State-run Turkish news agency based in Ankara
Thousands have been protesting nightly in Tirana and along Albania’s southern coast for more than a month against a multi‑billion‑euro resort project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Demonstrators have adopted flamingo symbols to oppose work inside the Vjosa‑Narta wetlands and on Sazan island and are demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation amid clashes with police.
NATO leaders have met in Ankara after months of U.S. threats to scale back forces in Europe and repeated U.S. demands that allies raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Tensions over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and U.S. troop reviews have strained transatlantic ties, while European governments are increasing procurement and planning to assume more conventional defence responsibilities.
The Board of Peace has convened with international figures to map a Gaza plan aimed at isolating Hamas and kicking off a “temporary reconstruction” in Hamas-free zones. Donors have balked at funding, Israeli political gridlock persists, and legal immunity concerns shadow the mission as talks race to preserve momentum.
Insurers are signaling double‑digit premium increases for 2027 in preliminary rate filings across 16 states and the District of Columbia. Analysts attribute the rise to higher healthcare costs and the expiration of pandemic‑era subsidies, with enrollment shrinking as affordability pressures mount.
The Supreme Court has ruled that children born on US soil to parents unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment, maintaining birthright citizenship. The decision blocks President Trump’s bid to end automatic citizenship by executive order, with Chief Justice Roberts writing for the court and joined by a cross-ideological majority.
Oil prices have shifted as indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran inform expectations for Middle East supply. Markets show guarded optimism about a ceasefire framework and potential restoration of safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, while inventories and production signals temper optimism.
The opening ceremony of the Maccabiah Games is underway in Jerusalem as Israel marks 1,000 days since the Hamas attacks. Organizers highlight resilience while ongoing security concerns loom over the event.
The Ruby Princess has reported a norovirus outbreak on its 20-day San Francisco–Alaska–Canada cruise, affecting more than 100 passengers and 23 crew members. Princess Cruises has implemented enhanced sanitation protocols and will disinfect the ship before its next voyage. CDC/OHSA are monitoring, with several other outbreaks reported on US‑based cruise ships this year.
Palestinian paediatrician Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, remains detained by Israel without charge. Rights groups including MSF and PHRI report severe health deterioration and alleged torture, calling for urgent independent medical review and his release. UN and other bodies have highlighted his case, as international pressure grows.
Governor Andy Beshear has pressed for a direct public update on Mitch McConnell’s health, urging him to prove his capacity to serve or resign. The push follows McConnell’s hospitalization after a June 14 fall and limited public updates from his office. Several lawmakers stress transparency amid ongoing questions about the senator’s ability to return to the Senate.
The Port Sudan court has convicted RSF leader Daglo (Hemedti) and 15 other senior RSF figures of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in absentia. The ruling also targets RSF assets and seeks Interpol notices for arrest. The case centers on the June 2023 killings in El Geneina and related atrocities against the Masalit community. The verdict marks the first conviction of RSF leadership since the conflict began in 2023.
The provided articles describe ongoing Russian strikes and Ukrainian responses across Ukraine, including Kyiv and port regions, with casualties and infrastructure damage reported. The latest updates indicate continued missile and drone attacks and retaliatory strikes on logistics facilities and oil depots, as Kyiv asserts significant strikes on the Russian war effort.
Spain defeats Argentina 1-0 in extra time to claim the 2026 World Cup. Netanyahu has publicly supported Argentina, while Spain’s Sánchez condemns Israel’s Gaza campaign. The final has become a global stage for competing political loyalties, drawing reactions from Palestinian supporters and international actors.
Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem has criticised Lebanon’s participation in US-mediated talks with Israel in Rome and has rejected a June framework that ties Israeli withdrawals to verified disarmament and Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones. Technical teams have met in Rome while Israeli strikes, demolitions and clashes in southern Lebanon are continuing and Beirut is pressing Washington for verification guarantees.
