Drone incident ‘represents alarming signal of spillover of Russia’s aggression … onto Nato territory,’ Lithuanian minister says
Lithuania’s international minister Kęstutis Budrys mentioned a bit extra in regards to the incident on his social media channels:
“Final Monday, a Russian navy drone violated Lithuanian airspace. This marks the second such incident in lower than a month. Related airspace violations have additionally been reported not too long ago by different Allies.
These repeated incidents characterize an alarming signal of the spillover of Russia’s aggression in opposition to Ukraine onto Nato territory.
We can’t compromise the safety of our nation and residents, nor the integrity of Nato airspace. We should stay vigilant, because the risk is actual and rising.
Immediately, with @DSakaliene, we issued a joint letter to @SecGenNATO calling for instant measures to reinforce air defence capabilities in #Lithuania & speed up the total implementation of the rotational air defence mannequin.
Air defence is significant to Allied safety. Securing Nato’s Japanese Flank should stay a prime precedence for the Alliance.”
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Up to date at 11.36 EDT
Key occasions
3m in the past
UN plastic air pollution talks should lead to bold treaty, main professional says
6m in the past
Swiss president, financial system minister journey to Washington to avert punishing US tariffs
16m in the past
Trump doubles down on claims he can do ‘something’ with EU funding
23m in the past
Drone incident ‘represents alarming signal of spillover of Russia’s aggression … onto Nato territory,’ Lithuanian minister says
38m in the past
‘Disoriented’ drone crossing into Lithuania from Belarus was carrying explosives, authorities say
1h in the past
Zelenskyy speaks to Trump on sanctions in opposition to Russia, take care of US on drones in ‘productive’ telephone name
2h in the past
Zelenskyy thanks Nordic nations for €430m navy assist package deal
2h in the past
EU’s $600bn funding promise is extra of an intention, not a ‘present’ – snap evaluation
3h in the past
Trump says EU might face 35% tariffs if it fails to satisfy $600bn funding guarantees, threatens with pharma tariffs
3h in the past
‘If power goes down, Putin goes to cease killing folks,’ Trump says, as he doubles down on risk to boost tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil
4h in the past
Nato’s Rutte welcomes first monetary packages to assist with deliveries for Ukraine
4h in the past
Norway, Sweden and Denmark to finance €430m navy package deal for Ukraine
5h in the past
India rejects US, EU’s ‘unjustified’ criticism for buying and selling with Russia
5h in the past
EU says ‘shocked’ by German finance minister’s criticism of EU-US commerce deal
5h in the past
EU ‘welcomes US stress’ on Russia to finish struggle ‘by means of any means obligatory’
6h in the past
‘Insufferable’ state of affairs in Gaza makes EU push for extra assist, with ‘nonetheless lot to be finished’
6h in the past
Ukraine sees Indian elements utilized in Russian drones, senior Zelenskyy aide reveals
6h in the past
Kremlin decries Trump’s ‘unlawful’ risk to boost tariffs on India for Russian oil purchases
6h in the past
EU ‘not celebrating’ new ‘second greatest’ US tariff regime as particulars on wines, spirits, vehicles and pharma emerge
8h in the past
The Netherlands to purchase €500m-worth of US weapons for Ukraine
8h in the past
Diageo warns of expensive impression of US tariffs
8h in the past
Morning opening: Improve the stress on Russia, says Ukraine
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UN plastic air pollution talks should lead to bold treaty, main professional says
Sandra Laville
Talking of Geneva:
Delegates on the UN plastic air pollution treaty talks in Geneva should safe an bold international settlement to allow them to look future generations within the eye, one of many world’s main marine litter consultants has mentioned.
Activists maintain banners throughout an indication forward of the resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. {Photograph}: James Wakibia/SOPA Pictures/Shutterstock
Prof Richard Thompson, who was named one in all Time’s 100 most influential folks this yr for his groundbreaking work on plastic air pollution, mentioned decisive motion was wanted to guard human well being and the planet.
He spoke as delegates from greater than 170 nations ready to satisfy in Geneva to bridge what have change into deep divisions over whether or not limits on plastic manufacturing are included in a closing treaty.
