Global Political and Crisis Developmentsactive

The United States is achieving something unprecedented in Venezuela: promoting deep changes and reforms in that country while at the same time relying on the cooperation, consent, or resignation of both the Venezuelan government and opposition. Immediately after the shocking capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3, Donald Trump's government surprised again by supporting Delcy Rodríguez — then Maduro's vice president — as the person responsible for carrying out the changes Washington wants to achieve in Venezuela. "She is essentially willing to do what we believe is necessary to make Venezuela great again," Trump said, adding: "She has no other option." Rodríguez was recognized as interim president and does not seem to have disappointed Trump, judging by the frequent praise he gives her. In recent months, the U.S. has taken control of the sale of Venezuelan crude oil — the country's main source of wealth — and has encouraged the return of American oil companies to the country with the aim of revitalizing that sector. Washington has pushed for changes in Venezuela's oil and mining legislation to favor private investment in those sectors, while exploring options to recover the Venezuelan electrical system, an essential factor for economic recovery in the country. Additionally, it has been lifting sanctions and paving the way for the gradual reintegration of Venezuela…

More than seven decades of reports about objects and phenomena that could not be immediately identified are part of a new release of documents disseminated by the Pentagon. The American agency published 41 new files related to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), a term currently used by the U.S. government to refer to this type of sightings. The release, made on Friday, August 7, includes documents, photographs, and videos from agencies such as the Pentagon, the FBI, the CIA, the State Department, and the President's Executive Office. The records span from 1950 to 2025 and pertain to incidents reported both within and outside the United States. Among the locations mentioned are Montana, Utah, and Colorado, as well as Brazil, Sweden, Afghanistan, the Pacific Ocean, and the Middle East. This is the fifth release of files related to UAPs this year, following an executive order by Donald Trump aimed at making more information about these phenomena public. One of the cases included in the new release concerns an incident recorded in September 2021 over the Gulf of Oman. Six of the published videos show different angles of the same encounter, captured from the screens of sensors on a military aircraft used by Special Operations forces during a live-fire exercise. According to a report from i…

The Secretary of Women expressed her "deep indignation" over the case of an 11-year-old girl in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, who was allegedly a victim of sexual violence and whose pregnancy resulted from that assault, while demanding that authorities guarantee the comprehensive protection of the minor, the restitution of her rights, and access to specialized medical, psychological, legal, and social care. In a statement, the agency called on all competent authorities to ensure at all times the comprehensive protection of the minor, as well as the restitution of her rights and access to specialized health services, psychological support, legal advice, and social support. It emphasized that such care must be provided in a dignified, confidential manner, with a gender perspective, and free from any form of re-victimization. Read also Noroña heads to Havana, Cuba; will participate in a tribute for Fidel Castro's centenary "Any child pregnancy is the result of sexual abuse, which is a crime, endangers the child's life, and violates her human rights, which must be guaranteed above any other consideration," he stated. He also urged media outlets and content creators on social media to avoid any form of judgment, discrimination, or responsibility towards the girl. "The priority of everyone must be the comprehensive protection of the minor and the irre...

The Morena senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña announced that this Sunday he took a flight to Havana, Cuba, where he will participate in a tribute to mark the hundredth anniversary of Fidel Castro's birth, the revolutionary leader who governed the island for nearly half a century. "The first flight after the accident in which I broke my wrist. I'm going to Havana with Aeroméxico," shared the legislator on his social media, accompanied by a photograph of himself on the plane. In his video chat yesterday, Fernández Noroña shared some details of his trip to the island of Cuba, where he confessed to feeling tired from the legislative sessions of the Permanent Commission, but celebrated that "not every day does the invincible commander Fidel Castro turn 100 years old." Read also Noroña clears sanctions for political violence against Grecia Quiroz; Electoral Tribunal revokes ruling due to parliamentary immunity Additionally, he pointed out that the Cuban people are currently facing a difficult time, so solidarity will be necessary and his presence "contributes something" to the situation of the Caribbean country. "The right always tells me 'go to Cuba,' so I'm going. I have bad news for them: I return on Thursday. I was going to tell them once I was there, but since I don't know how the internet is, I don't know if I'll be able to broadcast, I don't know anything," expressed the former President of the Senate of the Republic. The Morena legislator considered that it would be cowardly not to travel…

China delivered a second batch of 5,000 photovoltaic systems to the Cuban regime, with the aim of ensuring solar energy in health centers, childcare centers, and bank branches distributed across the country's 169 municipalities. The initiative is part of the bilateral cooperation between Havana and Beijing to strengthen Cuba's energy infrastructure through renewable sources, in a context marked by repeated nationwide blackouts. The ceremony for the delivery of new renewable energy equipment was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Mincex) in the Cuban capital, with the presence of officials from the organization, representatives of the Cuban Electric Union, and members of the Chinese Embassy, according to the ministry itself via Facebook. The systems, managed by the China International Cooperation Agency for Development, offer a technical improvement over the first batch donated in November 2025. The new equipment reaches a capacity of 3.6 KWh and doubles the storage capacity to 14.3 KWh. During the ceremony, Vice Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga thanked Beijing for its support and highlighted "its special significance in the very complex scenario the country is experiencing." For his part, Chinese Ambassador Hua Xin framed the delivery on the eve of the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth, commemorated on August 13, and described it as…

