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Volcano erupts for first time in centuries after megaquake

The overnight eruption of the Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka, its first in 600 years, may be connected to the huge earthquake that rocked Russia’s Far East last week, Russia’s RIA state news agency and scientists say. “This is the first historically confirmed eruption of Krasheninnikov Volcano in 600 years,“ RIA cited Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team, as saying.

Reuters

Russia

Drone strike sparks oil depot fire

More than 120 firefighters are trying to extinguish a blaze at an oil depot in the Russian city of Sochi which was sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack, regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev says. In the Krasnodar region where Sochi is located, a fuel tank with a capacity of 2000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet) was on fire, Russia’s RIA news agency reported, citing emergency officials. Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, said on Telegram that flights were halted at Sochi’s airport to ensure air safety.

Reuters

Legal

5 hours ago

Federal agency probes former Trump prosecutor Smith

A US federal agency has opened a formal investigation into former Special Counsel Jack Smith, who oversaw two criminal probes into President Donald Trump following his first term in the White House. The Office of Special Counsel confirmed it was investigating whether Smith violated the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from using their position for political activity. The decision follows a request for a probe by US Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican.

Reuters

5 hours ago

South America

6 hours ago

Race to rescue trapped miners

Chilean copper miner Codelco has discovered the remains of one of five trapped miners at its flagship El Teniente mine, it said, bringing the death toll from a collapse caused by a strong tremor on Thursday to two people. It said that the identity of the second victim was yet to be confirmed by authorities. One other person was reported dead on Thursday at the time of the accident, which occurred in the Andesita section of the mine.

Reuters

6 hours ago

Gaza

8 hours ago

Witkoff: ‘Very good plan’ will end war

US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy has told families of hostages being held by Palestinian militant group Hamas that he is working with the Israeli government on a plan that would effectively end the war in Gaza. Trump has made ending the conflict a major priority of his administration, though negotiations have faltered.

Reuters

8 hours ago

Syria

10 hours ago

Syria receives Azeri gas

The flow of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Syria through Turkish pipelines officially began on August 2 with Aleppo Thermal power station set to help add substantial amounts of electricity to Syria’s struggling grid. In the deal, Azerbaijan will...

Reuters

10 hours ago

Swimming

17 hours ago

McKeown snaps up double

World record holder Kaylee McKeown underlined her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke swimming as she added the 200 meters gold to her triumph in the 100 at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday.

Reuters

17 hours ago

Human Interest

19 hours ago

Collector sets dog figurine world record

Spanish collector Maria Gabarro did not care for real dogs but won a posthumous place in the Guinness World Records this year for the largest collection of canine-related items – 5,025 figurines, soft toys or dog-head walking sticks. Gabarro, a sales manager from Terrassa, a town about 30 km (19 miles) from Barcelona, started his mammoth collection of figurines in his 60s. When he died last year aged 94, his children decided to see if the haul could claim a record as a tribute to their parents.

Reuters

19 hours ago

Africa

Rwanda and Congo edge closer to peace deal

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed on an outline for the regional economic integration framework, as the two countries take steps toward delivering on a peace deal signed in Washington in June. The tenets agreed on Friday summarise the framework, which includes elements of cooperation on energy, infrastructure, mineral supply chains, national parks and public health, the State Department said in a statement. Rwanda and Congo signed a peace deal in Washington in June at talks held by US President Donald Trump’s administration, which aims to bring an end to fighting that has killed thousands and attract billions of dollars of Western investment to a region rich in tantalum, gold, cobalt, copper, lithium and other minerals.

Reuters

Tourism

Foreign visitors to be charged at tourist sites

New Zealand will make it easier to run businesses in conservation zones and charge foreign tourists to enter some areas in an effort to create jobs and increase economic growth. The decision by the centre-right government, elected in 2023, is part of its efforts to boost New Zealand’s tourism industry and stimulate a limp economy. ”Tourists make a massive contribution to our economy, and no one wants that to change. But I have heard many times from friends visiting from overseas their shock that they can visit some of the most beautiful places in the world for free,“ said Conservation Minister Tama Potaka.

Reuters

Employment

Trump fires job numbers chief

US President Donald Trump has fired the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Erika McEntarfer after data showed weaker-than-expected employment growth in July and massive downward revisions to the prior two months’ job counts. Trump accused McEntarfer, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, of faking the jobs numbers. There is no evidence to back Trump’s claims of data manipulation by the BLS, the statistical agency that compiles the closely watched employment report as well as consumer and producer price data.

Reuters

North America

Slow progress in US-Canada trade talks

A proposed US-Canada trade deal could still be weeks away, Ottawa’s chief negotiator has said, a day after US President Donald Trump imposed higher tariffs on imports from Canada. Trump - who had set an August 1 deadline for an agreement - signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods to 35 per cent from 25 per cent on all products not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Prime Minister Mark Carney insisted on the talks to reset bilateral relations, saying Trump’s tariffs have upended decades-old trading and security ties. The negotiations, though, have so far produced little.

Reuters

Trade

Swiss stunned by tariff hike

Swiss manufacturers warned that tens of thousands of jobs were at risk after US President Donald Trump hit them with one of the highest tariff rates in his global trade reset, even if there was some relief for now for the key drugs sector. The...

Reuters

Russia

Putin, facing Trump deadline, signals no change in stance

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow hopes for more peace talks with Ukraine but that the momentum of the war is in its favour, signalling no shift in his stance despite a looming sanctions deadline from Washington. US President Donald Trump has said he will impose new sanctions on Moscow and countries that buy its energy exports – of which the biggest are China and India – unless Russia moves by August 8 to end the 3½ year war. He has expressed mounting frustration with Putin, describing Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine as “disgusting”.

Reuters

Conflict

Cambodia to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

Cambodia will nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, its deputy prime minister says, following his direct intervention in halting the Southeast Asian country’s recent border conflict with Thailand. Asked via text message to confirm Cambodia’s plan to nominate Trump for the prize, Chanthol responded, “yes.“ Speaking to reporters earlier in the capital, Phnom Penh, Chanthol thanked Trump for bringing peace and said he deserved to be nominated for the prize, the highest-profile international award given to an individual or organisation deemed to have done the most to “advance fellowship between nations”.

Reuters

Trade

Trump locks in sweeping tariffs

US President Donald Trump has slapped steep tariffs on exports from dozens of trading partners including Canada, Brazil, India and Taiwan, pressing ahead with his plans to reorder the global economy ahead of a trade deal deadline. Trump set rates including a 35 per cent duty on many goods from Canada, 50 per cent for Brazil, 25 per cent for India, 20 per cent for Taiwan and 39 per cent for Switzerland, according to a presidential executive order.

Reuters

Iran

Allies condemn Iranian intelligence threats

Britain and 13 allies including the United States and France have condemned what they called a surge in assassination, kidnapping and harassment plots by Iranian intelligence services targeting individuals in Europe and North America. “We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services to kill, kidnap, and harass people in Europe and North America in clear violation of our sovereignty,“ the countries said in a joint statement.

Reuters

Middle East

Witkoff to visit Gaza in peace push

US special envoy Steve Witkoff has met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bid to salvage Gaza truce talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine is unfolding. Shortly after Witkoff’s arrival, President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social network: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!”

Reuters

Odd Spot

Ants on march for biodiversity

Hairy wood ants from a forest in north-east England are going on a trip: they’re being moved some 241km (150 miles) west to another woodland in a bid boost its biodiversity. Forestry England, which manages publicly owned forests in England, says the technique, called translocation, is part of a broader strategy to restore forest ecosystems and enhance biodiversity by reintroducing these small but vital ecosystem engineers to areas where they are absent.

Reuters