Thai Democratic Movement in Scandinavia - ขบวนการประชาธิปไตยไทยในสแกนดิเนเวีย: juli 2025

torsdag 31 juli 2025

Climate Threat Political Situation in New Zealand

New Zealand Lifts Ban on Oil Drilling

New Zealand is lifting its previous ban on offshore oil drilling, AFP reports.

The bill was voted through by a margin of 14 votes, despite harsh criticism from the environmental movement.

The ban was originally introduced by then-Social Democratic Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018, as a step towards making New Zealand climate neutral. The current right-wing government has argued that the ban has instead led to increased reliance on coal power.

Activist: Oil Companies Are Not Welcome Here

The New Zealand government has lifted the ban on offshore oil drilling and promised to partially finance private companies that want to extract oil or gas, something that makes the country's climate activists see red. Stuff writes.

- We kicked the oil companies out. They are not welcome here, and we will make sure they know that, says climate activist Rosemary Penwarden to the newspaper.

It was in 2018 that New Zealand banned the extraction of oil and fossil gas off the country's coasts. The government decided overnight, Swedish time, to lift that decision. Critics say the new decision could violate several international agreements that New Zealand has signed since 2018.

Andrei Martyanov: Trump Left Hanging - Russia’s Cold Silence Sends a Message

Dialogue Works

BRICS Dumps US Dollar, Trump LOSES IT as Tariff Threat BACKFIRES | Sean Foo & Warwick Powell

Danny Haiphong

Prof. Jeffrey Sachs : How Depraved is US Foreign Policy?

Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom

COL. Douglas Macgregor : Is US Ground Involvement in Ukraine War Coming?

Judge Napolitano - Judging Freedom

The Israel-Palestine conflict

Analysis: The famine could isolate Israel – and the US

The famine in Gaza has in recent days caused several of Israel's most important allies to increase the pressure considerably – so much so that Israel now risks being left out in the cold. This is what the New York Times' Steve Erlanger writes in an analysis.

France and Britain, among others, say that they are ready to recognize the state of Palestine. If this becomes reality, the pressure on the US, which then stands as the sole permanent member of the UN Security Council on the issue, will also increase.

"That would likely force Washington to veto such recognition," writes Erlanger.

Despite the heavy pressure, the US remains Israel's largest, most important and strongest ally. But American dissatisfaction with it is growing rapidly, even within Maga circles, write CNN's Eric Bradner and Connor Greene.

Among other things, the very Trump-loyal congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has become the first Republican politician to call the war in Gaza a genocide. And on the other side of the political spectrum, several Democratic profiles, including former Obama advisers, have suggested that the United States should stop sending weapons to Israel.

“It could be a foretaste of what could be a significant long-term change within the party,” the CNN writers write.

Recognition of Palestine — it matters

France announced earlier in July that it would recognize Palestine as a state, making France the first G7 nation to take this step.
The announcement was met with strong criticism from Israel and the United States, while Spain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia expressed support for France’s decision.
Following France’s announcement, Canada, Finland and the United Kingdom have also signaled that they are considering or planning to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have expressed doubts and believe that recognition should only take place after negotiations or when a Palestinian state is established.
The number of countries that recognize or plan to recognize Palestine has thus increased to at least 142, according to AFP.

Middle East crisis Votes on Gaza

Record Support for Stopping Arms to Israel in Congress – Far from Majority

The US Senate has once again voted against a proposal to stop arms sales to Israel, The Hill reports.

However, during yesterday's vote, support for such a measure was greater than ever before.

27 senators voted for the proposal and 70 against.

Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois says, according to the AP, that he has "dedicated his career in Congress" to supporting Israel, but that it is impossible for him to defend the country's current actions.

- Gaza is starving and dying because of Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, he says.

This is the third time that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has tried to stop arms shipments to Israel. All Republicans, who have a majority in the Senate, voted against the proposal. Even if the proposal passed the Senate, it would also need support from the House of Representatives and avoid a presidential veto to become a reality.

Previous Senate votes to stop arms deliveries have been supported by 15 and 18 senators respectively.

Pressure on Germany to act against Israel is increasing

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is being criticized for not acting harder against Israel by both political opponents in his home country and by allied countries in Europe, writes Politico.

As the death toll and starvation in Gaza increase, more and more Western countries have demanded tougher action against Israel. Within the EU, voices are being raised about breaking the trade agreement with Israel and this week the EU Commission presented a proposal to block Israel's access to the Horizon Europe research program. But it looks like it will be blocked by Germany, among others.

Merz says he wants to wait with any measures until next week, when Germany, among others, is to visit Israel.

Bushra Khalidi, policy director for the humanitarian organization Oxfam, criticizes both the EU and indirectly Germany's lack of action.

"The fact that the EU cannot even agree on the smallest step is a mockery of the widespread suffering. Some countries say they need more time, but that only means more time for more people to die in Gaza," she says.

Political situation in Myanmar

Myanmar junta promises elections – accused of fraud

The military junta in Myanmar announces that it has formed a civilian-led transitional government and that it plans to hold elections in December and January, Reuters reports.

However, the measure is seen as symbolic as junta leader Min Aung Hlaing still retains all power over both the military and the government.

The opposition in the country has either announced that they will boycott the upcoming election, or they have been banned from running.

Myanmar expert David Mathieson says that the election will only be something that is happening for show.

