Trump pauses Iran strikes as deal prospects emerge, but tensions remain high
Donald Trump, US President, said he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran on the condition that a deal is reached quickly, signalling another abrupt shift from threats of escalation to diplomacy.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran and several Middle Eastern countries had asked Washington to hold off on military action because the broad outlines of an agreement had been established. He said the United States was prepared to refrain from attacking if negotiations progressed rapidly.
The comments came amid reports that Washington and Israel had been considering a major new wave of strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure. Trump had earlier warned that the United States was “locked and loaded” and ready to unleash military force at levels not seen since the Second World War.
Iran, however, rejected Trump’s account. The semi official Mehr news agency denied that Tehran had requested a pause in military action, describing the claims as false. Acting Defence Minister Majid Ibn al Reza said Iran viewed every threat from its adversaries as credible and would not be caught unprepared.
Three killed in Moscow restaurant bombing as authorities investigate suspected terror attack
At least three people were killed and 21 injured after an explosive device detonated outside an Italian restaurant in central Moscow, in what Russian authorities described as a terrorist attack.
The blast occurred near Kudrinskaya Square at the Balzi Rossi restaurant, where a private event was taking place. Russia’s National Anti Terrorist Committee said a woman carrying explosives attempted to enter the venue but was stopped by security before the device exploded.
The woman, the security guard and a restaurant guest were killed in the blast. Authorities have not identified a motive or confirmed whether the restaurant or attendees were specifically targeted.
Sergei Sobyanin, Moscow Mayor, described the incident as a cruel act of terror and said law enforcement agencies were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the explosion.
The attack is likely to fuel speculation about links to the war in Ukraine, particularly after a series of assassinations and attacks targeting military figures in and around the Russian capital in recent years.
Greece battles wildfires as helicopter collision raises fears
Greece faced renewed wildfire emergencies on Sunday after two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a large blaze northwest of Athens, while another fire forced evacuations on the tourist island of Kefalonia.
The collision occurred during operations near Psatha in the Attica region. Footage circulating online appeared to show one helicopter’s rotor striking another aircraft before crashing in flames. Authorities have not yet confirmed the authenticity of the footage or provided details on casualties.
The fires are part of a wider wave of blazes sweeping southern Europe after months of extreme heat and drought conditions that scientists say have been intensified by climate change.
While major fires in France and Spain have shown signs of easing, Greece remains on high alert with new outbreaks emerging after a brief period of relative calm.
Indonesia ferry fire leaves five dead and dozens missing
At least five people have died and 41 remain missing after a ferry caught fire off Indonesia’s Madura Island, according to the country’s search and rescue agency.
The vessel was carrying 271 passengers and crew while travelling from Surabaya in East Java to Makassar in South Sulawesi. Rescue officials said 225 people had been saved, while search operations continued.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, which broke out on Sunday morning. Indonesia, an archipelago heavily reliant on maritime transport, has experienced several deadly ferry accidents in recent years due to overcrowding, poor weather and safety concerns.
Israeli strikes kill 15 in Gaza as ceasefire hopes fade
Israeli airstrikes killed at least 15 Palestinians across Gaza on Sunday despite renewed hopes that diplomatic efforts could revive ceasefire talks.
Strikes hit Gaza City, Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, according to Palestinian health officials, marking one of the deadliest days in recent weeks.
The attacks came days after President Donald Trump said Hamas and other armed groups had agreed to disarm, raising expectations of progress towards ending the war. However, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said the government remained deeply sceptical that Hamas would surrender its weapons voluntarily.
Israel has said any future settlement must include the complete disarmament of Hamas, while the group has repeatedly rejected such demands.
DR Congo records largest Ebola outbreak in its history, WHO warns
The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the worst Ebola outbreak in its history, with the World Health Organization warning that transmission is accelerating rapidly.
As of July 30, authorities had confirmed 3,605 cases and 1,587 deaths, giving the outbreak a fatality rate of 44 percent. The figures surpass the country’s devastating 2018 to 2020 outbreak.
The current epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment. Experimental vaccines are being developed, but none are yet available for widespread use.
The WHO said insecurity, population displacement and cross border movement were complicating response efforts and increasing the risk of further spread. Last week alone recorded 567 new cases and 296 deaths, the highest weekly toll since the outbreak began.
Algeria bus crash kills 25 and injures 44
At least 25 people were killed and 44 injured after a passenger bus overturned in Algeria’s Boumerdès province, according to the country’s Civil Protection agency.
Emergency responders evacuated survivors to nearby hospitals while officials launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.
Sifi Ghrieb, the Prime Minister later visited injured victims at the University Hospital of Boumerdès as authorities assessed the scale of the tragedy.
IMF approves $1.8 billion disbursement for Egypt
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved roughly $1.8 billion in new financing for Egypt after completing two reviews of the country’s economic reform programme.
The package includes about $1.5 billion under Egypt’s existing loan arrangement and an additional $272 million through the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility after Cairo met climate related reform targets ahead of schedule.
The approval comes as the IMF continues to push Egypt to reduce the state’s role in the economy and accelerate structural reforms.
Egypt expanded its IMF programme to $8 billion in 2024 as it struggled with soaring inflation, foreign currency shortages and mounting economic pressures.
Rights group accuses Russia’s Africa Corps of killing civilians in Mali
Human Rights Watch has accused Russia’s Africa Corps of carrying out indiscriminate air strikes that killed eight civilians, including three children, in central Mali.
The rights organisation said an aircraft believed to be a Sukhoi Su 24 bombed the village of Kyrnia in June, striking homes and a cattle market. The group said no Islamist fighters were believed to have been killed.
Africa Corps, which operates under Russia’s defence ministry, has largely replaced the Wagner Group as Moscow’s primary security force in parts of Africa and supports Mali’s military government in its campaign against insurgents.
Human Rights Watch said the attack may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law and called for an independent investigation.
Egypt raises electricity tariffs for most households
Egypt has increased electricity tariffs for most residential consumers by an average of 12 percent as it seeks to reduce subsidies and improve the financial sustainability of the power sector.
The government kept rates unchanged for the lowest consumption bracket but raised prices for higher usage categories. Officials said the move was necessary to maintain stable electricity supplies and cover the costs of generation, transmission and distribution.
Egypt currently spends about 100 billion Egyptian pounds annually to bridge the gap between production costs and consumer tariffs, although subsidies decline as household electricity consumption rises.
The increase forms part of broader economic reforms aimed at reducing fiscal pressures while meeting commitments under the country’s IMF backed programme.
