Threads
Stories that unfold over weeks: where things stand, what has changed and what comes next.
Latest changes
Thursday 13 August
Poland arrests Russian agent in plot to kill US-Ukrainian citizen in Warsaw
Polish authorities arrested a Russian citizen on August 7 who was recruited by Russian intelligence to assassinate a US-Ukrainian dual citizen in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced on August 13. Tusk called it the first such plot ordered by Russia against a US citizen on NATO territory.
Italian Eurofighter shot down drone in Latvian airspace
NATO fighter jets, including Italian Eurofighters, intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone in Latvian airspace. This occurred amid increased drone incursions in Baltic states, linking to the Russia-Ukraine war's long-range operations and highlighting spillover risks.
Ukrainian drones hit Gazprom Neftkhim Salavat refining complex in Bashkortostan
Drones struck the Gazprom Neftkhim Salavat refining complex in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, causing a large fire at one of the country’s major oil-processing sites. This strike is part of an escalating campaign against Russian fuel infrastructure.
Zelensky asks US to sell 5% of Patriot missile stockpile
Ukraine's President Zelensky asked Washington to sell 5% of its Patriot interceptor stockpile, stating the supply would help Kyiv survive the winter as Russian ballistic missile attacks intensify and Ukrainian air defenses run critically low.
Polish President signs Personal Investment Accounts law
President Karol Nawrocki signed legislation establishing Personal Investment Accounts (OKI), providing tax exemptions for zloty investment assets up to PLN 100,000 and savings assets up to PLN 25,000, effective January 1, 2027.
Eurovision tightens hosting rules for conflict-affected countries
The European Broadcasting Union announced new rules making broadcasters from countries with armed conflict or sensitive geopolitical situations ineligible to host the Eurovision Song Contest.
Poland's PM Tusk revives CPN fuel price program with VAT cut
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a temporary reduction of VAT on fuels from 23% to 8% for the period of August 17 to 31. This measure is expected to lower pump prices by approximately 0.90 to over 1 złoty per liter during the final two weeks of summer holidays.
Poland's GDP grows 3.8% in Q2
Poland's economy expanded by 3.8% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, accelerating from 3.5% in Q1. This growth, driven by increased investment activity, outpaced the overall EU average despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.
Russian drones strike Danube port city of Izmail
Russian drones hit the Danube port city of Izmail, causing fires and damage to port facilities. This attack aligns with Moscow's pattern of targeting warehouses, transport hubs, and logistics infrastructure to pressure Ukraine’s economy.
UN warns Yemen faces highest risk of renewed major war
The UN warned that Yemen faces its most serious threat of renewed large-scale conflict since the 2022 truce, with over half the population in acute food insecurity. This comes as Red Sea and Gulf shipping disruptions continue.
Trump imposes tariffs on imported drones, citing national security
President Trump signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and components, with lower rates for allied countries including the EU. The measure, justified on national security grounds, takes effect on September 3, 2026.
Swedish union IF Metall ends Tesla strike after buyout
Sweden's metalworkers' union IF Metall announced it was ending its three-year labor dispute with Tesla after the carmaker paid all remaining striking union members to leave the company, concluding the longest such conflict in modern Swedish history.
Taiwan conducts anti-blockade naval drill during war games
Taiwan's navy conducted an anti-blockade drill as part of its annual Han Kuang military exercises. The drill rehearsed scenarios to secure maritime supply lines in the event of a conflict, reflecting heightened regional tensions.
US imposes 100% tariffs on imported drones from China
President Trump signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and their components from China, citing national security concerns. These duties will become effective on September 3, 2026.
Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against Temu
A London High Court judge dismissed Shein's copyright infringement claims against Temu, ruling Shein did not own the rights to key photographs when it demanded their removal. Temu's counterclaim for damages over wrongfully issued takedown notices also succeeded.
Colombia authorizes joint US military operations against drug cartels
Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, authorized joint military operations against narco-terrorism and joined a US-led anti-cartel coalition five days after taking office. This decision was announced by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
US cannot verify Israeli claims of Iran plot to assassinate Trump
Washington stated that US intelligence officials could not independently confirm Israeli warnings that Iran intended to assassinate Donald Trump. This highlights continuing mistrust regarding Iran-related threat claims.
Italy confirms Schengen checks on Spain will continue
Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated that Schengen checks on Spain will remain in place until at least August 15, citing security risks. This decision prolongs the unilateral suspension of free movement, deepening the dispute with other EU members.
Ifo survey finds German firms expect junior wage cuts
An Ifo survey of over 3,000 German firms using AI found nearly half anticipate lower wages for junior workers within five years, with service and retail sectors expressing the most pessimism regarding this trend.
