Putin is aiming to construct a financial payment system under BRICS, independent of US influence, to counter sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.  

The UK government will give an extra £2.26bn ($2.93bn) to Ukraine to buy weapons, using the profits from seized Russian assets held in Europe. The cash forms Britain’s contribution to a £38bn ($50bn) fund announced in June by members of the G7 group of leading economies. Defence Secretary John Healey said the new money will help Ukraine bolster its frontline military equipment. He described it as “turning the proceeds of Putin’s own corrupt regime against him, by putting it into the hands of Ukraine”. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the aim was to release the money as quickly as possible. The…

Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader who masterminded the murderous October 7th attacks, has been killed in Gaza, according to the Israeli government. The death of Sinwar, 61, the last surviving member of the terrorist organisation’s senior leadership, was confirmed by Israel’s foreign minister. Pictures circulated on social media of a man resembling Sinwar lying dead in rubble, reportedly following a gun battle with IDF troops. “During IDF operations in the Gaza Strip, three terrorists were eliminated. The IDF and ISA are checking the possibility that one of the terrorists was Yahya Sinwar,” a military spokesman said. Israeli media reported that…

Axiom Space and Prada have revealed the design for the next-generation spacesuit that will be worn by astronauts during NASA’s Artemis III mission to the Moon. The unveiling took place at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, and was described by the space company as marking a significant milestone in the future of space exploration. The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) represents a leap forward in spacesuit technology, blending cutting-edge engineering with Prada’s expertise in materials and design, according to Axiom. Matt Ondler, President of Axiom Space, emphasised the innovative approach, and said: “We have broken the mold. The Axiom…

General Sir Mike Jackson, the former Chief of the General Staff and one of Britain’s most high-profile military leaders, has died aged 80. Gen Jackson was seen as a tough and uncompromising soldier, known affectionately by his troops as “The Prince of Darkness,” among other nicknames, referring to his cool manner and gravelly voice. Despite rising to become head of the British Army, his greatest achievement might be viewed as his decision to disobey an order from a senior NATO officer in 1999 when he was commander of NATO’s Rapid Reaction Corps in Kosovo. During the campaign, while commanding 40,000…

A milestone in US relations was achieved this May, marking the beginning of collaboration to utilise space for maritime domain awareness.

The former foreign secretary David Cameron has disclosed in a BBC interview that he had been planning to impose sanctions on two extremist members of the Israeli government over their support for violent settlers and calls to block aid entering Gaza. In the interview on the BBC Today Programme, Cameron said he was concerned the measure had not been adopted by the Labour government and had only held back from taking the step in the spring because he received advice it would be too political a step to take during the general election. His first remarks on the Middle East…

South Africa’s flirting with Putin expected to escalate at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia from 22-24 October. 

A Ukrainian journalist who was captured by Russian troops while reporting from occupied east Ukraine has died in Russian detention, according to Ukrainian officials. Victoria Roshchyna, who would have turned 28 this month, disappeared in August last year after travelling to Russian-held east Ukraine for a report. She remained missing until April 2024, when her father received a letter from Moscow’s defence ministry saying she was being held in Russian detention, according to Ukraine’s main journalist union. The circumstances of her arrest were not made public and it was not clear where she was being held inside Russia. “Unfortunately, information…

Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who led the country during the 2006 Lebanon war, believes that only a “diplomatic agreement” will end the war with Hezbollah. But Mr Olmert, a former lawyer and soldier, also claimed that efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict are being blocked by the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who wants to “present a picture of victory” to restore his reputation following the October 7 attacks. Mr Olmert, who ordered the invasion of Lebanon in 2006, argued that the current Israeli leader “badly wants the war against Iran”, and that a retaliation attack…

By Andrea Januta. This story was originally published by The Kyiv Independent, 09 October 2024. Ukraine has become a hotbed of defense innovation, as Russia’s deadly invasion fuels a rapid development of new battlefield technologies. Kyiv now aims to become a global leader in the defense sector, but with its economy drained by the war, it needs foreign investment to accomplish its goal. Ukraine has the capacity to produce around $20 billion worth of weapons and equipment, according to government estimates, but the state budget can only fund around $6 billion. The government has launched several initiatives to encourage foreign investment,…

The collective effort of nations in constructing the International Space Station (ISS) demonstrates the immense potential for cooperative ventures in space.