III. Charles

King Charles sends warm wishes to Trump on America's 250th Independence Day

Orta Doğu'ya gönderilen Charles de Gaulle gemisi Fransa'daki limanına dönüyor

Fransa Cumhurbaşkanı Emmanuel Macron, ABD-İran Savaşı sonrasında Orta Doğu'ya gönderilen Fransız amiral gemisi Charles de Gaulle'ün Toulon Limanı'na dönmekte olduğunu bildirdi.

Andy Burnham outlines his vision for UK economy with promise to raise living standards

Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is likely to be the next British prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation. Central to Burnham's platform is improving living standards that have stagnated or even fallen since the 2008 global financial crisis. But with weak public finances, how realistic is his plan? FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin talks to Renaud Foucart, senior lecturer in economics at Lancaster University.

America does not know its own mind

This article is part of an RS series reflecting on the 250th anniversary of American Independence and its impact and meaning for modern U.S. foreign policy, war, and peace. In a 1941 speech to the America First Committee, which sought to keep the nation out of World War II, Charles Lindbergh insisted that the United States was “better situated from a military standpoint than any other nation in the world.” “If we concentrate on our own defenses and build the strength that this nation should maintain, no foreign army will ever attempt to land on American shores,” Lindbergh thundered. “If we enter fighting for democracy abroad, we may end by losing it at home." President Franklin D. Roosevelt attacked these isolationist arguments head-on as he made the case for sending arms to the victims of aggression, warning that the fall of Great Britain to the Axis powers would imperil U.S. interests. “It is no exaggeration to say that all of us, in all the Americas, would be living at the point of a gun,” Roosevelt said. “We well know that we cannot escape danger, or the fear of danger, by crawling into bed and pulling the covers over our heads.” Japan settled this debate by attacking Pearl Harbor, prompting the America First Committee to disband as the nation entered World War II. But these bitter divisions over statecraft continued to haunt many American elites. In 1943, journalist Walter Lippmann worried that ideological cleavages endangered the republic. “The spectacle of this great nation which does not know its own mind,” he warned, “is as humiliating as it is dangerous.” This warning would prove premature; a consensus behind liberal internationalism would form during the 1940s, consolidate in the early 1950s, and last through the rest of the century. Yet the past is prologue. Today, Lippmann’s apprehensions could not be more apt. As it celebrates its 250th birthday, America does not know its own mind. Internationalists are again doing battle with America Firsters, cleaving the body politic between two incompatible approaches to the nation’s role in the world. Amid deepening disarray across much of the world, the United States urgently needs to reclaim a wise and steady course. Mining the nation’s history can point to the middle ground between globalist excess and nationalist retreat — a new grand strategy that can gain support across the political spectrum while also anchoring a changing world. *** The founding era bequeathed to the United States a grand strategy that was isolationist, unilateralist, protectionist, and anti-immigrant. In his Farewell Address of 1796, President George Washington warned against “permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” The United States banked on the natural security provided by flanking oceans, generally avoided taking on enduring strategic commitments beyond North America, and studiously shunned entanglement in great-power rivalry. The United States chose to go it alone and chart its own foreign policy path rather than entering pacts and alliances that could tie its hands. In 1793, President George Washington reneged on the alliance with France concluded in 1778 to help secure U.S. independence. The United States did not enter another military alliance until after World War II. American positions on trade and immigration also sought to keep the outside world at bay. From its earliest days, the United States relied heavily on commerce with other nations, but it sought fair trade rather than free trade and looked to tariffs to raise revenue and bolster industrialization. The protectionist impulse intensified after the Great Depression with the infamous Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which triggered the collapse of international trade. And, even as America welcomed with open arms immigrants that were white and Protestant, Jews, Catholics, Asians, Mexicans, and various “non-white” peoples were often the target of anti-immigrant measures. Racism and anti-immigrant sentiment reinforced isolationism by intensifying the nation’s urge to limit its entanglement with the outside world. To be sure, the United States hardly sat on its hands until World War II. As it sought dominance in the Western hemisphere, the young nation steadily expanded westward, shunting aside Native Americans and launching a war in 1846 that led to the annexation of roughly half of Mexico’s territory. But when American policymakers strayed further afield, they faced sharp backlash at home. Victory in the Spanish-American War of 1898 saddled the United States with Spain’s former possessions in the Caribbean and Pacific. Especially after thousands of U.S. soldiers died fighting insurgents in the Philippines, this bout of imperialism did not go over well with the electorate. “We assert that no nation can long endure half republic and half empire,” charged Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan in 1900. Americans similarly soured on President Woodrow Wilson’s decision to enter World War I to “make the world safe for democracy.” The 1920 election was effectively a referendum on Wilsonian internationalism. The Republican nominee, Warren Harding, campaigned “against the internationalism” of Wilson and “for the policies of [George] Washington.” Harding won in a landslide, sparking America’s sharp strategic retreat during the interwar years. This isolationist impulse held strong even as Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan embarked down a path of aggression and territorial expansion. *** This first era of U.S. grand strategy came to a decisive end on December 7, 1941, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. “That day ended isolationism for any realist,” wrote Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, who had until then been a leading proponent of isolation and non-intervention. President Roosevelt began what would result in a sea-change in U.S. grand strategy, forging a new bipartisan compact behind liberal internationalism. Helping drive this foreign policy revolution were tectonic shifts in geopolitics. Advances in aviation and other military technologies led American policymakers to conclude that two great oceans no longer provided strategic shields. “The world has grown so small and weapons of attack so swift,” Roosevelt explained, “that no nation can be safe in its will to peace.” A new strategic principle would come to guide U.S. statecraft: “never again,” as described by historian Melvyn Leffler, “could the United States permit an adversary or coalition of adversaries to gain control of the preponderant resources of Europe and Asia.” To ensure safety at home, the United States had to venture abroad, defeat autocratic aggressors, and spread republican ideals. Amid the onset of the Cold War, the United States left behind hemispheric isolation and became a crusader state. In the service of defending its worldwide interests and spreading democracy, the United States deployed its armed forces abroad in war and peace and constructed a web of defense alliances and a vast network of overseas bases. Between 1948 and the end of the Cold War, U.S. forces engaged in more than 40 military interventions. Unilateralism gave way to multilateralism. The Senate approved membership in the United Nations by a vote of 89-2, and the Bretton Woods institutions were set up to oversee the international economy. Fervor for free trade displaced protectionism, and Washington took the lead in negotiating the liberalization of international commerce. The country also embraced a new sense of multiculturalism, bolstered by looser immigration laws and the victories of the civil rights movement. The bipartisan compact behind liberal internationalism served as the political foundation for Pax Americana well into the twenty-first century. Western hegemony, underpinned by U.S. power, acquired a taken-for-granted quality. *** Yet history is moving forward. America’s internationalist consensus has shattered. Decades of war in the Middle East have soured the electorate on military interventions and undermined trust in the political establishment. Automation, globalization, and deindustrialization have hollowed out the middle class and turned free trade into a dirty word on both sides of the aisle. The failure of international institutions to deliver has sapped enthusiasm for multilateralism, while a dysfunctional immigration system has eaten away at the fabric of multiculturalism. On foreign as well as domestic policy, Americans are deeply divided along ideological and partisan lines. Trump is a symptom, not the cause, of the country’s political fracture and its turn against the establishment. And at least in theory, Trump’s pivot to America First represents an overdue course correction. Trump vowed to pull the nation back from decades of strategic overreach, ease off democracy promotion and multilateralism, and erect protectionist barriers that would revive the nation’s manufacturing sector. He also vowed to fix an immigration system that many Americans recognized as badly broken. But Trump has overcorrected and underperformed. Rather than pulling off a needed strategic retrenchment, he attacked Iran, launching yet another failed war of choice in the Middle East and straining the nation’s alliances. Trump is right to back off promoting democracy abroad, but he corroded American democracy by disregarding the rule of law at home. In the meantime, his protectionism has worsened the nation’s affordability crisis and his harsh deportations have turned a majority of the U.S. public against his immigration policy. Trump is doing an excellent job of bringing down the old order. But he shows no sign of putting in place a viable alternative. *** Today, America is adrift; neither liberal internationalism nor Trump’s America First strategy is able to sustain domestic support. Wide swings in U.S. strategy are contributing to global instability and undermining U.S. leverage. With American history as our guide, it is time to create a new consensus — one that builds on the wisdom of both George Washington and Franklin Roosevelt and sets the country on a stable path forward. The last major shift in U.S. foreign policy was forged in response to the catastrophe of World War II. This time, Washington must not wait for another great-power war to help birth an ordering moment. The clock is ticking. As China reaches great-power status and middle powers continue to rise, global power is diffusing from west to east and north to south; geopolitical rivalries are mounting in step. Yet with America’s purposes abroad no longer in equilibrium with its domestic means, the United States is not currently up to the task of providing steady leadership. To get back on course and help anchor a changing world, America should now embrace what one might call “multilateralism-lite.” International cooperation remains necessary for solving global problems like trade, global warming, and AI regulation, but the United States cannot rely on bureaucratic and slow-moving institutions like the U.N. to address these problems. Instead, it should focus on coalitions of the willing and bespoke groupings targeting specific tasks. Alongside such ad hoc coalitions, the United States should also encourage states to lean first and foremost on regional organizations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the African Union, which should shoulder more responsibility and deliver more public goods in their neighborhoods. As global power diffuses, the United States must for now set aside efforts to spread republican ideals and instead work with other nations — democracies and autocracies alike — to fashion a pluralistic and ideologically diverse global order. Democracies will need to compete respectfully in the marketplace of ideas with countries that adhere to alternative forms of governance. Autocracies will likewise need to live comfortably alongside liberal democracies. International cooperation will require respect for sovereignty and toleration of differences over values and governance. In this respect, the United States and China should do more to build a pragmatic and constructive relationship. Teamwork between the world’s two leading powers will help facilitate global governance and reduce the chances of a dangerous rupture. The crusading ethos that has defined U.S. foreign policy for the last 80 years must be tamed; America’s role as global policeman has run its course. At the same time, hemispheric isolation is not an option in an interdependent world. The United States still needs to help prevent the domination of Eurasia by a hostile power, even as it retrenches from and avoids wars of choice in other parts of the world. Keeping alliances in Europe and Asia alive and well is a cheap investment in maintaining a stable balance of power. As Washington presses allies to shoulder more burdens, it should still maintain a robust U.S. force presence in both theaters. This is the pathway toward a stable equilibrium between chronic overreach and dangerous detachment. Such a refashioning of U.S. foreign policy will not be easy. In order to make it stick, U.S. democracy will have to get back up on its feet. Domestic investments will be needed to promote growth, bring down inequality, and educate Americans for the jobs of the future. A tamed brand of globalization – one that entails a more level playing field with trade partners but avoids protectionist overkill – can help ensure that the benefits of international trade are more widely shared. Only if it gets its own house once more in order will the United States have the power and purpose to provide effective leadership abroad. America’s founders imparted enduring wisdom when they cautioned against unwise entanglement abroad. But the world of the 21st century is not the world of the founding era; like it or not, Americans are entangled in an interdependent globe. The United States must now step back without stepping away; it must do less, but still do enough. Arriving at that middle ground will be the challenge of the post-Trump era.

Question and answer - CEDA State of the Nation Conference

CHARLES CROUCHER: Thank you, Prime Minister. Thank you, everyone, for being here. My name's Charles with the Nine Network. It's lovely to be here and we're going to try and as much as possible get to your questions. So, if you have one from the floor, whack your hand up. Otherwise, use the QR codes you have on the table. If you'd like to double the chances, whack your hand up and use the QR code. And that's the best way to do it. While that's happening, I'm going to start. Prime Minister - big day today.

The Guardian view on royal tax secrecy: it survives King Charles’s latest disclosure | Editorial

The monarch says how much he pays the Treasury but did not reveal the wealth behind it. Britain still lacks proper scrutiny of royal cash King Charles has become Britain’s first monarch in modern times to reveal how much tax he pays on his private income: £24.6m over the past two years. This is not a victory for transparency but a win for those who wish to keep the curtain drawn firmly over the royal finances. What is presented as a radical move is in fact more obfuscation. The monarch says he has paid millions in tax, but has not disclosed the income, gains or deductions behind the bill. The royals are funded by taking a cut of crown estate profits – public money that would otherwise go to the Treasury. That amount is decided by three royal trustees: the prime minister, the chancellor and the keeper of the privy purse. Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...

The king, his billions, and the first public royal tax bill – The Latest

King Charles has become the first monarch in modern times to reveal how much tax he pays on his private income: £24.6m over the last two years. The move comes after years of calls for the monarch to be more open with the public about the royal finances. Some are heralding this as a new era of transparency – but just how open has the revelation been? Lucy Hough speaks to our European financial affairs editor, Juliette Garside – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

AkoFresh CEO wins $100,000 OPEC Fund Youth Entrepreneurship Award

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AkoFresh, Mathias Charles Yabe, has won the Youth Entrepreneurship Award at the OPEC Fund's 2026 Annual Award for Development.