China delivered a second batch of 5,000 photovoltaic systems to the Cuban regime, with the aim of ensuring solar energy in health centers, childcare centers, and bank branches distributed across the country's 169 municipalities. The initiative is part of the bilateral cooperation between Havana and Beijing to strengthen Cuba's energy infrastructure through renewable sources, in a context marked by repeated nationwide blackouts. The ceremony for the delivery of new renewable energy equipment was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (Mincex) in the Cuban capital, with the presence of officials from the organization, representatives of the Cuban Electric Union, and members of the Chinese Embassy, according to the ministry itself through Facebook. The systems, managed by the China International Cooperation Agency for Development, offer a technical improvement over the first batch donated in November 2025. The new equipment reaches a capacity of 3.6 KWh and doubles the storage capacity to 14.3 KWh. During the ceremony, Vice Prime Minister Óscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga thanked Beijing's support and highlighted "its special significance in the very complex scenario the country is experiencing." For his part, Chinese Ambassador Hua Xin framed the delivery on the eve of the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth, commemorated on August 13, and described it as…

The judge has reported that she was tortured and sexually abused while in prison, mistreatment that would have caused her lifelong injuries.

The judge has reported that she was tortured and sexually abused while in prison, mistreatment that would have caused her lifelong injuries.

There are people who, because of their physical beauty or intellectual brilliance, develop the sin of vanity and their emptiness, which becomes a constant looking at themselves—and admiring themselves—in front of a mirror, real or imaginary, waiting for the rest of the world to confirm that desired image of perfection. And there is nothing worse for the vain than a public humiliation of that so revered image of themselves; a defeat that proves to them that their public image is as fragile as that mirror in which they admire themselves. With intelligence, reflection, forgiveness (and therapy), they can become better people than they were before, but most fall into denial and/or revenge against those who humiliated them and sacrificed them publicly. Nothing is more illustrative of the topic than reading the more than 40 pages of the “Conclusions of the First Strategic Ideological Congress” of the Broad Front: I recommend reading it. It is a very exotic mix of ideas, postulates, and revelations. It has something of the old MAPU from the 60s and much of the old Marx with his eternal class struggle. They are full of enemies: entrepreneurs—only small and medium-sized enterprises are spared—media, large technological platforms, “the structures” (which have always been an enigma to me: I haven't seen any in person), paternalists, antifeminists, etc., etc., and, above all, neocapitalism, the cause of all plagues of humanity. They want more state (a lot of state) to take care of everything, which has something Mussolinian about it: “everything…

The governments of Chile and Venezuela formalized on Thursday the resumption of their consular relations, interrupted since 2024 due to tensions between then-Chilean President Gabriel Boric and former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. The formalization took place in a meeting in Caracas between the Director General of Consular Affairs, Immigration, and Chileans Abroad, Hernán Núñez, and the Venezuelan Vice Minister for Latin America, Mauricio Rodríguez. During the meeting, both officials exchanged verbal diplomatic notes that formalized the reestablishment of consular relations. Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna highlighted that this step "will ensure protection and services for citizens of both countries and the beginning of a new stage, through constructive dialogue, to advance on issues of mutual interest, for the well-being of our peoples and the region." According to Pérez Mackenna himself, currently around 700,000 Venezuelans reside in Chile, while about 25,000 Chileans live in Venezuela. Bilateral consular relations were officially restored, marking the start of a "progressive normalization" of ties after two years of rupture. According to local press, there are more than 75,000 pending expulsion orders, more than half of which are for Venezuelan citizens. The rup…

The major earthquake that occurred in Venezuela, South America, in June this year has confirmed over 6,000 deaths as of the 3rd. Due to a shortage of heavy machinery, only about 16% of the debris has been removed, and the number of victims may increase further.

Havana.- A new widespread blackout left seven of Cuba's 15 provinces without power during the night, including Havana, after a failure in the national power grid affected about 4.5 million people, nearly half of the island's population, authorities reported. The state company Unión Eléctrica (UNE) stated on social media X that the outage occurred at 18:07 (local time) due to a "partial failure of the National Electric System" caused by faults in the transmission network between the provinces of Pinar del Río and the Cienfuegos-Matanzas corridor. The interruption affected much of the western part of the country, including the Cuban capital, while technicians worked to restore service. Note At 18:07, a simultaneous trip occurred on the 220 kV lines from Mtzas to Cfgos and from Mtzass to Santa Clara, causing the division of the SEN and subsequently the fall of the western zone. Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Havana, and Matanzas were left without service. pic.twitter.com/yQPUjlF2uz — Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (@OSDE_UNE) August 1, 2026 Cuba is experiencing a deep energy crisis resulting from the deterioration of its generation and transmission infrastructure, fuel shortages, and difficulties in importing hydrocarbons, in a context of a prolonged economic crisis that has affected the country for five years. Cubans do not hesitate to admit that they are exhausted by …

The General Director of Consular Affairs, Immigration, and Chileans Abroad, Hernán Núñez, arrived in Caracas to implement the reactivation of consular relations between Chile and Venezuela. It was last Thursday that President José Antonio Kast and Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna jointly announced the start of a roadmap for the gradual normalization of bilateral relations between the two countries. Two years after the withdrawal of the Chilean diplomatic corps from the Caribbean country, Núñez's mission in Caracas is to begin reviewing the administrative and operational procedures needed to start public services. This service includes procedures such as issuing identity documents and passports, legalizing certificates and titles, and providing consular assistance in emergencies, among others, to the more than 25,000 Chileans residing in Venezuela. In this regard, the delegation from the Foreign Ministry will also meet with Venezuelan authorities as part of the process of resuming consular relations. Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna stated that "having consular assistance as soon as possible in Caracas is a priority for the Foreign Ministry and the first step to continue approaching a country with which we have had historic relations." The minister emphasized that "an opportunity is opening to assist citizens who require state services, through the..."

Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, made a call this Saturday to Chilean leader José Antonio Kast to "march together" with an agenda of friendship and cooperation, after both countries agreed this week to reactivate consular relations and normalize their ties after two years of rupture. "You (Kast) also have a good Venezuelan who is in charge of international relations to march together and for our South American countries to march together in a common agenda, in an agenda of cooperation, in an agenda of friendship," she expressed at an event broadcast by the state Venezuelan Television (VTV). Additionally, the chavista thanked Kast for his "kind words," who on Thursday announced the reactivation of consular relations and the "beginning of a new stage" for the "progressive normalization" of the broken link in 2024, after the administration of former Chilean president Gabriel Boric (2022-2026) questioned the transparency of the Venezuelan elections held that year. The Chilean head of state, who explained that the new stage "will allow progress on tremendous challenges" of "security, migration, and economic development," thanked the "methodical" work of the diplomatic teams of both countries and valued Rodríguez's "willingness" to advance in joint planning. Kast reiterated multiple times that the reestablishment of l…

The president of the Libertarian National Party, Johannes Kaiser, questioned this Saturday the government's decision to resume consular relations with Venezuela and urged the Executive to explain what concrete benefits Chile will gain from advancing the normalization of the bilateral relationship with Caracas. It was on Thursday when Chile and Venezuela announced the start of a roadmap to progressively restore the bilateral relationship, suspended since 2024. “Let me see if I understand correctly. Chile has just resumed relations with Venezuela. The Venezuelan government is the same as the one with Maduro, including Diosdado Cabello, who is under investigation in Chile for his responsibility in the murder of Ronald Ojeda and his connection to the leader of the Tren de Aragua, the ‘Niño’ Guerrero,” said the former deputy. The former presidential candidate questioned the agreement, pointing against the same Venezuelan government that, in his opinion, “supported the coup d'état against Sebastián Piñera and the destruction of our country at the hands of their local henchmen.” Let me see if I understand correctly. Chile has just resumed relations with Venezuela. The Venezuelan government is the same as the one with Maduro, including Diosdado Cabello, who is under investigation in Chile for his responsibility in the murder of Ronald Ojeda and his connection to the leader of the Tren de… — Johannes Kaiser (@Jou_Kaiser) August 2, 2026 Along those lines, the officialist leader also questioned the practical scope of the agreement…

Venezuelan acting president Delcy Rodríguez thanked President José Antonio Kast on Saturday for his "kind words" after they agreed to start a roadmap to gradually normalize consular relations between the two countries after two years of rupture, and called for establishing a joint cooperation agenda. "I want to thank the words of the President of Chile, Kast, his kind words, we have initiated the process of resuming consular relations, with a view to fully rebuilding our relations," said the Venezuelan provisional head of state during a government event broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), according to EFE. She then added: "I appreciate your words, President, and you can count on a Venezuelan who is in charge of international relations to move forward together and for our South American countries to march together in a common agenda, in an agenda of cooperation, in an agenda of friendship." Last Thursday, July 30, through a joint declaration by the Chilean and Venezuelan governments, both countries announced the decision to reactivate their consular relations. After the announcement, Kast, accompanied by Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, confirmed the reactivation of consular relations with Venezuela, marking a new stage for the normalization of the bilateral relationship broken in 2024. This followed the administration of the former...

The president of Chile, José Antonio Kast, announced this Thursday the reactivation of consular relations with Venezuela, the "beginning of a new phase" for the "gradual normalization" of the bilateral relationship broken in 2024, after the administration of former Chilean president Gabriel Boric (2022-2026) questioned the transparency of Venezuelan elections. "Starting today, Chile and Venezuela begin a new phase, which will allow us to advance in tremendous challenges we face as countries on the same continent. Challenges related to security, migration, and economic development," said the president, José Antonio Kast, in a brief press conference from La Moneda. The Chilean head of state thanked the "methodical" work of the diplomatic teams of both countries and appreciated the "willingness" of the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, to move forward with the joint design. Today marks the beginning of a new phase for relations between Chile and Venezuela. With the reestablishment of consular relations, we take a decisive step to organize our house and contribute to the harmonious development of our nations. — José Antonio Kast Rist (@PresidenteKast) July 31, 2026 "In the initial stage, both countries have agreed to reactivate consular relations, as an initial step toward the full resumption of bilateral ties and with the aim of ensuring protection and consular services in favor of ...

Vyacheslav Volodin stressed that Russia did everything to strengthen ties with those who share its principles

A shooting at a Seattle food festival left at least three people dead and five others wounded. The police took the suspect into custody.

As Israel heads into a fiercely contested general election on October 27, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the principal challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Eisenkot’s rise comes at a pivotal moment in Israeli politics, with the election widely viewed as a referendum on the long-serving premier’s leadership in the violent aftermath of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. A recent Channel 12 poll put Eisenkot’s new party, Yashar (Hebrew for “Straight” or...

The Philippines came into the 2026 ASEAN chairmanship with the strongest possible hand on the South China Sea. It held the pen on the communique. It had built new domestic legal infrastructure and secured bilateral partner commitments. The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) fell in the week of the arbitral ruling’s 10th anniversary. Yet the […] The post The South China Sea consensus no ASEAN chair can move appeared first on Asia Times.

