Global Power Struggles and Conflictsactive

According to Vladimir Saldo, Russia is growing stronger and finding countermeasures for everything

Nature offers unexpectedly good lessons in strategy. As a child, I was fond of bamboo shoots, though none grew in our farmland. My mother, noticing my enthusiasm, suggested that I plant some myself. A neighbor gave me a stalk about three feet tall, which I planted, watered and fussed over. Nothing happened. A year passed […] The post China’s bamboo growth model vs. India’s eucalyptus growth model appeared first on Asia Times.

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean international Lee Kang-in, one of the cou...

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- Investigators raided the National Election Commission ...

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on August 6 imposing minimum import prices and a 15% tariff on polysilicon and its derivatives, a move that hands a durable pricing advantage to US and non-Chinese producers while squeezing Chinese manufacturers out of price competitiveness in the American market.

No longer confined to disputed islands or historical memory, the rivalry between Beijing and Tokyo has evolved into a fight for the global microphone, as both countries try to define each other’s international identity. Amid an escalating diplomatic crisis, China is intensifying its rhetoric against what it calls Japan’s “new militarism”, using World War II-era history to rally regional and global sympathy for its position. In stark contrast, Japan has rejected the label as “false claims”,...

The new assessment updates past forecasts that Russia’s leader wouldn’t provoke the alliance during the Ukraine war.

The United States expanded its pressure strategy against the Cuban dictatorship with a new round of sanctions targeting companies controlled by the Armed Forces and officials from the military leadership. The measures affect organizations that, according to Washington, financially support the regime's military apparatus and participate in operations related to the acquisition, maintenance, and modernization of military equipment. GAESA, the economic empire of the Cuban Armed Forces The main target of the sanctions is the Business Management Group S. A. (GAESA), the powerful conglomerate managed by the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) that controls a wide network of companies in strategic sectors of the Cuban economy. GAESA was created in 1995, during the so-called "Special Period," the severe economic crisis Cuba suffered after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Its initial goal was to generate foreign currency income for the Armed Forces and manage businesses capable of attracting foreign exchange. Over time, the group expanded its presence into areas such as tourism, commerce, logistics, transportation, finance, and infrastructure. Among its main companies are the Gaviota hotel chain and Cimex, one of the country's largest retail networks. It also has participation in strategic facilities such as the port of Mariel, a key enclave for Cuban commercial activity, in addition to related businesses…

Israel and Lebanon concluded their seventh round of negotiations in Rome this Thursday since the conflict began in March, mediated by the United States, in a meeting that Washington described as the most productive so far to consolidate the Israeli military withdrawal from southern Lebanon. A State Department spokesperson told the press that the talks were productive at the technical level and that both parties are much closer to an agreement on the steps necessary to expand the so-called pilot zone process. The delegations, led by the ambassadors of both countries, arrived on Tuesday at the U.S. embassy in Rome to negotiate the implementation of the security framework signed on June 26 in Washington. This agreement established a mechanism for pilot zones in southern Lebanon, areas from which Israeli forces must withdraw gradually to transfer control to the Lebanese Army, conditioned on the disarmament of the Shiite group Hezbollah. The process began on July 21 with the Israeli withdrawal from Zawtar al Garbiya, the first town evacuated under the new scheme, allowing its inhabitants to return. According to Beirut, the proposal discussed in Rome aims to extend the model to areas where Israeli troops are still present, such as Bint Jbeil or Khiam, a point that the Lebanese government considers key to giving credibility to the process. The negotiations were interrupted on Wednesday…

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- Naver Corp., South Korea's largest online portal opera...

The process began with the official visit of a Gafilat mission, composed of its president, Isabel Veccio, and the executive secretary, Esteban Fullín, who held meetings with authorities from the three branches of government and representatives of the main institutions responsible for the prevention and investigation of financial crimes. The delegation was received at the Presidential House by President Nasry Asfura, accompanied by officials from the Executive Branch, representatives of the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the National Congress, and supervisory agencies of the financial system. The assessment will analyze the capacity of the Honduran state as a whole to respond to risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing. It will also measure the effectiveness of public policies, institutional coordination, and the results obtained in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of these crimes. Unlike evaluations focused solely on the legal framework, this review will emphasize the effectiveness of public policies, institutional coordination, and the results achieved in the investigation, prosecution, and punishment of these crimes. They will measure the results Gafilat's executive secretary, Esteban Fullín, explained that the process will determine how Honduras applies international standards and how efficient its system is in detecting operations i…

From smartphones and smartwatches to emerging AI glasses, electric vehicles, autonomous driving systems, and the rapidly expanding drone industry, batteries have become the indispensable power source behind virtually every next-generation technology. More than just the "heart" of these products, batteries have also become one of the world's largest strategic growth markets.

Behind the maneuvers of its armed forces, the island wages a less visible battle to safeguard its strategic industries and prevent Beijing from luring away its engineers and tech executives.

