Global Express | July 31, 2026: Japan 7.1 Quake Triggers Mall Explosion, 18 Dead as Rescue Efforts Continue

📰 Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Kumamoto, Japan; AEON Mall Explosion Kills at Least 18

A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on July 29, triggering a devastating explosion at the AEON Mall in Kashima town. The blast caused a partial collapse of the building's second floor, trapping large numbers of shoppers and employees. Rescue workers have confirmed at least 18 fatalities, including three mall workers, with three more store employees still unaccounted for.

Thousands of shoppers and staff were swiftly evacuated after Japan's Meteorological Agency issued an emergency earthquake warning. Dashboard camera footage captured the moment of the explosion, showing white smoke billowing from the structure as steel beams were exposed and debris was catapulted across the parking lot. One witness described the aftermath as "like volcanic ash falling."

Japan's Self-Defense Forces and emergency responders have been deployed to the disaster zone, combing through rubble and collapsed houses for survivors. This is the deadliest natural disaster to strike Japan in 2026. The Prime Minister has convened an emergency disaster response meeting, pledging full government support for rescue and recovery efforts.

— BBC News

---

📰 Trump Announces Historic Deal for Complete Disarmament of Hamas in Gaza

President Donald Trump announced Thursday evening on Truth Social that his "Board of Peace" had brokered a historic agreement: Hamas and all other armed groups in Gaza have agreed to completely disarm, with Israeli forces to withdraw from the Palestinian territory in carefully structured phases. Trump hailed it as "the first time Hamas has officially committed to an actionable disarmament roadmap."

According to the Board of Peace statement, Hamas has agreed to a detailed document outlining a 20-point plan for weapons collection, fighter reintegration, and international oversight. However, no concrete timeline has been announced, and multiple key details remain unresolved. Israeli officials have stated that weapons storage is contingent on full Israeli withdrawal, with disagreements persisting over the sequencing of implementation.

International reaction has been cautious. Multiple analysts note that the agreement faces enormous implementation hurdles, including coordination among Gaza's various armed factions, domestic political pressure in Israel, and the stance of regional powers such as Iran. A UN spokesperson welcomed any progress toward ending the conflict but emphasized the need for verifiable commitments.

— Al Jazeera

---

📰 US-Iran Conflict Escalates: US Launches Heavy Wave of Retaliatory Strikes, Iran Vows Revenge

The United States military carried out a "heavy wave" of retaliatory strikes against Iran on Wednesday night, targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities in response to Iranian ballistic missile attacks on American forces in the Middle East. US Central Command confirmed strikes on missile installations and command centers, marking the latest escalation in the tit-for-tat conflict that has intensified throughout July.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard responded Thursday by vowing to "punish the aggressor today," threatening further escalation. Tehran also launched retaliatory attacks against two US allies in the region. Analysts warn that the cycle of reciprocal strikes is spiraling out of control, with mediation efforts facing serious setbacks as both sides dig in.

Global markets reacted with volatility as oil prices surged on fears of disruption to Strait of Hormuz shipping. G7 foreign ministers held emergency calls to discuss de-escalation options, while the UN Security Council prepared for an emergency session. The intensifying conflict has become the most serious US-Iran military confrontation in decades.

— The Guardian

---

📰 World-Renowned Climber Nirmal Purja Among 10 Missing After Avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak

Nepali mountaineering legend and former British Special Forces member Nirmal "Nims" Purja is among 10 climbers missing after an avalanche struck Broad Peak in Pakistan on Thursday. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that all 10 climbers have been out of communication since the avalanche hit around midday. Four bodies have since been recovered, though identities have not yet been confirmed.

Broad Peak, standing at 8,051 meters (26,414 feet), is the world's 12th-highest mountain, located in the Karakoram Range on the China-Pakistan border. The climbing party was en route to the summit when the avalanche swept through. Pakistan's military has deployed helicopters for search and rescue operations, but severe weather and extreme altitude are severely hampering efforts.

Purja rose to global fame through the Netflix documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible," which chronicled his record-breaking feat of summiting all 14 of the world's 8,000-meter peaks in just 6 months and 6 days. The global mountaineering community has expressed shock and grief at the unfolding tragedy.

— The Guardian

---

📰 Big Tech Earnings: Microsoft Posts Record Market-Value Surge, Apple and Amazon Beat Expectations

Microsoft shares surged 15.5% on Thursday, marking the largest single-day market-value increase in stock market history, after the company reported better-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter earnings driven by accelerating cloud growth. Azure cloud services revenue impressed investors, validating the company's massive AI infrastructure investments.

Apple and Amazon both reported quarterly results after Thursday's closing bell that beat Wall Street estimates on both revenue and profit. Apple's services segment continued its steady expansion while iPhone sales remained resilient. Amazon saw standout performance from its AWS cloud division and advertising business, though Apple's cautious forward guidance led to a modest after-hours share price dip.