Since July 18 Ukraine has struck multiple Wildberries warehouses across Russia, causing fires, deaths and major stock losses. The campaign has put at least 1.5 million sq m of warehouse space out of operation, forced evacuations and pushed merchants toward bankruptcy. Wildberries and Russia are discussing compensation and possible state support.
The Senate and House are pressing ahead with scheduling amid talks on government funding, crypto regulation, and voting integrity. Republicans push for votes on the SAVE Act and the CLARITY Act, while Democrats warn that bipartisan support is required to avert a lapse in funding and to address other urgent policy items.
X Money has launched for US Premium and Premium+ subscribers, offering 6% APY on deposits and 3% cashback. Real-time transfers within X and an X-branded Visa card are available, but several markets lack money transmitter licenses and transfers face limitations, prompting questions about adoption as the broader payments ecosystem evolves.
Since mid-July Ukrainian forces have struck more than a dozen Wildberries warehouses and other industrial sites deep inside Russia. Overnight strikes have hit a Wildberries warehouse in Samara and facilities across the Volga and southern regions, killing dozens on both sides, while Moscow says it downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones.
A mass crossing at Ceuta’s border with Morocco has drawn intense EU scrutiny as tens of thousands sought entry last week. While most migrants have returned, Spain has installed a 500-meter floating barrier and vowed tighter border controls as EU governments call for a coordinated response.
Greece has faced a fresh round of wildfires, with two helicopters colliding during firefighting operations near Psatha, Attica. A Danish pilot and a Greek coordinator have died; one crew member on the second helicopter survived. Authorities say winds and heat have intensified blazes across Attica and nearby regions, with evacuations continuing.
A record-hot, dry European summer has intensified wildfires in Greece, France and beyond. Two helicopter crews have died in Greece amid fierce winds; thousands have evacuated in France, and the UK reports its driest July in two centuries as fires burn on multiple fronts.
Lawmakers have advanced a stopgap funding package to keep the government running through Dec. 11, while negotiations over full-year funding and policy riders continue. The measure blocks funding transfers to border enforcement, delays a hemp ban by one month, and avoids a government shutdown ahead of midterm elections.
The latest Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed and wounded civilians and soldiers as Israeli-Hezbollah tensions rise. Negotiations in Rome over a June ceasefire accord have been disrupted as fighting continues, with a fragile truce in question and the pilot-zone framework under renewed scrutiny.
Houthis have launched repeated drone, missile and naval strikes that have damaged Yemen’s Mocha port, killed dozens and forced the port’s suspension. The group has claimed a drone hit on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan refinery and renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al‑Mandeb, while Yemeni government forces have mounted counter‑attacks across multiple fronts.
Bloomberg reports Fitch Ratings finds not-for-profit hospitals and health systems have broad optimism about resilience, but tone has shifted to caution. The recovery appears near a transition point as operating conditions evolve.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye have signed the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, offering mutual-attack deterrence and deeper military cooperation. Officials say negotiations anticipate expansion to more partners, with Egypt flagged as a natural partner; the pact mirrors NATO-style defence but remains non-binding if a signatory is not attacked.
Warfare in Blue Nile State has escalated as RSF fighters and allied SPLM-N forces seize Kurmuk while the army withdraws. Drones and artillery have battered the town, causing new displacements as the conflict widens along border routes with Ethiopia.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
Lebanon and Israel continue US-brokered negotiations over a June framework aimed at Hezbollah disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Reports detail ongoing Israeli strikes, displacement in pilot zones, and Lebanese Army deployment, with authorities warning of persistent violence despite talks.
A magnitude-7.7 earthquake has struck off Flores island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, and rescue teams have recovered dozens of bodies and treated hundreds of injured. Authorities have recorded hundreds of aftershocks, lifted an initial tsunami warning after tide gauges showed limited sea-level change, and declared a 14-day state of emergency as landslides and damaged roads are slowing aid deliveries.
Kushner and Board of Peace envoys are engaging Hamas in Egypt to press for the 15-point Gaza plan. Netanyahu maintains disarmament conditions, while international mediators call for progress on the roadmap amid unfolding battlefield events.
