Finance Minister

Britain's finance minister says 'fiscal discipline' will form the core of the upcoming budget, according to Reuters. The pledge signals an emphasis on keeping public finances in check as the government balances spending commitments against pressure to steady borrowing and reassure markets ahead of the fiscal statement.

A member of a panel advising Japan's prime minister said the planned expansion of Japan's defense spending will likely be phased in over many years rather than concentrated in any single year. The adviser added that the increases should not become a source of significant market anxiety annually, aiming to reassure investors as Japan ramps up its defense budget.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for 'war' in the occupied West Bank, prompting questions about whether his remarks signal a genuine escalation of military operations there or are political rhetoric. The statement adds to tensions as Israeli operations in the territory have intensified amid the wider conflict with Hamas and Palestinian groups, drawing international scrutiny of settlement and annexation policies.

Ukraine's government is freezing budget expenditures across all line items except priority spending, Prime Minister Koretsky said. The reason, he explained, is that part of the international financing planned for the state budget has not yet arrived. The cabinet has therefore set priorities for which expenses will be funded first while awaiting the missing foreign funds.

The European Union is set to remove Panama and Vietnam from its tax haven blacklist, which lists jurisdictions the bloc considers non-cooperative on tax matters. The move means both countries will no longer face the EU's monitoring and potential restrictive measures tied to the list, which is periodically updated by EU finance ministers.

India's Finance Minister has identified quantum technology as one of the country's next major infrastructure investment priorities. The move signals that New Delhi intends to treat quantum computing alongside traditional infrastructure sectors as a strategic area for public funding, aligning India with other governments stepping up national quantum programmes.

Estonian Defence Minister Martin Herem has called on the European Union to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, saying Brussels should disregard Moscow's threats of punishment over such a move. The statement adds to ongoing debate within the EU over legal and political risks of tapping roughly immobilised Russian state funds to finance Kyiv's defence and recovery.

Israel's Prime Minister's Office and Finance Ministry are opposing the proposed $4.2 billion sale of shipping company Zim. The resistance from two key government bodies puts a major obstacle in the path of the transaction, which would be one of the largest deals in the country's shipping sector. Further details on the buyers and the grounds for the opposition have not been disclosed.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, joined by Strock, has publicly called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reject the newly proposed Gaza Board of Peace plan. The demand highlights deep divisions within Israel's governing coalition over international oversight arrangements for Gaza's future as ceasefire and reconstruction proposals continue to circulate.

Moldova's finance minister has warned that the country must not waste European Union funds allocated for reforms, urging that the money be used effectively. The remarks come as Moldova continues its push toward closer EU integration and implements reforms required to benefit from EU financial support.

Moldova's finance minister has warned that the country must not waste European Union funds earmarked for reforms. The statement underscores pressure on Chisinau to use EU financial support effectively as the country pursues its accession path and implement reforms in areas such as governance and the economy.