Chile's state-owned copper company (COLOMBO) announced today that it has recovered the bodies of three of the five workers trapped in a tunnel collapse at one of the world's largest underground copper mines in central Chile, and that the search for the remaining two remains ongoing. The official death toll from Thursday's accident, which already had one confirmed dead, has risen to four, with nine injured. The company said in a statement: "As we continue our efforts to rescue our two colleagues who remain trapped, COLOMBO is providing all necessary support to the families and loved ones of the victims during this difficult time." The state-owned mining company is grappling with the tragedy at its El Teniente mine south of Santiago, which has raised concerns about global copper supplies. COLOMBO, the world's largest copper supplier, has suspended mining operations at its Andesita mine after a new section collapsed due to seismic activity, marking another setback for the company as it struggles to recover from years of declining production.

Lesotho's Minister of Trade and Industry, Mokesi Shelele, said in a statement that the country is seeking to negotiate with the United States for a 10% tariff and an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This rate will provide relief to exporters, particularly the textile and clothing sector, which has endured four months of uncertainty. The government remains committed to continuing negotiations to ensure that Lesotho's exports receive the lowest tariff applicable in the United States, 10%. The government will also continue to advocate for an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provided duty-free and quota-free access to the US market for Lesotho and other eligible sub-Saharan African countries before Trump implemented tariffs. The SADC-US Dialogue Forum will be launched during the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit in Madagascar from August 3 to 18. (Refinitiv)

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said in a statement that it expects the payout to be between 9 billion pounds and 18 billion pounds.