Following the expulsion of other Russian diplomats suspected of espionage, Russia suspends its representation to NATO. Allies speak of a pattern that Moscow is applying across almost the entire alliance. Yet it says it does not want to cut off communication channels with Moscow. The details will also be discussed by the defence ministers of member countries in their first face-to-face meeting since the pandemic began.

Military and geopolitical power is increasingly dependent on high-tech leadership. Brussels, like Washington, is beginning to realise that semiconductors, the core technological components, are no longer just at the heart of economic development, but also of military capabilities, writes Carnegie Europe researcher RALUCA CSERNATONI.

The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia form a new alliance, called AUKUS. This should prevent China from expanding too much in the Indo-Pacific region. While a surprised Paris and the European Commission speak of proof that the Union needs more autonomy in defence, optimists in NATO hail the added value of the pact for European security.

The argument that women do not flock to high positions is no longer valid in Central Europe. Their ambitions are just as high as men's. This is confirmed by extensive research that has also looked at gender differences in Slovakia. If the position of women in the labour market were to improve, the Slovak economy could expect an additional 8.6 percent increase in GDP by 2030.