01.09.2025 – WEEKLY BRIEFING

Reymonta
5–7 minutes
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  • Von der Leyen visit spotlights Bulgaria’s uneasy growth as European arms hub – 31.08.2025

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Bulgaria’s state-owned arms producer VMZ Sopot alongside Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, praising the country’s growing role in European security and highlighting job creation linked to new Rheinmetall factories that will make Bulgaria Europe’s largest gunpowder producer; the visit, however, sparked protests from nationalist parties Revival and Velichie, who criticized the focus on arms production and EU alignment, while von der Leyen’s trip formed part of a broader tour of frontline states aimed at reinforcing EU support against Russian aggression, coinciding with U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine.

  • Judge blocks Trump administration move to deport Guatemalan children – 01.09.2025

U.S. District Judge Sparkle Sooknanan temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to deport unaccompanied Guatemalan children, citing risks of abuse and persecution; while government officials argued it was not deportation but family reunification, advocacy groups disputed this claim, and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo criticized the ruling, vowing to continue efforts to bring the children back; the court order, valid for 14 days, covers all at-risk children, while White House advisor Stephen Miller condemned the decision.

  • Afghanistan hit with 6.0 magnitude near eastern border with Pakistan, hundreds killed – 01.09.2025

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late on September 1, 2025, resulting in more than 800 deaths and thousands of injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake’s epicenter near Jalalabad in Nangarhar province at a shallow depth of 5 miles, with another 4.5 magnitude tremor following shortly after. According to Taliban officials, Kunar province experienced the highest casualties. The destruction was exacerbated by poorly constructed buildings, many made of mud bricks and wood, which collapsed easily. Rescue operations involved transporting the injured to hospitals, while citizens donated blood to support victims. Afghanistan’s vulnerability to seismic activity stems from its location in the Hindu Kush region, where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates converge, and the disaster recalls previous deadly earthquakes in the country, including the 6.3 magnitude quake of October 2023.

  • Modi and Xi meet: Trump as the wildcard and other takeaways – 01.09.2025

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin against the backdrop of escalating tensions with the United States following President Trump’s imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian exports, a move that has strained India-US ties to their lowest point in years. The meeting highlighted India’s pursuit of “strategic autonomy” as it balances relations with both Washington and Beijing. While Modi and Xi pledged to ease border tensions, resume direct flights, and simplify visa processes, longstanding obstacles such as the 2020 border clashes, China’s support for Pakistan, and India’s $99 billion trade deficit with China remain unresolved. For Beijing, Modi’s visit signaled an opportunity to repair relations amid shifting geopolitics, while for India, closer engagement with China could serve both as a pragmatic economic choice and a bargaining tool in future negotiations with the United States. The outcome of this rapprochement will also influence India’s role in multilateral forums, including the upcoming Quad summit, and shape the trajectory of regional power dynamics.

  • Ukraine suspects Russia of assassinating former parliamentary speaker – 01.09.2025

Ukrainian authorities have accused Russia of possible involvement in the assassination of former parliamentary speaker Andriy Parubiy, who was shot dead in Lviv on Saturday. Police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi said the gunman, disguised as a courier, fired eight shots after extensive planning, while the SBU intelligence service described the killing as a contract-style operation, citing potential links to Russian security services. Parubiy, 54, was a key figure in the 2013–14 protests that ousted pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovich, later serving as parliamentary speaker (2016–2019) and secretary of the National Security and Defence Council during Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The suspect, a 52-year-old Lviv resident, was detained in Khmelnytskyi region, with officials noting that the attack was meticulously organized. Russia has not commented, and no group has claimed responsibility.

Indonesia’s deadly protests paused but deep resentment remains. – 01.09.2025

Indonesia has witnessed its most significant wave of protests in years, sparked by public anger over lawmakers’ housing benefits and escalating after the death of a rideshare driver hit by an armored police vehicle during clashes in Jakarta. The unrest, which left at least five people dead, spread nationwide with attacks on government buildings and officials’ homes, prompting President Prabowo Subianto to deploy the military and police while also announcing cuts to parliamentary perks. Critics, including Amnesty International, condemned his characterization of the protests as terrorism or treason, arguing it ignored deep-rooted economic grievances such as stagnant wages, rising living costs, corruption, and unpopular policies ranging from military reforms to controversial tax hikes and a troubled free lunch program. While some protests have paused amid tightened security, observers note that discontent remains high, raising questions about the durability of Prabowo’s presidency less than a year into his term.

Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say – 01.09.2025

The International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), representing 500 experts in genocide studies, has passed a resolution stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention, with 86% of voting members supporting the motion. The resolution calls on Israel to immediately cease acts deemed genocidal, including deliberate attacks on civilians, deprivation of essential resources, sexual and reproductive violence, and forced displacement. It also notes that since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has engaged in widespread and systematic crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide targeting Gaza’s civilian population and infrastructure. IAGS President Melanie O’Brien described the resolution as a definitive expert statement on the situation, while Israel has not issued an immediate response. The country is concurrently facing allegations of genocide before the International Court of Justice and arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court for senior officials.

Russia is suspected of jamming navigation on EU leader’s plane above Bulgaria, an official says – 01.09.2025

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane experienced GPS jamming while flying over Bulgaria, in what Bulgarian authorities suspect was a Russian operation, according to Commission spokesperson Arianna Podestà. The aircraft landed safely at Plovdiv Airport, and von der Leyen continued her tour of EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus. Podestà noted that the incident highlighted the security challenges posed by Russia and its proxies and emphasized the EU’s commitment to increased defense spending and readiness. Bulgaria reported that the aircraft lost GPS signal as it approached Plovdiv Airport, and von der Leyen was scheduled to hold a news conference in Romania later that day.

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