– They are just moving around the same parts and changing the name of the regime.

State of emergency lifted in Myanmar after 4.5 years

The military junta in Myanmar is lifting the state of emergency that has been in place since the junta seized power in February 2021, AFP reports.

According to the news agency, this is being done to prepare the country for an election in December, which is boycotted by the opposition and criticized by the West and international observers.

According to the 2008 constitution, the military's commander-in-chief must hand over power to the presidential-led military junta if the emergency period ends, the BBC's Myanmar editorial team reports. However, there will be no changes in the top leadership.

The future of e-commerce

Sources: Shein had sales of nearly 98 billion in Q1

Shein's net profit rose to over 400 million dollars while revenue landed at almost 10 billion dollars. This corresponds to 3.9 and nearly 98 billion kronor respectively. According to sources to Bloomberg, the e-commerce giant's customers stocked up on goods ahead of Donald Trump's tariffs.

However, Shein has denied the information but does not go into any details.

According to FT's sources, Shein's net profit was 1 billion dollars for the full year 2024. Revenue was stated to be 38 billion dollars.

The company is not listed. However, discussions about an IPO in London or China have been rife for several years.

The flood of reports
Premium seats and cheap oil boosted Air France-KLM's interim results

Air France-KLM reported higher sales and profits in the second quarter than expected, according to the group's latest interim results. Operating profit increased by 43 percent compared to the same period last year.

An updated business model with more premium airline seats boosted results and compensated for the significantly lower prices in the back seats of flights. Cheaper oil prices also helped keep costs under control.

The share rises just over 6 percent in trading on the Paris Stock Exchange.

Shell defies shaky market – better results than expected

British Shell reported a better-than-expected adjusted result in the second quarter, despite lower global oil and gas prices. This is evident from this morning's interim results.

However, the result fell 32 percent compared to the same period last year. Sales also decreased by 9 percent.

Shell CEO Wael Sawan said the company was affected by “a less favorable macro environment.”

Second quarter

Adjusted profit: $4.26 billion
2024: $6.29 billion

Net debt: $43.2 billion
2024: $41.5 billion

Tariff crisis Trump's tariff policy

Trump to pharmaceutical giants: Lower prices or face penalties

Donald Trump gives Astra Zeneca and 16 other pharmaceutical giants 60 days to offer the US special prices. This is evident from several letters he published on Truth Social.

The president writes that drug prices in the US are two to three times higher than in the rest of the world.

"This is unacceptable," he continues.

Among other things, Trump demands that the companies lower prices to the same level as in other countries, even when they are new. In addition, high revenues generated abroad should be returned to the US to lower prices. The companies should also eliminate expensive middlemen.

"If you refuse to take responsibility, we will use every tool at our disposal to protect American families from continued abuse of drug pricing."

Trump: Extended tariff break with Mexico – hoping for a deal

The tariff break between the US and Mexico is extended for 90 days after Mexican concessions, writes Donald Trump on Truth Social.

During the period, "the exact same agreement" applies as before, according to Trump. The difference is that Mexico agrees to "immediately" remove retaliatory measures against the US.

So-called fentanyl tariffs as well as auto tariffs of 25 percent and 50 percent tariffs on steel still apply to Mexican exports to the US.

"We will be holding talks with Mexico over the next 90 days with the goal of signing a trade agreement sometime during this 90-day period - or later," writes Trump after a phone call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

List: Countries that reached agreements before Trump's deadline

Donald Trump's tariff break expires tomorrow, August 1, which means that countries that have not managed to reach a trade agreement with the United States could face higher tariffs. This creates even greater uncertainty in the global economy, reports CNBC.

During the 120 days that the tariff break has been in effect since April 2, only eight agreements have been signed. One of them is with the EU. Important trading partners for the United States such as Canada, Australia and India, however, have not reached any agreements.

In April, Trump claimed that he had reached "over 200 agreements" in an interview with Time Magazine, and trade adviser Peter Navarro has said that "90 agreements in 90 days" is possible.
Countries that have signed the agreement

• UK, May 8, tariff from 25 to 10 percent
• Vietnam, July 2, tariff from 46 to 20 percent
• Indonesia, July 15, tariff from 32 to 19 percent
• Philippines, July 22, tariff from 20 to 19 percent
• Japan, July 23, tariff from 25 to 15 percent
• EU, July 27, tariff from 30 to 15 percent
• South Korea, July 31, tariff from 25 to 15 percent
• China, May 12*, tariff from 145 to 30 percent

*Talks between the EU and the US in Stockholm failed to reach an agreement on a tariff break after August 12.

India Defies US On Trade Russia Causing Angry Trump Threats; Moscow: Chasov Yar Has Fallen; Pokrovsk

Alexander Mercouris

Breaking BRICS. Trump v Medvedev. Newt v Putin. Macron, EU not feared. Zelensky wants regime change

Alex Christoforou

Russian economy interest rate cut

The Duran

De-Dollarization Is Real – Brazil Just PROVED It

World Affairs In Context

Germany's BREAKING POINT: Collapse or Work More? Economy Minister’s Shocking Warning

World Affairs In Context

$1.3 TRILLION FAILURE: EU Capitulates Under US Pressure, Trump Celebrates the BIGGEST Trade Win Yet

World Affairs In Context

Coronavirus Covid research

Research: The pandemic has aged our brains faster

Brains that have lived through the corona pandemic have aged an average of 5.5 months faster than normal. This also applies to people who never got sick, shows a new study published in Nature Communications.