King Charles reveals $17M tax bill in royal accounts

King Charles has become the first British monarch to disclose his tax bill, paying £12.9 million ($17 million) for 2024-25, placing him among the top 100 UK taxpayers. The Sovereign Grant is set to rise to nearly £100 million by 2027-28 as Buckingham Palace renovations continue.

Britain's Charles has paid over £30m in taxes since becoming the king in 2022, say royal officials

Royal officials said on Thursday that Britain’s King Charles paid £30 million in taxes since 2022. This is the first time the figure has been made public, placing him among Britain’s top 100 taxpayers. Officials also said that the king will not live at Buckingham Palace after its 10-year refurbishment finishes next year, ending nearly two centuries of the London landmark serving as the British monarchs primary residence. Members of the royal family have promised greater transparency about their finances amid growing scrutiny and criticism since the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022. Palace still monarchy’s ‘headquarters’ Charles’ decision not to live at Buckingham Palace and remain at Clarence House, his longstanding London home nearby, comes ahead of the completion next year of a $487m refurbishment to replace ageing electrical wiring, pipes and heating systems. When work started in 2017, officials had expected the palaceto remain the monarch’s primary London residence, as it had been since Queen Victoria became sovereign in 1837. James Chalmers, the king’s treasurer, known as the Keeper of the Privy Purse, said it would remain the primary venue for ceremonial and official functions including hosting state visits. “It is and will remain ‘monarchy HQ’, the crown jewel of our national buildings, with the sovereigns standard flying proudly from the roof whenever His Majesty is in London,” he told reporters. Neither Charles nor the late Queen Elizabeth had stayed overnight at the palace since 2019. The king will maintain private rooms there that could be used as accommodation. Some 700,000 people visit the building every year, and public access will be increased, Chalmers said, without providing details. Charles reveals tax bills By law, the British king is not obliged to pay income, capital gains or inheritance tax, but Charles, has voluntarily done so without disclosing the amounts, as his mother did after 1993. Charles, like all monarchs since 1399, gets a private income from the vast Duchy of Lancaster estate £25.2m in 2025-26 as well as from his other holdings and investments. Chalmers said the king had paid £11.7m in tax in 2023-24 and more than £30m in all since becoming king in 2022. He also receives money from the government, known as the Sovereign Grant, based on a percentage of profits from the Crown Estate, a property portfolio whose revenues the monarch surrenders to state coffers in exchange for an annual payment, to pay for staff, royal palaces and travel. The grant, boosted by soaring profits from the sale of offshore windfarm licences, rose from £86m in 2024-25 to £132m the following year and will be £137.9m 2026-27. But Chalmers said it would be cut for the first time in 2027-28, to £100m, “in line with His Majestys clear wishes”, a level where it will stay until 2031-32. That makes it almost £60m higher than in 2016, when the funding formula was changed to pay for the Buckingham Palace refit. “This is not a blank cheque,” Chalmers said, adding there were safeguards in place to ensure the amount was proportional. Media revelations in 2024 that the Duchy of Lancaster and heir-to-the-throne Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall estate were charging Britain’s health service, army and schools rent have generated criticism, as did details this month about royal property arrangements. William’s office said he had paid £7.76m in tax in 2024-25 and instructed that £1.5m in rent from a closed prison go to the local community. Critics said the royal finances still remained opaque. “Another hike for Charles, more spin and gloss and more misdirection on taxes,” said Graham Smith, the chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic. “This is the way with royal reporting: the more they reveal, the more questions are raised.”

