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1. EU Commission considers sanctions against Israel
In response to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the European Commission is preparing options for action ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers next Monday. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that these measures will be discussed in detail.
2. Hungary’s recovery plan set for approval
EU finance ministers are expected to greenlight Hungary’s revised National Recovery Plan during the ECOFIN meeting on Friday. This approval will allow Budapest to access €10 billion in post-pandemic recovery funds, contingent on meeting remaining conditions.
3. Polish court sentences Russian activists for espionage
A Polish court has sentenced a former Russian opposition activist and his wife to prison for spying for Moscow. They were also accused of organizing a parcel containing explosives, amid ongoing concerns about Russian sabotage in Poland since the invasion of Ukraine.
4. Ukraine targets Russian ships near Crimea
Ukraine has escalated its attacks on Russian fuel supplies, releasing footage of a naval drone strike on a sanctioned tanker in the Sea of Azov. The attack highlights the ongoing conflict as Ukraine continues to challenge Russian maritime operations.
5. Palm Beach airport renamed after Donald Trump
The airport in Palm Beach, Florida, has officially been renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport. This change reflects Trump’s frequent arrivals at the airport on his way to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
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6. Sweden has urged the European Union not to weaken its flagship green regulations as the European Commission prepares to review the Emissions Trading System. The ETS aims to curb emissions from the continent’s most polluting industries by imposing costs on carbon emissions, with a significant announcement expected soon.
7. The United States has greenlit the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany, as confirmed by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. This decision comes during a NATO meeting in Ankara, marking a shift in Germany’s defense capabilities amid previous uncertainties regarding the deployment of these long-range missiles.
8. Russia’s track and field federation is contesting a World Athletics ban linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The appeal has been filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as the federation seeks to overturn the ruling that has barred Russian athletes from international competitions.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will donate a pistol gifted to her by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to a military museum in Brussels. The donation is set to take place once the firearm arrives in the Belgian capital. Von der Leyen has expressed her gratitude for the gift, according to European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill.
In a significant development for the European financial landscape, the European Parliament has confirmed its negotiating position on the digital euro. Following a vote in Strasbourg, EU lawmakers are now poised to enter discussions with member state governments regarding the operational framework for this electronic form of central bank currency.
Turning to the weather. In Riga, 12 to 21 degrees with partly cloudy low. In London, 21 to 35 degrees with sunny feels like. In Paris, 22 to 35 degrees with sunny feels like. In Brussels, 16 to 30 degrees with sunny low. In Berlin, 12 to 24 degrees with sunny feels like. In Stockholm, 11 to 22 degrees with sunny feels like. In Madrid, 24 to 37 degrees with sunny feels like.
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