South Korea breaks 117-year record with 22 ‘tropical nights’ in July
South Korea has recorded 22 tropical nights in July—it’s highest since records began in 1908, the weather agency said Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.
A tropical night is when temperatures stay above 25°C overnight. In Seoul, one night didn’t dip below 29.3°C.
The country is facing an intense heat wave, with some areas hitting over 40°C. At least 16 people have died from heat-related illnesses, Al Jazeera reported.
Experts warn such extremes are becoming more common due to climate change.
Lithuanian PM resigns amid scandal, government in turmoil
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has resigned following public protests and investigations into past misconduct. President Gitanas Nausėda confirmed the resignation on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera.
Paluckas, accused of abuse of office during his time as a city official in 2012, has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations politically driven. His departure is expected to bring down the coalition government, prompting fresh talks.
The political crisis comes as Lithuania faces rising regional tensions, including upcoming joint military drills by Russia and Belarus, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump imposes 50 percent tariff on copper imports to protect US industry
US President Trump has signed a proclamation imposing a 50 percent tariff on all imports of semi-finished copper and copper-based products, effective from August 1, Xinhua reported.
The move aims to protect the domestic copper industry, which the White House says is essential to national security and defense production.
The proclamation also authorizes the Commerce Secretary to expand the list of tariffed items and take further action under the Defense Production Act, according to Xinhua.
Following the announcement, US copper futures on Comex fell 20 percent, with markets reacting sharply to the unexpected measure.
India court acquits seven accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case
A court in India has acquitted all seven accused in a deadly bombing that struck a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra state nearly 17 years ago, BBC reported.
At least six people were killed and nearly a hundred injured in the blasts that hit Malegaon in September 2008.
Among the seven acquitted are Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a former MP of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and a serviceman, Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit.
According to legal portal Live Law, the judge noted that the prosecution failed to prove the motorbike that allegedly triggered the blasts belonged to Thakur, according to BBC.
