Strong Quake Hits Russia’s Kamchatka, No Damage Reported 

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast in July triggered tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. (EPA file) 
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast in July triggered tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. (EPA file) 
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Strong Quake Hits Russia’s Kamchatka, No Damage Reported 

A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast in July triggered tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. (EPA file) 
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast in July triggered tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile. (EPA file) 

A strong earthquake struck Russia's far eastern Kamchatka region, the regional governor said on Friday, prompting a series of tsunami warnings in the region, but despite waves reaching the shore, there were no reports of damage.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was measured at a magnitude of 7.8 and at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). It said a series of aftershocks followed, measuring up to 5.8.

Russia's Emergencies Ministry said the quake had a magnitude of 7.2, but later revised that figure up to 7.8.

Governor Vladimir Solodov said all emergency services had been placed on a state of high readiness, but that no damage had been reported.

A tsunami warning was issued for the eastern shore of the peninsula, jutting far out into the Bering Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Other officials reported tsunami waves of 30 to 62 centimeters (1-2 feet) at various points along the coast of the peninsula.

Kamchatka is located in a highly seismic area and at least two quakes with a magnitude greater than 7 have occurred in the past week.

In July, a powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake off the Kamchatka coast triggered tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile, and was followed by an eruption of the most active volcano on the peninsula.

"This morning is once again testing the resilience of Kamchatka residents," Solodov wrote on the Telegram messaging app. "Immediately after the earthquake, we began a rapid inspection of social institutions and residential buildings."

A tsunami warning was also issued for parts of the Kuril Islands chain, north of Japan, the Emergencies Ministry said. Japan calls the islands the Northern Territories.

Both warnings were lifted several hours later.

Video posted on social media showed what Telegram channels described as light fixtures and kitchen furniture swaying during the quake. Small groups of people were shown gathering on a street.

The US National Weather Service and Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami advisory for parts of Alaska following the quake, but the warning was later lifted.



Israel Says France Bans Its Officials from Weapons Show

A convoy of military vehicles is seen in southern Lebanon from the Upper Galilee on the Israel-Lebanon border, 01 June 2026. (EPA)
A convoy of military vehicles is seen in southern Lebanon from the Upper Galilee on the Israel-Lebanon border, 01 June 2026. (EPA)
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Israel Says France Bans Its Officials from Weapons Show

A convoy of military vehicles is seen in southern Lebanon from the Upper Galilee on the Israel-Lebanon border, 01 June 2026. (EPA)
A convoy of military vehicles is seen in southern Lebanon from the Upper Galilee on the Israel-Lebanon border, 01 June 2026. (EPA)

Israel's defense ministry said on Monday France had banned Israeli government officials from a major weapons show in Paris, and had imposed restrictions on companies from the country exhibiting there.

France's defense ministry — which barred Israel from taking part in the 2024 Eurosatory arms exhibition over the war ‌in Gaza — ‌later said Israeli companies would ‌be ⁠limited to showing equipment ⁠and materials related to air defense and missile defense, but did not go into any detail on the reasons.

It did not address the report that Israeli officials would not be allowed to attend.

"This is a disgraceful decision, ⁠one that reeks of political and ‌commercial calculation, and ‌regrettably, it comes as no surprise," the Israeli defense ministry ‌spokesperson said.

"It fits a deeply troubling ‌pattern in French conduct in recent years — a pattern that has consistently placed France on the wrong side of history."

Israeli-French relations have deteriorated since late 2023, with ‌Paris criticizing Israel's conduct in its wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and ⁠the ⁠decision by Israel and the United States to launch a war against Iran earlier this year.

Israel's right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also protested at President Emmanuel Macron's decision last year to recognize Palestinian statehood.

More than 2,600 exhibitors are due to take part in this year's Eurosatory — one of the world's largest weapons shows — which begins on June 15, according to its website.


Trump Says He Has Not Heard from Iran That They Are Suspending Talks

 President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
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Trump Says He Has Not Heard from Iran That They Are Suspending Talks

 President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP)
President Donald Trump attends a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Washington. (AP)

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had not heard from Iranians that they were suspending talks with the Washington, but added that silence would be fine and he was willing to wait.

"I think we've ‌been talking ‌too much if you ‌want ⁠to know the truth. ⁠I think going silent would be very good, and that could be for a long time," Trump said in an interview with NBC News.

"It ⁠doesn't mean we're going ‌to go ‌and start dropping bombs all over there," ‌Trump was quoted as saying. "We'll ‌just go silent. We'll keep the blockade."

"I think I can wait as long as they want. They're ‌losing a fortune."

The Iranian state news agency Tasnim reported earlier ⁠that Iran ⁠was halting indirect negotiations with the US after Israel ordered its troops to push deeper into Lebanon, complicating diplomatic efforts to end three months of war.

Trump said the Iranians were better negotiators than fighters, but that he had not been informed that they were suspending talks.


Türkiye’s Erdogan Distances Govt from Main Opposition Crisis, Warns Against Unrest

30 October 2025, Türkiye, Ankara: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Türkiye, speaks at the press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after talks at the presidential palace. (dpa)
30 October 2025, Türkiye, Ankara: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Türkiye, speaks at the press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after talks at the presidential palace. (dpa)
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Türkiye’s Erdogan Distances Govt from Main Opposition Crisis, Warns Against Unrest

30 October 2025, Türkiye, Ankara: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Türkiye, speaks at the press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after talks at the presidential palace. (dpa)
30 October 2025, Türkiye, Ankara: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Türkiye, speaks at the press conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz after talks at the presidential palace. (dpa)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that the government would not be drawn into disputes within Türkiye's main opposition CHP and would not allow unrest on the streets, in ‌his first ‌public comments ‌since ⁠a court ruling last ⁠month annulled the party's 2023 congress and removed its leadership.

The court ruling effectively reinstated former CHP ⁠chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu, a divisive ‌figure ‌within the party who ‌lost a presidential election ‌to Erdogan in 2023.

Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said ‌the government had no part in a ⁠political ⁠and legal struggle that had "spilled from party congress halls into court corridors" and would not allow "the streets to be thrown into turmoil" or the public to be pitted against security forces.