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Germany’s Merz vows to build Europe’s strongest army : Germany must shoulder greater responsibility for Europe’s defence as threats from Russia mount, he added.
euractiv.com/section/politics/news/germanys-merz-vows-to-build-europes-strongest-army/

Germany aims to have 'strongest' military in Europe — Merz: Germany's newly elected chancellor, Friedrich Merz, called for Berlin to transform its ...
dw.com/en/germany-aims-to-have-strongest-military-in-europe-merz/a-72546478

Germany’s Merz vows to build Europe’s strongest army: ‘Our friends and partners expect this from us, and what’s more, they are actually demanding it ...
politico.eu/article/friedrich-merz-germany-bundestag-europe-conventional-army/

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Merz: Germany Will Build Strongest Conventional Army in Europe: European allies have stressed the urgency of growing and improving their military capabilities to ...
newsweek.com/merz-germany-will-build-strongest-conventional-army-europe-2072112

Merz Commits Germany to Building Europe’s Strongest Military: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said his government’s top priority is to transform the nation’s ...
bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-14/merz-commits-germany-to-building-europe-s-strongest-armed-forces


Russia could help China invade Taiwan, warns Nato leader: Beijing would call on Moscow ‘to keep Europe busy’ in event of invasion, says Mark Rutte
telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/24/russia-could-help-china-invade-taiwan-warns-nato-leader/

Live Updates: Iran Confirms Cease-Fire With Israel After Trump Announcement: President Trump said earlier that Israel and Iran had agreed to stop hostilities ...
nytimes.com/live/2025/06/23/world/iran-israel-ceasefire-trump

Photo: channelnewsasia.com · view article
Tensions Persist Despite Israel-Iran Ceasefire DealOn June 24, the US accused both Israel and Iran of ceasefire breaches, while military actions and diplomatic talks continued amid conflict.
Key Facts4h · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: channelnewsasia.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: channelnewsasia.com
- President Trump condemned Israel for launching major strikes on Tehran immediately after agreeing to the ceasefire deal.
- Israel’s Defence Minister authorized ongoing high-intensity attacks targeting Iranian regime assets in response to alleged missile launches.
- Iran denied firing missiles and claimed Israeli assaults persisted beyond the ceasefire’s start time.
- The ceasefire announcement was largely welcomed globally as a potential turning point toward ending the prolonged conflict.
Israel, do not drop those bombs.— Donald Trump speaking to reporters before leaving for the NATO summit in The Hague.
US strikes on Iran did not violate international law, NATO’s Rutte says: US strikes on Iran over the weekend did not violate international law ...
english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/06/23/us-strikes-on-iran-did-not-violate-international-law-nato-s-rutte-says

Netherlands announces new military aid package for Ukraine, including drone detection radars
pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/06/24/7518479/
Ukraine to get gas masks to protect against Russian chemical weapons: The United Kingdom is supplying Ukraine with a new shipment of military-grade gas masks to ...
defence-blog.com/ukraine-to-get-gas-masks-to-protect-against-russian-chemical-weapons/

‘Massive’ Russian attack on Ukraine’s Kyiv kills at least five : Ukraine said Monday that “another massive attack” on the capital Kyiv killed at least five ...
english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/06/23/-massive-russian-attack-on-ukraine-s-kyiv-kills-at-least-five-

Photo: reuters.com · view article
Deadly Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv Residential AreasOn June 23, 2025, eight people died and dozens were injured in coordinated drone and missile attacks around Kyiv.
- Russian drones and missiles set fires and damaged a metro shelter entrance across several Kyiv districts overnight.
- Seven fatalities occurred in Kyiv’s Shevchenkivskyi district, with additional casualties in the surrounding region.
- A university campus, including dormitories and a swimming pool, sustained damage during the strikes.
- Ukraine’s air force intercepted nearly all of the 352 drones and 16 missiles launched in the assault.
It was total hell. I woke up in the rubble.— Valeriy Mankuta describes his dramatic escape from a bombed building.
Shipping giant Maersk divests from companies linked to Israeli settlements: Move follows campaign accusing Maersk of links to Israel’s military and occupation of ...
aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/23/shipping-giant-maersk-divests-from-companies-linked-to-israeli-settlements


