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Aramco Jazan facility fire extinguished, Saudi Arabia reports
The Saudi Energy Ministry reported that firefighters extinguished the fire at Saudi Aramco Jazan refinery, which broke out early Sunday morning. The fire was brought under control by Aramco's Industrial Security Teams and the authorities are completing the procedures to handle the incident. This is what the Saudi Energy Ministry said on X. The ministry did not say what started the fire. Jazan lies on the Red Sea, near the border of Yemen. Aramco closed its 400,000 barrels-per-day Jazan'refinery' on July 27, following an attack from Yemen's Houthi militants, which damaged the plant’s Integrated 'Gasification Combined Cycle' (IGCC) and tank farm 'area. The Houthis claimed to have struck Aramco facilities in Jazan and Yanbu at the time. The attacks raised concerns that the U.S./Israeli war on Iran, and Iranian attacks against shipping around the Strait of Hormuz could cause global disruptions. Amin Nasser, Aramco's chief executive officer, said that recent attacks on Aramco facilities caused production interruptions. However, he is confident that operations can be quickly restored. He claimed that the attacks had no financial or operational impact. Houthis have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia at the Red Sea in response to what they claim is a Saudi siege against Yemen. Riyadh has denied this allegation. Reporting by Hatem Mahar; Editing and proofreading by William Mallard & Lincoln Feast.
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Wildfires are causing wildfires to spread in British Columbia’s wine region.
On Saturday, a wildfire that was rapidly spreading in the western part of Canada forced thousands of residents to leave their homes. Bald Range was out of control, and had grown to approximately 9,500 hectares (23,500 acres). This prompted evacuation orders for Summerland, Peachland, and other districts located west of Okanagan Lake. This region produces the majority of B.C. The?region produces most of B.C. Summerland declared a state-of-emergency and has a population of 12,000 people according to the census of 2021. Peachland has a population of 6,500. "A?lot of farms were affected. We do not know how many buildings have been destroyed. Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes told a reporter that firefighters were still fighting the fire. "We must prepare for the worst." Terry Fries, of Summerland?was watching a game of football on Friday night. A neighbor told him to prepare a bag as the fire was growing. He said that at the time the fire was further back and could be seen behind the hills. B.C. When B.C. Summerland District, located about 45km (28miles) away from Kelowna lost power due to a wildfire on Saturday. Residents were issued a boil-water notice. The municipality stated that untreated water entered the system because it bypassed a water treatment plant due to the wildfire. This year, wildfires have raged in several Canadian provinces including Ontario and Quebec due to hot, dry weather. Firefighters from Mexico and Australia have been helping to fight the fires. About 1,500 firefighters are on the ground in B.C. where dry and hot conditions increase the danger of fires spreading. The province has issued 39 alerts and 38 orders of evacuation in relation to more than 100 fires. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, fires have consumed 4 million hectares (9.9 millions acres) of land in Canada so far this year. Paige Taylor White reported from Penticton in British Columbia, and Nivedita Bali in Toronto. Susan Fenton and Rod Nickel edited the story.
