An earthquake occurred in Guatemala on July 29. Its magnitude, according to various sources, ranged from 5.7 to 6, and there are currently no reports of casualties.
An earthquake of magnitude 8. 8 occurred in Kamchatka, causing a tsunami threat. It was felt in Japan, the USA, Canada, and South America, and the port of Severo-Kurilsk was partially flooded.
The US Treasury Secretary warned China about high tariffs on Russian oil, but Beijing declared the protection of energy sovereignty. China remains the largest buyer of Russian oil, despite the threat of sanctions.
Over 1,300 firefighters and dozens of aircraft are involved in battling three large forest fires in Portugal. Due to prolonged heat and drought, a red alert has been declared in the country, and residents have been evacuated and tourist routes closed in the Arouca area.
Pavlo Shamshyn, spokesman for the Kharkiv Joint Forces Operation Group, reported that Russian occupiers are bogged down near Pokrovsk, although the situation there remains difficult. He also commented on Reuters' information about the possible deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
Dozens of holidaymakers on the Italian island of Sardinia were forced to flee a beach by boat due to a wildfire that broke out nearby. 102 people, including 12 children and a pregnant woman, were evacuated by sea as the flames blocked other escape routes.
Brent and WTI crude futures rose after the US reached a trade agreement with the EU and may extend the tariff pause with China. This dispelled fears about the negative impact of tariffs on economic activity and fuel demand.
In eastern Congo, militants from the ADF group, linked to the "Islamic State", attacked a church in the city of Komanda. At least 38 people were killed in the attack.
Northern China, including Beijing and Hebei province, has been hit by heavy rains, resulting in the death of two people and the evacuation of thousands of residents. Record rainfall, floods, and landslides have been recorded, as well as power and communication outages in some areas.
South Korean lawmakers stated that the DPRK could send additional troops to Russia in July-August to participate in the war against Ukraine. In exchange for weapons, Moscow is likely transferring military technologies for satellites and navigation to Pyongyang.
At the UN, the US called on China to stop exporting dual-use goods to Russia that are used in the war against Ukraine. China responded that it is not a party to the conflict and accused the US of trying to shift blame.
US President Donald Trump said the US may not reach a trade deal with Canada, suggesting the imposition of tariffs. This comes ahead of August 1, when Washington threatens to impose a 35% tariff on Canadian goods.
The European Parliament is considering proposals to accelerate the EU's abandonment of Russian gas to January 2027, a year earlier than the European Commission's initial plan. Lawmakers propose obliging governments to impose sanctions on companies that violate the ban.
Elon Musk ordered the Starlink terminals in the Kherson region to be disabled in September 2022, which caused communication disruptions and hindered the encirclement of Russian positions. This incident was the first known case of Starlink being disabled on the battlefield, raising concerns about the billionaire's influence on geopolitics.
In central Vietnam, a bus veered off the road, crashed into road signs, and overturned. The accident killed at least nine people, including children, and injured 16.
Oil prices rose on Friday amid optimism about trade talks, which supported the prospects for the global economy and oil demand. Brent futures reached $69.38 per barrel, WTI - $66.23.
South Korean police raided the offices of K-pop agency HYBE over allegations that chairman Bang Si-hyuk provided false information to investors. The financial regulator referred him to the prosecutor's office for investigation into the company's activities during its stock market listing.
Chinese engines are secretly supplied to the Russian drone manufacturer IEMZ Kupol through shell companies, which has allowed for an increase in the production of Harpy-A1 attack drones despite Western sanctions. The new Chinese firm Beijing Xichao International Technology and Trade began supplying L550E engines to Kupol after sanctions were imposed on Xiamen Limbach Aviation Engine Co.
Indian company Ideal Detonators Private Limited supplied military-grade explosive octogen to Russia in December for $1. 4 million. This happened despite US warnings of possible sanctions against organizations supporting Russia's war efforts.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte have filed a defamation lawsuit in the US against influencer Candace Owens. The reason was her statement that the First Lady of France is allegedly a man.
The US decided to burn nearly $10 million worth of contraceptives purchased for USAID humanitarian programs. These supplies were stored in Belgium after the Trump administration froze foreign aid programs, and proposals for their repackaging and repurchase were rejected.
In July, Russia's oil and gas revenues could fall by 37% compared to July 2024, amounting to about 680 billion rubles. Cumulative oil and gas revenues for January-July could decrease by 20% to 5.4 trillion rubles.
The court in The Hague lifted the arrest of Gazprom's shares in gas production companies Wintershall Noordzee and Gazprom International Projects B. V. The arrest was imposed at the suit of Ukrainian companies, but the court decided that this could violate the principle of state immunity.
Shipowners and oil traders are distancing themselves from the Indian company Nayara Energy Ltd. after its inclusion in the EU sanctions package. The tanker Talara turned around and left the port of Vadinar without loading fuel, and Nayara began demanding prepayment due to concerns about payments.
Brent and WTI oil prices fell amid fears of a trade war between the US and the EU, which could curb fuel demand growth. The Trump administration has set August 1 as the deadline for trade agreements, otherwise countries face high tariffs.
Heavy rains in China's Shandong province have led to the death of two people and the disappearance of ten. Half a year's worth of precipitation fell in five hours, causing floods and destruction of homes.
On Monday, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI training aircraft crashed on the grounds of a college and school in Dhaka, killing at least 19 people and hospitalizing over 100 with burns. The incident occurred at Milestone School and College, and the interim government of Bangladesh promises to investigate the causes of the crash.
US President Donald Trump may meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC event in South Korea. This comes amid attempts by Washington and Beijing to negotiate an end to the tariff war.
Iran, Great Britain, France, and Germany may hold talks on Tehran's nuclear program next week. This comes after the E3 countries warned of renewed sanctions if no progress is made.
A tourist boat with 53 people on board capsized in Vietnam, killing 27 people, including eight children. The incident occurred during Typhoon Wipha in Ha Long Bay.