Kral Charles, Buckingham Sarayı'nı terk ediyor. Yeni adresleri belli oldu

İngiltere Kralı Charles, Buckingham Sarayı'ndaki 10 yıllık restorasyon çalışması gelecek yıl tamamlandıktan sonra buraya taşınmayacağını ve Clarence House'ta yaşamaya devam edeceğini bildirdi. İngiliz kraliyeti yetkilileri, dün yaptıkları açıklamada, Kral Charles'ın, Buckingham Sarayı'nda yürütülen 10 yıllık restorasyon çalışması gelecek yıl tamamlandıktan sonra buraya taşınmayacağını bildirdi. Söz konusu karar, Londra'nın merkezindeki tarihi yapının yaklaşık iki asırdır İngiliz hükümdarlarının ana ikametgahı olma rolünü sonu anlamına geliyor. Yetkililer aynı zamanda, Kral'ın 2024/25 döneminde 12,9 milyon sterlin (17,04 milyon dolar) vergi ödediğini ilk kez kamuoyuna duyurdu. Bu meblağ, Kral Charles'ı İngiltere'nin en çok vergi ödeyen ilk 100 kişisi arasına yerleştiriyor. Kraliçe Elizabeth'in 2022 yılındaki vefatının ardından artan eleştiriler karşısında kraliyet ailesi üyeleri, mali konulara ilişkin şeffaflığı artırma taahhüdünde bulunmuştu. Kral Charles, saraydaki 369 milyon sterlinlik (428,2 milyon avro / 486,7 milyon dolar) yenileme çalışması gelecek yıl bittiğinde de uzun süredir Londra'daki evi olan yakınlardaki Clarence House'ta yaşamaya devam etme kararı aldı. Söz konusu restorasyon projesi, eskiyen elektrik kablolarının, boruların ve ısıtma sistemlerinin yenilenmesini kapsıyor. Restorasyon çalışmalarının başladığı 2017 yılında yetkililer, Kraliçe Victoria'nın 1837'de tahta çıkmasından bu yana olduğu gibi sarayın hükümdarın Londra'daki ana ikametgahı olmayı sürdürmesini bekliyordu. Kraliyet Saymanı ve Özel Bütçe Yöneticisi James Chalmers, Buckingham Sarayı'nın yabancı devlet yetkililerinin ağırlanması dahil olmak üzere resmi ve törensel işlevlerin yürütüldüğü ana merkez olarak kalacağını ifade etti. Chalmers, basın mensuplarına yaptığı açıklamada, "Saray, Majesteleri her Londra'da olduğunda çatısında hükümdarlık sancağının gururla dalgalanacağı, ulusal binalarımızın tacı ve monarşinin ana karargahı olmaya devam edecektir" dedi. SARAY TÖRENLER İÇİN ANA MERKEZ OLARAK KALACAK Kral Charles da merhum Kraliçe Elizabeth de 2019 yılından bu yana sarayda yatıya kalmadı. Bununla birlikte Kral, saray bünyesinde gerektiğinde konaklama amacıyla kullanılabilecek özel odalarını muhafaza edecek. Chalmers, her yıl yaklaşık 700 bin kişinin ziyaret ettiği 775 odalı tarihi binaya halkın erişiminin artırılacağını belirtti ancak bu konuya dair detay paylaşmadı. Saray, monarşinin resmi ikametgahı olmasının yanı sıra kraliyet bürokrasisi için ofis alanı sağlıyor ve yabancı liderler için görkemli devlet yemeklerine ev sahipliği yapıyor. Yasal olarak İngiltere Kralı gelir vergisi, sermaye kazancı vergisi veya veraset vergisi ödemekle yükümlü bulunmuyor. Ancak Charles, annesi Kraliçe II. Elizabeth'in 1993'ten sonra yaptığı gibi, ödediği miktarları açıklamaksızın gönüllü olarak vergi ödemeyi tercih etti. Kral, 1399'dan bu yana tüm hükümdarlar gibi, geniş Lancaster Dükalığı mülklerinden elde ettiği kişisel gelirin yanı sıra diğer yatırımlarından ve varlıklarından da milyonlarca sterlin gelir elde ediyor. Lancaster Dükalığı'ndan elde edilen bu kişisel gelir, 2025/26 döneminde 25,2 milyon sterlin olarak gerçekleşti. KRAL NE KADAR KAZANIYOR? Bunun yanı sıra James Chalmers, Kral'ın 2023/24 döneminde 11,7 milyon sterlin vergi ödediğini, 2022'de tahta çıkmasından bu yana ödediği toplam verginin ise 30 milyon sterlini aştığını kaydetti. Kral Charles ayrıca personel giderleri, kraliyet saraylarının bakımı ve seyahat harcamalarını karşılamak amacıyla hükümetten "Hükümdarlık Ödeneği" (Sovereign Grant) adı altında fon alıyor. Bu ödeneğin 2026/27 döneminde 137,9 milyon sterlin olacağı belirtildi. Bununla birlikte Chalmers, söz konusu ödeneğin Kral'ın net talebi doğrultusunda 2027/28 döneminde ilk kez düşürülerek 100 milyon sterline çekileceğini ve 2031/32 dönemine kadar bu seviyede tutulacağını açıkladı. Söz konusu miktar, Buckingham Sarayı'nın restorasyonunu finanse etmek amacıyla fonlama formülünün değiştirildiği 2016 yılındaki seviyeden yaklaşık 60 milyon sterlin daha yüksek bir tutara karşılık geliyor. "Bu boş bir çek değil" diyen Chalmers, bütçe miktarının orantılı olmasını sağlamak amacıyla koruyucu mekanizmaların devrede olduğunu sözlerine ekledi. Diğer taraftan, tahtın varisi Prens William'ın ofisinden yapılan açıklamada, Prens'in 2024/25 döneminde 7,76 milyon sterlin vergi ödediği ve kapatılan bir hapishaneden elde edilen 1,5 milyon sterlinlik kira gelirinin yerel topluluğa aktarılması talimatını verdiği bildirildi. Hem Prens William hem de Kral Charles, orduya, sağlık hizmetlerine ve okullara mülk kiralayarak kazanç sağladıkları gerekçesiyle kamuoyunda eleştirilerle karşı karşıya kalmıştı. Kraliçe II. Elizabeth'in ölümünden sonra ailenin itibarı ciddi sınamalardan geçti. Kraliyetin imajı, Kraliçe Elizabeth'in oğlu Prens Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) ile pedofil fuhuş şebekesi yöneticisi Jeffrey Epstein arasındaki ilişkilere yönelik aylarca süren ve utanç verici manşetlerle gündeme gelen iddiaların ardından ciddi zarar görmüştü.

Dünya iklimi için Türkiye köprüsü

Hazine ve Maliye Bakanı Mehmet Şimşek, Birleşmiş Milletler İklim Değişikliği Çerçeve Sözleşmesi 31. Taraflar Konferansı’ndaki (COP31) öncü girişimlerinden birinin ‘İklim Uygulama Köprüsü’ olacağını belirterek, “Hedefimiz, ülkelerin iklim planlarını yatırım yapılabilir projelere dönüştürmelerine, finansman ihtiyaçlarını ise bankalar ve yatırımcılar açısından finanse edilebilir proje havuzlarına çevirmelerine yardımcı olmak” dedi. Şimşek, Londra İklim Eylemi Haftası’nda düzenlenen İklim Dayanıklılığı Finansmanı Zirvesi’nde açılış konuşmasını yaptı.Küresel iklim gündeminin önemli ölçüde değiştiğini dile getiren Şimşek, artık taahhütlerin uygulanmasının asıl konu haline geldiğini anlattı. Şimşek, Türkiye’nin başkanlığını yürüttüğü COP31’de önceliğinin net olduğunu ifade ederek, “Planların uygulanmasını hızlandırmamız gerek. Bunun yolu da büyük ölçüde finansmandan geçiyor” diye konuştu. Fırsata dönüştürmek Dünyada iklim hedeflerine ulaşabilmek için 2030’a kadar yıllık 6.3 - 6.7 trilyon dolar yatırım gerektiğini ama toplam iklim finansmanının 2 trilyon doları ancak bulduğunu belirten bAKAN Şimşek şöyle konuştu: “Çin haricindeki gelişmekte olan ülkelerin finansman ihtiyacı yıllık yaklaşık 2.4 trilyon dolar seviyesinde ama bu ülkeler halihazırda bu miktarın ancak onda biri kadar finansmana erişebiliyor. Buradaki sorun sermaye yetersizliği değil, iklim önceliklerini yatırım yapılabilir fırsatlara dönüştürebilmek. Finansman bulamayan, yeterince hazırlanmamış çok sayıda proje bulunmasına karşılık cazip getiri arayan büyük miktarda sermaye de var.” COP31 Zirvesi’ne davet Çevre, Şehircilik ve İklim Değişikliği Bakanı ve COP31 Başkanı Murat Kurum, ‘Londra İklim Eylem Haftası’ kapsamında düzenlenen etkinliklerin üçüncü gününde, Kral Charles tarafından St. James Sarayı’nda düzenlenen ‘Temiz Hava Koalisyonu Üst Düzey Resepsiyonu’na katıldı. Resepsiyona, COP31 Başkanı Kurum’un yanı sıra Birleşmiş Milletler (BM) Genel Sekreteri Antonio Guterres de katıldı. Kurum, burada yaptığı konuşmada, iklim kriziyle mücadelede COP31 Başkanlığının yol haritasını paylaştı. Katılımcıları kasımda Antalya’da düzenlenecek COP31 Zirvesi’ne davet eden Kurum, resepsiyon kapsamında Kral Charles ile de bir araya geldi. İŞTE ZİRVE PLANI Fırsatve yatırımı buluşturacak bir köprü gerektiğinibelirten Şimşek, “Türkiye’nin COP31 girişimlerinden İklim Uygulama Köprüsü bu boşluğu doldurmayı hedefliyor. Hedefimiz, ülkelerin iklim planlarını yatırım yapılabilir projelere dönüştürmelerine, finansman ihtiyaçlarını ise bankave yatırımcı açısından finanse edilebilir proje havuzlarına çevirmelerine yardımcı olmak” dedi.

