While the West and its allies have condemned North Korea's planned launch, it's unclear whether the satellite is advanced enough to monitor the US and South Korean military.

US President Joe Biden was optimistic about the US averting a technical default. Republicans have refused to raise the nation's debt limit unless Democrats make concessions on spending plans.

Top Sudanese military official Abdel-Fattah Burhan said that the UN had brought "negative repercussions" to Sudan. UN envoy Volker Perthes had accused Sudan's warring factions of disregarding the laws of war.

While Malaysian officials are investigating the weapons found on the Chinese vessel, Britain has condemned the looting calling it "desecration" of maritime military graves.

A French climber warns that the Himalayas are becoming dumping grounds of waste as videos show the mountains covered in filth. Finally, a beluga whale suspected of being a Russia spy pops up again in Swedish waters.

Three more astronauts are on their way to China's Tiangong space station, key to Beijing's plans of building a moon base by 2030.