Jul 29, 2026, 01:30 AM UTC

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani clarified that the government has reserved €14.9 billion under the European Union's Safe fund for military procurement, with detailed allocation proposals expected by year-end alongside Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. However, the plan renewed internal coalition friction over rearmament, as partners from Lega and Brothers of Italy emphasized the necessity of parliamentary oversight.

Simultaneously, preliminary planning for the 2027 budget indicates a baseline requirement of €14.6 billion to €15 billion designated for energy and defense priorities, ahead of expected additions for tax and pension adjustments.

Separately, statistical data confirmed that birth rates in Italy dropped to a post-war low of 355,000 in 2025, driven primarily by economic constraints and career challenges facing women.

Sources: Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero.

United States Central Command reported intercepting multiple Iranian ballistic missiles directed at American forces across the Middle East, ending a brief pause in direct military engagements. The strikes coincided with rising tensions along key shipping lanes, where a commercial tanker struck a naval mine while attempting an unapproved passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Concurrently, Yemeni officials alerted international partners that Iran-aligned Houthi militants intend to replicate the Hormuz maritime blockade across the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. In a separate development, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha rejected Tehran's threats of retaliation following Kyiv's strike on an Iranian vessel in the Caspian Sea, characterizing Iran's warnings as "unjustified and groundless."

Sources: BBC News, Sweden Herald.

US President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for separate White House meetings on Tuesday, amid escalating regional conflicts.

Netanyahu's visit occurred alongside rising domestic scrutiny and military friction, shortly after Iran launched a missile attack targeting a US base in Jordan. The US military reported that all incoming Iranian missiles were intercepted. Tensions between Washington and Israeli leadership persist following Israeli military operations in Lebanon that disrupted ceasefire efforts. Public opinion polls indicate that half of Americans support detaining Netanyahu during his visit, reflecting widespread disapproval of US involvement in the Middle East conflict.

Separately, Zelenskyy reported a productive discussion with Trump centered on acquiring air defense systems and advancing peace talks. Despite the administration's recent pause on direct US military aid shipments to Kyiv, Trump commended Ukraine's rapid development of drone technology.

Sources: Aftenposten, TV 2 Nyheter.

Emergency response operations continue in southern Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on Kyushu island, with a smaller magnitude 3 aftershock recently striking the same area.

Casualty figures and structural reports continue to develop. Local authorities reported several people missing after a paper factory chimney collapsed. Meanwhile, emergency personnel are searching for survivors at a Kashima shopping center following a floor collapse caused by a suspected explosion. Regional infrastructure sustained widespread damage, including destroyed bridges, collapsed castle walls, and power outages affecting approximately 40,000 households.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi confirmed multiple injuries and extensive road damage, noting that "the full extent of the damage has yet to be determined." Over 150,000 residents have been advised to seek shelter in evacuation centers.

Sources: BBC News, Die Zeit, NOS, ORF, TV 2 Nyheter.

At least five people have died and more than 100 others sustained injuries after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday. The tremor, which triggered tsunami warnings and registered at the maximum intensity level of 7 on the national seismic scale, caused structural damage and fires across the region.

According to local officials cited by public broadcaster NHK, two of the fatalities occurred at a shopping center following a quake-induced explosion. Emergency responders continue to search collapsed buildings while regional authorities evaluate full casualty numbers and conduct ongoing rescue efforts.

Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde