Volkswagen Faces €1.3bn Loss Due to U.S. Tariffs
The German automaker Volkswagen has reported that U.S. import tariffs imposed under Donald Trump have resulted in losses exceeding £1bn in the first half of the year.
Despite progress in restructuring efforts—including potential job cuts of up to 35,000 by 2030—the company cited a €1.3bn decline in operating profit, largely due to increased costs from higher U.S. tariffs. Volkswagen has also adjusted its projected profit margin for the year to between 4% and 5%, anticipating that tariffs could remain between 10% and 27.5%.
The company, which produces Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bentley, and Scania trucks, highlights the broader impact on Germany’s automotive sector. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reiterated calls for Trump to agree on a tariff deal benefiting EU manufacturers.
With negotiations continuing ahead of an August deadline, European firms are increasingly concerned about the economic fallout if no agreement is reached.
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Starlink Disruption Affects Ukrainian Military Operations
A senior Ukrainian commander confirmed that Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service, used by military units, experienced a two-and-a-half-hour outage overnight. The disruption was part of a broader global issue caused by an internal software malfunction, leaving tens of thousands of users offline.
Robert Brovdi, head of Ukraine’s drone forces, emphasized the risks of overreliance on the system, urging diversification of communication methods.
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Zelenskyy Denies Discussing Anti-Corruption Law with EU’s von der Leyen
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refuted claims that he had recent discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding anti-corruption legislation.
“I have not communicated with Ursula von der Leyen in recent days. Everything reported about it is false,” he stated.
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Russian Drone Strikes Test Ukraine’s Defenses
A sustained Russian bombardment involving drones, decoys, and missiles continues to target Ukrainian cities nightly, raising questions about the country’s resilience amid escalating attacks.
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Ukraine strikes on refineries leave Russians struggling with fuel shortages
Russia Faces Fuel Crisis as Drone Strikes Cripple Refineries
Russia, often regarded as an energy powerhouse, is experiencing unexpected fuel shortages after a series of Ukrainian drone strikes damaged refineries across the country.
In several regions, petrol stations have run out of fuel, prices have soared to unprecedented levels, and
"France in crisis: Economic dispute escalates into political turmoil"
France finds itself in economic uncertainty, lacking a budget and possibly facing a government collapse. Prime Minister François Bayrou has called for a parliamentary confidence vote on 8 September. With left-wing and far-right parties vowing to remove the government, he lacks the necessary support to prevail.
Recently, the Socialist Party
"MSF reports a third of Gaza outpatient wound patients are children"
Nearly one-third of outpatients treated for injuries at medical centers operated by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Gaza last year were children under 15, according to data published in The Lancet.
The statistics, shared by MSF in correspondence with the medical journal, were gathered from six healthcare facilities in Gaza,