Morning Headlines

A Russian missile fired during a massive barrage on Ukraine — at least 74 missiles and hundreds of Shahed drones that killed 13 Ukrainians — flew roughly 90 km into Polish territory and exploded in a field. NATO scrambled aircraft, Poland's PM said forces were ready to intercept, and EU Commission President von der Leyen called it an 'unacceptable violation' of EU airspace.

Trump's 'Board of Peace' announced that Hamas has agreed in principle to full disarmament, with a detailed roadmap due within 14 days. Hamas says disarmament is conditional on Israel ceasing strikes and withdrawing from Gaza; Israel remains skeptical, and implementation faces significant obstacles over a seven-to-eight-month timeline.

As of July 29, the 2026 Ituri Ebola outbreak has recorded 3,442 confirmed cases and 1,521 deaths across five DRC provinces, making it the third-largest and fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever. WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in May; cross-border spread to Uganda has raised regional alarm.

The Commerce Department reported annualized second-quarter GDP growth of just 1.5%, down from 2.1% in Q1, as tariffs, a widening trade deficit, and lower government spending weighed on output. Consumer spending rose 3.2% but is being funded partly by savings drawdowns, a pace economists warn is unsustainable.

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, killing at least 35 people, partly collapsing a shopping mall, and cutting power to nearly 35,000 homes. Rescue teams were still searching for survivors on July 31, with expressways, rail lines, and sections of Kumamoto Castle damaged.