Photo: aljazeera.com · view article
Maersk Cuts Ties with Companies Supporting SettlementsThe Danish shipping firm enhanced its screening in June 2025 after activist pressure over ties to illegal West Bank settlements.
- Maersk announced it will sever connections with firms involved in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
- This move came after sustained campaigns by activists, especially the Palestinian Youth Movement, focusing on Maersk’s role in transporting military and settlement-linked cargo.
- The company aligned its screening procedures with the UN OHCHR database to better detect businesses operating within settlements.
- Despite these steps, Maersk’s subsidiary remains part of the F-35 jet supply chain, drawing ongoing criticism from human rights advocates.
This sends a clear message to the global shipping industry: compliance with international law and basic human rights is not optional.— Aisha Nizar, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, regarding Maersk's decision to divest from companies linked to Israeli settlements.
Ukraine strikes Atlas oil depot in Russia's Rostov Oblast, General Staff says
kyivindependent.com/ukraine-strikes-atlas-oil-depot-in-russias-rostov-oblast-general-staff-says/

NATO countries agree to increase defence spending to 5% : All 35 members approved a statement to boost military budgets by 2035, with softer language that ...
theglobeandmail.com/business/article-nato-defense-spending-spain/


Photo: reuters.com · view article
Rutte Navigates NATO Summit Amid Trump TurmoilIn June 2025, Rutte secures a draft deal boosting European defense spending during his debut NATO summit as secretary general.
- Mark Rutte skillfully avoids clashes over defense budgets during his first NATO summit as secretary general.
- He fosters alliance unity despite tensions caused by Trump’s divergent views on Russia and military commitments.
- Rutte firmly supports Ukraine but limits Zelenskiy’s summit role to a pre-event dinner to prevent disputes.
- His talent for coalition-building and crisis management underpins hopes for a successful meeting in The Hague.
This summit is about the Euro-Atlantic area, making sure that we can defend ourselves against the Russians -- the really fast-reconstituting Russians.— Mark Rutte, speaking to reporters on Monday.
NATO eyes higher defence spending pledge, but not everyone's on board: As NATO prepares to unveil a defence spending pledge that comes to 5 percent of GDP ...
trt.global/world/article/78dfa80c1e27

“Like on a bowling alley”: Ukrainian drones apparently destroy Russian tanker train
spiegel.de/ausland/russland-ukraine-krieg-ukrainische-drohnen-zerstoeren-offenbar-russischen-tankzug-a-b7fe5944-94a4-49c3-9182-1ff1f6461dcf
Ukraine says 'massive' Russian drone attack on Kiev underway: The latest strikes came after Ukraine vowed to intensify strikes on Russia.
trt.global/world/article/a13670c37725

Russia preparing military operations in Europe, Zelensky says: "We are observing a continued intellectual decline within the Russian leadership and have ...
kyivindependent.com/russia-prepares-military-operations-in-europe-ukraines-intelligence-says/

Presidents' ordering military action without Congress' approval has become routine. Here's why.
nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/presidents-ordering-military-action-congress-approval-become-routine-rcna214379

Germany floats return to conscription if volunteer plan fails: Berlin aims to more than double army reserves in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
ft.com/content/d26c8ed8-8c1e-45a4-a9b2-68fc538ce96a
Photo: ft.com · view article
Germany Considers Draft if Volunteer Recruiting Falls ShortBerlin plans to grow reserves from 60,000 to 200,000 by 2030 amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- The government aims to more than double its military reserves in response to the war in Ukraine.
- Defense Minister Pistorius prefers a voluntary recruitment system, initially accepting 5,000 new reservists annually.
- A bill will include a compulsory draft option if volunteer numbers prove insufficient.
- The active military force is planned to increase from 183,000 to 260,000 personnel by 2035 to meet NATO goals.
The situation is a 'scandal' because 'it means that in an emergency, ie if we were attacked, we could not call up our reservists because we don’t have their names or addresses.'— Boris Pistorius, Germany's defense minister, commented on the challenges of recruiting reservists in the event of an emergency.
Colombia’s army says 57 soldiers kidnapped in restive southwest: President Gustavo Petro says freeing the seized soldiers ‘is imperative’.
aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/23/colombia-army-says-57-soldiers-kidnapped-in-restive-southwest
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