Category World News

According to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), sales of weapons and military services by the 100 largest global arms-producing companies reached a record $ 679 billion in 2024.

In a report released on Monday, the organization reported that the organizations’ revenues from the sales of military goods and services to customers both domestically and abroad increased by 5.9% in response to the conflict in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as global and regional geopolitical tensions and ever-higher military spending.

Companies with headquarters in Europe and the United States contributed the most to the global rise, but there were annual increases in all other countries, with the exception of Asia and Oceania, where issues with the Chinese arms industry slowed the overall total.

The top 100 arms companies in the US saw a combined increase of 3.8 percent in 2024, with 30 of the 39 US companies in the top 100 increasing their revenues, with General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin leading the pack.

However, SIPRI reported that major projects like the F-35 fighter jet, the Columbia and Virginia-class submarines, and the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile are still plagued by widespread delays and budget overruns.

After its arms revenues more than doubled between 2023 and 2023, SpaceX’s shares of the top global military manufacturers were first added to the list.

26 arms companies with headquarters in Europe, excluding Russia, made up the top 100, and 23 of them saw increases in sales of weapons and equipment. Their overall arms revenues increased by 13 percent to $ 151 billion.

Czech company Czechoslovak Group, which increased revenues by 193 percent to $3.6 billion through the production of Ukrainian artillery shells, saw the highest percentage increase in arms revenues of any top 100 company in 2024.

The country’s JSC Ukrainian Defense Industry increased its arms revenues by 41%, or $ 3 billion, as Ukraine fights an ongoing Russian offensive in its eastern regions.

According to the SIPRI report, European arms companies have been investing in new production capacity to compete with Russia, but it was cautioned that sourcing materials could pose a “growing challenge” as China also tightens export controls.

Rostec and United Shipbuilding Corporation, the only two Russian arms companies in the top three, both increased their combined arms revenues by 23 percent to $ 31.2% despite being subject to sanctions from the West for the Ukraine war.

After a 1.2 percent decline from 2023, Asian and Oceania-based weapons manufacturers still had $ 130 billion in revenues last year.

The eight Chinese arms companies in the ranking each had a combined 10% decline in their respective arms revenues, most notably NORINCO, China’s top land system producer, whose arms revenues dropped by 31 percent.

According to Nan Tian, Director of the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, “a number of corruption allegations in Chinese arms procurement led to major arms contracts being delayed or cancelled in 2024.” This raises questions about China’s military modernization efforts and when new capabilities will be developed.

In response to the persistent hostility between Taiwan and North Korea, sales of Japanese and South Korean arms increased thanks to strong customer demand from domestic as well as international customers.

Four South Korean producers saw a 31 percent increase in revenue, while five Japanese companies in the ranking increased their combined arms revenues by 40 percent to $ 13.3 billion. Hanwha Group, South Korea’s largest arms producer, saw a 42 percent increase in 2024, with more than half of it coming from arms exports.

The genocide in Gaza is profited by Israel.

Nine of the top 100 arms companies had their headquarters in the Middle East for the first time, according to SIPRI. In 2024, the nine businesses generated a combined $31 billion in revenue, showing a 14% regional increase.

The United Arab Emirates’ regional figure is excluded from Emirati-based EDGE Group because there is no information on revenue data for 2023, as the country continues to face international accusations that it helped to fund the devastating war in Sudan. The accusations are refuted by the UAE.

In light of the ongoing genocidal war in Gaza, which has killed nearly 70 000 Palestinians and destroyed the majority of the besieged enclave, the three Israeli arms companies in the ranking increased their combined arms revenues by 16 percent to $ 16.2 billion.

Elbit Systems made $6.28 billion in profits, followed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which made $4.7 billion, and Israel Aerospace Industries, which made $5.19 billion.

Israeli unmanned aerial vehicles and counter-drone systems are now in demand, according to SIPRI. After Iran launched extensive retaliatory strikes against Israel in April and October of that year, which used ballistic missiles and drones, Rafael’s stock increased in response to the company’s air defense systems.

Another record-setting number of Turkish businesses were in the top 100. Their combined arms revenues reached $ 10.1 billion, which is an 11 percent increase.

In 2024, Baykar, which exports advanced drones most recently to Ukraine, saw a 95 percent of its $1.9 billion in arms revenue come from exports to other nations.

Venezuela’s airspace was “closed” on Saturday, according to Donald Trump.

In a tense London derby, Mike Merino saved Arsenal as the Premier League leaders fought to a 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

Late in the first half, Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo was shown a crude foul on Merino at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Chelsea took a second half lead after Caicedo’s dismissal, but Merino’s equalizing goal earned Arsenal a point after the title rivals had fought back.

Arsenal is five points clear of Manchester City, who defeated Leeds United on Saturday, and is six points ahead of Chelsea, who is in third place.

Arsenal were relieved to avoid a damaging defeat after the dust had settled on a game of relentless intensity, and Chelsea were left to rue a missed chance to win the title.

Arsenal are still the favorites to win the Premier League title, but Chelsea’s aggressive display suggested they might pose the greatest threat to the Gunners’ title ambitions.

Chelsea have won their first seven games without losing in all competitions, while Arsenal have won all 17 of those games, winning 14 of those.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca had slashed his young team’s chances of winning the title, but Arsenal did so without injured centre-back William Saliba.

Both teams tried to impose themselves in a tumultuous first half that included a slew of bookings.

Reece James was cynically pulled down by Gunners midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella crunched into Bukayo Saka, Mosquera pole-axed Joao Pedro, and Riccardo Calafiori.

