The spokesperson for the Russian Presidency, Dmitry Peskov, stated that all states have the right to access atomic energy for peaceful purposes, extending this right to Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as other countries.
Peskov also assured that Moscow's stance remains firm on the principle of nuclear non-proliferation.
In Manila, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that through an agreement with the United States, Saudi Arabia seeks to establish a nuclear program of a 'peaceful and civilian' nature. Rubio stressed that any pact signed with any nation regarding civilian nuclear energy will include safeguards to prevent its conversion into an armament program.
Rubio reiterated Saudi Arabia's desire to have a civilian nuclear program and mentioned the existence of a similar agreement in force with the United Arab Emirates.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented on the agreement allowing the Arab kingdom to develop its civilian nuclear program, stating that Riyadh does not need permission to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, as this is a right of any state signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Lavrov warned, however, about the growing mentality that only nuclear weapons can guarantee a country's freedom and independence. He expressed regret over this trend, attributing it to the aggressive actions promoted by the United States and its allies in global politics to sustain their hegemony.
This statement came after Russia and Belarus conducted their first joint exercises using tactical and strategic nuclear weapons in May. The pact between Washington and Riyadh, called the 'Agreement 123', still requires ratification by the United States Congress.
This agreement was established in a climate of tension with Iran, Saudi Arabia's rival in the Middle East, and while Washington intensifies efforts to restrict Tehran's nuclear capabilities, which denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
A figure of $15 million appeared in two completely different international stories last week, demonstrating how the same sum of money can be both a significant incentive and a financial obstacle.
It is reported that Spain, which recently became the FIFA World Cup champion, risks losing nearly $15 million from its prize fund due to US taxes. After defeating Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Spain received a record prize of $50 million from FIFA. However, sources indicate that the team's composition may fall under federal tax obligations for income earned during the tournament, as a significant part of the event took place on US territory.
It is estimated that Spain could lose about $15 million if the maximum withholding rate of 30% is applied. Currently, US politicians are discussing the proposed tax package. Proponents of this measure argue that foreign athletes should be subject to the same tax laws as Americans, while opponents believe it unduly burdens international athletes.
In parallel, the US Department of State is offering a reward of up to $15 million for credible information that helps expose the financial activities of a network allegedly linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.
This incentive is provided under the 'Rewards for Justice' program. It aims to gather data on individuals, companies, and financial channels suspected of assisting the IRGC in acquiring sensitive goods and evading international sanctions. US officials state that over the past decade, the target network has facilitated money laundering and procurement operations benefiting the IRGC and associated military structures.
Participants in the program may also be eligible for additional security and resettlement assistance if they disclose information leading to the disruption of this network. Thus, the identical sum of $15 million attracted attention, illustrating two completely different applications of money on the international stage, despite the complete unrelatedness of these events: one represents a possible reduction in the championship prize, and the other serves as an incentive in Washington's ongoing campaign against networks accused of financing the IRGC.
Toyota and Uber have established a collaboration in Europe aimed at facilitating access for ride-hailing drivers to electrified vehicles, offering advantageous conditions for acquisition, financing, and insurance.
This agreement was formalized by Toyota Motor Europe on July 20th and will come into effect this month in ten European nations, including the United Kingdom. There are plans for this partnership to gradually expand to other markets.
The agreed terms provide preferential benefits for drivers and fleet companies partnered with the platform, covering new and used vehicles from the Toyota and Lexus brands. Furthermore, flexible options for leasing, financing, and insurance calculated based on actual vehicle usage are available.
The automaker opted to maintain its 'multi-path' approach, rather than focusing exclusively on fully electric models. Thus, it offers options that include hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and approved used units, serving as entry points to electrification.
This strategy considers variations in costs, working standards, and the availability of existing charging infrastructure across various European countries.
The initiative arises in response to increasing pressure on ride-hailing workers. Several European cities are implementing low-emission zones and restricting the circulation of gasoline and diesel-powered cars, which transforms the electrified vehicle from a mere advantage into an essential requirement to continue working. Concurrently, these drivers face a scenario of high operating costs.
Leonardo Carluccio, Vice President of Sales for Toyota Motor Europe, emphasized that 'professional drivers need electrified vehicles that work for them economically and operationally.' Meanwhile, Raoul Philips Sr, Chief Operating Officer of Uber, stated that Uber's goal is to remove barriers to vehicle replacement, asserting that 'by reducing ownership hurdles, we are accelerating electrification and supporting drivers' livelihoods.'
This European collaboration expands a pre-existing relationship between the two corporations, which was resumed in the United Kingdom in 2024.
On Friday, the 24th, Meta announced a significant improvement to its artificial intelligence chatbot. This update expands the tool's capabilities beyond existing functions, such as generating responses, creating images, and drafting documents, by incorporating new features focused on personal organization, detailed research, and task planning.
The new feature allows the assistant to access the user's calendar data to generate daily summaries, assist in selecting dates for appointments, and support overall activity organization. Meta claims that these additions are part of a larger strategy to transform its AI into a true personal assistant.
The initial launch is available in specific markets, accessible through both the Meta AI app and the service's web version. The company communicated that expansion to other regions and platforms, including WhatsApp, will be implemented in the coming weeks.
Meta presented this update as an evolution of the chatbot, which now includes tools to monitor repetitive tasks and suggest actions based on context provided by the user. It is possible to configure the system once so that it executes certain functions continuously, without the need for constant commands.
Among the practical examples cited by the company are the creation of weekly meal schedules, alerts about the need to restock items, and the drafting of daily agenda summaries. Furthermore, the assistant can help with practical searches, such as locating used furniture on Facebook Marketplace while respecting a predefined budget for renovations.
The tool has also received dedicated features for events and searches. According to Meta, the chatbot has the ability to find restaurants suitable for a specific occasion and cross-reference this information with the user's schedule to identify a compatible day. Additionally, the system now produces reports, presentations, and plans using information collected from the internet. Another innovation allows users to redirect the search while the answer is still being generated, following a pattern seen in other AI assistants.
This update is powered by the Muse Spark 1.1 model, which Meta designated as responsible for increasing the chatbot's abilities. The company associated this novelty with the concept of 'personal superintelligence,' a term used by CEO Mark Zuckerberg when discussing the future of artificial intelligence.
This change signals a shift in the company's previous approach. According to information attributed to journalist Alex Heath, Chris Cox, Meta's product director, had instructed employees last year to focus on entertainment and social connection, rather than productivity—an area where competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are strong. With these new features, Meta enters a more direct competition with the AI assistants developed by its rivals, seeking to increase the daily use of the tool through integration with organization, research, and planning tasks.
