A magnitude 4.9 earthquake hits southwestern China on Friday, striking Gao County in Yibin City within Sichuan province. According to official measurements published by the China Earthquake Networks Center, the seismic event occurred at 1:08 p.m. local time at a shallow focal depth of six kilometers. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed that one person was killed after being struck by a collapsing exterior wall while attempting to seek safety during the tremors.

    News

    A magnitude 4.9 earthquake hits southwestern China on Friday, striking Gao County in Yibin City within Sichuan province. According to official measurements published by the China Earthquake Networks Center, the seismic event occurred at 1:08 p.m. local time at a shallow focal depth of six kilometers. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed that one person was killed after being struck by a collapsing exterior wall while attempting to seek safety during the tremors.

    Health

    Obesity was linked to 9,509 deaths in Belgium during 2022, representing 8.2 percent of total national mortality, according to new data from the Belgian public health institute Sciensano. Marking the first time public health researchers in the country have systematically quantified mortality directly attributable to an elevated body mass index (BMI), the report reveals that weight-related complications caused more than one death per hour nationwide. The statistical findings also show that high BMI resulted in over 150,000 lost years of life across all demographic groups in a single year.

    The study will operate at three Canadian sites and enroll about 80 healthy adults. Researchers will assess the vaccine’s safety, tolerability and ability to produce an immune response. The trial will not determine whether the vaccine prevents infection because Phase 1 studies focus on early safety data. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations has committed up to $50 million for preclinical work, the trial and production of additional research doses.

    Michigan health officials have confirmed two deaths connected to the state’s 2026 cyclosporiasis outbreak. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 11,234 cases as of Aug. 3. The state also recorded 193 hospitalizations through July 30. Both patients had serious underlying medical conditions. Officials said cyclosporiasis and dehydration may have affected those conditions, but they released no additional personal information.

    The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has become the country’s largest recorded epidemic. Health authorities counted 3,605 confirmed cases through July 30, including 1,587 deaths. The case fatality rate stood at 44%. Teams logged 567 infections and 296 deaths during the latest full reporting week. Those figures marked the highest weekly totals since the outbreak began. The surge placed further pressure on surveillance, treatment and community response operations.

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    Business

    Under the terms of the revised agreement, the main satellite constellation will grow from 282 planned orbital units to 348 active spacecraft. The expanded network architecture integrates 330 satellites positioned in higher low Earth orbit alongside 18 spacecraft deployed in medium Earth orbit, with optional orbital elements reserved for specialized mission support. The implementation agreement confirms the definitive timeline for satellite manufacturing, launch procurement, secure ground segment construction, and operational connectivity service delivery. The primary constellation schedule establishes initial satellite launches for 2029, enabling early sovereign connectivity capabilities for participating member states shortly thereafter.

    Ethics watchdogs and legal experts called on Congress on Monday to institute strict anti-corruption provisions in pending cryptocurrency legislation, warning that lawmakers must close the crypto conflict of interest loopholes or scrap the CLARITY Act entirely. In a joint statement, nonpartisan advocacy group Democracy Defenders Action and civil society organization Transparency International U.S. criticized the ethics text contained within the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The organizations argued that the current statutory framework fails to protect the integrity of the digital asset marketplace, American consumers, and the national economy from self-dealing by public officials.

    United Kingdom / RankWire.AI / –Private sector wage growth hits six year low in the United Kingdom as official earnings figures show regular pay in the private sector slowed to 2.9 percent in the three months to May 2026. Data published by the Office for National Statistics revealed that…

    TANIMBAR ISLANDS, INDONESIA / RankWire.AI / – Indonesia expects the Abadi Masela LNG project to deliver about $37.8 billion in direct government revenue. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia also projected $6.43 billion in indirect tax receipts. Officials released the figures after a July 16 groundbreaking ceremony…

    CAIRO / RankWire.AI / – Egypt’s net international reserves reached a provisional $55.0723 billion at the end of June 2026. The total exceeded $55 billion for the first time and marked a record high. The Central Bank of Egypt announced the figure on July 8. Reserves stood at…

