Increased defense budgets expected in Europe, irrespective of the conclusion of Ukraine-Russia negotiations, according to experts' predictions
In a significant move, the cost of Ozempic, a popular diabetes medication, has been halved for patients without health insurance. This reduction in price aims to make the drug more accessible to a wider range of individuals.
In international politics, leaders are making crucial decisions that could shape the future. India's Prime Minister held a meeting with China's Foreign Minister, hailing the talks as a step towards maintaining stable ties with Beijing. Meanwhile, tensions persist between Israel and its allies, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing criticism from leaders such as Anthony Albanese of Australia, who was labelled as a "weak politician" by Netanyahu, and Emmanuel Macron of France, who was blamed for fueling antisemitism due to his calls for Palestinian statehood.
The conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with Netanyahu's government facing intensifying international isolation and domestic discontent. A 60-day ceasefire proposal could falter over Israel's demand for Hamas to release all 50 hostages.
On the other side of the world, Europe is witnessing a defense revival, with European defense factories expanding at three times the rate of peacetime. This expansion is in response to threats from Moscow and concerns about Washington's commitment to allies. Ukraine is strengthening its defense readiness through military cooperation negotiations with several countries, including Sweden and Germany, reflecting broader European support initiatives.
The US and its European allies are trying to hash out what security guarantees for Ukraine will look like following President Donald Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The White House left the door open to air support as a potential security guarantee, but ruled out sending US troops to defend Ukraine from future Russian attacks.
India is hoping to address its need for rare earths, essential minerals used in a wide range of high-tech products, with Beijing promising to address this need.
In economic news, Soho House, the private member club operator, is going private in a $2.7 billion deal, just four years after its IPO. Some investors and members worried that growth undermined the exclusivity that Soho House built its brand on. In a separate development, SoftBank will invest $2 billion in Intel.
The Kairos plant could power 50,000 homes with a small modular nuclear reactor, marking a significant step forward in nuclear energy development.
Finally, US trading partners are growing restless over the slow pace of finalizing tariff-relief deals with Washington, while India is seeking to reverse Trump's tariff penalty over its economic ties to Russia, despite Washington's demands for New Delhi to wean itself off Russian oil.
These are just a few of the many news stories making headlines around the world. Stay tuned for more updates as these stories continue to unfold.
