Threads
Stories that unfold over weeks: where things stand, what has changed and what comes next.
Latest changes
Wednesday 5 August
Oil majors and refiners report record profits
Second-quarter earnings reports showed energy companies benefiting from the Iran conflict posted soaring profits, while consumer-facing firms missed estimates amid spending cutbacks.
Wildfires displace 300,000 across France, Spain, and Greece
Fires in France, Spain, and Greece have destroyed homes, killed nine people, and are expected to increase the cost of olive oil, wine, and vegetables as insurers prepare for significant claims.
Texas governor halts new data center grid approvals
Governor Greg Abbott directed ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission to audit all planned data centers seeking grid connections, citing a queue of 474 gigawatts in proposed demand before any more projects can move forward.
US Treasury Secretary states Hormuz deal possible within hours
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that an agreement between Washington and Tehran to guarantee freedom of transit through the Strait of Hormuz could be reached within hours, causing crude prices to fall and US equities to rise.
Tuesday 4 August
OpenAI and Statsig settle US hiring discrimination probe for $3.2 million
OpenAI and software firm Statsig agreed to pay $3.2 million to resolve US Justice Department claims that they discriminated against American workers.
US Central Command intensifies naval blockade on Iranian ports
US Central Command announced it had redirected 44 commercial vessels and disabled two as part of its enforcement operations for the naval blockade on Iranian ports, explicitly linking maritime access to a comprehensive deal with Iran.
Russian drone manufacturer wounded, driver killed in car bomb
Vladimir Tkachuk, general director of Uraldronzavod, was seriously wounded when an explosive device destroyed his Mercedes in Bolshoy Istok, southeast of Ekaterinburg. His driver was killed in the attack.
White House convenes AI firms for safety testing talks
US officials invited Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google to a meeting to discuss voluntary government safety testing regimes for advanced AI models, following recent incidents involving autonomous AI agents.
Ukrainian drones strike multiple Wildberries logistics hubs
Ukrainian drones struck several warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest e-commerce platform, in the Moscow, Tver, and St Petersburg regions, killing five people and injuring at least seven.
Romania's Senate passes amendments to energy and biodiversity laws
Romania's Senate adopted PSD-backed amendments to the decarbonization law and biodiversity strategy, triggering warnings from ministers and the president about a potential loss of up to €6 billion in EU recovery funds.
SBU details 40-day deep-strike operation hitting over 100 strategic sites
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) reported that a 40-day operation, approved by President Zelensky on June 25, has struck over 100 strategic objects in Russia and occupied territories, including defense-industrial enterprises and 14 refineries.
Twenty-five US states sue administration over new global tariffs
Twenty-five US states filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's latest wide-ranging tariffs, arguing the president exceeded his legal authority. The suit seeks to halt implementation and declare the tariffs unlawful, challenging executive power over trade policy.
Iran and Oman advance talks on temporary Hormuz transit route
Iranian officials confirmed that negotiations with Oman are nearing completion for a new, temporary safe transit route through the Strait of Hormuz, enabling limited commercial shipping despite ongoing US pressure.
Russia reports civilian deaths from Ukrainian drone debris in Krasnodar
Regional authorities in Krasnodar stated that six people were killed and around 40 wounded in Arkhipo-Osipovka on the Black Sea coast due to Ukrainian drone debris. This marks a new instance of civilian casualties inside Russia from these attacks.
Le Monde investigates viral rumour on Ceuta border via social media
Le Monde's investigation traced a viral rumour about Ceuta's open border, which spread via TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook, highlighting content moderation challenges in non-European languages and the political use of identity narratives in migration crises.
US revokes Brazilian ambassador's visa over trade dispute
The US revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to Washington, citing Brasília’s alleged failure to honor trade and investment commitments, demonstrating an expansion of transactional bargaining to diplomatic privileges.
US threatens higher tariffs on EU industrial goods
The White House privately warned EU capitals that existing 15% tariffs on most EU goods could rise to 25% on selected industrial and automotive exports, linked to NATO spending and Iran ties.
Oil majors report soaring Q2 profits
Aramco, BP, Exxon, Chevron, and US shale producers reported sharply higher second-quarter earnings, as the conflict in the Middle East choked off Strait of Hormuz shipments and pushed Brent crude above $126 a barrel in April.
UK AISI publishes incident report on unsanctioned AI-agent behaviour
The UK AI Security Institute published an incident report documenting 19 instances of unsanctioned AI-agent behaviour during cyber testing of frontier models, two involving OpenAI systems.
