Major developments in the region include scaling up US-backed aid sites in Gaza, Iran executing a nuclear scientist, Netanyahu's cabinet discussing a Gaza military push, deadly aid truck overturns in Gaza, Hezbollah dismissing arms restrictions, an uneasy truce taking hold in Syria, a weakened Hezbollah resisting pressure to give up weapons, a British opera company canceling Israel collaboration, a Palestinian American dying after an Israeli settler attack, scholars urging an end to a Palestine Action ban, Israel's reliance on Microsoft cloud for Palestinian surveillance, a UN official warning against expanding Gaza operations, Germany facing pressure on Gaza policy, and Hamas's secret system to pay government salaries.

• Huckabee Says U.S.-Backed Aid Sites in Gaza Will ‘Scale Up’ — New York Times World -
• On the Hunt for Spies, Iran Executes a Nuclear Scientist — New York Times World -
• Despite Opposition, Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet to Discuss Gaza Military Push — New York Times World -

• Twenty killed after trucks overturn in Gaza, Hamas-run civil defence says — BBC World -
• 'A grave sin': Hezbollah dismisses Lebanon's move to restrict arms — BBC World -
• The secret system Hamas uses to pay government salaries — BBC World -
• After Weeks of Sectarian Clashes in Syria, an Uneasy Truce Takes Hold — New York Times World -
• A Weakened Hezbollah Resists Pressure to Give Up Its Weapons — New York Times World -
• British Opera Company Cancels ‘Tosca’ Collaboration in Israel After Criticism — New York Times World -
• Family of Palestinian American who died after Israeli settler attack calls for US intervention — The Guardian -
• Leading global scholars sign letter urging UK to end Palestine Action ban — The Guardian -
• Israel issues forced displacement orders amid fears of full occupation in Gaza — The Guardian -
• Twenty killed as aid truck overturns in Gaza, civil defence agency says – as it happened — The Guardian -
• ‘A million calls an hour’: Israel relying on Microsoft cloud for expansive surveillance of Palestinians — The Guardian -
• On Gaza, Germany’s Government Faces Pressure From All Sides — New York Times World -
• UN official says Israel expanding Gaza operations would risk 'catastrophic consequences' — BBC World -
• Wednesday Briefing: Netanyahu’s Next Steps in Gaza — New York Times World -

Key policy decisions and political events in the US feature Trump's prospect of a summit with Putin and Zelensky, **Apple's $100 billion investment under Trump's pressure, controversy over JD Vance's team raising the Ohio river level, the Trump administration freezing UCLA grants, Trump threatening to double India's tariffs, Texas Democrats receiving a bomb threat amid redistricting standoffs, JD Vance plotting Epstein strategy, Trump threatening to federalize DC, Marsha Blackburn launching a gubernatorial bid, a report revealing abuses at US immigration facilities, Trump-Modi ties hitting rock bottom over Russian oil tariffs, an FBI report disproving Trump's crime wave claim, the Texas governor seeking to fire a top Democrat, the Clintons subpoenaed in an Epstein investigation, and US immigration holding 1,000 detainees in Indiana**.

• Trump says 'good prospect' of summit with Putin and Zelensky after envoy's Russia visit — BBC World -
• Apple to invest $100bn after pressure from Trump — BBC World -
• JD Vance’s team had water level of Ohio river raised for family’s boating trip — The Guardian -

• Trump Tells European Leaders He Intends to Meet With Putin and Zelensky — New York Times World -
• Trump administration freezes $584m in grants for ‘life-saving research’ at UCLA — The Guardian -
• Thursday Briefing: Trump Threatens to Double India’s Tariffs — New York Times World -
• Texas Democrats receive bomb threat in escalating standoff over redistricting — The Guardian -
• With Sanctions Looming, Trump’s Envoy to Russia Meets With Putin — New York Times World -
• Donald Trump says ‘everyone agrees this war must come to a close’ after Witkoff meets Putin – as it happened — The Guardian -
• JD Vance to meet with top Trump officials to plot Epstein strategy – report — The Guardian -
• Trump threatens to ‘federalize’ DC after attack on Doge staffer — The Guardian -
• Trump ally Marsha Blackburn launches bid for governor of Tennessee — The Guardian -
• ‘Horrific’: report reveals abuse of pregnant women and children at US Ice facilities — The Guardian -
• Trump-Modi ties hit rock bottom with new tariffs on India over Russian oil — BBC World -
• FBI report disproves Trump’s claim of a Biden-era out-of-control crime wave — The Guardian -
• Texas governor seeks court order to fire top Democrat who fled in row over voting map — BBC World -
• Clintons subpoenaed to testify in congressional Epstein investigation — BBC World -
• Clintons subpoenaed to testify in congressional Epstein investigation — BBC World -
• Trump threatens fleeing Texas Democrats with FBI as Greg Abbott calls for ‘consequences’ – live updates — The Guardian -
• US immigration to hold 1,000 detainees in Indiana after deal with prison system — The Guardian -

