**Summary:** Taiwan People's Party celebrated its 7th anniversary in Taichung, marking the first party event attended by founding chairman Ke Wen-je since his release from custody.

**Key points:**
- Founding chairman Ke Wen-je emotionally criticized President Lai Ching-te and stated the party will not surrender.
- Taiwan People's Party chairman Huang Crys-chang discussed strengthening cooperation with the Kuomintang to win upcoming local elections.
- Taichung Mayor Lu Xiu-yan and several other Kuomintang politicians attended the party celebration event to offer congratulations.

**Why it matters:** The event highlights the political positioning of the Taiwan People's Party and potential strategic cooperation with the Kuomintang ahead of local elections.

n.yam.com - 民眾黨7週年黨慶移師台中 黃國昌 ： 與藍營密切合作打贏年底選戰

newtalk.tw - 民眾黨7週年 柯文哲怒捶桌嗆 ： 賴清德 我們絕對不會投降 ！

Taiwan People's Party Marks 7th Anniversary as Ke Wen-je Criticizes Lai Ching-te

**Summary:** The death toll from the magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto prefecture has risen to 38, with rescue operations continuing and thousands remaining in evacuation shelters.

**Key points:**
- An elderly woman sheltering in a car died of heatstroke amid extreme temperatures, raising concerns over heat-related illnesses.
- Search and rescue operations continue at sites including a collapsed smokestack at a Nippon Paper factory and an explosion-affected Aeon Mall.
- Over 9,400 people are staying across 406 evacuation shelters in Kumamoto prefecture.
- The disaster left approximately 79,700 households without water and around 19,000 households without electricity.

**Why it matters:** The disaster highlights severe humanitarian challenges as victims face extreme heat while sheltering, alongside widespread infrastructure disruptions affecting water and power supplies.

prokerala.com - Death toll from Japan Kumamoto earthquake rises to 38

South China Morning Post - Japan quake victim dies of heatstroke while sheltering in car amid ‘extreme heat’ warning

Death Toll Rises to 38 Following Powerful Earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture

**Summary:** Spain has installed a 1,600-foot sea barrier on its border with Morocco in Ceuta after tens of thousands of migrants breached the frontier, resulting in at least 67 deaths.

**Key points:**
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the EU's external borders as a shared responsibility while criticizing calls to suspend Spain from the Schengen zone.
- Italian premier Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy's open-border Schengen agreement with Spain and reimposed border controls.
- Leaders from 22 European Union countries signed a letter calling for a coordinated response and an urgent videoconference of interior ministers.
- Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska defended Morocco as a reliable partner after the border breach.

**Why it matters:** The mass border crossings and subsequent fatalities in Ceuta have triggered intense diplomatic friction within the European Union and renewed debates over border security and migration policies.

bridportnews.co.uk - Spain installs sea barrier on Ceuta border after frontier rush that killed 67

rockymounttelegram.com - Spain installs sea barrier on Ceuta border with Morocco after frontier rush that killed 67

Spain installs sea barrier on Ceuta border after frontier rush

**Summary:** At least 13 people died when a tourist aircraft operated by Aerodiana crashed in southern Peru while en route to the Nazca Lines.

**Key points:**
- The sightseeing aircraft took off from the city of Pisco to overfly the pre-Columbian geoglyphs.
- The crash occurred in the Pueblo Viejo sector, situated very close to the Nazca Lines.
- Local authorities confirmed that an official investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident and any legal responsibilities.

**Why it matters:** The tragic accident results in a significant loss of life during a popular tourist excursion, prompting an official investigation into aviation safety standards for flights over the Nazca Lines.

almomento.net - PERU: Al menos 13 muertos en accidente avioneta con turistas

hoy.es - Al menos 13 turistas mueren en un accidente de avioneta en Perú

Tourist Plane Crash in Southern Peru Kills at Least 13 People

**Summary:** An explosion at the Balzi Rossi restaurant in central Moscow killed three people and injured numerous others during a private evening event.

**Key points:**
- Russia's National Anti-Terrorism Committee stated that an unknown woman attempted to bring an explosive device into the establishment.
- The blast occurred near a summer terrace on the ground floor of a Stalin-era skyscraper on Kudrinskaya Ploshchad.
- Initial reports and state television speculated the blast might have been caused by a detonating gas canister.
- Unconfirmed reports indicated the venue was hosting a private gathering for high-ranking Russian officials and military figures.

**Why it matters:** The explosion in a high-profile location in central Moscow during a private gathering involving high-ranking figures highlights severe domestic security concerns.

faz.net - Motiv unklar: Sprengsatz in Moskauer Restaurant

themoscowtimes.com - Restaurant Explosion in Central Moscow Kills 3, Injures 15, Police Say

tsn.ua - Вибух у центрі Москви: в ресторан з високопосадовцями принесли бомбу, троє загиблих

Explosion at Central Moscow Restaurant Kills Three and Injures Over a Dozen

**Summary:** The Beni-Enzar border crossing between Spain and Morocco in Melilla has reopened gradually following a 36-hour closure caused by intense migrant pressure.

**Key points:**
- The reopening began at 10:30 on Saturday, allowing stranded travelers from the Operation Strait Crossing to exit in groups of twenty vehicles.
- Moroccan security forces implemented a heavy deployment and secured the perimeter before the border was reopened.
- Police maintained the phased approach to avoid security zone overcrowding and prevent potential renewed migrant breach attempts.

**Why it matters:** The border closure and subsequent phased reopening highlight ongoing migration pressures along the strategic land borders between Europe and Africa.

ria.ru - СМИ : Испания приступит к постепенному открытию границы с Марокко у Мелильи

huffingtonpost.es - Se reabre la frontera de Melilla después de 36 horas de cierre

hespress.com - فتح معبر مليلية ينهي معاناة العالقين

Melilla-Morocco border reopens after 36-hour closure due to migrant pressure

**Summary:** The Kuwaiti military announced the successful interception and destruction of hostile Iranian drones that entered its airspace, resulting in minor material damage but no casualties.

**Key points:**
- Ministry of Defense spokesperson Colonel Staff Saud Abdulaziz Al-Atwan confirmed that the operations targeted a government facility in northern Kuwait and civilian machinery on Bubyan Island.
- Air defense systems intercepted the incoming drones, causing property damage from falling debris.
- The Kuwaiti armed forces urged citizens and residents to adhere to official security and safety guidelines.

**Why it matters:** This military escalation and direct airspace violation involving Kuwait and Iran highlights growing security tensions and threats to critical infrastructure in the Gulf region.

jordanzad.com - الجيش الكويتي: استهداف منشأة حكومية وآليات مدنية إثر عدوان إيراني

hespress.com - الكويت تعلن تدمير مسيرات إيرانية معادية

Kuwait intercepts and destroys hostile Iranian drones

**Summary:** Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the 33rd Diplomatic Conference and 22nd Foreign Affairs Conference in Hanoi from August 1 to 7, 2026.

**Key points:**
- General Secretary and President Tô Lâm emphasized making development-focused diplomacy the central task during a working session with ministry leaders and ambassadors.
- Ambassador to Israel Nguyễn Kỳ Sơn highlighted the successful application of independent and flexible foreign policy in bilateral trade and high-tech cooperation.
- Total bilateral trade between Vietnam and Israel reached approximately $1.93 billion in the first six months of 2026.

**Why it matters:** These high-level conferences set Vietnam's strategic foreign policy directions and economic diplomacy goals for the implementation period following the 14th National Party Congress.

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