    WASHINGTON / RankWire.AI / – U.S. President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held conversations on broader economic and energy collaboration at the White House on Tuesday. Their focus was on oil, natural gas, electricity, trade, and private sector investment. Trump indicated that the United States…

    BRUSSELS, BELGIUM / RankWire.AI / – The Council of the European Union provided its final approval on Tuesday for the EU-Mexico Interim Trade Agreement. This decision marks the completion of the European Union’s internal ratification process for the trade arrangement. EU and Mexican officials signed the agreement during…

    NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Oil prices surged nearly 10% on Monday as renewed U.S.-Iran conflict focused attention on the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures for September delivery gained $7.29, or 9.6%, to settle at $83.30 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $6.73, or…

    NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Gold dropped about 3% on Monday, July 13, falling below $4,000 an ounce as oil prices surged and expectations for higher U.S. interest rates strengthened. Spot gold fell to $3,996.76 per ounce, its lowest level in two weeks. U.S. gold futures for…

    MANILA, PHILIPPINES / MENA Newswire / – The Asian Development Bank cut its 2026 growth forecast for developing Asia and the Pacific to 4.9%. The bank cited prolonged global energy disruption and softer demand in parts of the region. The projection stands below the 5.1% estimate issued in…

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA / RankWire.AI / – Apple announced a multiyear chip agreement with Broadcom valued at more than $30 billion. The deal covers custom silicon parts and wireless connectivity technology for Apple products. Apple said the agreement will produce more than 15 billion U.S.-made chips. It also supports…

    GENEVA / RankWire.AI / – Developing Asia attracted $644 billion in foreign direct investment in 2025, up from $623 billion a year earlier, United Nations Trade and Development said in its World Investment Report 2026. The gain kept the region as the largest FDI recipient among developing regions.…

    NEW YORK / RankWire.AI / – Oil prices settled higher Tuesday, with Brent crude futures rising 3.01% to $74.16 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained 2.76% to $70.44 a barrel. Brent added $2.17 for the session. WTI rose $1.89. Trading later extended gains after the United…

    Technology

    The valuation shift reflects broader recalibrations across international financial markets as institutional managers re-evaluate capital commitments tied to artificial intelligence infrastructure. While competing hyperscale computing enterprises including Alphabet and Tesla accelerated capital investments toward data centers, robotics, and autonomous transport networks, Apple maintained disciplined expenditure controls over consecutive fiscal quarters. Market participants increasingly view Apple’s disciplined spending approach as a operational buffer, allowing the firm to expand its proprietary Apple Intelligence software ecosystem without incurring high infrastructure depreciation costs. Trading patterns across major equity benchmarks highlighted diverging sentiment between hardware component suppliers and consumer technology platforms. Nvidia shares experienced increased selling pressure alongside wider pullbacks across semiconductor equities, as investors scrutinized the timeline for financial returns on massive artificial intelligence data center investments. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index recorded notable weekly declines as market participants reassessed elevated valuation multiples across pure-play chipmakers. Despite persistent demand for graphics processing units, concerns surrounding energy supply constraints, macroeconomic interest rate trajectories, and capital expenditure intensity weighed on semiconductor equity prices.

    Sports

    ARLINGTON, TEXAS / MENA Newswire / – Spain reached the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Portugal on Monday, as Mikel Merino scored in the 91st minute at Dallas Stadium. The substitute took a pass from Ferran Torres and finished low past Diogo Costa. Spain advanced after a tight Iberian derby that ended Portugal’s campaign. Spain had more of the ball and more of the chances. The 2010 champions finished with 55 percent possession…

    Automotive

    Company leadership confirmed that Porsche to cut 5,000 more jobs under restructuring plan negotiations following months of talks between management and labor councils. The initiative aims to bolster operational efficiency as the vehicle producer confronts declining market share in Asia, elevated global tariffs, and sluggish demand for electric vehicles.