countries

United States President Donald Trump has said he is ready to sanction Russia, but only if all NATO allies agree to completely halt buying oil from Moscow and impose their own sanctions on Russia to pressure it to end its more than three-year war in Ukraine.

“I am ready to do major Sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, which he described as a letter to all NATO nations and the world.

Trump proposed that NATO, as a group, place 50-100 percent tariffs on China to weaken its economic grip over Russia.

Trump also wrote that NATO’s commitment “to WIN” the war “has been far less than 100%” and that it was “shocking” that some members of the alliance continued to buy Russian oil. As if speaking to them, he said, “It greatly weakens your negotiating position, and bargaining power, over Russia.”

NATO member Turkiye has been the third-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China and India. Other members of the 32-state alliance involved in buying Russian oil include Hungary and Slovakia, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

If NATO “does as I say, the WAR will end quickly”, Trump wrote. “If not, you are just wasting my time.”

As he struggles to deliver on promises to end the war quickly, Trump has repeatedly threatened to increase pressure on Russia. Last month, he slapped a 50 percent tariff on India over its continued buying of Russian oil, though he has not yet taken similar actions against China.

Trump’s social media post comes days after Polish and NATO forces shot down drones violating Polish airspace during Russia’s biggest-ever aerial barrage against Ukraine.

Poland and Romania scramble aircraft

Polish airspace has been violated many times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but never on this scale anywhere in NATO territory.

Wednesday’s incident was the first time a NATO member is known to have fired shots during Russia’s war in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Poland said it and its NATO allies had deployed helicopters and aircraft as Russian drones struck Ukraine, not far from its border.

Poland’s military command said on X that “ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached their highest level of alert”, adding that the actions were “preventative”.

Also on Saturday, Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said that the country’s airspace had been breached by a drone during a Russian attack on infrastructure in neighbouring Ukraine.

The country scrambled two F-16 fighter jets to monitor the situation, tracking the drone until it disappeared from the radar” near the Romanian village of Chilia Veche, said the ministry in a statement.

Little sign of peace

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the prospect of penalties on states still doing business with Moscow.

In an interview with the US media outlet ABC News last week, Zelenskyy said, “I’m very thankful to all the partners, but some of them, I mean, they continue [to] buy oil and Russian gas, and this is not fair… I think the idea to put tariffs on the countries that continue to make deals with Russia, I think this is the right idea.”

Last month, the US president hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, to discuss an end to the war, in their first face-to-face meeting since Trump’s return to the White House.

Shortly afterwards, he hosted Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington, DC, for discussions on a settlement.

Despite the diplomatic blitz, there has been little progress towards a peace deal, with Moscow and Kyiv remaining far apart on key issues and Russia persisting in its bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Russia claims advances

Russia on Saturday said it had captured a new village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region, which Moscow’s forces say they reached at the beginning of July.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said its troops had seized the village of Novomykolaivka near the border with the Donetsk region – the epicentre of fighting on the front. The AFP news agency was unable to confirm this claim.

DeepState, an online battlefield map run by Ukrainian military analysts, said the village was still under Kyiv’s control.

At the end of August, Ukraine had for the first time acknowledged that Russian soldiers had entered the Dnipropetrovsk region, where Moscow had claimed advances at the start of the month.

The Russian army currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

The Kremlin is demanding that Ukraine withdraw from its eastern Donbas region, comprised of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as a condition for halting hostilities, something that Kyiv has rejected.

The Dnipropetrovsk region is not one of the five Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Crimea – that Moscow has publicly claimed as Russian territory.

On Friday, Zelenskyy said that Putin wanted to “occupy all of Ukraine” and would not stop until his goal was achieved, even if Kyiv agreed to cede territory.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. is purchasing enough doses of a new twice-a-year HIV prevention shot to share with up to 2 million people in poor countries by 2028, the State Department announced Thursday.

Gilead Sciences had already announced it would sell that supply of the protective drug lenacapvir at no profit for use in low- and middle-income countries that are hard-hit by HIV. The question was who would buy and distribute it after the Trump administration slashed foreign aid earlier this year — forcing closures of health clinics and disrupting HIV testing and care in many countries.

Under Thursday’s move, the U.S. will purchase the doses under the PEPFAR program and work with governments in hard-hit countries on how to distribute them. The priority will be to protect pregnant or breastfeeding women, said Jeremy Lewin, a State Department senior official.

Lewin said the program will be a collaboration with the Global Fund, another international program that funds HIV treatment and prevention efforts, but wouldn’t disclose how much the U.S. was investing.

“We’re hoping, with the Global Fund, to help 2 million people get on the medication over the next three years but could potentially see more,” he said.

There are more than 30,000 new HIV infections in the U.S. every year and 1.2 million people are living with the virus. Worldwide there are 1.3 million new infections annually and nearly 40 million people living with the virus.

Many experts say lenacapavir is the most powerful option yet for what’s called PrEP — using preventive medicines to guard against sexually transmitted HIV. Unlike daily pills that people may forget, each lenacapavir shot offers protection for six months. In two groundbreaking studies with people at high risk, it nearly eliminated new infections.

The drug already has been approved for use in the U.S. and Europe.

In March, the head of the U.N. AIDS agency urged the Trump administration and Gilead to make the preventive shots available worldwide for millions.

Gilead has signed agreements with generic drugmakers to produce low-cost versions of the shot for poor countries, mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. The doses provided at-cost for up to 2 million people in those countries were intended to be a stopgap until the generics are available.

Neergaard writes for the Associated Press.

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, reflects a major display of solidarity among the countries of the Global South in the face of US and Western hegemony. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the leaders and members of the SCO countries participating in the summit in China to play a greater role in protecting regional and global peace and stability, considering his country a stable global power that will support the developing world. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all SCO members to take advantage of their huge market, and in his opening speech to the leaders participating in the summit, he revealed his ambition to establish a new global security and economic order that poses a direct challenge to the United States. President Xi’s statements during the summit come amid Beijing’s efforts to present itself as a major leader of the developing world, and considering that the summit in Tianjin, China, will provide China with an opportunity to build solidarity with the developing countries of the Global South. The international community, particularly the countries of the Global South, also has high hopes for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to play an important role in global security and economic governance in the face of American hegemonic policies and dictates.

  Chinese President Xi Jinping affirmed in his opening speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, that “the SCO represents a model for a new type of international relations, and that we must advocate for equal and orderly multipolarity in the world, inclusive economic globalization, and promote the construction of a more just and equitable global governance system.” Many leaders of developing countries in the Global South agreed with and endorsed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech, most notably Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey), Min Aung Hlaing (Myanmar), KP Sharma Oli (Nepal), Prabowo Subianto (Indonesia), Anwar Ibrahim (Malaysia), and Mohamed Ma’azo (Maldives), with the participation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kaw Kim Horn.

  The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China is the most important for the organization since its establishment in 2001. It is being held amid multiple crises that have directly affected its members, from the trade standoff between the United States, China, and India to the Russian war on Ukraine, the Iranian nuclear issue and Israeli and American military strikes on Tehran, the Gaza war, the Taiwan issue, and other burning international issues. This summit is subject to unprecedented and stringent security and military measures compared to previous summits. Armored vehicles have been deployed on many streets, blocking traffic in large parts of the Chinese city of Tianjin, where the summit is being held. Signs in both Mandarin and Russian have been posted on the streets, praising the Tianjin spirit and the mutual trust between Moscow and Beijing.