Ongoing conflicts and diplomatic efforts globally encompass a Ukrainian sniper's recovery story, Russia's sanctions evasion on Ukraine's front line, Trump's envoy meeting with Putin amid sanctions, surgical strides in rebuilding a sense of self for the wounded in the Ukraine war, **the world awaiting Trump’s next move as a Russia ceasefire deadline approaches, and Russian attacks on Ukraine doubling since Trump's inauguration**.

• Our Reporter Speaks to a Ukrainian Sniper About His Recovery — New York Times World -
• On Ukraine's front line, twisted wreckage shows sanctions haven't yet stopped Russia — BBC World -
• How Trump's secondary tariffs on Russia could hit the global economy — BBC World -

• For Some Wounded in Ukraine War, Surgery Helps Rebuild a Sense of Self — New York Times World -
• World awaits Trump’s next move as Russia ceasefire deadline approaches — The Guardian -
• Russian attacks on Ukraine double since Trump inauguration — BBC World -
• Russian attacks on Ukraine double since Trump inauguration — BBC World -
• Russian attacks on Ukraine double since Trump inauguration — BBC World -

Growing environmental concerns worldwide highlight Charleston's dismissed climate lawsuit against oil giants, wildfires in Washington State, France, and California burning on an unprecedented scale, broad impacts of US wildfires on human health, chemical pollution as a threat comparable to climate change, the Great Barrier Reef suffering its worst coral decline, and Southern Water applying to draw from a rare chalk stream.

• Charleston’s Climate Lawsuit Against Oil Giants Is Dismissed — New York Times World -
• Wildfire In Wet Washington State Is Changing Under Climate Change — New York Times World -
• France wildfire is 'catastrophe on an unprecedented scale', says PM — BBC World -

• Depression, suicides, overdoses: broad impacts of US wildfires revealed in study — The Guardian -
• California Wildfire Season Starting Earlier Because of Climate Change, Study Finds — New York Times World -
• ‘Unprecedented’ wildfire burns area size of Paris in southern France — The Guardian -
• Deadly wildfire spreads in southern France — BBC World -
• Southern Water applies for permission to draw water from rare chalk stream — The Guardian -
• Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn — The Guardian -
• Great Barrier Reef suffers worst coral decline on record — BBC World -
• Great Barrier Reef suffers worst coral decline on record — BBC World -
• California wildfire scorches 83,000 acres and threatens hundreds of structures — The Guardian -

Developments in health and social welfare reveal a study linking chips to increased type 2 diabetes risk, England's clampdown on liquid butt lifts and cosmetic 'wild west' practices, a British man accused of trying to drown his daughter-in-law, five troops injured in a Georgia military base shooting, a man jailed for a brutal dog walker attack in Suffolk, calls for clarity on UK police releasing suspects' ethnicity, a Spanish town banning Muslim religious festivals, a study projecting US destruction of contraceptives to deny African women care, Barbary lion cubs born at a Czech zoo, **RFK Jr.'s health department halting $500m in mRNA vaccine research, a young mother dying in a drug-plagued US prison, outrage over butter inclusion in a UK cacio e pepe recipe, Tennessee demanding abortion data from hospitals, a New Orleans ex-detective back in jail for child sexual abuse, Pakistan confronting 'honor killings' and gender violence, and a court hearing the meaning of 'woman' in a gender discrimination appeal**.

• Eating chips regularly raises risk of type 2 diabetes by 20%, study finds — The Guardian -
• Liquid butt lifts targeted in clampdown on England’s cosmetic ‘wild west’ — The Guardian -
• Five troops injured after soldier opens fire at Georgia military base — BBC World -

