UNITED STATES: President Donald Trump is scrambling to replace the revenue the federal government lost when the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs last month.

If the effort succeeds, congressional Democrats warned in a study released today that the administration’s import taxes will cost US households an average of $2,512 (£1,870) in 2026, up 44 per cent from $1,745 (£1,300) in tariff costs last year. 

SOUTH AFRICA: Authorities dismantled illegal gold mining operations in a community near Johannesburg on Thursday, forcing some illegal miners to flee and abandon their equipment at a site in Randfontein, around 25 miles to the west of Johannesburg.

Police and the army recovered various tools used by illegal miners, including generators and drill machines.

SERBIA: President Aleksander Vucic said on Thursday that his country wants to preserve its neutral status and will not be joining the Nato military alliance.

Speaking to Radio Television of Serbia, the country’s public broadcaster, Mr Vucic said: “As far as Nato is concerned, we are maintaining consistent relations, but we will not join Nato and will preserve our neutral status.”

POLAND: Prime Minister Donald Tusk vowed today to find ways to tap into €43.7billion (£37bn) in defence loans from the European Union despite a veto by the country’s president.

Poland was set to be the largest beneficiary of the EU’s €150bn (£130bn) Security Action for Europe initiative which is designed to boost Europe’s defence readiness as the US reduces its role in the continent’s security.