The National Anti-Corruption Office of Ukraine (NABU) notified Olha Stefanishyna, until recently the ambassador in Washington, that she is suspected of a crime of illicit enrichment. According to the agency, the former diplomat concealed properties and other assets worth approximately 310,000 dollars, an amount that her official income cannot justify. NABU did not mention Stefanishyna by name, as established by Ukrainian legislation for ongoing investigations, but identified her through the position she held when allegedly committing irregularities: Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, a role she previously combined with that of Minister of Justice. The investigated period spans from early 2024 to mid-2025. According to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), which is handling the case alongside NABU, Stefanishyna is de facto owner of two apartments in the Faina Town residential complex in Kyiv, valued at nearly 11 million hryvnias and registered in the name of a friend. The investigation also identified a residence in the exclusive Lvivska Ploshcha complex in her mother's name, a parking space, several non-residential premises in her father's name, and a Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 registered in the name of a subordinate. Prosecutors estimate that, between early 2024 and mid-2025, Stefanishyna per…

A source told Reuters that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio raised the Gilman case during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Manila

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced tariffs on polysilicon and its related products, in his administration’s latest attempt to eliminate China’s choke points in the global supply chain for solar panels and semiconductors. But Trump’s directive won’t take effect until Dec. 4 — well after November’s midterm elections and a planned September summit between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping — as the administration grapples with voters complaining of high prices and fragile trade negotiations with China. “This will bring the supply chain here,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said of the order on Thursday alongside Trump at the White House. “We’ve got the industry here, it’s too small, and it’s going to explode.” Because polysilicon is used in semiconductors and solar panels, it’s essential for military hardware and everyday electronics like cell phones and laptops, in addition to the world’s fastest-growing energy source. The order imposes a 15 percent tariff on imported polysilicon and its derivatives, as well as minimum prices for imports of polysilicon, polysilicon ingots and wafers, solar cells and solar modules. It also includes a clause intended to prevent companies from stockpiling those materials between now and December, authorizing Customs and Border Protection to restrict imports if it suspects an importer is attempting to dodge the higher duties. Trump’s order is the result of a Commerce Department investigation launched last July into national security risks in the polysilicon supply chain, as part of a broader effort to shift supply chains away from China for multiple industries including wind turbines and robotics. China has a near-monopoly on the production of polysilicon, according to S&P Global. But recent U. S. efforts to limit key areas of trade with China have already drawn a backlash from Beijing, which earlier this week implemented new controls on drone exports to the U. S. The White House emphasized the order’s impact on domestic semiconductor production, a key focus as the U. S. looks to build out infrastructure related to artificial intelligence. Trump said the U. S. will “have a big percentage of the chip business by the time I leave office.” But Thursday’s order may have a big impact on the solar industry, according to Jon Toomey, president of the pro-tariff Coalition for a Prosperous America organization. “This proclamation delivers the most significant global trade protection action for the American polysilicon and solar industry in the modern era,” Toomey said in a statement. “For the first time, the United States is protecting the entire solar supply chain with a single action — and rewarding the manufacturers that build here — while taking a significant step to bolster the domestic semiconductor supply chain.”

Iran will seek to bar US and Israeli ships from the Strait of Hormuz and require compensation from hostile countries before they are allowed to use it, according to local media reports on a proposed Iran-Oman deal to manage the crucial waterway. The agreement has become key to expectations for a reopening of Hormuz and a resumption of energy flows that have been throttled since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February. The text is now under review in Iran’s parliament, the semi-official Fars...

Alexander Grushko said 'Russophobia' is used to cover up disagreements and divisions in Europe on economic and migration issues

Chiqui Tapia stays on Gianni Infantino's side. The Argentine Football Association publicly supported the FIFA president amid the crisis caused by the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise project (FFE), an initiative that aimed to create a company to manage the World Cup's commercial rights. Through a letter signed by Tapia, the Argentine Football Association highlighted the work carried out over the last decade by the Swiss-Italian. "On behalf of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), and its Executive Committee, we address you, dear President, and through your worthy intermediary, the FIFA board, to express our support for the management carried out over the past 10 years, which had as its main axes the development of football worldwide and institutional solidity based on a clear, stable, and transparent governance model," the letter states. The AFA also supports the decision to withdraw the FFE project. "It generated, within the football family and from its inception, many more uncertainties than certainties," the document states. Still, in Argentina, they value that FIFA is doing self-criticism. "It is worth highlighting the acknowledgment of the mistakes made in this process and the apology expressed to the 211 member federations. Prioritizing governance standards is a fundamental pillar for strengthening good relations between FIFA, its member associations, and confederations," the AFA indicates. In that…

Supporters say Michigan progressives fended off AIPAC as well as the Democratic establishment in the US Senate race.

The Kremlin is probing for vulnerabilities near sensitive military sites.

Amid the Middle East situation, as the importance of the United States as an alternative source of crude oil for Japan increases, crude oil exports from the United States in June this year decreased compared to the previous month. If this trend continues, it could affect Japan's crude oil procurement, and the export trends of the United States are being closely watched.

The United States has announced new tariffs and price floors on polysilicon and related products, targeting China’s dominance in key materials used in solar panels and semiconductor manufacturing. In a proclamation signed on Thursday, US President Donald Trump imposed a 15 per cent tariff, which will take effect after 120 days, and established a series of price floors to protect domestic manufacturers and curb imports of China-sourced materials. “We’re setting prices so that the Chinese can’t...

Canada’s prime minister laughed off Trump’s description of Canada but suggested that trade talks between the two countries are acrimonious.

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) expressed its concern over the statements made by Puebla local deputies, Nayeli Salvatori Bojalil and Grace Palomares Ramírez, considering that their comments about older adults constitute a violation of human rights, an expression of ageism, and an act of institutional violence. The organization noted that the expressions shared on social media, in which the legislators mocked aging by stating that older people "smell like a trunk" and "are rotting," go beyond the limits of freedom of expression and become hate speech and stigmatization. The CNDH argued that such statements undermine the dignity of older persons and contravene the Law on the Rights of Older Adults. It also recalled that Mexico is part of the Inter-American Convention on the Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons, an instrument that promotes equality, social inclusion, and the recognition of this sector of the population as subjects of rights. The organization emphasized that, as members of the Puebla Legislative Power, the deputies have an ethical and legal duty to protect human rights, and therefore considered that a public apology is not enough to...