UK's King Charles Paid $39.6 Million In Taxes Since 2022

UK monarchs are legally exempt from paying certain taxes, though they have paid some duties voluntarily for decades, and they also have no obligation to disclose their private tax bills.

UK’s King Charles breaks tradition to reveal US$17 million tax bill

King Charles will not live at Buckingham ⁠Palace after its 10-year refurbishment finishes next year, royal officials said on Thursday, ending nearly two centuries of the central London landmark serving as the British monarch’s primary residence. Officials at the same time disclosed the king paid £12.9 million (US$17.04 million) in tax in 2024/25 – the first time the figure has been made public – placing him among Britain’s ‌top 100 taxpayers. Members of the royal family have promised greater...

UK'S King Charles breaks precedent to reveal pound sterling30 mn paid in taxes since 2022

LONDON - King Charles III has paid more than pound sterling30 million ($39.6 million) in personal taxes since becoming monarch in September 2022, Buckingham Palace announced Thursday, in the first such disclosure by a reigning British sovereign.

King Charles III Has Paid More Than $39.6 Million in Taxes, Palace Discloses in a U.K. First

Charles released his tax information for the period he has been king of Britain as part of a push for greater transparency after the scandal involving the former Prince Andrew.

Women in Diplomacy Day Celebrated in Prague

(ANSA) - ROMA, 24 GIU - To mark International Women in Diplomacy Day, the Italian Embassy in Prague organized an event dedicated to highlighting the significant contribution of women in diplomatic, bilateral, and multilateral settings. The event was opened by the Deputy Head of Mission, Laura Calligaro, who introduced the proceedings and coordinated the entire day’s activities. A roundtable discussion was then held in the reception halls, moderated by Adriana Dergam of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University in Prague. Participants included the Indonesian Ambassador, Rina P. Soermarno, the Czech Government’s Special Envoy for the Balkans, Edita Hrdá, the Deputy Director of the Czech Department for Western Europe, Jana Šedivá, and the Canadian Deputy Head of Mission, Hanna Wajda. At the end of the discussion, the Director of the United Nations Information Center in Prague, Michal Broža, outlined the process that led to the establishment of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. This was followed by a video message from Alena Křížková, head of the Department of Gender and Sociology at the Czech Academy of Sciences, who offered an academic perspective on women’s involvement in institutional contexts. Closing remarks were delivered by the Ambassador of Spain, María Pérez Sánchez-Laulhé, co-organizer of the initiative. Read article...

Monday briefing: What’s next for no-drama Starmer as his ‘political challenges’ pile up?

In today’s newsletter: Our senior political correspondent talks about how the coming days and weeks may unfold for the Labour government, and how Keir Starmer ended up the most unpopular prime minister in memory • Don’t get First Edition delivered to your inbox? Sign up here Good morning. Today’s the day, probably. Keir Starmer is expected to announce that he will step down as prime minister, after overwhelming pressure from Labour MPs to make way for Andy Burnham to become party leader. This follows the Manchester mayor’s emphatic victory in last Thursday’s Makerfield byelection, where he leveraged his popularity and the prevailing anti-Starmer mood to secure more votes than Reform and Restore combined, cementing his credentials as the man who can take on the hard right in the next general election. Middle East | High-stakes talks between the US and Iran are expected to continue for the rest of the week in Switzerland, after a tense start that saw Iranian negotiators walk out in protest at a stream of threats issued by Donald Trump on social media. Edinburgh | Police Scotland said a man was charged after a series of attacks in Edinburgh on Friday night that are being treated as potential anti-Muslim hate crimes. Counter-terrorism officers were brought in to investigate the attacks in which five people were injured. UK weather | The Met Office forecasts that extremely high temperatures could last from Monday until Thursday, leading to health concerns for elderly and vulnerable people. UK news | Police have named the driver killed in the Bedford train crash on Friday, as his family said they “are devastated by his loss”. Prisons | Pet ferrets kept as therapy animals at the UK’s largest children’s prison have been co-opted by managers to kill rats, resulting in a bloody incident and concerns over child and animal welfare. Tuesday | This day marks the 10 years since the UK voted to leave the EU. A Guardian report analysing the complex legacy of Brexit through boats, bankers and borders is a good place to consider the legacy of leaving the EU. Tuesday | Also this day, Peter Murrell, the ex-chief executive of the SNP, is likely to be sentenced to prison custody after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. Wednesday | Donna Ockenden will publish her review of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Britain’s biggest maternity care scandal. Friday | Kings Charles will become the first head of state to reveal their personal tax bill, and will release other financial reports for the royal household. Continue reading...

MSF sacks 18 staff over sexual exploitation and abuse of Sudanese refugees in Chad

Dozens of Doctors Without Borders staff have been accused of sexually abusing Sudanese refugees in Chad, the organisation said Monday, adding that it dismissed 18 workers after investigations found "serious misconduct". The medical charity, which goes by its French acronym MSF, said it had launched a series of investigations into "serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse" put forward in late 2024 by Sudanese refugees hosted in eastern Chad. FRANCE 24's Mark Owen speaks with Charles Bouessel, Senior Analyst for Central Africa at the International Crisis Group.

