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Russia Warns Finland Over Possible Hosting of Nuclear Weapons

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Russia has warned that Finland would become more vulnerable if it decides to host nuclear weapons on its territory, escalating tensions in Europe. The warning came after Finland signaled plans to lift its long-standing ban on hosting nuclear arms, a move that could allow weapons to be stationed there during wartime as part of NATO’s nuclear strategy.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said deploying nuclear weapons in Finland would increase risks and provoke a response from Russia. According to Moscow, such a decision would heighten security threats along their shared 1,340-km border and add to rising tensions across the European continent.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the policy change is aimed at allowing Finland to fully participate in NATO’s nuclear planning rather than addressing an immediate security threat. The debate comes as European countries reassess their defence strategies following the war in Ukraine and proposals by Emmanuel Macron to expand Europe’s nuclear deterrence cooperation.

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Merz Faces First State Election Test in Germany

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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces his first electoral challenge since taking office as voters head to the polls in the state of Baden-Württemberg on Sunday. The election is seen as an early test of support for Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which hopes to regain dominance in a region long tied to Germany’s car industry.

Opinion polls show a tight race between the CDU candidate Manuel Hagel and the Greens’ Cem Özdemir, both polling around 28%. The winner will succeed outgoing Green premier Winfried Kretschmann, with the outcome likely shaping the balance of power in the state government coalition.

Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to poll strongly at about 20%, reflecting growing political shifts across Germany. The Baden-Württemberg vote is the first of several regional elections this year and comes amid economic concerns linked to rising fuel prices and global tensions.

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Iceland Plans Autumn Referendum on Restarting EU Membership Talks

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Iceland’s government is preparing to propose a referendum on whether to restart negotiations to join the European Union. According to public broadcaster RUV, the government is expected to submit a bill to parliament next week seeking approval to hold the vote later this year.

Sources cited by the broadcaster suggest the referendum is most likely to take place in late September. If approved, the vote would decide whether the country should resume EU accession talks that were abandoned in 2013 after four years of negotiations.

Interest in EU membership has grown again in recent years due to rising living costs and geopolitical tensions following the war in Ukraine. Political developments, including remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump about annexing Greenland, have also added urgency to the debate over Iceland’s future ties with the European Union.

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Moscow Cuts Investment as Russia’s Regional Budget Strains Deepen

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Russia’s capital city Moscow will reduce its investment programme for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting growing financial pressure across the country’s regional governments. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said revenue growth in the first two months of the year slowed to 2%, far below the expected 6.5%, prompting the city to cut planned 2026 investments by 10% from 1.2 trillion roubles and reduce municipal staff by 15%.

The move reflects broader fiscal challenges in Russia as the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year. The country’s consolidated budget deficit, which includes both federal and regional accounts, widened sharply to 8.3 trillion roubles in 2025, or 3.9% of GDP—more than double the previous year. While the federal government maintains that national debt remains manageable, many regions are increasingly relying on expensive commercial bank loans as concessional federal funding declines.

Regional finances are also under pressure due to slowing economic growth and weaker corporate profits. Official data shows corporate profits fell 5.5% in the first eleven months of 2025, contributing to a rise in deficit-running regions from 50 to 74. Analysts warn that if economic growth does not recover, regional governments may be forced to cut spending on infrastructure and development projects while also coping with rising social and military-related expenditures.

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Airline Sector Hit as Iran Conflict Pushes Fuel Prices Higher

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The global airline industry faced fresh volatility on Thursday as rising jet fuel prices and widespread flight disruptions followed the escalating conflict involving Iran and joint strikes by the United States and Israel. Several Middle Eastern airspaces were closed due to missile risks, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights. Operations at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international hub, began slowly resuming after coming close to a halt earlier in the week.

Airline stocks showed mixed movement as the crisis affected routes and fuel costs. Shares of carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Qantas Airways recovered slightly, while others like Wizz Air dropped sharply after warning the conflict could cut about $58 million from its profits. Analysts say airlines with strong exposure to Middle Eastern routes are particularly vulnerable as jet fuel prices surge and flight paths become longer due to airspace restrictions.

Meanwhile, airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have started limited services through safer corridors while governments organize evacuation flights for stranded citizens. More than 17,000 Americans have already returned home, while other countries continue repatriation efforts as the aviation sector closely watches how the conflict around Iran unfolds.

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French Court Lowers Charge Against Officer in Teen Shooting Case

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A French appeals court has reduced the charges against a police officer accused of fatally shooting a teenager during a traffic stop in 2023. The court ruled that the officer, Florian M., will face trial for voluntary assault leading to death instead of the more serious charge of murder. The case centres on the shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk, who was shot after allegedly failing to comply with police orders to stop his car.

