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Queen Letizia of Spain to be present at World Cup final against England

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Queen Letizia of Spain is set to travel to Australia to witness the World Cup final between England and Spain in Sydney on Sunday. Notably, no British royals will be present at the event.

The match marks the first-ever final appearance for both England’s Lionesses and the Spanish team in the women’s tournament. Although Prince William, the President of the Football Association, will support the England team from the UK, he has opted out of making the long-distance journey to Australia due to his focus on climate change concerns.

In contrast, Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter, Infanta Sofia, will be attending the final, while King Felipe will be engaged in official obligations and won’t accompany them. The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed the queen’s participation, mentioning her prior visit to the team during training where she delivered a speech to the players and coaching staff.

Similarly, Prince William interacted with the Lionesses during training and awarded manager Sarina Wiegman an honorary CBE. Despite his absence from the event, Prince William is expected to watch the final on television. Both Prince William and King Charles conveyed their congratulations to the teams on their achievements and extended their best wishes for the upcoming final match.

Notably, England’s women had previously been awarded their medals by Prince William after winning the European championship, while Queen Elizabeth II had attended England’s men’s team’s World Cup final victory in 1966.

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Villages Forced to Evacuate as Tenerife Wildfires Worsen

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A significant wildfire on the Spanish island of Tenerife has resulted in the mandatory evacuation of five villages. The fire, which originated in a nature reserve on the island’s northeastern coast, has expanded to cover approximately 800 hectares since it ignited on Tuesday night. Access to the forest encompassing Mount Teide, Spain’s highest peak, has been restricted by local authorities. Additional outbreaks of secondary fires have also been reported. Helicopters equipped with water have been deployed to the area, and the main blaze is proving challenging to combat due to its spread through wooded areas and ravines in Candelaria and Arafo. Rosa Davila, the head of Tenerife Council, emphasized the necessity of aircraft in navigating the steep terrain and acknowledged the blaze’s significant potential.

Villages including Arrate, Chivisaya, Media Montaña, Ajafoña, and Las Lagunetas were evacuated on Wednesday morning. Tenerife’s emergency services leader, Pedro Martinez, reported multiple secondary fires breaking out. Images reveal substantial flames consuming parts of the forest, accompanied by thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Despite the wildfire’s impact, Tenerife’s South and North airports appeared to be operating without disruptions as of Wednesday evening.

This wildfire incident follows a recent heatwave in the Canary Islands, leaving numerous areas parched and elevating the wildfire risk. In the preceding month, La Palma, an adjacent island within the Canary Islands archipelago, witnessed evacuations due to a wildfire during a period of extreme heat. This summer, wildfires have surged across various regions worldwide, including Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Canada, and Hawaii.

The heightened frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves are attributed to human-induced climate change. Global temperatures have already risen by around 1.1°C since the commencement of the industrial era, and further increases are anticipated unless concerted emissions reductions are enacted by governments across the globe.

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Gotthard: World’s longest rail tunnel shut for months after freight crash

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Switzerland’s Gotthard Base Tunnel, the world’s lengthiest rail tunnel, has been forced to halt passenger services following a derailment that has inflicted substantial damage and will necessitate months of repair work.

The Swiss authorities have stated that there is currently no clear timeline for the reopening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which was shut down after a derailment incident on August 10. Sixteen carriages remain derailed and trapped inside the tunnel a week after the incident.

The Gotthard rail connection, which took two decades to construct and incurred a cost exceeding $12 billion, commenced operations in 2016. The CEO of Swiss national rail operator SBB, Vincent Ducrot, conveyed that the Gotthard Tunnel is among the most secure tunnels globally, and the occurrence of such an accident has had a profound impact. He noted that while there were no injuries, substantial material damage occurred.

The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) and the public prosecutor’s office of the Canton of Ticino are conducting an investigation into the incident.

