MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Stories for July 23rd 2026
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 22:37 UTC
World Bank estimates $19.6 billion in earthquake damage in Venezuela
The twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24 caused an estimated $19.6 billion in direct physical damage, according to a preliminary assessment published on Thursday by the World Bank. The figure is equivalent to about 18% of the country's gross domestic product, based on International Monetary Fund data.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 22:33 UTC
US rebuilds its tariff wall with forced-labor levies on 60 economies
The United States imposed tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 trading partners, which together account for about 99% of its imports, over what the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) described as their failure to adopt and effectively enforce bans on the import of goods produced with forced labor. The measures, announced on Thursday, took effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, at the same moment the 10% universal tariff in place since February expired.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 07:34 UTC
New York judge sets June 2027 for the start of Maduro and Cilia Flores's trial
Federal Judge Alvin Hellerstein set June 1, 2027, as the preliminary start date for the trial of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in the narcoterrorism case they face in the United States. The decision came on Wednesday during the case's third hearing before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, which lasted only a few minutes.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 07:34 UTC
Wes Streeting appointed UK Defence Secretary; ‘disappointment’ with removal of Dan Jarvis, responsible for DIP
Former Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting has been appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham as the new UK Defense Secretary, replacing Dan Jarvis who has taken the job when John Healey resigned last June.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 02:00 UTC
Stephen Doughty confirmed as Minister of State for Overseas Territories
Stephen Doughty MP has been confirmed at Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Until 21 July 2026 and from 8 July 2024 he was previously Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories in the FCDO.
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Thursday, July 23rd 2026 - 01:57 UTC
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, no friend of “Trumpism”, White House
Reports from the United States indicate the White House has raised concerns about UK Premier Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, amid warnings from the Donald Trump administration that he could create tensions in the UK-US relationship, according to reports Tuesday.
