7.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Kumamoto, Japan, Causes Mall Collapse, 2 Dead A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, leading to an explosion and collapse at a large shopping mall that resulted in two fatalities. The incident also caused a chimney to collapse at a paper factory, leaving nine employees unaccounted for.According to NHK and Kyodo News, the earthquake occurred at 4:27 PM on July 28 near Uki City. The Japan Meteorological Agency recorded shaking at the highest level of 7 on the seismic intensity scale in Uki and Hikawamachi.Abou July 29, 2026

Apple Launches Device Leasing Program in the U.S. Starting at $11.99 per Month Apple has launched a device leasing program in the United States, allowing customers to rent iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches for a monthly fee. On July 28, Apple announced the introduction of the 'Apple Upgrade' program in partnership with payment provider Klarna. Customers can lease iPhones and Apple Watches for 12 or 24 months, while iPads and Macs can be rented for 24 or 36 months. Monthly rental fees start at $11.99 for Apple Watches and iPads, $17.99 for iPhones, and $24.99 for Macs July 29, 2026

Dow Jumps 1% Amid Strong Earnings, Nasdaq Falls on Semiconductor Declines The three major U.S. stock indices closed mixed on July 28, as traditional industrial stocks like Coca-Cola and Boeing lifted the Dow, while semiconductor stocks fell sharply amid ongoing concerns over AI investments.The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 537.24 points, or 1.03%, at 52,747.32. The S&P 500 rose 15.60 points, or 0.21%, to close at 7,428.78. In contrast, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite dropped 55.17 points, or 0.22%, ending at 24,876.91.Market trends showed a clear shift of f July 29, 2026

Houthi Rebels Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Vessel in Red Sea The Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen has claimed to have fired a ballistic missile at a Saudi vessel operating in the Red Sea, forcing it to turn back. The actual impact and damage from the alleged attack have not been confirmed.Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthis, announced on July 28 that they targeted the Saudi vessel 'NCC Ghazal' with a ballistic missile.Saree asserted that the vessel violated the Houthi's declared ban on Saudi-related ships and ignored prior warnings. He stated July 29, 2026

Netanyahu and Zelensky Meet in Washington After Three Years, No Formal Talks Held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Washington for the first time in nearly three years, engaging in a brief conversation. The Times of Israel reported that the two leaders shook hands and spoke before the memorial service for the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on July 28. This marked their first face-to-face meeting since September 2023. Both leaders attended the memorial service after holding private discussions with former President Do July 29, 2026

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Drones Targeting Oil Facilities for Second Day Saudi Arabia intercepted multiple drones targeting its oil facilities for the second consecutive day. The kingdom claimed the drones were launched from Iraq and attributed the attacks to local militias supported by Iran.Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defense, announced on social media platform X on July 28 that "the air defense system intercepted several drones aimed at oil facilities in the eastern region."Al-Maliki asserted, "This attack also originated from Iraqi terr July 29, 2026

Netanyahu Calls Meeting with Trump One of the Best, Reaffirms Goal to Prevent Iran's Nuclear Armament Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump as "one of the best meetings ever." The two leaders reaffirmed their shared goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.In a video released after their meeting at the White House on July 28, Netanyahu stated, "We had a great meeting with President Trump," adding that they exchanged views on various issues in a spirit of full cooperation and mutual support.He continued, "We coordinated on m July 29, 2026

Trump Meets Zelensky and Netanyahu to Discuss Ukraine Defense and Iran Nuclear Issues President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 28. The discussions with Zelensky focused on strengthening Ukraine's air defense and peace negotiations with Russia, while the meeting with Netanyahu addressed issues related to Iran. Both meetings were held privately at the White House, differing from Trump's usual practice of taking questions from the press before meetings with foreign leaders. During his meeting with Ze July 29, 2026

Trump Threatens to Attack Iran's Infrastructure if No Deal is Reached President Donald Trump claimed that discussions with Iran are progressing well, but he reiterated threats to attack key infrastructure such as bridges and power plants if a deal is not reached.In a phone interview with Fox News on July 28, Trump stated, "We have been having very good conversations with Iran," adding that "the core of the discussions is the nuclear issue." He warned, "Iran knows that if they don’t agree, I will attack. Most major bridges will disappear in two hours, and power pla July 29, 2026

Oman Proposes Joint Management of Hormuz Strait to Iran Oman, a coastal nation of the Hormuz Strait, has proposed a plan for joint management of the strait by regional countries. This plan suggests that shipping companies voluntarily cover costs necessary for navigation safety. Iran, however, has opposed the idea of shared management and has presented its own proposal to strengthen its control over the area.According to Reuters on July 28, Oman recently delivered its joint management proposal for the Hormuz Strait to Iran, backed by support from Gulf July 29, 2026