**Summary:** Right-wing politician and political novice Abelardo de la Espriella has been sworn in as President of Colombia for the 2026-2030 term during a ceremony in Cali.

**Key points:**
- The inauguration ceremony took place in Cali under heavy security in the country's southwestern region.
- De la Espriella's agenda focuses on fighting guerrillas and drug trafficking while abandoning peace negotiations initiated by his predecessor.
- The 48-year-old lawyer is supported by U.S. President Donald Trump and marks a shift toward closer ties with Washington.

**Why it matters:** The transition brings a right-wing outsider to power in Colombia, signaling a sharp pivot in national security strategy, the abandonment of prior peace talks, and closer alignment with the United States.

reforma.com - Asume De la Espriella como Presidente de Colombia

lalibre.be - Abelardo de la Espriella investi président de la Colombie

Abelardo de la Espriella Assumes Office as President of Colombia

**Summary:** The US Senate voted 86-11 to pass a bipartisan sanctions bill targeting Russia's economy and energy revenue, advancing a measure championed by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

**Key points:**
- The legislation includes provisions allowing the president to issue tariffs of up to 100% on major consumers of Russian oil and gas such as China and India.
- The bill also extends existing sanctions authority regarding Iranian energy and weapons.
- The measure now requires approval from the House of Representatives before it can proceed to President Trump for a signature.
- Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul was the sole member of his party to vote against the bill, warning that tariffs act as consumer taxes.

**Why it matters:** The legislation represents a significant bipartisan push to curb Russian war funding through severe economic penalties and energy tariffs, though it faces potential hurdles and skepticism in the House over presidential tariff powers.

The Globe and Mail - U . S . Senate passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham

NPR - Senate passes Russia sanctions bill that was long championed by Lindsey Graham

US Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill Championed by Late Lindsey Graham

**Summary:** Spain has announced temporary border controls at ports and airports for travelers arriving from Italy. This measure responds to Rome's suspension of the Schengen free-movement agreement following a mass migrant arrival in Ceuta.

**Key points:**
- The Spanish border checks on travelers from Italy are set to begin Saturday at 00:00 and remain in place until September 7.
- Madrid had previously threatened Italy with retaliatory measures if Rome did not lift its suspension of the Schengen agreement.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office rejected foreign ultimatums, stating checks will continue until safety and security risks are addressed.
- The dispute follows an unprecedented influx of roughly 72,000 migrants who crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

**Why it matters:** This diplomatic friction between European allies highlights mounting tensions over irregular migration and the unilateral suspension of the Schengen free-movement zone in response to localized border crises.

newsfeed.zeit.de - Ceuta-Krise: Spanien führt Grenzkontrollen für Flüge und Schiffe aus Italien ein

rtbf.be - Crise migratoire à Ceuta : l’Espagne va imposer des contrôles aux frontières aux voyageurs venant d’Italie

lalibre.be - L'Espagne impose des contrôles aux frontières aux voyageurs venant d'Italie

Le Monde - L’Espagne impose des contrôles aux frontières aux voyageurs venant d’Italie, en réponse aux mesures similaires introduites par Rome après la crise de Ceuta

Spain Imposes Border Controls on Travelers From Italy Amid Ceuta Dispute

**Summary:** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived in Serbia for his first visit to the Balkan country, engaging in talks regarding bilateral economic cooperation, energy, and European Union relations.

**Key points:**
- President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was welcomed at Belgrade's airport by Serbia's Minister of Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic.
- The visit includes scheduled discussions with populist Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Djuro Macut.
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the nation's policy regarding sanctions against Russia remains unchanged.
- Ukrainian officials viewed the visit as a step to shift Serbia away from its traditional alignment with Russia.

**Why it matters:** The visit marks a diplomatic milestone in relations between Ukraine and Serbia, potentially reshaping regional political dynamics and energy cooperation in the Balkans.

cyprus-mail.com - Ukraine’s Zelenskiy arrives in Serbia for first visit

actualno.com - Зеленски пристигна на първо посещение в Сърбия

ukrinform.ua - Зеленський вперше прибув до Сербії , де має зустрітися з Вучичем

lalibre.be - Guerre en Ukraine: première visite de Zelensky en Serbie, allié traditionnel de Moscou depuis 2022

Ukraine President Zelenskiy Arrives in Serbia for First Visit

**Summary:** A 14-year-old student shot and killed his grandparents before opening fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School near Bangkok, resulting in eight total deaths and over 30 injuries.