1,000 people who were included in the study had their brains scanned both before and after the pandemic.

The aging was particularly evident in the elderly, men and people with socioeconomic vulnerability.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham link the results to stress, isolation and everyday disruptions rather than the virus itself.

No planes in London were allowed to take off after a technical fault

All of London's airspace was forced to close after a technical fault in the air traffic control center in Swanwick, reports The Telegraph.

No planes were allowed to take off in connection with this, but at 17:30, Swedish time, the British air traffic control service NATS announced that the problems had been resolved. However, consequential delays in air traffic are to be expected.

“We continue to work closely with airlines and airports to minimize disruption,” Nats said, apologizing for the incident.

The air traffic service Flightradar24 showed at 5:45 p.m. that aircraft had begun taking off from Heathrow.

Reuters writes that Edinburgh Airport was also affected by the stoppage.

Deadly drug kills hundreds – worse than fentanyl

A deadly drug, which is clearly more dangerous than fentanyl, has killed hundreds of people in Europe, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Nitazener is a very potent synthetic opioid that is often imported from China. It is estimated to be about five times as potent as fentanyl and 50 to 250 times stronger than heroin. Even a very small dose poses an “enormous risk” and can kill a person.

Europe has dodged the fentanyl crisis that has hit the United States hard, but this time the United Kingdom and the Baltic states are early adopters. At least 400 Britons have died in an 18-month period.

“This is probably the biggest public health crisis for people who use drugs in the UK since the AIDS crisis in the 1980s,” says Vicki Markiewicz of treatment company Change Grow Live.

Political situation in Lithuania

Prime Minister resigns after criticized deals

Gintautas Paluckas is resigning as Lithuania's Prime Minister and party leader of the Social Democrats, Lithuanian media report.

The background is a journalistic investigation that revealed that Paluckas' company was responsible for several suspicious payment and loan schemes. This is now being investigated and there has been great political pressure.

Paluckas says he has done nothing wrong, but believes that the situation is hampering the government's work and affecting his family.

"When I see how the attacks continue and how the limits are being crossed by attacking my wife and family, I realize that I must stop this as soon as possible - I cannot let people close to me pay the price," he says in a statement.

Criticism: The president was like a protective mother

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas should have resigned earlier, given the demands for transparency that citizens should be able to place on their elected officials. This is what political scientist Ignas Kalpokas tells the Lithuanian news site Lrytas.

He did not resign when the journalistic investigation revealed his questionable business dealings, but only when the pressure became unbearable, he continues.

The opposition and the speaker share the same criticism, writes Delfi. Precious time has been lost. Criticism is also directed at President Gitanas Nauseda, who did not put more pressure on the prime minister and instead showed evidence of an “emotional relationship” like a “mother”, according to leading opposition politicians.

The Social Democrats and the president reject the criticism.

– I gave him time to think like a human being first, says the president.

Russian invasion The world's response

India has stopped buying Russian oil after Trump's threat

India's state-owned oil refineries have stopped buying oil from Russia in the past week, four industry sources told Reuters.

The announcement comes after Donald Trump threatened to punish countries that buy Russian oil with trade tariffs of 100 percent. Russia has also recently lowered its discounts on its crude oil.

If India were to stop buying Russian oil for a longer period of time, it would likely be a severe blow to Russia's state finances. India is the largest importer of Russian seaborne oil and buys around 35 percent of its oil from Russia.

Among other things, the Russian war chest is largely financed by energy exports to countries such as India and China.

Russia shrugs off Trump's threat: "We are already immune"

Russia responds with a shrug to Donald Trump's threat that the US could impose 100 percent punitive tariffs and new strong sanctions on the country within ten days. This is if the Ukraine war is not ended.

In a statement, the Kremlin says that it notes all of Trump's statements, but then adds:

- Russia has long had a huge number of sanctions against it. We are already immune.

In mid-July, Trump said that Russia must make peace within 50 days to avoid the sanctions. Yesterday he changed the deadline to ten days. He then declared that he was "very disappointed" with Vladimir Putin given that the deadly attacks continue.

Israel-Palestine conflict

Finland's Stubb ready to recognize the state of Palestine

Finland is the latest country to announce that it is ready to recognize the state of Palestine, reports the Finnish news agency STT.

President Alexander Stubb announces that he is ready to sign a bill if the government were to propose it.

- We have been discussing this difficult issue since the beginning of October 2023. Now I believe that the situation has reached a point where Finland must make its choice, says Stubb.

Among the government parties, the Christian Democrats and the True Finns have opposed such a proposal.

A number of countries have made similar statements in recent days, including France, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Germany: The process towards recognition must start now

A German recognition of Palestine will take time, but the process towards it “must start now”, according to the country’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, reports the BBC.

– More and more countries, including in Europe, are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state without a prior negotiation plan, says Wadephul and continues:

– With our special responsibility for Israel, we cannot ignore this.

So far, several European countries such as France and Britain have said that they are ready to recognize Palestine in connection with the UN General Assembly in September. According to Wadephul, a German recognition could rather happen “at the end of the process”.