The New York Times reported that the Pentagon began publishing casualty statistics on a dedicated webpage on July 7

According to Israel's Channel 13, Benjamin Netanyahu stated his "intention to resist" the demand of the American administration

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's science ministry and the U. S. chip gian...

After decades of fighting desertification with straw, plants and plastic, Chinese researchers have turned to bamboo – one of the most resilient and sustainable materials on the planet. The fastest-growing plant on Earth has the potential to help overcome challenges with current sand-fixing methods including short lifespan, ecological risks and health issues. Beijing on July 22 released a five-year conservation plan for the country’s forests and grasslands, which includes projects to be...

Hong Kong property developers are expected to report stronger first-half earnings in the coming weeks, buoyed by a rebound in home sales and improving development margins, as investors look for clues on whether the sector’s recovery is sustainable. Bank of America Global Research expected Hong Kong developers and conglomerates to post average core net profit growth of 8 per cent year on year, excluding New World Development, according to a report published on July 15. “We expect the Hong Kong...

Days before Víctor Rodríguez Padilla resigned as General Director of Pemex, the state-owned productive company decided to classify as "confidential" for three years the findings of internal audits from the previous year. In the document CT-PM-560-2026, which EL UNIVERSAL has a copy of, it is detailed that Pemex's Transparency Committee agreed on April 23 to confirm the confidentiality of the findings in internal audits of subsidiary companies, as well as information and communication technologies, and liaison with Pemex review bodies. It is argued that the information contained in these findings is sensitive due to its economic and commercial nature, so its eventual disclosure would imply revealing strategic information regarding business activity. It is justified that revealing incomplete information could generate external pressures, distort technical analyses, and weaken the independence necessary for the adoption of final criteria. After confirming this confidentiality, dozens of pages of these audit findings appear completely blacked out, preventing their content from being known. On May 14, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced the departure of Víctor Rodríguez Padilla from Pemex's General Directorate, who, it was said, sought to return to academia. On July 7, after the release of a video in which he is seen hitting...

China’s expanding zero-tariff access for 63 lower-income countries — 53 of them African — is far more than a developmental courtesy or a technical adjustment of customs schedules. It is a deliberate geostrategic lever in Beijing’s long-term competition with the United States and Europe for influence over the Global South. It also reflects a growing […] The post China’s zero-tariff play aims to lock in African loyalty appeared first on Asia Times.

For Democrats to take control of the U. S. Senate, they have to flip 4 seats currently held by Republicans. Republicans, meanwhile, are playing defense and pickup opportunities are harder to find. (Image credit: Samuel Corum)

A child is also involved, the police arrest two people

Power outages are becoming more common with the rise of extreme weather. An EV could save you from blackouts – and earn you money while you sleep.

U.S. President Donald Trump denied on Sunday that the military campaign against Iran is exhausting U.S. ammunition reserves and assured that the armed forces have an arsenal greater than that of any other country. The leader responded to reports warning of a possible depletion of military inventory after nearly two weeks of bombings and, hours later, reinforced his message with a series of artificial intelligence-generated images depicting attacks on energy infrastructure and Iranian vessels. "We have much more ammunition than anyone in the world, and much more than we need," Trump told The Wall Street Journal, in response to reports indicating that the campaign against Iran was reducing U.S. weapon reserves. The reports emerged after advisors to the president, according to various reports, warned him that the number of available military targets was beginning to decrease and expressed concern about ammunition consumption during the offensive. Additionally, U.S. military officials indicated that the bombings aimed at containing Iranian threats against navigation in the Strait of Hormuz had largely exhausted the set of pre-selected targets for the campaign, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Despite these assessments, Trump dismissed…

Severe weather alerts were sent to many areas across the region as Typhoon Noul made landfall on Sunday.

US and EU trade tensions hit fast-fashion retailer’s profits

Ten-year-old Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast Oleksandra Paskal, who survived a Russian attack that claimed her leg, performed in Times Square in the heart of New York City to remind the world about the plight of Ukrainian children living through war.

The British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, in the first meeting with a foreign leader since taking office. During the visit, the British government will share with Kyiv the intellectual property of an electronic interference system for drones called Stone Cloak, while the Ukrainian leader prepares for his Tuesday trip to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, in his attempt to move towards ending the war with Russia. Zelensky's visit to London will precede his meeting with Trump at the White House. The Ukrainian president will also seek to strengthen support requests in defense amid an environment marked by the escalation of drone and missile attacks by Russia and Ukraine, while negotiations led by the United States to resolve the conflict remain stalled due to Washington's attention shifting to the war with Iran. Burnham's office at Downing Street announced on Sunday night that both leaders will visit a British naval base and listen to members of the armed forces of both countries participating in the training of Ukrainian soldiers. According to Downing Street, Burnham will also pledge to "continue the unbreakable bond between the two nations," in line with what he conveyed to Zelensky during a telephone conversation held on...

