EU external relations, diplomacy, and security
Ursula von der Leyen is set to propose a new ‘European Security Council’ in her State of the Union address, signalling a major shift in how the EU handles defence. The bold move comes as European military spending hits record levels and pressure mounts to act independently of Washington.
UN investigators are demanding an immediate halt to hostilities after US airstrikes on Iran killed civilians in recent weeks. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 people have been displaced in Yemen as the regional crisis deepens.
Turkish police arrested at least 60 people in raids on gay bars and LGBTQ activists’ homes, with authorities citing the protection of traditional family values. An activist says the crackdown sends a chilling message: simply existing as an LGBTQ person is now treated as a crime.
Houthi rebels claimed a missile and drone strike on a Saudi military base Sunday as renewed fighting across western Yemen killed hundreds and forced more than 40,000 civilians to flee. The escalation has raised fresh fears of a wider regional confrontation with no ceasefire in sight.
Montenegro is warning that the EU’s credibility as an enlargement partner is on the line in 2025, with Podgorica demanding concrete membership timelines after years of shifting benchmarks. The frontrunner in Western Balkan accession talks says Brussels risks losing the entire region’s trust if it fails to deliver.
Volodymyr Zelensky called on Donald Trump Friday to impose new sanctions on Russia after overnight strikes killed at least 12 civilians across Ukraine. The urgent appeal comes as US-brokered peace talks remain deadlocked and fighting intensifies on both sides.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony at the Pentagon to warn of an enduring Islamist threat and draw a direct link to Iran. His combative remarks marked a sharp departure from the day’s more traditional tone of mourning and remembrance.
Zeshan Hamdani lost his older brother Salman, an NYPD cadet and EMT, in the North Tower on 9/11. Now he’s speaking out against critics who questioned whether New York’s Muslim mayor should attend the 25-year memorial.
President Trump warned Iran on Wednesday not to “get cute” over suspicious activity at Pickaxe Mountain, as advisors privately cautioned the conflict could last through the end of his presidency. Oil prices have already surged 23 percent since fighting began, with no relief expected before the 2026 midterms.
Twelve Western nations have launched coordinated trade sanctions against Israeli settlement goods in the West Bank, with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accusing settlers of “ethnic cleansing.” Israel hit back by shutting the British consulate in Jerusalem.
