Death toll in Japan earthquake rises to 17 as aftershock and heat complicate rescue efforts

• Scholars Aslı Bâli and Samuel Moyn argue that the international community must stop mourning the decline of the American-led world order and begin constructing a new multipolar system. • A central proposal is for great and middle powers to commit to ending the practice of instigating or intensifying proxy wars to weaken geopolitical rivals.

• A fragile war pause remains in effect, though Donald Trump has threatened to destroy "Pickaxe Mountain" if a diplomatic deal is not reached. • Mediators report that the United States and Iran are close to resurrecting a previously failed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) deal.

• Iran considered retaliating against a Ukrainian seaport after a Ukrainian strike hit an Iranian cargo ship on Saturday. • Diplomatic efforts helped de-escalate the tension, including a Sunday conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha.

• U.S. special forces seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, ending decades of authoritarian rule. • The intervention follows a severe crisis characterized by an 80 percent collapse in GDP and the displacement of nearly eight million citizens.

• On July 30, 2026, Russian authorities charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov over the platform's alleged involvement in Ukrainian spy operations. • The charges center on claims that the messaging app was utilized to facilitate intelligence gathering and espionage activities against Russia.

• President Trump has threatened that Iran will "get a beating" as military tensions escalate in the Middle East. • The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have launched joint military strikes targeting Iranian proxy groups located within Iraq.

• Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim Aboudi requested on July 28 that NATO Training Mission-Iraq military advisors remain in the country to assist the Iraqi Security Forces with planning and development. • This request comes as US-led international coalition forces are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by the end of September following the conclusion of their mission to counter ISIS.

Industry wants mandate forcing manufacturers to sell increasing share of electric cars each year to be easedCarmakers are delaying final decisions to invest in UK factories until electric car sales rules are relaxed, according to the head of the British car industry’s lobby group.The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Mike Hawes, said those with existing UK operations were considering building new models, but had held back so far. Continue reading...

US former top health official, who was subpoenaed to appear at a Senate hearing into Covid-19, says Markson’s reporting about virus’s origin ‘does not make any sense’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDr Anthony Fauci, the US’s chief medical adviser at the start of the pandemic, has described a book by News Corp investigative journalist Sharri Markson backing the “lab leak” theory of Covid-19’s origins as a “bunch of nonsense” in his newly released diaries.This week, Fauci, 85, was subpoenaed by the Republican senator Rand Paul to appear at a Senate hearing into Covid-19 and his handling of the pandemic. Continue reading...

Trump vowed to hit Iran ‘very hard’ after it targeted a base in Jordan that hosts US troops, a day after joint US-Saudi strikes on militants in IraqMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe US military has launched strikes on Iranian targets in response to Tehran’s attack on American forces in Jordan on Wednesday, raising the risk of a return to all-out-war in the region.The new strikes were launched hours after president Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” after it targeted a base in Jordan that hosts US troops, and comes after a days-long pause in violence between the two sides. Continue reading...

Fires across the Ukrainian capital after ballistic missile attack, while Kyiv’s forces continue cross-border attacks with another Wildberries warehouse hitRussian strikes on Kyiv killed at least one person, authorities said on Thursday, after the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, issued a warning ahead of Moscow launching another massive attack.“Sadly, one death has been confirmed,” the Kyiv city military administration announced. Kyiv mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported fires in several districts of the city. Earlier, he posted: “The enemy is attacking the capital with ballistic weapons. The threat of further attack remains present. Stay in shelters!” Continue reading...

LNP member Llew O’Brien says ‘there is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage’, leading Angus Taylor to state: ‘I congratulate all Australians’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFederal Coalition MP Llew O’Brien has declared it’s “encouraging to see a White Australian” win a sprinting medal at the Commonwealth Games, after Lachlan Kennedy took silver when setting a new national record in Glasgow.O’Brien, the member for Wide Bay in Queensland, wrote on social media on Wednesday: “White Men Can Sprint!” Continue reading...