Politics & World Affairs — July 30, 2026

Rushdie attacker guilty of terrorism. Federal prosecutors won a conviction against Hadi Matar for attempting to support Hezbollah. Matar is already serving 25 years for the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie.

The federal case proceeded separately from the state prosecution that produced Matar's 25-year sentence, with prosecutors framing the attack as an attempt to provide support to Hezbollah, according to The Hill. The guilty verdict on terrorism charges means Matar now faces additional federal penalties beyond the state prison term he is already serving for the knife attack on the author in 2022.

The Hill · Read more →

Cooper leads North Carolina race. A Fox News poll shows Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley by nine points in North Carolina's Senate race. Democratic enthusiasm and Trump's favorability could reshape the contest.

Beyond the topline nine-point margin, the Fox News poll points to two factors that could narrow or widen the gap before the midterm contest: an enthusiasm divide between the parties' voters and President Trump's favorability numbers in the state. Fox News notes Democratic enthusiasm is currently shaping the race, suggesting the former governor's advantage over Whatley may hinge on whether that energy holds through Election Day.

Fox News Politics · Read more →

Japan quake toll reaches 30. The death toll from the earthquake on Japan's Kyushu island rose to 30. Aftershocks and extreme heat hampered rescuers searching collapsed buildings for survivors.

Soldiers have joined emergency crews combing through a damaged shopping centre, a paper mill and residential homes on Kyushu, according to The Guardian. Rescuers face a dual challenge: continuing aftershocks that threaten already weakened structures and extreme heat that strains both search teams and any survivors still trapped in the debris. The toll has climbed as those searches continue.

The Guardian World · Read more →