Expert: Trump’s threat could cause Canada to back down on Palestine

Donald Trump’s threat that there will be no trade agreement if Canada recognizes the state of Palestine could make the country hesitate. This is what Middle East expert Anders Persson tells Ekot.

– It is very possible that Canada will choose to back down and not implement it.

It was on Thursday morning, Swedish time, that Trump wrote that it would be “very difficult” to get a trade agreement between the US and Canada if the latter country recognizes Palestine.

According to Persson, the statement represents a tougher tone from the White House, which had previously let France and Britain’s statements about recognizing Palestine pass.

onsdag 30 juli 2025

Economy

Fed vs. inflation
Fed keeps interest rates unchanged – as expected

The Federal Reserve is waiting as expected and leaving interest rates unchanged in the range of 4.25-4.50 percent.

CNBC notes a change in rhetoric in the Fed's press release.

"Although changes in net exports continue to affect the figures, recent indicators suggest that economic growth slowed in the first half of the year," it says.

At the June meeting, the central bank wrote that the economy "continued to expand at a good pace."

At the same time, a more cautious view of uncertainty is now being expressed. Where it previously stated that it "reduced but remained," it now only states that uncertainty "remains elevated."

Economist on the economy: “Too early to say hello”
By Sebastian Orre, Omni Economy
Published July 30, 19:03

Increasing sales volumes from retail are a sign that we may be heading into a brighter economic cycle. This is what SEB’s chief economist Jens Magnusson tells EFN.

– But it is still too early to say hello.

In order to be able to say with certainty that the slowdown in the economy will subside, Magnusson wants to see higher consumer confidence. We can still expect another interest rate cut from the Riksbank this year, according to him.

Truck sales plummeted in Europe in the first half of the year

Registrations of heavy trucks fell by 14.5 percent during the first half of the year. This is evident from data from the industry organization Acea, reports Direkt.

Europe is Volvo's largest market and Acea's figures paint a similar picture to the truck giant's interim year, where sales fell by 11 percent during the first six months of the year.

In the report, which came out earlier in July, CEO Martin Lundstedt described the situation in Europe as having stabilized with good order intake.

Tariff crisis Summit in Stockholm
Economist: Sweden will be hit hard if the tariff break breaks

There are several signs that the US and China made great progress in the tariff negotiations in Stockholm this week. This is what SEB's senior economist Robert Bergqvist tells TT.

He would be "extremely surprised" if US President Donald Trump does not agree to extend the tariff break. According to Bergqvist, it would be devastating:

- It affects the economy globally. And Sweden, which is export-dependent, will be hit hard. A decline would also cause the stock market to fall, which we saw this spring that Trump is not completely tone-deaf to.

Tariff crisis Trump's tariff policy

Macron on the agreement: EU was not feared enough

The reason the EU agreed to an unfavorable agreement with the US is because the Union does not see itself as a power factor. That is what French President Emmanuel Macron says, writes Bloomberg.

- To be free, you have to be feared. We have not been feared enough.

At the same time, he emphasizes that the agreement is not the end of the tariff story and that continued negotiations are to be expected.

The agreement in which the EU agrees to pay 15 percent tariffs has been heavily criticized by the French side.

"The trade agreement that Ursula von der Leyen concluded with Donald Trump is a political, economic and moral fiasco," wrote Marine Le Pen, leader of the French National Rally, on social media.

Trump introduces new copper tariff - price falls

US President Donald Trump has introduced a new tariff of 50 percent on certain copper products. At the same time, copper is exempted from a number of other tariffs and the price of copper in the US falls around 16 percent after the announcement, Reuters reports.

The new tariff announcement is the result of an investigation that Trump ordered. Citing US national security, copper is exempted from tariffs as part of a package of measures to secure the US copper supply. This also includes a new requirement that 25 percent of all high-quality recycled copper be sold within the US.

Trump raises tariffs on Brazil to 50 percent

US President Donald Trump has signed several new presidential decrees on tariffs. Among other things, US tariffs on Brazilian goods imports are being raised to 50 percent from the current level of 10 percent.

Trump has previously threatened Brazil with high tariffs if the country does not drop the legal process against Brazilian ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of an attempted coup.

In connection with Trump's tariff announcement, sanctions were also announced against a judge in Brazil's Supreme Court. The judge, Alexandre de Moraes, is one of five judges who were part of a special panel within the framework of the process against Bolsonaro.

TOP NEWS

Russian invasion The world's response
Russia shrugs off Trump's threat: "We are already immune"

Russia responds with a shrug to Donald Trump's threat that the US could impose 100 percent punitive tariffs and new strong sanctions against the country within ten days. This is if the Ukraine war is not ended.

In a statement, the Kremlin says that it notes all of Trump's statements, but then adds:

- Russia has long had a huge number of sanctions against it. We are already immune.

In mid-July, Trump said that Russia must make peace within 50 days to avoid the sanctions. Yesterday he changed the deadline to ten days. He then declared that he was "very disappointed" with Vladimir Putin given that the deadly attacks continue.

Political situation in Poland
32 people arrested in Poland - believed to be Russian spies

Poland has arrested 32 people accused of being Russian spies and planning sabotage in the country. The arrested come from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland and Colombia, reports the Polish PAP.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the arrests on Tuesday.

– Everyone – the US, NATO, our European allies – see this as a permanent threat that will remain in the future, says Tusk.

