Headline
Nine Countries With Nuclear Weapons In The World
Since the first atomic bomb was developed in 1945, only a small number of countries have acquired nuclear weapons.
Concerns about the spread of these weapons led to the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968, which aimed to prevent further proliferation. At the time, only a few states had nuclear capabilities.
However, since then, the number has grown to nine, with North Korea being the only country to withdraw from the NPT and subsequently develop nuclear weapons.
READ ALSO: US Struck Iran With B-2 Bombers, Submarine-launched Missiles – Top US General
Combined, the United States and Russia possess roughly 87 per cent of the world’s total nuclear inventory and about 83 per cent of the warheads stockpiled for military use. Of the estimated 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide, around 9,614 are part of active military stockpiles, ready for deployment via missiles, aircraft, ships, or submarines.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), these are the nine nuclear-armed states and their estimated warhead counts:
Russia – 5,459 nuclear weapons
United States – 5,177 nuclear weapons
China – 600 nuclear weapons
France – 290 nuclear weapons
United Kingdom – 225 nuclear weapons
India – 180 nuclear weapons
Pakistan – 170 nuclear weapons
Israel – 90 nuclear weapons
North Korea – 50 nuclear weapons
Headline
We’ve ‘Refrained’ From Further Strikes On Iran After Trump Call, Says Israel
Israel “refrained” from further strikes on Iran on Tuesday after a call between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s office announced.
Trump had angrily accused both Iran and Israel of violating the ceasefire he had announced late on Monday but hours later he posted that it was now in effect.
READ ALSO: US Says Strikes ‘Devastated’ Iran’s Nuclear Program
“Following President Trump’s conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from further strikes,” a statement said.
Headline
FULL LIST: Nigeria Emerges As Africa’s Third Most Formidable Military Force
Nigeria has secured the third position among African nations with the most formidable military forces in the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index, according to Global Firepower’s annual report cited by The PUNCH on Monday.
The index evaluates 145 countries based on over 60 metrics, including troop numbers, equipment capabilities, financial resources, logistical efficiency, and geographical advantages to assess military strength.
In the 2025 rankings, Egypt maintains its lead as Africa’s top military power, followed by Algeria in second place and South Africa in fourth. Nigeria’s rise to third underscores its growing military capabilities, driven by investments in personnel, equipment, and counter-terrorism efforts.
READ ALSO:Italian PM Trumpets Plan To Boost African Economies At EU Summit
Here is a list of African countries ranked in the 2025 Global Firepower Index.
1. Egypt (19)
2. Algeria (26)
3. Nigeria (31)
4. South Africa (40)
5. Ethiopia (52)
6. Angola (56)
7. Morocco (59)
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (66)
9. Sudan (73)
10. Libya (76)
11. Kenya (83)
12. Chad (84)
13. Mozambique (89)
14. Tunisia (90)
15. Tanzania (92)
16. Cameroon (93)
17. Ivory Coast (102)
18. Mali (104)
19. Zambia (109)
20. Ghana (110)
21. Zimbabwe (111)
22. South Sudan (113)
READ ALSO:Rape: Nigerian Pastor Rearrested In South Africa
23. Uganda (114)
24. Namibia (116)
25. Niger (119)
26. Eritrea (120)
27. Republic of the Congo (121)
28. Botswana (122)
29. Mauritania (123)
30. Senegal (125)
31. Burkina Faso (129)
32. Madagascar (130)
33. Gabon (133)
34. Liberia (138)
35. Sierra Leone (140)
36. Somalia (142)
37. Central African Republic (143)
38. Benin (144)
Headline
Middle East Crisis Dominates EU Foreign Ministers’ Brussels Meeting
The foreign ministers of EU member states on Monday were set to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East at their June meeting in Brussels.
The talks come amid growing international alarm after the United States joined Israel in launching strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.
A key question for the ministers will be whether Europe can help steer the crisis back towards diplomacy.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Sunday urged all sides “to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” in a statement posted on X.
READ ALSO:
Another item on the agenda is an internal EU review concluding that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip are not in line with the principles established for its close cooperation with the European Union.
The report, requested by EU foreign ministers in May, questioned whether Israel was still adhering to the basic principles of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
These include that relations between the parties to the agreement are based on respect for human rights.
The finding relates, in particular, to Israel’s blockade of aid supplies into the Gaza Strip, where some 2 million Palestinians live.
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Israel had blocked aid from reaching the devastated coastal territory for almost three months, saying that the Palestinian extremist organisation Hamas was benefiting from the supplies.
The governments of the EU member states and the EU now face the question of whether and how to respond to the analysis, options range from suspending the current partnership agreement to imposing economic sanctions.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is expected to attend the talks in Brussels, was among those who opposed initiating the review.
The German government argues that maintaining open channels of communication with Israel is essential.
(NAN)
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