ASEAN Schedules Regional Security and Transnational-Crime Meetings for Aug. 10–15, 2026
ASEAN’s 2026 calendar lists ADSOM, ADSOM-Plus and the 20th ministerial meeting on transnational crime during a week of regional meetings.
World
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ADB Cuts South Asia’s 2026 Growth Forecast to 6.0% as Energy Costs Weigh on Incomes
The Asian Development Bank lowered South Asia’s 2026 growth forecast, citing elevated energy prices, weaker real incomes and growing external-sector pressure across the region.
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Japan Says China’s July 7 Ballistic-Missile Launch Is a Serious Security Concern
Japan’s Defense Minister Koizumi said Chinese military activity, including a July 7 ballistic-missile launch, poses a serious concern for Japan and the international community.
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EU Adopts 21st Russia Sanctions Package Targeting Energy, Finance and Shadow Fleet
The European Union adopted its 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, adding 218 listings, restrictions on 41 more vessels and wider limits on financial and energy-related activity.
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Olin and Huntsman Set Aug. 25 Shareholder Votes on Planned All-Stock Merger
The SEC has declared effective the registration statement for Olin and Huntsman’s proposed merger of equals, clearing the companies to seek shareholder approval on Aug. 25.
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EU to Move 190.5 Million Carbon Allowances Into Market Reserve From September 2026
The European Commission says 190,494,202 EU Emissions Trading System allowances will enter the Market Stability Reserve during the 12 months beginning Sept. 1, 2026.
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EU Launches Digital Product Passport Framework for Batteries and Other Goods
The European Commission has launched an information service for the EU’s Digital Product Passport, a system designed to make product safety, environmental and repair information easier to access as sector-specific rules are introduced.
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WHO Declares Bundibugyo Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda an International Health Emergency
The WHO says a rare Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda requires clinical trials, stronger surveillance and more funding.
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FAO and WFP Warn Hunger Could Worsen Across 13 Hotspots Through November 2026
A new FAO-WFP early-warning report identifies Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine as the most severe hunger hotspots and places Nigeria in the highest-concern group.
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UNICEF Warns Global Volatility Is Disrupting Children’s Education and Family Stability
UNICEF’s 2026 global outlook says overlapping geopolitical, climate, technological and social pressures are disrupting education, increasing exposure to violence and separating families. The agency is calling for children and young people to have a stronger role in peacebuilding and public decisions.
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UNAMA Reports Continued Enforcement of Afghanistan’s Morality Law and Cross-Border Civilian Harm
A United Nations update covering January through March 2026 documents continued enforcement of Afghanistan’s law on the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice, alongside reporting on cross-border civilian casualties.
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OPEC+ Approves 188,000-Barrel-a-Day Production Increase as Oil Prices Weaken
OPEC+ will raise its combined production target by about 188,000 barrels per day from September, completing the rollback of a layer of voluntary cuts as Brent crude trades below $72 a barrel.
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Peru, Argentina and Costa Rica Show Conservative Forces Gaining Ground in Latin America
Recent political developments in Peru, Argentina and Costa Rica point to a broader conservative advance across Latin America, driven by security and economic concerns.
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UN: Lebanon Returns Continue as $640 Million Aid Appeal Is 42.2% Funded
Displaced families are returning to parts of southern Lebanon, but more than 33,000 people remain in collective shelters as humanitarian needs continue.
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WMO Warns Developing El Niño Could Raise Global Weather Risks in 2026
The World Meteorological Organization said El Niño conditions were developing in the tropical Pacific, with an 80% chance of emergence by August and about a 90% chance from September through December 2026.
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U.S. Imposes Forced-Labor Tariffs on Goods From 60 Trading Partners
The Trump administration imposed 10% and 12.5% tariffs on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, as a temporary global tariff expired.
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Zambia Enters Final Campaign Days Before Aug. 13 Presidential and Legislative Election
Zambia’s campaign period ends Aug. 12, one day before voters elect a president, National Assembly members, mayors and council officials. SADC is deploying observers across all 10 provinces.
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China Defends State-Led Industrial Policy Ahead of U.S. and EU Trade Talks
China is defending an economic model built around advanced manufacturing as expected trade talks with the United States and European Union approach, while weak domestic demand increases pressure for monetary support.
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Spain-Led Operation Arrests 78 in Western Mediterranean Smuggling Crackdown
Authorities in Spain and Algeria arrested 78 people in a cross-border operation targeting a network accused of trafficking migrants, drugs and weapons across the Western Mediterranean.
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Zelenskyy Visits Serbia as Russian Strikes Kill Four in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Belgrade on Aug. 8, 2026, as Russian attacks killed four people across Ukraine, including in the Kyiv region.
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ECB Holds Rates Steady as Middle East Conflict Clouds Euro-Area Outlook
The European Central Bank kept its monetary-policy settings unchanged on July 23, 2026, as conflict-related energy risks and financial uncertainty complicated the euro-area outlook.
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UN Launches Global Consumer-Safety Principles After Geneva Meeting of More Than 80 Countries
The United Nations has officially launched global principles for consumer product safety, addressing unsafe online goods, concentrated markets, food-price pressures and risks linked to digital platforms.