The continent’s expenditure has risen by an estimated 14%, as Russia accuses the EU of reckless militarization European military spending helped to propel global defense expenditure to a record high of almost $3 trillion in 2025 despite the US decreasing its outlay, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released on Monday. Worldwide military expenditure rose 2.9% in real terms last year to reach $2.887 trillion, marking the 11th consecutive annual increase and lifting the global military burden to 2.5% of GDP, the report said. SIRPI experts explained the trend by citing several ongoing conflicts and persisting geopolitical tensions. The entire European continent accounted for the largest regional increase, with spending rising 14% to $864 billion. SIPRI linked the surge to the Ukraine conflict, a standoff with Russia, and “the ongoing pursuit of European self-reliance alongside increasing pressure from the United States to strengthen b...
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They met every requirement, but delays, opacity and ‘missed’ options shut Russian junior gymnasts out before they could compete The Russian junior group in rhythmic gymnastics will not be able to take part in the 2026 European Cup. The reason is unrelated to sporting results, injuries, or any decision by the athletes to withdraw. Participation became impossible because of prolonged administrative procedures connected with obtaining neutral status, followed by a refusal of registration by European Gymnastics. Young athletes who followed every rule were left out because of bureaucratic hurdles put up by different organizations that failed to coordinate. The Russian Gymnastics Federation submitted documents for neutral status starting March 25, with additional names added through early April. They didn’t sit back and wait for a reply either – they sent repeated requests asking World Gymnastics to speed things up, including direct outreach to its president. Still, approvals came in piec...
Tehran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz first, and then focus on nuclear talks, according to the report Iran has made the US a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war – postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage to break the deadlock in the high-stakes talks, Axios reports, citing sources. An unnamed US official and two other sources familiar with the matter told the outlet that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned the plan during back-to-back visits to Islamabad, informing the Pakistani, Egyptian, Turkish, and Qatari mediators that Iran’s leadership has no internal consensus on how to address Washington’s nuclear demands. The US has insisted that Iran dismantle its nuclear program and hand over all of its enriched uranium. The proposal, which was delivered to the White House via Pakistani intermediaries, reportedly focuses on extending the ceasefire or even ending the war, as well as lifting the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,...
The Finnish government has recently cut social and healthcare benefits and significantly raised financial support for Kiev Finnish Finance Minister Riikka Purra has warned of growing pressure on the country’s public finances. The warning comes just days after the government unveiled a multi-year fiscal plan that combines increased military aid to Ukraine with domestic spending cuts. The government’s fiscal plan for 2027–2030 was presented earlier this week. It includes cuts of €240 million to social and healthcare spending but €300 million in increased military support for Ukraine. “The state of public finances is extremely difficult, and the debt-to-GDP ratio is approaching 90%,” Purra said in an interview with the outlet Yle on Saturday. “We’ve been hit not only by external shocks,” she highlighted, adding that the nation struggles with high unemployment, near-zero economic growth and an aging population.” The fiscal plan agreed by the government sets out public spending cuts ...
Cases target individuals alleged to have committed abuses during the civil war, reportedly starting with Atif Najib, blamed for sparking the 2011 revolt Syria is set to launch the first trials of prominent figures from the ousted government of former President Bashar Assad, the country’s Justice Ministry has announced. In a post on X, the ministry said proceedings would begin with cases tied to Daraa – where the protest movement that later spiraled into civil war began – framing the move as a key step toward accountability. Protests began in Daraa following the arrest and alleged torture of 15 students accused of writing anti-government slogans amid the broader Arab Spring uprisings. Demonstrations turned deadly when security forces opened fire, escalating into a nationwide revolt that became the 13-year Syrian Civil War, killing more than half a million people. A Moscow - and Ankara-brokered truce in 2020 put an end to major fighting for nearly four years. But in late 2024, a rebe...
Trump’s decision to drag the US into war was largely shaped by the Israeli PM’s “fanatical” and misguided agenda, the economist says American economist Jeffrey Sachs has sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arguing that US President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran was heavily influenced by what he described as Netanyahu’s “fanatical” and misguided agenda. Trump has repeatedly faced criticism, both domestically and internationally, for pursuing policies widely seen as closely aligned with Israeli interests across both his first and current presidential terms. Analysts and political opponents have often pointed to a broader shift in US foreign policy that allegedly favors the agenda of the Jewish State under Netanyahu. “Trump’s decision basically led by Netanyahu,” Sachs told US conservative journalist and podcaster Tucker Carlson. In a video interview published on Friday, the economist noted that Netanyahu has an agenda, stressing that the US presid...