26 August 2025
Poland
President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill that would extend financial support to Ukrainian refugees and outlined a policy that would limit their medical and health benefits. Deputy Prime Minister and Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that this veto also laid the groundwork to cut funding to Starlink services to the Ukrainian military, which Poland has been covering the costs for. Gawkowsky noted that after 1 October, there would be no legal basis to pay for Starlink.
Canada
Prime Minister Carney continues his European tour with a stop in Poland. Carney met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss economic and defence ties. Carney, later, discussed similar relations in Germany. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that their countries would enhance collaboration on defense and critical minerals. “We are deepening our bilateral cooperation, and we are doing so with great gratitude and deep conviction,” Merz said during a joint press conference with Carney in Berlin. “Canada and Germany have a great deal in common.” The accord will focus on the development of lithium, rare earth elements, copper tungsten, gallium, germanium and nickel to counter China’s monopolistic control of materials needed to power everything from military equipment and electric vehicles to quantum computing.
It has also been announced that Canada is moving forward with the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project and has shortlisted two competitors – South Korea’s Hanhwa and Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems.
Afghanistan
The Taliban are planning to build “jihad museums” and “jihad archives” to cement the history of their “militancy legacy”. Taliban Minister of Information and Culture, Khairullah Khairkhwa, stated: “To preserve jihadi relics, in addition to establishing jihadi museums, a jihadi archive will also be built, and the history of jihad and past struggles will be recorded.” It is not clear what they will showcase, but there have been exhibits of motorcycles and barrel-shaped IEDs. The Taliban already established a “Victory Museum” in Mazar-e-Sharif, which had these displays.
Myanmar
The leading rebel group in Myanmar, the Arakan Army, claims that it has taken 14 of 17 townships in Rakhine and pledges to take the frontier state in western Myanmar. Myanmar’s military government has taken some territory back elsewhere in the country, but has faltered in the western district. Bangladesh claims that the Arakan Army abducted 33 Bangladeshi fishermen within three days.
South Korea-US
President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea met yesterday with Donald Trump in the White House. Lee managed to charm Trump, mentioning the US President’s favourite topics – golf, the White House refurbishment and a Trump Tower in North Korea. However, after the lunch meeting, Trump confirmed that the 15 percent tariff on South Korean goods remains unchanged and security negotiations are ongoing, a likely disappointment to the South Korean delegation.
Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese accused Iran of directing at least two antisemitic attacks in Australia and said the country is cutting off diplomatic relations with Iran. Albanese said that Australian intelligence services had connected Iran to attacks on a Sydney restaurant and a Melbourne synagogue. Shortly before the announcement, the Australian government told Iran’s ambassador to Australia that he will be expelled. It also withdrew Australian diplomats posted in Iran to a third country, Albanese said.
Social Media Wires
Feature Photo: “HDW shipyard – Kiel, Germany” – Wikimedia Commons, 2025
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