Since 2022, when the UN first secured an settlement from 173 nations to develop a legally binding treaty to chop plastic air pollution, 5 separate negotiations have didn’t safe a closing textual content to signal.
The preliminary settlement was for a treaty to handle the entire life cycle of plastics. However rising numbers of plastics trade lobbyists have attended every spherical of talks to push again in opposition to manufacturing cuts.
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Swiss president, financial system minister journey to Washington to avert punishing US tariffs
Lisa O’Carroll
The president of Switzerland is travelling to Washington to attempt to avert a punishing 39% tariff price on all exports together with pharma and luxurious watches exported to the US.
Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter talks to the media after a information convention in Geneva in Might. {Photograph}: Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Karin Keller-Sutter and financial system minister Man Parmelin had been heading to Washington “to facilitate conferences with the US authorities at brief discover and maintain talks with a view to enhancing the tariff state of affairs for Switzerland,” the federal government mentioned in a press release.
The 39% tariff introduced by Trump final Friday blindsided the federal government and led trade associations to warn of job losses.
The Swiss authorities famous that the nation shall be hit by a lot larger tariffs than what different rich economies, reminiscent of Britain, Japan or the European Union, are dealing with.
Switzerland counts the US as its prime export marketplace for prescribed drugs, watches, equipment and sweets with bilateral commerce quadrupling up to now 20 years.
However it nonetheless has a $48bn commerce deficit with the US, one thing that has irritated Trump to such a level that he took a private swipe at Keller-Sutter on Tuesday.
He advised CNBC that “the lady was good however she didn’t need to pay attention” once they spoke final Thursday.
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Trump doubles down on claims he can do ‘something’ with EU funding
Lisa O’Carroll
Donald Trump’s White Home is doubling down on claims that he can do “something” he likes with the $600m (£451m) of investments pledged by the EU as a part of the tariff deal Brussels struck at his Scottish golf course 9 days in the past.
US president Donald J. Trump responds to a query from the information media as he excursions the roof on the White Home in Washington DC, USA. {Photograph}: Samuel Corum/EPA
A White Home press launch hailing the highest 10 take outs from Trump’s interview immediately on CNBC begins along with his “historic commerce offers”.
“We’re taking in trillions of {dollars} … In case you look, Japan – we’re taking in $550 billion, and … that’s OUR cash. It’s our cash to take a position as we’d like. European Union – $650 billion… and so they’re going to purchase $750 billion value of our power.”
The funding pledge is just not an EU fund for the US, senior EU officers have identified. Fairly, it’s an combination of what personal EU corporations have dedicated to, or say they are going to make investments, within the subsequent three years.
And for the second historic transfer, the White Home refers to Trump’s pledge to finish what he sees as Europe’s value gouging on pharma quoting him saying:
“For 30 years, Europe has had drug costs which can be, in lots of circumstances, one-tenth the price of medicine right here… We’re not going to pay ten occasions extra for a capsule than they pay in Europe, and that’s going to have an amazing impression.”
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Drone incident ‘represents alarming signal of spillover of Russia’s aggression … onto Nato territory,’ Lithuanian minister says
Lithuania’s international minister Kęstutis Budrys mentioned a bit extra in regards to the incident on his social media channels:
“Final Monday, a Russian navy drone violated Lithuanian airspace. This marks the second such incident in lower than a month. Related airspace violations have additionally been reported not too long ago by different Allies.
These repeated incidents characterize an alarming signal of the spillover of Russia’s aggression in opposition to Ukraine onto Nato territory.
We can’t compromise the safety of our nation and residents, nor the integrity of Nato airspace. We should stay vigilant, because the risk is actual and rising.
Immediately, with @DSakaliene, we issued a joint letter to @SecGenNATO calling for instant measures to reinforce air defence capabilities in #Lithuania & speed up the total implementation of the rotational air defence mannequin.
Air defence is significant to Allied safety. Securing Nato’s Japanese Flank should stay a prime precedence for the Alliance.”
Share
Up to date at 11.36 EDT
‘Disoriented’ drone crossing into Lithuania from Belarus was carrying explosives, authorities say
We’re getting massive information from Lithuania with the nation’s prosecutor basic confirming that an unmanned drone that crossed into the nation from Belarus final week and crashed close to a navy coaching floor was carrying explosives.
