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‘Act five’: National Assembly opens budget debate amid ongoing student protests in France

The French government's budget proposal includes a €1.2 billion increase in funding for the National Education Ministry, as France grapples with one of the highest public deficits in the eurozone.

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Russia remains 'aggressor number one,' UK's MI5 spy agency chief warns in threat update

Ken McCallum said the ramp up in alleged Russian hybrid attacks across Europe had come as Russia's military progress in Ukraine was "minimal and horrifically costly."

Europe paid Russia $209bn for energy since 2022, far below Moscow’s $320bn claim

The European Commission pushed back against what appear to be inflated claims by Russia — and the United States — regarding the bloc’s spending on Russian energy since 2022.

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Russia funnels nearly half its budget into defence, cutting social spending

Russia’s 2027 draft budget allocates a record share to defence and security, as regions quietly divert funds for foster children and orphans to war payments and “coffin money” for soldiers’ families is cut by up to 95% in some areas.