  It is important to understand China’s commitment this year, during the summit in Tianjin, China, to working diligently on three main tracks to assist developing countries of the Global South and the Third World. On the political front, the Tianjin Declaration and the Ten-Year Development Strategy will be adopted to establish a long-term vision for cooperation. On the security front, cooperation will be strengthened by strengthening joint arrangements to combat terrorism and support regional stability. Economically, cooperation will be advanced in the digital economy, green development, and smart cities, as well as promoting trade and investment as fundamental pillars for strengthening the cohesion of the “Shanghai Family.”

 Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Ping commented that the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, this year will be the largest in the organization’s history, stressing that the rapidly evolving international situation calls for enhanced solidarity and cooperation.With his veiled reference to the United States of America, he said that “the old mentalities of hegemony and power politics are still influential, as some countries try to prioritize their own interests at the expense of others, threatening global peace and stability.”

 It should be noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech was unanimously approved by all participating leaders, especially with the growing call by Chinese President “Xi” for all SCO partners at the Tianjin Summit to oppose the Cold War mentality and bloc-based confrontation, emphasizing the need to support multilateral trading systems. This message is a clear reference to US President Trump’s tariff war on China, which has disproportionately impacted the economies of developing countries, including India, a recent ally of Washington. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also stated that “China plays a fundamental role in supporting global multilateralism.”

  While Russia has succeeded in attracting the majority of members to its positions, India is attempting to balance its call for peace and maintaining relations with the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at a time when New Delhi is purchasing large quantities of Russian oil. Ukraine has called on the organization’s members to take a clear stance and reject Russian aggression against it. During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his dear friend. Putin considered relations between the two countries to be developing dynamically and unprecedentedly. This all reflects a strong solidarity between the policies of developing countries of the Global South, led and supported by China and its close ally, Russia.

   Regarding the United States’ position on the gathering of developing countries of the Global South in the Chinese city of Tianjin, Washington considered the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin unwelcome, given US President Trump’s repeated attacks on the Global South blocs, his threats to paralyze and obstruct the BRICS group through punitive tariffs, and his description of it as anti-American policies.

  Therefore, we understand that the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, in 2025, presents a multilateral model designed by China, distinct from the models dominated by Western powers and the United States. Furthermore, the broad participation in the summit’s events demonstrates China’s growing influence and the SCO’s ability to attract non-Western countries capable of embracing Washington and its policies and monopolizing the West.

MOST holidaymakers love a tipple, and one destination in Europe has been crowned the best for boozy breaks.

The Telegraph declared Portugal to be the best destination for drinking as it’s not only “amongst the higher per capita drinkers of wine in the world, they also have some of the cheapest prices”.

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Weighing up the stats like annual alcohol consumption, cheapest capitals for pints and cities with the most bars per capita, Portugal came out on top.

In particular, the country landed in second place when it came to the annual consumption of wine – which was 52.3 litres per person.

Writer Lauren Clark who has relocated to Lisbon added that you can get a glass of wine “for the price of a UK coffee” in the country’s capital.

And the reason that wine is so affordable is because Portugal is covered in vineyards – around 4,700 of them.

Portugal is widely known for producing its very own Port wine in the Douro Valley.

It’s a sweet wine typically served with dessert, and has a high alcohol content usually ranging between 19 and 22 per cent.

When it comes to bagging affordable booze, Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, is especially well-known for it.

According to HikersBay, the price for a domestic beer in the city is €3 (£2.61) and a glass of wine at the table might set you back €5.50 (£4.78).

If anyone decides to pop into McDonald’s for a bite to eat, you can even order a can of Sagres beer to have with your burger and it’s priced just over €2 (£1.74).

Earlier this year, Drinks Merchants even revealed Portugal to be the cheapest place to buy a bottle of wine.

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The average bottle of wine is just £3.91 with the cheapest being as little as £2.53 – in the UK buying a bottle of wine in the supermarket averages £9.36.

You can regularly find cheap bottles of wine in Portugal for under €5 (£4.35) at the supermarket, including Esteva, Evel, and Porca de Murça.

Around the country, there are even attractions dedicated to telling the story of its alcohol production, in Porto, the World of Wine museum even holds free tastings.

The venue has seven museums, 12 restaurants, a bar and café, a wine school and shops.

The seven themed museums in the Wine Experience take guests on an “extraordinary journey from grape to bottle”.

And a new addition called the Pink Palace immerses visitors in the concept of rosé wine.

Time Out described World of Wine as ” basically a big theme park for those who like a tipple (or three)”.

A few years ago, Lisbon was named the best ‘party city’ in Europe thanks to its plentiful number of bars and pubs.

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One of the most famous in the capital is ‘Bar A Parodia’, one of the oldest cocktail bars in Lisbon which visitors have described as “a real treasure”.

Another unique bar in the city is well-known for its live shows and events – and it used to be a brothel.

The bar is called Pensão Amor and is found on one of Lisbon’s promenades and is tucked inside an 18th century building spanning across five floors.

It’s decorated with vintage posters from burlesque shows and punters can enjoy a drink on velvet sofas and armchairs.

It regularly holds events like burlesque presentations, themed parties and even poetry meetings.

Cocktails include a Pornstar Martini which is priced at €11 (£9.57).

Of course, Portuguese pubs and restaurants outside major tourist destinations like Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve will be generally cheaper.

One example of this is Silves in Portugal that used to the be capital of the Algarve.

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Last year, it was revealed as being the most affordable spot in Portugal with the average price of a hotel was around £73, while a beer costs as little as £2.50.

Flights from the UK were under £50, on average – and it’s very pretty too with cobbled streets, cafes and independent shops selling handcrafted gifts and ceramics.

As for getting to Portugal, it’s not that expensive, Sun Travel found return flights to Lisbon from £38 in October – and the flight time is two hours 50 minutes.

A trip to Porto takes even less time at two hours 20 minutes – and you can fly directly from Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

Plus, here’s more on an underrated Portuguese city an hour from Lisbon – and it’s known for its amazing wine.

And discover the secret side to Portugal crowned one of the best places in Europe to visit this year.

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Aug. 26 (UPI) — President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs and restrict U.S. chip exports on countries that have a digital services tax.

He wrote on Truth Social Monday that digital service taxes, largely implemented by Britain and the European Union, “are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology.”

“I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed, I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the U.S.A.,” Trump wrote.

He added that the United States would also “institute Export restrictions on our Highly Protected Technology and Chips.”

“Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences!” he wrote.

The taxes are meant to apply only to the largest tech companies like Alphabet, Meta and Amazon, which are based in the United States. The countries that have digital services taxes argue that tech titans like Amazon operate within their borders and generate huge profits from their people while paying little or no taxes to those governments.

The U.K.’s digital services tax raises about $1.1 billion annually from global tech companies through a 2% tax on revenues. Trump said these taxes “outrageously give a complete pass to China’s largest tech companies.”

France, Italy and Spain also have DSTs.

Trump declared in June that he would cut off all trade talks with Canada over the tax, which it had recently passed. When Canada quickly removed its tax just before it was set to turn on, the White House boasted that Canada had “caved” to pressure.

In February, Trump signed an executive order titled Defending American Companies and Innovators from Overseas Extortion and Unfair Fines and Penalties, threatening tariffs.

In April, it emerged that Keir Starmer offered big U.S. tech companies a reduction in the headline rate of the DST to appease Trump, at the same time applying the tax to companies from other countries.

Australia and Japan latest countries to stop some postal services to US for goods valued at less than $800.

