Trump accuses China of election meddling and questions voting security ahead of midterms
China said Trump's claims were fabricated and US Democrats said he was paving the way to undermine November's elections.
Culture & Life
Time, arts and everyday life around the globe.
‘Suddenly, I Was Free’: A Chinese Pastor’s Journey From Jail to the U.S.
In his first interview since being released by China, Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri details his surprise release after a direct appeal by President Trump to Xi Jinping.
As Blazes Spread Near Paris, Extreme Heat Is Changing How France Fights Fires
Until recently, France’s forest fires were mostly in the south. This week, fires are raging much farther north. France is having to rethink its firefighting strategy.
More in Culture & Life
The New York Times
Venezuela Earthquakes Force a Grim Homecoming for Migrants
Mass migration, which defines modern Venezuela, has heavily marked the earthquake, too, saving many who had left, but also making their grief harder.
The New York Times
Dubai Migrant Worker Layoffs Reveal Costs of Middle East War
The Persian Gulf city attracted migrant workers with the promise of opportunity. Many now say the war has brought job losses and salary cuts.
The New York Times
He Was a Russian Political Survivor, Until the Masked Men Appeared
Boris B. Nadezhdin, an outspoken opponent of the war in Ukraine, says he knows why he was detained: “Among our leadership, there is panic and chaos.”
The New York Times
Philippines Condemns AI Video Posted by Chinese State Media Depicting It as a Monkey
It lodged a diplomatic complaint with Beijing over an A.I.-generated video centered on territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
BBC News
China hits out at British Steel nationalisation
The UK government said taking the firm into public hands would safeguard "a vital national capability".
Al Jazeera
Gulf states come under Iranian fire as US strikes intensify
Tehran targets multiple countries across the region as the wave of US strikes on Iran steps up.
BBC News
US launches new strikes as Iran says civilian infrastructure hit
Tehran says the US strikes hit bridges, while the US boards a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Al Jazeera
US attacks southern Iran, as Tehran hits Gulf countries: What’s the latest?
Iran struck Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Syria in retaliation for US strikes.
The New York Times
How Andy Burnham, ‘King of the North,’ Conquered U.K. Politics
A plain-spoken politician from a modest background in northwest England, Mr. Burnham is set to be named Labour leader — and prime minister apparent — on Friday.
Al Jazeera
Why is Pakistan’s Sindh province facing a major child HIV outbreak?
The latest outbreak linked to a Karachi hospital is the newest in a series that experts say reflects systemic failures.
BBC News
Trump Media to sell instant access to 'market-moving' social posts
Trump Media is launching a fast, paid feed to its most influential posts for Wall Street traders.
NPR
China's Xi calls for step up of global effort in AI, as US curbs squeeze China's tech access
American-led restrictions have blocked China from accessing some of the world's most advanced technologies, spurring China's efforts to build its own know-how and intensifying the tech race between…
The New York Times
Japan Passes New Law Banning Flag Desecration in Nationalist Push
The new law is part of a campaign by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line conservative, to build a more patriotic and assertive Japan. Critics say it undermines free speech.
Al Jazeera
John Esposito transformed how the West understood Islam
The pioneering scholar, who died on July 15, challenged Orientalist orthodoxies and reshaped the study of Islam.
France 24
Buenos Aires locals support Argentine footballers over World Cup Falkland banner
Locals in Buenos Aires have voiced support for the Argentine men's football team after players held up a banner declaring sovereignity over the disputed Falkland Islands after their World Cup…
NPR
Rubio convenes countries on left-wing political violence
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday convened leaders from more than 60 countries to take part in the Trump administration's latest effort to quell what it calls "left wing" political terrorism.
France 24
Tour de France : Merlier the fastest again, Pogacar still in yellow
The Belgian took victory in Stage 12 of the Tour de France in Chalon-sur-Saône, claiming his third stage win of this year's Tour. He edged out Olav Kooij and Jasper Philipsen.
BBC News
School bus crash kills at least 20 pupils in Uganda
Dozens others, including school staff, were injured in the crash, suspected to have been caused by a mechanical fault.
NPR
Japan revises law on royals, keeps blocking women from throne
A popular princess drives support for having a female Japanese Emperor. But the country's first female prime minister opposes it.
Al Jazeera
China’s Xi says AI ‘should not be a solo performance by a single country’
The Chinese leader called for more international cooperation in developing the technology at a conference in Shanghai.
BBC News
Japan relaxes royal succession rules - but ban on female emperors remains
The law now allows the adoption of male distant relatives aged over 15 back into the imperial family.
Al Jazeera
Texas floods ravage through southwestern areas of state
At least 2 people are dead, and over 200 were rescued in catastrophic floods in the Texas Hill Country region.
BBC News
Olympic cyclist admits to driving despite ban after crash that killed wife
Rohan Dennis pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified after police pulled him over last month.
Al Jazeera
Key takeaways from Donald Trump’s controversial speech on election security
The president claimed China and 'deep state' actors had deceived US voters, but critics say his claims were misleading.
Al Jazeera
US bombards Iran in sixth-straight night of attacks
The US has made good on threats to bomb civilian infrastructure in Iran in its sixth-straight night of attacks.
Al Jazeera
Israeli settlers attack Sinjil town in occupied West Bank
Clashes erupted after Israeli settlers attacked the outskirts of the occupied West Bank town of Sinjil.
The New York Times
How Andy Burnham Becomes Britain’s New Prime Minister
Andy Burnham is set to officially become the next prime minister on Monday, but a number of things have to happen before then. Here’s how everything is expected to play out.