Tropical Storm Arthur Public Advisory Number 5

Issued at 1000 AM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 000 WTNT31 KNHC 171453 TCPAT1 BULLETIN Tropical Storm Arthur Advisory Number 5 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL012026 1000 AM CDT Wed Jun 17 2026 ...TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR DEVELOPS NEAR THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST... ...LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING EXPECTED ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES... SUMMARY OF 1000 AM CDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION ----------------------------------------------- LOCATION...28.6N 95.8W ABOUT 40 MI...65 KM ENE OF PORT OCONNOR TEXAS ABOUT 190 MI...300 KM WSW OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 45 DEGREES AT 9 MPH...15 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1001 MB...29.56 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Tropical Storm Warning has been extended westward to High Island, Texas. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * High Island, Texas to Morgan City, Louisiana A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for... * Sargent, Texas to High Island, Texas A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area, in this case within 12 hours. A Tropical Storm Watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible within the watch area, in this case within 12 hours. For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Arthur was located near latitude 28.6 North, longitude 95.8 West. Arthur is moving toward the northeast near 9 mph (15 km/h), and an increase in forward speed is expected today. On the forecast track, the low pressure area should move northeastward along the Texas coast today and then move inland over southwestern Louisiana by tonight. Surface observations and data from the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters indicate that maximum sustained winds have increased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected before the center moves over land. Weakening is anticipated once the low moves inland, and it could dissipate by tonight or early Thursday. Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles (280 km) from the center. NOAA buoy 42035 east of Galveston recently reported a sustained wind of 38 mph (61 km/h) and a gust of 43 mph (69 km/h). The Scholes International Airport (KGLS) in Galveston recently reported a wind gust of 48 mph (78 km/h). The minimum central pressure based on surface observations is 1001 mb (29.56 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key messages for Tropical Storm Arthur can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT1 and WMO header WTNT41 KNHC. RAINFALL: Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to produce rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches, with isolated higher totals near 20 inches, through early Friday from the Mid and Upper Texas coast east-northeast into southern and central portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, along with western portions of Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. This could generate dangerous to life-threatening flash flooding. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Arthur, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ero. For a list of rainfall observations (and wind reports) associated with Tropical Storm Arthur, see the companion storm summary at WBCSCCNS1 with the WMO header ACUS44 KWBC or at the following link: www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html. WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected within the warning area today. Tropical storm force winds, especially in gusts, are possible within the watch area today. STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Port Bolivar, TX to Morgan City, LA...2-4 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast near and to the east of the landfall location, where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?peakSurge. SURF: Swells generated by Arthur are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions along the northwestern Gulf Coast for the next couple of days. Please consult products from your local weather office. A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at1.shtml?ripCurrents TORNADO: A couple of tornadoes are possible through Thursday from the Upper Texas Coast into southern Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the western Florida Panhandle. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 100 PM CDT. Next complete advisory at 400 PM CDT. $$ Forecaster Reinhart

Countdown To Fed Rate Decision | The Close 6/16/2026

Bloomberg Television brings you the latest news and analysis leading up to the final minutes and seconds before and after the closing bell on Wall Street. Today's guests are Charles Schwab Chief Investment Strategist Liz Ann Sonders, NYU Stern Finance Professor Aswath Damodaran, Wedbush Securities SVP Equity Research Alicia Reese, Harrison Street Co-Founder & Global CEO Chris Merrill, Man Group Chief Market Strategist Kristina Hooper, JP Morgan Head of Global Rates Strategy Jay Barry, LA Host Committee Co-Chair & LAFC Co-President Larry Freedman, Center for American Progress CEO & Former Senior Advisor to President Biden Neera Tanden, & The Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett. (Source: Bloomberg)

Macron'dan İran'ın uranyumuna ilişkin açıklama! 'Etkisiz hale getirilmesini sağlayacağız'

Fransa Cumhurbaşkanı Macron G7 Zirvesi öncesinde ABD ile İran arasındaki ateşkes anlaşmasına ilişkin açıklama yaptı. Macron açıklamasında İran'ın zenginleştirilmiş uranyum stoklarına değinerek, "Geriye kalan zenginleştirilmiş uranyum kapasitesinin uygun şekilde etkisiz hale getirilmesini sağlayacağız" ifadelerini kullandı. "YA ÜLKE DIŞINA ÇIKARILMASI YA DA SEYRELTİLMESİ" Fransız lider, söz konusu hassas stokların "ya ülke dışına çıkarılması ya da seyreltilmesi" ve ardından da Uluslararası Atom Enerjisi Ajansı (IAEA) tarafından denetlenmesi gerektiğini belirtti. Hürmüz Boğazı geçişlerine ilişkin de konuşan Emmanuel Macron, İran'ın deniz ticaret hattından geçiş ücreti almasını engellemek için ellerinden gelen her şeyi yapacaklarını söyledi. Hürmüz Boğazı'nın yeniden açılmasını sağlamak amacıyla hazırlanan ortak Fransa-İngiltere misyonunun "çok hızlı şekilde" konuşlandırılabileceğini ifade eden Macron, Fransa'nın amiral gemisi niteliğindeki uçak gemisi Charles de Gaulle'ün "iki ya da üç gün içinde" bölgede görev yapmaya hazır olacağını açıkladı. Yerin altında gizli deprem ağı! 500’den fazla sarsıntı tespit edildi ABD Başkanı Trump'tan Hürmüz açıklaması! 'Gemiler hareket etmeye başladı'

Anambra asks residents to provide information on fake pastors, native doctors

The administration of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State recently launched a crackdown on native doctors, and spiritualists who encourage criminality by making charms for armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists. The post Anambra asks residents to provide information on fake pastors, native doctors appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

The Italian Momentum: London Focus on Energy and Digital Investments in Italy

(ANSA) - LONDRA, 10 GIU - The Italian Embassy in London, in collaboration with the Global Infrastructure Investor Association (GIIA), Clifford Chance, and the ICE Office in London, hosted the seminar “Investing in Italian Infrastructure: Exploring Opportunities across Energy and Digital in an Evolving Geopolitical Landscape.” Held at Casa Italia, the embassy’s new headquarters, the event marked the launch of a series of meetings on economic topics titled ‘The Italian Momentum - Insights for Global Investors', and is part of Clifford Chance’s long-standing commitment to fostering an annual in-depth dialogue in London on current issues related to energy and infrastructure with key stakeholders. The forum brought together high-level policymakers, institutional investors, asset managers, and infrastructure experts to discuss capital deployment in Italy’s rapidly modernizing energy and digital sectors, against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global geopolitical environment. The event was opened by the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Fabio Cassese, Clifford Chance’s global managing partner, Charles Adams, and the director of corporate affairs at the Global Infrastructure Investors Association, Simon Montague. The meeting featured Stefano Venier, senior advisor, board member, and former CEO of Snam and Hera, as a keynote speaker, who provided an overview of system security and the dynamics of the transition within the Italian energy market. The discussion highlighted the substantial investment pipeline that is reshaping the Italian energy and digital infrastructure market, driven by increased confidence from international institutional investors and recent regulatory updates adopted under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). Ambassador Cassese stated: “Italy is demonstrating unprecedented appeal within the European infrastructure landscape. This is no coincidence, but the result of a clear vision for the future in the key sectors of energy and digital technology. Today we reaffirm the embassy’s role as a strategic bridge between the Italian industrial ecosystem and major international investors based in London, ready to support a sustainable, secure, and efficient transition.” Read article...

