Discussion in the United States of buying yen by selling euros has unsettled currency markets. Analysts say the euro-yen route was likely selected to avoid signaling weakness in the dollar. The proposed approach would therefore represent an unusual way to support the yen without directly highlighting the dollar’s position.
US shakes up currency markets with talk of unusual yen-buying via euro sales
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🇰🇷 AI cameras spot suicide attempts in South Korea's capital
South Korea has one of the world's highest suicide rates and AI-powered cameras on bridges over Seoul's Han River now raise the alarm that someone may be about to jump.
🇰🇷 AI cameras spot suicide attempts in South Korea's capital
South Korea has one of the world's highest suicide rates and AI-powered cameras on bridges over Seoul's Han River now raise the alarm that someone may be about to jump.
American Bitcoin, backed by two of U.S. President Donald Trump's sons, moved into a loss in the second quarter. The company said the result was hurt by a selloff in cryptocurrency. The development highlights the impact of weaker digital-asset prices on its quarterly performance.
American BitcoinTrump familycryptocurrencyquarterly results
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency says its Group 13 special unit used newly developed Magura naval platforms carrying FPV drones to strike a Podlet radar command vehicle and a Parol-4 identification interrogator in occupied Crimea in late July. The agency called it the platforms’ first use against Russian ground targets there. Ukraine also reported strikes on Russian logistics sites, while Russia claimed 131 drones were intercepted.
U.S. shale producers are poised to post their strongest quarterly profits since 2022, as the Iran war drives crude prices sharply higher. Analysts expect companies to direct much of the resulting windfall back to shareholders. Rather than financing a major expansion of production, the extra revenue is likely to support investor returns. The outlook highlights how the oil rally could strengthen shale profitability without immediately boosting output.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization marks its 25th anniversary this year. Originally focused on building military trust among neighboring countries, it has grown into the world’s largest regional organization, with cooperation extending beyond security. CGTN spoke with SCO guests at a Beijing reception marking the PLA’s 99th founding anniversary.
Some pregnant women in eastern Congo are staying away from hospitals because they fear a rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak. As a result, more women are dying around childbirth. The outbreak is making fear of medical facilities an additional danger for pregnant patients. Their avoidance of hospitals is linked to worsening outcomes during the childbirth period.
SpaceX investors are preparing to question Elon Musk about the company’s increasingly close relationship with Tesla. Many are wondering whether the ties could eventually lead to a merger.
A CGTN survey found that 86.1% of global internet users see China’s summer economy as more than a seasonal boost to domestic consumption. Respondents highlighted visa facilitation, rising foreign tourism and strong overseas demand for cooling products, saying China’s market, supply chains and openness are supporting global consumption and industrial growth.
China economysummer consumptionglobal growthtourismsupply chains
CGTN poll: Over 80% say China’s summer economy is driving growth
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🇮🇩 Drought reveals once-submerged Indonesian village
For several years, the Indonesian village of Samong has been submerged beneath a reservoir that was created to supply Jakarta with water. However, water levels have dropped amid drought conditions revealing the village once again.
🇮🇩 Drought reveals once-submerged Indonesian village
For several years, the Indonesian village of Samong has been submerged beneath a reservoir that was created to supply Jakarta with water. However, water levels have dropped amid drought conditions revealing the village once again.
AFP News Agency
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🇺🇸 Wildfires raze neighbourhoods in US northwest city of Spokane
Firefighters are working to contain huge blazes in the northwestern US city of Spokane, with thousands of people ordered to evacuate their homes.
🇺🇸 Wildfires raze neighbourhoods in US northwest city of Spokane
Firefighters are working to contain huge blazes in the northwestern US city of Spokane, with thousands of people ordered to evacuate their homes.
The ICC says US international Akhilesh Reddy has been banned for eight years after its Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of three offences during the Abu Dhabi T10 League. He tried to influence matches, recruit another player into corrupt activity and delete investigation-related data and messages. The ban is backdated to November 21, 2025.
Gianni Infantino remains under pressure after shelving plans for a commercial subsidiary for the World Cup and other FIFA events. UEFA says it is rebuilding trust with FIFA, while European associations are expected to withdraw support. Infantino could face resignation proceedings if enough FIFA Council members vote against him, or an extraordinary congress is requested.
