Wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area, destroying at least 600 homes and structures. Emergency services are stretched thin as dozens of uncontained fires burn across the Western U.S., with dry, windy conditions expected to persist.
Nasdaq-listed Chinese insurtech Zhibao Technology signed a $154.7 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) agreement, payable in 2,380 BTC. The deal, which would give investors board and management control, faces conditions including shareholder approval, Nasdaq compliance, and capital authorization, with no closing disclosed as of August 1.
Fast-moving wildfires in Spokane, Washington state, have forced around 60,000 evacuations and destroyed 600 buildings, including homes and businesses. Officials describe it as the region's worst natural disaster, with strong winds and dryness fueling the blazes.
Celebrity agent Ralph Carr, 66, has been named after a suppression order was lifted, revealing his conviction last month for the rape and sexual assault of a woman at his West Melbourne home in March 2023. Carr maintains innocence and plans to appeal the verdict.
Petra Göbbels von der IHK bewertet Geschäftsideen und erklärt, was einen guten Businessplan ausmacht und wie man erfolgreich gründet, angesichts der steigenden Zahl von Gründungen.
A US academic calculates a potential US ban on Chinese open-weight AI models could cost American businesses up to $12 billion annually, as firms increasingly use cost-efficient Chinese solutions, with OpenRouter data offering insight into the economic fallout.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), the world's largest EV battery producer, unveiled its new Shenxing product series at an event in Beijing. The next-generation batteries feature advanced technology to manage heat during fast charging, enhancing safety and efficiency.
Australia's government proposes a 2.5% levy on big tech's digital advertising revenue for failing to strike deals with local news, a change from previous rules. The levy aims to ensure compensation for news content, despite a concession limiting it to ad revenue.
Wildfires in eastern Washington state have forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area, including hospital patients, and destroyed at least 600 homes and businesses. The fires, part of dozens across the western US, have burned 21 sq km around Spokane, with no containment yet.
The Home Office has confirmed at least five victims of former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed as human trafficking survivors. This follows calls from abuse survivors for the Metropolitan Police's Operation Cornpoppy to focus on trafficking, with cases spanning from the 1990s to after 2010.
Hong Kong's Fire Services Department concluded its investigation into the Wang Fuk Court inferno, referring contractors China Status Development and Engineering and Victory Fire Engineering to a disciplinary board for alleged negligence in deactivating fire systems. Both firms reportedly continue operations.
Indian companies face significant cost volatility due to the prolonged West Asia conflict and emerging El Nino conditions, leading to commodity inflation, rising freight charges, and exchange rate instability. This forces price hikes, squeezing margins, and raising concerns about a potential hit to discretionary consumer demand.
Outback businesses in far west NSW, including roadhouses and hotels, report significant revenue losses and reduced tourism due to incorrect and delayed road status updates on the Live Traffic NSW website and app, following months of heavy rainfall and road damage.
Westpac sells $15.4B RAMS mortgage portfolio, strengthening its balance sheet. Global oil prices drop ~5.7% after Trump cancels planned Iran attack. ASX expected to fall 1% despite Wall Street gains, with reporting season kicking off.
Capital One asked a federal judge to dismiss the Trump Organization's lawsuit, arguing account closures in 2021 were due to a monthslong anti-money-laundering review, not retaliation for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot as claimed by Trump businesses.
Wildfires near Spokane, eastern Washington, have destroyed approximately 600 homes and forced 5,000 evacuations. Burning over 8.2 square miles, the uncontained fires are exacerbated by strong winds and challenging terrain, prompting a state of emergency.
Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant, supplying half the nation's electricity, has fully shut down as record-low Danube River levels prevent adequate cooling water intake. The closure, amidst a heatwave, forces Hungary to rely on costly imports and implement conservation measures.
The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority and Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company for operating in Iran's financial sector and supporting an IRGC-backed scheme. The firms allegedly force commercial vessels to buy insurance for Strait of Hormuz passage, with HormuzSafe accepting Bitcoin to bypass sanctions.
Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant, supplying half the nation's electricity, has shut down completely due to record-low Danube River levels, preventing sufficient cooling water intake. The closure during an intense heatwave forces Hungary to rely on costly imports and implement conservation measures.
Dr Zohaib Arshad, a business owner in Falkirk, was racially abused and physically attacked on Grahams Road by a group of men who questioned why he was in the country. Police are treating the incident as a hate crime, and Arshad's political connections brought the issue to the Scottish Parliament.
Harare experienced a quiet shutdown as residents awaited protests against constitutional amendments, which critics say could extend President Mnangagwa's term. Police deployed heavily, and while the city remained calm, the dispute continues in court.
The public listing of Shanghai Jiushi Dongyu Culture, Sports & Tourism Group on the Shanghai Stock Exchange is viewed as a landmark precedent for China to experiment with a market-driven sports model. An industry expert believes this state-owned entity's consolidation of major international events will enhance the fan experience.
Donald Trump's posts on Truth Social, where he announces policy changes, are regularly rattling financial markets and drawing criticism for potentially disclosing information to a select group, while his company defends the platform against 'ideological opposition'.
Capital One defended its 2021 closure of Trump Organization accounts, citing anti-money laundering (AML) concerns in a Florida federal court filing. This marks the first time a bank formally linked AML issues to Trump's business, refuting claims of politically motivated debanking.
