Vietnam risks losing up to twenty-five billion dollars in annual exports to the United States due to tariffs imposed on August seventh, according to new estimates from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The U.S. duties, amounting to approximately twenty percent on Vietnamese goods, could reduce Vietnam’s exports by about nineteen point two percent, with footwear exports already down five point five percent.

In August 2025, Vietnam’s exports to the U.S. fell two percent from July to thirteen point ninety-four billion dollars, while year-to-date shipments for the first eight months rose approximately twenty-six point four percent to ninety-nine point zero five billion dollars, suggesting both strain and continued growth.

The UNDP estimates that should the tariffs be fully passed on to U.S. consumers, the drop in exports could shave roughly five percent off Vietnam’s Gross Domestic Product.

However, some impacts may be softened by Vietnam’s efforts to diversify export markets, increased domestic spending, and partial absorption of costs by exporters.

Vietnam has also warned that stricter rules targeting goods transshipped through Vietnam—or those using Chinese inputs—could raise duties to forty percent, which may amplify risk for sectors heavily dependent on such supply chains.

While electronics items enjoy current exemptions, they account for nearly twenty-eight percent of Vietnam’s total exports to the U.S. Even if these waivers remain, UNDP projects exports could still fall by around eighteen billion dollars under adverse scenarios.

Vietnamese ministries have not yet responded with official comment on the latest projections, even as economic forecasts are adjusted and private sector concerns grow over the long-term fallout from what may be one of its steepest trade shocks in decades.

Europe has stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight at Taiwan’s largest defence fair, sending a message of increased cooperation as pressure from Beijing grows.

At the Taipei Aerospace & Defence Technology Exhibition (TADTE 2025), German, Czech, and other European participants displayed advanced security and aerospace technologies in a way not seen for decades.

Germany made its debut via its trade office in Taipei, presenting innovations in aerospace and security.

Airbus showcased a tactical flexrotor drone capable of fourteen-hour surveillance missions, and satellite, secure-communication, and emergency-response technologies were also on show.

The theme was clear: Europe is easing its caution.

In Central and Eastern Europe, voices are increasingly vocal in support of Taiwan.

Czech Senate Foreign Affairs chairman Pavel Fischer emphasized the geopolitical stakes posed by China’s assertiveness.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung’s visits to Prague, Rome, and Vienna further underscore the growing diplomatic momentum behind Taipei’s case.

Traditional arms suppliers like the United States remain dominant—Lockheed Martin and U.S. firms continue to hold major influence.

But the gap is narrowing.

One notable example: Britain is assisting Taiwan in building its first indigenous submarines.

Taiwan’s show of force extends beyond hardware.

The exhibition’s growth—both in European presence and the diversity of technologies—reflects a broader shift in Europe’s posture toward Taipei.

The tension between trade, diplomacy, and defence is being recalibrated in plain view of China’s watchful eyes.

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea has raised alarms that current U.S. demands in trade negotiations could spark a financial crisis similar to its 1997 meltdown unless critical safeguards are implemented.

He told Reuters that if Seoul is forced to send $350 billion in investment abroad — as the U.S. is demanding — without a currency swap in place, the won would face severe instability.

Earlier in July, South Korea and the United States agreed in principle on a framework deal: the U.S. would lower certain tariffs on Korean products in return for Seoul committing to significant investment abroad.

However, the agreement has not yet been formalized, as both sides are still negotiating how the investment will be structured.

A central concern for Seoul is how much of the investment must be direct cash flow into U.S. projects versus loans or other financial tools.

Lee has said that without an “unlimited” or sufficient currency swap line, sudden outflows of capital could severely damage Korea’s foreign exchange stability.

Another point of tension is a recent U.S. immigration raid targeting hundreds of South Korean workers at a Hyundai battery plant in Georgia.

Lee said the raid may deter future investment by South Korean firms in the United States, citing fears over visa policies and treatment of overseas labor.

Negotiations are ongoing, with trade envoys from both countries working on details including profitability, commercial viability, and protection for Korea’s economic sovereignty.

