July 27, 2022

Daily News Brief

*) EU members strike deal to reduce gas use as Russia pummels Ukraine targets European Union member states have reached agreement on how to cut their consumption of gas by 15 percent and reduce their dependence on Russian supplies. The breakthrough came hours after Ukraine accused Russian forces of launching multiple missile strikes at targets on the Black Sea coast near the southern port city of Odessa. Luxembourg's energy minister tweeted that Hungary was the only member state in the 27-member bloc to vote against the plan. *) ​​Powerful earthquake strikes northern Philippines, felt in capital A 7.1-magnitude earthquake has hit the northern Philippines, authorities said, killing at least four people and injuring more than 60 others. The shallow yet powerful quake struck the mountainous and lightly populated province of Abra on the main island of Luzon early on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said. Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has ordered the immediate dispatch of rescue teams to the affected areas, said the press secretary. *) Biden, Xi to meet amid new tensions over Taiwan Presidents Joe Biden and SHE Jinping are set to speak on Thursday amid new tensions between Washington and Beijing over China's claims on Taiwan. The planned talks between the two leaders — the fifth in a series of regular check-ins — have been in the works for weeks. But the possibility of a visit to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has added fresh strain to the complicated relationship. Beijing is warning that it will take “forceful measures” should Pelosi visit the self-ruled island of Taiwan that China claims as part of its territory. *) ‘We may just have to do it again’: Trump hints at rerun for White House Donald Trump has returned to Washington for the first time since leaving the White House with a fiery speech hinting that he may run for president again in 2024. Trump repeated claims that he won the 2020 election, and denounced the House committee investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The 76-year-old stopped short of declaring his candidacy, but laid out what he believed should be the priorities for the "next Republican president." And finally… *) Russia to quit International Space Station, pursue own orbital station Russia has announced that it will be leaving the International Space Station "after 2024", amid tensions with the West. The move came on Tuesday as ties unravelled between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine and several rounds of devastating sanctions against Russia. Space experts said the departure from the station would seriously affect the country's space sector and deal a major blow to the programme of manned flights.