LONDON — The ruling Labour Party lost a fifth of its members last year as Keir Starmer’s government was hit by scandal, deployed unpopular policies and was forced into a raft of U-turns. The extent of the exodus from the governing party — which was led by Starmer until he resigned as prime minister in June after losing the support of his MPs — was revealed in Labour Party accounts published by the Electoral Commission Thursday. The filing shows Labour recorded a membership of 264,754 in 2025 — 20 percent lower than the 333,235 figure posted for 2024. Starmer faced a tricky 2025 after winning a landslide victory the previous year, which brought the center-left party back into power after 14 years. He was forced into a series of policy U-turns by his party, and sacked Peter Mandelson as U. K. ambassador to the U. S. after fresh details on the closeness of his friendship with convicted sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein emerged. Membership swelled under Starmer’s predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, with the party recording more than half a million Labour members at the peak of his popularity. But under Starmer and his Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the party moved rightwards economically and on issues such as immigration and benefit payments, and expelled left-leaning party stalwarts such as Corbyn and Diane Abbott. Such changes put the leadership at odds with its members, sections of whom are notably more left wing than the British public at large. The removal of the whip from several Labour MPs for voting against government welfare policies in 2024, and again in 2025, were watershed moments. In 2023, Starmer told members: “If you don’t like the changes that we’ve made, I say the door is open, and you can leave.” New Labour leader and prime minister Andy Burnham will be under pressure to reverse the decline in membership. A Labour party spokesperson said: “Labour is bringing back hope.” “The Labour Party is proud to be powered by our dedicated Party members and supporters who fight day after day for Labour victories to change the country for the better,” the spokesperson added. Labour’s declining membership comes in stark contrast to that of the left-wing Green Party, which claims its membership grew from 68,000 in September 2025 to more than 200,000 in March 2026. Many are likely to be former Labour members. It doesn’t record an official figure in its accounts. The Conservative Party does not release membership numbers, but its accounts show that its income from members dropped from £ 2.1 million in 2024 to £ 1.7 million in 2025. Joe Stanley-Smith contributed to this report.

China has ⁠bought at least another ⁠10 cargoes of US soybeans, three ⁠Asian traders said on Thursday, the latest in a flurry of purchases ahead of President Xi Jinping’s expected US visit next month. State-run buyer Sinograin bought 10 to 15 cargoes on Wednesday, the traders said. At least 10 cargoes were ‌for October-November shipment, one trader said. The deals follow trade talks between Washington and Beijing that, according to the White House, included Chinese commitments to buy 25 million...

CANADA-WILDFIRES:Wildfire prompts evacuation alert in metro Vancouver

President Trump's proposed arch in Memorial Circle would intrude on dozens of nearby sites, says the National Park Service. But there's been minimal discussion of alternate locations. (Image credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds)

In Russia, during the ongoing war, machista, anti-abortion, and xenophobic organizations are flourishing, while security forces pursue civil initiatives that do not align with the conservative values promoted by the Kremlin. The war initiated in Ukraine strengthened Russian nationalism and the values that Moscow has instilled in the national flag, such as traditional morality, religion, and family, among other ideas aimed at distinguishing it from liberal Western countries. This has led many Russian citizens to take these ideas too far and now espouse hate speech against certain groups or demand setbacks in rights already gained a century ago. On some occasions, they even oppose the current political course of the country, considering the measures taken to be too liberal. Nonetheless, these organizations do not attract the attention of Russian police, who often even collaborate with them. In addition to opposition political movements, security forces have repressed and dismantled associations against gender violence and animal shelters. LGBTQ+ community venues frequented by these groups are constantly under police scrutiny, with raids carried out and coordinators sometimes imprisoned. The Male Path Muzhskoi Put (The Male Path) is an organization that advocates for the rights of Russian men, fighting for a strict...

The FCC on Thursday voted to eliminate a longstanding rule capping the number of households a single broadcaster can reach nationwide, a move the commission said is necessary to better help television networks compete with the rapid growth of tech companies in the media sector.  The now-scrapped rule, which had been in place since the early 2000s, limited the…

Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, arrived this Thursday in Jeddah, on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia, leading a high-level delegation consisting of his foreign minister, his Army chief, and several federal ministers. The trip, which will last until Saturday, occurs at a time of increasing instability in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, two critical maritime routes for global energy trade. The Saudi official agency SPA reported that Sharif was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by the vice emir of the Mecca region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal, the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, and the Pakistani ambassador to the kingdom, Ahmed Farooq. The delegation also includes Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. According to the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Sharif will meet with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to discuss strengthening bilateral relations and exchanging views on the situation in the Middle East, including Gaza, East Jerusalem, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the passage connecting that route with the Gulf of Aden. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated on Thursday that, although the trip occurs in a context of growing tension, “the visit will have a relevance …

Stella Gollovena, 47, has been charged with four counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm A woman has appeared in court accused of stabbing four men in the back with a pair of scissors in one of London’s busiest tourist districts. Stella Gollovena, 47, is accused of attacking Patrick De Barr, Thomas Harding, Adrian Lovett and Mantas Jankus during the attack in Covent Garden on Wednesday lunchtime. Continue reading...