The outcome will be watched closely — both for South Korea’s financial health and its ability to maintain its national interests in U.S.-led trade deals.

Indonesia’s Constitutional Court ruled on Wednesday that recent amendments to the country’s military law were passed following acceptable legislative process, rejecting five petitions challenging the revision.

The amendments allow the armed forces to assume wider roles in civilian sectors under President Prabowo Subianto.

The contested revisions, passed in March, permit military personnel to head roles in agencies such as agriculture, public health, and food procurement, deploy army battalions for civilian tasks, establish labs for medicine manufacturing, and run free school lunch distribution programmes.

The Defence Ministry published a full-page advertisement just this week in Kompas to defend these actions.

Critics—including student groups, human rights organisations and activists—argue that the law’s passage was rushed and lacked genuine public consultation.

Some protesters express fear that Indonesia is sliding back toward the military dominance characteristic of the New Order era under Suharto.

Supporters of the law defend it as necessary to strengthen national resilience and governance capacity.

They argue that military discipline and logistical capacity are assets in addressing infrastructure, health, and food security challenges in remote and underserved regions.

The Court’s decision, by a narrow margin, affirms the procedural legitimacy of the law but leaves open broader judicial scrutiny on its substantive content.

The ruling has intensified public debate over the separation between military and civilian authority in Indonesia.

Vietnam is set to terminate more than eighty-six million bank accounts from September first because they have not been biometrically authenticated or have remained inactive for a long time, the State Bank of Vietnam has announced.

There are about two hundred million bank accounts in the country in total, meaning a substantial portion of personal and organizational accounts will be affected.

The biometric rules require face scans, fingerprints, or IDs with embedded chips and authenticated ties to the national ID database.

Any user who fails to update by January first, 2025 will be restricted, and after September first (once clean-ups begin) banks will delete non-compliant accounts.

Transfers above ten million Vietnamese dong (around three hundred ninety US dollars) already require biometric verification.

Daily transaction limits also trigger the requirement when thresholds are exceeded.

Banks have been notifying customers, including foreign residents, to register biometric data through apps or in branches.

Officials say the measures are part of a broader strategy to fight fraud, dormant or fake accounts, and cybercrime.

They argue it will strengthen security in payment systems and protect customers.

However, concerns are mounting that many account holders may be excluded unintentionally—especially older people, those in remote regions, or foreigners without chip-embedded citizen ID cards.

There are also worries over privacy, possible misuse of biometric data, and what happens to funds or balances left in deleted or frozen accounts.

Vietnam’s push is part of the government’s digital identity infrastructure and cashless payments agenda, which includes the VNeID system and tighter verification across banking and payment services.

As the country moves forward, its policies are being watched closely both for models of fintech regulation and for warnings about state power over personal data.

What an amazing, powerful and inspiring lady!

A study presented at the 43rd Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) in Copenhagen has found that special eye drops combining pilocarpine and diclofenac may provide a viable alternative to reading glasses for people with presbyopia.

The study involved 766 patients in Buenos Aires, aged roughly 55 on average, and showed significant improvements in near vision that were sustained over time.

Participants in the trial used the drops twice daily (once upon waking and again about six hours later), with three different concentrations of pilocarpine (1 %, 2 %, 3 %) all paired with a fixed dose of diclofenac.

One hour after the first dose, patients on average improved by 3.45 lines on the Jaeger near-vision chart.

Results varied by dosage: in the 1 % pilocarpine group nearly all participants (99 % of 148) improved by at least two Jaeger lines; in the 2 % group, 69 % of 248 achieved at least three extra lines; and in the 3 % group, 84 % of 370 reached that level of improvement.

Vision gains persisted for up to two years, with many maintaining good functional near vision at twelve months.

Side effects were generally mild: temporary dimming of vision, occasional irritation upon application, and headaches were reported.

No serious adverse outcomes — such as retinal detachment or unsafe increases in eye pressure — were observed.

Researchers caution, however, that the study was retrospective, performed at a single centre, and that broader, multi-centre trials will be needed to fully confirm safety, effectiveness, and how the drops perform across diverse populations.