According to Tusk, one person has already been convicted: a 27-year-old Colombian. He was involved in two arson attacks in Poland.

The situation in Gambia
Swimming lessons save the lives of Gambian oyster fishermen

Oyster fishing is an important industry in Gambia. A full 98 percent of the workforce is made up of women. It is a heavy and dangerous job, not least because only a few can swim. It has led to many drownings over the years, writes The Telegraph in a long report.

But a new UN-led initiative called Fish4ACP is now providing assistance with swimming lessons, life jackets, canoes and other things that increase safety and productivity.

At first, many were skeptical and worried because swimming is not part of the country’s culture, explains UN coordinator Khadija Diallo. But after explaining the benefits, the women were convinced. So far, 150 women have attended the swimming school.

“We feel it is our responsibility to share life-saving skills with seafarers,” says coach Colley, who has worked in the navy for 19 years.

Musk's new party

Expert: Musk has read the room – there will be no new party

There are many indications that Elon Musk has abandoned his promise to start a new party, writes Axios.

Although it has been more than three weeks since Musk promised to start an "America Party", he has not taken any formal steps in that direction.

Elon Musk's account on X has also been noticeably silent on the matter recently.

Many analysts have previously seen Musk's chances as slim. Third parties in the US have historically had difficulty gaining influence and the billionaire's own unpopularity figures recently hit a new record.

- Musk has read the room, says analyst Dan Ives at Wedbush Securities, who has studied Elon Musk's strategic choices for many years.

Musk's America Party — the point

After a very public conflict with his former ally Donald Trump, Elon Musk announced on X on July 5 that he is founding the new party America Party.

Musk stated that the party aims to give Americans their freedom back and target centrist voters who sympathize with neither the Democrats nor the Republicans.

The market reacted negatively to the announcement and Tesla's stock fell more than 7 percent, which corresponded to a loss of $16.7 billion in Musk's fortune.

Several experts and political analysts believe that it is very difficult to establish a new party in the United States and that Musk's chances of success are small.

Republican senators have expressed concern that the America Party could split their voter base ahead of the 2026 Senate elections, although few believe that the party could win many seats.

Reactions to the tsunami

Countries on four continents warn of tsunami: “There is a high risk of deaths”

The powerful earthquake in the Pacific Ocean has so far caused at least ten countries to issue tsunami warnings. Among the countries are Russia, the USA, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, Peru and Ecuador.

According to seismologist Björn Lund, it will be hours before we know how much damage will be.

– These waves are attenuated very little when they travel across the ocean, so you have to take this very seriously, he tells TT.

There is a “high risk” of deaths, Lund tells TV4Nyheterna. In Russian Kamchatka, the tsunami struck just fifteen minutes after the earthquake, which means that many people probably did not have time to seek shelter. But for Latin American countries, the conditions are good because the tsunami could be twelve hours away.

– The rest of the world is now hoping that the tsunami warnings will be heeded enough that we won't have to see any casualties.

The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8, which is believed to be the strongest since 2011.

1.9 million evacuated in Japan – waves could be three meters high

1.9 million people have been ordered to evacuate after tsunami warnings in Japan, writes the BBC.

In Hokkaido in northern Japan, people have sought shelter, including on rooftops.

Employees at the Fukushima nuclear power plant have also been evacuated, and traffic is congested on the road out of the city.

Waves of up to three meters are expected to hit Japan's coasts on Wednesday, after an earthquake in the Pacific Ocean that reached a magnitude of 8.8.

It is believed to be the most powerful earthquake in the world since 2011, when a tsunami hit Japan's coastal cities hard.

Reactions to the Russian quake
Those threatened are exhaling: "Best to go up to the mountains"

Residents in the first places to be hit by Wednesday's tsunami seem to be exhaling, even though the danger is not completely over, several media outlets report.

In Hawaii, an evacuation order has been withdrawn, and in Japan, warnings have been downgraded along large parts of the coast.

Hawaii News Now has visited the Tantalus viewpoint on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, where people have sought out a high-altitude spot.

A family with children says they were swimming when they heard about the evacuation order. Another man says he saw the tsunami warning on a friend's phone.

- I checked, and decided that it was probably best to go up to the mountains for a while.

From Hokkaido, Japan, 31-year-old Minori Yoshida says he was evacuated from the office he worked at to – appropriately enough – the disaster management building.

“There is still some concern, especially given that there has been talk that a second wave could be bigger, but for now I am not too nervous,” he says.

Ukraine's anti-corruption law

Source: EU accession was close – then the law was hammered

The EU Commission was close to officially starting Ukraine's EU accession process when the country suddenly hammered away at the criticized amendment to the law. This is according to a European diplomatic source for the Kyiv Independent.

But the amendment to the law, which in practice meant political control over the anti-corruption authorities, has increased doubts in Brussels, the newspaper writes.

Even if Ukraine is now trying to back down from the criticized law, the damage has already been done to the EU, says Elena Davlikanova at the think tank Center for European Policy Analysis. The EU realized that in just a few hours Ukraine could destroy decades of work to reduce corruption.

- It's not just about the law itself, but about the signal it sends: that important institutions can come under political control in a single day.

Experts now also say that much will be determined by how Ukraine acts next.

Ukraine sees propaganda that Zelensky will soon be impeached

After the criticized anti-corruption law in Ukraine, the Russian propaganda media went into full force, reports Kyiv Post.

