EU sends €3.2bn to Ukraine; Venezuela quake
The European Union has released the first multi-billion euro payment to Ukraine, as conflict continues there and in the Middle East. Readers from Venezuela should be aware of a major earthquake in Caracas, while Italy prepares to sign a strategic mineral deal with the U.S.
For the Ukrainian community, the EU has transferred the first €3.2 billion of a €90 billion loan to support the country, a fund Italy helped establish. This financial support arrives as the EU extends its sanctions against Russia for another year. On the ground, Russian ballistic missile strikes on Kyiv overnight caused multiple fires and injuries in the capital.
In the Middle East, maritime safety is under threat after Iran opened fire on a merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz, leading the UN to suspend ship evacuations in the area. Nearby, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the IDF (Israel's national military) will not withdraw from Lebanon as air raids in the region continue.
For the Venezuelan community in Italy, a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck near Caracas. The tremors caused buildings to collapse in the capital, and authorities warn that the scale of the disaster may be widespread across the country.
Regarding Italy's economy, the government is set to sign the "Pax Silica" with the United States. This is an agreement to secure "critical minerals"—raw materials like lithium and cobalt that are essential for manufacturing batteries and electronics.
Finally, the Pope is meeting with cardinals at the Vatican for a two-day Consistory, a formal assembly to advise the church leadership. The discussions are expected to focus on global wars and the appointment of new church officials.
Visit the News section for more on the NATO summit in Berlin and the latest plans for monitoring nuclear sites in Iran.