Australia and Japan have joined a growing list of countries suspending some parcel shipments to the United States after US President Donald Trump’s administration ended an exemption that allowed packages valued at less than $800 to enter the country duty-free.

With the “de minimis” exemption set to end on Friday, Australia Post announced that it was implementing “a temporary partial suspension”.

In a statement on Tuesday, Australia Post said it was “disappointed” but the decision was necessary “due to the complex and rapidly evolving situation”.

Packages sent to the US and Puerto Rico lodged on or after Tuesday will not be accepted until further notice, the postal service said. Gifts valued at less than $100, letters and documents are unaffected by the change.

Australia Post said it would continue to work with the US and Australian authorities and international postal partners to resume services to the US soon.

Japan Post made a similar announcement on Monday, saying the suspension of some parcel shipments was necessary.

The procedures for transport and postal operators were “not clear”, which is “making implementation difficult”, Japan Post said.

Australian public broadcaster ABC said some businesses that make products in Australia have already suspended shipments, with Australian shipping software company Shippit saying it had seen a decline in shipments from Australia to the US even before the new changes came into effect.

“There’s been a 36 percent drop in volume since April in terms of outbound shipments from Australia to the US,” Shippit’s chief executive, Rob Hango-Zada, said, according to the ABC.

The announcements from Australia and Japan come after several European postal services announced similar changes last week, including Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, France, Austria and the United Kingdom.

The UK’s Royal Mail said it would halt shipments to the US beginning on Tuesday to allow time for those packages to arrive before new duties kick in.

“Key questions remain unresolved, particularly regarding how and by whom customs duties will be collected in the future, what additional data will be required, and how the data transmission to the US Customs and Border Protection will be carried out,” DHL, the largest shipping provider in Europe, said in a statement.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has announced a rolling wave of tariffs, or taxes paid on goods imported into the US.

The changing nature of Trump’s tariffs, which vary from country to country and are different in some cases depending on which products are being imported, has added to the confusion for postal services.

Trump had already ended the “de minimis” exemption with China and Hong Kong on May 2, closing a loophole which was widely used by fast-fashion companies Shein, Temu and others to ship duty-free.

The tax and spending bill recently signed by Trump repealed the legal basis for the “de minimis” exemption worldwide starting on July 1, 2027.

Goods shipped through the postal system will now face one of two tariffs: either an “ad valorem duty” equal to the effective tariff rate of the package’s country of origin or, for six months, a specific tariff of $80 to $200, depending on the country of origin’s tariff rate.

Claire Martin, from Devon, decided to travel across Europe by ferry – and she managed to save money doing it too.

One traveller said goodbye to airport queues and decided to travel around Europe by ferry instead. Even better, she secured some brilliant bargains in the process.

Claire Martin, from Devon, is a YouTuber and travel content creator who typically spends much of the year globe-trotting as she adores the chance to “explore new cultures and spend time in nature”.

Speaking to OMIO – an online travel comparison site – Claire revealed her European ferry route, her adventures and expert advice for staying within budget.

When questioned about why she opted to journey by ferry, Claire explained to OMIO: “Ferry is often the most direct route, and I love the feeling of sailing over the seas; it feels like a proper adventure.

“The sunsets and coastal views are always stunning too. I also love how you’re never constrained to a seat – there’s a whole ship to explore.”

The adventurer visited numerous European destinations by ferry:

Claire has journeyed to and from more than eight countries and has also revealed which destination was her top pick and the reasons behind it.

She explained: “I loved travelling from France to Algeria by ferry. The experience of sailing across the Mediterranean was awesome and I loved seeing the different cultures on either side of the sea.

“It was a really nice ferry and I had my own cabin, so I thought of it as a mini Mediterranean cruise!”

Claire confessed that when she journeyed between Tallinn and Helsinki in an “ultra-modern” ferry, she failed to “soak the experience in” owing to it lasting just two hours.

However, the traveller managed to save a substantial amount of money by opting for ferries over flights, allowing her to travel extensively without emptying her wallet.

She calculated that she saved an estimated £200 across her travels, reported The Express.

Claire pointed out that for certain routes, such as southern Spain to Morocco or Tallinn to Helsinki, there’s “no need to fly”.

The journey from Aberdeen to Shetland was also significantly cheaper by ferry, costing around £40 per person with a cabin, compared to a hefty £200 flight fare.

She revealed that she is planning a unique “ferry-only trip”, where she will spend four nights on different ferries, hopping between Spain, France and Italy.

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Wolters, who runs the successful YouTube channel Wolters World, explained that he felt compelled to provide “honest” advice to travellers after seeing numerous “misleading” blogs and videos

A travel vlogger who’s visited over 80 countries has revealed his favourite destinations. Mark Wolters, the man behind the popular YouTube channel Wolters World, hails from Quincy, Illinois, USA and is on a mission to provide “honest” travel advice to his many followers.

He explained that he was driven to create his videos after noticing many “misleading” blogs and felt it “wasn’t right” for families to “waste their hard earned vacation time”. He previously shared the “least friendly” country he’s visited for tourists. But, in an exclusive interview, he had no hesitation in naming his five favourite countries by continent.

Brazil

Mark explained: “My favorite place to visit in South America is Brazil. I lived there and have family there and it is just such a wonderful place with the food, the nature, and the crazy fun times you can have there.”

Brazil is the largest country in South America and one of the world’s biggest democracies. It boasts diverse landscapes including the Amazon, the world’s largest jungle, and is synonymous with world-class football, being the home of Pelé.

The nation boasts an incredible diversity of wildlife, featuring a staggering 600 mammal species. Rio de Janeiro (pictured above) ranks among its most sought-after tourist hotspots.

France

Mark revealed: “In Europe, it is a toss up between France and Italy. They both have great food and if you speak a bit of the local language you can make so many friends there. So I can never pass up going to either of them.”

Famous for its cuisine and culture, France stands as a significant force globally and maintains membership in NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation). Located in Western Europe, it shares borders with Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain.

Boasting legendary sites including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, and the Arc de Triomphe, France serves as a European cultural capital and an enormously popular holiday destination.

Italy

A major attraction for visitors and amongst Mark’s top picks, Italy represents another country celebrated for its gastronomy and heritage. Many of history’s most famous artistic figures originated from Italy, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.

This Southern European country also houses some of the globe’s most recognised monuments, including the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Roman Forum. Beyond the capital, Rome, holidaymakers flock to other remarkable destinations like the stunning cities of Venice and Florence.

Rwanda

Mark explained: “In Africa we love visiting Rwanda. It was such an incredible adventure when we visited the first time. We fell in love with it.”

Rwanda, a landlocked nation in East Africa, is known as the “land of a thousand hills”. It’s a small yet densely populated country that borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Home to the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, Rwanda boasts rainforests, majestic mountains, volcanoes, and even the endangered mountain gorilla.

China

Mark said: “In Asia, I think my wife would say Japan, but I loved teaching and traveling in China. So much history and so much food!

China, one of the world’s most populous nations and a leading industrial powerhouse, has a rich history spanning 4,000 years. The modern People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 following the Communist Revolution.

Tourists flock to see the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army. Not to mention, it’s famously home to the Giant Panda.

The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe and has been a central part of the continent’s history for centuries, as well as being a popular spot for cruisers

A huge river that is one of the longest in the world and carves its way through 10 European countries. From the Black Forest to the Black Sea the river spans across continents as it spans more than 2,800km (1,740 miles).

The mighty Danube flows through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria. Its impressive length makes it Europe’s second-largest river, surpassed only by Russia’s Volga.

The Danube-Breg river system ranks as the 31st longest in the world, with the Nile, which crosses 11 countries, claiming the top spot ahead of South America’s Amazon River.

The Danube originates in the Black Forest in southern Germany, then flows southeast, ending in the Black Sea, on the border of Europe and Asia. It serves as a backdrop to four capital cities – Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade – and its vast drainage basin extends into nine additional nations.

The river doesn’t merely flow through these capitals; it has played a crucial role in their development, offering a natural defence system and a reliable water supply that has fostered their growth over the years. As reported by the Times of India, the Danube has been a vital trade artery for Europe, reports the Express.

It connects to the Main-Danube Canal, linking goods to both the Rhine and the North Sea. This connection allows goods to traverse from the North Sea to the Black Sea via this expansive waterway.

The waterway also provides energy for households in Romania and Serbia through the Iron Gate Dam. It has additionally become a cultural icon thanks to Johann Strauss’s “The Blue Danube” waltz, which went on to inspire countless composers, poets and artists.

Throughout history the waterway served as a major frontier for the Roman Empire. Fortresses, strongholds and kingdoms sprang up along its shores over the centuries.

It has now developed into an economic powerhouse overseen by the Danube Commission. The body was established to provide nations with access and secure passage along the river’s channels.

Beyond being a commercial centre, the Danube has now gained popularity with cruise passengers. In a YouTube video, Mark Soberman from the Digitalroamads said: “Most often you’re talking seven to eight days overall.

“The Danube is the grand capitals route, you’ve got these incredible cities, Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and you’ve got these hidden gems as well.”

Mark says numerous travellers frequently encounter a tough choice between cruising the Rhine or the Danube. He explained: “The Rhine [has] castles, vineyards, little storybook towns, it’s a different experience.

“If you want the castles, vineyards, and want to pull straight up into town, that’s probably going to be the Rhine. But for other people, it’s like, ‘No, I want classic European cities like Budapest’, which is incredible to sail into, and Vienna, which has incredible architecture and things to see.”

People planning to use their Blue Badge abroad need to check local guidance before heading off

For those with severe mobility issues planning a trip abroad, using their UK Blue Badge may be possible, depending on their destination. Some countries acknowledge the parking permit and allow tourists to use it as they would back home.

However, other nations may have slightly different regulations that need to be considered, while some do not recognise the Blue Badge at all. The Gov.uk website provides current information on European countries and their varying requirements for Blue Badge holders.

European countries that recognise UK Blue Badge

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Even in countries that accept the Blue Badge, additional rules and regulations may apply. For instance, in Denmark and Switzerland, you’ll need to have a parking disc clock to make use of parking time concessions.

Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg and Romania are all listed as ‘accepting non-EU parking cards’ rather than explicitly recognising a UK Blue Badge. The official government guidance states that it has ‘no information’ on whether a UK Blue Badge is accepted in Bulgaria.

In Lithuania and Italy, non-EU parking cards are accepted only in certain regions. In Spain, the recognition of a UK Blue Badge is determined by local administrations.

The UK Government advises checking its specific guidance and contacting the relevant local authority for detailed information if needed. Tourist centres can also provide advice on parking rules for disabled tourists.

It’s also suggested to have supporting documents on hand when using your Blue Badge abroad. This could include a doctor’s note or translation of your Blue Badge entitlement.

A Blue Badge permits people with physical disabilities or health conditions that affect their mobility to park in nearer or more accessible spots. In some instances, it can also allow the person to park for free or be exempt from other parking restrictions.

Obtaining a Blue Badge can cost up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland, but the permit is free in Wales. It typically lasts for three years before needing a renewal.

Certain benefits recipients can automatically receive a Blue Badge, while others will need to apply for the permit. They will need to provide proof of identity, address and eligibility,y such as prescriptions or diagnosis letters.

A statement issued by the countries says the Israeli prime minister’s comments constitutes a direct threat to Arab national security and peace.

A coalition of Arab and Muslim nations has condemned “in the strongest terms” statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his vision for a “Greater Israel”.

When interviewer Sharon Gal with the Israeli i24NEWS channel asked Netanyahu if he subscribed to a “vision” for a “Greater Israel”, Netanyahu said “absolutely”. Asked during the interview aired on Tuesday if he felt connected to the “Greater Israel” vision, Netanyahu said: “Very much.”

The “Greater Israel” concept supported by ultranationalist Israelis is understood to refer to an expansionist vision that lays claim to the occupied West Bank, Gaza, parts of Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Jordan.

“These statements represent a grave disregard for, and a blatant and dangerous violation of, the rules of international law and the foundations of stable international relations,” said a joint statement by a coalition of 31 Arab and Islamic countries and the Arab League.

“They also constitute a direct threat to Arab national security, to the sovereignty of states, and to regional and international peace and security,” the statement released on Friday said.

The signatories of the statement included the secretaries-general of the League of Arab States, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Arab and Islamic nations also condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s announcement on Thursday to push ahead with settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

The statement said the move is “a blatant violation of international law and a flagrant assault on the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to realise their independent, sovereign state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with Occupied Jerusalem as its capital”.

The statement added that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territory.

Smotrich said he would approve thousands of housing units in a long-delayed illegal settlement project in the West Bank, saying the move “buries the idea of a Palestinian state”.

Last September, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly adopted a resolution calling on Israel to end its illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories within 12 months.

The resolution backed an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – the UN’s top court – which found that Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end. In January 2024, the ICJ said Israel was “plausibly committing genocide”. The top UN court has yet to announce its verdict in the case brought by South Africa.

Netanyahu and Smotrich made the remarks during Israel’s devastating 22-month war on Gaza, which has killed at least 61,827 people and wounded 155,275 people in the enclave.

Last week, Israel’s Security Cabinet approved Netanyahu’s plan to fully occupy Gaza City, and in Tuesday’s interview, Netanyahu also revived calls to “allow” Palestinians to leave Gaza, telling i24NEWS: “We are not pushing them out, but we are allowing them to leave.”

Campaigners said Netanyahu’s use of the word “leave” was a euphemism for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza – home to 2.1 million people, most of whom are refugees and their descendants from the 1948 Nakba when more than 700,000 Palestinians were forced to flee from what became the state of Israel.

Past calls to resettle people from Gaza outside the war-battered territory, including from United States President Donald Trump, have sparked fears of forced displacement among Palestinians and condemnation from the international community.

In their statement on Saturday, the Islamic countries reiterated their “rejection and condemnation of Israel’s crimes of aggression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing” in Gaza and highlighted the need for a ceasefire in the enclave while “ensuring unconditional access to humanitarian aid to halt the systematic starvation policy used by Israel as a weapon of genocide”.

They also reaffirmed their “complete and absolute rejection of the displacement of the Palestinian people in any form and under any pretext” and called on the international community to pressure Israel to halt its aggression and fully withdraw from the Gaza Strip.

Gabriel Morris has been travelling the globe for over 30 years and has managed to visit six continents and 97 countries — but there’s one spot he refuses to go back to

Globe-trotting YouTuber Gabriel Morris has spent more than three decades exploring the world, clocking up visits to six continents and over 90 nations.

To be exact, Gabriel has travelled to “97 United Nations member states plus the three disputed countries of Kosovo, Northern Cyprus, and Taiwan which do not have UN member status.” Yet there’s one ‘soulless destination’ from his adventures that he’s vowed never to revisit.

