live U.S. and Iran trade threats as World focus' on reopening Strait of Hormuz - Middle East conflict on 3 April
Iran has rejected claims it has been weakened, vowing instead “more crushing” attacks against the United States and ...
Poland to prioritise joint EU defence funding during its presidency, urging unity on security as a shared European goal. Ministers to explore funding options in April.
Poland will prioritise joint EU financing for defence during its upcoming presidency of the 27-nation bloc, highlighting security as a shared European responsibility, Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski announced on Wednesday.
The European Commission estimates that enhancing EU defence capabilities could cost over €500 billion within the next decade.
In April, EU finance ministers will meet in Warsaw to explore funding models. Domanski emphasised the need for a unified European approach, particularly for large-scale projects like a European air defence system, which require both funding and international cooperation.
He also called for greater efficiency, criticising Europe’s 12 separate tank systems as excessive. Potential financing solutions include leveraging the EU’s long-term budget for new borrowing, similar to the €800 billion COVID-19 recovery fund, or establishing a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with paid-in capital, akin to the European Stability Mechanism. The SPV option could involve non-EU nations, such as Britain and Norway, and keep control with governments rather than the European Commission.
Germany’s legal constraints on joint debt and the need for unanimous agreement among EU members present challenges. The financing needs will become clearer after EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius publishes a report in March outlining key priorities. However, discussions remain preliminary, with Domanski acknowledging that it is too early to decide on a specific model.
Fears of wider escalation grow despite President Donald Trump saying U.S. strikes on Iran could end within weeks. Meanwhile missile attacks, tanker incidents and rising casualties across Israel, Lebanon and the Gulf heighten risks to regional stability and energy routes.
There are fears of an oil spill after a drone strike hit a Kuwaiti oil tanker near Dubai on Tuesday, while U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran reportedly killed at least two people. A loud explosion was heard in Beirut in southern Lebanon early Wednesday, as oil prices climbed above $100 a barrel.
Four astronauts blasted off from Florida on Wednesday on NASA's Artemis II mission, a high-stakes voyage around the moon that marks the United States' boldest step yet toward returning humans to the lunar surface later this decade in a race with China.
An earthquake of magnitude 7.6 struck in Indonesia's Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging some buildings and triggering tsunami waves, authorities and witnesses said.
President Donald Trump staunchly defended his handling of the month-old U.S.-Israeli war on Iran in a prime-time address on Wednesday, saying the U.S. military was nearing completion of its mission while also reinforcing his threats to bomb the Islamic Republic back to the Stone Age.
In a highly unusual move highlighting shifting narcotics diplomacy, the U.S. has handed over a Chinese fugitive accused of serious drug crimes to authorities in Beijing.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 3 April, covering the latest developments you need to know
The 2026 World Cup final is setting new records for sports ticketing costs, characterised by unprecedented price hikes and the debut of controversial sales models.
French police detained European Parliament member Rima Hassan in Paris for several hours on Thursday as part of an investigation into an alleged “apology for terrorism”, following a social media post linked to a deadly attack in Israel in the 1970s.
In a dramatic shake-up at the top of the U.S. Justice Department, President Donald Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post, a White House official confirmed on Thursday.
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