The Reuters Daily Briefing Wednesday, July 27, 2022

 Reuters

The Reuters Daily Briefing

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

by Rossalyn Warren

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A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon killing at least four people, WHO say the window to stop monkeypox is closing, and Britain's rail network goes on strike.

Today's biggest stories

Congolese policemen stand guard to stop protesters near the compound of a United Nations peacekeeping force's warehouse in Goma in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

WORLD

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Wednesday killing four people, damaging buildings and sending strong tremors through the capital, Manila. The quake struck about 11 km (six miles) southeast of the town of Dolores at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), and sixty people were injured.

Russia delivered less gas to Europe today, in a further escalation of an energy stand-off between Moscow and the European Union that will make it harder, and costlier, for the bloc to fill up storage ahead of the winter heating season.

Scientists advising the World Health Organization (WHO) on monkeypox say the window is closing to stop its spread, with cases currently doubling every two weeks, raising concerns that it will take several months for the outbreak to peak. WHO Europe has forecast just over 27,000 monkeypox cases in 88 countries by Aug. 2.

Three United Nations peacekeepers and at least 12 civilians were killed during a second day of anti-U.N. protests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The protests were spurred by complaints that a U.N. mission failed to protect civilians against militia violence which has raged for years.

Australia sees the world's climate emergency as an opportunity to create jobs, the new Labor government said today, introducing legislation to enshrine an emissions reduction target. Minister for Climate and Energy Chris Bowen said clean energy jobs would be created in battery manufacturing, and commodities such as aluminum, lithium, copper, cobalt and nickel.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the America First Policy Institute America First Agenda Summit in Washington, U.S., July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger

U.S.

In his first speech in Washington since leaving office 18 months ago, Donald Trump ignored pressure from some fellow Republicans to avoid repeating his false claims about a stolen 2020 election, insisting that he won his second bid for the White House and would not allow his perceived enemies to bar a return.

The Democratic Party's congressional campaign arm is airing an ad in Michigan aimed at boosting John Gibbs, a far-right candidate endorsed by Donald Trump. The effort is part of a controversial and risky Democratic strategy in certain races to elevate more extreme Republicans whom Democrats view as easier to beat in November's midterm elections.

The principal of the Texas elementary school where a gunman went on a rampage in May has been suspended with pay, her attorney said, two weeks after a damning report about lax security that enabled the Uvalde shooter to carry out the attack.

A South Carolina judge declined to block the state's ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy while the state's highest court considers a challenge to it by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. The judge made the decision after the Republican-led state petitioned to have the case heard by the state's top court immediately, rather than work its way through appeals.

Two U.S. senators have urged the U.S. Transportation Department to fine airlines that delay or cancel flights because of staffing or operational issues, the latest push by lawmakers to convince regulators to get tough on the aviation industry.

Lufthansa ground staff of Munich Airport stage a warning strike over 9.5 % pay claim by Germany's public sector workers union Verdi, in Munich, Germany July 27, 2022. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

BUSINESS & MARKETS

Credit Suisse Group AG named asset management head Ulrich Koerner as its new chief executive today and said it plans cost cuts as part of a strategic review, in the bank's latest efforts to recover from a series of scandals and losses.

Britain's rail network faced major disruption again today as staff walked out in a row over pay and conditions, the latest in a wave of industrial unrest as wages fail to keep pace with soaring inflation. The 24-hour strike by more than 40,000 members of the RMT and TSSA unions forced around half of Britain's rail network to close.

The Federal Reserve is expected to hike its key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point to battle high inflation. The anticipated increase will bring the U.S. central bank to a mile marker of sorts as it reaches a level of around 2.4% that is estimated to no longer encourage economic activity.

Ground staff at Deutsche Lufthansa went on strike today, prompting the cancelation of more than 1,000 flights, and adding to travel disruptions during the busy summer travel season. Labour union Verdi had called for the walkout, after asking for a 9.5% pay hike for around 20,000 workers.

Russia's competition watchdog fined Alphabet's Google 2 billion roubles ($34.2 million) for abusing its dominant position in the video hosting market, the regulator said in a statement. The decision is the latest multi-million dollar fine as part of Moscow's increasingly assertive campaign against foreign tech companies.

Quote of the day

"I want to see people getting rich out of doing these products in a positive way."

Anutin Charnvirakul

Health minister

Thai businesses cash in on cannabis, from milk tea to toothpaste

Video of the day

'Good day' as firefighters battle blaze near Yosemite

Firefighters said they'd finally started to control California's largest wildfire so far this year, halting its eastward expansion toward nearby Yosemite National Park while thousands of people remained under evacuation orders.

And finally…

Clinical England thrash Sweden 4-0 to reach Women's Euro final

Hosts England waltzed past Sweden into the Women's Euro 2022 final with Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze, Alessia Russo and Fran Kirby all on target in a sensational 4-0 win in front of a frenzied sell-out crowd at Bramall Lane on Tuesday.