The Interview

Charles Gitonga speaks to entrepreneur Mohammed Dewji about being a billionaire in Africa

‘They are isolated … they are alone’: Zelenskyy on Russia, Putin’s lies – and fighting back

In a wide-ranging interview, an upbeat Ukrainian president also discusses Donald Trump, King Charles, and how Kyiv is prepared to share its experience of drone warfare with the west Sitting down with the Guardian in London, Volodymyr Zelenskyy seems cheerful. More than four years after Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion, he believes Europe’s biggest war since 1945 appears to be slowly turning in Ukraine’s favour. The military situation is the most promising it has been for Kyiv for two and a half years, Zelenskyy says. “We can’t say Russia is losing this war. But we can say they are losing the initiative each day, day by day,” he insists. Over the past week the Kremlin has suffered a series of setbacks. Long-range Ukrainian drones have hit Putin’s home city of St Petersburg, setting fire to oil terminals and sending smoke billowing above the skyline. Similar attacks have crippled occupied Crimea. A key supply road is littered with burning lorries and tankers and the peninsula seized by Russia in 2014 is experiencing severe fuel shortages. Continue reading...

Leonardo’s manuscripts reunited after four centuries, online platform presented in London

(ANSA) - LONDRA, 08 GIU - The Italian Embassy in London—in collaboration with the Museo Galileo and the Ministry of Culture—hosted the launch of a new digital platform that brings together, for the first time in over 400 years, the two main collections of Leonardo da Vinci’s writings and drawings. Available starting today at teche.museogalileo.it/leonardo, Leonardotheka is the world’s most extensive digital resource dedicated to Leonardo’s manuscripts. As the culmination of a decade-long project conceived by the Museo Galileo and developed in partnership with the Royal Collection Trust, the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, and the Biblioteca Leonardiana in Vinci, and realized thanks to the efforts of distinguished scholars and the IT experts at the Museo Galileo, approximately 3,500 pages of Leonardo’s manuscripts—which had remained separated since the late 16th century—have finally been reunited. Leonardotheka offers a new perspective on Leonardo’s thought, vision, and working method. Thanks to the digital restoration of some of the pages, the platform highlights the connection between the scientific studies and the figurative drawings of the Tuscan genius, arbitrarily separated by Pompeo Leoni at the end of the 16th century. The Museo Galileo has fostered collaboration among various institutions—integrating the expertise of the world’s leading experts with knowledge accumulated over centuries of study—with the aim of broadening access to Leonardo’s rich legacy through a public platform. Leonardotheka reunites the 1,119 sheets of the Codex Atlanticus—the most extensive collection of Leonardo’s writings comprising a single corpus, housed at the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana—with the most important collection of figurative, anatomical, landscape, and naturalistic drawings by the Genius of Vinci, namely the approximately 550 folios of the Royal Collection at Windsor. These two collections are now digitally reunited on a platform accessible to all. Upon Leonardo’s death, Francesco Melzi—his last pupil—inherited all the manuscripts. These, however, eventually fell into the hands of the Arezzo-born sculptor Pompeo Leoni, who dismantled the notebooks and loose sheets, distributing the resulting material across two albums: in the first—the more substantial one—he placed illustrations and writings on technical and scientific subjects, reserving the second for artistic and figurative studies. At the beginning of the 17th century, Polidoro Calchi, Leoni’s son-in-law, inherited the manuscripts and sold the more substantial album—later named the Codex Atlanticus—to Count Galeazzo Arconati, who donated it to the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in 1637. The other album, containing the figurative works, was taken to England in the 1620s and became part of the Royal Collection around 1670, likely as a gift intended for King Charles II. The new version of Leonardotheka has enabled the reconstruction of 50 manuscripts, thanks to the inclusion of small fragments preserved at Windsor within the pages of the Codex Atlanticus, thereby restoring their original context. Ambassador Fabio Cassese, who opened the conference ‘Leonardotheka, an innovative tool for the study of Leonardo’s codices,’ stated: “Leonardo’s importance transcends national borders. Leonardo belongs not only to Italy, but to the cultural and scientific heritage of all humanity. For this reason, projects like Leonardotheka are of crucial importance, extending far beyond academic research. The collaboration between the Museo Galileo in Florence, the Royal Collection Trust in Windsor, and the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan is a shining example of this spirit of cooperation.” Read article...

The FCAS fighter jet looks like it’s dead. Could that be a good thing?