Homes of people believed to be asylum seekers allegedly attacked during two nights of violence in Thetford Two men have been arrested after police were injured as they intervened to protect men believed to be asylum seekers from angry mobs trying to break into their homes. The arrests followed two nights of unrest in Thetford, Norfolk, involving more than 100 people protesting against plans to house asylum seekers in former military barracks near the market town. Continue reading...

And the tycoon threatens the media that talk about depleted stocks, they will be punished

Legal experts, former magistrates, and specialists grouped in the Center for Studies for an Alternative National Project (CEPNA) warned that the proposal of "General Guidelines for the Protection of Audience Rights," prepared by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, could lead to censorship and self-censorship on radio and television, with effects on public debate and the 2026-2027 electoral process. In the position paper "Freedom of Expression and Electoral Process 2026-2027. Without free debate, there are no free elections," the signatories acknowledged that the proposal contains necessary measures regarding accessibility and strengthening audience rights. However, they pointed out that allowing the government to determine what constitutes information, opinion, or news treatment, in addition to imposing sanctions on broadcasters, poses a risk to freedom of expression. "We warn about the inevitable negative effect of these guidelines on daily political debate and during electoral processes," they stated. Read also "Let's go step by step," says Sheinbaum about fracking in Mexico; prepares consultations and analysis of underground saline water The document states that freedom of expression is an essential condition for democracy and recalls that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has defined it as a "cornerstone" of any democratic society, as it allows the existence…

Iran will seek to bar US and Israeli ships from the Strait of Hormuz and require compensation from hostile countries before they’re allowed to use it, according to local media reports on a proposed Iran-Oman deal to manage the crucial waterway.

The National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) urged different levels of government to design public policies that guarantee safe urban spaces and equipped in-person schools, where the use of digital devices in classrooms is limited and experiential learning is prioritized for girls, boys, and adolescents. In a statement, the organization led by Rosario Piedra noted that information and communication technologies are a fundamental part of the daily life of young people, girls, boys, and adolescents, as they facilitate access to knowledge, communication, participation, and the exercise of various rights. However, it warned that the growing presence of these population sectors in digital environments also exposes them to risks that can affect their safety, comprehensive development, mental health, and well-being. Read also UNAM control exam, everything you need to know: dates, minimum scores, and venues It expressed concern about the effects associated with excessive or inappropriate use of digital technologies, which can lead to social isolation, impacts on family and community coexistence, as well as negative effects on physical and mental health, including stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and addictive behaviors related to the use of electronic devices and digital platforms. In light of this situation, it emphasized that the protection of people j…

The Ministry of Health of Guatemala warned that the importation, over-the-counter sale, and promotion of injectable products with peptides are illegal when they lack sanitary registration from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, a condition that, according to the department itself, also prevents guaranteeing their quality, safety, and efficacy and leaves the properties with which they are offered to lose weight, improve athletic performance, or combat aging without scientific backing. The official alert points to a phenomenon that has spread on social media, where these products are promoted as solutions to accelerate fat loss, increase muscle mass, or delay aging. According to the MSPAS, there is currently no scientific evidence supporting these benefits. The warning directly addresses the central doubt about these products: in Guatemala, they cannot be imported, sold, or promoted freely if they do not have sanitary registration, and their application can only be carried out under medical prescription, by health personnel, and in authorized establishments. According to the statement from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, sanitary registration is the mechanism that guarantees the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines and related products. Without this approval, the marketing of injectable peptides violates the legal conditions required by the health authority. The ministry linked the alert to…

A federal judge ordered that the US Defense Department must temporarily lift its freeze on approvals for wind energy projects, which has threatened billions of dollars in investment.

Donald Trump’s administration sanctioned eight more Cuban officials — including high-ranking military personnel working with US rivals — as it continues to turn the screws on the communist-run Caribbean island.

Restrictions have been additionally imposed on Cuba's military attache in China

Two defectors from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud formed a new party that opposes exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, a move that risks undermining the reelection bid of the country’s longest-serving leader.

President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and discussed with him cooperation in the defense and economic spheres, as well as humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Conmebol finally speaks out. The organization led by Alejandro Domínguez issued a statement this Thursday in which it supported FIFA's decision to withdraw the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) project and questioned the way the initiative was promoted, amid the crisis faced by the organization's president, Gianni Infantino. The statement was adopted by Conmebol's Council during a meeting held this Thursday. "It unanimously expresses concern over the repeated unilateral actions taken without resorting to dialogue or the institutional mechanisms provided for the treatment of such situations. In a matter of days, football went from being at the center of global attention due to an extraordinary sporting event to focusing public debate on issues related to its governance," the statement says. Conmebol recalled the statutory reforms promoted by FIFA more than a decade ago to strengthen institutional integrity. "Those responsible for leading our organizations must always prioritize dialogue, respect for rules, and constructive exchange. When these principles are set aside, football suffers, and we all lose," it affirms. The subcontinental organization also referred to the electoral process that FIFA will face. "On November 18, 2026, the deadline for the submission of candidacies will conclude..."

Yerevan has recently been declaring its course towards integration with the EU

President Donald Trump defended Pete Hegseth after a report about a disagreement over dwindling US weapons stockpiles raised questions about the Pentagon chief’s future in the administration.