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Fijian Rugby player dies in Japan after suspected heatstroke
The Fijian side said that Saimoni 'Vunilagi', a professional rugby player, died on Saturday after suffering from a'suspected case of heatstroke? while training with his team in southern Japan. After training with his Fukuoka-based team,?Kyushu Electric Power Kyuden Voltex - also known as Kyushu KV, the back rower was admitted to hospital with symptoms of severe heatstroke on Monday. The club confirmed that he died on Friday morning. In recent weeks, Japan has experienced a heatwave with temperatures in some cities exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The government has now designated this as a "brutally warm day." The club in Japan's second division said that "Saimoni has only just joined Kyushu KV but his generous spirit and powerful playing style have raised high expectations for his contribution in the coming season." The club said: "We extend our sincere condolences and pray for his soul's repose." Japan's national team?suffered a narrow defeat to Australia in an evening match on Saturday, played in humid conditions?in Osaka. Due to the extreme heat, both teams took mandatory water breaks in between each half. (Reporting and editing by Pritha Sakar in Osaka)
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British Columbia district issues evacuation orders amid wildfires
The district of Summerland in British Columbia declared a state of emergency early Saturday morning as a rapidly-moving fire swept across western Canada forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. As of early Saturday morning, the 'Bald Range' wildfire had spread to approximately 5,000 hectares and prompted evacuation orders for other districts in this region. According to BC Wildfire Service, the fire began about 15 kilometers (9 miles) west of Summerland. Summerland district, which is located about 45 km from Kelowna said that it lost power due to wildfires on Saturday. It also issued a boil-water notice to residents, saying that untreated water entered the system when the water treatment plant had been bypassed because of the threat of wildfire. According to the census of 2021, Summerland's population is approximately 12,000 people. This year, wildfires have raged in several regions of Canada including Ontario and Quebec due to hot, dry conditions. Mexico, Australia France and New Zealand have all offered assistance to Canada in the fight against these fires. Around 1,500 firefighters are on the ground in British Columbia where hot, dry conditions can increase the likelihood of new fires. Lightning could also spark old fires. The province has also issued 49 alerts and 39 orders of evacuation. Premier David Eby stated earlier this week that he was prepared with additional international?and national firefighters and aircraft. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, fires have consumed 3.9 million hectares of land in Canada so far this year. (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton in Toronto, Nivedita Balu from Toronto)
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UAE: Iran fired missiles at ADNOC vessel in Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates condemned on Saturday what they said was an Iranian attack against a carrier connected to its state oil company, as it passed through 'the Strait of Hormuz. They accused Tehran of committing "acts?of piracy". Initial reports from the state news agency WAM stated that ADNOC had said one of their vessels was targeted by a rocket early Saturday morning and that everything was under control. Later, the UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it termed "the hostile Iranian attacks" on an ADNOC ship. No details were given about the tanker, its cargo, or any possible damage. There were no injuries reported. Before the conflict, a fifth (or more) of the world's oil and gas liquefied was transported through the narrow waterway that connects Oman to Iran. Shipping has been disrupted repeatedly since the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran began on February 28. This has led to higher freight rates and security concerns. The ministry stated that the attack was in violation of a 'U.N. The Security Council's resolution on freedom of navigation accused the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRG) of "piracy", accusing them of targeting commercial ships and using waterways as a means of economic pressure. The statement called on Iran stop the attacks and open the Strait unconditionally and fully. Iran's Guards had previously threatened to take action against vessels that transited the Strait of Hormuz?if they were linked to Tehran's enemies, or if failed to follow Iranian directives. ADNOC stated on Friday that they had been "significantly affected" by unprovoked attacks against their personnel and assets while continuing to meet the needs of customers in an "exceptionally difficult environment". The company reported that 15 of their vessels were 'attacked' by drones and missiles while they transited the strait, including three in the last week. One crew member was killed and 20 others injured. ADNOC's statement of Friday did not identify those responsible for the attacks. ADNOC is the state oil company of Abu Dhabi and one of the largest energy producers in the world. It exports crude oil and natural gas to customers around the globe.