The Archdiocese of San Salvador issued an official invitation this Sunday to participate in the religious activities of the patron saint festivities of the Salvadoran capital in honor of the Divine Savior of the World, whose main celebration is scheduled for August 6. The call, made by Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas along with other representatives of the diocesan curia, aims to bring together priests, laypeople, religious, and the entire national community both at home and abroad. According to the Archdiocese of San Salvador, the program will focus on the traditional solemn mass on August 6 at nine in the morning, presided over by the Episcopal Conference of El Salvador and concelebrated by all the priests of the country. The event will be attended by Apostolic Nuncio Giancarlo Dellagiovanna and will take place in the atrium of the Metropolitan Cathedral, a space that has historically gathered thousands of faithful during the festival. Father Francisco Cartagena, parish priest of the Cathedral, explained that preparations include a novena starting July 28 with Eucharistic adoration, the recitation of the Holy Rosary, and daily Eucharist at four in the afternoon, presided over by bishops of the Episcopal Conference. "This year, under the motto 'Divine Savior of the World, grant your peace to all nations,' we will live this time of grace that the Lord allows us," Cartagena stated during the message disseminated by the archdiocese. The eve of August 5…

Rising expenditure from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Microsoft reflects growing battle over federal policy

European officials seek ways to curb veto tactics in negotiations

The national leader of Morena, Ariadna Montiel Reyes, attended the 3rd National Political Training Camp for Morena Youth 2026 and stated that work in the territory is the foundation of the movement. Through social media, Montiel Reyes explained that she spoke with young people about Mexico's political history, the importance of historical awareness, and collective organization to continue strengthening the movement. Read also: Federal government strengthens presence in Guerrero's Mountain; deploys an integrated strategy in 19 communities "The fight for Transformation does not end with access to power; it continues every day with training, organization, and the commitment to continue building a Mexico with well-being, justice, and sovereignty," she said. Additionally, the Morena member reported that she held another working meeting in Hidalgo with the aim of strengthening territorial organization and continuing to build, together with the people, the transformation and well-being of the people of Hidalgo. Join our channel! EL UNIVERSAL is now on WhatsApp! From your mobile device, stay informed about the most relevant news of the day, opinion articles, entertainment, trends, and more.

Voters in the Pakistan-administered part of the disputed Kashmir region head to the polls in July and August to elect members of the territory’s Legislative Assembly. Those lawmakers will then choose a prime minister to form the local government.

Kyiv says Russian strikes killed six, including a child at a supermarket, as Moscow says Ukrainian strikes killed four.

Listen on Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music Wer regiert die Welt – und was treibt sie an? In unserem regelmäßigen Machthaber-Spezial geht es um die mächtigsten und umstrittensten Politikerinnen und Politiker unserer Zeit. Wir zeigen, wie sie denken, entscheiden – und was das für uns bedeutet. Eine Politikerin oder Politiker, ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der Macht. Das Berlin Playbook als Podcast gibt es jeden Morgen ab 5 Uhr. Gordon Repinski und das POLITICO-Team liefern Politik zum Hören – kompakt, international, hintergründig. Für alle Hauptstadt-Profis: Der Berlin Playbook-Newsletter bietet jeden Morgen die wichtigsten Themen und Einordnungen. ⁠Jetzt kostenlos abonnieren.⁠ Mehr von Host und POLITICO Executive Editor Gordon Repinski: Instagram: ⁠@gordon.repinski⁠ | X: ⁠@GordonRepinski⁠. POLITICO Deutschland – ein Angebot der Axel Springer Deutschland GmbH Axel-Springer-Straße 65, 10888 Berlin Tel: +49 (30) 2591 0 ⁠information@axelspringer.de⁠ Sitz: Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg, HRB 196159 B USt-IdNr: DE 214 852 390 Geschäftsführer: Carolin Hulshoff Pol, Mathias Sanchez Luna

Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Bill Pulte said Sunday his office completed a fourth round of layoffs since he took over on June 19. “Since becoming Acting Director of National Intelligence, our team has been smartly, and carefully, reducing the size of [the office of the director of national intelligence (ODNI)], re-focusing ODNI on…

On the 26th, sell orders spread in the New York crude oil market, and the international benchmark WTI futures prices temporarily fell to the early 80s per barrel, approaching a 7% decline from the end of last week. Following the halt of the US military attack on Iran, concerns among investors that further deterioration of Middle Eastern conditions could negatively impact supply of crude oil and other resources have temporarily eased.

The city assembly of Ginowan in Japan's Okinawa Prefecture, together with local business organizations, held a rally on Sunday and issued a joint statement urging the Japanese and US governments to set a clear deadline for the return of the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, local media reported. Around 1,000 people from various sectors attended the gathering in Ginowan, Kyodo News reported. The joint statement said local residents have endured the risks of aircraft accidents and persistent aircraft noise from the US base for decades, adding that "our patience has reached its limit." The residents called for the prompt return of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and the announcement of a specific timetable for its handover. Ginowan Mayor Atsushi Sakima said it has been 30 years since Japan and the United States agreed to return the base, warning that "at this rate, the air station could still remain even after 40 years." The city government also plans to submit its demands to the Japanese prime minister's office, the Ministry of Defense and the US Embassy in Japan, the report said. In 1996, Japan and the United States reached an agreement to return Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The Japanese government later decided to relocate the facility to the Henoko district of Nago City and has since pushed forward land reclamation work for the replacement base. However, the return of the air station has yet to be completed. For years, Okinawa residents have complained about problems associated with the heavy concentration of US military facilities on the island, including aircraft noise, safety concerns and crimes involving US military personnel, while continuing to call for the removal of US bases from the prefecture.

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks turned lower late Monday morning ...

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- The National Election Commission (NEC) received a tot...

New documentary footage shows the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S. C.) staunchly backing the war in Iran, even going so far as to compare President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.  The footage, which filmmaker Alex Holder captured by spending hundreds of hours with Graham dating back to…

In a series of new rules and laws, China is reordering the wealth landscape, seeking to better control how money leaves the country.

