Daily flyovers
Latest news for 27 August 2025
Quick hits of consequential news from all corners of the world.
- 01
INDIA
Tariffs take effect.
President Trump has delivered on his threats to impose punitive tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, with a 50% US tariff now hitting most Indian goods. (Indian Express)
- 02
AUSTRIA
We got you.
It turns out Austria’s elite ‘Cobra’ security service unit has been providing round-the-clock protection to the Argentine diplomat (Rafael Grossi) running the UN’s Vienna-based nuclear watchdog after a specific Iranian threat against him. (WSJ $)
Comment: The possibility of a threat is unsurprising given the open calls in Iranian media for Grossi’s execution (Tehran blamed his enrichment whistle-blowing for sparking Israel’s 12-day war). The more surprising thing for us is that Grossi didn’t have security already (it’s a notoriously high-stakes gig).
- 03
TAIWAN
No nuclear.
A referendum to reopen Taiwan’s last nuclear power plant has failed to reach the necessary threshold (a quarter of all registered electors), despite a clear majority backing the idea. It’s raising energy security concerns, given Taiwan now imports around 98% of its energy (mostly natural gas and coal). (NucNet)
- 04
RUSSIA
Hit the gas.
Russia’s headlines have focused on a gasoline shortage this week, as higher seasonal demand and repeated Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure lead to near-record prices and lengthy gas station queues in some regions. Moscow is hoping measures like its new gasoline export ban will help. (BBC’s Steve Rosenberg)
Comment: Of course, local editors are cautious not to flag the root cause: Putin’s decision to invade his neighbour. Shortages could be manageable for Putin so long as he can avoid them touching the urban elite in Moscow and St Petersburg.
- 05
BANGLADESH
No more funds.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has warned his country can’t afford more aid for the growing number of Rohingya now seeking local refuge from Myanmar’s civil war next door. (Arab News)
Comment: The number of folks fleeing Myanmar has surged just as international aid dries up — the world’s latest humanitarian crisis response is only ~36% funded.
- 06
BRAZIL
Downgraded.
Israel has downgraded ties with Brazil, withdrawing its request to appoint a new ambassador after lengthy delays in Brasilia’s formal approval. (Times of Israel)
Comment: A lengthy and unexplained delay is a common foreign ministry way of saying no without saying no — the result is Israel’s representation now matches that of Brazil, which withdrew its own ambassador to Israel last year in protest over Gaza.
- 07
BOTSWANA
No more medicine.
President Boko has announced a public health emergency after hospitals ran out of certain meds due to reported supply chain issues. He’s ordered the military to oversee emergency distribution drives. (The Guardian)
Comment: This is all complicated by the fact that the global diamond sector (accounting for ~25% of Botswana’s GDP) has been in structural decline.