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NATO is planning to ask its European and Canadian members to boost their weaponry and equipment stocks by about 30% over the next several years.

Informed sources have told Bloomberg. Sputnik asked a pair of leading German and French observers what this would mean for a region already suffering economic malaise and industrial decline.

Key alliance members like Germany and France would amass an unsustainable fiscal burden, be forced into debt and have to slash social programs if they accept NATO’s call for a 30% bump in new arms and equipment spending, AfD MP Dr. Rainer Rothfuss told Sputnik.

“The budget restraints that were even inscribed into our Constitution needed to be changed to get the financial flexibility to invest so much in defense. That shows us that it’s not a matter of priority spending, [but] a matter of, I would say, bankruptcy should this kind of policy be followed in the coming years.

European countries on the brink of social explosion

Europe, once the richest and most advanced continent, is living its last days, writes Geopolitika.

Its humiliating decline has already become obvious to the rest of the world, even if the deceived Europeans themselves are not… pic.twitter.com/Ce0jDDbA6R

— Zlatti71 (@Zlatti_71) February 22, 2024

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Nawaf Salam has warned of an escalation as Israel renews attacks on the country

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has warned that Israeli airstrikes could drag the country into a “new war,” following deadly attacks on towns in the south.

According to a statement published on his official website on Saturday, the prime minister “warned of renewed military operations on the southern border, because of the risks they carry dragging the country into a new war, which will bring woes to Lebanon and the Lebanese people.” Salam also stressed the need to ensure that “the [Lebanese] state alone has the power to decide war and peace.”

He also called on the UN to apply pressure on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, warning that continued hostilities threaten the truce currently in place.

On Saturday, Israeli jets struck Tyre, Zibqin, and Qlaileh. The Israeli military said the action was “in response to the rocket fire at Israel” from around 6km north of the border. West Jerusalem blamed Hezbollah for the launches and said it targeted the group’s rocket sites.

Lebanese PM Nawaf Salam says his country is at risk of being drawn into a “new war”, as dozens of new Israeli air attacks against Hezbollah killed at least two people https://t.co/gXl2wVm0d9 pic.twitter.com/lQA4axILvP

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 22, 2025

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Despite special envoy Steve Witkoff’s rejection of “preposterous” fears of a Russian invasion of Europe, and Donald Trump’s confidence that Russia’s not a threat to NATO, US allies in Europe up to hundreds of kilometers from Russia are preparing their publics for the worst.

Poland: This week, Poland’s Interior Ministry called on citizens to prepare three-day food, water, medicine, lighting, power bank and radio survival kits.

France: Plans to issue a ‘survival manual’ for national emergencies, containing similar preparedness advice. Officials have made conflicting claims on the document’s purpose: while a prime ministerial spokesperson has indicated the manual would include crises involving “armed conflict,” officials in the defense department assure the booklet is “absolutely not” about preparing for “the prospect of war.”

Sweden: Updated its ‘If Crises or War Comes’ manual in November, with similar advice on stockpiling (for at least a week) plus other tips, like what to do in an air raid. Booklet delivered to all households from 1943-1991 and again starting in 2018.

Finland: Published a new online ‘Preparing for Incidents and Crises’ guide the same month, including what to do in a military emergency.

Germany: Updated its ‘Guide for Emergency Preparedness and Correct Action in Emergency Situations’ in 2022, with tips like creating a “grab bag” for emergency evacuations. Accompanied by Berlin’s delivery of over €12.6B ($13.7B) in arms aid to Ukraine, updated war plans, a huge boost in defense spending, and murmuring by officials about reintroducing conscription.

Denmark: Revised its ‘Prepare for Crises’ guidebook in 2024. Includes basic survival skills, shelter, safety and communication tips for wartime.

Norway: Sent an new ‘How to contribute to Norway’s emergency preparedness’ guide in fall 2024 to 2+ million households. Supplies recommendations increased from three days to one week.

Italy: Launched an IT-Alert public warning system in 2024 to go along with its 2021 revised emergencies and civil defense guide.

UK: Last updated its Prepare for Emergencies campaign in 2019. Chief of Defense Staff Tony Radakin announced late last year that Britain was having “conversations” with NATO colleagues on updating it, and making direct reference to Ukraine. “Deterrence doesn’t start at the barrel of a gun. It starts with a society that can muster a credible answer to the threat of an armed attack,” he said. Radakin, incidentally, has also been a top cheerleader for the proxy war in Ukraine, and for putting British troops in the country – a move Russia has warned could lead to disaster.

Russia has no desire to invade other European countries, US special envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff has said, dismissing such fears as “preposterous.”