With a stinging strike that Robert Sanchez saved at his near post, Saka almost exacted immediate retribution against Cucurella.

Estevao Willian, a teenager sensation, made his Chelsea debut following their 3-0 win over Barcelona in midweek.

The 18-year-old was unable to match his stunning goal against Barca when he lashed over from 9 meters (10 yards) to miss Chelsea’s opening real chance.

As Chelsea began to put pressure on the visitors’ reorganized defense, Enzo Fernandez tested Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya from the edge of the area.

When Caicedo caught Merino in the 38th minute with a foul that was upgraded from a booking to a dismissal following a VAR review, the attrition war turned ugly.

This was the Blues’ sixth red card of the season across all competitions.

A dangerous Hincapie elbow on Chalobah, which caused Chelsea to lash out for a red card, did not come after the Ecuador midfielder’s premature exit.

On the cue of half-time, Gabriel Martinelli nearly heightened Chelsea’s anxiety with a powerful blast that forced a fine save from Sanchez.

With ten goals in 12 games, Arsenal became the league’s best set-piece team.

Chelsea finished with eight, but in the 48th minute Chalobah won with nine.

As James curled a corner to the near post before reaching Chalobah’s highest point inside the six-yard box, Chalobah headed his header into the far corner.

On his way back to his former club, Arteta sent on Noni Madueke and Martin Odegaard, who were jeered and chanted “Chelsea reject.”

Merino’s 59th-minute equalizer earned the Arsenal changes instant reward.

A stunning run and cross from Saka past Cucurella led to a powerful close-range header that flew past Sanchez.

Merino scored his fourth goal of the season when Arteta used him as a substitute.

Arsenal were unable to deliver the decisive blow in a furious finale, which featured Sanchez making superb stops to deny Saka and Merino.

Reece James, Chelsea’s captain, expressed regret after receiving the three points and how the sending off limited his team.

“Over the past few years, Arsenal have been at the top. We were aware that it would not be simple. Their midfield is formidable. He claimed that we had already done everything we could to play our game and caused them harm.

He continued, “Maresca] slightly altered the formation, and he was aware that they were going to attack us.” So we attempted to catch them on the counter by attempting to soak up the pressure.

I’m proud of the boys, they say. Today at the Bridge, it was riotous. We’re content to accept the message.

Arsenal were disappointed not to win, according to Merino.

You want to win every game when you sport this shirt. he informed Sky Sports. To enter and take a point at this stadium is a real challenge. The team displayed good mentality, but we could have done better.

Alexander Isak, the underdogs’ record signing, scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool on Sunday to give them a much-needed 2-0 victory over West Ham United.

Prior to US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s crucial trip to Moscow, American and Ukrainian officials are engaged in discussions aimed at developing “reliable security guarantees” for Ukraine as part of a US-backed peace plan.

A Ukrainian delegation led by Rustem Umerov, the head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, sat down with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Witkoff, who stated that the discussions are meant to “create a path” for a sovereign Ukraine.

On the basis of the progress made in Geneva, Umerov wrote on X, “We have clear directives and priorities: safeguarding Ukrainian interests, ensuring substantive dialogue, and advancing.”

He added that “reliable, long-term security guarantees” are what negotiators want for Ukraine to achieve.

The negotiations come a week after Rubio and Ukrainian negotiators met in Geneva, Switzerland to review the initial Russian-wish list-based peace plan. Vladimir Putin’s scheduled meeting with Witkoff, which Trump earlier hinted would take place this week, is set to take place with the sit-down.

Putin said the unpublished US draft could serve as a “basis for future agreements,” and that Witkoff should be the first priority in his discussions with Witkoff.

Jared Kushner, the son of Donald Trump, may also be present in Moscow.

Rubio said it’s important to end a war in a way that allows them to become independent and sovereign, never have another war, and create tremendous prosperity for its citizens so they can not just rebuild the nation but also enter an era of extraordinary economic progress.

According to Ukraine’s first deputy foreign minister Sergiy Kyslytsya on X, talks between US and Ukrainian officials “start off well” and are “going to a warm atmosphere conducing to potential progress.”

“Eminent days”

Ukraine’s response to the negotiations comes at a sensitive time as it fights back against Russian forces that invaded in 2022, with the resignation of his top official, Andriy Yermak, this week.

Last week, Yermak and Rubio met in Geneva to discuss changes to Trump’s original 28-point plan, which initially included limiting Russia’s military size, restricting its size, and giving up on joining NATO.

In response to criticism from Kyiv and Europe, the US reduced the original draft to 19 points, but the current content is still a mystery.

Zelenskyy claimed on X that America is “showing a constructive approach.”

It is possible to “fine-tune the steps” to bring the war to an honorable conclusion, he said.

The Ukrainian president stated on Sunday that “many things can change” when he spoke with NATO’s Mark Rutte.

We will continue speaking in the coming days when I spoke with Mark Rutte @SecGenNATO. There are significant changes to be made in these times. Our joint measures and shared positions are what we are coordinating closely, and our efforts are coordinated by all of our partners…

Zelenskyy will be a guest of French President Emmanuel Macron’s meeting in Paris on Monday, according to the French presidency.

Prior to the US summit, Russia’s forces have been focusing on Ukraine’s capital and the region for two nights straight as it advances on the front line.

Six people were killed and dozens of others were hurt in the country as a result of Russian attacks on Ukraine on Saturday night. 400, 000 Kyiv homes were cut off from power.

One person was killed and eleven were hurt in a drone attack near Kyiv, according to the regional governor.