The European Commission has proposed a €2 trillion budget for 2028–2034, marking a strategic shift in EU financial planning. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aims to make the budget more adaptable to crises, reduce programme complexity from 52 to 16, and introduce new EU-wide taxes. The budget focuses on agriculture, competitiveness, and external action, while also allocating €400 billion for crisis loans and €100 billion for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The plan faces intense negotiations as member states debate spending priorities, rule-of-law conditions, and controversial own-resource mechanisms to repay pandemic-era debt.
EU DELAYS ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL
The European Union has decided not to impose sanctions on Israel over its actions in Gaza, despite acknowledging potential breaches of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar praised the decision as a diplomatic victory, while Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian-Shahin condemned it as “shocking and disappointing.” The EU will continue monitoring Israel’s humanitarian aid commitments but has kept punitive options on hold. The contrasting reactions reflect deep divisions over the ongoing conflict. This marks the first high-level EU engagement with both Israeli and Palestinian officials since the October 7 Hamas attacks.
SYRIA REJECTS EXTERNAL DRUZE INTERVENTION
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has warned against foreign interference in the escalating Druze conflict, following Israeli airstrikes on Damascus. In his first public address since the clashes erupted, al-Sharaa reaffirmed his commitment to protect Syria’s minorities while accusing Israel of exploiting the situation to destabilise the country. Clashes in Sweida province began after Bedouin tribes attacked Druze civilians, prompting fears of sectarian violence. Israel cited its alliance with Druze citizens as justification for its intervention. Al-Sharaa warned Israel and other parties of Syria’s readiness to defend itself while prioritizing national unity over conflict escalation.
RUSSIA JUSTIFIES INTERNET SHUTDOWNS
The Kremlin has defended recent mobile internet outages across dozens of Russian regions, claiming they are necessary to prevent Ukrainian drone attacks. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the shutdowns are part of Russia’s security measures amid the ongoing war. This week, internet monitoring service Sboi.rf reported widespread disruptions to mobile networks. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is also analysing U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threats of secondary tariffs on Russian exports. Trump warned of 100% tariffs unless Russia agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days, escalating already tense Russia-U.S. relations and fueling further geopolitical uncertainty.
US CONDEMNS IRAQ DRONE ATTACKS
US has strongly condemned a series of drone attacks targeting oilfields in Iraq’s Kurdistan region, including a facility operated by Hunt Oil. The attacks threaten both Iraq’s economic stability and international energy investments, said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Security sources confirmed that these strikes have halted operations at several oil sites, including Sarsang. The Kurdistan region has faced multiple similar incidents in recent days, raising concerns about regional security and future investments. The US reiterated its support for Iraq’s sovereignty while warning that such actions jeopardize Iraq’s long-term development and cooperation with foreign investors.
