AnewZ Morning Brief - 8th July, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 8th July, covering the latest developments you need to know....
A U.S. citizen has been detained in Russia after customs officials allegedly discovered cannabis-infused marmalade in his luggage. The arrest follows a recent prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington, which was seen as a step towards improved diplomatic relations.
A U.S. citizen has been detained in Russia after customs officers allegedly found cannabis-infused marmalade in his luggage, Russian media reported on Friday. The arrest follows a recent prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington, which the White House described as a diplomatic step forward and a potential avenue for broader negotiations on Ukraine.
Russia’s Federal Customs Service stated that the 28-year-old American was stopped at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport last Friday upon arrival from Istanbul. Authorities have accused him of attempting to smuggle a “significant amount” of drugs into the country, according to the Interfax news agency.
The suspect, identified only as K. Byers by the Russian Telegram channel Mash, could face up to seven years in prison if found guilty. The U.S. State Department has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
This development comes shortly after Russia returned American teacher Marc Fogel in exchange for Russian cryptocurrency expert Alexander Vinnik, who had been detained in the U.S. on fraud charges.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
A deadly mass shooting early on Monday (7 July) in Philadelphia's Grays Ferry neighbourhood left three men dead and nine others wounded, including teenagers, as more than 100 shots were fired.
China has warned Myanmar's Kachin rebels it will block rare-earth imports from their territory unless they halt an offensive on a key junta stronghold, raising fears over the global supply of critical minerals.
China has consolidated its rare-earth sector into two state-owned giants, tightened export quotas, and introduced new supply-chain tracking systems as part of a sweeping push to reinforce its global dominance in critical mineral processing.
Beijing has warned the Trump administration against restoring steep U.S. tariffs next month and signalled it will retaliate against countries that cut China out of supply chains through bilateral deals with Washington.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 8th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday told President Donald Trump he had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, handing Trump a nomination letter during a meeting at The White House. The two leaders met for the first time since the US launched strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
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