Al Jazeera
China rebukes UK over nationalisation of British Steel
The UK has appropriated its last working steelworks following fears its former Chinese owners would shut it down.
Al Jazeera
Which players are favourites to be FIFA World Cup 2026 award winners?
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe are among the biggest stars expected to walk away with at least one individual award.
France 24
Japan changes imperial succession law but keeps ban on female emperor
Japan's parliament on Friday enacted changes to imperial succession rules, allowing male distant relatives to rejoin the imperial family and women to retain royal status after marrying commoners. The…
France 24
China's Xi urges global cooperation on AI, warns against single-country dominance
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday artificial intelligence should not be dominated by any single country, calling for greater international cooperation on AI development and governance at a…
BBC News
More than 500 Rohingya vanished at sea - what happened?
Two boats carrying an estimated 530 Rohingyas have disappeared since leaving Myanmar on 29 June.
BBC News
Australia 'deeply frustrated' over Laos methanol poisoning charges
Media reports say Laos will press charges of up to one year in jail against those allegedly responsible.
BBC News
Philippines condemns monkey video on Chinese media as racist
The AI video on China Daily showed a monkey in Philippine garments singing its claims to the South China Sea.
Al Jazeera
Iranian sources say US strikes hit civilian infrastructure
Iranian social media accounts, and local sources allege that US strikes caused casualties and hit infrastructure.
France 24
In speech to nation, Trump declassifies intelligence claiming Chinese interference in 2020 elections
US President Donald Trump declassified intelligence he said showed Chinese interference in US elections, reviving claims about election security despite intelligence findings that Beijing did not…
BBC News
Canada fires prompt US air quality alerts as smoke blankets major cities
Smoke from more than 800 blazes has filled major cities from Toronto and New York, to parts of the US Midwest and Great Lakes.
France 24
Middle East live: Iran retaliates against US strikes with attacks on Gulf neighbours
As the US launched air strikes on Iran for a sixth consecutive night, Tehran retaliated on Friday with attacks on US military targets in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. Jordan’s military also said it…
France 24
Trump tightens US visa rules, limits stay for foreign students and journalists
President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday finalized rules imposing stricter limits on how long foreign students and journalists may stay in the United States, tightening legal immigration.…
NPR
Boris Nadezhdin is a rare Russian politician speaking out against the Ukraine war
Boris Nadezhdin wants to run for Russia's parliament on a platform that gives voice to the Russians against the war in Ukraine. That's why, he says, the Kremlin is doing everything to stop him.
France 24
Canadian wildfire sends hazardous smoke spewing into US
FRANCE 24's Yinka Oyetade speaks with Jonathan Boucher, Researcher at the Canadian Forest Service, about the measures needed to manage and prevent wildfires and render forests more resilient to the…
France 24
Trump changes Reflecting Pool ‘gash’ size again, but offers no evidence
When announcing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool had been drained again, Donald Trump doubled down on his vandalism claims, but his latest account raises fresh questions. Online, Trump said the…
BBC News
Pele's 1958 World Cup final shirt sells for $4.9m
A shirt worn by Pele during the 1958 World Cup final has sold for $4.9m (£3.6m) at a Sotheby's auction in New York.
France 24
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces testosterone screening for US troops
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that military personnel age 30 and older will undergo testing for testosterone deficiency as part of annual health screenings. "It's…
France 24
Report reveals extent of Kenyan deaths on Russian frontline
In tonight's edition, Ebola is spreading faster in the DRC than in any previous outbreak, the WHO says. Also, new data has identified nearly 3,000 Africans recruited to fight on the Ukrainian front,…
France 24
Zelensky's dismissal of Ukraine's defence chief sparks political crisis
Rare protests erupted in Ukraine on Thursday over the dismissal of defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov as a dispute between the reformer and Kyiv's top general spilled into the open during the…
The New York Times
Ukraine’s Ousted Defense Minister Attacks the Military’s Old Guard
Mykhailo Fedorov defended his efforts to modernize the Ukrainian armed forces as thousands of people protested his dismissal.
NPR
Hong Kong official warns booksellers on security risks after raids
The police operation marks the third round of arrests targeting independent bookstores in four months.
The New York Times
In Iran war, Trump Risks Another American ‘Forever War’
President Trump, who promised to “end wars,” not start them, may have fallen into a familiar presidential trap.
NPR
Zelenskyy fires Ukraine's tech-savvy defense minister in government reshuffle
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the country's popular defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov, who pushed for innovation on the battlefield through use of drones and turned the tables on…
NPR
The political risks from war in Iran. And, ICE's use of force is rising, report finds
The political implications the war in Iran is having on the GOP. And, a new report has found that ICE officers' use of force is not rare since President Trump took office for his second term.
The New York Times
Global Opinion Shifts Toward Favoring China Over the U.S., Poll Finds
An annual survey from the Pew Research Center found that more countries felt positively about China than America.
NPR
No Asian team managed to go far this World Cup (again). What's holding them back?
For the sixth World Cup in a row, no team from the Asian Football Confederation made it past the first knockout round, winning only three games out of 29. Asian teams are competitive — up to a point.
NPR
Dismissal of Ukraine's popular defense minister draws intense criticism
As Ukraine signs drone deals and awaits licenses for Patriot missiles, the country's popular, tech-savvy defense minister, who helped Ukraine turn the tables on Russia through drone warfare, is fired.
NPR
Venezuela's earthquake recovery overshadows its push for democracy
After twin earthquakes killed thousands, Venezuela's recovery effort has pushed another crisis into the background: the fight for a return to democracy.