SBB revealed that approximately 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) of track and 20,000 concrete sleepers need replacement. While one side of the tunnel remains unaffected and could potentially resume freight operations by August 23, passenger trains won’t utilize the unaffected side due to safety concerns. This diversion will lead to longer travel times for passengers.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel traverses the Alps, serving as a vital high-speed connection between northern and southern Europe. It plays a crucial role in both passenger and cargo transport, particularly for freight moving between Germany and Italy. Last year, over two-thirds of rail freight traffic in the Alps utilized this tunnel.

As a result of this disruption, journeys will now take at least an extra 60 minutes, and international passengers will need to switch trains in Chiasso. Only trains traveling to and from Genoa and Venice will have a direct route, according to SBB’s statement.

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Ukraine war: Ship leaves Odesa despite Russia Black Sea attack fears

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A Hong Kong-flagged merchant ship named Joseph Schulte, which had been stuck in the Ukrainian port of Odesa due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has departed the port. Despite concerns that Russia might target vessels in the Black Sea, the ship left after Kyiv announced a “humanitarian corridor” for ships in the Black Sea. This corridor was established following the collapse of a previous deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain. The ship’s departure comes after Russian air strikes reportedly damaged grain storage facilities in Reni, a port on the Danube river.

Ukrainian officials released images showing the destruction of storage facilities and crops in Reni. Despite the attacks, the port is said to be operational. Russia has not commented on these latest developments. Previously, Russia withdrew from an agreement that guaranteed safe passage for ships in the Black Sea, suggesting that ships heading to Ukrainian ports could be considered military targets.

Ukraine, a significant exporter of grain and oilseeds, has faced challenges due to the blockade, leading to global increases in food prices. In response to these threats, Ukraine established a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea to facilitate the departure of ships from its ports. The Joseph Schulte was carrying over 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including food, and was headed to Istanbul, Turkey. The corridor is intended to help evacuate ships that have been trapped in Black Sea ports since the start of Russia’s invasion.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have been conducting a counter-offensive to retake territory from Russian forces in the eastern Donetsk region. Despite receiving military equipment from Western countries, their advances have been limited. Recent clashes have led to the evacuation of many residents in the country’s east. Russia has also reported downing drones near Moscow in a series of attacks on Russian cities.

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German Foreign Minister’s Sydney Trip Derailed by Plane Defect

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German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had to cancel her planned trip to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji due to issues with her government plane. The 23-year-old Airbus A340-300 experienced repeated wing flap problems, forcing it to make emergency landings in Abu Dhabi twice within two days.

Baerbock expressed her frustration on social media, highlighting the unreliability of Germany’s government planes despite the country’s reputation for efficiency.

This is not the first time such problems have arisen; in 2018, the same Airbus plane caused then Chancellor Angela Merkel to miss a G20 summit due to technical faults.

Germany’s Luftwaffe Air Force announced the early retirement of the problematic plane, replacing it and another A340-300 with recently acquired A350 planes for top government officials.

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Russian Ruble Hits Lowest Point Against US Dollar in 16 Months

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The Russian ruble has reached its lowest point in 16 months, dropping below 100 against the US dollar.

This decline is a result of mounting pressures on the Russian economy, marked by a faster increase in imports compared to exports and heightened military expenditures due to the conflict in Ukraine.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Western nations imposed sanctions on Russia. Although the ruble initially plummeted during the onset of the conflict, it received some support from capital controls and exports of oil and gas.

Since the war began, the ruble’s value has been fluctuating, but it has overall lost around 25% of its value against the US dollar since the invasion of Ukraine.

On a recent Monday, the ruble’s exchange rate was 101.04 per US dollar. A higher number of rubles needed to buy a dollar indicates the currency’s weakening, given the dollar’s status as a dominant global currency.

Russia’s central bank has suggested the possibility of a key interest rate increase but maintains that the country’s financial stability is not under threat. In response to the invasion, the bank had raised rates from 9.5% to 20%, subsequently reducing them.

Jane Foley, Managing Director at Rabobank London, noted the progressive weakening of the ruble throughout the year, with the pace accelerating since late July. She attributed this trend to Russia’s challenging economic fundamentals, such as budget deficits and export pressures.

Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell, indicated that Western sanctions, particularly concerning oil and gas, were negatively impacting Russia’s trade and economy. The EU countries heavily reliant on Russian energy sources pledged to decrease their dependence and explore alternative suppliers.

