**Summary:** The European Commission has fined Google a total of €890 million for violating the Digital Markets Act by favoring its own services in search results and restricting alternative app purchase channels on Google Play.

**Key points:**
- Google was penalized with €460 million regarding Google Search and €430 million regarding Google Play.
- The tech giant has 60 days to comply with the European Commission's decisions or face periodic penalty payments.
- Google criticized the ruling, stating it forces product degradations that harm European consumers and businesses.
- The decision adds to ongoing friction between Brussels and Washington regarding European tech regulations.

**Why it matters:** This record penalty under the Digital Markets Act highlights the European Union's aggressive enforcement of antitrust rules against major technology companies, escalating transatlantic regulatory tensions.

eldiario.es - Google vuelve a ser multado por la Comisión Europea y ya suma más de 10.000 millones de euros en sanciones

elpais.com - Bruselas multa a Google con 890 millones por favorecer a sus propios servicios y obstaculizar los de la competencia

ansa.it - ++ Maxi multa Ue da 890 milioni a Google, nel mirino Search e Play Store ++

ansa.it - Maxi multa da 890 milioni a Google. La sanzione dell'Ue, nel mirino Search e Play Store

lalibre.be - L'UE inflige 890 millions d'euros d'amendes à Google : "C'est une décision très importante"

lalibre.be - "Encore un trimestre impressionnant pour Google" : Alphabet gagne des milliards et veut en dépenser encore plus

EU Fines Google €890 Million Under Digital Markets Act

**Summary:** The European Union has agreed on a new sanctions package targeting Russia's financial, energy, and military sectors, including asset freezes on 32 additional banks and travel bans for soldiers.

**Key points:**
- The automatic adjustment of the oil price cap is suspended for twelve months to limit Russian export revenues amid higher world market prices.
- Proposals for broader import restrictions on Russian fish, such as Alaska pollock and cod, ultimately failed to pass.
- Greek interests led to exemptions allowing existing long-term contracts for liquefied natural gas transport to remain outside the ban.
- EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the agreement following weeks of difficult negotiations between member states.

**Why it matters:** The new measures intensify economic pressure on Russia while balancing domestic industry concerns within member states against potential market disruptions.

DIE ZEIT - EU-Sanktionen gegen Russland: EU verhängt neue Sanktionen gegen Russland

lr-online.de - Einigung in Brüssel : EU verhängt neue Russland

EU adopts new sanctions package targeting Russian finance, energy, and military

**Summary:** Gabon is expanding its national land policy to secondary cities through infrastructure development while simultaneously reorganizing its Purchasing Central to curb speculative price hikes.

**Key points:**
- The National Real Estate Company is developing 1,350 parcels across cities including Port-Gentil, Mouila, Tchibanga, Makokou, and Ndendé.
- Government officials met to restructure the Purchasing Central following directives from President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema regarding market speculation.
- Proposed volume limitations suggest households restrict purchases to two 25-kilogram bags of rice and five one-liter bottles of oil.
- A large-scale market is planned in the PK zone of Libreville to provide direct access to regulated goods.

**Why it matters:** These dual initiatives aim to address territorial imbalances in real estate and ease cost-of-living pressures for citizens by reforming supply chains.

infosgabon.com - Gabon : Le foncier change d’échelle

infosgabon.com - Vie chère au Gabon : la riposte s’organise

Gabon Expands Land Policy to Secondary Cities and Restructures Supply Chain to Combat High Living Costs

**Summary:** Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a 35-minute bilateral meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN events in Manila to discuss international and bilateral issues.

**Key points:**
- The discussions touched upon the conflict in Ukraine, regional affairs in the Persian Gulf, and the normalisation of conditions for diplomatic missions.
- Sergei Lavrov briefed Marco Rubio on the situation on the front line and criticized Western military assistance to Kyiv.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that Washington and Moscow must maintain dialogue as major nuclear powers despite existing disagreements.

