PETA has criticized the use of real bearskin caps by the King's Guards at Buckingham Palace due to their steep price increase to over £2,000 per cap, offering free faux fur alternatives which the Ministry of Defense hasn't approved yet for durability and water protection standards. Over £1 million has been spent on these caps in the past decade, with fur sourced from licensed hunts in Canada.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis concluded his historic tour of Asia in Singapore, advocating for interfaith harmony and dignified treatment of immigrant workers. His journey, which was his longest and farthest yet, also included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor.

Looking ahead, Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to attend the BRICS summit in Russia in October 2024, marking his second visit since the Ukraine conflict started. This visit comes at a time when the BRICS bloc, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has broadened its membership and aims to challenge the Western-dominated global order.

In related global developments, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are expected to discuss easing weapon restrictions for Ukraine amidst concerns over Iran supplying missiles to Russia. This follows recent high-level visits to Kyiv and ongoing deliberation on providing Ukraine with long-range missiles.

On the domestic front, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have been actively campaigning in key states, with Trump visiting the Western states and Harris focusing on Pennsylvania. Harris's campaign recently raised $47 million post-debate, significantly surpassing Trump's fundraising efforts.

Finally, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, addressing the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, highlighted the necessity of negotiation to resolve conflicts, including those in Gaza and Ukraine. The forum, attended by representatives from 90 countries, also focused on key issues affecting US-China relations and global security in a multipolar world.