Hezbollah leader says war with Israel has entered ‘new phase’

BEIRUT (AP) — Hezbollah’s leader warned that the militant group’s conflict with Israel has entered a “new phase.” He made the comments Thursday following the killing of a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut and Hamas’ political chief in Tehran. Hassan Nasrallah spoke to a funeral ceremony for the commander, Fouad Shukur, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut this week. In Tehran, Iran’s supreme leader prayed over the body of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader. Iran has vowed revenge for the killing of Haniyeh in a blast believed to have been carried out by Israel. The killings have raised fears of a wider war.

Mpox cases have surged by 160% in Africa so far this year

BANGUI, Central African Republic (AP) — African health officials say mpox cases have surged by 160% so far this year, warning the risk of further spread is high given the lack of treatments or vaccines on the continent. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report Tuesday that mpox, also known as monkeypox, has now been detected in 10 African countries. Most of the cases and deaths are in Congo. Mpox outbreaks in the West have mostly been shut down with vaccines and treatments, but barely any have been available in Africa. Experts warn there is a “real risk of explosion.”

British prime minister announces policing plan to deal with violence

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says he will set a national policing capability to crack down on violent protesters after clashes with police across England the past two nights. Starmer condemned the violence and said: “We will put a stop to it.” The announcement came after police were pelted with bottles in several cities by what Starmer called “marauding mobs” who apparently were reacting to a horrific stabbing Monday at a children’s dance class that killed three and wounded 10. The attack at a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance class shocked a country where knife crime is a long-standing and vexing problem, though mass stabbings are rare.

Death toll jumps to 30, with 35 others missing, in an area hit by heavy rains in southeastern China

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese state media say 30 people have died and 35 others are missing in a city in southeastern China after days of heavy rains tied to a tropical storm. The death toll rose sharply Thursday from a previously reported four deaths in villages in the city of Zixing in Hunan province. Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited the city and urged all-out efforts to find the missing. The days of torrential rain were induced by Tropical Storm Gaemi after it came onshore in China at typhoon strength late last week. Forty-eight deaths have been reported so far, all in Hunan.