1. Trump Campaign Manager Manafort Resigns After Troubled Stretch
Paul Manafort resigned as chairman of Donald Trump’s US presidential campaign, no longer enjoying full confidence of the Republican candidate who is trying to boost his flagging White House bid.
2. Turkey Takes Aim at Bank Inspectors, Financing in Latest Purge
Turkish authorities detained dozens of bank inspectors and academics as the government vows to cut off financing to companies suspected of having ties to the failed military coup.
3. Russian Cruise Missiles Target Syria
Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired cruise missiles at targets near Aleppo, a further sign of Moscow’s broadening military effort in Syria just days after it begins to fly bombing missions from its air base in Iran.
4. US Withdraws Staff from Saudi Arabia Dedicated to Yemen Planning
The US military has withdrawn its personnel – who were coordinating with the Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen – from Saudi Arabia, and sharply reduced the number of staff elsewhere who were assisting in that planning.
5. Bolt Seals Triple-Triple as Jamaica Win Sprint Relay
Usain Bolt secured a sweep of the three men’s sprint titles for a third successive Olympics when Jamaica successfully defended their 4x100 metres relay title in 37.27 seconds.
6. Southern California Firefighters Make Progress; 100 Homes Destroyed
Firefighters gained ground on Friday against a wildfire burning in a Southern California mountain pass that has forced tens of thousands of residents to flee their homes and destroyed about 100 houses, officials said.
7. Guatemala Prosecutors Accuse Ex-Soldier in 1982 Massacre
Prosecutors in Guatemala presented charges on Friday against a former soldier deported last week from the United States for his alleged involvement in the slaughter of more than 200 people during his country’s gruelling civil war.
8. UN Chief: 130 Million Need Assistance to Survive
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message on World Humanitarian Day that a record 130 million people depend on assistance to survive; a staggering number that would comprise the tenth most populous nation on earth.
9. Lochte Apologises, Teammate Pays Fine for Lying to Brazil Police
US Olympic gold medallist swimmer Ryan Lochte issued apology and teammate Jimmy Feigen agreed to pay $11,000 to charity after Brazilian police said they lied about being robbed at gunpoint.
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