Disappointment looms over potential progress in United States-Russia diplomatic negotiations
Headline: Global News Roundup: August 2025
In this edition of our global news roundup, we bring you updates on various ongoing events and developments across the world.
BP Makes Largest Oil Discovery in 25 Years
BP, the British oil and gas major, has made its largest global discovery in 25 years off the coast of Brazil. This significant find could play a crucial role in BP's efforts to increase daily oil and gas production by up to 2.5 million barrels.
Measles Resurgence Across the Globe
Vaccine skepticism is causing a resurgence of measles cases, with Canada reporting more cases than the entire US this year, and the European Union seeing an almost tenfold annual increase in reported cases to more than 35,000 in 2024.
US-Russia Relations Remain Tense
The current US-Russia relationship remains fundamentally hostile due to the war in Ukraine, but active diplomatic engagement and military aid to Ukraine continue alongside economic sanctions, amid cautious optimism for negotiations during the forthcoming Trump-Putin summit.
Defence Tech Firm Palantir Reaches $1 Billion in Quarterly Revenue
Defence technology firm Palantir has reportedly topped $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, raising concerns about potential preferential treatment from the Trump administration.
OPEC+ Agrees to Raise Production
Members of the oil producers' group OPEC+ have agreed to raise production as concerns grow over possible disruptions to Russian supply.
Rwanda to Take Deported Migrants from the US
Rwanda has agreed to take as many as 250 migrants deported from the US, as part of efforts to placate Washington.
Extreme Weather Hits Communities Across Asia
Communities across Asia are grappling with extreme weather as climate change makes monsoon season more erratic.
Diplomats Resume Negotiations over Plastic Pollution Treaty
In Geneva, diplomats are resuming negotiations over a global treaty to curb plastic pollution, but opposition from the US and other oil-producing states has dimmed hopes for success.
US-India Trade Tensions Escalate
US President Donald Trump has threatened to hit India with higher duties within 24 hours, after New Delhi slammed Washington's tariff threats over its purchase of Russian oil. This escalates the economic pressure India is under while its regional rival Pakistan hails closer ties with Washington.
Norway Reviews Investments in Israeli Companies
Norway has ordered its sovereign wealth fund to review its investments in Israeli companies after reports showed it financed businesses linked to the war in Gaza.
US Special Envoy Holds Talks with Russian President
US special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, aiming to end the war in Ukraine.
Apple to Invest $100 Billion in US Manufacturing
Following pressure from President Donald Trump, Apple has announced it will invest an additional $100 billion in US manufacturing.
Pakistan's Army Chief Courts Trump
Pakistan's powerful army chief is personally courting Trump, reflecting a shift in US policy toward the region.
Brazil's Former President Under House Arrest
Brazil's Supreme Court has put former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial over an alleged coup plot.
Governments Embrace AI, Boosting Silicon Valley Companies
Governments' embrace of artificial intelligence is boosting the fortunes of certain Silicon Valley companies.
Australia Awards Contract for Advanced Warships
Canberra has awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia's navy, deepening military ties between the two nations.
Record Number of Chinese Companies List in US
Despite poor ties between the two superpowers, a record number of Chinese companies are publicly listing in the US.
Food Insecurity Reduced, But Challenges Remain
The number of people going hungry worldwide fell by 15 million between 2023 and 2024, a new report said, but the challenge of food security remains significant.
Great Barrier Reef Suffers Worst Coral Bleaching on Record
The Great Barrier Reef suffered the worst coral bleaching on record, with heat stress driven by warming oceans as the primary cause.
Elon Musk's Compensation Package Altered
Tesla is giving Elon Musk $29 billion in stock to keep his "energies focused" on the carmaker rather than his sprawling space, AI, and brain-science empire.
Funding for mRNA Vaccine Research Cancelled
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has cancelled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, citing concerns about the risks posed by these vaccines.
Saudi Arabia Faces Economic Challenges
Saudi Arabia's state oil giant Aramco reported a decline in earnings for a 10th consecutive quarter, threatening the kingdom's economic transformation.
Trump Doubles Down on Tariff Threats
Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats against India, vowing to penalize nations profiting from Russian oil.
Putin Doubts Trump's Ceasefire Deadline
Putin reportedly doubts that Donald Trump will follow through on the White House-imposed deadline for a ceasefire with Kyiv.
Bolsonaro Accused of Breaching Pre-Trial Restrictions
Bolsonaro is accused of breaching pre-trial restrictions and plotting to kill his successor.
Plastic Production Set to Triple by 2060
Plastic production is set to triple by 2060, with The Lancet estimating that plastic pollution causes more than $1.5 trillion in health-related economic losses each year.
Israeli Prime Minister Pushes for Full Occupation of Gaza Strip
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly pushing for a full occupation of the Gaza Strip in a massive expansion of the country's military operations in the enclave.
Australia's Great Barrier Reef Suffers Worst Coral Bleaching on Record
The Great Barrier Reef suffered the worst coral bleaching on record, with heat stress driven by warming oceans as the primary cause.
Record Number of Chinese Companies List in US
Despite poor ties between the two superpowers, a record number of Chinese companies are publicly listing in the US.
Food Insecurity Reduced, But Challenges Remain
The number of people going hungry worldwide fell by 15 million between 2023 and 2024, a new report said, but the challenge of food security remains significant.
Canberra Awards Huge Contract to Japanese Firm
Canberra awarded a huge contract to a Japanese firm to build advanced warships for Australia's navy, deepening military ties between the two nations.
Tesla Gives Elon Musk $29 Billion in Stock
Tesla is giving Elon Musk $29 billion in stock to keep his "energies focused" on the carmaker rather than his sprawling space, AI, and brain-science empire.
US Health Secretary Cancels Funding for mRNA Vaccine Research
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr cancelled $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, citing concerns about the risks posed by these vaccines.
Aramco's Dividends Power Saudi Arabia's Sovereign Wealth Fund
Aramco's dividends power Saudi Arabia's $1.15 trillion sovereign wealth fund, which plays a growing role in the domestic economy.
US President Trump's Latest Tariff Hikes Cause Uncertainty
US President Donald Trump's latest tariff hikes injected fresh uncertainty into international markets, underscoring Trump's remaking of the global economic order.
mRNA Vaccines Criticized for Risks
mRNA vaccines, first widely deployed during the pandemic and credited with saving millions of lives, have been criticized by some for posing "more risks than benefits."
- While diplomats discuss a global treaty to curb plastic pollution, the use of AI in various industries is boosting the fortunes of certain companies in Silicon Valley, indicating the intersection of education-and-self-development and general-news.
- With the US-India trade tensions escalating, the US President has threatened to hit India with higher duties over its purchase of Russian oil, sparking concerns regarding politics, crime-and-justice, and general-news.
- As climate change makes monsoon season more erratic, communities across Asia are grappling with extreme weather, highlighting the connection between education-and-self-development, general-news, and weather.
