Russia earthquake triggers Hawaii tsunami warning
One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded recently struck the Eastern coast of Russia late on July 29. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake caused several aftershocks, including one in the Pacific Ocean that recorded a magnitude of six.
It also triggered volcanic activity for six volcanoes in the region, marking the first time in 300 years that this has happened. Although casualties were reported, several people were also injured.
The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings and evacuation orders for coastal areas in Hawaii and alerts along the West Coast. Hawaii’s island of Oahu experienced initial tsunami waves, causing people to evacuate. However, the warning was downgraded to an advisory, and evacuation orders were lifted by the next morning.
U.S launches strikes on Iran
In an operation codenamed ‘Midnight Hammer,’ the U.S launched strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran on June 21. The strikes involved 125 military aircraft, and some were sent west into the Pacific as a “decoy.”
According to U.S officials, the operation was intended to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. President Trump announced that future attacks would be “far greater” if Iran did not agree to a deal.
Leading up to these strikes, Israel began bombing nuclear facilities across Iran, and the two countries were engaged in conflict. Although the U.S was helping Israel by intercepting drones and missiles, the country wasn’t directly involved in the conflict until this operation.
Since then, there have been no further strikes, and the U.S emphasized that they are not seeking a full-blown war with Iran.
Trump under pressure to release Epstein files
The Trump administration has been pressed regarding the release of the Epstein files, records related to the late child sexual abuse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Pressure has been growing from both the Democratic and Republican parties for more transparency into what the investigations into Epstein revealed.
It was revealed in May by Attorney General Pam Bondi that Trump’s name appeared in files related to the investigation. The president was friends with Epstein in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case.
However, Trump came under criticism after he stated that the case was closed, even criticizing his own supporters who continued to pressure him about it. This comes after he emphasized that he was open to making more information regarding the case public while campaigning for the 2024 presidential election.
Bryan Kohberger pleads guilty to Idaho college murders
Bryan Kohberger was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students in November 2022. Kohberger accepted a plea deal as part of a deal that would drop the death penalty in exchange for a life sentence.
As part of the plea deal, the convicted killer pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. Kohberger was arrested weeks after the killings in 2022, based on DNA and digital forensic evidence.
The surviving roommates and families of the victims delivered emotional statements at the sentencing hearing. However, Kohberger declined to speak during the hearing.
