Germany's Merz says Europe has found “self-respect,” calls for stronger NATO within continent
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said ...
Sweden's Defence Minister said on Thursday the Nordic country had agreed to donate its biggest aid package to Ukraine so far, worth 13.5 billion Swedish crowns, approximately $1.2 billion.
The aid package is Sweden's 18th since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So far Sweden has provided almost $5.5 billion in military support to Kyiv.
The aid will include 146 trucks, 23 weapon stations for marine use, 16 CB 90 combat boats, 1 million rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, 1,500 TOW anti-tank missiles, 200 anti-tank weapons, infantry equipment, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) personal protective equipment.
The donations from the Swedish armed forces, from marine and army stocks, will amount to approximately $294 million and roughly 25% of the military aid package.
Roughly 45% of the package, $534 million will be used for new production from the defence industry to Ukraine's armed forces. This can be directed towards prioritized needs, such as artillery, long-range strike abilities and drones.
Up to $71 million will go to repairs and maintenance of already Swedish-donated equipment. It will also be used for transport and security for logistics. The funds will also be used for services from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Swedish Defence University.
The Swedish Defence University will be tasked with carrying out a training program for students in Ukraine, which works as a high-level course on strategic decision-making at various levels of conflict. This also shows that Sweden's military support is expanding in scope.
About 90 million USD will be allocated towards production of long-range missiles and drones. The government is now negotiating with suppliers in Sweden and Europe to supply prioritized equipment such as artillery and drones, Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference. “A short delivery time is important,” - Pal Jonson wrote on platform X.
Approximately $250 million USD will be allocated towards different international funds, including $178 million directed towards the Danish model, which aims to source funds for Ukraine's defence industrial base. This also builds sustainability and resilience within Ukraine, he added.
The Danish model delivered around €590 million of locally manufactured weapons to Ukraine in 2024, the Danish Ministry of Defence says. The Danes are among the top military aid donors to Ukraine in absolute terms, behind the U.S., Germany and the U.K., according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Sanctions are a long-used tool designed as an alternative to military force and with the objective of changing governments’ behaviour, but they also end up hurting civilian citizens.
Residents in Syria’s Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli have stepped up volunteer patrols amid growing pressure from the country’s Islamist-led government, expressing deep mistrust of Damascus despite a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (29 January), declaring that Europe had found “self-respect” in standing up for a rules-based global order.
Colombian authorities on Wednesday (28 January) located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force source and local media said.
Chinese authorities say they've carried out capital punishment against a group of individuals tied to notorious telecommunications fraud syndicates operating across the southern border, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower house, a preliminary survey by the Nikkei newspaper showed on Thursday (29 January).
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