News
UK Hosts Emergency Defence Summit Amid Uncertainty Over US Support for Europe
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has invited German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and other top European leaders to a high-level defence summit in London on Sunday, as concerns grow over shifting US foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
The meeting, which will bring together EU and NATO leaders, aims to address Europe’s security strategy in response to Trump’s diminishing support for European defence and his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Key Leaders Set to Attend
Among the notable attendees at the London summit are:
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte
- European Council President António Costa
- Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
French President Emmanuel Macron and Starmer both recently traveled to Washington to meet Trump, urging him to continue supporting Ukraine and maintain strong US-EU relations.
Europe’s Growing Defence Concerns
The summit comes as Trump signals a shift in US foreign policy, raising fears among European allies about the future of NATO’s military support. The US president’s reluctance to commit to continued assistance for Ukraine has sparked a wave of diplomatic efforts by European leaders to bolster their own security strategy.
Sunday’s meeting in London is part of a series of urgent top-level discussions, with another special EU summit planned for Brussels next Thursday.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its third year, European nations are reevaluating their defence policies, preparing for a scenario where they may need to rely less on US military support and more on regional alliances and independent strategies.
With Scholz nearing the end of his tenure as German chancellor, his participation in the summit underscores Germany’s continued role in shaping Europe’s defence policies, even amid political transitions.
A Pivotal Moment for European Security
The London summit will likely set the stage for major policy decisions regarding military funding, strategic alliances, and NATO’s future role in the face of growing global instability.
As Trump’s ceasefire negotiations with Russia continue, European leaders remain determined to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty and maintain a united front against Russian aggression—with or without US backing.
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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