The drone was initially reported by native residents involved by the sight and the noise the thing was making when flying close to Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. It took authorites 4 days earlier than they finally situated it on the bottom close to the Gaižiūnai navy coaching base.
Prosecutor basic Nida Grunskienė mentioned immediately that it was established that the drone was carrying an explosive system, which was “neutralised on the scene,” Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT reported. Varied components of the plane at the moment are present process extra in-depth forensic examination, she mentioned.
Col Dainius Paškevičius, chief of employees of the Lithuanian Air Power, famous the drone carried solely “about two kilograms of explosives,” means lower than a typical load of fifty kg, LRT famous.
Lithuania’s defence minister Dovilė Šakalienė mentioned the present assumption was that the drone entered Lithuania accidentally after being disoriented by the Ukrainian defence methods, however it will stay part of the investigation.
Each Šakalienė and the nation’s international minister Kęstutis Budrys additionally mentioned that Lithuania had notified Nato of the preliminary findings and requested pressing extra air defence assist to guard the Lithuanian sky from comparable incidents.
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Up to date at 11.33 EDT
Zelenskyy speaks to Trump on sanctions in opposition to Russia, take care of US on drones in ‘productive’ telephone name
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has mentioned he had a “productive dialog” with US president Donald Trump this afternoon, discussing easy methods to finish the struggle with Russia.
Repeatedly thanking Trump for his assist, Zelenskyy mentioned it was “actually essential to cease the killings as quickly as potential,” including this might have already occurred “if Russians had not dragged it out.”
The Ukrainian president mentioned the leaders famous that “the Russians have elevated the severity of the strikes,” and mentioned that Trump was “totally knowledgeable” in regards to the state of affairs.
“In fact, we talked about sanctions in opposition to Russia. Their financial system continues to fall, and that’s the reason Moscow is so attentive to this prospect and President Trump’s willpower. This could change so much,” he mentioned.
Zelenskyy additionally mentioned they briefly mentioned the European assist packages for Ukraine confirmed by the Netherlands final night time and the three Nordic nations immediately, including that “this interplay with Nato will proceed.”
He additionally mentioned that Ukraine has ready a draft settlement on drones with the US, and was prepared “to debate intimately and conclude it.”
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Up to date at 10.38 EDT
Zelenskyy thanks Nordic nations for €430m navy assist package deal
Again to Ukraine, the nation’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the €430m navy assist package deal put collectively by Denmark, Norway and Sweden (13:57), saying it can “considerably increase our capacity to guard lives.”
“These steps are a brand new, actual basis for long-term safety throughout all of Europe. Russia won’t ever flip Europe right into a continent of struggle, and it’s exactly by means of our joint efforts that we’re guaranteeing peace will prevail,” he mentioned.
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Up to date at 10.14 EDT
EU’s $600bn funding promise is extra of an intention, not a ‘present’ – snap evaluation
Lisa O’Carroll
The EU’s promise to take a position $600bn within the US as a part of its tariff deal is simply that. It’s an “intention” and never a “present” as decribed by Donald Trump (14:56), senior officers have mentioned.
US president Donald Trump meet with European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen in Turnberry, Scotland, Britain. {Photograph}: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Trump’s characterisation of the cash is the kind of conflict Brussels is determined to keep away from, given the US president’s historical past of creating declarations he doesn’t ship on.
The day after the EU-US tariff deal was struck at Donald Trump’s Scottish golf resort, officers defined very clearly that the promise of investments was an “combination” of cash promised by EU corporations, together with main automotive producers in Germany and pharma corporations, lots of that are primarily based in Eire, the goal of a lot of Trump’s ire with regards to medicines.
A senior official within the EU insisted final week that $600bn didn’t “come out of skinny air” however was the results of detailed conversations with commerce associations and massive EU corporations about their funding plans within the US.
The EU itself has no energy to take a position cash itself within the US.
“We’ve mainly aggregated what we find out about funding intentions of corporations, of personal corporations,” mentioned one senior supply who added that that this could be expressed within the joint assertion as “an intention”.
That is at odds with Trump’s description of it as a fund that he can personally direct.
