Germany: conscription to be reintroduced?
06 Mar 2025
Germany’s conservative leaders have argued that the country should quickly reintroduce compulsory military service. Friedrich Merz, leader of the new CDU/CSU government, argues that Europe must take greater responsibility for its defence, especially given NATO’s uncertain…
Donald Trump is to meet Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on 28 February to sign a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine’s mineral resources. While Trump touts the deal as a way for the USA to recoup aid…
Following the 23 February election, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz has criticised Donald Trump, calling for European defence independence. He warned that NATO’s future was uncertain and called for urgent action on European security.…
At high-level talks with the USA in Saudi Arabia, foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has declared that Russia will not accept NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine under any peace agreement. The discussions marked the first known face-to-face…
Former foreign minister Radosław Sikorski has responded to US vice-president JD Vance’s critique of Europe regarding migration and free speech. Vance, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, criticised European leaders for disregarding the will of their…
Vatican: Pope Francis suffering from pneumonia
20 Feb 2025
After being admitted to hospital on 14 February, Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs, and his condition remains ‘complex’. The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling a respiratory infection for over a week. A follow-up…