NATO countries have kicked off Arctic military exercises with a pledge to defend their newest member, Finland, which is hosting its first joint training since becoming part of the Western alliance in April. Nearly 1,000 allied forces from Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States – as well as NATO applicant Sweden – joined … Read moreNATO launches Arctic exercises, pledges protection of Finland
The United States has urged Turkey to approve Sweden’s accession into NATO, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying that “the time is now” for the northern European country to join the alliance. Speaking alongside Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Tuesday, the top US diplomat said Sweden has been qualified to join NATO “from … Read more‘Time is now’ for Sweden to join NATO, Blinken says
NATO is deploying 700 additional troops to northern Kosovo after 30 of its peacekeepers were injured in clashes with ethnic Serb protesters amid a long-simmering dispute. “We have decided to deploy 700 more troops from the operational reserve force for Western Balkans,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Oslo, after talks with Norwegian Prime … Read moreNATO deploys more forces to Kosovo after 30 peacekeepers injured
Denmark’s government plans to invest 143 billion Danish crowns ($21bn) in defence over the next 10 years, with an aim to meet its military and security goals as a founding NATO member. The Nordic nation currently spends around 27 billion Danish crowns per year ($3.89bn) on defence, and the government had said it will progressively … Read moreDenmark boosts military spending, announces more aid for Ukraine
A tense courtroom drama about a writer accused of her husband’s murder won the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, capping a strong year for female directors. French director Justine Triet won the festival’s top prize on Saturday for the tense and icy drama, Anatomy of a Fall, led by a powerful performance … Read more‘Anatomy of a Fall’ wins top prize as women dominate Cannes
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has called on Kosovo to tone down tensions with Serbia, two days after clashes between Kosovan police and protesters who are opposed to Albanian mayors taking office in ethnic Serbian areas. “Pristina must de-escalate & not take unilateral, destabilising steps,” Stoltenberg said in a tweet on Sunday. The transatlantic military alliance’s … Read moreNATO urges Kosovo to ease tensions with Serbia after clashes
Leicester were relegated from football’s Premier League just seven years after a spectacular title triumph as Everton prolonged their 69-year stay in the English top flight by beating Bournemouth 1-0. Leeds will also return to the Championship after three seasons in the Premier League as their relegation was confirmed by a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham … Read moreLeicester, Leeds relegated from Premier League as Everton survive
Hunger levels are rising around the world. As many as 828 million people – or 10 percent of the world’s population – go to bed hungry each night, 46 million more than the previous year, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Of those affected by hunger, two-thirds are women and 80 percent … Read moreWhy do more than 800 million people live in hunger?
The conflict in Ukraine is about to enter a new high-intensity phase as Kyiv’s troops gear up for an anticipated counteroffensive. Ukraine’s persistent lobbying of allies has yielded significant results as NATO members have gradually relented to supplying high-tech weapons. The fighting in the coming weeks is likely to be bloody, as Ukraine aims to … Read moreWill Ukraine’s new weapons help its fight against Russia?
Japan scrambled fighter jets after spotting Russian “intelligence-gathering” aircraft off its coasts along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan on Thursday, the country’s defence ministry has said. One Russian aircraft travelled from Japan’s north down along part of its west coast, while the other took a similar route along the opposite coast and returned … Read moreJapan says scrambled fighter jets after Russian planes spotted