North America

The World Trade Organization has revised its forecast for global merchandise trade in 2025, expecting a 0. 9% increase. This update was made possible by increased imports to the US, but new tariffs could negatively impact trade in 2026.

In July, global electric vehicle sales grew by only 21%, the lowest figure since January. The reason was the slowdown in the growth rate of the Chinese market, while Europe and other regions showed significant growth.

The Chinese government has called on NATO to correct its “misconception” of the Asian giant. Earlier, NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that China is reorganizing and building up its military power. NATO sees what China, North Korea, and Iran are doing, emphasized the NATO Secretary General.

The number of drug users in the world reached 316 million in 2023, according to a UN report; this growth is causing additional violence and mortality worldwide. The cocaine market is showing the fastest growth: production reached 3,708 tons in 2023, an increase of one-third.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the Alliance faces challenges due to Russia's aggressive rearmament, supported by Chinese technology. NATO is strengthening its production capabilities, opening hundreds of new production lines to increase the output of military equipment.

Re:start rehabilitation spaces from Favbet Foundation have started operating in Lviv and Vinnytsia region. The program uses play areas with VR for the physical and psychological rehabilitation of military personnel.

Cosmetic brand e. l.f. will acquire Rhode, Hailey Bieber's skincare brand, for $1 billion. Bieber will become the chief creative officer, and Rhode plans to launch at Sephora.

A fatal case of tropical malaria has been recorded in the Sumy region in a man who recently returned from a trip to Tanzania. The last cases of malaria in the region were recorded in 2019.

In Geneva, a rare 10. 3-carat blue diamond was sold at auction for $21.5 million. It was purchased by a private collector from the United States, whose name has not been disclosed.

On April 21, Wet Monday is celebrated with the traditional dousing with water, as well as International Cannabis Day. This date highlights the potential of cannabis and the progress in its legalization.

According to Copernicus, March 2025 was the warmest in Europe since 1940, with average temperatures exceeding the norm by 2. 41°C. Arctic sea ice reached a record low.

The partial solar eclipse will be visible from eastern North America, Greenland, most of Europe and parts of northwestern Africa. In London, the eclipse will begin at 12:07 Kyiv time.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico. She suggested calling all of North America “Mexican America,” referring to a map from 1607.

The movie “Mufasa: The Lion King” grossed $168. 7 million in three weeks of release. The animal musical by Barry Jenkins is among the top 15 highest-grossing releases of 2024 in North America.

The study found that people who drink more than 4 cups of coffee daily have a 17% lower risk of head and neck cancer. Tea consumption also affects risk, but the results are less clear.

How communities in Kyiv region support economic development.

According to the WWF, the number of wild animals in the world has decreased by 73% since 1970 due to human impact. Freshwater species have suffered the most, with habitat loss and overexploitation being the main threats.

More than 370 million girls and women worldwide have been raped or sexually assaulted before the age of 18. Between 240 and 310 million boys have also been sexually abused as children.

President Zelenskyy invited China and Brazil to the second Peace Summit during a speech at the UN Security Council. He emphasized the importance of all countries participating in the process of achieving a just and lasting peace.

Armadillos are native to South America. It is believed that these animals lived in the time of dinosaurs, their ancestors were glyptodonts. Armadillos are the only mammals on the planet whose body is completely covered with a hard shell.

Today, July 27, medical professionals in Ukraine celebrate their professional holiday. Until 2023, according to the Soviet tradition, the Day of the Doctor in Ukraine was celebrated on the third Sunday of June. Last year, the celebration date was moved to July 27.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has expanded access to consular services abroad by providing 24 institutions in 20 countries with access to the State Register of Civil Status Acts, which will allow Ukrainians to obtain repeat certificates and extracts from the register.

Pixar's animated film Inside Out 2 has grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office.

Last year, China's per capita energy consumption exceeded that of Europe for the first time, driven by the expansion of data centers, 5G infrastructure and electric vehicle charging, as well as factories operating at full capacity to meet demand abroad.

Everything that will be agreed upon at the Peace Summit will become part of the peacekeeping process, Zelensky said.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, having arrived at the Peace Summit, met with Swiss President Viola Amherd and expressed his belief that everything agreed upon at the Summit, where all parts of the world, all continents, and different nations are represented, today will become part of the peacekeeping process.

The Global Peace Summit has begun with the participation of representatives of 100 countries and organizations from all continents, which aims to find a just peace based on international law and the UN Charter.

Social media users harshly criticized the idea of the head of the Rada's tax committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, to raffle off mobilization reservations, comparing it to the movie The Hunger Games, where children are forced to fight for their lives.

FIFA could allow national championship matches to be played abroad, and create a working group to study the possibility of hosting matches of leagues such as La Liga and the Premier League in lucrative regions such as North America and Asia.

April 2024 was the warmest April on record in the world: the temperature was 0. 67°C above the 1991-2020 average and 0.14°C above the previous record set in 2016. At the same time, this was accompanied by extreme weather events around the world.