The price of WTI crude oil futures for September delivery rose by 2.5%

The U.S. State Department announced this Thursday the designation of five entities and eight Cuban officials linked to the importation of arms and the military cooperation of the Havana regime with Russia and China, in a new round of sanctions under Executive Order 14404 signed by President Donald Trump on May 1. The measures target state-owned companies, military conglomerates, and high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry (MINFAR) of Cuba, aiming to cut off supply channels for military equipment coming from Moscow and Beijing. Since the signing of the order, Washington has designated more than 55 entities and individuals under this authority. Among the sanctioned entities is the Cuban Company for Import and Export of Technical Products (TECNOIMPORT), a subsidiary of the Business Management Group S. A. (GAESA)—the military conglomerate that controls most of the Cuban economy, sanctioned in May—which operates in the importation of technical equipment, including military material of Chinese and Russian origin. Also designated was the Union of Military Industry (UIM), a military holding responsible for the production and repair of weapons for the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), which maintains active links with Russian defense companies for the modernization of weapon systems. The list of entities also includes the DUN Commercial Society...

European football's governing body (UEFA) on Thursday reaffirmed its boycott of the World Cup despite FIFA's apology a day earlier for "errors" over its now-abandoned plan to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors. The proposal, championed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, has plunged world football's governing body into its biggest governance crisis in years and raised fresh questions about his future as president.

BEIRUT (AP)- Two Israeli soldiers died this Thursday from an explosion in southern Lebanon during a military incursion. The action also left four seriously injured and marks the first casualties of the Israeli army since the ceasefire with the terrorist group Hezbollah began, in June of this year. The troops had entered a property in the village of Majdal Zoun, although an Israeli military official explained that they are still investigating the exact location and origin of the bomb that caused the deaths. Meanwhile, the armed forces launched a series of attacks in southern Lebanon in response to what they considered a violation of the truce by the Shiite militia. As part of the operation, they issued a warning to the residents of the town of Mansouri to leave the area, the first such warning in several weeks. For its part, Lebanon's Ministry of Health reported that one person died and 12 were injured in a bombing in the town of Tebnine. Additionally, eight other residents were injured after nighttime offensives against the town of Burj al-Shemali, while shots were reported towards the areas of Mansouri and Majdal Zoun. So far, Hezbollah spokespeople have not made public statements about the incidents. The confrontation between both sides began on March 2, when the group launched a rocket attack on Israeli territory, two days after an inc…

Alexey Fadeyev, deputy director of the information and press department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, added that Kiev had not proposed to resume diplomatic contacts

The CIV, Bridge, Belize 2, August, and 1,785 million Q will once again coincide in work: the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure, and Housing will resume construction between August 24 and 28, after reaching an agreement with the contractor Grupo Muratori, S. A. a technical solution that avoids buying more land and moving high-voltage poles, two of the obstacles that had kept the project paralyzed since February 2024. The reactivation comes within a broader portfolio of 143 projects and an approximate coverage of 2,700 kilometers on the country's routes, according to Minister Norma Zea during the press conference La Ronda, at the National Palace of Culture. This portfolio includes 64 active projects affecting 1,308 kilometers, 19 under study that would add up to 362.7 kilometers when they start, 49 reactivated with 932 associated kilometers, and 11 already completed and in use. Zea explained that the bridge contract was awarded on October 12, 2022, and was halted due to right-of-way issues, the need to acquire additional private land, and the shifting of electric poles. The minister stated that if that scheme had been maintained, the work would have gone "straight to failure." The solution agreed with Grupo Muratori changes the technical route without altering the contractual value because it is a closed contract that does not allow modifying the amount. The adjustment eliminates the relocation of poles, rules out new land purchases, reduces the i…

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that no EU or NATO country has yet severed relations with Russia

Government 'urgently' identifying men convicted in historic cases who could be freed in scheme loophole UK politics live – latest updates Andy Burnham’s government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release after concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system. The prime minister has “personally intervened” after men convicted of assaulting children in Bradford were expected to be freed from prison early despite a promise earlier this week that they would remain behind bars. Continue reading...

Yesterday's announcement changes nothing, some employees trust him

Fox Business host Larry Kudlow, who served as National Economic Council director during President Trump's first term, scolded Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) during an interview Wednesday about the lack of big Republican accomplishments this year, warning "polls are lousy." "The socialists are winning, they're taking over the Democratic Party. The Republicans are doing nothing. I…

The ministry said that Russian-Chinese relations are at an unprecedentedly high level and continue to develop dynamically in accordance with the agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries

A group of eight Muslim countries issued a joint statement on Thursday to highlight the dangers faced by efforts to achieve peace, including the plan of U.S. President Donald Trump in the Gaza Strip due to the "ongoing violations" committed by Israel. The foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, and Egypt warned that Israel is endangering the political resolution of the conflict and further deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza with its actions. "Israel's stance is undermining efforts to implement this second phase of the U.S. peace plan, especially after Hamas and the other Palestinian factions have accepted this roadmap, which includes, among other issues, the disarmament of these groups," the statement reads. Similarly, they emphasized that these "ongoing violations" by Israel in Gaza "cannot be considered in isolation from the attacks carried out by settlers in occupied West Bank, the illegal expansion of settlements, and unilateral measures to alter the 'status quo' in Jerusalem." In this regard, they reproached that Israel seeks to impose its interests by force and thereby "undermine the foundations of the two-state solution and marginalize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people," even their...

China honoured two coastguard personnel who died in a vessel collision in the South China Sea last year, state media reported on Thursday, marking the first official confirmation that the incident resulted in fatalities. The People’s Armed Police (PAP) on Thursday announced the latest recipients of its “Loyal Guards of the Chinese People’s Armed Police” honour. Among the four posthumous awardees were Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long, two China Coast Guard officers. They died during a “maritime rights...