**Key points:**
- The 14-year-old suspect used a handgun legally registered to his grandfather.
- The shooting at the school left three teachers and three students dead before the suspect died by suicide at the scene.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul described the attack as well prepared, reigniting national debates regarding gun control and school security.
- Authorities recovered large amounts of ammunition and found that the shooter had viewed videos of past school shootings prior to the attack.

**Why it matters:** The tragedy has reignited intense political debate in Thailand over gun control, the widespread availability of private firearms, and student mental health and safety.

whnz.iheart.com - Thailand School Shooting Leaves Eight Dead

newsfeed.zeit.de - Schüsse an Schule in Thailand: Jugendlicher in Thailand tötet Großeltern und fünf Menschen an Schule

School Shooting in Thailand Leaves Eight Dead Including Suspect

**Summary:** Mexico and Peru have officially re-established diplomatic relations following an agreement that granted a safe-conduct to former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez.

**Key points:**
- Betssy Chávez had been asilada in the Mexican Embassy in Lima since November 2025.
- Peruvian authorities granted the safe-conduct under the 1954 Caracas Convention on Diplomatic Asylum.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that Chávez arrived in Mexico aboard an Air Force plane.
- Bilateral relations had been strained following the 2022 ouster and detention of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo.

**Why it matters:** The restoration of diplomatic ties heals a nearly two-year bilateral rift between Mexico and Peru, allowing both nations to normalize official government communication and representation.

diariocorreo.pe - Perú y México restablecen sus relaciones diplomáticas tras meses de distanciamiento

24-horas.mx - México recibe a Betssy Chávez, Sheinbaum confirma el restablecimiento de relaciones diplomáticas con Perú

vanguardia.com.mx - México y Perú restablecen relaciones diplomáticas tras acuerdo sobre el caso Betssy Chávez

elcomercio.pe - Claudia Sheinbaum: “Vamos a seguir en la defensa de Pedro Castillo, el nuevo gobierno del Perú lo sabe”

Mexico and Peru Restore Diplomatic Ties After Betssy Chávez Safe-Conduct Agreement

**Summary:** Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan have signed a joint defense pact in Mecca stipulating that an armed attack on any of the three states will be treated as an attack on all.

**Key points:**
- The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
- Turkish officials stated the pact is purely defensive, does not target any specific actor, and remains open to other regional partners.
- Saudi military sources indicated that the ongoing war with Iran and regional proxy escalations accelerated the security agreement.

**Why it matters:** This trilateral defense agreement significantly alters the regional security architecture in the Middle East and South Asia amid escalating tensions involving the US and Iran.

bbc.co.uk - Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan sign defence pact

ansa.it - Firmato un patto sulla difesa tra Turchia, Arabia Saudita e Pakistan

newsfeed.zeit.de - Verteidigungsabkommen: Türkei, Saudi-Arabien und Pakistan unterzeichnen Verteidigungspakt

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan Sign Joint Defense Pact

**Summary:** Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a plan to enhance security in Michoacán and seek talks with the US Department of Agriculture to resume avocado export inspections.

**Key points:**
- The suspension was triggered by a security alert issued by the US Embassy affecting US agricultural personnel.
- Mexico is proposing that US inspectors could potentially be temporarily replaced by personnel from the National Service of Health, Food Safety, and Quality Agroalimentaria.
- The Association of Producers and Packers Exporters of Avocado of Mexico urged a swift resumption of the export program to protect the agroalimentary chain.
- Mexico's first-four-month exports in 2026 reached over 501,000 tons prior to the suspension.

**Why it matters:** The suspension halts new avocado shipments from Michoacán to the United States, threatening a major bilateral agricultural trade stream and thousands of jobs dependent on the supply chain.

Quarte Bot