Aug 25, 2026, 04:00 PM UTC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally rejected a US-backed 15-point Gaza peace proposal recently announced by US President Donald Trump. Speaking to his cabinet, Netanyahu insisted that Israeli forces "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed" and confirmed that Israel rejects the framework, which Hamas had accepted in late July.

The decision underscores a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and Tel Aviv, despite a recent reduction in major Israeli combat operations following American diplomatic pressure. The prime minister's firm stance comes as he prepares for an upcoming general election on October 27, balancing demands from far-right coalition allies against pressure from international partners to advance peace negotiations in the region.

Sources: Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian, The Herald.

Following the breakdown of cross-border trade negotiations and the implementation of 50 percent US tariffs on Canadian goods, Ottawa has outlined its specific counter-measures. Canadian officials announced plans to apply retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on American goods valued at 27.6 billion Canadian dollars, or approximately 19.94 billion US dollars.

The retaliatory tariffs are scheduled to take effect on September 8, targeting a broad range of American goods to match the financial impact of Washington's punitive duties. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended bilateral negotiations after the US tariffs took effect following an expired deadline set by US President Donald Trump. Both governments continue to exchange blame for the collapse of trade terms between the long-standing allies.

Sources: Der Standard, NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting), NRC, ORF, Tagesschau

German law enforcement and intelligence agencies are evaluating more than 100 incidents of potential foreign-sponsored sabotage, reconnaissance, and disinformation. The cases encompass unauthorized drone flights over military installations and critical infrastructure, network disruptions, and fabricated media campaigns.

Investigations intensified following reports detailing the discovery of a covert weapons cache near the Berlin border containing two loaded firearms, allegedly deposited by Russian operatives for targeted attacks. Authorities also highlighted a failed explosive drone attempt near Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig Airport as part of Moscow's broader hybrid campaign.

German officials warn these coordinated activities seek to destabilize democratic institutions and impair national infrastructure, though reporting reveals questions regarding how comprehensively federal and state police track state-backed acts.

Sources: Correctiv, Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, Tagesschau

The US Supreme Court has temporarily permitted the Trump administration to resume construction on a $400 million ballroom at the White House complex.

In a brief administrative order issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, the high court paused a lower court ruling that had previously halted major portions of the development project. The temporary stay provides the justices with additional time to evaluate an emergency application submitted by the federal government.

The ongoing legal dispute originated from a lawsuit filed by a historic preservation organisation seeking to halt the build. The administration appealed to the Supreme Court to allow construction cranes and workers to proceed while legal challenges move through the court system.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF

Ukrainian lawmakers are set to vote on Wednesday on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s nomination of former intelligence chief Yevhen Khmara as defence minister. The parliamentary session will also address the confirmation of Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Khmara's nomination follows the removal of former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, whose dismissal sparked rare domestic protests. Fedorov has publicly criticized wartime corruption, governance failures, and internal military command practices, calling for national elections despite the ongoing war with Russia.

Concurrently, newly appointed Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapatyj has initiated restructuring across the armed forces. Drapatyj, known for his frontline combat experience dating back to 2014, is dismantling internal patronage networks and reorganizing command hierarchies established by his predecessors to streamline military operations.

Sources: Ekonomický deník, Hospodářské noviny, iROZHLAS, Respect, Seznam Zprávy