Boasting 613,000 YouTube subscribers, Gabriel’s travel content consistently draws massive viewership and interaction, with fellow wanderers and admirers keen to hear about his journeys and insights. In his recent upload entitled ‘I’ve Been to 100 Countries – Which Place is the Worst?’, the content creator disclosed that the most disappointing location he’s encountered is the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf). It comes after one Turkey holidaymaker shares travel warning as he exclaims ‘don’t bother coming’.

Addressing his audience, Gabriel explained: “I’ve seen a fair amount of the world and many of those countries I’ve been to over and over and travelled around a lot. I’ll just tell you at the beginning here, my least favourite part of the world is the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf).”

Whilst Iran refers to it as the Persian Gulf, the nations situated on the southern and western shores of the Gulf know it as the Arabian Gulf, reports the Express.

So, why does Gabriel consider the Persian Gulf region his least favourite destination worldwide? The content creator explains: “Now, I haven’t been to Iran, and Iran looks absolutely incredible. And so I’m not including Iran in this. I don’t know that along the Persian Gulf there is anything especially nice to see there.”

Gabriel has explored numerous locations throughout the Persian Gulf vicinity. These include Saudi Arabia – particularly Riyadh and Jeddah, where he hired a vehicle for a day to venture beyond the urban boundaries – plus Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, encompassing Dubai and Abu Dhabi, though none managed to capture his enthusiasm.

He added: “There’s a little bit more to see in the desert outside of the cities, but not very much. Mostly it’s just flat desert. Basically, I am thinking of the main cities on the Persian Gulf, and then including the cities of Saudi Arabia, which aren’t near the Persian Gulf but do border it. I just find these cities to be devoid of anything particularly interesting as a traveller. I find them to be very boring and stale.

“The streets are practically empty of people other than those in their cars. You don’t get the bustling, busy marketplace experience. All of those cities are built in a very similar style of massive skyscrapers. It makes for an impressive skyline, but then you get there on the ground and it’s big, wide streets that can be almost impossible to cross. There’s lots of traffic, massive distances, and not really anything that I want to do there. You can go in malls, you can go to some restaurants. Alcohol is banned for the most part, so that’s another drawback.”

Describing them as “soulless”, Gabriel went on to say: “I just find them to be kind of soulless and not unique in any way. You could drop me in any one of those cities and not tell me which one it is, and unless you had a view of, say, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai or some particular landmark, if you were in a typical neighbourhood you couldn’t distinguish it from any of the others. They’re all built exactly the same and just super boring. Now, they aren’t bad places to live necessarily or to raise a family. They are safe, they’re clean, and they’re hassle-free. There’s no hustling, scams, or anything really to worry about.”

Apart from Qatar and Dubai, which Gabriel places in first and second positions respectively, Gabriel believes that amongst all the destinations worldwide, he has “no desire to go back to that part of the world”, though he acknowledges the culture is “certainly fine”. However, Gabriel believes there’s another factor at play.

He explained: “Most of the people you’re going to interact with aren’t even the local Saudis, Emiratis, Qataris, Kuwaitis, or Bahrainis, because the local populations in all those countries are actually a minority. The majority of people you’ll encounter are workers from South Asia – Indians, Pakistanis, lots of Bangladeshis – who are working in restaurants, malls, hotels, and other service positions.

“The locals, as I understand it, receive paychecks from oil revenue and don’t really have to work, at least not in the typical service jobs. Maybe that’s not true in every country, but in general, if they are working, it’s more likely to be in business or professional roles, so you’re unlikely to interact with them as a visitor. That’s just one more thing that makes the experience feel kind of watered down – you don’t really get much of a local cultural experience. So, it’s nothing personal against the people,” Gabriel concludes.

In fact, the digital creator had a rather unsettling experience in Kuwait City when he was stopped and questioned for filming. Recalling the incident, Gabriel said: “I think it was in Kuwait City where I got questioned for filming. I was filming near one of the palaces – or something like that – and I had made a point of not filming one particular place that I thought could be a problem.

“But then I started filming something else, and a security guard waved me over. At that point, you definitely don’t want to run or try to avoid them, because that just makes things worse. So I walked over, and I believe he spoke English. He asked me what I was filming for, asked a few questions, and then let me go. But despite the relatively harmless outcome, it was still a very harrowing experience in the moment – being questioned by an authority figure without knowing how it’s going to play out.”

Reflecting on all the ways the situation could have escalated, Gabriel admitted: “They could easily say, “I want you to talk to my superior,” and then you’re being taken into some office where they’re suspicious of you and start asking more questions. It’s always a pretty traumatic experience, and it basically makes you want to leave. That’s exactly how I felt afterward-I just hoped I could get out of there without any more hassle. So that was one more drawback.”

Trump’s order is seeking to address trade practices Washington deems unfair, but small businesses may be harmed, and economists caution it could fuel inflation.

United States President Donald Trump’s sweeping higher tariffs on more than 60 countries have taken effect.

The higher so-called “reciprocal” tariffs, announced last week in an executive order, were being collected by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency from 00:01 EDT (04:01 GMT) on Thursday, following months of negotiations with major trading partners.

The US duties range from 50 percent on goods from Brazil to 10 percent on imports from the United Kingdom.

Ahead of the deadline, Trump lauded the “billions of dollars” that will flow into the US as a result of the increased duties. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent has said that tariff revenues could top $300bn a year.

“THE ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP AMERICA’S GREATNESS WOULD BE A RADICAL LEFT COURT THAT WANTS TO SEE OUR COUNTRY FAIL!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Imports from many countries had previously been subject to a baseline 10 percent import duty after Trump paused higher rates announced in early April.

But since then, Trump has frequently modified his tariff plan, slapping some countries with much higher rates, including 50 percent on goods from Brazil, 39 percent on Switzerland, 35 percent on Canada and 25 percent on India.

Trump announced on Wednesday that he would increase tariffs on India to 50 percent later this month unless it stops buying Russian oil.

The US president says the tariffs are a response to trade practices Washington deems unfair. However, some companies and industry groups have warned that the new levies will hurt smaller US businesses, while some economists have cautioned that they could fuel inflation and affect long-term growth.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher said the hike in tariffs on Brazil will likely affect the US coffee industry, which was already grappling with rising prices due to weather-related shortages.

“Many [US] companies source their coffee in Brazil, not just the big chains, but smaller places [too],” said Fisher.

The US has a trade surplus with Brazil, leading many to believe that the tariffs are Trump’s attempt to punish Brazil for prosecuting his ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of trying to stage a coup, said Fisher.

‘Winners and losers’

Eight major trading partners accounting for about 40 percent of US trade flows have reached deals with Trump, including the European Union, Japan and South Korea, setting their base tariff rates at 15 percent.

The UK agreed to a 10 percent rate, while Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines secured rates of 19 or 20 percent.

Trump’s order has specified that any goods determined to have been transshipped from a third country to evade higher US tariffs will be subject to an additional 40 percent import duty, but details on enforcement are unclear.

According to John Diamond, an analyst at the Center for Tax and Budget Policy at the Baker Institute, the tariffs will likely leave US consumers with fewer choices in the number of goods, as well as higher prices for those goods.

“I think you’re going to see that there’s winners and losers, and you’re going to see that there’s a lot of inefficiency with political kickbacks and political punishments for adversaries,” Diamond told Al Jazeera.

The US president also announced late on Wednesday that he will impose a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made semiconductors, although exemptions will be made for companies that have invested in the US.

United States health officials are urging travellers to remain vigilant as a mosquito-borne virus continues to circulate across parts of Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Indian Ocean.