The imposition of a price cap by G7 and EU leaders in December 2022, aimed at limiting Russia’s oil export revenue by maintaining oil prices below $60 per barrel, contributed to the reduction in Russia’s oil-related exports.

The interruption of gas supplies to Europe by Russia also played a role. Germany, a significant importer, announced its reduced reliance on Russian fossil fuels for energy.

Mould stated that the exclusion of Russia from Swift, a global payment system, had further impacted Moscow.

He pointed out that the ruble’s depreciation should also be considered alongside the strength of the US dollar. The dollar’s gain against emerging currencies was partly attributed to the robust US economy, prompting the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates while many emerging central banks were cutting rates.

The attractiveness of holding dollars or dollar-denominated assets was further enhanced due to higher cash returns in dollars compared to other currencies.

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US returns haul of stolen artefacts to Italy

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Over 250 ancient artifacts, which had been stolen and sold to US museums and collectors in the 1990s, have been repatriated by the United States to Italy.

The art division of Italy’s police force identified the looted items, which include pottery, paintings, and sculptures dating back as far as 3,000 years. Some mosaics are valued at tens of millions of euros. The pieces hail from various historical periods such as the Villanovan age, Etruscan civilization, Magna Graecia, and Imperial Rome.

Most of the artifacts were pilfered in the 1990s and eventually circulated through dealers. While some were believed to have been offered to the Menil Collection in Texas, the museum denied having them in their possession. The artifacts were voluntarily returned by the owner after authorities linked them to illegal archaeological site excavations.

Furthermore, around 145 of the retrieved pieces originated from the bankruptcy case of Robin Symes, an English antiques dealer involved in an illegal trading network. Italy’s ongoing efforts to locate and recover stolen antiquities led to this successful repatriation, following a similar return of stolen art from New York in 2022.

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Eiffel Tower Evacuated Following Bomb Alert

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Following a bomb alert, all three levels of the iconic Eiffel Tower were evacuated on Saturday, as reported by France BFMTV, a CNN affiliate. Currently, a team of experts in explosives is present at the site to conduct an assessment in response to the threat.

At present, the Eiffel Tower remains shut down, as per BFMTV’s report. With an annual influx of nearly seven million visitors to this renowned Parisian tourist spot, the precautionary measures are notable.

For security purposes, the monument has a law enforcement station situated at the base of its southern pillar. The entire premises are subjected to constant video surveillance, and visitors are required to undergo stringent security screenings before they are granted entry.

Although evacuations are infrequent, they are not unprecedented. In 2019, the monument had to be evacuated and temporarily closed after an individual was seen ascending its exterior.

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Poland to Deploy Approximately 10,000 Troops to Belarus Border

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Amid growing concerns about the presence of Wagner forces in the region, Poland is making preparations to deploy approximately 10,000 troops to its eastern border with Belarus. The Wagner troops, affiliated with Russia and stationed in Belarus, were reportedly involved in a brief rebellion. Poland’s Defense Minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, revealed that out of the total troop count, 4,000 soldiers will directly support border guards, while the remaining 6,000 will be in reserve.

Blaszczak cited alleged instances of Polish airspace violations by Belarusian military aircraft as a justification for the deployment. Belarus dismissed these accusations, labeling them as unfounded. Blaszczak emphasized the significance of such airspace violations and termed them a provocative act.

Blaszczak further asserted that events in Belarus are closely coordinated with Russia’s actions. Additionally, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu discussed plans to bolster Russian forces along its western borders, attributing the decision to increased militarization in Poland.

Poland has recently raised concerns about Wagner forces within Belarus. Notably, heightened activity has been observed in the Suwalki gap, a narrow land strip between Poland and Lithuania. Wagner forces appear to be moving in that direction, possibly to exert pressure on NATO and EU member states. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki even warned about the possibility of Wagner fighters disguising themselves as migrants to cross the border.

Lithuania, another neighboring country of Belarus, has also fortified its borders, citing the threat posed by Wagner fighters.

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