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.
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.
Russian drones detected 33 km from Romanian border; RO-Alert issued in Tulcea, helicopter scrambled
Romanian radar picked up a group of aerial targets at 00:10 on 24 July, about 33 km north of the Danube border, following Russian strikes on Ukraine. An IAR-330 Puma helicopter took off and a RO-Alert warned Tulcea residents to shelter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Germany expands Afghan deportations beyond criminals as Faridoon Tofan, 46, faces removal next week
Germany is expanding deportations to Afghanistan beyond criminals and security threats, with a 46-year-old Afghan who fled the Taliban now facing removal next week after a bus trip to Rome.
US intelligence probes Russia's possible role in Iranian drone strikes on CIA sites in Gulf
At least two CIA facilities in Saudi Arabia and Iraq were hit by Iranian drones in March, and US intelligence is now investigating whether Russia provided targeting data and the Kometa-M navigation system that increased the accuracy of the strikes.
Two French diplomats beaten in Tehran return to Paris; France evaluates 'all options' for response
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot says the two embassy staff were detained for nearly four hours on Sunday, one beaten, and calls the incident a 'premeditated aggression' that 'cannot remain without consequence'.
Trump weighs 'biggest yet' attack on Iran as oil tops $100 and Houthis strike Saudi tankers
The US president told Axios he is close to a decision on an attack larger than any in the nearly five-month war, while Brent crude passed $100 and Houthi rebels hit two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea.
Rubio and Lavrov hold 35-minute Manila meeting; US says Anchorage peace framework has failed
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that the peace framework discussed at the 2025 Trump-Putin summit in Anchorage is no longer viable, after a brief meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila.
Poland proposes trilateral Patriot missile production with US and Ukraine, reports progress on permanent US base
Deputy Defence Minister Magdalena Sobkowiak-Czarnecka, during Washington talks, also reported progress on a permanent US military base, with teams formed on both sides.
Zelenski's fired defence minister rejects all alternative posts, demands reinstatement as protest deadline looms
Mykhailo Fedorov, 35, said on Thursday he would accept no government role other than defence minister, deepening a political crisis that has drawn thousands of protesters onto Kyiv's streets during wartime.
Ireland pledges €125m as Zelenskiy reshuffles military command amid Kyiv protests
Taoiseach Micheál Martin met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Thursday, announcing a €125 million package as Ukraine grapples with a military leadership shake-up and inconclusive findings on alumina exports to Russia.
EU clinches 21st Russia sanctions deal after Greece wins one-year exemption for LNG tankers
EU ambassadors overcame months of deadlock on Thursday morning, agreeing to a 21st sanctions package after Greece secured a one-year exemption for its LNG tankers carrying Russian gas to non-EU countries.
EU adopts 21st sanctions package against Russia, extends oil price cap at $44 per barrel
The 27 member states overcame weeks of deadlock on Thursday to adopt the 21st round of economic penalties since the 2022 invasion, maintaining a $44 cap on Russian oil for a full year and granting Greece a carve-out for LNG shipments to non-EU buyers.
EU adopts 21st sanctions package against Russia, targeting banks, shadow fleet and oil price cap
The package extends the $44/barrel oil price cap, blacklists 32 more banks, and for the first time targets vessels aiding Russia's shadow fleet, while a last-minute Greek LNG exemption unlocked the deal.
Pedro Sánchez nominates Yolanda Díaz to lead UN labour agency; election in November with $173,000 base salary
The Spanish government has put forward labour minister Yolanda Díaz for the director-general post of the International Labour Organization, triggering praise, union backing and sharp attacks from Vox and Podemos.
Trump demands Saudi Arabia recognize Israel to activate nuclear deal, sparking arms race fears in Middle East
The White House says the signed agreement will be canceled unless Riyadh normalizes ties with Israel, while Israeli opposition figures warn of a regional nuclear arms race.
Trump guarantees Netanyahu will not be arrested in US after NYC mayor threatens to enforce ICC warrant
President Trump's Truth Social post on Monday came after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he was exploring legal options to detain the Israeli prime minister during September's UN General Assembly, citing an ICC warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.
Trump confronts Carney at World Cup over wildfire smoke, threatens tariffs; Ontario premier calls it 'rubbish'
US President Donald Trump confronted Canadian PM Mark Carney at the World Cup Final, demanding action on wildfires and threatening tariffs. Ontario Premier Doug Ford dismissed the threats as 'rubbish' and urged cooperation.
Romania and India reset ties as President Murmu visits Bucharest for first time in 32 years
Romanian President Nicușor Dan welcomed Indian President Droupadi Murmu to Cotroceni Palace on Thursday, marking the first visit by an Indian head of state to Romania in 32 years. Talks focused on deepening economic ties, with a proposed direct air link and new academic agreements.
Sinaloa cartel co-founder 'El Mayo' Zambada sentenced to life without parole in Brooklyn federal court
A federal judge in Brooklyn sentenced Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada to life without parole, closing a decades-long chapter of industrial-scale drug trafficking and violence that flooded the US with fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.