Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte warned on Monday that the "clock starts ticking" on a Russian attack on its members as soon as a ceasefire is declared in Ukraine.
With advanced Russian missiles putting Western nations within minutes of launch, he added that the entire alliance was "all the eastern front now". The Nato chief called for a “400 per cent increase” in air and missile-defence capacity is needed to counter the threat from Russia.
“The new generation of Russian missiles travel at many times the speed of sound," he said. "The distance between European capitals is only a matter of minutes. There is no longer east or west. There is just Nato.”
The Nato chief met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London amid calls by US President Donald Trump for members of the transatlantic alliance to increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. The current target is 2 per cent.
Mr Rutte believes a “quantum leap” in collective defence is needed. He is expected to warn that “wishful thinking will not keep us safe” and say that Nato must become a “stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance” to protect itself. “We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,” Mr Rutte said in a speech to the Chatham House think tank in London.
His comments come ahead of a Nato summit in the Netherlands this month and amid mounting pressure by Mr Trump on Nato members to increase defence spending. The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week in Brussels that the allies were close to agreeing the 5 per cent target, which could be formalised at the summit in The Hague.
Nato members have been scrambling to bolster their defence capabilities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“Danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends,” Mr Rutte said. “We need a quantum leap in our collective defence … we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full. Our militaries also need thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks, millions more artillery shells.”
The UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which was published last week, recommended sweeping changes, including a greater focus on new technology, including drones and artificial intelligence based on rising budgets. It included plans to build up to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines and six munitions factories to rearm the country in response to the threat from Russia.
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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LA LIGA FIXTURES
Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)
Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
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Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Company profile
Name: Steppi
Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic
Launched: February 2020
Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year
Employees: Five
Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings
Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year
Abu Dhabi GP weekend schedule
Friday
First practice, 1pm
Second practice, 5pm
Saturday
Final practice, 2pm
Qualifying, 5pm
Sunday
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps), 5.10pm
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