In the 1950s, East German and Soviet authorities launched a propaganda campaign claiming the US deliberately dropped Colorado potato beetles as a biological weapon. Internal reports and historical analysis reveal the beetles spread naturally from North America, and the accusations served to deflect blame for food shortages and reinforce anti-American sentiment.
For the first time, all EU NATO members met the 2% defence spending target in 2025. However, figures reveal a divide: front-line states like Poland are significantly exceeding the target, while many others do the bare minimum. Around 40% of defence equipment spending goes to non-EU suppliers.
A US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber crashed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 15 during a radar modernization test, resulting in the deaths of all eight crew members. The aircraft, a long-serving staple of US military operations, was participating in a post-takeoff test mission.
The UK faces a debate over its military budget, with critics arguing that increased defence spending is prioritized over essential services like healthcare and welfare. This 'welfare vs. warfare' narrative is fueled by political rhetoric and think tank reports, despite the financial realities suggesting that welfare cuts alone won't fund defence goals.
The UK faces a "guns vs. butter" debate, balancing welfare and military spending amid rising global tensions and a perceived unreliable US. Critics highlight defense overspending and delays, while questioning the narrative of soaring welfare costs, particularly concerning pensions.
The UK faces a "guns vs. butter" debate, balancing welfare and military spending amid rising global tensions and a perceived unreliable US. Critics highlight defense overspending and delays, while questioning the narrative of escalating welfare costs.
Andrew Hastie warns Australia must boost AI investment to maintain strategic independence, fearing it could become a 'supplicant state' to the US amid potential conflict with China. He advocates for Australia to become a southern hemisphere tech hub and overhaul education for AI development.
40 years after his death, Dean Reed, the American singer and actor who became an icon in East Germany, remains a contradictory figure of the Cold War. While rumors persist of Stasi involvement in his 1986 death, historians doubt the agency's style.
Experts suggest Taiwan's potential AI chip export controls on China are part of a 'tech cold war' and a barometer for US-Taiwan strategic alliance deepening. The move aims to prevent China's military advantage via AI and secure supply chains.
65 conflicts involving at least one state recorded worldwide in 2025, a new high since 1946, with 245,000 battle-related deaths
Audrey Werro (SUI) runs 800m in 1:53.98, the third-fastest time in history, beating Britain's Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson (1:54.33) in Stockholm. Werro's time surpasses all but Jarmila Kratochvilova (1:53.28, 1983) and Nadezhda Olizarenko (1:53.43, 1980). Hodgkinson vows to target the world record in the London Diamond League.
The head of the UK military has stated that risks and threats to the country are greater now than at any time since the Cold War. Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Richard Knighton highlighted increased Russian aircraft incursions, hybrid threats, and the need to prepare for prolonged conflicts similar to the war in Ukraine.
Chinese company Navee has unveiled the WaveFly 5X, a consumer-oriented ground-effect vehicle that flies low over water. Reviving a Soviet-era concept, the two-seat craft reaches 85 km/h with an 80 km range and requires no pilot's license.
Chinese company Navee has completed the maiden flight of its WaveFly 5X, a two-seat ground-effect vehicle that skims 30-50cm above water at up to 85 km/h. Designed for consumer use, it requires no pilot's license and can operate from calm waterways.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed ongoing talks with Denmark and Greenland regarding collective defense and missile defense on the island. This follows President Trump's repeated assertions of Greenland's strategic importance and desire for US acquisition, despite strong opposition from Greenlanders.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that a complete break from Russian energy resources is impossible, citing the need to maintain company competitiveness. He believes diversification of supplies is the goal, not total abandonment, and anticipates no interest in a new Cold War, even in the energy sector, after the Ukraine conflict ends.
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated that Europe should adopt pragmatic relations with Russia once the conflict in Ukraine concludes, emphasizing that geography is immutable and Europe may need to resume using Russian energy resources and lift sanctions to maintain competitiveness.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar stated in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that Russia has no interest in a new Cold War in Europe. He emphasized the need for the conflict in Ukraine to end, with Europe providing security guarantees to Kyiv.
Norway's defence minister warns Russia's control of the Arctic's Bear Gap could threaten London with hypersonic missiles, highlighting Moscow's military expansion and nuclear capabilities.
A new space race is underway, distinct from the Cold War's Sputnik era. China is a leading actor, alongside US tech giant SpaceX, which is preparing for a major IPO and planning orbital data centers. This competition focuses on practical utilization of space, impacting global supply chains for metals, chips, and rockets.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Cuba accepted $100M in US aid but warned a negotiated settlement is unlikely. The US indicted Raúl Castro and the Supreme Court ruled businesses can sue over seized 1959 assets.
Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Dmitry Polyansky, stated that NATO military activities near Russia's borders have reached Cold War levels, citing concerns over escalating "madness and Russophobic frenzy" and Ukraine's potential use of Baltic territory for sabotage.
US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry believes the US should re-establish its presence on the Arctic island to boost national defense and counter potential influence from China or Russia. Landry's comments follow President Trump's repeated assertions that acquiring Greenland is vital for US security.
New studies suggest China's rise could lead to peace, unlike the Thucydides Trap theory. A historical Confucian order in East Asia, centered on China, maintained stability for centuries through shared ideology and diplomacy.
