News
Trump to impose 25% tariffs on Indian imports, penalises Russian oil and arms purchases
US President Donald Trump has announced that a 25% tariff, along with an unspecified additional penalty, will be imposed on imports from India starting August 1, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military equipment
Serbia accused of supporting violent groups to suppress protests
Serbia is experiencing a sharp decline in civic freedoms amid a crackdown on student-led protests, according to a report by civil rights watchdog CIVICUS.
Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk, Ukrainian defences under growing pressure
Russian troops are steadily advancing on key logistical hub Pokrovsk in the Donbas from the north, east, and south, using small infantry groups and drone surveillance to stretch Ukrainian forces facing acute manpower and equipment shortages.
Mexico expects to reach tariff agreement with US this week
US President Donald Trump announced on July 12 his intention to impose 30% tariffs on Mexican products from August 1
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IMF raises growth forecasts for Latin America amid trade and geopolitical risks
The IMF raised its 2025 growth forecast for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.2%, but the region is still expected to lag behind emerging markets, which are projected to grow 4.1%.
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Mexican cartels exploit Ukraine war to acquire military drone technology
Ukrainian counterintelligence has discovered that Mexican and Colombian criminal groups have infiltrated the country's volunteer programme to acquire advanced military drone capabilities for narcotics operations.
Russia quake triggers tsunami alerts along South America's Pacific coast
A powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 29 July, prompting a cascade of tsunami alerts across the Pacific, with varying responses across the region.
Ukraine's PrivatBank secures $1.9bn court victory against former owners
Ukraine's PrivatBank won its London lawsuit against its former owners for allegedly siphoning off nearly $2bn, in a landmark case.
Poland sees biggest ice cream output rise in EU, Eurostat says
Weather in Poland might be freaky this year – the country has been a cold-ish blob in the otherwise red-hot European heatwave in July – but local ice-cream producers are not complaining.
Russia passes toothless “platform economy” law
The Russian State Duma passed the so-called “platform economy” bill regulating marketplaces and other digital platforms on July 26, according to The Bell citing Duma proceedings, but the final version watered down most proposed restrictions.
Strongest earthquake in Kamchatka since 1952 triggers tsunami alerts across Pacific
The strongest earthquake since 1952 hit Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula sending a 4m high tsunami towards Hawaii and triggering alarms across the Pacific on July 30.
Kamchatka M8.8 quake; Asia region tsunami update
Southwest of Japan in Taiwan the Central Weather Administration issued a tsunami watch after the quake struck at around 7.25 a.m. Taiwan time: wave arrival was anticipated around 1.18 p.m., with possible wave heights of up to 1m.
Heat wave claims 11 lives in South Korea as temperatures surge
South Korea is in the grip of an unrelenting heat wave that has reportedly led to 11 suspected deaths, nearly triple the number seen during the same period last year.
Huge earthquake in Russia's Far East triggers Pacific-wide tsunami alerts
One of the most powerful earthquakes recorded this year struck Russia's Far East in the early hours of July 30, triggering tsunami warnings across the northern Pacific, including for Japan, Alaska, Hawaii and as far south as New Zealand.
Kyrgyzstan bans access to online pornography
At same time imposes state control on all international internet traffic.
Court hears Uzbek group attempted to sell nuclear bomb material uranium on black market
National security officials world over are anxious to quickly shut down any such sales.
Polish regulator wheels out greenwashing charges against major courier companies
Polish logistics services giants Allegro, DHL, DPD and InPost have misled consumers with false environmental claims, Poland’s competition regulator UOKiK said.
Peru pushes ahead with $6bn mining overhaul amid political turmoil
Peru’s embattled government is pressing forward with a sweeping mining agenda, reviewing 134 new projects worth over $6bn as it attempts to stabilise an economy battered by political unrest and social discontent.
Colombia’s ex-president Uribe Vélez convicted of bribery, abuse of legal process
Colombia's former president Alvaro Uribe Vélez has been found guilty of witness tampering and procedural fraud, marking an unprecedented moment as the nation's first ex-leader to face criminal conviction.
Wildfires damage Istanbul-listed CVK’s Bursa chrome mine
The climate crisis means that a summer battle to contain blazes destroying forests is a new normal for Turkey.