Trump slaps 10-12.5% tariffs on 60 nations over forced labor, replacing expiring global levies
The US will impose levies of 10 to 12.5 percent on imports from 60 countries, accounting for 99 percent of US imports, just as the temporary 10 percent worldwide tariffs expire at midnight.
EU fines Google €890 million for favouring its own services in Search and restricting app developers on Play Store
The European Commission fined Google €890 million for self-preferencing its own services in Search results and restricting app developers on Play Store, giving the company 60 days to comply. The decision drew immediate criticism from Washington.
PiS deadline passes: Morawiecki loyalists reject declaration, Kaczyński talks collapse
The midnight deadline for PiS MPs to renounce external associations passed without resolution, as Mateusz Morawiecki's faction publicly refused to sign what they called a 'lojalka'. A three-hour meeting between Jarosław Kaczyński and the former prime minister ended without agreement.
Trump conditions Saudi nuclear deal on Abraham Accords, throwing agreement into doubt a day after signing
A day after announcing a civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia, President Trump said it is 'totally subject' to Riyadh joining the Abraham Accords and normalizing ties with Israel, a step the kingdom has resisted without a Palestinian state pathway.
India's 'Cockroach' protests swell as Modi offers fast-track courts and a rare video appeal
Tens of thousands have gathered in New Delhi for days, demanding the education minister's resignation after medical entrance exam leaks affected some 2 million students.
EU adopts 21st Russia sanctions package, freezing oil cap at $44 and granting Greek LNG shipping exception
EU ambassadors agreed on the 21st sanctions package against Russia on 23 July, freezing the oil price cap at $44 per barrel and granting Greece a one-year exception for LNG shipments to non-EU countries.
White House accuses China's Moonshot of stealing Anthropic's Fable model to build Kimi K3, threatens sanctions
Trump administration tech advisor Michael Kratsios said Moonshot AI used a 'sophisticated internal platform' to distill Anthropic's Fable model and accessed restricted Nvidia GB300 chips in Thailand to build the Kimi K3 model.
Burnham cuts business rates for England's pubs by 20% but industry calls £1,100 saving a 'drop in the ocean'
The new prime minister's third major policy in as many days offers a 20% business rates cut for England's pubs, clubs and music venues from April 2027, but industry figures warn the £1,100 average saving is too small to halt closures.
Houthis strike two Saudi oil tankers in Red Sea, Trump threatens 'major military punishment' on Iran, Brent crude surges past $100
Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea on Thursday, setting both on fire and threatening to close the Bab el-Mandeb shipping chokepoint. The US responded by deploying a B-1 bomber to strike IRGC targets in Iran.
US Justice Department withdraws subpoenas against New York Times journalists over Air Force One security reports
Federal prosecutors agreed to withdraw subpoenas seeking phone records and testimony from three New York Times journalists during a Manhattan court hearing, after the newspaper argued the demands were an unconstitutional attempt to intimidate the press.
Zapatero calls seized €1.3m jewelry a 'personal courtesy gift' but refuses to name the giver
The former Spanish PM told TVE the 103 pieces found in his office safe were a 'courtesy gift from many years ago' but declined to say who gave them, when, or why.
Ukraine drone strikes hit Wildberries warehouses across Russia, killing at least nine and destroying billions in goods
A week-long drone campaign by Ukraine has struck at least five Wildberries logistics hubs across Russia, killing at least nine workers and destroying billions of dollars in inventory, as Kyiv aims to disrupt military supply chains and bring the war home to ordinary Russians.
Merz reshuffles cabinet: Warken becomes first female Chancellery chief, Linnemann takes health
Chancellor Friedrich Merz will appoint Health Minister Nina Warken as his chief of staff, making her the first woman in the postwar era to hold the post, while CDU general secretary Carsten Linnemann takes over the health ministry.
Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers push Brent crude above $100 as Bab el-Mandeb blockade tightens
Brent crude surged 7.4% to $101.01 on Thursday after Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi tankers and declared a naval blockade of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the kingdom's main export route since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz.
