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Pope and first female Archbishop of Canterbury meet and pray together

Pope and first female Archbishop of Canterbury meet and pray together

By Joshua McElwee and Muvija M VATICAN CITY, April 27 (Reuters) - Pope Leo and new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally met for the first time on Monday, in a symbolic encounter at the Vatican in which the leaders of the long-separated Catholic Church and Church of England exchanged gifts and

U.S. Military Spending Decreases Amid Global Rise in Defense Expenditures

U.S. Military Spending Decreases Amid Global Rise in Defense Expenditures

In 2025, the United States saw a 7.5% decrease in military spending, bringing its total to $954 billion. This reduction was primarily due to the cessation of new financial military aid to Ukraine, contrasting with the previous three years where $127 billion was allocated. Despite this decrease, the U.S. continued to invest in nuclear and conventional military capabilities to maintain its strategic dominance. Globally, military spending increased by 2.9% to $2.89 trillion, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth. This rise was driven by significant increases in Europe and Asia, with European spending up by 14% and Asian spending by 8.1%.

Nuclear Safety Concerns Persist in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

Nuclear Safety Concerns Persist in Ukraine Amid Ongoing Conflict

The 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster highlights ongoing nuclear safety concerns in Ukraine, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict with Russia. The Chernobyl site, which suffered a catastrophic nuclear accident in 1986, remains a symbol of nuclear risk. Recent reports indicate that the New Safe Confinement (NSC) structure, designed to contain radiation, was damaged by a Russian drone strike in 2025, compromising its effectiveness. The war has also placed other Ukrainian nuclear facilities at risk, with the Zaporizhzhia plant under Russian control and frequently disconnected from external power. These developments underscore the heightened nuclear safety risks in Ukraine, as the country relies heavily on nuclear power for electricity amid Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

North Korea Strengthens Military Ties with Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

North Korea Strengthens Military Ties with Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reinforced military ties with Russia, as reported by state media KCNA. This development follows a visit by a Russian delegation to Pyongyang, where both countries agreed to long-term military cooperation from 2027 to 2031. North Korea has been providing military support to Russia in the form of troops, missiles, and munitions for its war in Ukraine. In return, North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology, and resources from Russia. This alliance is part of a broader geopolitical shift as North Korea seeks to bolster its international standing.

US and Iran clash over Tehran's nuclear program as review of atomic treaty begins at UN

US and Iran clash over Tehran's nuclear program as review of atomic treaty begins at UN

The United States and Iran have clashed over Tehran’s nuclear program as a review of the treaty meant to prevent the spread of atomic weapons got underway at the United Nations

Chernobyl Anniversary Marked by Deadly Strikes in Ukraine and Russia

Chernobyl Anniversary Marked by Deadly Strikes in Ukraine and Russia

On the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, strikes across Ukraine and Russia resulted in at least 16 fatalities. Ukrainian forces targeted a Russian oil refinery, igniting fires at the facility. In Dnipro, Russian drone and missile strikes increased the death toll to nine. A Ukrainian drone strike in Sevastopol, Crimea, resulted in one death. The conflict has heightened concerns about nuclear safety, particularly after a Russian drone strike last year damaged a containment building at Chernobyl.

Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl anniversary

Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl anniversary

Strikes across Ukraine, Russian-occupied territory and Russia have killed at least 16 people

Ukraine marks 40th anniversary of Chornobyl disaster under cloud of war

Ukraine marks 40th anniversary of Chornobyl disaster under cloud of war

By Dan Peleschuk KYIV, April 26 (Reuters) - Ukraine is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster on Sunday amid lingering fears that Russia's four-year-old war could spark a repeat of the world's worst nuclear disaster.

Global military spending rises 2.9% despite US decline over Ukraine freeze

Global military spending rises 2.9% despite US decline over Ukraine freeze

By Johan Ahlander STOCKHOLM, April 27 (Reuters) - Global military spending rose 2.9% in 2025 despite a 7.5% decline in the United States as President Donald Trump halted new financial military aid to Ukraine, a report by a conflict think-tank showed on Monday.

Ukrainian City Slavutych Holds Midnight Vigil for Chernobyl Disaster Amid Ongoing War

Ukrainian City Slavutych Holds Midnight Vigil for Chernobyl Disaster Amid Ongoing War

In the city of Slavutych, Ukraine, residents gathered in the early hours to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Despite the ongoing war with Russia and associated curfews, the community came together to honor those who died in the 1986 disaster and the thousands who risked their lives to contain its aftermath. The vigil involved placing candles on a large radiation hazard symbol in the central square. Slavutych, built to house workers from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, has faced challenges including a brief Russian occupation and harsh winters. The event was marked by poetry and music, with participants dressed in white protective suits symbolizing the 'liquidators' who managed the disaster's immediate aftermath.

President Trump Engages in Talks with Putin and Zelenskiy to Address Ukraine Conflict

President Trump Engages in Talks with Putin and Zelenskiy to Address Ukraine Conflict

President Trump has confirmed that he is actively engaging in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in an effort to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In a recent interview on Fox News' 'The Sunday Briefing,' Trump stated that he has had 'good conversations' with both leaders. However, he did not disclose the timing of these discussions. The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, remains unresolved despite Trump's diplomatic efforts. Trump emphasized the challenges posed by the animosity between Putin and Zelenskiy, describing it as a significant barrier to peace.

Ukrainian drone hits apartment building in Russian city of Yekaterinburg, local official says

Ukrainian drone hits apartment building in Russian city of Yekaterinburg, local official says

April 25 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian drone hit a multi-storey apartment building in Russia's fourth-largest city, Yekaterinburg, the regional governor said on Saturday, in the first attack on the city since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.