The FCAS fighter jet looks like it’s dead. Could that be a good thing? Expert comment jon.wallace 8 June 2026 FCAS was already competing with the GCAP project and Swedish and Turkish fighters. Europe should combine its efforts. European states have known since the early 2000s that they will need to develop a replacement for their existing fighter aircraft. Concepts for a ‘next generation fighter programme’ go beyond the development of just a jet. Plans to include a combat ‘cloud’ and uncrewed systems to operate alongside fighter jets have been around for almost the same amount of time. But difficulties around the German-French-Spanish fighter project – the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) – demonstrate that even in a strategic context transformed by the Ukraine war and US disengagement, cooperative defence development in Europe remains fraught with difficulty. The original plans for a next generation fighter were co-developed by several European states, including the UK and Italy, in the early 2000s. In 2017-19, the FCAS grouping around France, Germany and Spain was formed, primarily driven by President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. The idea was, in part, to create an aircraft that could complement or compete with the US’s F35 next generation fighter. However, the collaboration between industrial partners Airbus and Dassault has been challenging from the start. The partners have struggled to agree how to divide work packages, leading to delays and now deadlock – several deadlines to secure the fighter’s future have passed without agreement. And both Airbus and Dassault have spoken about developing the fighter separately, or moving forward only the ‘cloud’ element, leading to speculation that the fighter collaboration is going to end. Acknowledging the project has failed would be politically very difficult: neither France nor Germany wants to admit to fumbling a decade-long, expensive defence programme. Part of the challenge has been that Germany and France are looking to develop different types of aircraft. For France, the ability to carry nuclear weapons and to land on an aircraft carrier is essential if it is to replace its existing Rafale fighter jets, which currently carry out part of France’s nuclear mission and fly from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Germany meanwhile, is primarily looking for a conventionally armed fighter jet, without the requirement for carrier operations. Looking to develop two separate aircraft – possibly with new partners – while continuing cooperation on the joint cloud and uncrewed systems, might work. But it would presumably undo a significant part of the cost savings promised by collaboration. Leaders in Germany and France are frustrated by the disagreements at the technical level. It seems to demonstrate the limits of their ability to set incentives for private industry where industry does not want to cooperate. The competition The situation is further complicated by the many other competing European projects. There are three other significant European future fighters. Related work The UK purchase of F35As increases reliance on US systems – with limited benefits Since December 2022, the UK, Japan and Italy have been working on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Even though this collaboration started several years after FCAS, it now seems to be on surer footing with governance structures agreed and work on some aspects of the system underway. But the UK Treasury is reportedly worried the project’s international nature will make costs hard to rein in. Separately, Saab has also announced work on a next generation fighter that would succeed its Gripen programme. Gripen was originally developed as a non-NATO alternative for states that did not want to buy US or European equipment and has become a big export hit: Most recently, Ukraine has selected Gripen to form the backbone of its fighter wing, in part for the aircraft’s ability to operate in harsh conditions and from improvised airstrips. Saab is presumably seeking to capitalize on this and other export successes with a new project. Turkey, another NATO member, is also developing a new stealthy fighter jet. Meanwhile the UK, Italy, Germany and many other European powers are purchasing the US F35 aircraft: only last year the UK doubled down on its F35 investment, announcing a purchase of the nuclear-capable F35A variant, in addition to its F35Bs. Germany is reportedly considering buying more F35s, as the FCAS project stalls. Ashes to ashes With four next-generation fighter programmes underway – perhaps soon to be five – Europe risks replicating the mistakes of late 1980s and1990s, when Europe developed three competing fighter designs: The Eurofighter Typhoon, a collaboration between the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain originally included France, but Dassault preferred to go at it alone then, too and developed Rafale separately. Gripen also competed. At that time Europe’s strategic defence partnership with the US through NATO seemed solid. That meant European defence industrial projects had the luxury of developing fighters while pursuing goals other than defence: they could be as much about investing in local industry, keeping skills and production capabilities alive, and competing for a lucrative export market. However, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and faltering US commitments to Europe’s security, mean these incentives have changed significantly. There is a clear need for Europe to take its own defence more seriously. The wisdom of European NATO members pursuing multiple next generation fighter projects with broadly similar capabilities is questionable. Separate programmes mean countries spreading their resources thin rather than pooling them. It also means separate projects competing for the same export business. That hardly speaks to a Europe that is pulling in one direction on defence. With US disengagement looming and the Russian threat significant, the emphasis must shift to prioritizing the quality of kit and the speed with which kit can be delivered. Part of the problem is that GCAP and FCAS still have some elements of the ‘old’ European defence procurement model, in which equal weight is given to international prestige, domestic economic growth and exportability rather than focusing on Europe’s increasingly urgent defence requirements. With US disengagement looming and the Russian threat significant, the emphasis must shift to prioritizing the quality of kit and the speed with which it can be delivered. Equally, there is no longer an argument for a separate Swedish project to target an export market that does not want to buy NATO kit: Sweden is now also a NATO member-state. There is an urgent reality that European countries must confront: if they are unable to produce a European alternative to the US F35 programme, they will be stuck relying on an increasingly unreliable US for a crucial part of their defence equipment – a platform they might conceivably have to rely on until well into the 2040s. That would dash the stated wishes of both President Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Were European countries to begin by focussing on NATO interoperability and strengthening European deterrence, it would make more sense to pool money and resources and produce a single next-generation fighter system. If Sweden and Turkey cannot be persuaded, the so called ‘E3’ powers of the UK, France and Germany should at least live up to their rhetoric and invest in a joint outcome. Of course, that raises the question of the extent to which European governments can influence their defence industries – who know how politically hard to kill international prestige projects like next generation fighter jets are. If one company does not play well with others and prefers to go it alone, what tools do governments have to influence them? The lesson of FCAS is: not many.

Britain's Andrew sublet royal cottages, auditors reveal

LONDON: Britain’s disgraced former prince Andrew earned a private income from subletting cottages while paying a symbolic “peppercorn rent” for a mansion for over two decades, government auditors revealed on Friday. The report into the royal family’s residences was sparked by controversy over Andrew’s living arrangements following his banishment from public life for his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and shines new light on the royal family’s finances. King Charles III’s younger brother, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after being stripped of his titles last year, lived until recently in the Royal Lodge on the royal family’s Windsor estate near London. While living rent-free in a 30-room house, Andrew pocketed proceeds from subletting three cottages on its large grounds, a report on royal property income by the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed. “We do not know what rent was charged,” the auditors said, adding that the cottages have been vacant since April. Andrew’s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie have apartments at royal palaces with rent paid from the privy purse — King Charles’s private income — despite not being working royals, the report also revealed. “The royal family is yet again taking the public for a complete ride,” said Norman Baker, a lawmaker for the centrist Liberal Democrats and long-time critic of royal finances. The report was released as British media carried a photo of Andrew with what appeared to be a large bruise on his face. They reported that it was not a cause for concern. Parliament’s public accounts committee is set to launch an inquiry this year into royal properties, as debate rages about the monarchy’s opaque living arrangements. Margaret Hodge, a Labour peer who chaired the committee between 2010 and 2015, told the BBC it was “shocking” the NAO did not know how much money Andrew made from the sublets. The Times newspaper reported that some of Andrew’s tenants were long-serving staff. Andrew, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was briefly arrested in February amid new revelations stemming from his friendship with Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. ‘Premium’ Officers are probing allegations that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein, a former high-flying financier, during the former prince’s time as UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. Police searched the Royal Lodge in February as part of the probe into his suspected misconduct in public office. He has not been charged. Andrew has since moved to the king’s private Sandringham estate in eastern England. He paid a one million pound ($1.4m) “premium” to lease the Royal Lodge, agreeing to spend 7.5m pounds on improvements to secure a 75-year-lease on a “peppercorn rent”. The lease allowed Andrew to claim compensation for ending it early. By moving out this year, he could claim over 300,000 pounds, but is expected to receive nothing because of needed repairs, according to the Crown Estate. This self-funding public corporation that manages royal properties is supposed to follow finance ministry guidelines on effective use of public funds. Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026