2 h. ago NATO boss praises ‘Dear Donald’ for pushing alliance to boost defense spending: ‘You made this change possible’

Secretary General Mark Rutte credits Trump with pushing for ‘concrete plan’ to have member nations spend at least five percent of GDP on defense

Economics

6 h. ago Ukrainian President Zelenskyy sidelined as NATO leaders meet to agree defense spending boost

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is looking on from the sidelines as NATO leaders meet to agree a significant boost in defense spending that is spurred by Russian aggression

Politics

17 h. ago Sideline Starmer! Sir Keir snapped in third row of leaders' photo at Nato summit

The Prime Minister cut a lonely figure halfway up the stairs of the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, Netherlands as the meeting of heads of state kicked off on Tuesday.

Politics

26 h. ago Brits embrace 'no spend days' and savvy banking hacks to boost savings

A new poll has revealed the money-saving tactics Brits have adopted - and how they are making their money go further

Economics

32 h. ago Armed by America: how Europe’s militaries depend on the US – a visual analysis

The EU wants independence on defence but it is buying thousands of weapons from the US each yearEuropean leaders will meet with Donald Trump at a Nato summit on Tuesday, as the alliance prepares to approve a significant boost to defence spending. A new target for every member to spend 5% of GDP – more than double Nato’s current benchmark – marks a major win for the US president, who has long railed against America footing the bill for Europe’s security.That concern is now increasingly mutual. European governments are pursuing an unprecedented push for military independence, amid fears the US is no longer a reliable ally. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago Germany to boost defence spending at faster rate than France or UK

Berlin plans a 70% increase in military spending to €162bn by 2029, according to leaked paper

Politics

47 h. ago NATO chief says Ukraine remains vital at summit despite Zelenskyy's absence from leaders' meeting

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte insists Ukraine will remain a vital topic at an alliance summit this week despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s absence from a leaders’ meeting aiming to seal an agreement to boost military spending

Politics

4 d. ago Pound's strength means Brits could be in for summer holiday spending boost

The strength of the pound against most other currencies has boosted Brits' spending power when they head abroad this summer, research had found, in some cases by a lot

Politics

6 d. ago Ministers set out plans to spend £725bn on UK infrastructure over 10 years

Government strategy includes spending £9bn a year on fixing schools, hospitals, courts and prisonsMinisters have pledged to spend £9bn a year on fixing crumbling schools, hospitals, courts and prisons over the next decade as part of the government’s infrastructure strategy.Darren Jones, the chief secretary to the Treasury, set out plans on Thursday to spend a minimum of £725bn over 10 years to boost UK-wide infrastructure and achieve a “national renewal”. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Spain threatens to block NATO 5% defence spending target in snub to alliance chief who demanded nations boost spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing bloc members to boost their defence spending to 5% GDP by 2032, after Trump declared America's allies were shirking their responsibilities

Events

6 d. ago Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – Europe live

Pedro Sánchez reportedly says move would be ‘counterproductive’ and harm Spanish economy Earlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Hungarian police say Budapest Pride march banned, but mayor insists it will go ahead – Europe live

The Hungarian ban on the Budapest Pride march comes a day after a debate on the march was held at the European parliamentEarlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Zelenskyy calls for more pressure on Russia after deadly Kyiv missile strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging greater international pressure on Moscow following a deadly Russian missile strike that hit a Kyiv apartment building this week, killing 23 people

Events

8 d. ago Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 15 people

Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls it ‘one of the most horrific attacks’ on Ukraine’s capital since full-scale war beganUkraine war briefing: Kyiv under Russian drone attack with apartment building hitRussia launched a sustained missile and drone attack on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and wounding 156 in what the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called “one of the most horrific attacks” on the Ukrainian capital since the full-scale war began in spring 2022.The death toll from what is already the deadliest attack on the capital this year is expected to rise, with several sites across the city struck. At a nine-storey Soviet-era apartment block in the west of Kyiv, an apparent direct missile hit had led to part of the building collapsing, leaving a gaping hole and a pile of rubble in the middle of the block. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Operation Spiderweb: how Ukraine's drone attack could reshape warfare – video explainer

On 1 June, Ukraine launched a daring attack on Russian military bases, inflicting billions of dollars of damage using inexpensive drones in a secret operation codenamed Spiderweb. Smuggling 117 drones into Russian territory over 18 months, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, proved he still had cards to play in the war. The Guardian's Russian affairs reporter, Pjotr Sauer, explains how the daring operation will make military commanders across the world rethink national securityOperation Spiderweb: a visual guide to Ukraine’s destruction of Russian aircraft‘He’s a bulldog’: the man behind the success of Ukraine’s Operation SpiderwebUkraine launches major drone attack on Russian bombers, security official says Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Zelenskyy warns oil price surge could help Russia's war effort

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says rising global oil prices following Israeli strikes on Iran will strengthen Russia by increasing its oil revenues, aiding its war effort in Ukraine

Events

1 week ago Ben Wallace accuses Labour of ‘conning’ public over defence spending boost claim

Concerns have been raised that the increase in defence spending pledged by Keir Starmer’s government is ‘smoke and mirrors’

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves unveils 3% NHS spending boost but cuts other budgets

Home Office and Foreign Office among Whitehall departments facing squeeze in chancellor’s spending review

Economics

2 w. ago WW3 fears in overdrive as UK government give defence spending boost over rising tensions

The Labour Government is planning on turning Britain into a 'defence industrial superpower' as the global security situation means a 'new era for defence and security'

Politics

2 w. ago Casement park rebuild given boost after Government pledges £50m in spending review

Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said it is now time to get the GAA stadium built.

Economics