Latest news for 22 August 2025

COLOMBIA

Chopper down.

At least 17 people have died in two separate attacks attributed to a dissident faction of the now-defunct ‘FARC’ rebel group. Assailants reportedly used a drone to kill 12 police travelling in a helicopter to eradicate coca crops, while a car bomb left another five dead near a military aviation school. (AP)

Comment: President Petro’s ‘total peace’ now lies in tatters. The question is which way Colombia’s voters will go at next year’s elections (Petro himself is termed out).

ISRAEL

Settlements.

The Israeli government has approved a new plan for settlements that could cut the West Bank from East Jerusalem, with 25 Western capitals calling the move “a violation of international law” that hobbles prospects for a two-state solution. (BBC)

EU

Stricter chips.

The EU will reportedly harmonise its chip security laws with the US to “avoid technology leakage to destinations of concern” (aka China), as part of ongoing trade talks. (SCMP)

Comment: This European move will be well-received in DC, where there’s long been a lingering sense that Brussels wanted to have its mooncake and eat it too.

ITALY

Nord Stream.

Authorities in Italy have arrested a Ukrainian national suspected of co-plotting the 2022 sabotage of Russia’s now-defunct Nord Stream gas pipelines into Europe, marking the first known arrest linked to the case. (Euractiv)

AUSTRALIA

Ship happens.

Australia’s postal service is suspending ‘transit’ shipping to the US ahead of the US axing its "de minimis" exemption for low-value packages. (ABC)

Comment: Several countries ship things to the US via hubs like Australia — this ‘transit’ shipping is often because there’s not enough volume to justify shipping it all direct. But the issue is that many postal carriers are still figuring out how (and who) to manage collecting the taxes mandated in President Trump’s executive order.

KYRGYZSTAN

Leave us out of it.

President Japarov has used his state news agency Kabar to accuse Western leaders of “politicizing the economy”, after the UK joined the US in sanctioning a local bank for helping Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. (The Times of Central Asia)

IRAN

Naval action.

Tehran is holding its first military drills since its 12-day war with Israel, with naval vessels reportedly launching missiles at test targets in the Gulf of Oman and out in the Indian Ocean. (TRT)

Comment: It’s an attempt to project strength at home and abroad after taking such a beating. Iran’s small navy emerged largely unscathed from the brief war, though it usually leaves the most critical Hormuz chokepoint to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.