🇷🇺 Drones, blackouts, and beaches: summer in Russia-annexed Crimea
Ukraine has heavily targeted Crimea with strikes on fuel depots and electrical facilities, making blackouts and fuel shortages part of daily life and sending the local tourism economy into freefall.
🇷🇺 Drones, blackouts, and beaches: summer in Russia-annexed Crimea
Ukraine has heavily targeted Crimea with strikes on fuel depots and electrical facilities, making blackouts and fuel shortages part of daily life and sending the local tourism economy into freefall.
The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, has moved into its second week of testimony. The proceedings concern the deaths of the children in a coastal Massachusetts town in 2023. Testimony about the killings is continuing as the trial advances.
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service says Kyiv and Brussels need Ukrainian territory to test advanced weapons and develop new warfare concepts. It also claims European leaders privately rule out Ukraine joining the EU and plan to offer Kyiv participation in European security policy without voting rights, to prevent disappointment and an anti-European shift.
Wildberries has barred employees from bringing smartphones into its warehouses since August 3, according to Russian Telegram channels citing an internal notice. Staff may carry only camera-free button phones. The notice says filming during air raid alerts could expose air-defense positions and lead to administrative or criminal liability.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Western officials, media outlets and so-called think tanks are conducting a hybrid campaign against relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. He said Moscow and Astana are continuing to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance, based on mutual benefit and constructive interdependence.
Firefighting crews in Greece are battling a wildfire northwest of Athens for a fourth consecutive day. On Sunday, a helicopter involved in the response crashed after making contact with another helicopter in mid-air. Two people aboard the firefighting helicopter died in the crash.
A Paris court on Monday turned down an appeal by Russian television commentator Xenia Fedorova. The case concerned an order requiring her to leave France. Authorities had accused Fedorova of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. The court’s decision leaves that order in place.
Nauru has officially changed its name to the Republic of Naoero, adopting the spelling and pronunciation used in its national language. Its international code will shift from NRU to NRO, and its people will be called dei-Naoero rather than Nauruan. The government said the move honours the country’s heritage, language and identity.
🇨🇫 CAR families fleeing violence seek refuge in already-overrun camps
Dozens of displaced families are living in limbo in precarious shelters in Birao in northeast Central African Republic, after fleeing the fighting which broke out nearly a month ago in Am-Dafock, near the Sudanese border.
🇨🇫 CAR families fleeing violence seek refuge in already-overrun camps
Dozens of displaced families are living in limbo in precarious shelters in Birao in northeast Central African Republic, after fleeing the fighting which broke out nearly a month ago in Am-Dafock, near the Sudanese border.
AFP News Agency
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🇧🇬 Mammoth bones found on parched bed of Danube
Sinking water levels in the Danube river have unveiled the well-preserved bones of a mammoth in Bulgaria and could lead to further discoveries, according to a local museum director.
🇧🇬 Mammoth bones found on parched bed of Danube
Sinking water levels in the Danube river have unveiled the well-preserved bones of a mammoth in Bulgaria and could lead to further discoveries, according to a local museum director.
New Zealand ultrarunner Sophie Woods completed one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges. She ran 1,240 miles across eight countries, surpassing both the men’s and women’s time records for the feat.
Iran said negotiations aimed at getting more ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz are making progress. The statement came after President Donald Trump called off what he described as a major attack on the Islamic Republic. The comments point to continuing diplomatic efforts focused on shipping through the strategic waterway.
Iran Says Hormuz Talks Underway After Trump Calls Off Strikes
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🇨🇳 Cosplayers bring fantasy world to life at massive Chinese gaming convention
As well as trying out new games at the ChinaJoy gaming expo in Shanghai, visitors also pose and take photos with the hundreds of cosplay artists.
🇨🇳 Cosplayers bring fantasy world to life at massive Chinese gaming convention
As well as trying out new games at the ChinaJoy gaming expo in Shanghai, visitors also pose and take photos with the hundreds of cosplay artists.
AFP News Agency
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At least five people were killed and dozens were still missing after a ferry, Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island, the country's search and rescue agency said in a statement. Survivors and bodies recovered from the ferry arrived at Surabaya port.