The teenager later died from his injuries, triggering widespread protests and unrest across France. Prosecutors had earlier said the officer should stand trial for murder, but the appeals court concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prove the officer intended to kill when he fired his weapon. Under French law, the revised charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, compared with up to 30 years for murder.

The decision has sparked strong reactions from both sides. The officer’s lawyer welcomed the reduced charge but argued that his client should not face trial at all, maintaining that the shooting was justified. Meanwhile, the victim’s family condemned the ruling, saying it prevents a jury from examining whether there was intent to kill and calling the decision deeply unjust.

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EU Diplomat Says Iran’s Actions Risk Its Own Downfall

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Iran’s government is undermining its own future by launching indiscriminate attacks across the region. Speaking to reporters, she accused Tehran of pursuing a strategy aimed at spreading instability and escalating conflict in the Middle East, warning that such actions could ultimately backfire on the Iranian leadership.

Tensions escalated further after Turkey reported that NATO air defence systems intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile heading toward Turkish airspace. Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s foreign minister, criticised Iran’s actions, saying the country was widening the conflict by targeting nations that were not directly involved in the war.

Kallas also warned that the growing Middle East crisis risks diverting international attention away from the war in Ukraine. While she noted that the conflict could weaken Russia by costing it a regional ally, she cautioned that Moscow might still benefit from rising global oil prices triggered by the escalating tensions.

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U.S.–Spain Rift Deepens Over Military Cooperation

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The White House said Spain has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military after pressure from Donald Trump, but Spanish officials quickly denied any such agreement. Trump had earlier threatened to cut off trade with Spain over its refusal to allow U.S. forces to use military bases in the country for operations linked to strikes on Iran.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Spain had “heard the president’s message loud and clear” and had agreed to cooperate with the U.S. military. However, Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares rejected the claim, stating that Madrid had not changed its stance and denying that any such deal had been made.

Spain has strongly criticized the U.S.–Israeli attacks on Iran and has refused to allow American aircraft to use joint bases in southern Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated the country’s anti-war position, warning that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could trigger a broader global crisis.

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Sánchez Rejects Trump Trade Threat, Reaffirms Spain’s ‘No to War’ Stance

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has firmly rejected US President Donald Trump’s threat to sever trade ties with Spain, reiterating Madrid’s opposition to war and what he described as breaches of international law. In a televised address from the Moncloa Palace, Sánchez said Spain’s position on conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran could be summed up as “no to war.” Trump had warned he would cut off trade with Spain after Madrid reportedly refused to allow US forces to use the jointly operated bases at Morón and Rota for strikes on Iran, calling Spain a “terrible partner” in NATO.

Sánchez avoided directly mentioning Trump’s trade ultimatum but stressed that “you cannot answer one illegality with another,” warning that escalating military actions risked wider catastrophe. He said Spain was assessing economic measures to shield citizens from the fallout of global tensions. The Spanish leader drew parallels with the 2003 Iraq invasion, recalling the “Azores trio” meeting between former US President George W. Bush, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spain’s then-leader José María Aznar, and argued that intervention had left the world less secure.

European leaders rallied behind Madrid, with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Council President António Costa expressing solidarity. Domestically, Sánchez’s stance may resonate with voters, as recent polling suggests a strong majority of Spaniards hold negative views of Trump. However, uncertainty remains over whether Washington will follow through on its economic threats, adding pressure to Sánchez’s already fragile coalition government amid ongoing political and corruption challenges.

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Greek Appeals Court Upholds Criminal Organisation Convictions Against Golden Dawn

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An appeals court in Athens has upheld the landmark 2020 ruling that senior figures of the far-right Golden Dawn operated as a criminal organisation under the guise of a political party. Founder Nikos Mihaloliakos and six other top officials were again found guilty of leading the group, while another 24 defendants — including 11 former MPs — were convicted of membership. The court also reaffirmed convictions linked to the 2013 murder of left-wing musician Pavlos Fyssas and the violent assault on Egyptian fishermen in Athens.

The defendants face sentences of up to 15 years in prison. The appeal process began in 2022, and last December prosecutor Kyriaki Stefanatou urged judges to maintain the original verdicts, describing Golden Dawn as a “genuine child of Nazi ideology” whose actions were motivated by extremist beliefs targeting political opponents and migrants. More than 200 people gathered outside the Athens court to welcome the ruling, marking another significant moment in Greece’s long-running legal battle against the party.

Golden Dawn rose to prominence during Greece’s financial crisis, entering parliament in 2012 with 18 seats amid public anger over austerity and immigration. However, its support declined sharply after Fyssas’ murder, which led to the arrest of key members, including Mihaloliakos. Although he accepted “political responsibility” for the killing, he denied criminal liability and was released on health grounds in September 2025 before completing his 13-year sentence. The party has failed to return to parliament since 2019, while a newer far-right group, the Spartans — endorsed by former Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris — has since secured two seats.

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