The Sudanese war enters a new phase as SAF advances in key fronts, RSF defections rise, and regional powers face ongoing calls for a humanitarian truce. Drones and long-range strikes continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure, prompting fresh international concern.
Worshippers abducted in Dekera village have sparked a national security operation. President Tinubu has ordered a coordinated rescue and security services are pursuing the attackers as relatives appeal for the return of the hostages.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo for a state visit, his first to Egypt in a decade, to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties and sign economic and security agreements. Talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will focus on Gaza, Red Sea shipping, the Nile dam dispute, AI and expanded Chinese investment in the Suez Canal zone.
Church's Texas Chicken opens first China location in Shanghai, drawing long lines and sparking a side hustle around queueing services. Official data show services spending outpacing goods as catering revenue rises, while McKinsey notes foreign firms must invest to stay relevant in China’s evolving market.
A catamaran-style ferry carrying about 267 people has capsized off Diana beach near Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus. Rescue operations are under way after the vessel began taking on water shortly after departure, with 237 rescued and seven confirmed dead. Authorities say search for around 23 missing individuals continues as weather conditions hinder operations.
A ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew has capsized off Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, leaving several dead and many missing as rescue teams extend searches into deeper waters. Survivors describe panic as authorities coordinate 24/7 operations with Turkish support.
Turkey has deepened its ties with Russia, highlighting bilateral energy cooperation and nuclear plans as Erdogan positions Turkey within the SCO while stressing Western ties remain intact.
Israel’s parties have submitted candidate lists ahead of the 2026 elections. Likud and Religious Zionist Party are among the last to file, while the Joint List also appears on the slate. Polls suggest no single party will secure a majority, and democracy concerns are rising among Israelis amid a shifting political landscape.
The US Treasury has placed Golden Global Bank and two subsidiaries on its sanctions list, accusing the Istanbul-based lender of moving tens of millions of dollars for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and enabling Tehran to shift oil revenue through Turkey. The bank has denied the allegations and said it will pursue legal action; Washington says the move severs the institution from the US financial system.
Clashes between Yemen's government forces and Houthi rebels have intensified across Taiz and Hodeidah, with the Bab al-Mandab chokepoint at risk as both sides push for strategic coastal gains. Dozens of combatants and civilians have been killed in the latest fighting, and thousands have been displaced.
Israeli troops and settlers have clashed with Palestinians across the occupied West Bank this week, leaving at least one Palestinian wounded by gunfire near Faqqua, dozens of homes and livelihood structures demolished in Jerusalem and Masafer Yatta, and multiple arrests reported in Jenin and Nablus. Communities are facing demolitions, sieges and restricted access to ambulances and water.
A speedboat carrying five photojournalists, two crew members and a guide has lost contact after departing Carita for Anak Krakatau. The last message reported arrival near the volcanic island, but rescuers have yet to locate them amid ongoing eruptions and ash dispersal affecting flights and online schooling for affected communities.
Wildfires in Turkey’s Antalya region have prompted mass evacuations, with several districts affected. Officials say the fires remain active and efforts to control the blazes continue as rescuers face challenging winds. A resident died after smoke exposure, and dozens have been hospitalized for burns and smoke inhalation. Firefighting aircraft and ground crews are deployed, and hundreds of residents have evacuated.
Ismail Kartal has stated he is resigning, but Fenerbahce has not accepted the move. The club says he remains in charge as they prepare for a Turkish Super Lig clash versus Gaziantep FK, following a dramatic post-match scene after a 1-1 draw with Roma in the Champions League.
Turkish police have carried out coordinated raids in at least 12–15 provinces, targeting LGBTQ organisations, bars and activists in cities including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Justice Minister Akin Gurlek has said prosecutors have opened cases against 162 suspects, nine associations and 13 businesses under a "My Family is Safe" operation tied to President Erdogan's "Decade of the Family." Rights groups say about 50 people have been detained and several websites and social accounts have been blocked.