The propaganda claimed that the US and Britain, together with Zelensky's close associates, had a secret meeting in the Alps to impeach Zelensky. This was absolutely necessary to restore the West's trust in Ukraine, according to the Russian newspapers.

On Tuesday, Ukraine's security service felt compelled to condemn all Russian information as completely fabricated and false. The Russians' goal was clear: to incite distrust of the leadership and reduce Ukrainian resilience, the security service writes. The post urges Ukrainians not to spread Russian disinformation.

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Law — The Case

On July 22, the Ukrainian parliament voted to pass a law that curtailed the independence of the anti-corruption agencies NABU and SAPO, which sparked widespread criticism domestically and internationally.
The law subordinated the agencies to the Prosecutor General, which critics and EU representatives said threatened the rule of law and risked weakening the fight against corruption.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law despite protests by thousands of demonstrators in Kyiv and several other cities, as well as warnings from the EU.
Following massive criticism and pressure from the EU and civil society, Zelensky presented a new bill on July 24 that would restore the independence of the agencies.
The EU paused the disbursement of €1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, but stressed continued support if the country restores the rule of law and anti-corruption work.

Middle East Crisis

Gaza War
US Witkoff to Israel – may travel to Gaza

US special envoy Steve Witkoff is traveling to Israel on Wednesday to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, two officials with knowledge of the matter told Axios.

“The president wants to know more about the humanitarian situation in Gaza so he can know how to provide more aid,” one of them said.

It will be Witkoff’s first trip to the country in three months.

Witkoff may also travel to Gaza to visit the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Israel-Palestine Conflict
Israel accuses countries of appeasing “terrorists”

Israel is hitting back after a group of eight countries announced they plan to recognize Palestine in September. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now accusing Britain, among others, of appeasing “jihadi terrorists,” reports the EU Observer.

The statement comes after Arab countries and seventeen other nations as well as the EU signed the statement signed at the UN meeting for a two-state solution.

France, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Australia, Canada, and Spain have signed the so-called “New York Declaration,” which outlines a plan to urge more countries to recognize Palestine.

Analysis: Starmer reverses on Palestine after pressure

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that the country will recognize Palestine. But what finally made Downing Street swing on the issue?

The given answer is that it comes after pressure in a letter to the prime minister from more than 250 MPs, most of whom are from Labour, writes Jon Craig in an analysis in Sky News.

“Although he has bowed to pressure from MPs and cabinet ministers, Sir Keir has achieved a significant breakthrough in the last 48 hours,” writes Craig.

Another important factor in the U-turn, Craig believes, is that seven ministers, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, supported recognition.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that his country would recognize Palestine is also thought to have played a role, according to The Guardian’s Eleni Courea.

She also believes that Donald Trump gave the “green light” on Monday when Trump was asked if the prime minister should bow to demands for recognition. Trump replied: “I’m not going to take a position, I don’t mind him taking a position. I want to feed people right now.”

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Pacific Tsunami

Seismologist: Danger not over – but looks positive

The danger of really big tsunami waves is largely over after the earthquake on the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula, seismologist Björn Lund tells TT.

However, it is important to be careful near the coasts of several countries, he adds. During the afternoon, the waves will reach Australia, New Zealand and South America. In several countries they are expected to be smaller, but they could be three meters high in Ecuador.

– We will see. It is also very local how the coast looks and how the sea shallows against the coast that determines how the wave grows, says Lund.

The earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Russian volcano has erupted after the earthquake

Kljutjevskaya Sopka, Eurasia's largest active volcano, has erupted after the strong earthquake last night. This is reported by Russian media according to Reuters.

“Red-hot lava is seen flowing along the western slope. Strong glow above the volcano and explosions,” writes the Russian seismological research institute GC RAS on Telegram.

The volcano is located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the earthquake occurred, around 450 kilometers north of the regional capital Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. It has an altitude of 4,750 meters above sea level.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 8.8, has resulted in several injuries on the Kamchatka Peninsula. However, there are no reports of deaths.

Earthquake on the Kamchatka Peninsula
Surgeons caught in the middle of the earthquake during surgery

When the earthquake struck the Russian Kamchatka Peninsula last night, a group of surgeons at an oncology clinic were in the middle of an operation, reports Novaya Gazeta Europe.

A clip from the operating room shows them holding the patient and equipment while the room shakes.

– It shook non-stop for five to six minutes. Sometimes it got stronger and sometimes weaker, so we didn't know what would happen next. It was scary, oncologist Jana Gvozdeva told Russian media.

Since the patient's body was open, there was no thought of stopping the operation, she added. The patient survived and is in stable condition.

tisdag 29 juli 2025

TOP NEWS

China's growth
Chinese kindergartens in crisis as child numbers fall

The number of children in Chinese kindergartens has fallen by 25 percent in four years, the Financial Times reports. This has led to the closure of tens of thousands of kindergartens in the country.

The number of children enrolled in the country's kindergartens has fallen by 12 million children between 2020 and 2024, according to the country's Ministry of Education.

The decline in China's kindergarten system only scratches the surface of the challenges facing businesses and policymakers as China's shrinking young population, which is expected to be one of the fastest in the world.

