10 things you need to know today: July 31, 2023

1. Saudi Arabia to host Ukraine peace talks without Russia

Ukraine confirmed Sunday that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host a summit on ending the fighting in Ukraine, The Washington Post reported. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan will attend, but Russia won't, the Post added, citing a person familiar with the plans. India, Brazil, South Africa, and other countries also will send delegations. Europe and Washington hope that the meeting will advance their efforts to rally more support for Ukraine from developing countries, according to The Wall Street Journal. The plan is for Ukraine and its allies to form a consensus on how to end the war, which started last spring when Russian troops invaded. A wider-ranging summit would follow later this year.

The Washington Post The Wall Street Journal

2. Blast at Pakistan political rally kills at least 43

An explosion killed at least 43 people at a Pakistan political rally on Sunday. Another 200 were wounded. The blast targeted an event organized by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, an Islamist party in the governing coalition. Akhtar Hayat Khan, provincial police chief in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province near Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, blamed a suicide bomber for the blast. The deadly explosion was the latest sign of rising violence in Pakistan since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan provided a haven for Islamist militants. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Officials suspected an Islamic State affiliate that has been active in northwest Pakistan.

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The New York Times

3. West African nations threaten force to reverse Niger coup

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States on Sunday threatened to use force against Niger's coup leaders unless they reinstate ousted President Mohammed Bazoum within a week. The 15-nation bloc also imposed financial sanctions, closed all of the West African nation's land borders, and declared a no-fly zone in its skies. Niger's coup was the region's seventh in recent years, but the first to prompt a threat of military action by neighboring countries. The coup has stoked fears that Niger, a former French colony, could shift closer to Russia. A pro-junta crowd protested outside the French embassy, chanting "Long live Russia" and "Long live Putin."

BBC News Reuters

4. Zelenskyy says attacks in Moscow are 'inevitable' and 'fair'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that attacks inside Russia are "inevitable" and "absolutely fair" 522 days into Russia's invasion of his country. "Ukraine is getting stronger," he said. "Gradually, the war is returning to the territory of Russia — to its symbolic centers and military bases." His comments came hours after Russia blamed Ukraine for the latest drone attacks in Crimea and Moscow, which has been targeted by drones three times in July. The Kremlin said it thwarted the attacks. Two Moscow office buildings were slightly damaged, but nobody was injured. Two Russian missiles struck a residential building and a university building in the Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih, killing two people and injuring 25.

Axios BBC News

5. Africa-Russia summit ends without promise to revive Ukraine grain deal

African leaders over the weekend concluded two days of meetings in Russia empty-handed after urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to revive a deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea. Putin said after the Russia-Africa summit that ending the grain deal earlier this month pushed up grain prices to the benefit of Russian companies. He added that Moscow would share the money with poor nations. Putin also has promised to ship 25,000 to 50,000 tons of free grain to each of six African nations — Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Eritrea, and Central African Republic — within the next four months. Under the grain deal, the United Nations Food Program shipped 725,000 tons of grain to nations facing potential hunger crises.

The Associated Press The Guardian

6. Record 31st straight day of 110-degree temperatures in Phoenix

Phoenix sweltered through its 31st straight day of 110-degree heat on Sunday, leaving the previous record of 18 days, set in June 1974, far behind. Temperatures have been slowly falling from a peak of 119 degrees Fahrenheit two weeks ago, and weather forecasters say the streak of 110-plus-degree days could end Monday as seasonal monsoon rains arrive and provide some relief. Highs on Monday and Tuesday are only expected to reach 105 degrees. Highs are expected to creep back up to 110 degrees on Wednesday, and 115 degrees on Thursday. Scientists say the extreme heat that has hammered the Southwest and spread to other parts of the country in July is part of what could be the hottest month ever recorded.

Arizona Republic The Associated Press

7. 6 die in clash between Palestinian factions in Lebanon refugee camp

At least six people died over the weekend in clashes between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and rival Islamist groups in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon. The Ein el-Hilweh camp is the largest in Lebanon, with more than 63,000 registered refugees, according to the United Nations. The camp near the southern city of Sidon is outside the jurisdiction of Lebanese security forces, leaving rival factions responsible for security. The weekend violence started when a member of the Islamist al-Shabab al-Muslim group was killed and six others, including the group's leader, were wounded. A Fatah commander, Ashraf al-Armouchi, and four aides were killed as the tensions escalated Sunday. Fatah said the "abominable and cowardly crime" undermined "security and stability" in the camps.

BBC News

8. U.S. nurse and her child kidnapped in Haiti

American nurse Alix Dorsainvil of New Hampshire and her child were kidnapped last week in Haiti, the humanitarian organization she worked with, El Roi Haiti, announced Sunday. The group said the mother and child were abducted from the organization's campus near the Caribbean nation's capital, Port-au-Prince. Alix Dorsainvil is married to the organization's founder and director, Sandro Dorsainvil, who grew up in Port-au-Prince. "Alix is a deeply compassionate and loving person who considers Haiti her home and the Haitian people her friends and family," the group said. El Roi Haiti, a Christian charity, runs a school for children as well as a vocational training center for adults. The State Department last week issued an advisory urging Americans not to travel to Haiti "due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and poor health care infrastructure."

NPR The Guardian

9. Yellow shuts down ahead of bankruptcy filing

Trucking giant Yellow Corporation shut down on Sunday after 99 years in business, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company, which received a controversial $700 million COVID rescue loan, has been struggling with massive debt from a string of mergers, as well as a contract dispute with the Teamsters union that represents Yellow's 22,000 drivers. Yellow laid off hundreds of non-union employees Friday. The Nashville, Tennessee, company notified customers and workers it was halting operations Sunday as it prepares to file for bankruptcy protection. Yellow also is in talks to sell some or all of the company. Disruptions should be limited because many customers, which include Walmart and Home Depot, shifted their cargoes to other companies, which accelerated Yellow's demise.

The Wall Street Journal Business Insider

10. 'Barbenheimer' leads box office in 2nd blockbuster week

"Barbenheimer" dominated the domestic box office for the second straight weekend. Greta Gerwig's "Barbie," starring Margot Robbie as the iconic doll and Ryan Gosling as Ken, held onto the top spot with a huge $93 million haul over the weekend, bringing its total in North America to $351.4 million. Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," starring Cillian Murphy as the atomic-bomb physicist, followed at No. 2 with a strong $46.2 million. Both movies had far smaller week-two drops than normal — 43% for "Barbie" and 44% for "Oppenheimer." "Barbie" also made $122.2 million internationally to bring its global total to $775 million.

The Associated Press