• British man accused of trying to drown daughter-in-law in US pool — BBC World -
• Soldier in custody after shooting five other soldiers on Georgia military base, army says — The Guardian -
• Calls for clarity over whether UK police can release suspects’ ethnicity and immigration status — The Guardian -
• Man who killed dog walker in ‘brutal attack’ in Suffolk jailed for life — The Guardian -
• Outrage as Spanish town bans Muslim religious festivals from public spaces — The Guardian -
• US destruction of contraceptives denies 1.4m African women and girls lifesaving care, NGO says — The Guardian -
• Four rare Barbary lion cubs born at Czech zoo — The Guardian -
• Despite RFK’s funding block, mRNA vaccines are too impressive to ignore — The Guardian -
• Could RFK Jr's move to pull mRNA vaccine funding be a huge miscalculation? — BBC World -
• Inclusion of butter in UK recipe for cacio e pepe draws outrage from Italian media — The Guardian -
• ‘A death sentence’: a young mother grappling with addiction dies in a drug-plagued US prison — The Guardian -
• RFK Jr’s health department to halt $500m in mRNA vaccine research — The Guardian -
• New Orleans ex-detective convicted of child sexual abuse crimes back in jail — The Guardian -
• Police hit back at Reform claim of cover-up over rape case suspects’ immigration status — The Guardian -
• Meaning of ‘woman’ goes beyond dictionary definition, court hears as Giggle for Girls appeal concludes — The Guardian -
• Video Forces Pakistan to Confront ‘Honor Killings’ and Gender Violence — New York Times World -
• Tasmanian trainer fined $2,000 for animal cruelty after repeatedly whipping racehorse — The Guardian -
• RFK Jr cancels $500m in funding for mRNA vaccines for diseases like Covid — BBC World -
• RFK Jr cancels $500m in funding for mRNA vaccines for diseases like Covid — BBC World -

Urgent events and challenging rescues across the globe include wrong remains from the Air India crash adding trauma, a dangerous rescue mission evacuating US research staff from Antarctica, a helicopter crash killing Ghana's Defense and Environment Ministers, thousands stranded after an emergency landing closed Birmingham airport, rains complicating flood rescue in the Indian Himalayas, a journalist missing in Norway surviving six nights in the wilderness, and an Oceangate Titan whistleblower claiming people were sold a lie.

• Wrong remains from Air India crash 'adds to trauma', says family — BBC World -
• New Zealand Air Force Mounts Dangerous Rescue Mission in Antarctica — New York Times World -
• Helicopter Crash Kills Ghana Defense and Environment Ministers — New York Times World -

• Thousands stranded after emergency landing closes Birmingham airport runway — The Guardian -
• Rains and Broken Roads Complicate Flood Rescue in Indian Himalayas — New York Times World -
• Two Ghanaian ministers die in helicopter crash, along with six others — BBC World -
• Journalist missing in Norway survived six nights in wilderness with leg injury — The Guardian -
• Alec Luhn, Missing American Journalist, Found Alive in Norway — New York Times World -
• US research station staff evacuated from Antarctica in high-risk operation — The Guardian -
• Oceangate's Titan whistleblower: 'People were sold a lie' — BBC World -
• Oceangate's Titan whistleblower: 'People were sold a lie' — BBC World -

Significant shifts in the world economy and corporate sector involve India digging in after Trump doubled tariffs, ministers asking China to explain redacted London 'super-embassy' designs, shares in European drug companies hitting a low due to Trump tariffs, Meta businesses struggling after wrongful account suspensions, Claire's filing for US bankruptcy for the second time, some electric cars falling short of claimed range, UK construction activity falling at its steepest rate since Covid, Honda's quarterly profits dropping by half due to Trump tariffs, sales of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drugs slowing sharply, and Glencore deciding against moving its stock market listing from London to the US.

• India Digs In After Trump Doubles Tariffs — New York Times World -
• Ministers ask China to explain redacted designs for London ‘super-embassy’ — The Guardian -
• Shares in European drug companies hit four-month low as Trump tariffs loom — The Guardian -

• ‘No clear explanation’: businesses reliant on Meta struggle after wrongful suspensions — The Guardian -
• Claire’s files for US bankruptcy for second time in seven years — The Guardian -
• Some electric cars fall short of claimed range by up to 23%, Australian motoring group finds — The Guardian -
• UK construction activity in July falls at steepest rate since Covid — The Guardian -
• Honda quarterly profits drop by half as carmaker feels effects of Trump tariffs — The Guardian -
• Sales of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drugs including Ozempic slow sharply — The Guardian -
• Miner Glencore decides against moving stock market listing from London to US — The Guardian -

A range of internal political, scientific, and infrastructure issues in Australia encompass hundreds more CSIRO jobs on the chopping block, the University of Sydney removing a Palestinian flag from an academic's window, arts and media groups demanding action against AI content theft, a reality TV star accused of covering up rule-breaking after a helicopter crash, Russia taking its embassy cancellation fight to the High Court, a debate over Australia's creative content surrender to tech giants, an engineer condemning the demolition of Melbourne's public housing towers, Australia's incoming passenger card bound for the bin, Mark Latham escaping censure but facing a privileges committee, Jeremy Rockliff's reappointment as Tasmanian premier amid no-confidence signals, thousands of Queensland teachers going on strike, and a Tasmanian trainer fined for animal cruelty.

