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A federal appeals court in the United States has authorized over 3,000 lawsuits alleging social media addiction to proceed. On Aug. 10, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed appeals by Meta Platforms and TikTok, which challenged prior rulings that allowed the litigation to move forward. The court determined their appeals were premature, stating they sought review too early. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers manages the consolidated federal cases in Oakland.

Fujian Province, approximately 167,900 residents were evacuated from vulnerable land and coastal zones by 7 a.m. Monday. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, roughly 215,600 people from high-risk areas had been relocated by late Sunday. Dolphin made two landfalls in Zhejiang Province on Sunday before heading inland and gradually weakening.

Late Saturday, a magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck in the southeastern region of Atka in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The Alaska Earthquake Center logged the event at 7:36 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time on August 8, which corresponds to 03:36 UTC on August 9. The quake’s epicenter was approximately 48 miles, or 77 kilometers, southeast of Atka, at a depth of about 10.6 miles, or 17 kilometers, according to seismologists.

Over 20,000 residents evacuated communities surrounding Okanagan Lake after the Bald Range wildfire rapidly spread through southern British Columbia over the weekend. Provincial officials declared a state of emergency on Saturday as flames advanced toward Summerland and nearby Peachland. By Saturday night, the fire had grown beyond 10,300 hectares, destroying homes and damaging property along its path. Emergency responders utilized helicopters to reach dozens of residents stranded by the blaze. Evacuation orders persisted across multiple communities and rural zones on Sunday.

BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 4.9 quake struck southwestern China on Friday, impacting Gao County in Yibin City within Sichuan province. According to official data from the China Earthquake Networks Center, the tremor hit at 1:08 p.m. local time, originating from a shallow depth of six kilometers. CCTV confirmed that a single individual lost their life after a collapsing exterior wall struck them during the tremors.

Hiroshima marks 81 years since the atomic bombing with renewed calls for nuclear abolition. Using the city’s Peace Declaration, Matsui urged national leaders to shift away from reliance on nuclear deterrence. He called for nuclear-armed nations to confront the human toll of atomic warfare. Additionally, Matsui encouraged political figures to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki and listen to hibakusha—survivors whose testimonies remain central to Hiroshima’s annual remembrance. For decades, the city has used this ceremony to advocate for nuclear abolition and preserve the history of the bombing. Approximately 50,000 individuals attended this year’s event, which included representatives from 121 countries and regions, along with the European Union. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made her first appearance since becoming Japan’s leader, stating that Japan would pursue a pragmatic path toward a world free of nuclear weapons. She emphasized the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a key framework for progress and reaffirmed Japan’s three non-nuclear principles. Challenges Persist in Nuclear Arms Diplomacy The memorial coincided with less than three months after the 2026 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference concluded without a consensus document, marking the third consecutive NPT review to end without agreement. Hiroshima used this moment to call for enhanced disarmament efforts. While Japan continues to back the NPT system, it has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and depends on extended nuclear deterrence through its

India Investigates Meta’s Role in Child Sexual Abuse Material on Instagram. Instagram has been found to run paid advertisements in India that promote access to child sexual abuse material, according to a report published in July. Some of these ads directed users from Instagram to Telegram channels offering illegal content for sale. Meta Platforms later confirmed that these ads violated its policies against child exploitation. The findings prompted Indian authorities to take action and raised concerns about enforcement within Instagram’s paid advertising system. India has since requested explanations from Meta and increased official scrutiny of the issue.

China’s new drone export controls add stricter reviews for shipments to the United States. Exporters are required to seek approval for each shipment involving these items, rather than utilizing simplified licensing procedures. Authorities will assess the product details, end users, and intended applications according to existing export control laws. The scope includes unmanned aerial vehicles, their significant parts, and technologies that meet China’s criteria for controlled items. China already regulates certain drone engines, communication gear, sensors, and anti-drone systems. It also prohibits the export of civilian drones for military use. The latest measures introduce closer oversight specifically for controlled products destined for the United States. Furthermore, Beijing has banned Chinese organizations and individuals from engaging in transactions or cooperation with six U.S. entities. The list comprises Applied DNA Sciences, Stratum Reservoir, Altana Technologies, the Responsible Business Alliance, Verité Group, and Human Rights in China. The Chinese government accused these organizations of supporting U.S. restrictions related to alleged forced labor in Xinjiang. An additional order also restricted Compliance Testing LLC from business dealings; China claims the Arizona-based testing firm supported Federal Communications Commission actions affecting Chinese tech firms.

Guatemala has elevated its warning level to the maximum across three key departments following the ongoing severe eruption of the volcano Fuego, which has led to evacuations and significant disruptions in surrounding areas. Authorities issued red alerts in Chimaltenango, Sacatepéquez, and Escuintla, with an orange alert still in place nationwide. Approximately 29,000 residents in 18 communities experienced ash fallout, as emergency teams maintained evacuation measures in vulnerable zones near the volcano.

Spokane wildfires force mass evacuations as crews defend homes and public infrastructure. Intense winds combined with dry vegetation accelerated the spread of the eastern Washington blazes from open land into populated zones along Spokane’s northern perimeter. The Old Trails Fire crossed the Spokane River and reached northwest neighborhoods within hours of ignition. The fires destroyed homes, businesses, vehicles, and utility infrastructure across multiple communities. Infrared data indicated possible damage to hundreds more structures, though officials had yet to confirm these losses. Smoke from the fires reduced visibility in Spokane and spread across the area.