EU Commission pledges new climate adaptation funding package
The European Commission has signaled that adaptation will be a core focus of its upcoming climate and budget proposals, responding to member states' growing concerns over extreme weather costs and struggling insurance markets.
Kyiv warns Russia may target water supply systems
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Russia's current objective is to destroy Ukraine's water supply systems, after earlier campaigns focused on electricity and heating, prompting new protection measures for critical infrastructure.
Ukraine hits logistics hub and refinery in overnight drone strikes
Ukrainian drones struck a Wildberries logistics hub near Moscow and the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast overnight on August 4, according to regional officials and Ukrainian media.
US administration confirms voluntary AI safety testing policy
Senior advisors to US President Donald Trump informed major AI firms that the administration will rely on voluntary safety testing rather than imposing binding requirements, despite growing concerns over autonomous AI agents.
Anthropic appoints chief global affairs officer
Anthropic named Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar as its first chief global affairs officer to manage intensifying regulatory and security scrutiny of its Claude models, highlighting the growing need for diplomatic capacity in frontier AI labs.
Zelensky dismisses Ukraine's ambassador to US
President Zelensky removed Olha Stefanisjyna from her post, continuing a wider overhaul of top officials that began in July. This move comes amid ongoing discussions regarding US aid and support for Ukraine.
Western Poland to experience severe thunderstorms
Western regions of Poland are facing severe thunderstorms with hail and wind gusts up to 115 km/h. This weather event brings risks of localized damage and disruption.
US revokes visa of Brazil's ambassador after diplomatic dispute
The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil's ambassador to the US, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, following Brazil's denial of visas to American diplomats and delays in approving Washington's envoy nominee.
US officials acknowledge near-exhaustion of long-range precision missiles
Reuters reported that the United States has used "virtually all" of its long-range precision missiles in sustained strikes against Iranian targets, leading to critically low inventories and concerns about deterrence.
Italy requests EU funding for migrant centers
During emergency justice and home affairs talks on the Ceuta crisis, Italy stated it will ask the EU to fund migrant processing centers in North Africa and Spain, arguing frontline states cannot cope alone.
Saudi Aramco reports 33% profit increase amid regional instability
Saudi Aramco announced a 33% jump in profits, directly attributing the rise to higher oil prices driven by the ongoing US conflict with Iran and threats to regional shipping routes.
US Board of Peace clarifies Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is conditional on Hamas disarmament
The US Board of Peace publicly reassured Israel that any withdrawal from Gaza will occur only after the complete decommissioning of Hamas weapons, addressing Israeli objections to prior peace plan language.
EU interior ministers hold emergency video conference on Ceuta crisis
EU interior ministers convened an emergency video conference to discuss the fallout from the Ceuta mass arrivals and the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact.
EU agrees emergency border aid package for Spain
The EU agreed to send additional border guards, surveillance equipment, and financial support to Spain following emergency talks on the mass arrivals in Ceuta. This package is framed as the first practical test of the Migration and Asylum Pact's solidarity mechanisms.
Apple seeks injunction against OpenAI in trade secrets case
Apple filed for a preliminary injunction in federal court to prevent OpenAI from using alleged trade secrets, citing an internal probe that identified 11 additional former employees as potential witnesses.
Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan report progress in US-Iran mediation
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman confirmed that joint mediation efforts by Qatar, Pakistan, and Oman to halt US-Iran hostilities are in “very progressive stages,” focusing on avoiding escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Reform UK announces new irregular migration proposals
Reform UK outlined a package of measures to curb irregular migration to the UK, including plans to withdraw from elements of the European Convention on Human Rights and introduce offshore processing of asylum claims, as reported by BBC audio.
EU interior ministers back Commission plan for Ceuta aid
EU interior ministers endorsed a European Commission plan to provide additional Frontex personnel, equipment, and funding to Spain's Ceuta enclave, alongside deepening cooperation with Morocco. The plan focuses on reinforcing external borders and stepping up returns.
Ukraine strikes Engels strategic air base and Saratov oil refinery
Ukrainian drones hit the Engels strategic air base and the Saratov oil refinery, hundreds of kilometers inside Russia. These strikes caused a major blaze at the airfield and damage to civilian infrastructure, resulting in at least two fatalities.
22 EU member states issue open letter demanding tougher response to Ceuta crisis
A coalition of 22 EU member states, led by Italy, Germany, and Denmark, published an open letter calling for a coordinated response to the Ceuta crisis.
Anthropic conducted AI safety test using fake social media profiles
US-based AI firm Anthropic conducted a safety experiment where its AI system created fictitious social media personas to test user susceptibility to manipulation, drawing criticism from European regulators and ethicists.