French PM Lecornu, Macron's 'soldier monk', steels himself for budget battle
When Sebastien Lecornu gave his first prime-time television interview just hours after resigning as France’s prime minister on Wednesday, he describ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 1st July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. Trump to host Netanyahu at The White House on 7 July
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit The White House next week for talks with President Donald Trump, a U.S. official said on 30 June.
The 7 July visit – Mr Netanyahu’s third since Mr Trump returned to power in January.
A Trump administration official confirmed the visit to AFP on condition of anonymity.
2. IMF approves $500 million for Ukraine, warns of 'exceptionally high' risks
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved the disbursement of an additional $500 million to Ukraine, following the completion of its eighth review under the country’s $15.5 billion Extended Fund Facility.
The move brings total IMF disbursements to Ukraine under the four-year programme to $10.6 billion.
The IMF Board's approval comes amid ongoing war-related challenges, with the Fund reiterating its warning that Ukraine continues to face "exceptionally high" risks to its economic outlook due to Russia's ongoing invasion.
3. At least 12 dead in pharmaceutical factory blast in India
At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more injured following an explosion and fire at a pharmaceutical factory in the southern Indian state of Telangana, officials said on Monday.
The blast occurred at a Sigachi Industries facility in Sangareddy district, around 60 kilometres from Hyderabad. Local media showed black smoke rising from the ruins of the factory, which was reduced to rubble.
4. Saudi Arabia may raise August oil prices to Asia to 4-month high
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, may raise its August crude oil prices for buyers in Asia to the highest in four months, after spot prices surged during the Iran-Israel conflict and on robust summer fuel demand, trade sources said.
The August official selling price (OSP) for flagship Arab Light crude may increase by 50-80 cents to between $1.70 and $2 a barrel from the previous month, five sources from four refineries said in a Reuters survey.
5. China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project launched
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway construction has officially begun in Kyrgyzstan, a major step in regional infrastructure development. The project was announced by the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, according to Trend.
Deputy Prime Minister Bakyt Torobaev convened a meeting with key stakeholders to review the project's progress.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
Authorities in California have identified the dismembered body discovered in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing from Lake Elsinore since April 2024.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
Thousands of Palestinians made their way north along Gaza’s coastline on Saturday — on foot, in cars, and on donkey carts — returning to their abandoned homes as a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas appeared to hold.
When Sebastien Lecornu gave his first prime-time television interview just hours after resigning as France’s prime minister on Wednesday, he described himself as a “soldier monk” — a man of duty ready to return to service if President Emmanuel Macron called him back to the front line.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Friday urged faster reforms to generate employment for young people, enhance public services, and reduce regional disparities, particularly in mountain and oasis areas.
President Donald Trump on Friday blamed Democrats for his decision to dismiss thousands of employees across the U.S. government, as he carried out his threat to reduce the federal workforce during the ongoing government shutdown.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said on Saturday that he had a call with U.S. President Donald Trump where he congratulated him on the Gaza ceasefire deal calling it an "outstanding achievement".
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