**Why it matters:** This meeting represents a high-level diplomatic contact between the top foreign policy officials of Russia and the United States, addressing strategic regional and bilateral concerns.

interfax.ru - Лавров довел до Рубио информацию о ситуации на линии боевого соприкосновения

tvzvezda.ru - Встреча Лаврова и Рубио продлилась более получаса

vm.ru - Встреча Лаврова и Рубио в Маниле завершилась спустя 35 минут

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rubio Meet in Manila

**Summary:** Yemen's Huthi movement attacked two Saudi oil tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, in the Red Sea using missiles and drones to enforce a recently declared naval blockade against Saudi-arabian shipping.

**Key points:**
- The Encelia sustained a fire at its bow following the strike, while the crew remained safe and no injuries were reported.
- The British United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the incident occurred approximately 130 kilometers southwest of Al-Schukaik.
- Huthi military spokesperson Jahja Sari announced the maritime shipping ban against Saudi Arabia earlier in the week following fresh armed confrontations.
- Saudi Arabia currently exports a significant portion of its oil via an east-to-west pipeline to the Red Sea port of Janbu due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

**Why it matters:** The escalation by the Huthi militia threatens vital Red Sea shipping lanes and international maritime trade routes between Asia and Europe.

tagesschau.de - Huthi-Miliz beschießt saudischen Tanker im Roten Meer

newsfeed.zeit.de - Rotes Meer: Huthis greifen saudi-arabische Schiffe im Roten Meer an

aktiencheck.de - ROUNDUP : Saudi - arabisches Schiff im Roten Meer beschossen ()

Huthi Militants Attack Saudi Oil Tankers in Red Sea Following Blockade Declaration

**Summary:** The US House of Representatives narrowly passed the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, a massive $1.15 trillion military spending package that faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

**Key points:**
- The 2027 National Defense Authorization Act passed by a 216-212 vote, reflecting growing political polarization.
- The bill includes funding for the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system and service member pay raises.
- Controversial provisions include enhanced military technological cooperation with Israel and the addition of the SAVE America Act regarding voting restrictions.
- Democratic lawmakers heavily criticized the legislation's high price tag and its funding of the ongoing war on Iran.

**Why it matters:** The legislation sets crucial national security and defense spending priorities for the United States, while igniting sharp partisan debates over military expenditures, foreign conflict funding, and domestic voting provisions.

manilatimes.net - US House passes record $1.15 trillion defense bill

aljazeera.com - US House passes $1.15 trillion military bill expanding Israel cooperation

US House Narrowly Passes Record $1.15 Trillion Defense Bill

**Summary:** The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a bilateral agreement to develop a civilian nuclear program in the kingdom, aiming to build a decades-long partnership and expand technology exports.

**Key points:**
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman signed both the primary agreement and a bilateral pact on nuclear safeguards in Washington.
- The deal will be submitted to Congress for review in accordance with the United States Atomic Energy Act.
- Westinghouse CEO Dan Sumner described the agreement as a landmark step that will strengthen energy security and open opportunities for U.S. industry.
- Saudi Arabia currently produces virtually all of its domestic energy from fossil fuels, with nearly 60% of electricity coming from natural gas and around 40% from oil.

**Why it matters:** This agreement establishes a formal legal foundation for multi-billion-dollar civilian nuclear cooperation, potentially shifting Saudi Arabia's fossil fuel-dependent energy sector while expanding U.S. nuclear technology exports.

cnbc.com - U.S. signs nuclear power agreement with Saudi Arabia

france24.com - US announces nuclear cooperation pact with Saudi Arabia

newsfeed.zeit.de - Atom: US-Regierung genehmigt Atom-Deal mit Saudi-Arabien

US and Saudi Arabia Sign Civilian Nuclear Power Agreement

**Summary:** The Mexican government has filed 20 legal complaints in eight US states following the deaths of 17 Mexican nationals who died under custody or during operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

**Key points:**
- Ambassador Roberto Lazzeri submitted eight complaints to state prosecutors and 12 to county prosecutors across states including Texas, California, and Florida.
- Mexico sent a formal letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk requesting technical recommendations and review.
- The legal actions follow an incident where a Mexican man named Lorenzo Salgado Araújo was shot and killed by ICE during a vehicle operation in Texas.

**Why it matters:** This diplomatic and legal action escalates bilateral tensions between Mexico and the United States regarding the safety and treatment of detainees in American immigration facilities.

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