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NATO Chief to Urge 400% Boost in Air Defences Amid Rising Threats from Russia
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to call on alliance members to increase air and missile defence capabilities by 400% during a high-level meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Monday. The call comes ahead of a pivotal NATO summit set to take place in the Netherlands later this week.
In prepared remarks released by NATO, Rutte will stress the need for a “quantum leap” in collective defence spending, citing the growing threat from Russia. “We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” Rutte is expected to tell leaders.
The former Dutch prime minister, who took over the NATO leadership earlier this year, is advocating for a sharp increase in both traditional defence budgets and infrastructure spending. His proposal includes raising the defence spending target to 3.5% of each member’s GDP, with an additional 1.5% allocated for defence-related infrastructure, including bridges, airfields, seaports, and roads.
This marks a significant escalation from NATO’s current 2% GDP spending target, agreed upon in 2014. At present, 22 of the alliance’s 32 member states meet or exceed the existing benchmark. Only Poland currently surpasses Rutte’s proposed 3.5% target, allocating 4.32% of its GDP to defence. The United States follows closely at 3.4%.
The push for increased defence investment reflects growing anxiety over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and renewed pressure from the United States. Former and current U.S. administrations, including that of President Donald Trump, have long demanded that European allies take greater responsibility for their security.
In response, several NATO countries have recently unveiled major defence spending plans. The UK has committed to raising its military budget to 2.5% of GDP and aims for 3% by 2034. Last week, the British government announced plans to build 12 new attack submarines and six ammunition factories—the most comprehensive revamp of its defence sector in decades.
Germany, historically cautious about military expansion, has also taken steps toward boosting its defence budget. Its parliament passed a constitutional amendment exempting defence spending above 1% of GDP from the nation’s strict debt-limit laws, clearing the way for greater military investment in 2025.
As NATO leaders prepare to gather later this week, Rutte’s proposals are expected to be central to the agenda, potentially reshaping the alliance’s long-term defence posture amid intensifying global instability.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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White House Unveils “Media Hall of Shame” Portal as Attacks on Press Intensify
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Russia Launches Massive Overnight Barrage on Ukraine as Peace Talks With U.S. Continue
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