A U.S. Senate committee voted this Thursday to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, former official and responsible for the fight against COVID-19, in contempt of Congress after he refused to answer questions at a public hearing last week, focused on his management of the pandemic, invoking the Fifth Amendment. Following this, the lawmakers referred the case to the Department of Justice. The House Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved the resolution by eight votes to seven, strictly along party lines, after Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution at least 111 times during a hearing held last week. The decision does not imply an automatic criminal conviction but opens a new judicial and political front for the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), whose case will now be referred to the Department of Justice to determine whether to proceed with a contempt of Congress investigation. Senator Republican Rand Paul of Kentucky, chairman of the committee, stated that this constitutional protection did not apply, as Fauci received a pardon last year from Democratic President Joe Biden and therefore did not have to worry about the threat of criminal proceedings. Fauci and the Democrats who opposed the contempt resolution argue that he had a well-founded fear of self-incrimination…

The highest number of drones in a single day – 1,158 – was destroyed by Russia’s air defense facilities on August 2

The number declined to $2.6 bln in the reporting period

Beijing and Washington’s latest tit-for-tat measures could test ties, but observers say they are little more than a “speed bump” on the road to a potential summit between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. China’s Ministry of Commerce sanctioned seven US entities and tightened export controls on drones and related technologies on Wednesday, citing the need to “safeguard national security”. The ministry separately launched a national security investigation into imported printing and copying...

"If Huawei controls the 5G network in a country, China's Ministry of State Security has full access to everything Huawei has, because they are essentially the same." Randy Scheunemann's definition, vice president of the International Republican Institute, in an interview with Infobae conducted in April of this year, summarizes the United States' concern about Beijing's influence in the region. Regarding the report published by the US Congress last April, which warned about the Asian regime's methodology for collecting intelligence and increasing its military capacity with Chinese civil-military space infrastructure in Argentina, Washington now warned the Provincial Cooperative of Public and Community Services of Neuquén (CALF) about a contract with Huawei for the deployment of an optical fiber network, and is considering revoking visas for the authorities of the company responsible for energy distribution in the Patagonian province. In the mentioned document, the US already warned that China maintains a strategic presence in Neuquén, the province that hosts the Vaca Muerta oil complex. According to Sur Política, on July 12, a manager of the cooperative began receiving WhatsApp messages in which a US representative asked if there was a possibility to cancel the initiative and inquired whether CALF had "crossed the limits." The manager…

The committee will now refer him for potential prosecution following his refusal to answer questions during a hearing focused on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

U.S. authorities issued official warnings to American citizens in Guatemala and Japan due to increased activity of the Fuego volcano and the imminent arrival of Typhoon Dolphin. Both situations, occurring since August 6, alter mobility, safety, and travel planning in two destinations with a significant presence of American residents and tourists, according to diplomatic sources and monitoring agencies. The alerts include flight disruptions, school closures, access restrictions, and safety recommendations to reduce risks. According to the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) reported a significant increase in the emission of ash, rocks, and hot gases from the Fuego volcano. This situation prompted the issuance of a natural disaster alert in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Escuintla, and Chimaltenango. In Japan, the U.S. Embassy urged its citizens in Okinawa to prepare for the imminent arrival of Typhoon Dolphin, classified as a Category 5 cyclone, following the recommendations of the Japan Meteorological Agency and local emergency services. The Fuego volcano is one of the most active in Central America and has caused serious emergencies in the past, including an eruption in 2018 that left…

Iran players stayed in country after Asian Cup in March Duo condemned as traitors in Iran for not singing anthem Two former Iranian footballers said on Thursday they were “proud” to have been granted Australian citizenship after being called traitors at home for refusing to sing the national anthem before a game. Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh were members of a group of seven from Iran’s delegation who asked for Australia’s protection after the high-profile protest during the women’s Asian Cup in March. Continue reading...

The Russian government has criticized the Japanese authorities this Thursday for deliberately omitting the responsibility of the United States in the atomic attacks on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which this Thursday mark 81 years, and instead directing their criticism towards the conflict in Ukraine. The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, reacted to words from Hiroshima's mayor, Kazumi Matsui, who "did not mention the United States, the country that dropped the atomic bomb on the civilian population" and "instead criticized Russia and its actions in Ukraine." "The distorting mirror of Western narratives not only distorts reality but also shapes the minds of those who look into it. Year after year, the mayor of Hiroshima repeats the same false mantra, subjecting the Japanese public to a constant flow of Russophobic rhetoric," the spokesperson reproached. Zakharova emphasized that Russia, on the contrary, and despite "having suffered Japanese aggression" during World War II, "has always remembered the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and has cited their tragedy as an example of unacceptable brutality," according to a message on her social media. For his part, true to his belligerent and rough style, the Vice President of the Security Council and former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, lamented the "shame" caused by the fact that the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Taka...

Anthony Fauci invoked fifth amendment dozens of times to parry hostile Republican inquisition over Covid response US politics live – latest updates A Republican-controlled US Senate committee voted to hold Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after the veteran public health official repeatedly pleaded the fifth amendment to parry a hostile inquisition into his stewardship of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci, the former director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), who led the agency for 38 years before retiring in 2022, gave the same response to multiple questions while refusing to give clarifying answers during a tense hearing last week, citing his constitutional protections. Continue reading...