Since the beginning of 2025, there have been approximately 240,000 chikungunya virus infections and 90 deaths in 16 countries, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

In China, an outbreak has infected roughly 7,000 people since late June, with most cases concentrated in the city of Foshan, in Guangdong province, just north of Hong Kong. This marks the country’s largest chikungunya outbreak since the virus was first identified there in 2008.

Here is what we know about the disease and how it is spreading.

What is the chikungunya virus?

Chikungunya is a viral disease that is spread through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. These mosquitoes also carry and spread dengue, yellow fever and the Zika virus.

The name, chikungunya, derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, spoken in Tanzania and Mozambique, meaning “to become contorted”.

In most cases, patients will feel better within a week. In many cases, however, the joint pain can last for months or even years.

There is no cure for the chikungunya virus, but deaths are rare. If an infected mosquito bites a healthy human, it injects the virus into the bloodstream.

People most at risk of serious illness from chikungunya include newborns, older adults and those with existing health problems such as heart disease or diabetes.

There is no cure for the chikungunya virus, but the death rate is low, except in high-risk populations.

If an infected mosquito bites a healthy human, it injects the virus into the bloodstream. If a non-infected mosquito bites a person who is already infected, it sucks the virus from that person’s blood and becomes a carrier capable of transmitting the virus to others through bites.

How bad is the current spread of the virus?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current surge in cases began in early 2025, with major outbreaks in Indian Ocean Islands, including La Reunion, Mayotte and Mauritius.

In La Reunion, more than 47,500 cases of chikungunya and 12 associated deaths were reported up to May 2025, with sustained high transmission across the island, according to the WHO. The ECDC also reports that as of July 18, there were more than 54,000 cases reported from La Reunion.

This is now the most serious chikungunya outbreak in La Reunion since the 2005–2006 epidemic, which saw an estimated 244,000 to more than 300,000 cases, and prompted large-scale public health efforts to control mosquito breeding and limit transmission.

The virus has also spread to other countries, including Madagascar, Somalia and Kenya, and has shown signs of epidemic-level transmission in parts of Southeast Asia, as well as India, where financial capital Mumbai has seen a surge in cases since July.

The WHO has also raised concerns about the rising number of imported chikungunya cases in Europe. Since May 1, about 800 imported cases have been reported in mainland France.

According to the ECDC, the Americas as a region have reported the highest number of chikungunya cases globally. As of mid-July 2025, the countries with the most cases in the region include Brazil (185,553), Bolivia (4,721), Argentina (2,836) and Peru (55).

In China, infections have been reported in at least 12 cities across southern Guangdong province, in addition to Foshan.

Chinese authorities said that an “imported case triggered local transmission” in July, but did not specify where the infection originated. According to experts, rising global temperatures have led to warmer and wetter weather, allowing mosquitoes to thrive.

Separately, on Saturday, Hong Kong confirmed its first case of chikungunya: a 12-year-old boy who developed a fever, rash and joint pain since July 31, after visiting Foshan. This was the territory’s first case of the virus in six years.

How are China and other countries fighting the spread?

According to a Bloomberg news report, China has promised to take swift and decisive action to contain the spread of the chikungunya virus.

Drones are being used to find places where mosquitoes are breeding. At the same time, scientists are releasing large “elephant mosquitoes” – about 2cm (0.8 inches) long – whose larvae eat the smaller mosquitoes that spread the virus. Health experts hope these mosquito helpers will play an important role in stopping the outbreak.

According to a report by the BBC, residents of affected areas in China have been ordered to eliminate standing water in and around their homes – including in flowerpots, coffee machines and empty bottles. Noncompliance may result in fines of up to 10,000 yuan (approximately $1,400), and in more serious cases, people could face criminal charges for “obstructing the prevention of infectious diseases”.

Citing local sources, The New York Times said that in some instances, infected residents in Foshan are being moved to “quarantine wards”, where they are kept behind mosquito nets and screens. Some patients also say they were given no choice but to seek treatment at their own expense.

In other places, such as La Reunion and Mayotte, authorities have also launched enhanced surveillance, mosquito control initiatives and targeted vaccination efforts.

The Basque Country in Spain activated preventive protocols after a case was detected in Hendaye, just across the border in France. The protocols include increased surveillance in border towns and encouraging people to make reports through apps such as Mosquito Alert.

How can chikungunya be prevented and treated?

Health authorities advise protecting oneself against mosquito bites as the most effective strategy against the spread of chikungunya.

This may involve wearing long sleeves and trousers, applying mosquito repellents, removing bodies of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and staying in closed, air-conditioned spaces indoors or behind mosquito netting when outdoors.

While there are no specific medicines to treat the virus, rest, fluids and pain relievers may help alleviate symptoms, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

However, some pain relievers may be unsafe during a suspected infection. The CDC recommends avoiding non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue is ruled out, as they can raise the risk of bleeding.

Moscow already helped by Pyongyang; Zelenskyy says fighters from China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and African also on board.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that his country’s troops in the northeast are battling foreign “mercenaries” recruited by Russia from various countries, vowing to “respond”.

The Ukrainian president visited front-line troops in the Kharkiv region on Monday, hearing reports from his “warriors” that fighters from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries were on board with Russia.

Russia is already known to have been assisted by thousands of North Korean troops in the defence of its Kursk region, and Ukraine had already accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese fighters – a charge denied by Beijing.

At the time of reporting, there was no comment from the additional countries accused by Zelenskyy of joining Russia’s war effort.

Reporting from Kyiv, Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford said there was no way of verifying Zelenskyy’s claims.

Conversely, he added, “lots of foreign fighters” had also volunteered to fight for Ukraine and were still on the front lines.

Zelenskyy had met front-line fighters with Ukraine’s 17th Separate Motorised Infantry Battalion of the 57th Brigade near the front-line town of Vovchansk.

He said in a post in X that he had held discussions with commanders on “the frontline situation, the defence of Vovchansk, and the dynamics of the battles”, and was also looking at “drone supply and deployment, recruitment, and direct funding for the brigades”.

As Ukraine battled to repel Russian forces in the Kharkiv region, its troops were also engaged in “ongoing heavy fighting” around the town of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region, said Stratford.

As fighting has continued, Russian and Ukrainian officials have held several meetings in recent months in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The latest meeting secured an agreement to exchange 1,200 prisoners, Zelenskyy announced on Sunday.

That day, United States President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff would fly to Russia to continue talks on the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Russian state news agency TASS cited sources saying the visit would take place on Wednesday.

Trump has threatened to impose “very severe tariffs” on Russia if it fails to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine soon, recently shortening his initial deadline of 50 days to within 10-12 days.

President Donald Trump’s administration has unveiled a range of new tariffs to take effect in one week on most US trading partners.

Nearly 70 countries face Trump’s import duties that were due to come into force on August 1; most were delayed at the last minute and will begin on August 7.

Trump sees the tariffs as an economic tool of power that will put US exporters in a stronger position, by keeping out imports and encouraging domestic manufacturing.

While the situation remains dynamic, different levies will be imposed on countries, ranging from 15 percent on Japan and the European Union to 39 percent on Switzerland.

Here’s how countries and markets have reacted to the news:

China

China has warned that US protectionism “harms the interests of all parties”.

“The Chinese side’s opposition to tariffs has been consistent and clear,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.

“There is no winner in a tariff war or trade war,” he added.

