Countries increased military spending last year to $2.7 trillion—an increase of 9.4 percent, marking the steepest year-on-year rise since the end of the Cold War as European and Middle Eastern governments splurge in spending amid what they see as growing regional threats, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The U.S. and Ukraine signed a long-term minerals deal that was seen as an incentive for Washington to stay committed to Kyiv’s war effort against Russia because of future revenue-sharing tied to the country’s natural resources, with one Ukrainian lawmaker stating that the deal hides “indefinite obligations” between Kyiv and the U.S.
The IDF carried out an airstrike last week in Damascus—near the presidential palace—in what was seen as a message from Tel Aviv that the new government should not deploy forces to the southern part of the country, drawing a swift rebuke from Syria.
Greg Abbott, the Republican Texas governor, threatened a city that he will withhold state funding if it goes through with a proposal that would reallocate local funds away from Israel’s military and back into the city.
The UN warned last week that the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are worsening as Israel continues to enforce its complete blockade and thousands of Palestinian children are now facing an increased risk of “starvation, illness, and death.”
Israeli drones attacked a humanitarian aid flotilla carrying aid for Gaza in international waters, forcing the 12 crew members and four civilians to issue an SOS after the ship sustained damage in the attack.
A lawyer from the U.S. State Department appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week and defended Israel’s right to starve Palestinians trapped inside Gaza and said Tel Aviv is “not legally obligated” to allow humanitarian agencies—like the UN agency for Palestine (UNRWA)—to operate inside the enclave.
Pakistan’s defense minister said in an interview Monday that his country is preparing for an “imminent” incursion by Indian forces after the deadly attack last week in Kashmir that killed 26—mainly Indian tourists and was immediately blamed by New Delhi on Pakistani militants—without evidence.
Softbank Group, the Japanese venture juggernaut, is leading a consortium that has formed Twenty One Capital, a new fund that will pool the cryptocurrency holdings of the partners with the goal of amassing more Bitcoin.
March marked the third consecutive month of falling sales for Tesla in the European Union (EU) even as demand for electric vehicles (EVs) grew across the region.