Britain cuts funding for countering Russian influence in the Western Balkans
The UK has cut funding aimed at countering Russian propaganda in the Western Balkans, where Russia is accused of sowing division and destabilisation, from £40 million last year to £24 million for 2025-26. Keir Starmer’s decision to cut overseas aid has resulted in a 40 percent reduction in funding for…
EU renews economic sanctions against Russia
Today, the Council renewed the EU’s restrictive measures in response to the Russian Federation’s continued actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine for a further six months, until 31 July 2026. These economic measures, first introduced in 2014, were significantly expanded after February 2022 in response to Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and…
Europe is rearming
European militarisation is intensifying. In March, the EU published its White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030, stating that “Europe must build a Defence Union that ensures peace through unity and strength.” The document paved the way for an unprecedented €800bn in additional defence spending. Even before the White Paper’s…
Deepfake about a “coup” in France: how a fake video nearly caused international panic
In December 2025, social networks, particularly Facebook, became a platform for the spread of dangerous deepfakes — videos generated by artificial intelligence that announced an alleged coup in France. The video, which imitated an emergency report from the scene, garnered over 13 million views and caused real alarm not only…
BND becomes “decisive”: Chancellor Merz’s plans for 2026
The office of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is preparing a major reform of the law on Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, BND). According to the draft of the new law, which is in the early stages of development, the country’s foreign intelligence service will receive significantly expanded powers. This will…