With no permanent deal in place, Beijing and Washington are negotiating a deal over tariffs. A 30 percent combined tariff will, however, be applied, following an agreed pause until August 12. That followed an earlier escalation to a 145 percent tariff on imports.

Taiwan

Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te has called its 20 percent tariff announced by Trump “temporary … with the possibility of further reductions should an agreement be reached”.

The US president had threatened to hit the island with a 32 percent tax and possible duties on its huge semiconductor shipments.

Japan

A tariff of 15 percent agreed last week between Japan and Washington – down from a threatened 25 percent – is due to be applied from August 7.

“We continue to urge the US to take prompt measures to implement the agreement, including lowering tariffs on automobile and auto parts,” Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Friday.

The Bank of Japan (BOJ), however, warned that profits of Japanese firms are likely to fall this year because of US tariffs, leading them to downgrade capital expenditure plans.

Automakers have swallowed the rising costs from the tariffs instead of passing them on to US consumers, as seen in a fall of roughly 20 percent in export prices since April, the BOJ said in a full version of its quarterly outlook report.

“This suggests Japanese automakers are averting price hikes that may lead to falling sales volume, at the cost of seeing profitability worsen,” the BOJ added.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Trade Ministry has said its rate, down from a threatened 25 percent, was a positive outcome without compromising on what it called “red line” items.

Thailand

Thailand’s finance minister said the reduction from 36 to 19 percent in tariffs, would help his country’s struggling economy face global challenges ahead.

“It helps maintain Thailand’s competitiveness on the global stage, boosts investor confidence and opens the door to economic growth, increased income and new opportunities,” Pichai Chunhavajira said.

Cambodia

The US on Friday slashed the tariff rate for Cambodia to 19 percent from earlier levies of 36 percent and 49 percent, a major boost for its crucial garments sector, its biggest economic driver and source of about a million manufacturing jobs.

“If the US maintained 49 percent or 36 percent, that industry would collapse, in my opinion,” Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and top trade negotiator Sun Chanthol told the Reuters news agency in an interview.

European Union

The EU’s trade chief, Maros Sefcovic, said the bloc’s exporters now benefit from a “more competitive position” following a framework agreement between the EU and the US, although he added that “the work continues.

“The new US tariffs reflect the first results of the EU-US deal, especially the 15 percent all-inclusive tariff cap,” Sefcovic wrote in a post on social media platform X.

“This reinforces stability for businesses as well as trust in the transatlantic economy,” he added.

Switzerland

Switzerland expressed “great regret” that it was hit with 39 percent – up from the threatened 31 percent – despite its “very constructive position”.

The levy – more than double the EU’s 15 percent – appeared to catch the rich Alpine nation off guard.

Switzerland ranks sixth in terms of direct investment in the US, with pharma giants Roche and Novartis announcing major spending plans in recent months.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka expressed relief that it will face a 20 percent hit – a sharp reduction from the 44 percent originally floated – and expressed hope of a further cut.

“We are happy that our competitiveness in exports to the US has been retained,” Finance Ministry official Harshana Suriyapperuma told reporters.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh negotiated a 20 percent tariff on exports to the US, down from the 37 percent initially proposed by Trump.

Muhammad Yunus, the head of the country’s interim government, called it a “decisive diplomatic victory”.

Pakistan

Pakistan secured a tariff rate of 19 percent with the US on Thursday.

“This deal marks the beginning of a new era of economic collaboration, especially in energy, mines and minerals, IT, cryptocurrency and other sectors,” the Pakistani Finance Ministry said in a statement.

India

Trump on Wednesday said Indian goods would face a 25 percent US tariff starting August 1, slightly below an earlier threatened level.

The country would also face an unspecified “penalty” over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian weapons and energy, Trump said on social media.

In a statement, the Indian government said on Wednesday it was studying the implications of these new tariffs and added New Delhi “attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs”.

South Africa

South Africa will use the weeklong delay in the US’s imposition of 30 percent tariffs to negotiate, to avoid the penalty and save jobs, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.

“Intensive negotiations are now under way,” Ramaphosa told journalists.

“Our task is to negotiate as strongly and as hard as we can with the United States,” he said. “Our objective, really, is to save jobs.”

Canada

Trump said on Thursday that the US would raise tariffs on certain Canadian goods from 25 percent to 35 percent.

He had warned of trade consequences for Canada after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Unlike the new levies hitting dozens of other economies, there is no delay, and these begin on Friday, according to a White House fact sheet.

Carney said his government is “disappointed” by Trump’s decision.

Trump’s order also cited Canada’s failure to “cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs” as well as its “retaliation” against his measures.

Carney outlined Ottawa’s efforts to crack down on fentanyl and to increase border security. “Canada accounts for only 1 percent of US fentanyl imports and has been working intensively to further reduce these volumes,” he said.

Products covered by the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – which covers a wide swath of items – will, however, be exempt from the tariff rate.

Markets

European stocks hit a three-week low as investors worried about the effect of the new US levies on dozens of countries.

Asian shares were also headed for the worst week since April after the tariffs were announced.

Oil prices have, however, changed very little, heading for a weekly gain.

US President Donald Trump set the following rates by region in his executive order on Thursday, titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates”:

Africa

• Algeria 30%
• Angola 15%
• Botswana 15%
• Cameroon 15%
• Chad 15%
• Ivory Coast 15%
• Democratic Republic of the Congo 15%
• Equatorial Guinea 15%
• Ghana 15%
• Guyana 15%
• Lesotho 15%
• Libya 30%
• Madagascar 15%
• Malawi 15%
• Mauritius 15%
• Mozambique 15%
• Namibia 15%
• South Africa 30%
• Tunisia 25%
• Uganda 15%
• Zambia 15%
• Zimbabwe 15%

Asia Pacific

• Bangladesh 20%
• Cambodia 19%
• Fiji 15%
• India 25%
• Indonesia 19%
• Japan 15%
• Laos 40%
• Malaysia 19%
• Myanmar (Burma) 40%
• Nauru 15%
• New Zealand 15%
• Pakistan 19%
• Papua New Guinea 15%
• Philippines 19%
• South Korea 15%
• Sri Lanka 20%
• Taiwan 20%
• Thailand 19%
• Vanuatu 15%
• Vietnam 20%

Europe

• Bosnia and Herzegovina 30%
• European Union: 15% for most goods
• Iceland 15%
• Liechtenstein 15%
• Moldova 25%
• North Macedonia 15%
• Norway 15%
• Serbia 35%
• Switzerland 39%
• United Kingdom 10%

Middle East and Central Asia

• Afghanistan 15%
• Brunei 25%
• Iraq 35%
• Israel 15%
• Jordan 15%
• Kazakhstan 25%
• Syria 41%
• Turkiye 15%

North and South America 

• Bolivia 15%
• Brazil 10%
• Canada 35%
• Costa Rica 15%
• Ecuador 15%
• Falkland Islands 10%
• Nicaragua 18%
• Trinidad and Tobago 15%
• Venezuela 15%

Trump imposed tariffs on dozens of countries in advance of his August 1 deadline to strike trade deals.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reimposing “reciprocal tariffs” ranging from 10 percent to 41 percent on US imports from dozens of countries and foreign locations.

Separately, Trump also signed an executive order late on Thursday that increased tariffs on certain Canadian goods, with the White House accusing Ottawa of failing to “cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs” entering the US.

In a statement on Thursday titled “Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates”, the US listed some 69 trading partners and their respective “adjusted” tariff rates.

US-bound exports from some of Washington’s major trading partners – including Australia and the UK – will be subject to the baseline rate of 10 percent.

