The Japan Meteorological Agency said that as of 18:21 JST on July 28, more than 30 aftershocks struck Kumamoto Prefecture within two hours of a magnitude-7.1 quake. The Hikawa Town government said ongoing aftershocks make it unsafe to remain inside buildings and urged residents via disaster radio to evacuate to local elementary and junior-high schools, disaster-prevention parks and sports fields.

Iran-backed Houthi threats have disrupted Red Sea trade; ballast VLCCs are rerouting to Egypt’s Mediterranean port Sidi Kerir to load Saudi crude while observable vessel traffic at key Saudi Red Sea export hubs is falling. Ship-tracking data show at least eight VLCCs have set Sidi Kerir as destination, with arrivals scheduled in the coming weeks through mid-August. After an Iran-backed Houthi attack on a vessel in the Red Sea last week, ARAMCO has increased supplies via the Egyptian port. On Tuesday no tankers were observed berthed at Saudi Red Sea port Yanbu; some ships may have turned off AIS transponders and could be loading outside monitored channels.

U.S. presidential envoy Witkoff, Treasury Secretary Bessent and Secretary of State Rubio attended a meeting between U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.