Ukrainian drones overwhelm US armored brigade in exercise
Ukrainian drone operators from the 412th Nemesis Regiment repeatedly neutralized a 3,500-strong US armored brigade during the Combined Resolve 26-07 exercise in Germany, forcing controllers to 'revive' destroyed units to continue training.
Ukraine struck Gazprom’s Salavat refinery and Wildberries logistics site
Ukrainian drones caused a fire at the Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat complex, a major Russian refining and petrochemical plant, and another blaze at a Wildberries logistics facility in Bashkortostan.
Meta deactivates 756,000 Australian accounts for suspected underage users
Meta has deactivated 756,000 accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16, as the world's first social media ban for minors faces scrutiny over its effectiveness and doubled penalties.
Richmond Fed reports AI impacts job-finding rates
The Richmond Federal Reserve stated that workers in occupations highly exposed to AI have experienced larger declines in job-finding rates, with the steepest drop among strongly attached workers, indicating a shift in hiring dynamics.
Trump imposes new tariffs on imported drones and components
President Trump signed a proclamation imposing tariffs of up to 100% on imported drones and their components, citing national security concerns and US reliance on foreign suppliers. Most tariffs will take effect on September 3.
US labor data shows no AI-driven spike in layoffs
Weekly jobless claims rose modestly to 209,000, and continuing claims fell, indicating the labor market remains stable without clear signs of widespread AI-driven job losses. AI's impact is primarily seen in hiring standards.
US inflation cools to 3.4% in July
US consumer prices rose 0.1% in July, bringing annual inflation to 3.4%, down from 3.5% in June. This cooling was primarily due to retreating gasoline prices, though fuel costs remain at a record seasonal high.
Wednesday 12 August
Trump administration plans $927 million White House construction bypassing Congress
The Trump administration has redirected $875 million from federal agencies and private donors into a White House maintenance account to fund construction projects, which a federal court states require Congressional approval.
US budget deficit reaches $432 billion in July
The US Treasury reported a $432 billion budget deficit for July, marking a record for the month, as tariff revenues weakened and overall government outlays remained high. This brings the fiscal-year-to-date deficit to $1.799 trillion.
Anthropic adds invisible watermarks to Claude text output worldwide
Anthropic began embedding invisible statistical watermarks in text generated by its Claude models globally, and attaching C2PA metadata to image files, to comply with Article 50 of the EU AI Act.
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji dies
Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji, who oversaw China's market reforms and entry into the WTO, died in Beijing at age 97 or 98.
Estonia rolls out EU AI transparency and deepfake labeling obligations
Estonia began implementing the new EU obligations requiring users to be informed when interacting with AI and mandating labels for deepfakes, with fines for violations. This move aligns with the broader EU AI Act.
French ecology minister estimates heatwave costs at €10-15 billion
French ecology minister Monique Barbut estimated the cost of this summer's heatwaves at €10-15 billion during a crisis meeting. Water cuts are affecting 40,000 people, and 80 departments are on orange alert.
Iran maintains Strait of Hormuz closure until US meets demands
Iranian officials reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US accepts Tehran's terms, indicating counterpressure against Washington's blockade and sanctions strategy.
Russia's Orsk refinery halts operations after drone strike
Russia's Orsknefteorgsintez refinery ceased processing after a fire following an August 11 Ukrainian drone strike, with industry sources indicating damage to refining units. This adds pressure on Russian fuel supplies.
FCC drafts ban on Chinese data-center component imports
The US Federal Communications Commission is drafting a ban on imports of new models of Chinese data-center components. This action would extend Washington’s supply-chain de-risking efforts into upstream telecom and AI infrastructure.
Ukraine's acting defense minister outlines new strike strategy
Yevhen Khmara, Ukraine's acting defense minister, stated that long-range strikes will increasingly target military capabilities, naval assets, logistics, fuel, energy, and industrial sites supporting Russia's invasion, aiming to dismantle defense capacity.
Russia launches 138 drones in overnight mass strike across Ukraine
Russia launched 138 long-range attack drones and an unspecified number of missiles against Ukraine overnight.
Trump sued over Truth Social feed charging up to $100,000 monthly for early access
The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation sued President Donald Trump in New York federal court over Truth API, a paid feed launched August 1 that charges up to $100,000 a month for early access to his Truth Social posts.
Trump asserts US Navy controls Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Iran talks
President Trump stated the US Navy has full control of the Strait of Hormuz and that the situation with Iran is "going very well," reinforcing military pressure accompanying negotiations.
EU packaging rules begin applying
The EU's new packaging rules, including limits on PFAS in food-contact packaging and phased-in recyclability, recycled-content, and labelling requirements, officially began applying today. This marks a step in the implementation of the bloc's circular economy objectives.