Other major trading partners – including India at 25 percent and Taiwan at 20 percent – have had higher rates imposed as slow-moving trade deal negotiations continue.

Trump cited the “continued lack of reciprocity in our bilateral trade relationships” in a statement on the White House website announcing the reimposition of the tariffs.

“I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to deal with the national emergency declared in Executive Order 14257 by imposing additional ad valorem duties on goods of certain trading partners,” he said.

The White House also published a fact sheet on the increase in Canada’s tariff rate. In the release, Trump lamented “Canada’s continued inaction and retaliation” on addressing the “flow of illicit drugs” into the US across its northern border.

“President Trump has found it necessary to increase the tariff on Canada from 25% to 35% to effectively address the existing emergency,” the White House said, adding that the new rates go into effect on August 1.

The fact-sheet said goods that qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) would not be subject to tariffs.

Soon after returning to office in January, Trump declared a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), citing a “public health crisis caused by fentanyl and illicit drugs” flowing into the US from Canada.

The US is also set to implement new rules of origin to determine tariff rates on trans-shipped goods in the coming weeks, the Reuters news agency reports, citing an unnamed senior Trump administration official.

Transhipped goods are those moved between vessels at an intermediate destination during transit to their final destination. The technicalities of the rules are being worked out, the official added.

Cameron Mofid has recently completed his mission to visit every UN-recognised country and territory in the world and has now named two surprising countries among his favourites

An intrepid explorer who’s visited every country on Earth by the age of 25 has named two surprising countries among his favourites. Cameron Mofid, who hails from San Diego, California, set out on a mission to visit every UN-recognised country and territory in the world (a total of 195) while he was battling obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) during the pandemic.

In April, the plucky traveller ticked off his final nation when he and his friends visited the hermit kingdom of North Korea. With nearly 200 countries under his belt, picking a favourite may seem like an impossible task.

However, two nations stood out in particular for Cameron, both of which carry some strong warnings from the Foreign Office (FCDO). The first nation that he highlighted was Algeria, a destination he described as “unbelievable”.

He told CNN: “It’s one of my favourite countries in the whole world. The countries that receive the least amount of tourism are often the ones where you have the best experience, because you feel totally immersed in their culture.”

Cameron also expressed his appreciation for the Middle Eastern nation of Yemen, having visited the country in February 2023. He noted that walking through the streets was like “going back in time.”

He added: “To see people dress the same way that they were hundreds if not thousands of years ago. To see people living in mud houses, to see people still using flip phones.”

Algeria is in the north of Africa and is largely encompassed by the Sahara Desert, with the exception of the north, which is situated along the coast and is home to most of the population.

Its rich history includes a number of Arab and Berber dynasties that ruled between the 8th and 15th centuries, prior to its links to the Ottoman Empire and later annexation by France in 1848.

In terms of travel to Algeria, the FCDO has highlighted much of the country in green on its website. It means “see our travel advice before travelling”, but the border areas carry orange and red advisories.

It advises against all travel to within 30km of the country’s borders with Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, and certain provinces of Tunisia. In addition, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel within 30km of the rest of the Tunisian border.

A comparatively new state, Yemen is located in Western Asia on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering both the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, south of Saudi Arabia.

It has experienced a political crisis since 2011. It continues to be in the throes of a brutal civil war that has reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 150,000 people and led to a humanitarian crisis that has seen 23 million people requiring aid.

The Foreign Office’s travel advice for Yemen is resolute. It advises against all travel to Yemen and urges anyone in the country to leave “immediately”, citing “unpredictable security conditions”.

It said terrorist attacks are very likely in Yemen, as well as a “very high and constant threat” of kidnapping, noting that propaganda produced by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has urged the kidnapping of westerners.

Governments have been falling over one another to offer concessions to United States President Donald Trump as his August 1 tariff deadline looms. On Sunday, the US president scored his biggest victory to date, as European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen, like the leader of a vassal state paying homage to an emperor, travelled to Trump’s private golf course in Scotland to offer him tribute.

It came in the form of an entirely one-sided tariff pact in which Brussels accepted a huge tariff hike and pledged to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on US fossil fuels and military products.

The pact has changed the balance between two of the largest economic powers in the world. The EU has simply rolled over without a fight. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou described it as a “dark day” for the union, while a European diplomat bemoaned by saying “those who don’t hang together get hanged separately.”

The economic impact on the rest of the world is likely to be worse still. Trump has declared economic war on friends and foes alike. Many countries are facing higher tariffs than the EU and are less capable of defending themselves. By giving in, Brussels has made it harder for other countries to stand firm.

A 40 percent tariff on Laos or 36 percent on Cambodia, for example, will be devastating to the export industries which US corporations encouraged them to build in recent decades. And without a united front, other countries are reluctantly coming to the table.

Last week, Trump announced a deal with the Philippines for 19 percent tariffs on all goods exported to the US and no tariffs on imported US goods; it was unclear if Manilla had fully agreed to the arrangement before the US president made it public. Indonesia’s deal is even worse, with the country forced to give up controls on its critical mineral exports and aspects of its emerging digital sector – both of which are critical to its economic development. For Brazil, US demands go beyond the economic realm, with Washington going as far as trying to interfere in the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro.

While the provisions of different trade deals vary, they all follow the same strategy: Bullying governments to change their rules and regulations in favour of US corporate interests, especially those of oligarchs who surround the president.

Trump’s trade negotiations style might be highly erratic, but his is a clear-cut end goal: To upend the world economic system, replacing rules which were already unfair with the absolute dominance of the biggest bully.

The immediate impact of this restructuring will be bad for the countries that submit to it, but this won’t be the end of the story. By giving Trump what he wants, they have strengthened his hand, and he will be back for more.

Already, the EU has little clarity around a range of additional tariffs the US president might bring in and how they will affect the “deal” that’s been made. Canada ditched its digital services tax on Big Tech to get a deal, only to be hit by higher tariffs. The Philippines now faces a higher tariff than it did in April, despite making concessions. And the UK thought it had a deal on steel, only to discover it didn’t, really.

There’s no fairness in any of this. The only way out is to stand up to Trump; he does not respect weakness.

As a minimum, for countries that have signed a deal, that means implementing as little as they can. Governments that can retaliate should do so. That does not necessarily mean matching tariff for tariff, a policy which could inflict serious self-harm, but rather using the tools that show their strength best.

The EU has ample power to challenge the US services trade, and should have retaliated by limiting US corporate access to, for example, government contracts, financial markets and intellectual property protection.

In failing to take such action, the EU showed a profound misunderstanding of the moment we’re in. Von der Leyen seems to think Trump is a temporary anomaly who can be contained while we wait for a resumption of business as usual in four years.

But in Europe and the US, the public has had enough of a corporate-dominated global economy. There’s no return to that world. Retaliatory policies like the ones mentioned above can not only maximise the pain directed at Trump’s oligarchic friends, but they can also help unwind the power of the monopolies which are at the heart of our deeply unfair, unsustainable economy.

This last point is important. Because if we want Trump gone, as millions of Americans do, we will not get there by handing him unnecessary victories. Trump won power by building a bridge between those angry at a corporate-dominated economy and the corporate barons themselves. It was an impressive feat. But the alliance will only last as long as he’s winning.

The question now is how governments can best protect their economies long-term, and that must come through regaining sovereignty, not handing it over to the bully in the White House. What’s more, such action can show Trump for the corporate lobbyist he really is and lay a path to his eventual downfall.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.