He made the remarks in an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson on Friday.

🚨 From survival kits to war manuals: How Europe gears up for possible conflict with Russia

Despite Steve Witkoff's rejection of “preposterous” fears of a Russian invasion of Europe pic.twitter.com/DyxcQ407z7

— The Tradesman (@The_Tradesman1) March 22, 2025

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For any homeowner, having a helpful robot companion around the home is the stuff of sci-fi-worthy dreams. 

But American tech firm Nvidia is now among the companies keen to make this a reality. 

In California on Tuesday, the chip giant unveiled Blue, a cute advanced AI-powered robot with two legs, just 3 feet tall. 

Footage shows Blue – which looks like the robot from the Pixar classic Wall-E – walk onto the stage as it’s introduced by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. 

‘Tell me that wasn’t amazing,’ Huang says to the audience, as Blue waddles up to him with a similar gait to a duck. ‘Look how smart you are!’

Like R2-D2 talking to C-3PO in Star Wars, Blue responds with an adorable series of bleeps and bloops as it looks up at its master. 

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday awarded Boeing (BA.N), the contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s most sophisticated fighter jet, known as Next Generation Air Dominance, two sources familiar with the situation said.

The NGAD program will replace Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor with a crewed aircraft built to enter combat alongside drones. The plane’s design remains a closely held secret, but would likely include stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have awarded Boeing the $20 billion contact for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Program, to fully develop and produce a sixth-generation replacement for the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 “Raptor” Stealth… pic.twitter.com/nwGAFUdl9G

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 21, 2025

Shares of Boeing were up 5% after the news. The Seattle-based company beat out Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), for the deal, and its shares fell nearly 6%.

Both companies declined to comment ahead of announcement expected from the White House on Friday morning.

It was Boeing $BA vs Lockheed Martin $LMT for the contract pic.twitter.com/hpqihxWsQb

— Evan (@StockMKTNewz) March 21, 2025

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No planes will fly to or from Heathrow Airport on Friday after the airport was shut due to a fire at a nearby substation. Passengers have been warned to stay away, with disruption likely to last for days.

Counter-terror police are among agencies investigating the cause of the fire, which is expected to affect more than 1,300 flights today.

Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

They allege that the disruption campaign is an extension of President Putin’s war, intended to sow division in European societies and undermine support for Ukraine – although the Kremlin has denied carrying out sabotage efforts against the West.

Earlier this week, Putin had agreed to a limited ceasefire that stops Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. 

Now, experts are analysing whether Russia could be linked to the UK substation fire, which is affecting 679 flights scheduled to land and 678 departures from Heathrow. 

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Warsaw will follow Sweden’s example to prepare its population for a possible war

Poland will urge its citizens to stockpile at least three days’ worth of supplies to prepare for a war or other crisis, Deputy Interior Minister Wieslaw Lesniakiewicz has said.

It comes after a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to push through an €800 billion ($875 billion) military build-up intended to counter an alleged threat from Russia, something Moscow has dismissed as unfounded.

Each citizen needs to be able to survive at least three days with no help from the state in the event of war or another extreme situation, Lesniakiewicz said. He urged Poles to stockpile supplies such as water, medicine, food, and power banks. People should also get transistor radios for emergency communication when other methods are unavailable, he added.

Polish ministries will cooperate to publish a guide on preparing for crises, basing it on a similar publication released in Sweden, he said.

In Poland, the Ministry of the Interior Urges Сitizens to Stock Up for Three Days of Autonomous Survival

"Let’s be prepared, within our means, for at least three days of survival without assistance from state structures. Let’s stock up on water, essential medicines, hygiene… pic.twitter.com/vuFDQoqh7v

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 20, 2025

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France is set to issue a survival manual to households across the country, warning citizens how to respond to an invasion or any other ‘imminent threat’.

The dramatic move comes as tensions rise in Europe and fears grow over Russia‘s aggressive tactics.

The new 20-page booklet, reportedly packed with 63 measures, will advise the French on how to protect themselves and their families in the event of armed conflict, natural disasters, industrial accidents or even a nuclear leak. 

It will include tips on how to create a ‘survival kit’ with essentials including six litres of water, canned food, batteries, a torch and basic medical supplies such as paracetamol and bandages.

Crucially, it will offer advice on what to do if an attack is imminent, including how to join local defence efforts, such as signing up for reserve units or firefighting groups. 

Citizens will also be told to ‘lock their doors’ in the event of a nuclear incident  –  advice that has already drawn ridicule from commentators.

'Protect yourself and those around you': France to issue 20-page 'survival manual' to citizens https://t.co/lRtDuRhs7Y

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 20, 2025

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