Although he has maintained a rather low profile, Andrew Scott (Dublin, 1976) is one of the most in-shape actors today. Not only are his roles in television (Moriarty in Sherlock, the priest in Fleabag, Tom Ripley in Ripley), but also his characters in films like 1917 (2019), All the Strange Animals (2023), and Blue Moon (2025). He insists that he has only one rule when choosing his roles: try not to repeat himself. Now, starting this Thursday the 6th, Scott bursts onto the national box office with D-Day: Under Pressure, a war production set in a different register than Saving Private Ryan (1998) or the miniseries Band of Brothers – he participated in both when he was in his twenties. Based on the play Pressure, by Englishman David Haig, the feature film by Australian Anthony Maras takes place in the headquarters where the Allies determine the right moment to land in Normandy and launch their offensive against Nazi Germany. The main protagonists are General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Brendan Fraser) – appointed in 1943 as Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces – and two experts: Scottish meteorologist James Stagg (Andrew Scott) and American meteorologist Irving P. Krick (Chris Messina), who refutes Stagg’s calculations. In those 72 hours before D-Day, there is no room for error, and Eisenhower must choose whether to follow one or the other's advice. In an interview with Culto, Scott recono…

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Wednesday said the U. S. needs “national redistricting reform,” the same day that he signed a bill passed by state lawmakers redrawing the Old Line State’s congressional map ahead of the midterms. The measure will be on the ballot in November and could potentially eliminate Rep. Andy Harris’s (R-Md.) district…

Kosovo’s ruling Vetevendosje party postpones vote on new speaker – arguing that more time is needed for coalition talks.

Three rights groups have released findings of a probe into the Israeli attack which killed Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil in April. The investigation by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and The Legal Agenda shows Israel deliberately targeted the 42-year-old and her camerawoman, who was wounded in the attack. According to the UN human rights office, deliberate attacks on civilians is considered a war crime. Details with FRANCE 24 correspondent in Israel, Noga Tarnopolsky.

U. S. manufacturing activity expanded in July as AI demand surged. The acceleration resulted from a massive wave of capital spending on AI infrastructure and a sudden hiring turnaround, helping to buffer the

Taiwan rehearsed the emergency transfer of its president, Lai Ching-te, to a protected command post to lead combat operations and ensure government continuity in case of war, as part of the island's annual military exercises known as Han Kuang. In a statement released this Thursday, presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo stated that the leader and members of his team carried out a "defense operations command and government continuity drill in emergency situations," called "Wan Jun"—which means "a tremendous weight." It was the first time Lai, who assumed office in 2024, participated as president in this exercise. Three convoys to "mislead the enemy" Images released by the Presidential Office show Lai and other senior officials of his cabinet boarding armored vehicles and being transported at night through the streets of Taipei to the exercise site, where Defense Minister Wellington Koo was also present. According to local television TVBS, the operation involved up to three convoys of armored and support tactical vehicles, which departed at different times on Wednesday night and took different routes to "mislead" the enemy. The leader was transported from the Presidential Office to the Hengshan Command Post, a fortified complex excavated inside a mountain in the Dazhi neighborhood, jun…

The FIFA President acknowledged that the controversial scheme to attract private investment "should have been handled differently"

According to Vitaly Kiselyov, Kiev uses civilian port infrastructure to deliver fuel and NATO-issued uniforms, since maritime transport is "the shortest and cheapest route"

The surge in Ceuta is over, but the EU’s panic leaves scars

Acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga emphasized Kiev’s desire for "greater involvement" from the United States in the peace talks

Min Aung Hlaing stressed that his government was focused on ending the civil war and restoring peace.

Vladimir Zelensky dismissed Olga Stefanyshina from the post of ambassador on August 3

Israel on Thursday charged a settler, Yinon Levi, with the killing of prominent Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank in July 2025. This marks the first time since the October 7, 2023 attacks that an Israeli has been indicted for the death of a Palestinian in the occupied territory, according to Israeli rights group B’Tselem.

The latest incident follows similar disclosures involving Anthropic and OpenAI, though the circumstances differed.

FIFA had no choice but to back down from its ambition to open its competitions (including the World Cup) to private investors. The questions surrounding President Gianni Infantino, as the main promoter of the measure that aimed to privatize the World Cup, grew increasingly from almost all confederations. Ultimately, on Friday, the idea was abandoned. UEFA was one of the first to show its rejection of the FFE (FIFA Forward Enterprise), even proposing a boycott of tournaments organized by the International Federation. But this struggle goes beyond that. According to The Telegraph, Europe aspires to something more radical: for the president to resign or to seek an emergency censure motion. Although the FFE initiative was dropped, Infantino's "buoyancy" was severely damaged, especially with the FIFA presidential elections on the horizon. In April of this year, during the 76th Congress of the International Federation held in Vancouver, the Swiss-Italian leader confirmed he would run for re-election. The vote will take place on March 18, 2027, in Rabat (Morocco). Until a few weeks ago, it seemed like a settled race. In fact, Infantino's estimates pointed to support from approximately 200 federations out of the 211 that make up FIFA. However, the landscape has shifted. Gradually, alternatives are emerging to compete for control of the seat…

Two women who were switched at birth 37 years ago grew up just 4km apart in southern China, discovering that a hospital error had set their lives on divergent paths. Huang Xiaolin and Li Hui were born 55 minutes apart at Qingyuan People’s Hospital in Qingyuan, Guangdong province, in October 1989, according to China Newsweek. Nurses briefly presented the newborns to their mothers before taking them to a nursery, where both wore identical hospital attire. The maternity ward did not use...

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said on Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in the day before at a citizenship ceremony in their home city of Brisbane.

Twelve companies, including seven banks, one individual, and six vessels, were added to the list

The US had previously been the Democratic Republic of the Congo's leading bilateral donor for development aid and top contributor to funding its humanitarian response plan, but this is no longer the case.

