“Russian forces have made a sudden thrust … east of the mining town of Dobropillia in a move that Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers say could become a serious problem for Kyiv if left unchecked.
Ukraine’s authoritative DeepState war map showed on Tuesday that Russian forces had quickly advanced north in two prongs covering as much as 10 kilometres (6.2 miles), part of their drive to take full control of Ukraine’s [former, seceded] Donetsk region. DeepState said they had advanced near three villages on a section of the frontline associated with the two [formerly] Ukrainian cities of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka.” (08/12/25)
“Bitcoin’s (BTC) overnight push towards fresh records met with profit-taking on Monday, knocking prices down to $118,500. The pullback left bitcoin 2.8% off its session high of $122,200, though the largest crypto remained up 0.4% over the past 24 hours. Ether held above $4,200, modestly up 0.8% during the same period, while major altcoins Solana’s SOL, dogecoin and Sui’s native token slipped 3%-4%. … Tuesday’s U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report could be the week’s biggest catalyst for traders, with Producer Price Index (PPI) data following later in the week.” (08/12/25)
“President Donald Trump extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days Monday, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the world’s two biggest economies. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that he signed the executive order for the extension, and that ‘all other elements of the Agreement will remain the same.’ Beijing at the same time also announced the extension of the tariff pause, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened the U.S. could have ratcheted up taxes on [American buyers of] Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing could have responded by raising retaliatory levies on [Chinese buyers of] U.S. exports to China.” (08/12/25)
“Finnish authorities have filed charges against members of the crew of an oil tanker suspected of damaging five undersea cables by dragging its anchor between Finland and Estonia. Finland’s deputy prosecutor general’s office said on Monday it had filed charges of aggravated sabotage and aggravated interference with telecommunications against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S. The Cook Islands-registered tanker is understood to be part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’ – comprising vessels that sail under foreign flags to evade sanctions. The ship was carrying oil from Ust-Luga in Russia across the Gulf of Finland when, prosecutors allege, it dragged its anchor along the seabed for about 90km (56 miles) in December 2024. The incident was one of several suspected hybrid attacks on telecommunications services in the Nordic region at the end of last year, putting leaders on high alert and prompting accusations of infrastructure sabotage against Russia.” (08/11/25)
“The U.S. Postal Service has cracked down on distributors of unregulated vapes using its services for business shipments, letters reviewed by Reuters show, in a blow to a multi-billion dollar industry that has dented Big Tobacco’s sales. The letters, previously unreported, show that USPS wrote to major New York-based distributor Demand Vape, blocking it from using its services after New York City’s Law Department, which represents the city’s government and officials in legal matters, provided evidence that its shipments broke laws. … Unregulated vapes lack the authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that is required for them to be legally sold in the United States, the world’s largest market for smoking alternatives. … So far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorised only 39 e-cigarette products. But unauthorised devices are widely available as authorities struggle to contain them.” (08/11/25)
“Iraq and Iran have signed a security agreement aimed at enhancing protection along their shared border, Iraqi officials said Saturday. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met in Baghdad with Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office. During the talks, Sudani reaffirmed Iraq’s rejection of Israeli attacks against Iran and warned against steps that could escalate regional or international conflict. He also reiterated Iraq’s support for dialogue between the United States and Iran.” (08/11/25)
“Ford Motor Co. will invest nearly $2 billion retooling a Kentucky factory to produce electric vehicles that it says will be more affordable, more profitable to build, and will outcompete rival models. The automaker’s top executive unveiled the new EV strategy Monday at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant which, after producing gas-powered vehicles for 70 years, will be converted to manufacture electric vehicles. … The Big Detroit automakers have continued to transition from internal combustion engines to EV technology even as President Donald Trump’s administration unwinds incentives for automakers to go electric. … Yet Farley and other top executives in the auto industry say that electric vehicles are the future and there is no going back.” (08/11/25)
“Colombian conservative senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay died Monday, more than two months after being shot during a campaign rally in western Bogota. His wife, María Claudia Tarazona, confirmed the 39-year-old’s death early Monday. Uribe Turbay was critically wounded on June 7 during a campaign rally in the country’s capital, suffering gunshot wounds to the head and leg. He underwent emergency surgery and remained hospitalized in intensive care until his death. … A teenage suspect was arrested at the scene, and authorities have since detained several others. Last month, police arrested the alleged mastermind of the attack — Elder José Arteaga Hernández, who uses the aliases ‘Chipi’ or ‘Costeño.'” (08/11/25)
