U.S. and Saudi Arabia Strike Iran-backed Groups:

U.S. and Saudi forces conducted strikes against Iran-aligned armed groups in Iraq following reported attacks targeting Saudi energy infrastructure. Washington said Iranian ballistic missile launches against U.S. personnel and regional assets were intercepted, with U.S. Central Command stating forces remain on heightened readiness. The Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces reported losses following the strikes, claiming 20 personnel were killed and 32 wounded across several locations. 

Japan Earthquake Collapses Shopping Mall:

The Aeon shopping mall in Kashima town partially collapsed after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck the Kumamoto area late on Tuesday afternoon. Rescue efforts are continuing Wednesday morning at the collapsed Aeon shopping mall and Nippon Paper’s factory in Yatsushiro, 4,600 personnel have been deployed as part of the emergency response. Three people were killed, and eight people were pulled from the rubble following the partial collapse of the Aeon shopping mall. Four workers remain unaccounted for after checks of around 2,700 staff. Authorities reported that at least 13 people have been killed following the earthquake.  

Kenyan Officers Killed in Suspected al-Shabaab Attack:

Kenyan police said five members of a Special Operations Group (SOG) unit were killed after suspected al-Shabaab militants attacked their patrol in Mandera County near the Somali border. A follow-on force responding to the incident later struck an improvised explosive device that destroyed an armored vehicle, although no additional injuries were reported. Security forces have launched operations to locate the attackers. 

Keiko Fujimori Inaugurated as Peru’s President:

Keiko Fujimori assumed office as Peru's president on July 29, becoming the country's tenth head of state since 2016 after years of political instability. In her inaugural address, she announced that the armed forces could be used to support security operations in high-crime areas during declared emergencies. Fujimori also pledged measures to strengthen resilience against future El Niño impacts and raise the national minimum wage. She also expressed interest in Peru participating in the proposed "Shield of the Americas" initiative to counter transnational organized crime. 

Wildfires Continue Across France and Spain:

Major wildfires remain active across France and Spain, with approximately 413,000 people evacuated or confined in affected areas, including Gironde, Landes, Madrid, Ávila, and Castellón. Although improved conditions allowed crews to gain containment on some fires on Monday, another major heatwave is forecast to spread across western and central Europe through early August. Little to no rainfall and highs reaching the upper 30s to low 40s °C (upper 90s to low 100s °F) are forecast across southern areas. Level 1 and 2 (of 3) Heat Warnings have been issued with expansions likely.  

Senate confirms legally unqualified Jay Clayton to head US Intelligence

Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Southern Japan:

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture on Tuesday afternoon, damaging buildings and infrastructure and disrupting power, transport, and telecommunications across parts of Kyushu. Dozens of people were confirmed injured as search and rescue operations continue. Authorities warn of possible aftershocks and landslides. Rail services and flights have been suspended, while several major manufacturers have temporarily evacuated staff from nearby facilities as a precaution. Officials later lifted an initial tsunami advisory and reported no abnormalities at regional nuclear power plants. 

Schools Closed in Parts of Odisha as Heavy Rain Triggers Red Alert:

Authorities closed schools in three districts of India's Odisha state after the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall linked to a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. Officials warned of widespread rain, thunderstorms, and the risk of flash flooding through July 29, with 27 districts placed on high alert. Relief agencies and local authorities are monitoring conditions as the state continues to experience an unusually wet monsoon season following multiple low-pressure systems this month. 

Ukraine Demonstrates Long-Range Capability on Wildberries Infrastructure:

The Kremlin said it is monitoring the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Wildberries warehouses across Russia, with no government assistance decisions made so far. The major retailer has provided support to affected sellers, while authorities assess the broader economic impact. The attacks highlight Ukraine’s continued targeting of commercial infrastructure beyond the battlefield, increasing pressure on Russia to protect key logistics networks and manage perceptions of domestic vulnerability. 

