July 31, 2013 (Wednesday)
Disasters and accidents
- At least ten people die as a result of a heatwave in the Shanghai which has recorded its highest temperatures on record, surpassing 40 °C (104 °F). (AFP via France 24)
- Forty people are missing and presumed drowned after a bus plunges into a canal near Sirhind-Fategarh, Punjab, India. (The Hindu Times)
- At least seven people have been killed and another 40 hospitalised from drinking illegal alcohol in the Cuban capital Havana. (BBC)
Law and crime
- The Independent Commission Against Corruption in the Australian state of New South Wales finds that former Ministers Ian Macdonald and Eddie Obeid acted corruptly and recommends that charges be laid. (The Australian)
Politics and elections
- India's ruling coalition endorses the creation of a new state of Telangana to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. (AP via WMDT)
- Voters in Zimbabwe go to the polls for a general election. (Sun Daily)
- Salem Labyedh resigns as Tunisia's Education Minister following last week's assassination of Mohamed Brahmi. (BBC)