A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula at 11:24 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located approximately 125 to 136Km/ 78-85 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, at a shallow depth of around 19 to 21 Km/ 12 to miles. The quake triggered tsunami waves up to four meters along parts of the Russian Pacific coastline, particularly in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, including the town of Severo-Kurilsk where flooding and infrastructure damage were reported. Authorities confirmed several injuries, but no deaths. Emergency sirens were activated in multiple Pacific nations following tsunami alerts that stretched across Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the Pacific coast of the Americas. Japan evacuated nearly two million people, though it ultimately recorded only minor waves of around 60 Cm/ 2 feet and no major damage or casualties. Hawaii experienced tsunami waves of up to 1.7 m/ 5.57 feet, prompting rare coastal evacuations. No nuclear anomalies were reported at Japan’s Fukushima plant. The quake is the largest to hit the region since the 1952 Severo-Kurilsk earthquake and ranks among the six most powerful recorded globally.

Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels stormed a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, during a midnight vigil. They attacked worshippers with guns and machetes. At least 38 people were confirmed killed inside the church, and another five were killed in a nearby village. Fifteen people were wounded, and several remain missing. Homes and shops near the church were set ablaze. The ADF, formed in Uganda in the mid-1990s and now operating along the Uganda–DRC border, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2019. This attack follows a series of massacres targeting Christians, including earlier incidents in Ituri this month that killed dozens. The incident highlights the inability of national and UN forces to safeguard civilians. The Congolese military is under pressure to respond amid continued violence from both the ADF and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. The U.N. has warned of escalating violence in the area, with over 1,000 civilians killed in North Kivu and Ituri since the start of 2024.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is investigating the suspected kidnapping of 21‑year‑old Keeran Latchman of Walnut Drive, Bregon Park, D’Abadie, and 18‑year‑old Ryan Singh of Boys Lane, D’Abadie. They disappeared after failing to return home and were last seen at approximately 9:30 a.m. when Latchman departed in a white Kia K2700 truck loaded with scaffolding and an air fryer, en route to make a delivery in Arima. Relatives and police searched for the pair, tracing the abandoned vehicle via its GPS to Savannah Trace in Arouca. On 22 July 2025, the kidnappers contacted the families demanding US$1.2 million in exchange for their release, to be paid by 25 July, or their lives would be at risk. They promised to provide proof of life, but none has been received to date. TTPS officials have remained tight‑lipped on operational details as the investigation continues. (associatestimes.com, 23 July 2025)

Floods triggered by torrential rains beginning on 26 June have claimed more than 170 lives in eastern Punjab, about half of them children. According to the National Disaster Management Authority, 54 fatalities occurred on 17 July, and at least 85 children have died since the flooding began. Heavy rainfall registered over 100 millimeters in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, collapsing homes and roads, and more rain is forecast for 18 July. A state of emergency has been declared in multiple districts, and military personnel have been deployed in Rawalpindi to support rescue efforts. Dramatic videos show first responders using inflatable rafts to carry children and families to safety. Seven relief camps have been established across the province to provide food, water, medicine and shelter to those affected. Pakistan, a country of more than 230 million people, faces an accelerating climate crisis driven by alternating heatwaves and monsoon rains. Record floods in 2022 submerged a third of the country and killed over 1,000 people, leaving millions struggling with waterborne diseases and lacking access to safe water.

A 17-year-old girl from Hobbs, New Mexico, identified only by her initials as D.C.LL.G., disappeared after traveling to Ciudad Juárez to visit an acquaintance. Three days later, her family began receiving messages via WhatsApp containing photos and videos of her showing her in captivity, accompanied by a ransom demand reportedly of around 100,000 pesos (about US$5300) in exchange for her release. Despite efforts by authorities, only on 22 July 2025 did investigators locate a residence on Sierra Moncayo Street in the Urbi Villa del Cedro neighborhood. Signs of recently disturbed soil were observed in the backyard, where the girl’s body was ultimately discovered. The official forensic report confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia by strangulation; she had also suffered blunt force trauma and multiple knife wounds. Identification was aided by tattoos on her arms. Although she was killed on 19 July, the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Strategic Operations (FEOE) only publicly acknowledged the kidnapping and homicide on 29 July. A suspect was arrested the same day. The State Attorney General’s Office of Chihuahua confirmed that the Specialized Sub-Prosecutor’s Office for Strategic Operations (FEOE) is leading the investigation, with continued efforts to identify and apprehend others responsible. U.S. authorities, including the FBI, are assisting in the probe, which is also examining whether the case involved a “virtual kidnapping” scam orchestrated by organized crime to lure the victim into Mexico. (elimparcial.com, 29 July 2025 & kfoxtv.com, 29 July 2025 & jornada.com.mx, 29 July 2025 & excelsior.com.mx, 30 July 2025)