“The main points are, $600bn to spend money on something I need, something. I can do something I need with it. And the aim was, they’ve been, you understand, ripping us to so a few years that it’s time that they pay up and so they should pay up,” he mentioned earlier immediately.
However additionally it is at odds with the White Home assertion on 28 July, the day after the EU-US deal was struck.
It describes the $600m as “new investments” that shall be made “by 2028”.
Below the title “Large EU Funding in the US”, the White Home repeats the purpose saying: “The EU will make investments $600 billion in the US over the course of President Trump’s time period.”
ShareJakub Krupa
You received’t be shocked to listen to that the $600bn funding promised by the EU is a tiny bit extra difficult than “a present” that Trump can do something he desires with it (14:56).
It largely covers present and future commitments already made by EU corporations – and never characterize a clean cheque for Trump to do something he desires with it.
We’ll convey you extra on this shortly.
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Up to date at 09.37 EDT
Trump additionally bragged in passing that leaders of Nato “do no matter I need.”
Erm.
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Trump says EU might face 35% tariffs if it fails to satisfy $600bn funding guarantees, threatens with pharma tariffs
US president Donald Trump additionally mentioned that if the EU fails to satisfy its funding guarantees underneath the EU-US deal, the bloc will face tariffs of 35%.
He mentioned:
“They purchased down their tariffs. They paid $600bn and due to that I lowered their tariffs from thirty p.c all the way down to fifteen p.c, and a few nations got here, ‘How come, the EU is paying lower than us’, and I mentioned effectively, as a result of they gave me $600bn.
And that’s a present, that’s not like, you understand, a mortgage … they gave us $600bn that we will spend money on something we would like.”
He added:
“The main points are, $600bn to spend money on something I need, something. I can do something I need with it.
And the aim was, they’ve been, you understand ripping us to so a few years that it’s time that they pay up and so they should pay up.”
He then criticised the Swiss “prime minister” – it was the nation’s federal president – saying she “didn’t need to pay attention” to his arguments.
Trump then moved on to prescribed drugs, saying “they make a fortune with prescribed drugs, and so they make in China and Eire and every little thing else,” and that he shall be asserting separate tariffs on them “throughout the subsequent week or so.”
“It is a, you understand, that is a separate class than the 15% tariffs on kind of every little thing. These are excluded courses, I wish to name them, like metal, aluminium.”
He added:
“We’ll be placing an initially small tariff on prescribed drugs, however in a single yr, one and a half years most, it’s going to go to 150%, after which it’s going to go to 250%, as a result of we would like prescribed drugs made in our nation.”
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Up to date at 11.54 EDT
Jakub Krupa
There are a lot of extra strains of curiosity on this Trump interview, as he additionally spoke in regards to the EU-US commerce deal. Let me get them for you now.
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‘If power goes down, Putin goes to cease killing folks,’ Trump says, as he doubles down on risk to boost tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil
US president Donald Trump has been speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Field in the previous couple of minutes, and he prompt {that a} additional drop in power costs might make Russian president Vladimir Putin halt the Russian invasion of Ukraine and “cease killing folks.”
If power goes down sufficient, Putin goes to cease killing folks.
He defined:
“In case you get power down, one other $10 a barrel, he’s going to don’t have any selection as a result of his financial system stinks.”
Trump additionally repeated his risk he would improve US tariffs on India quickly over their persevering with buy of Russian oil.
“They’ve the very best tariff of anyone … We settled on 25%, however I suppose I’m going to boost that very considerably over the following 24 hours as a result of they’re shopping for Russian oil, they’re fueling the struggle machine, and in the event that they going to try this, I’m not going to be pleased.”
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Nato’s Rutte welcomes first monetary packages to assist with deliveries for Ukraine
Nato secretary basic Mark Rutte has simply responded to the Nordic package deal of assist for Ukraine, saying:
“Grateful to Denmark, Norway & Sweden for quick motion to fund a package deal of US navy assist for Ukraine. It will ship life-saving tools & important provides to the front-line, strengthening Ukraine’s hand & serving to them deter aggression as they pursue lasting peace.”
