Trump announces 25% tariffs on Japanese and South Korean goods
US President Donald Trump has declared a 25% tariff on imports from Japan and South Korea starting August 1, urging both nations to shift production t...
The German and Dutch intelligence services have warned that Russia is increasing the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine, which is 'serious violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention prohibiting the use of this chemical choking agent under any circumstances.'
Russia is using 'a wide range of chemical weapons with increasing frequency and is not hesitating to employ chloropicrin, a more potent chemical agent, that can be fatal when used in high concentrations," the services stressed in a joint statement published on Friday.
Senior Dutch defence and intelligence officials have issued stark warnings about the growing threat posed by Russia’s use of chemical weapons in its war against Ukraine.
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans condemned what he described as Russia’s 'systematic and large-scale' use of chemical agents. “This is a slippery slope. It is completely unacceptable and again demonstrates the brutality of the aggressor Ukraine has to face,” he said. “We are drawing public attention to this now because the employment of chemical weapons by Russia must not be normalised. Lowering the threshold for the use of this type of weapon poses a danger not only to Ukraine but also to the rest of Europe and the world.”
Brekelmans called for increased sanctions, further diplomatic isolation of Russia, and continued military support for Ukraine.
Vice Admiral Peter Reesink, director of the Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD), stated that the trend is deeply worrying. “This shows that Russia is intensifying its use of chemical weapons, and at the same time we have noticed a growing readiness to employ such weapons. The threat emanating from the Russian chemical weapons programme is consequently increasing,” Reesink said.
According to the statement, the use of both tear gas and chloropicrin has become standard practice and commonplace among Russian troops.
Moscow denies using chemical weapons, blaming Kyiv instead. However, Dutch defence official referring on Ukrainian defence ministry, noted that Russia had carried out more than 9,000 chemical weapons attacks on Ukrainian troops since the start of the large-scale invasion in 2022.
"Russia is not only investing heavily in its chemical weapons capabilities but is also expanding its research efforts and actively recruiting new scientists to support the programme," - the statement reads.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
UK's King Charles III is to host the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on a state visit to the UK starting on Tuesday, 8th July.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump held a “good exchange” on Sunday, according to a Commission spokesperson speaking on Monday. The spokesperson emphasised that the EU remains committed to finalising a trade agreement with Washington by July 9.
Indonesia’s Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted again on Monday, spewing volcanic ash as high as 18 kilometres and covering nearby villages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington to begin a high-level visit focused on strengthening U.S.-Israel ties.
President Donald Trump said his administration will notify countries by 9 July of new U.S. tariff rates, as trade talks with key partners enter their final days ahead of a 1 August implementation deadline.
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