At least five people were killed and dozens were still missing after a ferry, Mutiara Sentosa 2, caught fire off Indonesia's Madura island, the country's search and rescue agency said in a statement. Survivors and bodies recovered from the ferry arrived at Surabaya port.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited earthquake-hit areas of Kumamoto Prefecture on the 3rd and spoke with evacuees at a shelter. She said the government would promote “secondary evacuation” using hotels and inns. The government also plans to designate the quake a severe disaster and approved use of more than 20 billion yen in reserve funds.
Russia’s Federal Security Service says it stopped a planned terrorist attack near the prosecutor’s office in Pyatigorsk and detained a Central Asian-born suspect. The suspect allegedly acted under instructions from an operative of an internationally banned terrorist organization based in Syria and prepared to remotely detonate an improvised explosive device.
China’s largest chipmaker by market value, CXMT, is considering a second memory-chip plant in Beijing, according to two people familiar with the matter. The company is also in financing discussions with a technology manufacturing hub backed by the local government. The talks concern funding for the proposed facility. No final decision on the project is indicated.
Jiada International Logistics says books bound for Hong Kong must be submitted in advance by bookstores or publishers and cleared as lawful before shipment. Independent booksellers and publishers say national-security enforcement and customs inspections are disrupting supplies from Taiwan, while fear of legal risks is encouraging self-censorship and narrowing book choices.
Hong Kong national security lawbook censorshipcross-border logisticspress freedom
The South African rand strengthened in early trading on Monday. Investors were awaiting the release of the country’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index. July vehicle sales figures were also due to be published. The currency gained ahead of those domestic economic indicators.
Opponents of Fifa president Gianni Infantino are threatening to refuse cooperation with the organisation unless he resigns, according to senior Uefa sources. The pressure follows Uefa’s threat of legal action over plans to sell minority stakes in a new Fifa commercial subsidiary, while Wales and other associations have withdrawn support for his re-election bid.
The judge who allowed some college athletes to compete for an additional year has issued a follow-up order clarifying the ruling’s reach. The clarification excludes football players who signed professional contracts this summer and later reconsidered. That restriction could reduce the practical effect of the new “5 for 5” eligibility rule.
A Russian counter-drone battalion says it used a Lis interceptor drone to destroy a Portuguese-made Tekever AR3 reconnaissance UAV in the Bryansk border region. The aircraft remained largely intact and was sent to a research institute for examination of its design, specifications and engineering solutions.
A record heatwave is spreading across the Korean peninsula, with temperatures surging in both South Korea and North Korea. Authorities are broadening emergency measures as the extreme heat persists. Residents are seeking relief at cooling shelters, beaches and water parks. The response reflects the widening impact of the heat across the peninsula.
Seven employees at Xinjiang’s Sayram Lake Scenic Area were administratively detained for 10 to 15 days and fined 1,000 yuan each after a July 23 altercation with a tour bus driver. The driver suffered minor injuries. The operator’s chairman was removed, other officials were disciplined, and a self-drive fee was temporarily cut from 75 yuan to 30 yuan per person.
Experts at a Shanghai conference said China’s stable engraftment rate for cord blood transplants has surpassed 97%. The country’s seven approved cord blood banks hold more than 2.45 million samples and have supported over 50,000 clinical applications, with uses expanding to nearly 80 diseases.
Ukrainian forces reportedly struck a Wildberries logistics center in Vladimir Oblast and Belgorod State Technological University on Aug. 3, Russian media reported. The warehouse caught fire and two people were injured, according to the regional governor. Reports of both attacks could not be immediately verified, and Ukraine has not commented.
New Zealand’s parliament has passed a law giving English the same official status as te reo Māori and New Zealand sign language. Since English is already spoken by 95% of the country, linguists and legal experts dismissed the measure as unnecessary, while Green MP Tamatha Paul called it a “pathetic waste”.
New ZealandEnglish languagelanguage policyparliament
China’s total box office revenue for 2026 has exceeded 23.1 billion yuan, data showed Sunday night. Summer-season daily earnings have topped 100 million yuan for 23 straight days. Domestic films lead the annual and summer rankings, while cinemas adjust schedules and offer student discounts for holiday audiences.
The U.S. dollar fell sharply against the Japanese yen after President Donald Trump and Japan’s finance minister confirmed that both countries had intervened in financial markets. The acknowledgments linked the currency move to coordinated action by the United States and Japan. The yen strengthened markedly while the dollar came under pressure.
