Despite a rising HIV epidemic in Russia, officials appear to be clamping down on organisations trying to fight the spread of the virus.RussiaMoscow cracks down on HIV activistsDESPITE a rising HIV epidemic in Russia, officials appear to be clamping down on organisations trying to fight the spread of the virus.In recent weeks, authorities added two leading HIV-prevention groups to a "foreign agents" blacklist, as a broader crackdown on independent civil society hits the battle against HIV.Under President Vladimir Putin, Russia has focused on Aids treatment instead of prevention.Officials have already targeted dozens of other NGOs in fields from human rights to environmental protection. - AFPJapanBuyer coughs up $360 per grape at auctionA BUNCH of grapes sold for $10900 yesterday, a record price for the variety in a fruit-obsessed nation in which the produce can be a huge status symbol.Seasonal fruit offerings routinely attract massive sums from buyers seeking social prestige, or from shop owners wanting to attract customers to "ooh and ahh" over the high-flying edibles.The buyer of yesterday's bunch of about 30 Ruby Romans - who paid about $360 per grape - showed no wrath, promising to dole out samples to a few of his fortunate patrons. - AFPUKMay steams ahead in prime minister raceINTERIOR minister Theresa May and eurosceptic rival Andrea Leadsom emerged yesterday as the two candidates who will battle to become Britain's next prime minister and lead the country out of the EU.May won 199 votes and Leadsom 84 in a second ballot of MPs of the governing Conservative party. Justice Secretary Michael Gove took just 46 votes and is out of the race. About 150000 Conservatives will now vote to decide whether May or Leadsom becomes the UK's first woman prime minister since Margaret Thatcher. The result is expected by September 9. - ReutersUKVolcano puts penguins at risk on smelly islandPENGUINS on a remote British island are in danger of being wiped out after a volcano erupted, covering them in ash.The British Antarctic Survey has warned that 1.3 million birds on Zavodovski Island are threatened by the disaster, which has covered the island in toxic smoke and sent ash raining down.The southern-Atlantic island is known as the smelliest place on earth because of the fumes that emanate from the volcano.Its landmarks include Stench Point, Acrid Point and Noxious Bluff. - ©The Daily TelegraphPalestinian TerritoriesReconstruction drags in post-war Gaza StripTWO years after Gaza's last conflict with Israel, rights groups vented frustration yesterday over the slow pace of reconstruction in the Palestinian territory and lack of war crimes prosecutions.Amnesty International said it was "indefensible" that no criminal cases had been brought for alleged war crimes committed by Israel or the Palestinians, while NGOs urged Israel to lift its blockade of the impoverished Gaza Strip.The 2014 war between Israel and Gaza militants killed more than 2200 Palestinians and 73 people on the Israeli side. - AFP..