LONDON — Britain’s bankers fear Andy Burnham could be about to hit them with a massive tax bill. The new U. K. prime minister has taken office with gaps of billions of pounds in depleted government coffers, huge ambitions to revitalize Britain’s industry, and little space to borrow more on the financial markets. Given that squeeze, the City of London worries a new team in the Treasury under Chancellor John Healey could find the sector a tantalizing prospect for a tax raid to try to balance the books. More than half a dozen industry executives told POLITICO they’re starting to panic about the idea appearing in the fall budget. At an industry drinks event last week, one bank lobbyist described it as “the question on everyone’s lips.” A financial services consultant said it is a “big issue.” “This chancellor faces the same fiscal pressures as his predecessor that might tempt him to look to the financial services sector for increased tax revenue,” said Matthew Conway, financial services and public policy partner at FGS Global. There are obvious political reasons to go after the banks. The British public aren’t fans of big banks, amid longstanding resentment over poor service, misselling scandals and long memories of the financial crash. And banks are making hay with bumper profits from higher interest rates, making them potentially ripe for a windfall tax. Yet raiding bank profits would also set Burnham’s government on a very different course with the City, which is a core engine of the U. K. economy, compared to the friendly relationship with the Square Mile under ex-Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Why the worry? The City had initially breathed a sigh of relief at Healey’s arrival, having feared a potential left-wing lurch under Ed Miliband in No. 11. Healey in contrast is seen as a safe pair of hands, and the return of Emma Reynolds — a former City lobbyist — and Lucy Rigby — a pro-business City minister — to his team also calmed nerves. Rigby was a popular City minister for almost a year before being promoted a couple of months ago under Keir Starmer’s government. Her return to the role has been particularly welcomed by the financial services industry, with hopes she will see through reforms put forward under Reeves, including controversial changes to the financial ombudsman. Rigby comes back with a pay bump, as her role as economic secretary to the Treasury now falls under the higher bracket as a minister of state under Burnham’s government, a roughly £10,000 difference from its previous classification as a parliamentary secretary. That pay rise sends a strong signal to the industry: the City minister will have almost complete control over financial services policy. That will mean continuity on the nitty gritty regulation side of things — a relief for the sector — but it may also free up new chancellor Healey up to focus on the fiscal side of things. “The chancellor has big issues to consider over this parliament which may mean he spends less time on financial services reforms and policy than his predecessor,” Conway said. “If that’s true, Lucy Rigby may have more autonomy in her role as City minister.” The main fear for finance executives is that the government could hike the bank surcharge, a specific tax on banks’ profits. The Trades Union Congress, which has been pushing for a windfall tax and has been in close contact with Burnham’s team on the issue, estimates a 16 percent surcharge would raise £24 billion over four years, while a 35 percent surcharge would raise £60 billion. It currently stands at 3 percent. Those colossal sums would be more than welcome for the chancellor and his team will need to find mounds of cash to fill giant holes in public finances, as the new prime minister has ambitious goals to make a dent in the U. K.’s cost-of-living crisis. But Britain’s banks argue they already pay more than their fair share of tax — JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon has been particularly vocal — and any increase could dent London’s attractiveness as a financial center. “U. K. banks pay higher total tax rates than almost any of their major international counterparts. In a world of cut throat competition for investment, Britain needs to remain competitive,” said Miles Celic, chief executive of TheCityUK. “Our industry is a major contributor to tax revenue, paying more corporation tax than any other sector.” “To compete globally, U. K. firms rely on a business environment that encourages investment, and yes, that means a competitive tax landscape,” said Chris Hayward, policy chairman at the City of London Corporation. A Treasury spokesperson noted Healey gave a speech in the City on day three of his role, adding: “The city is important for the UK economy and jobs, and the Chancellor is mindful of that.” Bumper profits It’s not the first time the City has got itself in a tizzy about tax. The City wasn’t sure whether to believe Labour when it promised not to come after its profits before the last general election. But under Reeves, the banks found a solid ally, who previously refused to countenance a tax hike despite pressure from the left of the party, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. With lenders set to benefit from higher interest rates for longer — amid an expected jump in energy prices driven by U. S. President Donald Trump’s war in Iran — bankers fear they might not get the same unconditional backing under Healey. There are also other options. Some corners of the City fear a financial transactions tax could bubble back up the priority list. Or there’s billions at stake from changing how banks are remunerated for reserves at the Bank of England. With Burnham’s first budget in the fall, banks will have three months to convince the new chancellor they’re best left alone. James Fitzgerald and Elliot Gulliver-Needham contributed reporting.

Mujtaba Rahman is the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice. He posts at @Mij_Europe. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s latest attempt at a political comeback risks becoming an own goal for his political future. The question is, what does it mean for his growing populist party? Faced with a parliamentary inquiry into a financial scandal, Farage stunned Westminster by resigning as a member of parliament for his constituency in Clacton, then immediately announcing he would run in the resulting by-election. The aim was to present the race as a chance for voters — and not parliament — to judge the allegations, but Farage’s strategy quickly unraveled. Rather than take the bait, the country’s main political parties dismissed the exercise as a political stunt and declined to contest the Reform leader’s seat, leaving him to campaign in an increasingly surreal contest against Britain’s fringe candidates. Chief among Farage’s current opponents is Count Binface. An “intergalactic space warrior” from the planet Sigma IX, Binface campaigns in a silver cape and trash can-shaped helmet on a manifesto that includes capping the price of a 99 Flake ice cream at 99 pence, and granting television presenter Claudia Winkleman’s bangs a listed-building status. Also, Binface is not alone — eight other fringe candidates have also entered the Clacton race. A man holds a placard reading “Clacton Vote Binface,” in reference to the snap Aug. 13 Clacton by-election that pits Far…

Typhoon Noul is the strongest to make landfall in China so far this year, according to state media.

