Belgium approves ban on imports from Israeli settlements as EU remains deadlocked
Belgium has approved a ban on importing goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The decision was taken at the federal government's final cabinet meeting before the summer break, according to the Belgian News Agency. It makes Belgium one of a small but growing number of European countries to act unilaterally on the issue.The move fulfils a commitment made last year amid concern over Israel's bombardment of Gaza and the scale of the death toll there. Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevot had pressed EU counterparts earlier this week in Brussels for a bloc-wide ban, but ministers remain... [Continue Reading]
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Ukraine's strikes on Russian fuel infrastructure deepen petrol shortages
Ukraine's long-range drone campaign against Russian fuel infrastructure has intensified since May, contributing to petrol shortages across parts of Russia and in occupied Crimea. According to the supplied analysis, the strikes have hit refineries, fuel depots and oil tankers in the Black Sea, forcing some sites to pause production. The result has been an unusual move for one of the world's largest oil producers: Russia has begun importing consumer petrol, mostly from India, to help cover shortfalls.The analysis says there were reports in June of at least six strikes on oil refineries and seven on fuel depots in Russia. It... [Continue Reading]
Germany deepens energy and strategic ties with Algeria during Tebboune visit
Germany has used a high-profile visit by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to signal a broader push to strengthen energy and economic ties with Algiers. Tebboune was welcomed with military honours at Villa Borsig in Berlin, where German and Algerian officials held talks alongside a bilateral economic forum. The visit centred on energy security, industrial cooperation and supply-chain diversification, with both sides presenting the relationship as more than a narrow gas partnership.Officials said 30 agreements were signed between German and Algerian companies at the forum in Berlin. The deals covered hydrocarbons, renewables, energy transition, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and advanced technology, while Chancellor... [Continue Reading]
Day News Recap: Ukraine toll rises as Iran tensions widen and Congo Ebola outbreak accelerates
The World Health Organization says Ebola is spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo faster than in any previous outbreak, as seven American aid workers who had been in the country on response work were quarantined in Kenya after new travel restrictions. ๐ ๐In Ukraine, at least 13 people were killed in strikes across several regions, including Zaporizhzhia and Odesa, while separate Russian drone attacks hit port infrastructure in Mykolaiv and damaged three foreign registered vessels. ๐ ๐Kyiv also said it destroyed a Tu 95 bomber at Russia's Engels air base, but President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing domestic backlash... [Continue Reading]
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China launches 29-nation AI alliance as Xi calls for global cooperation in Shanghai
China has announced a new 29-nation World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation, adding a fresh diplomatic dimension to the country's push to shape global AI rules. The coalition was unveiled in connection with the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where Chinese President Xi Jinping called for countries to cooperate on artificial intelligence. He also warned against any one country dominating the technology.Xi said AI development should not be treated as the work of a single country, but as a shared international effort. He urged governments to resist stretching the idea of national security too far in the AI field, and... [Continue Reading]
Breakfast News Recap: US Iran strikes widen as Ukraine toll rises and global tensions ripple
The United States kept up airstrikes on Iran for a sixth straight night, while Iranian state media said new hits damaged civilian and transport infrastructure, deepening fears of a wider regional conflict. ๐Tehran also accused Washington of striking near a children's cancer hospital in Ahvaz, saying 211 patients had to be evacuated after the blast came close enough to force the move. ๐ Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps separately warned that the Bab al Mandeb Strait could become a new front in its war with the United States, adding to pressure on shipping routes already under strain. ๐Shipping risks in... [Continue Reading]
United States to impose 25% tariffs on thousands of Brazilian imports from July 22
The United States is set to impose 25% duties on thousands of Brazilian imports, with the measures due to take effect on 22 July. The new tariffs cover a wide range of goods, including sugar, apparel, paper and steel. They were announced as Washington moves ahead with a revised trade strategy under Section 301 of US trade law.The announcement was made late on Wednesday by the US trade representative. Section 301 allows the United States to investigate what it considers unfair trade practices and then impose levies in response. The tariffs were proposed last month and are now moving toward... [Continue Reading]
UK updates resilience plans and warns public to prepare for possible food and water shortages
The UK government has updated its national resilience plans and is preparing a public awareness campaign later this year to encourage households to take steps for possible food and water shortages. The move is linked to risks from severe weather and cyber attacks, according to the supplied material. It comes as officials say the public should make "small but important steps" to prepare for disruption.Cabinet Office Minister Darren Jones said the government regularly assesses the risks the country could face and plans for what may come. He pointed to record temperatures in May and June as an example of the... [Continue Reading]
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US opens safeguard review of lamb imports, including Australian supply
The United States International Trade Commission has opened a global safeguard investigation into lamb imports, a move that could affect shipments from Australia, the largest supplier to the US market. The review is examining whether imported lamb meat is threatening the domestic industry and whether additional tariffs should be imposed. The investigation was formally requested on 13 July by Ambassador Jamieson Greer.The case follows an October 2025 petition from the American Sheep Industry Association, which argued that imported lamb was being sold at lower prices, displacing local production and reducing profitability for US farmers. According to the supplied material, most... [Continue Reading]
US Senate revises Russia sanctions bill to soften tariffs on India and China
US senators have introduced a revised Russia sanctions bill that would ease proposed tariff measures aimed at major buyers of Russian oil and gas, while keeping broader pressure on Moscow. The legislation was first tabled in April 2025 and has now been updated as lawmakers seek to move it forward with bipartisan backing. It comes as the United States continues to weigh how to punish Russia over its energy revenues without sharply widening the economic impact on other countries.Under the revised proposal, the maximum tariff on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas would be cut to... [Continue Reading]
US-Russian Soyuz mission launches to ISS from Baikonur
A joint US-Russian space mission has launched from Kazakhstan and is now in orbit on its way to the International Space Station. The Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft lifted off from the Russia-operated Baikonur Cosmodrome on Tuesday morning, carrying Russian astronauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina and NASA astronaut Anil Menon. The crew is scheduled to dock at the ISS later, where they are expected to stay for eight months.NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attended the launch, making what was described as a rare visit to Baikonur and the first by a NASA chief in eight years. Before liftoff, he met Dmitry Bakanov,... [Continue Reading]
EU races to agree new Russia sanctions before oil-price deadline
European Union ambassadors were holding last-ditch talks in Brussels on Tuesday in an effort to finalise a new sanctions package on Russia before a deadline that could force a higher cap on Russian oil prices. The proposed measures are intended to keep pressure on Moscow's energy revenues, which remain a central source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Officials said the talks were taking place after several member-state objections delayed agreement on the bloc's 21st sanctions package since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.If no deal is reached by Wednesday, the EU could be required to raise the oil price... [Continue Reading]
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EU ministers discuss sanctions on trade from Israeli settlements in Brussels
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday to discuss possible sanctions on trade from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The talks come amid rising pressure from member states over settler violence against Palestinians and continued settlement expansion, which the European Union says is illegal under international law. No formal decision was expected at the meeting, and diplomats said the session was intended to gauge whether there is enough support to move forward.EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of the meeting that the situation in the West Bank was "really intolerable" and warned that... [Continue Reading]