Germany's growth
Sources: Germany may approve record budget

The German government is expected to approve a budget proposal for 2026 on Wednesday that includes record investments of 126.7 billion euros, as part of a comprehensive fiscal "bazooka" package for infrastructure and defense.

This is reported by Reuters, citing sources in the finance ministry.

The budget proposal is presented together with a multi-annual framework until 2029, and the entire package is expected to be approved by the government on the same day. The sharp increase in public spending is aimed at reviving the German economy – the only one in the G7 that has not grown in the past two years, and which, according to the government's forecast, is also expected to stagnate this year.

European security policy
Europe's roads are not equipped for a Russian invasion

Europe's road network is not equipped for an invasion by Russia, reports the Financial Times.

The continent's roads, tunnels, bridges and railways are not up to the task of transporting military vehicles. And that would be a big problem if Russia had invaded and NATO had to quickly send military resources to the East.

EU transport chief Apostolos Tzitzikostas warns that tanks could not get through tunnels, caused bridges to collapse and “got stuck in border controls”. Now Brussels wants to spend 17 billion euros from 2028 to 2034 to upgrade infrastructure in Europe.

“The reality today is that if we want to move military resources from the western side of Europe to the eastern side, it would take weeks and in some cases months,” Tzitzikostas told the Financial Times.

He now warns that it would be impossible to defend the continent if armies cannot move effectively.

The Kashmir conflict
Indian military has killed “masterminds behind massacres”

The three main perpetrators of the attacks in Kashmir in April have been killed by the Indian military, according to Indian Home Minister Amit Shah.

This comes after India said it had found evidence of its involvement in the attack that killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, in the Indian part of Kashmir in the Himalayas. The attack led to several military clashes between Pakistan and India.

– If Pakistan tries to carry out any evil act again, we are fully prepared to act even more forcefully and decisively, says Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, according to Bloomberg.

Middle East crisis Protests
Demonstration against cruise in Greece

A cruise ship carrying Israeli tourists was met by pro-Palestinian protesters when it disembarked on the island of Crete on Tuesday, reports the AP. The protesters unfurled a huge Palestinian flag in the port of Agios Nikolaos and shouted “Free, free Palestine”.

Police used pepper spray at one point to hold back the crowd, local media reports.

It is the third protest against ships on Greek islands in the past week. The cruise ship was met with demonstrations on the islands of Rhodes and Syros.

Israel-Palestine conflict
Trump appears to give Starmer a free pass on the Palestine issue

Donald Trump and the US do not appear to plan to stand in the way if Britain wants to recognize Palestine as a state, reports The Independent.

– I am not going to take a position, I have no objection to him [Starmer] taking a position, Trump said after meeting Starmer during his visit to Scotland.

Thus, a heavy obstacle has been removed for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, according to the newspaper. The pressure on him has increased since President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize Palestine.

Starmer has previously said that he is in favor of a two-state solution, but said that the time is not right. He has emphasized that Hamas can have no role in any future government.

The Independent writes that Britain does not formally need the green light from the US in foreign affairs, but the two countries have a history of coordinating policy.

Climate Threat Global Challenges

Ten Percent of Emissions Could Come from ACs by 2050

Air conditioning is being used more and more as temperatures rise in large parts of the world. But the cold air fuels global warming and even more people will want to get an air conditioner for their home, writes Context.

The vicious circle is a product of climate change, rapid urbanization, population growth and rising incomes.

10 percent of the total emissions that lead to rising temperatures in 2025 could come from ACs and cooling, according to the UN environmental agency UNEP.

The reason that ACs can lead to climate change is, according to the newspaper, their use of a lot of electricity and that they often need to use refrigerants that cause more warming than CO2.

Demand is expected to increase the most in Africa and South Asia.

Singapore’s Call for Air Conditioning to Set Temperatures to 25 Degrees

The increasing use of air conditioning globally risks sending the world into a vicious cycle because its use itself is causing the Earth to warm up faster, writes Context.

In Singapore, a national campaign was launched in May this year under the slogan “Go 25,” reports The Straits Times. It is intended to encourage residents to set their ACs to 25 degrees or higher to save energy.

Other countries have gone further in their regulations. In Taipei, companies risk fines if they cool premises to temperatures below 26 degrees.

Thailand-Cambodia border conflict

Thailand: Cambodia broke the ceasefire five times

Thailand's army accuses Cambodia of violating the ceasefire, which came into effect at midnight local time, on at least five occasions. This is denied by Cambodia, international news agencies report.

A planned meeting between army chiefs had to be postponed for three hours, from 02:00 to 05:00 Swedish time.

Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, however, downplays his own army's claims after a conversation with Cambodia's defense minister.

- There is no escalation. Right now it is calm, he tells reporters, according to AP.

Both countries claim the area. The background is a vague border demarcation by the French colonial power in 1907.

Ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia after talks

A ceasefire has been signed between Thailand and Cambodia. This is clear after talks between the countries in Malaysia, reports Reuters.

– The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end the border clashes, says Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after talks between the two neighboring countries.

The ceasefire comes into effect at midnight local time.

On Monday, talks between the countries took place in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai participated.

