Thousands of conscientious objectors in Ukraine under threat of 3-year prison terms

The sentencing of opponents and public figures to up to 66 years in prison underscores President Kais Saied's efforts to dismantle Tunisia's political achievements. Once a symbol of democracy after the Arab Spring, Tunisia has seen Saied reverse its progress since his self-coup in 2021, impacting civil liberties and various sectors such as civil society, business, and the media, particularly following his re-election amid an opposition-free environment. Notably, even officials from the Swimming Federation faced...

The European Commission and UK government are progressing towards a defence deal that may enhance opportunities for British arms firms within a €150bn EU fund, with both parties asserting that this agreement is independent of fishing rights. This EU-UK defence pact is expected to be a focal point at the upcoming post-Brexit summit in May, though concerns remain regarding potential links between security arrangements and a separate fisheries agreement. Despite these discussions, the European Commission...

SummarySpain will meet NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target this year, as announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, following a €10bn defense investment plan. Critics question the budget's calculations, noting significant allocations for cybersecurity and climate resilience. While Sánchez blames previous governments for past failures, his coalition partner Sumar denounces the plan as excessive, which will not require parliamentary approval and primarily fund Spanish companies, focusing on improving military personnel conditions and developing new capabilities....

Spain has unveiled a €10.5 billion investment plan to fulfill its long-overdue NATO commitment of spending 2% of its GDP on defense this year, emphasizing that “only Europe will know how to protect Europe” moving forward. Currently, Spain allocates approximately 1.3% of its GDP to defense, lagging behind other Western nations, and has faced pressure from the Trump administration to increase its spending. The country had previously aimed to reach the 2% threshold by 2029....

European capital markets are gaining attention amid optimistic policy developments, such as the EU's defense spending plans and Germany's "debt brake" reform. Despite challenges from US tariffs, Europe is outperforming America across various asset classes, but it must act swiftly to maintain investor confidence by enhancing fiscal space, pursuing trade agreements, and adopting structural reforms to boost growth. With growing inflows into regional equity funds and the euro strengthening, the EU must deliver on its...

The head of Europe’s largest media company, Thomas Rabe of Bertelsmann, seeks to revive the previously abandoned merger between French broadcasters M6 and TF1 as EU regulators may adopt a less stringent stance on corporate consolidation. Rabe emphasized that merging M6 and TF1 would create a strong competitor against US streaming services, and Bouygues, TF1's owner, agrees the merger has potential merit. With a shift in regulatory mindset in Brussels, Rabe is optimistic about revisiting...