Israeli security minister joins Jewish extremists as they storm al-Aqsa mosque compound
The Guardian •

Israeli security minister joins Jewish extremists as they storm al-Aqsa mosque compound

Far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was among thousands who gathered at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy siteIsrael’s far-right minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, joined thousands of Jewish extremists who stormed Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site on Thursday.Escorted by armed police, they prayed, waved the Israeli flag and sang the national anthem in a provocative display of politica...

Mountain biker becomes first to ride off a hot air balloon
France 24 •

Mountain biker becomes first to ride off a hot air balloon

You might want to look away from this next story if you're afraid of heights. A young Austrian mountain biker has performed a world first - by riding off a hot air balloon on his bike. Don't worry, both had parachutes attached to them. The trick, which took place in Bulgaria, took two years to prepare.

1 dead, 4 injured in Czech army helicopter crash
SCMP •

1 dead, 4 injured in Czech army helicopter crash

One soldier died and four were injured on Thursday when a military helicopter crashed in the Czech Republic, the army said. “A Venom helicopter has crashed at the 22nd helicopter base in Namest nad Oslavou. Five soldiers were on board. Emergency services are currently deployed at the scene,” the army wrote on social media. In a later post, it added that one soldier was killed and four injured in t...

House passes second war powers resolution amid renewed Iran strikes and outcry over $1.15tn defense bill – US politics live

House passes second war powers resolution amid renewed Iran strikes and outcry over $1.15tn defense bill – US politics live

The Guardian •

Four Republicans defect to vote for curbing Trump’s military action in Iran; vote comes as National Defense Authorization Act sparks further controversySign up for the Breaking News US emailBy a vote of 214-208 lawmakers in the House passed a war powers resolution to curb the Trump administration’s military action in Iran, ahead of the lower chamber’s August reccess.Four Republicans, Brian Fitzpat...

Man held as mainland Chinese dental centre in Hong Kong raided amid promotions

Man held as mainland Chinese dental centre in Hong Kong raided amid promotions

SCMP •

Hong Kong police have arrested a 72-year-old local man for practising dentistry illegally at a shop used by a mainland Chinese dental clinic to promote its business in the city, following calls from the local industry for tighter regulatory oversight of such activities. The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by police and the Department of Health on Thursday at a shop on 37 King’...

Man, 72, held as mainland Chinese dental clinic in Hong Kong raided amid promotions

Man, 72, held as mainland Chinese dental clinic in Hong Kong raided amid promotions

SCMP •

Hong Kong police have arrested a 72-year-old local man for practising dentistry illegally at a shop used by a mainland Chinese dental clinic to promote its business in the city, following calls from the local industry for tighter regulatory oversight of such activities. The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by police and the Department of Health on Thursday at a shop on 37 King’...

Middle East war's economic impact 'could get worse' if Houthis join in

Middle East war's economic impact 'could get worse' if Houthis join in

France 24 •

US President Donald Trump threatened Yemen's Houthi rebels with "major military punishment" after they launched missile and drone strikes on oil tankers in the Red Sea. Concern has sparked across the globe regarding the rebels' involvement in the war. FRANCE 24's Kethevane Gorjestani tells us more.

Screen legend Patrick Tse saved my brother from drowning, woman recalls

Screen legend Patrick Tse saved my brother from drowning, woman recalls

SCMP •

A Hong Kong woman has paid tribute to the late screen legend Patrick Tse Yin, revealing that he saved her brother from drowning decades ago on a boat trip. Veteran actor, director and producer Tse, nicknamed “Brother Four”, died on July 16 at the age of 89, marking the loss of one of the last remaining icons from the golden era of local cinema, when the city’s film industry held sway across Southe...

About 500 national guard members deployed to West Virginia after flash floods

About 500 national guard members deployed to West Virginia after flash floods

The Guardian •

Search and rescue operations continue as troops deploy across state after torrential rain caused floods and damageAbout 500 national guard members have been deployed across West Virginia after torrential rain caused flash floods in parts of the state this week, and as emergency crews continue search and rescue operations.Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, West Virginia’s governor, Patrick...

MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers

MoD cancels army training in Kenya over powers to prosecute British soldiers

The Guardian •

September exercise called off after Kenya raises concerns over funding and jurisdiction for criminal offencesThe British army has been forced to cancel training for its troops in Kenya after the Kenyan government refused to ratify a bilateral defence agreement.While the UK government wanted to renew the existing agreement, Kenyan lawmakers had sought changes to give local authorities greater power...

Thousands evacuated due to wildfire in France's southwest

Thousands evacuated due to wildfire in France's southwest

France 24 •

In France, while Paris enjoys respite from the record-breaking heat last month, the riviera and the southwest of France are being swept by fast-moving wildfires. Thousands of residents have been evacuated in a seaside holiday area.

Burnham pauses early prisoner release scheme due to start in September – UK politics live

Burnham pauses early prisoner release scheme due to start in September – UK politics live

The Guardian •

New PM says no prisoners will be released under the policy until there is an urgent review of schemeKemi Badenoch is speaking in central London at the moment and is expected to say that Andy Burnham is “still thinking like the mayor of Manchester”.“Going by what he’s announced so far, Andy Burnham’s ambitions for Britain are too small,” she was expected to say.My message to British businesses is q...

Can science bridge the US-China trust gap? Maybe with new rules, researchers say

Can science bridge the US-China trust gap? Maybe with new rules, researchers say

SCMP •

Scientific ties can be a stabilising force in relations between China and the US but as the two countries jostle for a hi-tech edge, maintaining these links will mean going beyond simple competition versus cooperation. To get there, Beijing and Washington will need to keep in continuous contact and have clearly defined boundaries, with narrower areas of collaboration. That was the finding Zhao Min...

She inherited her childhood home, then a $228,000 water bill appeared

She inherited her childhood home, then a $228,000 water bill appeared

Times of India •

A woman in Baltimore, US, says she was shocked to discover a $228,000 unpaid water bill attached to her late father's home after inheriting the property. The debt has placed a lien on the house, preventing its sale. The dispute centres on whether the homeowner or the community's homeowners association should be responsible for the outstanding amount.

Republican-controlled committee refers former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith for criminal investigation

Republican-controlled committee refers former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith for criminal investigation

The Guardian •

Committee accused of trying to ‘weaponize’ justice system via ‘laughably weak and vindictive criminal referral’Democrats have accused the US House of Representatives judiciary committee of a “baseless” and “vindictive” attack on former special prosecutor Jack Smith after it referred him for criminal prosecution for allegedly lying to Congress over his investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to o...

Fields Medal win: Wang Hong, Deng Yu are first Chinese nationals to score top maths honour

Fields Medal win: Wang Hong, Deng Yu are first Chinese nationals to score top maths honour

SCMP •

For the first time, China has produced Fields Medal winners educated on its own soil – and two at once. Chinese mathematicians Wang Hong and Deng Yu took the honour, alongside John Pardon and Jacob Tsimerman. The Fields Medal is the top honour for young mathematicians under 40 years of age. The medals, along with a modest cash prize, were given out on Thursday at the International Congress of Math...