He additionally earlier thanked the Netherlands for its contribution, saying:
“Nice to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the primary package deal of US navy tools for Ukraine underneath NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Necessities Checklist initiative. I thank Allies for getting Ukraine the tools it urgently wants to defend in opposition to Russian aggression. I anticipate additional important bulletins from different Allies quickly.”
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Up to date at 08.17 EDT
Norway, Sweden and Denmark to finance €430m navy package deal for Ukraine
Norway, Sweden and Denmark have simply introduced plans to collectively finance a assist package deal for Ukraine underneath the brand new US-Nato mechanism, Prioritised Ukraine Requirement Checklist, agreed with US president Donald Trump final month.
The package deal, estimated to be value some €430m in whole, will embody assist for “Ukraine’s air defence, ammunition and different important tools,” Norwegian authorities’s press launch mentioned. The main points of the package deal won’t be made public for safety causes.
Sweden will make the biggest contribution of over €230m, with Norway to observe at round €120m and Denmark at round €80m, in accordance with indicated totals.
Norwegian defence minister Tore O. Sandvik mentioned the brand new package deal was meant to make sure that Ukraine “rapidly receives the tools it wants” to defend itself from Russia.
Concurrently, Swedish ministers introduced the define of the deal at a press convention in Stockholm.
In her opening assertion, deputy prime minister and power, trade minister Ebba Busch insisted “Ukraine’s trigger is our trigger,” as she harassed the necessity to proceed supporting Ukraine amid sustained Russian assaults.
Defence minister Pål Jonson added that the continued strikes confirmed there was little urge for food from Russia to finish the battle.
That is a second package deal of this sort after the Netherlands introduced its plans to spend round €500m on US weapons for Ukraine underneath the brand new scheme (10:15).
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Up to date at 08.04 EDT
India rejects US, EU’s ‘unjustified’ criticism for buying and selling with Russia
In the meantime, India has responded to criticism from the US and the EU, saying it’s being unfairly singled out by them over its Russian oil purchases once they each commerce extensively with Moscow regardless of the struggle in Ukraine, Reuters reported.
In a uncommon present of unity, prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) and the principle opposition Congress condemned Trump’s repeated criticism of New Delhi.
India’s international ministry mentioned in a press release issued late on Monday that “it’s revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves indulging in commerce with Russia“.
“It’s unjustified to single out India,” the ministry mentioned. It mentioned the EU carried out €67.5bn euros ($78.02bn) in commerce with Russia in 2024, together with document imports of liquefied pure fuel (LNG) reaching 16.5 million metric tons.
America, the assertion mentioned, continues to import Russian uranium hexafluoride to be used in its nuclear energy trade, palladium, fertilisers and chemical substances. It didn’t give a supply for the export info.
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Up to date at 07.32 EDT
EU says ‘shocked’ by German finance minister’s criticism of EU-US commerce deal
Oh-oh.
The EU has simply publicly clashed with Germany over finance minister Lars Klingbeil’s feedback on EU-US commerce in Washington final night time.
Klingbeil mentioned the EU was “too weak” in negotiations, and argued that “we will’t be happy with the end result that was achieved,” suggesting he would push for restricted exemptions for Germany’s metal sector, as reported by Deutsche Welle.
However EU commerce spokesperson, Olof Gill, pointedly mentioned the bloc was “fairly shocked” to listen to his feedback.
He mentioned:
“I’d remind you that EU, member states and enterprise stakeholders have constantly underscored {that a} commerce battle with the US was not a fascinating plan of action. They’ve insisted to us that solely a negotiated resolution might guarantee stability and shield our shared pursuits.
This was the view of an amazing majority of EU member states, together with the one from which the minister you talked about hails.”
Gill mentioned the EU “reached a negotiated resolution to keep away from a lose-lose tariff escalation, that’s what our member states requested for, … that’s what now we have delivered.”
“So … it’s most stunning to us to listen to {that a} minister from the member state in query has expressed that view, on condition that nothing has occurred right here when it comes to the Fee’s strategy, negotiation or consequence achieved with out the clear sign acquired from our member states.”
He additionally mentioned that extra work on metal is being finished on the EU stage.
Deputy chief spokesperson Arianna Podestà went additional saying that Klingbeil’s feedback “don’t correspond to the conversations now we have had with the identical member state over the previous weeks and months.”
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