Government borrowing costs in several advanced economies hit their highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, or even earlier, on Monday as investors feared the Middle East crisis would keep inflation persistently high.

Concerns over rising prices and government spending pushed up the cost of debt issued by Paris, Berlin, Washington DC, Tokyo and London as investors fretted that rising prices would push up interest rates.

The yield, or interest rate, on 30-year French bonds rose to its highest level since September 2008 at 4.8558%, up one basis point (0.01 percentage point), LSEG data showed.

European nations have unanimously agreed to boycott all Fifa competitions until football’s global governing body drops plans to sell off stakes in the World Cup.

In an emergency meeting on Thursday, Uefa member associations voted 55-0 to boycott.

Microsoft and French startup Mistral said Tuesday they had signed a "multibillion-dollar" deal for the US tech giant to use the AI developer's computing infrastructure in Europe.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court.

The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.

[ India] Tens of thousands of protesters have defied police orders and descended on Delhi to demand the resignation of India’s education minister in one of the largest anti-government demonstrations in years.

A huge crowd, largely made up of students and gen Z-ers, filled the streets in the heart of India’s capital from early Monday morning shouting anti-government slogans. Hundreds had already camped out overnight.

Delhi police, which are under the control of the central government, had denied permission for the march to take place. A ban was imposed on all public gatherings, roads across the city were barricaded and the internet was shut down in the centre. Attempts by protesters to move towards the parliament building were met with police brutality including the use of batons and teargas.

Ukraine’s commander in chief Oleksandr Syrskyi is widely expected to lose his job amid signs that Volodymyr Zelenskyy has bowed to pressure from protesters and will reshuffle the army’s top leadership.

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s president signed a constitutional amendment into law on Saturday that ends his term in office, bringing to a close a dispute between him and the country’s new government that was seeking to oust him as part of a purge of officials appointed during the reign of Viktor Orbán.

Musk on Wednesday called Le Pen "France's last hope" on his social media platform X, in a post declaring his support for her presidential bid – which she confirmed earlier this month, even after her conviction for embezzlement was upheld on appeal(..)

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged Musk to reconsider his position, writing, also on X: "Like we say in French: only fools don't change their minds."

Formerly known as Twitter, X has been the target of a French criminal investigation following two complaints alleging that its algorithm had been used for foreign interference.

French MP Antoine Léaument, of the hard-left France Unbowed, described Musk's post as "foreign interference, which has begun for the presidential election".

NEW DELHI, July 15 (Reuters) - India and Britain's trade pact took effect on Wednesday, cutting tariffs on thousands ‌of goods and expanding market access for services firms and professionals in both countries. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement gives Indian exporters duty-free access to most British tariff lines, benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, and processed foods.

• India-UK trade pact takes effect on Wednesday
• Deal cuts tariffs, expands services and mobility access
• Indian textiles, marine goods, leather and jewellery to gain
• UK sees openings in autos, services and procurement

Hungarian public media outlets close to Viktor Orbán have suspended broadcasting, the country’s prime minister said as he hailed efforts to dismantle the longtime nationalist leader’s control over information.

The Kossuth radio station and M1, Hungary’s main public television channel, had halted transmission by Tuesday afternoon, with the latter showing the message:

“Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long.

"Public media now will be reformed so it will be independent and trustworthy. Our news programme is currently suspended. Stay tuned!” it added against a black screen.

Note: For details check this Hungarian link. It's quite a story.

Hungarian public media outlets close to Viktor Orbán have suspended broadcasting, the country’s prime minister said as he hailed efforts to dismantle the longtime nationalist leader’s control over information.

The Kossuth radio station and M1, Hungary’s main public television channel, had halted transmission by Tuesday afternoon, with the latter showing the message:

“Public media should not lie. We are sorry for doing it for so long.

"Public media now will be reformed so it will be independent and trustworthy. Our news programme is currently suspended. Stay tuned!” it added against a black screen.

Note: For details check this Hungarian link. It's quite a story.

Ukraine hopes to sign major defence deals with at least seven Nato countries by the end of the year, according to a top official, highlighting a new aspect of Kyiv’s foreign policy intended to show it can be a provider as well as a recipient of military hardware and expertise.(..)

The initiative is called the drone deal, but it actually covers way more than just drones … what’s even more important is the experience and knowledge, the access to all the components that form the system here in Ukraine,” said Davyd Aloian, the deputy secretary of Ukraine’s security council and one of those in charge of the deals.

Ukraine hopes to sign major defence deals with at least seven Nato countries by the end of the year, according to a top official, highlighting a new aspect of Kyiv’s foreign policy intended to show it can be a provider as well as a recipient of military hardware and expertise.(..)

The initiative is called the drone deal, but it actually covers way more than just drones … what’s even more important is the experience and knowledge, the access to all the components that form the system here in Ukraine,” said Davyd Aloian, the deputy secretary of Ukraine’s security council and one of those in charge of the deals.

Diplomats from the US and Europe have been unable to resolve their differences and agree on a new top international envoy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in a standoff which has become a transatlantic test of wills over influence in the Balkans.

(..) In recent months, US policy has prioritised the pursuit of advantage for US firms, and in particular a company run by associates of Donald Trump, while European powers have so far refused to yield to US demands, despite threats from Washington to cut off funding and participation in the international presence in Bosnia if its wishes are not fulfilled. The Balkan country has consequently become a testing ground for Europe’s capacity to unite and stand up to US Maga foreign policy in its own back yard.(..)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia ‘s populist President Aleksandar Vucic said Saturday he will resign his post within weeks, paving the way for early elections following youth-led protests that shook his tight grip on power.

WASHINGTON, June 24 (Reuters) - Three International Criminal Court judges on Wednesday sued U.S. ​President Donald Trump and his administration over sanctions imposed on them last year, arguing the measures were unlawful.

Czech President Petr Pavel on Tuesday said that he had filed a lawsuit against the government, challenging Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's decision to not include him in the government delegation attending the NATO summit in Ankara in July.

Note;.couldn't find any other source.

Iran has announced plans to introduce a system of maritime fees in the strait of Hormuz in two months, after the 60-day period of negotiation that has been triggered by the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

Tehran, claiming a historic victory over the US, said the strait was under its control and a European plan for a naval mission to escort ships though the strait would not be welcome.

[The Netherlands]. A new NOS analysis based on shared photographs, video, and data suggests that a small but consistent group of activists regularly show up at local asylum protests across the Netherlands, regardless of the municipality. While these demonstrations are typically initiated by local residents, the analysis indicates that this group repeatedly joins in and, according to the findings, steers parts of the gatherings towards a more radical and violent agenda.

The core group appears to be no more than a few dozen individuals.(..) Far-right organization Defend Nederland was identified as the most active group in the analysis, appearing at 43 of the 48 protests examined. According to the report, Defend Nederland maintains close ties with several radical groups, including Nationale Trots, Brigade Holland, Freedom Fighters, and Identitair Verzet.

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg want stronger safeguards to act faster against democratic and legal breaches in future EU members. The proposal reflects the lessons learned from the Orbán era.

Alt source Reuters