In the global race to meet climate change targets, the world continues to face major challenges in securing finance. The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), to be held in November, will prioritise securing climate finance, promoting adaptation measures, and supporting countries suffering the heaviest losses.

The Council of the European Union (EU) has approved a comprehensive reform package for the bloc’s customs legal framework, in what is being hailed as the most far-reaching overhaul of European customs in more than 50 years. The reform aims to modernise the bloc’s trade control system and rigorously regulate the flow of goods.

Following the last-minute collapse of tariff talks between the US and Canada, the two sides have repeatedly announced retaliatory measures against each other. Tensions are escalating, but their deep economic ties and shared interests are expected to serve as an “anchor”, helping the bilateral relationship weather the storm.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently transmitted a positive diplomatic signal indicating that Moscow is ready for peace talks with Kyiv, though any agreement must be based on "realities on the ground."

Germany has extended strict border control measures for another six months. This is seen as an effective “firewall” in efforts to stem the flow of illegal immigrants constantly seeking to enter this leading European nation.

The Schengen Agreement, a symbol of solidarity, integration and the dream of a “borderless Europe”, is facing great pressure from migration flows.

New hopes for peace in Gaza have emerged after the US-backed Board of Peace unveiled a 15-point roadmap in late July 2026 aimed at ending the conflict. The door to peace has opened slightly, but the path ahead remains difficult, with several major obstacles still standing in the way of implementation.

A recent statement by Indonesian Trade Minister Budi Santoso that Indonesia and Brazil are advancing a proposal to establish a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between Indonesia and Mercosur signals a notable strategic shift in Jakarta’s economic diplomacy.

The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has released its African Cyberthreat Assessment Report 2026, revealing that 55% of cyberattacks across Africa are enabled by artificial intelligence (AI).

More than 80 years ago, in the first days of August, two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and leaving scars that have endured across generations.

A sudden surge of migrants entering Ceuta, Spain's autonomous territory in North Africa, has raised fears of a new migration crisis and is putting the European Union (EU)'s solidarity to the test.

Although the European Union (EU) has responded relatively cautiously to the latest US tariffs, trade relations across the Atlantic continue to confront significant headwinds.

Looking ahead, Viet Nam proposed the two sides prioritise stronger regional resilience by scaling up energy cooperation, pooling financial resources and cracking down on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, all aimed at building a resilient and sustainable blue economy.

The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement ending border checks on cross-border movement between Spain and Gibraltar. The agreement removes administrative barriers, enabling tens of thousands of workers to travel freely each day between the EU member state and the British territory on the Iberian Peninsula.