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Zelenskiy: Russian drones killed a 3-year-old child and his grandparents near Kyiv
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, said that Russian drones had killed a 3-year-old child and his grandparents, in a village?in the Kyiv Region, and another person was killed by a ballistic attack?overnight?on the capital. In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv. Ukraine has also targeted Russian oil infrastructure and logistical infrastructure in an effort to reduce Moscow's war-fighting capability. Both Russia and Ukraine deny that they deliberately target civilians during their attacks. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia had launched six ballistic rockets and 151 unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukraine over night. Ukrainian General Staff also stated on Saturday that its military attacked Russia's Ilsky?oil refineries and Syzran oil refineries overnight, causing both fires. Local authorities have also confirmed that five people were injured in the Krasnodar Region in southern Russia after a Ukrainian drone strike. UKRAINE'S SHORTAGE of Air Defence Missiles Zelenskiy said on Telegram that "Europe, America and Ukraine have wanted to stop the Russian war for a long time," "Only the Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to do that, and he desperately clings to his ballistic missiles and robots to keep the war going. "More pressure is required." Zelenskiy, who is visiting Serbia for the first time, is seeking to join the European Union. The President has been pressing for additional help, as the country is chronically lacking air defence missiles to support U.S. Patriot Systems. Defence ministry reported that only 29 of 195 missiles were intercepted during July. The Ukrainian air defenses were able to shoot down 135 drones but not ballistic missiles. This was announced by the Ukrainian air force on Saturday. Tymur Tkachenko is the head of Kyiv's regional administration. He said that three places in the Brovarskyi District, near the capital, had been hit by Russian missiles. In the region, 10 private homes, commercial and production sites were damaged. After Russian drones killed a child and his grandparents, a private house in Puhivka village, located about 30 kilometres from?Kyiv was set blaze. Zelenskiy reported that his parents, 15-year old brother and neighbour were also injured. Officials reported that fires had been reported in Kyiv's three districts. Damage was caused to commercial?premises, warehouses, and other buildings. Witnesses heard "several powerful blasts" that rocked the city centre. The Russian Defence Ministry announced on Saturday that Russian forces had taken over the settlement of Ivanivka, in Ukraine's Kharkiv Region. The report could not be independently confirmed. Ukraine has not yet commented. Reporting by Dan Flynn, Olena Hartmash and Barbara Lewis.
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US anticipates a deal on the Strait of Hormuz soon; Sunni countries unite to form a defense pact
An official from the United States reported progress on Friday between Iran and Oman, which could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in the near future. This would allow oil exports to resume that were disrupted during the U.S. The war with Iran is ongoing. The U.S. official who refused to be identified said Washington expected an agreement between the two countries that sit on either side of the Strait so normal oil traffic can resume. The deal between Iran, Oman and the control of the strategic watersway is seen by many as being crucial to a larger peace agreement. A U.S. official said on Friday that there was progress between Oman, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. We expect a deal to be reached soon. The United States will lift its blockade on Iranian ports once the deal to restore commercial shipping is announced. The official stated that "as always, U.S. action will be performance-based, and tied to Iran’s implementation of its obligations." The official said that before the U.S. launched its war against Iran on February 28th,?about 1 out of 5 barrels of crude oil consumed globally transited through the Strait. Iran has now used this hostilities as a justification to charge a toll to oil tankers or fire on ships trying to cross without permission. The disruption of oil shipments caused the energy prices to rise and fuelled inflation. Iran has denied that any talks have taken place in recent weeks despite the Trump administration's repeated indications that an agreement to open the Strait was close. The latest round of talks was not clear whether they would lead to a lasting agreement. The Houthis in Yemen have intensified their attacks on Iranian ships that are passing through the Strait of Hormuz. They have also targeted vessels at another oil chokepoint between the Red Sea Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Peninsula. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the largest energy producers in the world, announced on Friday that 15 of their vessels have been hit by 'unprovoked attacks' while transiting through the Strait of Hormuz, since the beginning of the conflict. One crew member was killed and 20 were injured in the attacks, according to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey have signed a new security agreement on Friday in Mecca. They were alarmed by a regional conflict that saw Iranian missiles fired at Gulf oil exporters. The agreement between three U.S. ally countries with majority Sunni Muslim population is meant to increase collective deterrence and stipulates an attack on any one of them would be considered an attack on the others, according to a joint statement. The agreement, according to Turkey, was defensive and not directed at any particular country. It comes at a moment of increased tensions between Iran and Shi'ite majority countries. The U.S. is also trying to mediate a ceasefire on another front in the war between Israel, and the Iranian-backed Shiite group Hezbollah. This conflict takes place in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials said Friday that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a list of countries that could send troops under an agreement mediated by the United States, in order to verify Hezbollah's disarmament. The United States will select countries from the list. IRAN PRESIDENT DEFENDS DIPLOMATISM Washington and Tehran have not held direct high-level discussions since U.S. Vice president JD Vance, who met Iranian officials in Switzerland shortly after they reached a ceasefire deal in June. The short-lived memorandum of agreement of June 17 set out terms for the resumption of Strait of Hormuz shipping, and led to a truce. Hostilities were resumed in Iran and the U.S. on 7 July, but then put on hold. The U.S. Central Command has not reported any attacks on Iran since the 29th of July. Analysts say that signs of discord between Iran's civilian President, Masoud Peezhkian and other power centers, such as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may complicate?peace attempts. Pezeshkian, in an interview broadcast by state television on Friday, defended his government's policies towards hardliners who oppose negotiations with the United States. He said that the majority of senior military commanders were in favor of talks to end the fighting. Why don't the Americans fight against China? China is growing stronger and doing its own thing. Why not use dialogue to get our rights? He said. Reporting by Steve Holland, Timour Azhari, Ariba Alashray, Samia Nakhoul, Tuvan Gumrukcu, in Ankara and Enas Alashray, in Cairo. Writing by Daniel Trotta. Editing by Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman and Don Durfee.
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Petrobras CEO: likely to surpass 2026 oil production goal
Magda Chambriard, the CEO of Petrobras, said in a call with analysts on Friday that it is likely that the state-controlled oil company in Algeria will produce more oil by 2026 than what was forecast. She stated that the company's oil production in the second quarter exceeded its target by 200,000 barrels a day. According to a presentation by the company, Petrobras produced an average 2.6 million barrels a day so far this year. This is higher than its target of 2.5 millions barrels a day. Chambriard told journalists that 2.7m barrels a day would be an impressive result. She did not, however, provide any further details. Petrobras stated in a statement issued after the press conference that it maintains its official forecast for more than 2,500,000 barrels of oil per day. The company said it will continue to strive to achieve its goals and maximize production. It said: "At the time, CEO Magda chambriard noted at today's investor and press events that?the company consistently strives to maximize production and exceed targets." Since?Chambriard became CEO, Petrobras's focus has been on increasing output, including by slowing down production declines at older oil fields. According to the CEO, increased production has helped increase exports as well as profits. Petrobras' shares, despite a rise earlier in the day, closed Friday 3% lower. The Bovespa index, Brazil's benchmark, dropped 1.7%. Reporting by Fabio Téixeira and Marta Nogueira, Editing by Nia William
Trump's sudden Iran reversal reveals limits to his leverage
Donald Trump's dramatic retreat from his chilling threats?to wipeout Iran's civilisation has exposed the limits and rising risks of the U.S. President's unpredictable negotiating style.
Trump's decision to back down on Tuesday and accept a ceasefire lasting two weeks - which some critics called "TACO" or "Trump always cries out" – was the biggest step to date in de-escalating the 40-day war that has shaken the Middle East, and disrupted the global energy markets.
Trump's claim of a?victory? over Iran was based on a mix of maximalist demands and erratic language, as well as increasingly extreme threats.
Trump went further than ever on Tuesday morning, when he warned Iran via social media: "A whole civilization will perish tonight if it doesn't reach a deal."
Trump reversed his threat, which experts claim could have been war crimes. He announced a truce agreement mediated by Pakistan just two hours before the deadline he set for Iran to open up the Strait of Hormuz.
In his post, he claimed that the U.S. has "already achieved and exceeded all military objectives."
Analysts say that despite Trump's triumphalist rhetoric, Iran will likely emerge from this conflict as a persistent problem for Washington. It is militarily weaker but has a more hardline leader, de facto control of the vital waterway used to ship oil, and a stockpile buried of highly enriched nuclear material.