The border conflict — the point

Armed fighting broke out between Thailand and Cambodia on the border on July 24, 2025.
Thailand has carried out air strikes with F-16 planes and Jas Gripen planes against Cambodian targets and both countries have closed their borders and recalled their ambassadors.
Over 100,000 Thais have been evacuated from border provinces and a couple of thousand Cambodians have fled villages near the border following the clashes.´
Cambodia has accused Thailand of using cluster bombs, while Thailand has accused Cambodia of mining the border area; both countries have rejected each other's accusations.
Following pressure from the outside world, talks on a ceasefire became a topic, which were held on Monday in Malaysia.

Political situation in Colombia

The verdict risks further politicizing Colombia

The verdict against former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe risks further politicizing the country. This is what Yolanda Ruiz writes in El Pais.

His supporters and opponents already had a verdict before the first evidence was presented and therefore the “important thing now is to defend the autonomy of the judiciary,” she writes.

Several representatives from Uribe’s party have rejected the verdict and claimed that the Colombian legal system is politicized. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also commented.

“Uribe’s only crime is that he tirelessly fought and defended his homeland,” he writes in a post on X.

At the same time, the left has expressed its support for the legal system.

“Today is a day to recognize the legal system as the guarantor of democracy,” said Senator Iván Cepeda, who led the trial against the former president.

Uribe is convicted of bribery and witness tampering. His sentence is expected to be announced on Friday.

Former Colombian president convicted of bribery

Former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has been convicted of bribery and witness tampering, several international media outlets report.

Uribe, who led the country between 2002 and 2010, fought against leftist guerrillas who controlled parts of the country. He has been accused of having connections to right-wing paramilitary groups. The charges include bribing imprisoned militia members to withdraw their testimonies about him.

The verdict makes Uribe the first Colombian ex-president to be convicted. However, he has not yet been sentenced, but faces between six and twelve years in prison.
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Russian invasion The world's response

Trump has made up his mind – Russia has 10 days

Russia has ten days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine to end the war between the countries, Donald Trump says. If Russia does not enter into a ceasefire, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 100 percent on Russian goods and impose sanctions.

- 10 days from today, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.

The announcement came as he returned from his five-day visit to Scotland, where he played golf and met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

- We will impose tariffs and things like that, and I don't know if it will affect Russia, because he obviously wants to continue the war, Trump said.

On Monday, Trump said that ten to twelve days were the limit.

Russia: Ultimatum is a Step Closer to War

On Monday, Trump shortened the deadline from 50 to 10-12 days for Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Otherwise, the United States will impose punitive tariffs and sanctions.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev responded to the statement on X, writing that Trump is playing the "ultimatum game" with Russia and that the United States must remember that Russia is not Israel or Iran.

"Every new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country," Medvedev wrote.

Trump said on Monday that he was disappointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin's failure to end the war in Ukraine.

Oil prices rise after Trump gives Russia a new deadline

Market prices for crude oil rose significantly after US President Donald Trump this evening set a clearer deadline for Russia to conclude a ceasefire with Ukraine. This is reported by E24.

The spot price of WTI oil is up 3 percent for the day after Trump's speech. Most of the gains came after Trump presented his new ten-day deadline to the press.

The deadline expires at the end of next week and means a clarification of Trump's previous statements of "10-12 days". If Russia does not comply with the deadline and conclude a ceasefire, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 100 percent on Russian goods and impose sanctions on countries that trade in Russian oil.

Originally, Russia was to be given 50 days to conclude a ceasefire.

Trump has made up his mind – Russia has 10 days

Russia has ten days to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine to end the war between the countries, Donald Trump says. If Russia does not enter into a ceasefire, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs of 100 percent on Russian goods and impose sanctions.

- 10 days from today, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.

The announcement came as he returned from his five-day visit to Scotland, where he played golf and met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

- We will impose tariffs and things like that, and I don't know if it will affect Russia, because he obviously wants to continue the war, Trump said.

On Monday, Trump said that ten to twelve days were in effect.

Middle East Crisis Voices on Gaza

Britain may recognize Palestine as a state

Britain will recognize Palestine as a state if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced, according to Sky News.

Starmer said the time has come to recognize Palestine because it will have the greatest impact, the channel reported.

The statement was reportedly made now due to the “unacceptable situation in Gaza and the diminishing prospects for a peace process towards a two-state solution”.

In addition to the demand for a ceasefire, Starmer is demanding that Israel not annex the West Bank and that Israel agree to work towards a peace process leading to a two-state solution.

Israel rejects Starmer's announcement to recognize Palestine

Israel rejects Keir Starmer's announcement to recognize Palestine as a state if the country does not agree to a ceasefire, the Foreign Office writes in a statement on X.

The authority writes that the change in the British government's position after France's decision to also recognize Palestine as a state, is a "reward for Hamas and damages efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of hostages."

In addition to the demand for a ceasefire, the British Prime Minister demands that Israel not annex the West Bank and that Israel agree to work towards a peace process that leads to a two-state solution. If not, Starmer will recognize Palestine as a state in September.

Trump: Recognizing Palestine is rewarding Hamas

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer did not discuss Britain's plan to recognize Palestine as a state if Israel does not agree to concrete measures for the war in Gaza. This is stated by the American president according to Reuters.

- You are rewarding Hamas if you do. I do not think they should be rewarded, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he left Scotland on Tuesday.

Starmer is demanding that Israel agree to a ceasefire, that they should not annex the West Bank and that Israel agree to work towards a peace process that leads to a two-state solution. If not, Starmer will recognize Palestine as a state in September, he said in a statement on Tuesday.