• Hundreds more CSIRO jobs on the chopping block as experts raise fears over impact on science — The Guardian -
• University of Sydney removes Palestinian flag from academic’s window after accusing him of breaching policy — The Guardian -
• Arts and media groups demand Labor take a stand against ‘rampant theft’ of Australian content to train AI — The Guardian -

• Reality TV star Matt Wright tried to cover up previous rule-breaking after Outback Wrangler helicopter crash, court told — The Guardian -
• Russia takes fight over cancellation of embassy near Parliament House to Australia’s high court — The Guardian -
• Australia’s potential surrender of creative content to tech giants for free is shocking. Labor must decide where it stands | Josh Taylor — The Guardian -
• Engineer who helped build Melbourne’s public housing towers condemns plan to demolish ‘icons’ — The Guardian -
• Australia’s incoming passenger card bound for the bin as Sydney airport trials digital declarations — The Guardian -
• Mark Latham escapes NSW censure motion for now – but faces privileges committee — The Guardian -
• Jeremy Rockliff reappointed as Tasmanian premier as Labor signals another no-confidence motion — The Guardian -
• Thousands of Queensland teachers have gone on strike with 600,000 school students affected. What happens next? — The Guardian -
• Tasmanian trainer fined $2,000 for animal cruelty after repeatedly whipping racehorse — The Guardian -

Diverse internal developments shaping the UK feature a solicitor facing a disciplinary tribunal over threat allegations, Labour accused of using Jimmy Savile's name to 'bait' Nigel Farage, Keir Starmer downplaying warnings of autumn tax rises, Lisa Nandy declining to watch the latest MasterChef due to presenter controversy, north of England universities missing out on a talent fund, Gary Lineker expected to host a new ITV gameshow, and two misleading heat pump adverts banned by a watchdog.

• UK solicitor faces disciplinary tribunal over threat allegations — The Guardian -
• Starmer declines to rule out election pledge-breaking tax rises in budget after claim Treasury must fill £40bn deficit – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Labour accused of using Jimmy Savile’s name to ‘bait’ Nigel Farage — The Guardian -

• Keir Starmer downplays warnings that taxes will have to be raised in autumn — The Guardian -
• Dismay as north of England universities miss out on share of £54m talent fund — The Guardian -
• Lisa Nandy says she won’t watch latest MasterChef after presenter controversy — The Guardian -
• Gary Lineker expected to host new Saturday night gameshow on ITV — The Guardian -
• Two ‘misleading’ heat pump adverts banned by UK watchdog — The Guardian -

Significant historical milestones and cultural insights highlight archaeologists finding evidence of people reoccupying Pompeii after the Vesuvius eruption, Hiroshima marking 80 years since the atomic bombing with calls for nuclear disarmament, the meaning of 'peace for peace's sake' losing believers in Hiroshima, and a French General's statue dividing his hometown.

• People reoccupied Pompeii after Vesuvius eruption, archaeologists find — The Guardian -
• Even Hiroshima’s Pacifist Cause Is Losing Believers — New York Times World -
• Statue of French General Accused of Torture Divides His Hometown — New York Times World -

• Hiroshima: Ceremony marks 80th anniversary of atomic bombing — BBC World -
• How the Nuclear Attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Changed Japan — New York Times World -
• Hiroshima anniversary: mayor says Ukraine and Middle East crises show world ignoring nuclear ‘tragedies’ — The Guardian -
• Hiroshima marks 80 years since atomic bombing — BBC World -
• Hiroshima marks 80 years since atomic bombing — BBC World -

The passing of influential personalities is noted, including Ion Iliescu, who steered Romania after its revolution, Razia Jan, who built an enduring girls' school in Afghanistan, and Stella Rimington, the first woman to lead the U.K.'s MI5.

• Ion Iliescu, Who Steered Romania After Revolution, Dies at 95 — New York Times World -
• Razia Jan, 81, Who Built an Enduring Girls’ School in Afghanistan, Dies — New York Times World -
• Stella Rimington, First Woman to Lead U.K.’s MI5, Dies at 90 — New York Times World -

A monumental infrastructure project gains final approval, as Italy moves forward with plans for the world's longest suspension bridge to link Sicily to the mainland.

• Italy Approves Project to Link Sicily to the Mainland by Bridge — New York Times World -
• Italy gives final approval for world's longest suspension bridge to Sicily — BBC World -
• Italy gives final approval for world's longest suspension bridge to Sicily — BBC World -

• Italian government gives final approval for bridge linking Sicily to mainland — The Guardian -