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with political consultant David Axelrod about Democrats' road to November and what's ahead for Michigan's Democratic U. S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Poland’s top administrative court has upheld a decision by the finance ministry to withhold state subsidies from the national-conservative opposition Law and Justice (PiS) due to campaign finance irregularities. The decision was welcomed by the government, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk saying that there will be “no money for grifters”. PiS, however, argues that the money is being withheld for political reasons and accuses the authorities of “Russian standards”. Naczelny Sąd Administracyjny oddalił w środę kasacje ws. dotacji i subwencji dla PiS. – Miażdżący dla PiS wyrok podtrzymany! – stwierdził szef MF Andrzej Domański https://t.co/bcL18WbiYf — OKO.press (@oko_press) August 6, 2026 The dispute dates back to August 2024, when the National Electoral Commission (PKW) rejected PiS’s financial report for the previous year’s parliamentary election campaign after identifying around 3.6 million zloty (€838,000) in unauthorised expenditure. As a result, the PKW ordered that PiS should lose 10.8 million zloty from the state subsidies that political parties in Poland receive based on their level of electoral support. The party would normally have received 25.9 million zloty based on its 2023 election result. The decision triggered months of legal wrangling, with PiS arguing that the funding should be restored after the Supreme Court upheld its complaint against the PKW’s decision. However, finance minister Andrzej Domański refused to release the money, saying there were unresolved legal doubts over the ruling. The finance minister has refused to comply with the electoral commission's decision to pay out subsidies to the opposition PiS party He says there are "legal doubts" over the issue. But PiS says he is obliged to pay and will be held criminally responsible https://t.co/ZwIZRqn5tp — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) January 9, 2025 Those doubts stem from a broader dispute over the controversial and contested judicial reforms implemented by PiS when it ruled Poland from 2015 to 2023. The chamber of the Supreme Court that ruled in PiS’s favour was created as part of those reforms. It has previously been found to not be a legitimate body by both the European Court of Justice and European Court of Human Rights because it contains improperly appointed judges. After the Supreme Court chamber’s ruling, the PKW initially said it would not recognise the decision until the chamber’s legal status was clarified. Two weeks later, however, it reversed that decision and approved PiS’s financial report. Domański still declined to restore the subsidy, arguing that the PKW’s resolution was internally contradictory. While it approved the payments, it also stated that the chamber’s ruling should come from a body recognised as a court and that it was not determining whether the chamber met that standard. Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads PiS challenged Domański’s decision. However, its case was initially rejected by a lower court in June last year, and that decision has now been upheld by the Supreme Administrative Court (NSA), which is the final court of appeal for administrative issues. The NSA found the minister had acted lawfully in withholding the funding. It also said the Supreme Court chamber’s ruling had no legal effect because it had been issued by a body that was not a properly constituted court, reports news website OKO.press. The ruling was welcomed by Domański, who called it a “crushing blow to PiS” and said that “yet another PiS lie has been exposed”. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, meanwhile, wrote on social media: “Just as we said, there is and will be no money for grifters.” Tak jak mówiliśmy, dla przekręciarzy pieniędzy nie ma i nie będzie. https://t.co/4Kqexj6NoC — Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) August 5, 2026 The PKW’s decision to cut PiS’s funds was made after it found that government resources – including from the justice ministry, Government Legislation Centre (RCL) and Research and Academic Computer Network (NASK) – had been used to support the party’s election campaign. However, PiS has always argued that the decision was a political one, implemented at the behest of the new Tusk government in order to undermine the main opposition party. Radosław Fogiel, a senior PiS lawmaker and former party spokesman, said that the new NSA ruling “does not change the essence of the matter: it unlawfully deprives the main opposition party of the subsidy to which it is entitled. Russian standards.” Chłopie, powstrzymaj emocje! Ekscytacja jak u nastolatka przed pierwszą randką. A czego dotyczy ów "miażdżący wyrok"? Skargi na bezczynność Ministra Finansów. To, że przybyli mu w sukurs kwestionują decyzję Sądu Najwyższego, nie zmienia istoty rzeczy: nielegalnie pozbawia główną… https://t.co/NONA2tOoxf — Radosław Fogiel (@radekfogiel) August 5, 2026 Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: KPRM (under CC BY 3.0 PL)

Some sources are uncertain though whether the US president would ultimately back JD Vance or Secretary of State Marco Rubio

FIFA, the International Football Federation, held a meeting of executives in response to confusion over the plan to establish a subsidiary, reaffirming their full support for President Infantino. At the meeting, they apologized to member associations and others, stating that there were errors in the way the plan was pursued after it was withdrawn, but emphasized that the procedures were in accordance with the rules.

Quarterly profit jump fueled largely by unknown US refund amount as Japanese video game giant records overall sales drop Nintendo has reported a jump in profits, as the Japanese game maker’s earnings were buoyed up by a long-awaited refund on Donald Trump’s tariffs. The company said profits surged 53.5% to ¥147.4bn (£694m) over the three months to June, substantially beating expert forecasts for ¥77.8bn. Continue reading...

Rupert Lowe questioned on definition in report for rightwing party that both parents need to be born in the UK Rupert Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain, refused to say he believes King Charles can be classified as a “white Briton” in an extraordinary interview on the BBC’s Today programme. Questioning Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, over his claims that “white Britons will become a minority by 2063,” the presenter, Nick Robinson, noted that the forecast Lowe referred to defined a “white Briton” as someone whose parents were both born in the UK. Continue reading...