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- The issuance of derivatives-linked securities (DLS) i...

According to the statement, Andy Burnham will announce the move at a British naval base during Vladimir Zelensky’s visit on Monday

Eighty percent of success is showing up, as they say. So, all but one of Hong Kong’s 89 legislators joining a week-long “national affairs study visit” to Beijing made a good impression. Lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei called it a “groundbreaking opportunity” for legislators to study and deepen their understanding of national conditions. Showing up eager to learn and to better grasp how Hong Kong can play a more proactive role in national development is indeed commendable. The legislature had...

India’s Cockroach Janta Party ended its five-week multi-city protest after the youth-led movement’s key demand – the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan – was met. “We have done it,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told a jubilant crowd at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday night. “Pradhan has sent in his resignation, which means that our first demand has […] The post Youth-led Indian protestors celebrate minister’s resignation appeared first on Asia Times.

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Naver Corp. said in a regulatory filing Monday it has...

A former security guard from northeastern China has successfully secured a spot in a postgraduate programme at the prestigious Tsinghua University after an impressive eight attempts and is now ambitiously pursuing a PhD at Harvard. Yang Xiao, 31, hailing from Shenyang in Liaoning province, has harboured the dream of attending Tsinghua since childhood, as reported by the mainland media outlet Jiupai News. After sitting for the national college entrance examination, or gaokao, in 2013, he was...

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Celltrion Inc., a major South Korean biopharmaceutica...

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres toured the notorious former ‘Assad prison’ in Sednaya.

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Cyber Security Command will take part i...

The lull raises hopes of a renewed diplomatic push after nearly two weeks of escalating attacks, with oil prices falling as markets welcomed the break in hostilities.

Mamdani walked back his threat last week, acknowledging he lacked the legal power to arrest Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started higher Monday as the Unit...

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- Tanzania's new ambassador to South Korea has called f...

International oil prices started the week with a sharp decline after markets reacted to a temporary decrease in tension between the United States and Iran. The absence of new US attacks for two consecutive nights generated expectations that both parties might resume negotiations, reducing concerns about a prolonged disruption of crude supply from the Middle East. In the early trading hours of Asian markets, the Brent barrel, a benchmark for much of the global oil trade, fell by 5.58% to $91.38. Meanwhile, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), used as a reference in the United States, dropped by 5.46% to $84.43. The correction ended the strong upward momentum recorded in previous weeks, when the conflict heightened fears of a broader energy crisis. Market movement was closely linked to the evolution of the geopolitical scenario. Over the past two nights, no new US bombings on Iran were recorded, an interruption interpreted by financial operators as a sign that there is still room for a negotiated solution. US Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, confirmed this possibility by stating that President Donald Trump is giving “a little margin” to diplomatic contacts…

Syria’s transitional president added that the future of Russian military bases was still being discussed between Moscow and Damascus

SEOUL, July 27 (Yonhap) -- South Korean stocks started higher Monday as the Unit...

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The United States has spent decades trying to blunt China’s strategic rise. Yet in the Middle East, sanctions and the war against Iran are now dismantling one of the few assets built to constrain Beijing’s influence in the region. The Iranian port of Chabahar has received strong backing from India, which hoped it would gain both a trade corridor into Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypassed Pakistan and a strategic counterweight to the Chinese-operated Pakistani port of Gwadar. Both Washington...

Tax breaks used to be enough. Not any more. Analysts say a new generation of investors is prioritising legal certainty and regulatory stability over incentives – and Asia’s most successful international financial centres will be those that successfully secure trust. All of which carries repercussions for Indonesia’s plans to build its first international finance centre, after lawmakers passed a law on Tuesday giving the project the green light. Enforceable contracts, predictable regulation and...

The US has paused its two-week bombing campaign against Iran, prompting Tehran to also suspend its retaliatory attacks

Iranian supreme leader's intervention comes amid reports of halt to attacks and renewed diplomacy between US and Iran.

The recent decision of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to declare itself incompetent to analyze the appeal against Resolution 14-2026 of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) has raised questions about the limits of electoral justice and the role of the Constitutional Court. The Institutional and Justice Foundation (Finjus) argues that what is at stake is not only the validity of an administrative norm but the institutional model provided for in the Constitution. The controversy centers on a JCE regulation approved on May 22, which regulates the registration of polling firm signatures and restricts the publication of surveys outside the deadlines set by law. The organization Justice Without Borders challenged Article 13 of the regulation and requested its nullity, considering that it limits rights. According to Diario Libre, the TSE last week chose to refer the case to the Constitutional Court, interpreting that it was a concentrated constitutional control action. For Finjus, this decision weakens the legal pathway designed to resolve electoral disputes, as it shifts the jurisdiction over these conflicts outside the specialized jurisdiction. In the statement issued by the foundation, it is argued that the TSE was created as a specialized body to resolve contentious-electoral disputes, and that its function is emptied of content if it refers each challenge to regulations for alleged constitutional contradiction to…

