EU backs plan to tap frozen Russian assets | SpaceX cuts Myanmar scam Starlinks | Apple loses UK app suit

Summary

European Union leaders in Brussels are considering using frozen Russian central-bank assets to provide a €140 billion loan package to Ukraine, provoking furious reaction from Moscow.

SpaceX says it has deactivated more than 2,000 Starlink kits allegedly connected to scam compounds in Myanmar after pressure to act against criminal misuse of satellite broadband.

A London tribunal ruled that Apple abused its dominant position by imposing unfair App Store commissions, a decision that could expose the company to substantial damages in the UK.

Key Points

EU leaders are poised to approve tapping frozen Russian assets to fund a €140bn loan for Ukraine covering 2026–27 needs.
The proposal marks a significant and controversial step in Europe’s support for Ukraine and has drawn strong condemnation from Russia.
SpaceX proactively disabled over 2,000 Starlink units reported to be used by scam centres in Myanmar, signalling tighter enforcement of acceptable use.
The takedown affects how satellite internet providers will be scrutinised for misuse in authoritarian or lawless environments.
A UK tribunal ruled Apple abused dominance by charging unfair commissions to app developers, a landmark decision that could lead to hundreds of millions in damages.
These three stories intersect geopolitics, tech governance and platform accountability, with implications for sanctions policy, satellite operators and big-tech regulation.

Content summary

The EU summit in Brussels has moved closer to a political decision to permit the use of frozen Russian central-bank securities to help finance Ukraine’s recovery and defence needs in the medium term. The plan’s scale (€140bn) and the precedent it would set are the focus of both support and strong criticism.

Separately, SpaceX confirmed it had identified and disabled thousands of Starlink kits allegedly connected to organised scam operations in Myanmar, responding to calls from politicians and rights groups to curb criminal misuse of its service.

In the UK, a Competition Appeal Tribunal found Apple guilty of abusing its dominant position by imposing unfair commission structures on app developers. The ruling could force Apple to pay significant damages and may influence global debates over app-store economics and platform power.

Other headlines in the digest include developments on critical-minerals deals, cyber security warnings from GCHQ, AI-related legal and safety issues, and ongoing concerns about state-linked espionage and technology competition.

Context and relevance

Why this matters: using frozen assets for loans to Ukraine is a major policy shift that blurs lines between sanctions, sovereign assets and wartime financing; it will affect EU-Russia relations and set a political precedent for handling seized or frozen foreign state assets.

SpaceX’s move demonstrates growing pressure on connectivity providers to police misuse of services, especially where fraud and human-rights abuses are involved. That has operational, legal and reputational consequences for satellite communications firms and their partners.

The Apple ruling feeds into a global trend: governments and courts are increasingly pushing back on platform business models seen as anti-competitive. Expect similar regulatory and litigation risks for other major app platforms and marketplace operators.

Why should I read this?

Quick and useful: if you follow geopolitics, tech policy or cyber, this round-up gets you the three big moves in one hit. It’s your shortcut to what’s shifting the rules—from how wars are funded, to who polices satellite internet, to whether app stores can keep charging developers unchanged fees. Read it if you want to stay ahead without slogging through every single report.

Author style

Punchy. These items aren’t just news bites—they’re inflection points. The EU decision could rewrite sanctions playbooks, SpaceX’s takedown sets an operational expectation for satellite operators, and the Apple ruling intensifies platform accountability. Worth a closer look if any of those lanes affect your work.