Trump has hailed himself as a master negotiator ever since his days as a real estate developer, but some analysts claim he can limit himself with his negotiating approach and undermine U.S. credibilities on the international stage.
Jon Alterman, a Washington-based think tank member at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said that "the president was trapped by himself and his hyperbole." "He couldn't have destroyed Iranian culture, and the costs to even appear to try would have massive."
This approach comes with an additional risk: that the adversaries, including China and Russia, will become aware of it.
The surprise factor is fading, said a Republican legislator who was in touch with the White House Tuesday night. He was referring to Trump’s habit of reversing his position after making tough-sounding statements.
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, denied that Trump had given in. She told reporters on Wednesday that Trump's language was part his "tough negotiation style" and the world should take his words "very seriously."
EXTREME NEGATIVE POSITIONS
Trump is known for taking extreme positions in negotiations, then reversing them.
Analysts said that at times this strategy appeared to be deliberate, while other times it seemed random, with the administration reverting in response to pressure from the financial markets or MAGA's political base.
Trump's new stance on Iran was prompted by a rise in U.S. gas prices and his own deteriorating approval ratings.
The term "TACO", which is derived from the phrase "Tariff Adjustment" (or "TACO"), dates back to around a decade ago. Faced with a loss of $6.5 trillion in U.S. stocks over the course of just four days, Trump lowered the hefty duties he announced at his "Liberation Day", event held at the White House, days earlier.
Few weeks later, he reversed another set of punitive measures against China.
Both times, after Trump's reversals, the stock markets - that Trump often cites to gauge his performance – rallied fervently.
The S&P 500 index rose 2.5% on Wednesday following the ceasefire declaration, as per usual.
Trump has also backed down on his threats to seize Greenland, a NATO member country, from Denmark and his desire to take over the war-ravaged Gaza.
His deadlines to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas did yield results, but his ultimatums that the Palestinian militant group disarm went?unheeded.
Trump's second-term military threats have gone far beyond the 2017-2021 presidential term.
A special forces raid led to the capture in January of Nicolas Maduro, and an improved U.S.-compliant government in Caracas.
Trump acted on escalating threats made against the Islamic Republic when he attacked it with Israel on February 28. This was while Washington and Tehran continued to negotiate over the Iranian nucleus program.
The question is now whether Trump could still fail to achieve his stated goals, such as 'closing Iran’s path towards a nuclear weapon,' despite tactical military achievements. Iran has denied wanting a nuclear weapon, but still has a large stockpile believed to be mostly underground after U.S. and Israeli air strikes on June.
'MADMAN THEORY'
Trump and his advisers have insisted for years that being unpredictable was a negotiation tactic to keep opponents on their heels.
Jonathan?Panikoff is a former U.S. deputy intelligence officer for Middle East who now works at the Atlantic Council in Washington. "He brought Iran to the brink and managed to escape at least with the temporary off-ramp that he had hoped would come," said Jonathan?Panikoff, a former U.S. intelligence officer for the Middle East now working at the Atlantic Council think tank in Washington.
Alexander Gray, a senior official from the first Trump administration who is now CEO of American Global Strategies, has rejected the idea that this was another example of Trump’s TACO tendencies and stated instead that the heated rhetoric aimed to "escalate to de-escalate".
Trump is believed to have embraced parts of Richard Nixon's Madman Theory. This theory, popularized during the Vietnam War, holds that extreme threats will force opponents to negotiate. Nixon wanted the North Vietnamese people to think he was insane and could use nuclear weapons.
Mark Dubowitz is the CEO of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. A nonprofit research institute that is considered hawkish in foreign policy. He said he agreed with Trump's belief that "you have to literally out-crazy the Iranians" despite the drawbacks.
Dubowitz stated that the Madman Theory is not only a bad idea, but it also scares your friends and family. Reporting by Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Andrea Shalal; Patricia Zengerle; Nandita BOSE and Dan Burns. Writing by Matt Spetalnick. Editing by Don Durfee, Nia Williams and Nia William.
(source: Reuters)