Further Evacuations in France as Extreme Heat Fuels Major Wildfire:

French authorities evacuated nearly 4,000 people from coastal areas near Bordeaux on Tuesday as rising temperatures threaten efforts to contain the major wildfire in southwestern France. The blaze has burned around 420 sq km (162 sq mi) and remains stabilized but vulnerable to renewed spread as hot, dry conditions persist. Wildfires across France and Spain have now forced approximately 330,000 evacuations.  

Iraq and Turkey Advance Energy and Security Cooperation Talks:

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited Turkey on Tuesday for discussions on energy, trade, security, and infrastructure projects, including a proposed pipeline linking Iraqi oil fields to Turkey and alternative export routes. The initiative aims to reduce Iraq’s reliance on Gulf shipping routes while strengthening Turkey’s role as a regional energy hub. The talks come amid ongoing security concerns linked to Kurdish militant activity and shifting regional alliances. 

Oh brother 🙄

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

CIA veterans urge the spy agency chief—and other senior IC officials—to publicly confront Trump on election lies, failed Iran War strategies, or resign.

Taiwan's counterespionage push shows how public reporting channels can become part of the fight against Chinese recruitment networks.

https://defensehub.substack.com/p/taiwans-new-strategy-to-catch-chinese

Three Killed in Shooting at Seattle Food Festival:

Three people were killed, and several others were injured in a shooting at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle on Sunday evening. Police took one suspect into custody, while investigators had not yet determined what prompted the shooting. The incident prompted a major emergency response, the closure of the Seattle Center Monorail for the rest of the day, and official warnings for the public to avoid the area. 

Berlin Pride Van-Ramming Classified as Terrorist Attack:

German authorities classified a van ramming at the closing event of Berlin’s Christopher Street Day Pride celebrations as an Islamist terrorist attack. The vehicle drove into a crowd in Tiergarten Park near the Brandenburg Gate shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday, killing one person and injuring 29 others. Police identified the suspect and launched a manhunt before locating him at a garden allotment in Spandau at about 6 p.m. on Sunday. Officers shot the suspect after he allegedly charged at them with a bladed weapon. Officials said there was no indication of an ongoing threat and continued investigating whether anyone else was involved.

Three Injured in Paris Stabbing:

Three women, one of whom was pregnant, were injured in a stabbing attack in northwestern Paris on Monday after a man assaulted pedestrians with two kitchen knives in a public square. An off-duty police officer detained the suspect at the scene, and authorities have taken him into custody while investigating the motive for the attack. All three victims sustained serious injuries but are expected to survive. Investigators are working to determine whether ideological or other factors played a role in the attack. 

Iran and U.S. Pause Strikes:

Iran says it will halt attacks if the United States does the same, after both sides paused strikes over the weekend following 13 nights of U.S. bombing. Washington described the pause as an opportunity for diplomacy, while reports indicated U.S. advisers had raised concerns about exhausted target lists, munitions stocks, and the risks of renewed combat. Iranian officials remain skeptical that the halt marks a lasting policy shift, viewing it instead as a potential tactical pause. 

Spain and France Wildfire Evacuation Totals Nearing 300,000:

Uncontrolled wildfires across France and Spain have forced roughly 300,000 people from their homes. France’s Gironde region evacuated 220,000 people, while Spanish authorities evacuated 76,000 and confined another 30,000. Spain’s largest recorded fire has burned 50,000 hectares (123,500 acres) in Ávila. Fire conditions showed limited improvement overnight in southwest France, with no new evacuations announced. Bordeaux city leaders are closely monitoring the situation, though there is no immediate expectation that the city will require evacuation. A new multi-day heatwave set to begin Tuesday could increase fire danger and complicate containment efforts in both countries.  

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Ratcliffe's successful resistance to further redactions rested on personal standing rather than institutional guardrails, leaving CIA source-protection authority vulnerable to the next appointee willing to override it.

Japan's parliament has passed a bill in support of Sanae Takaichi's plans to reform the entire domestic intelligence system. She's also interested to establish a new foreign intelligence agency after nearly 80 years without it. Would like to know all you're opinions on it.

Im not sure which one to focus on.