Judge extends Paramount-Warner Bros. deal freeze to mid-August as antitrust lawsuits mount
A federal judge extended the temporary restraining order blocking Paramount's $110-111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for another 14 days, giving the company time to argue against a preliminary injunction sought by 12 states and the Writers Guild of America.
Varta creditors push for breakup, household battery unit to be spun off
A group of key creditors including Deutsche Bank plans to spin off Varta's household battery business, citing a mid-double-digit million euro liquidity gap and a lack of fresh investment.
ECB holds rates at 2.25% but signals September hike as oil hits $100 on Iran war escalation
The European Central Bank left its deposit rate at 2.25% on Thursday but warned that a fresh jump in energy prices, with Brent crude touching $100 a barrel, could force another increase in September.
ECB unveils 10 candidate designs for first full euro banknote redesign since 2002, opens public survey until 21 September
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde presented 10 proposed designs for a new series of euro banknotes on 23 July 2026, drawn from two themes: 'European culture' and 'Rivers and birds'. A public online survey runs until 21 September 2026.
Russian Su-57 fighter jet crashes near Moscow in second loss of flagship stealth aircraft
The aircraft went down in the Odintsovo district during an unarmed training flight. Russian authorities cite technical malfunction, while unconfirmed reports suggest friendly fire.
Acea H1 net profit doubles to €454m on energy unit sale; guidance confirmed
Italian utility Acea posted a 101% jump in first-half net profit to €454 million, boosted by a €268.5 million gain from the sale of its energy retail unit, and confirmed full-year targets.
Tesla's robotaxi miles shrink 36% as Musk tempers ambitions; stock plunges 14%
Second-quarter paid robotaxi miles fell to roughly 700,000 from 1.1 million in Q1, while Tesla reported negative free cash flow of $1.1 billion and missed profit forecasts. Elon Musk warned that scaling Optimus robots will be 'the hardest product to scale manufacturing.'
Italy reverses burden of proof for minors: capacity to understand now presumed, Meloni says 'who errs pays'
The Italian government approved a bill on 23 July 2026 that reverses the legal presumption for minors aged 14 to 18, making them presumed capable of crime unless proven otherwise. The measure, dubbed 'anti-maranza', shifts the burden of proof from prosecution to defence.
Trump says Iran will pay for ship damages with frozen assets as US strikes enter 13th night
US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that damages to ships and cargo in the Strait of Hormuz conflict will be compensated from frozen Iranian assets, as US airstrikes on Iran continued for a 13th consecutive night.
Trump says he is 'close' to ordering massive attack on Iran, larger than Operation Epic Fury
In an Axios interview, the US president said he is seriously considering resuming large-scale military operations against Iran, potentially exceeding the scope of Operation Epic Fury, but no final decision has been made.
Zurich plans to slash rental e-scooter fleet to 3,000 and mandates city-centre station parking
Zurich's security department plans to cut the city's free-floating rental fleet from 7,350 to 3,000 vehicles and permit only three operators, while introducing mandatory parking stations in the city centre.
Trump ally Laura Loomer meets Zelenskyy after abandoning anti-Ukraine stance
Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close confidante of US President Donald Trump, held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariyinsky Palace in Kyiv on Thursday, capping a week-long visit that saw her publicly recant years of Kremlin-friendly narratives.
House passes symbolic Iran war powers resolution 214-208; Senate blocks its own measure 49-47
The Republican-led House backed a resolution directing Trump to halt military action against Iran without Congress' approval, but the Senate voted 49-47 to block its own measure hours later.
Minnesota man sentenced to life for politically motivated assassination of Democratic lawmaker Melissa Hortman
Vance Boelter, 59, received two consecutive life terms plus 40 years for the 2025 murders of state House speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette.
Ford and Geely to produce five vehicles at Valencia plant under new joint venture
The joint venture, 66% owned by Ford, will begin producing Geely's EX5 electric SUV and four other models at the Almussafes plant in 2028, securing over 15,000 indirect jobs.
Trump expands ratepayer protection pledge to 200 entities as AI data center backlash grows ahead of midterms
Nearly 200 utilities, data center developers and Republican governors signed the voluntary 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' at an EPA event, as rising electricity bills fuel bipartisan opposition to AI infrastructure.