Panama is among the countries with the greatest capacity for coastal carbon conservation in the region; thanks to this, these ecosystems are a strategic component within national climate mitigation policies. One hectare of mangroves can store up to four times more carbon than a terrestrial tropical forest, making these ecosystems one of the largest natural reservoirs of blue carbon on the planet. In Panama, this capacity becomes especially relevant in the face of the climate crisis, positioning mangroves as one of the country's main natural assets in the fight against climate change, thanks to their role as large reservoirs of blue carbon that can remain stored for long periods in their vegetation and especially in their soils. With approximately 183,774 hectares of mangroves distributed along both coasts, the blue carbon stored in these sites reduces greenhouse gas concentrations while representing an opportunity for the country in terms of climate financing, conservation, and sustainable development, in a global landscape where natural ecosystems are beginning to be valued as measurable environmental assets. Despite this, Digna Barsallo, national director of Coasts and Seas of the Ministry of Environment, said that this capacity has been threatened. It is estimated that Panama has lost about 50% of its original mangrove coverage and…

PM urged to end ‘cover-up culture’ and order independent review taking in evidence that has emerged on 1994 crash The families of those killed in an RAF Chinook crash in 1994 have urged Andy Burnham to end Britain’s “cover-up culture” and order an independent review into the disaster. Twenty-nine serving military personnel died when the Chinook HC2 helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre in south-west Scotland during a flight from Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

Bank of England expected to keep rates on hold on Thursday but renewed Iran conflict casts shadow over energy costs The Bank of England could be forced to tear up its economic forecasts and raise interest rates later this year if oil prices return to above $100 a barrel, according to City economists. Before a meeting of Bank officials on Thursday, economists said that while an interest rate hike would probably be avoided this week there could be some in the future because of conflict in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Figures are source of dispute as US defense department days ago reduced record of troops killed and wounded The Pentagon updated its official war casualty database over the weekend, adding more than 140 wounded service members. The Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) also introduced a new casualty category labeled “Overseas Operations” for personnel killed and wounded “starting July 7”. According to the updated database, the official toll for the earlier phase of the US-Iran war, known as Operation Epic Fury, now stands at 14 service members killed and more than 400 wounded in action. Continue reading...

Brent opens 5% lower after two weeks of escalating violence pushed crude to more than $100 a barrel

The United States' willingness to permit Saudi Arabia to pursue domestic uranium...

As competition with the US for technological dominance intensifies, China is embarking on a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure push aimed at laying the foundations for long-term growth in an era it expects to be shaped by artificial intelligence.

As the U. S. war with Iran approaches the five-month mark, a new survey indicates that more than three-fourths of 2,193 respondents believe the Trump administration has had more difficulty navigating the conflict than it expected. Two in 10 respondents of the CBS News/YouGov poll said the conflict has gone about as smoothly as the administration…

U. S. President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday, July 28.

UK's Burnham to welcome Zelensky in first foreign leader visit

On the sidelines of the summit, law enforcement unleashed unprecedented brutality, and Amnesty International later denounced it as 'a violation of human rights on a scale never seen in recent European history.'

The Ukrainian president will be Andy Burnham's first international visitor since taking office.

Also in today’s newsletter: China pours funding into green energy deals and the US pauses Iran strikes

Rodion Miroshnik added that Ukrainian troops were shelling the city throughout the day, killing four civilians

Palestinians in Gaza cautiously welcome Israel’s approval for an international stabilisation force to enter the strip.

Wes Streeting, the new Secretary of State for Defence in the U. K., indicated Sunday he is willing to work with the Trump administration on matters of common interest. “The first thing you do is, you don’t suck up. … My impression is President Trump, his administration, that’s not what they’re looking for actually. He’s a…

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) on Sunday said he does not expect to get much out of Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), during his upcoming Senate hearing. I think it’d be very forgetful, completely unrepentant, arrogant, I mean –– arrogant to the extreme, Johnson told Fox…

Congress moves to ban Mercedes vehicles from the U. S. market.

Israeli prime minister says ICC’s war crime charges are ‘bogus’ and plans to be in New York for UN gathering this fall Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, is “fomenting hate” by calling the Israeli prime minister a war criminal who should be arrested over Israel’s war in Gaza if he visits the city for the United Nations general assembly. Netanyahu said he intends to be in New York in September to address the annual UN gathering of world leaders, despite the mayor’s suggestion that he is not welcome. Mamdani said on Wednesday that while New York City does not have legal authority to execute an arrest warrant issued by the world’s top war crimes court, he encouraged the federal government to do so. Continue reading...

The four American troops killed during renewed fighting between the US and Iran in recent weeks are no longer listed as part of the Iran war death toll in the Pentagon’s official casualty count but have been placed in a new, separate category. It is raising questions about properly counting the impact to US service members as the Trump administration has escalated strikes on Iran in a bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while providing little indication of how it intends to wind down a conflict...

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Sunday to seize the political transition in Syria to improve people's lives, at the conclusion of his historic visit to Damascus. This is his first trip to the country since taking office in 2017 and the first visit by a UN chief to Syria in 17 years. In a press conference ending his tour, Guterres stated that the task now is to "translate the political transition into tangible improvements in people's lives, so that every Syrian feels fully involved in building the future of their country." The Portuguese leader arrived in Damascus on Saturday and held meetings with acting President Ahmed al Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al Shaibani, in addition to meeting with representatives of Syrian civil society. Guterres declared himself "more than optimistic" about the situation in the country, although he acknowledged that much work remains. He assured that he has observed "significant progress in the political transition, despite the scars left by years of conflict" during Bashar al Assad's regime, and emphasized that the United Nations "will continue to be a steadfast ally of the Syrian people on this path." When asked about the massacres of Alawite minority members recorded on the Syrian Mediterranean coast and armed clashes in the southern province of Al Suwayda, Guterres stated that…

The new Prime Minister learns he has narrow fiscal running room.