Bloomberg L.P.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that tariffs on imports from other countries are likely to decrease if trade imbalances improve. The main goal of applying tariffs is to restore balance to the US current account deficit, which stands at $1.18 trillion.

European leaders want to talk to Donald Trump before August 15, when he meets with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. This comes amid tense diplomatic negotiations and the convening of an urgent meeting of EU foreign ministers.

President Trump plans to appoint David Rosner, a Democrat, as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This move will place a Democrat at the head of an agency that makes key decisions regarding gas exports and power grids.

China justifies Russian oil imports, citing the right to economic and energy cooperation with all countries. This comes amid Donald Trump's statements about possible additional tariffs for China.

A potential end to the war in Ukraine could solidify the Kremlin's control over part of the occupied territories. This sets the stage for a potential meeting between Trump and Putin, while Ukraine's European allies express concern.

The new Polish President, Karol Nawrocki, proposed to update the project for building one of Europe's largest airports, rejecting the government's proposals to scale down the project. He seeks to restore high-speed rail connections to a number of smaller Polish cities.

Swiss politicians are considering canceling the order for F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp after the US introduced 39% tariffs. The deal, worth up to $9.1 billion, became controversial due to "misunderstandings" regarding the price and the tariff shock.

Ukraine's dollar bonds continued to rise after the confirmation of a meeting between Russian and US leaders. This fueled speculation about a possible truce between Moscow and Kyiv.

The US-sanctioned tanker Contract II, currently at a scrapyard in India, is being sold under unusual payment terms and with the seller's identity concealed. This indicates increasing pressure on "dark fleet" vessels amid tightening sanctions.

The US is doubling tariffs on Indian goods as punishment for purchases of Russian oil. This creates a dilemma for India, which has long-standing relations with Moscow.

New tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump have come into force, raising the average US tariff rate to 15. 2%. This is the highest figure since World War II, posing a new challenge for the global economy.

Italy has approved the construction of a 13 billion euro bridge across the Strait of Messina after half a century of discussions. The project will connect the mainland with Sicily and is part of Giorgia Meloni's government plan to strengthen infrastructure for NATO commitments.

Russia is considering a limited air truce with Ukraine. This could be a concession to US President Donald Trump to avoid sanctions.

In July, revenues from oil sales to the Russian state budget decreased by 33% compared to last year. This happened due to the fall in world oil prices and the strengthening of the national currency.

India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Russia for annual consultations. This comes amid growing tensions in India-US relations and Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

On August 5, an earthquake of magnitude 5. 6 occurred in Iran, with its epicenter located 125 kilometers southeast of the city of Bam. No reports of casualties or destruction have been received.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the country to buy local goods in response to US threats to impose tariffs. The Modi administration has not instructed Indian refineries to stop buying Russian oil, considering it a commercial decision.

India has not obliged refineries to stop buying Russian oil, despite criticism from Donald Trump. The purchase of crude oil remains a commercial decision for the refineries.

New Zealand is introducing a fee of up to 40 New Zealand dollars for foreign tourists to visit popular sites. This is expected to generate 62 million New Zealand dollars annually, which will be invested in these facilities.

Ukraine plans to resume the implementation of the EU reform program to receive the full amount of financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility program. Minister of Economy Oleksiy Sobolev said that changes to the program are being prepared and should be approved by the European Commission by the end of September.

The number of Russian hybrid attacks in Europe significantly decreased in 2025 compared to 2024. One of the reasons is the recruitment of incompetent perpetrators among petty criminals.

Indian officials have stated their intention to continue purchasing Russian oil, despite threats of sanctions from US President Donald Trump. India and Russia have a stable and time-tested partnership.

The King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, will make his first state visit to Russia from August 5 to 10 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit will strengthen ties and expand cooperation in trade, education, and technology.

Slovenia has banned the import, export, and transit of weapons to and from Israel, becoming the first EU country to introduce such restrictions. This decision has symbolic significance due to the almost zero volume of arms trade between the countries.

At least four tankers with Russian oil are idling off the coast of India. Indian refineries are refusing Russian oil due to reduced discounts and warnings from the US President.

Global stocks continued their decline for the sixth consecutive day, the longest losing streak since September 2023. The reason was new tariffs announced by Donald Trump, which outweighed the optimism from tech giants' reports.

Airbnb is considering a loyalty program that will reward customers not only with points, but also with experiences and services. The company has updated its range of tours and travel services, adding the hiring of chefs and masseurs.

US President Donald Trump has maintained a basic tariff rate of 10% for countries with a positive trade balance. For 40 countries with a trade deficit with the US, a minimum tariff of 15% has been set, and for Canada, the tariff has increased to 35%.

Microsoft analysts found that the Russian cyber-espionage group Turla (Secret Blizzard) is attacking foreign embassies in Moscow, using local internet providers. The hackers disguise malware as Kaspersky antivirus.

Defense ministers of the Baltic states did not receive guarantees from the US regarding maintaining the number of American troops on NATO's eastern flank. The US promises to discuss a possible troop withdrawal with allies.