US dollarJapanese yenmarket interventionUS-Japan economy
Oil prices fell sharply on Monday as rising hopes for peace in the Middle East reduced market fears. Stocks moved unevenly during the session. The yen, meanwhile, jumped suddenly after the United States and Japan confirmed coordinated intervention to support the weakened currency. Investors were responding both to expectations surrounding a possible Iran deal and to the currency action by the two governments.
The yen rose sharply as traders monitored the possibility of market intervention. The move put intervention firmly in focus for currency-market participants.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday that he would not hesitate to repeat coordinated foreign-exchange intervention by the United States and Japan. He said such action had countered disorderly movements in the yen. Bessent also urged an expansion of the Federal Reserve backstop available to foreign central banks and monetary authorities. The comments point to continued concern over destabilizing currency swings.
Finance Minister Katayama said Japan and the United States carried out coordinated intervention on July 31, US Eastern Time, to curb the yen’s historic depreciation. Katayama indicated that Japan would not hesitate to conduct further coordinated intervention in the future.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States had intervened to support the Japanese yen. He described the move as a “signal of friendship” that would benefit both the US and the global economy. The Financial Times reported that Washington and Tokyo jointly backed the yen for the first time in nearly three decades.
President Donald Trump says the US intervention to support the Japanese yen was “a signal of friendship.” He made the comment after being asked why the United States had intervened on behalf of the yen. Trump’s explanation frames the currency-market action in terms of the relationship between the United States and Japan.
Young people from South Korea are looking to Japan for employment as they struggle to secure jobs domestically. Japanese entrepreneur Moe Kasugai recalled noticing this problem while studying at Seoul’s Yonsei University. Even some of the prestigious university’s brightest graduates had difficulty finding work, highlighting the pressure facing highly educated young job seekers in South Korea.
China’s economic growth is expected to stabilize further in the second half of the year as policymakers tackle structural challenges and strengthen domestic demand. A Political Bureau meeting called for faster movement from old to new growth engines, a more proactive fiscal policy and appropriately accommodative monetary policy. Experts said AI-led industries may support investment, while consumption, property and private investment still need time to recover.
China economygrowth driversdomestic demandmacroeconomic policy
Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have confirmed the identities of 236,066 Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine. The outlets say the actual toll is likely significantly higher because their verification relies on public sources including obituaries, relatives’ posts, regional reports, and local authorities. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the report.
A suicide bombing at a police station in Kabal, near Pakistan’s Afghan border, has killed at least 14 people. Crowds were protesting nearby when the blast occurred, while footage showed victims being rushed to a hospital.
Some scholars argue that Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” did more than inspire the new hit movie. They say it also helped shape the stories about Christ that are familiar to many people. The proposed connection between Jesus and Odysseus has fueled a debate that has received relatively little attention.
Supporters and critics gathered around and inside Target Center as Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham’s position on transgender participation in women’s sports drew attention. The crowd assembled while the Fever played the Lynx in Minnesota. The demonstrations centered on the debate over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. Both sides were present at the venue during the game.
Greek police arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the death of 38-year-old Scottish national Elisabeth-Jane Ross. Her body was found in a suitcase at an abandoned building in Athens last month. Police said the suspect confessed and faces charges including intentional homicide, robbery and firearms-related offenses.
Britain’s economy is likely to contract in 2027 if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz does not resume before the middle of next year, EY forecasters warned on Monday. Their assessment links the prolonged closure of the strategic waterway to a possible recession in the United Kingdom. The warning focuses on the economic consequences of shipping being unable to return through the strait.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says negotiations with Oman over navigation in the Strait of Hormuz have made progress and are nearing completion. Earlier reports said Iran had not authorized reopening the strait, rejecting claims that Tehran accepted a proposal to resume waterway operations.
More people in their 50s are worrying about whether their companies still need them. While the job market offers new opportunities, staying with the same employer also has advantages. The choice can significantly affect lifetime income, relationships, and physical and mental health.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed calls for U.S.-made Patriot interceptors after officials said a Russian missile and drone barrage on Kyiv killed at least 10 people and injured dozens. A former Ukrainian government official described “scandalous situations” as a widening probe found alleged deficiencies in civilian bomb shelters.
Brent crude futures for September delivery on London’s ICE exchange dropped below $82 a barrel for the first time since July 13. By 1:10 a.m. Moscow time on August 3, the contract had recovered to $82.89, still down 5.73%.
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