Meta, however, disappointed investors as profits fell short of expectations, with Mark Zuckerberg's aggressive spending plans on AI infrastructure raising concerns about capital efficiency. Investors are increasingly demanding that tech companies demonstrate concrete revenue returns from AI investments, creating a clear divergence within the sector.

— Yahoo Finance

---

📰 Senate Panel Delays Vote on Todd Blanche's Attorney General Nomination

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday postponed a key vote on Todd Blanche's nomination to become U.S. Attorney General, as two Republican senators—including John Cornyn of Texas—withheld support pending further assurances regarding the settlement of President Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. A scheduled private meeting between Cornyn and Blanche was canceled, signaling a lack of progress.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal criminal defense attorney in the New York "hush money" case, has seen his nomination advance on a razor-thin margin but is now stalled by Republican internal divisions. The holdout senators are demanding greater transparency around the IRS settlement, which critics have characterized as potentially improper.

Trump subsequently signaled he might withdraw Blanche's nomination entirely and resubmit it after dissenting Republican senators leave office. The standoff has heightened political uncertainty in Washington and exposed growing tensions between the president and his congressional allies over personnel appointments.

— AP News

---

📰 Bank of Japan Holds Interest Rate Steady at 1%, Yen Intervention Eyed

The Bank of Japan kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.0% on Friday, in an 8-1 vote by its policy board, following the conclusion of a two-day meeting. The decision was widely expected by markets after the central bank raised rates by 25 basis points in June to the highest level since 1995.

Despite Tokyo's core consumer price index climbing closer to the BOJ's 2% target in July, policymakers opted to assess the economic impact of the previous rate hike before making further moves. The bank's statement indicated it would continue "gradually" normalizing rates as inflation expectations rise, while emphasizing the need to monitor geopolitical risks affecting Japan's export-driven economy.

The yen weakened against the dollar following the decision, but there are signs that the Japanese government has intervened in currency markets to curb excessive depreciation. Analysts note that the enormous scale of yen carry trades means the BOJ's policy trajectory carries significant spillover risks for global financial markets.

— The Manila Times

---

📰 London Man Arrested in Cyprus on Suspicion of Spying on UK Military Base for Iran

British police announced Friday that a 44-year-old dual British-Azerbaijani national, Rashad Sultanov, has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of conducting hostile surveillance of RAF Akrotiri and passing information to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Sultanov, from the Islington area of London, is accused of "hostile reconnaissance" activities.

RAF Akrotiri, located on the southern coast of Cyprus, is one of Britain's most strategically important military installations in the Mediterranean and has been used to support US operations during the recent US-Iran conflict. London's Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command is leading the investigation in coordination with Cypriot authorities.

The case highlights the expanding scope of Iranian intelligence operations targeting Western military facilities globally. UK security services have recently intensified their crackdown on Iran-linked espionage activities. Sultanov is currently in custody in Cyprus, with extradition proceedings underway.

— BBC News

---

📰 UEFA's 55 Member Nations Pledge to Boycott FIFA Tournaments Over $4.2 Billion World Cup Privatization Plan

UEFA and all 55 of its member national associations issued a joint statement Thursday pledging to boycott all FIFA competitions until the organization completely abandons its plan to sell a stake in World Cup commercial rights to private investors. FIFA had announced plans to sell up to 21% of a newly created entity called FIFA Football Entity (FFE), aiming to raise $4.2 billion.

"No UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive," the statement declared, demanding that FIFA provide "binding assurances that it will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership." European football leaders are rallying behind Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi as a potential challenger to current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

FIFA has defended the plan as necessary to bring investment to global football development, but critics argue it would turn the World Cup into a profit vehicle for private capital. If the boycott proceeds, it would directly impact the 2028 UEFA Nations League and 2030 World Cup qualifiers, among other major tournaments.

— The Athletic / The New York Times

---

📰 Crypto Miners Stealing Massive Amounts of Electricity Across Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian nations are grappling with a surge in electricity theft driven by illegal cryptocurrency mining operations, according to a DW investigation. In countries including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, criminal networks are bypassing meters and tapping directly into high-voltage lines to power Bitcoin mining farms, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses to national power grids.

A raid in Malaysia last week exposed a vast network of illegal mining operations linked to organized crime. Authorities discovered miners operating out of modified shipping containers and abandoned factories, with monthly electricity consumption equivalent to that of a small city. Similar cases have been reported across Thailand and Indonesia, with some operations tied to transnational criminal syndicates.

Governments in the region are wrestling with the balance between crypto mining's economic benefits and the strain on power infrastructure. Malaysia has enacted tougher penalties for electricity theft, while Thailand is considering a licensing regime for mining operations. Interpol has warned that crypto mining electricity theft is emerging as a significant new revenue stream for organized crime.

— DW News

---